This chapter was so depressing to write! Also, school has started, so I don't have as much free time to write. I'm sorry my updates aren't as frequent as we would all like... but I still have so much inspiration! So don't worry about it going unfinished. I'm as excited to write it as you are to read it! Thanks especially to my reviewers Meemeeru, DayDreamerKnight, dewdrop6, I'mgettingdizzy, lazy to log in, AwesomeGrovyle-or-A.G, twizler86258, kalledom, Pokemon Storyteller, xXCode-AngelXx, and Guest. Your continued support means a lot to me.

My Great Big Adventure

The sun had just set by the time I reached Chargestone Cave. Which was perfect; I prefer to travel during the day, but it would be dark inside the cave, no matter what time of day. This way, I could emerge in Mistralton City hopefully sometime the following afternoon.

I had flat-out refused to travel all the way back to Driftveil just to create room in my party for a Deerling. That would have required two full round-trip walks! I could catch a Deerling some other time. Or maybe the scientists would just hold that Deerling for me… forever. Either way, it could wait. I already have a grass-type on my team, and Syaoran, my Serperior, is far, well… superior to any Deerling.

However, I did have a field day with my Dowsing Machine! It was picking up things on the radar left and right, and as I traveled, I left a trail of little dirt piles behind me. I could not believe some of the things I found. Who just drops big gold nuggets? People are so careless these days!

I also made the mistake of disturbing several Foongus…

I didn't do it on purpose, of course. I just thought they were Pokeballs someone had dropped. I mean, with all the other stuff people have left all over the ground, can you blame me for assuming these Foongus were Pokeballs?

Zorua had, of course, given me one of his typical eye-rolls. How can you not know that's a Foongus? Because I'd never seen one before, that's why! At least, not in its natural habitat… Zorua had no sympathy though. That's what your Pokedex is for. Wait, don't tell me you've never used your Pokedex before? I know you have one, as I have to be squashed next to it inside your purse frequently. Never even used your Pokedex… Do you even know how to use it?

Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, fuzzball. I've never need to actually USE it before. I mean, it's not like the old days where you actually had to take out the Dex and SCAN. Technology has evolved way beyond those days; now your Pokedex automatically scans any Pokemon within… like a fifty foot radius, even from inside your bag.

Plus, it's not like I ever asked for the stupid thing! Bianca forced it on me back when she gave me my first Pokemon! I don't care enough to actually pay attention and keep up with it. Professor Juniper can shoot me for all I care.

However, Zorua had made a valid point: the Pokedex would have told me that the red and white ball in the grass was not in fact a Pokeball, but a sleepy and soon-to-be-very-angry Foongus. So just to prove that I'm not a complete moron, I actually fished the device from my purse and opened it for the very first time. Zorua leaned over the edge of my purse, but the last trainer was long gone and out of sight, so I didn't worry too much.

I'm waiting, genius.

"Oh hush up!" I growled. But really, I wasn't sure what to do.

I pointed the Pokedex at the Foongus, who (after practically biting my hand off when I tried to pick it up) was now hopping like mad around in the grass.

Nothing happened. Zorua snorted.

"Umm… Identify?" I asked, very unsure.

"IDENTIFY!" came the disembodied and very digital response.

"Umm, yes, identify this Pokemon!"

"YOU WILL IDENTIFY FIRST!"

I really did not appreciate how it was yelling at me. Then again, I had just shoved it my bag and left it there for a long time… perhaps it was sulking. Wait, what was I thinking, THIS IS A COMPUTER – IT CAN'T FEEL!

"No, no! I need you to identify that Pokemon!" I said, growing impatient. "The Pokeball-looking one," I added, in case it was one of those super-high-tech computers with a camera.

"STATE YOUR IDENTITY!"

"I don't want you to identify ME, I want you to identify the POKEMON!" Obviously sitting in my bag collecting dust rotted its micro chips.

"IDENTIFY YOURSELF! IDENTIFY! IDENTIFY!"

"STOP YELLING AT ME!"

Of course I would be the one to get the malfunctioning Pokedex that just screams at you in its high-pitched digital voice.

"Who needs a Pokedex anyway?" I scoffed, staring daggers at the infuriating thing. "You can go straight back in the bag and never see the light of day again!" I angrily snapped it shut.

"—TERMINATED."

Zorua pointed out that it probably just wanted your name, you know, since you've never opened it and linked it with your trainer ID card. Feh, what does he know anyway?!

And so I was in a pretty irritable mood by the time I actually entered Chargeston Cave. I was sweaty, tired, hungry, and angry for several different reasons. The Pokedex came to mind first, but I was also still fuming over the fact that someone didn't like my acting, and they hadn't even bothered to try to tell me first! No, they just had to go tell the studio it was their way or the highway! And I know I should be thankful, really, I do. And I am! I'm very happy about my new contract. I don't know why it's bothering me so much.

Not to mention the incident with Hugh. Arceus, he probably thinks I'm a total loon. Bird-watching, what was I thinking?!

Chargeston Cave itself wasn't exactly helping either. Well, I suppose it was helping… it was helping me to feel worse. The cave was incredibly dark, and the only light was coming from these eerie blue crystals. I suppose it was sorting of beautiful, to someone who wasn't in a foul mood.

It only got worse from there.

I hadn't been inside the cave for even ten minutes, when my xtransceiver rang. My spirits lifted as I answered the call; oh please let it be Curtis—

"Hi, sweetie! How's my favorite little movie star doing?"

"What do you want, Mother?" I replied testily. I had no time for her little games.

"I was just checking up on you; is that any way to talk to your mother?" she asked in a disgustingly sugar-coated voice. "Besides, I had to call after I saw you on tv this morning! You and Christoph make such a cute couple~"

What was she babbling about? "I haven't seen him in a while now, Mother, so I don't know what you're referring to."

"Pokemon Today, of course! They showed a clip, one of you and that hunkity-hunk himself! He was on to talk about his movie career. You have to introduce us!"

Gag. "Stop being such a… cougar, Mother, and go after some guys your own age! Besides," I added bitterly, "I won't see him for another year at least."

"Oh that's right!" she exclaimed, putting a finger to her chin. "He's going to be so busy this year! He's got eighteen films to shoot and a brand new album coming out this summer!"

Eighteen films? How in the heck can he be in eighteen films? You would think the studio would just use other actors and give the guy a break—

Unless… Unless he wanted those films. His demanding schedule would of course push out the less-talented. I'm pretty sure he said something about how bad my scripts were. It only makes sense.

Christoph is the one who told Mr. Deeoh to cut my contract. It's too much of a coincidence for his career to suddenly spike while mine all but dies. Again, not complaining! Just… I'm just— yes, okay, I am complaining! I thought we were friends? Or at least, friendly acquaintances. How could he do that to me?

My mom ignored my stony silence and rambled on about how gorgeous he was and how she couldn't wait for the new collector's edition poseable singing Christoph doll that was coming out just in time for Christmas. Could she be any more inattentive to her own daughter's feelings?!

"Oh, sweetie, I've got to run! Be sure to rest up before the next gym and take good—"

"Don't worry, I will," I snapped, fed up with her behavior. "I'm not you."

At this comment, my mother dropped her doting act, and for a moment, I could see her true expression under all those layer of makeup. I bet she would have slapped me.

And then it was gone. She blew me a fake kiss, and then she ended the call.

She'd found a way to make me feel even worse than I already did. Now I was feeling sweaty, tired, hungry, angry, betrayed, and miserable.

I tried to feel sorry for the trainers I battled, but it was their fault for challenging me. It wasn't my fault that one nerd cried. I took down everyone and every Pokemon in my way like some sort of hurricane. It was extremely easy to crush them all; my Pokemon were at least five or six levels above theirs. I went from battle to battle like a hollow shell, barking out attacks but not really getting into it.

I felt like a dirty dishtowel being rung out repeatedly. Or like I had swallowed a screwdriver.

After several hours of battling, I came upon a corner of the cave without any trainers, and I decided to sit and do nothing for a while. I knew I needed to sleep, thanks to my xtransceiver's glow-in-the-dark watch telling me it was well after midnight, and Zorua.

Sleep, his expression said. You'll pass out if you don't rest for a bit.

I shrugged. "I don't care."

Does this have anything to do with your Pokedex yelling at you? Are you still upset over that?

"No. Well, yes… but not really." I sat and leaned against an uncomfortable piece of cave wall. "I just don't care anymore. About anything."

What's with the pessimistic attitude? How can you not care about anything?

"I don't need a lecture, okay? I know I'm being stupid! I just don't care… I don't…" I curled into a ball so he couldn't see my eyes as I hastily brushed some tears away.

That's the voice of someone who cares very much. What are you upset over?

"I'm not upset!" I sniffed. "Do I seem upset, because I'm not! I'm fine…"

I jumped in my spot when I felt Zorua crawl up into my lap and nuzzle me with his head. I sighed deeply and rubbed his ears.

"It's nothing, really."

Nothing is nothing. Is it your mother?

I groaned. Why did he have to be so perceptive? "It's nothing," I sighed. "Nothing to get upset over, anyway. I should be used to it after sixteen years."

And really, you'd think after living with the woman for almost my entire life, I could handle it better. She was always like that, always very controlling under a fake smile. Even when Dad was around.

He was some big tough trainer from the Sinnoh region, they say (they being the gossipy neighbors, including Hugh's parents). He easily beat the eight gym leaders of Unova, and he took a break before challenging the Elite Four. That's when he supposedly met Mom, on his rest in Nimbasa City. She worked in the Pokemon Center. He was attracted to… well her, and she was attracted to his badges.

Somewhere in between all of their shouting, I learned that Mom had once been a Pokemon trainer. She had set out on her own Pokemon journey, just like me. Only she hadn't been forced. Actually, she'd had to beg and plead for years.

Mom came from a very strict family. I've only met my grandparents once, but from what I remember, they were very distant. They wanted her to become a Nurse; they thought being a trainer would only waste her time. Being a trainer won't put food on the table. But it did, for a while anyway; she made it all the way to Mistralton City. I don't know all the details, but from what Dad was always yelling about… basically she lost to whoever ran the gym before Skyla and that was it. Some sort of agreement with her parents. I'm not sure what happened to her Pokemon, because she doesn't have any, as far as I know. But she had to quit and go to Pokemon Nursing School. However, she wasn't very good at that, or she just didn't care, because she never got certified. She just worked in the Pokemon Center as a receptionist, where she met Dad.

She was either very impressed with his skills, or very jealous. Either way, she weaseled her way into his heart somehow, or at least that's what Dad said. They fell in love, got married, and had me. Dad put his training on hold to raise his family, and Mom threw a fit.

She said he couldn't quit now, look how far he'd come. He said old dreams gave way to new dreams (which is very sweet, actually). The arguing began.

I was about four or five then. It wasn't a normal day in my house if someone wasn't screaming. Mom screamed about how hard he and his Pokemon had trained. Dad screamed about how he wanted to spend time with his family. She screamed about how unfair it was, and he screamed about how selfish she was. Then she screamed at me for standing there watching, and he slammed the door in my face.

I didn't know it back then, but Dad was apparently a popular trainer and favorite to become the new Champion. Mom couldn't understand how he could give all that up, and he didn't understand why she wouldn't let him.

What I don't understand, is if Dad was such a family man, why didn't he take me with him?

He argued about how he cared about family and that was why he was giving up training, but he rarely if ever spent any actual time playing with me. And then he left me when he packed up and disappeared. There were a lot of rumors, and Mom had to quit her job. She became obsessed with getting me to like Pokemon. She tried to mold me into the daughter she wanted: a daughter she could live through. Several times she tried to get Professor Juniper to force me into Pokemon training.

Well, it worked eventually, because here I am.

Here I am, crying in cave over stuff that happened years ago. I never forgave my father for abandoning me, though I did stop trying to find him. I'm no longer interested in having anything to do with him. Or my mother, really, but at least she didn't leave me. Until she kicked me out and Hugh dragged me along to meet Bianca.

Hugh used to climb up the tree next to my window when we were kids. I'd open the window, and he would take my hand and make me follow him. He made me climb down the tree and go with him to his house, almost every day. His parents were polite, but it was obvious they thought of me as that couple's daughter. Hugh would force me to spend hours playing video games with him, or trying to get me to play with his Tepig. He never understood why I was so against his Pokemon; he thought I was scared of fire.

It grew worse after my parents separated and Mom started shoving Pokemon knowledge down my throat. My disregard for his Tepig put a strain on our friendship once we became old enough to register for trainer ID cards. We had a big fight after I ripped up the first card my mother registered in my name. We only made up after I helped him catch the Purrloin for his sister. Okay, so technically he was the one who battled and caught it. But he hadn't even been able to find a Purrloin before I decided to brave it and go out into the tall grass. And then suddenly we were friends again. I wish we were friends now.

I noticed Zorua had fallen asleep curled up on my stomach. He was right after all. I wasn't ok, and I did indeed need some sleep. I was exhausted from everything. I was still hungry from not eating dinner, but that would have to wait. I suddenly felt like I couldn't even raise my arms, I was so tired. So I just breathed in deeply and tried to find a comfortable spot on the ground without waking Zorua.

I tried to sleep, but too many thoughts and emotions were gnawing for my attention. I don't know if I thought about it back then, but I wonder why Hugh came to my house so much. I'm sure he heard my parents arguing, but he still came back day after day, just so he could have someone to beat at video games. I wonder what he thought of me. If he ever regretted anything.

I wonder what he thinks of me now.