"Ah, lass. Thank you very much for saving my darling Peeko. I don't know what would have happened if that monster had gotten away with it. I don't want to imagine what would have happened to her in his hands."

"It was my pleasure, sir. Team Aqua needs to learn they can't get away with just taking what I want. Besides, she's a sweetie, how could I leave her in his hands?"

We were sitting at the pokemon center as I waited for news on Blues. Peeko was out of her ball at last, and she was perching on Red's head, looking around with bright eyes. She was a curious little thing and had already inspected my bag and pockets.

"I know," he says, the smile fading from his face. "Which brings me to ask another favor of you. Do you think that perhaps you could look after her for a while? I'm not as young as I use to be you see and she's still very young pokemon. Normally her parents would have brought her up and helped in her training but. . . That's not possible anymore."

I didn't answer right away. How could I? There was no way he could know how dangerous for her it would be thanks to my affliction.

"Mr. Briney, before I even consider this, there something you need to know."

"Aye, I know lass. You suffer from the Nuzlocke Virus, isn't that right?"

"I . . . Yes, sir. The B strain, they say," I replied, bemused. "How did you know."

"You'll find that after a while, you'll begin to recognize other people who suffer from it. It might takes years, but eventually, you'll know them on sight. It's one of the very last perks to manifest."

I was a bit surprised. Intellectually, I knew that other people suffered from it, but it was rare and random. What were the odds that I'd encounter someone else who suffered from it? So he knew his Peeko would be in danger, yes, but it wasn't anything new to the wingull. Still, I wasn't sure about the laws regarding this. She wasn't a wild pokemon, so I didn't know if the law applied to her. By the same token the whole point of the law was to protect pokemon from our disease.

"I want to then." I said at last. "But I'm not sure if The League will allow it."

"I'll stay with the old man," Shenzu said out of nowhere. "Don't get the wrong impression Eliza. You're an amazing trainer. But I've never really liked fighting. Besides, the old man will get lonely alone, won't he?"

"I. . . are you sure Shenzu?" I asked. "If you really would rather not fight, I can always release you."

"No. I like having a trainer, and not all of them are fighters. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's just not for me."

"I wouldn't be against it either," the retired sailor said. "While we were waiting for you to emerge from the cave, we had a lot to discuss. I enjoyed her company and it would solve our problem. The League has no rule to prevent us from trading, do they?"

The rest was just logistic. Soon I was Peeko's new trainer and Shenzu was leaving with Mr. Briney. It hurt a little to see her go, but at least, she'd be safe and happier now. As for Peeko, she seemed to adjust really quickly to her new situation. She was full of energy and pep. It was different. Up to now, I'd only had pokemon that were mostly serious, mature or . . .lethargic. That wingull though, she seemed to get a kick out of pranking Red and Sever. She was also a very quick learner.

"Me! Pick me! I can take her! Really I can. Come on, please? I promise I won't faint her this time. Really."

We'd just entered Rusturf Tunnel again to train when a Whismur showed up.

"No no no. I'm not here to fight. Sheesh, what is it with you trained mon's always wanting to get in a fight? Nah. We just recognize that trainer. You're the one that stopped that other guy from making all that racket, right?"

"I. . .hmm. . Yes?" I replied. "Sorry if I was too noisy about it."

"Nah. No sweat girl. T'was just, LOUD you know? Anyways. The guys were talking and we decided if you were ever to come back again, we should thank ya. I was chosen as the ambassador. So yeah. Thanks."

"It was my pleasure. Really. He needed to be stopped."

"If you ever need a hand, you just come calling and we'll do our best by you. You hear?"

I agreed and watched as he disappeared back where he'd come from. I looked at my team and they looked back.

"M-maybe we should train somewhere else," Blues said in a small voice. "They don't seem like they want to be disturbed."

"Perhaps it would be best. There is no need to antagonize the locals is there?"

"Sure, guys,"I agreed. "Besides, I've been working you guys pretty hard lately anyways. Maybe we've all earned a break."

As we were heading back towards Rustboro, Red nudged me.

"So. What did Mr. President want?" he asked, his voice dripping with scorn.

I couldn't blame him. The fact that no pokemon were allowed outside of their pokeball in his presence was kind of rude. I don't know why I let the scientist sucker me in meeting him.

"He wanted to thank me for saving the super secret prototype they were working on. Some collaboration project with Silph apparently."

"Surely that cannot be all. You were in there for quite a while," Rosemary retorted.

"He kept harassing her to work for him. Offered her money and things. He did. Yep. Wanted her to be a bodyguard or security for the funny guy in the white coat. Eli was all 'no can do you big jerk, 'specialy since you don't like my 'mons and I'd have to keep 'em trapped all the time so to please shove his wishfulness where the sun don't shine'. So he settled for having her make two deliveries of things for him," Peeko said, as she landed gently on my shoulder.

"That's not . . .exactly. . . what I said. And how would you know that?" I asked her, going suspicious. "Weren't you suppose to stay with Blues and Sever until I came back?"

"Weeeeeeeell. . . I wanted to stretch my wings! It's not my fault he left his window opened is it?" she replied completely unashamed.

"So, you're his. . .delivery girl?" Red said, his voice a little too neutral.

"I'm just doing it to be nice. After I've delivered what he wants me to, I'm never setting foot near that. . . place again. We have a championship to win, remember? Besides, that'll be something for him to tell his grandkids one day. He knew the champion back when and she did him a favor. It's nice to give people things they can look back with."

"Ha!" Red chortled. "I wish I could have seen his face when you told him no, bet he's not use to people -"

"Hey, you! Trainer!" a voice called interrupting us. "Are you Eliza from Little Root town?"

We all turned around and saw someone standing there, a kid about my age.

"Yes," I replied. "And you are?"

"Brendan Birch. I'm the professor's son," he replied, a hint of smugness in his voice, as if his dad's accomplishments were his own. "Dad sent me to meet you. He forgot to give you a pokedex before you took off, like he had something on his mind. So here you go."

He handed me the device and I looked at it. I honestly thought the professor had decided not to give me one. Live and learn I guess.

"It'll be a great help to you as a new trainer," he carried on in that smug tone. "If you need any help, I've got an extensive career as a trainer. . . I'd be more than happy to help you."

"I think he's trying to flirt with you Liz," Red said, amusement fighting with outrage in his voice.

"Thanks, Brendan." I replied, ignoring my silly combusken. "But I think I'll be fine. Both my dad and my sister are gym leaders and I've picked up a thing or two from them."

"Oh," he replied, his face falling, almost hiding the resentment I saw flashing in his eyes. "How come you don't have a gym badge yet then if you're so awesome?"

I reminded myself that he didn't know any better. His dad probably hadn't told him about my condition, and he probably wasn't aware that Roxanne had been away. Still, I didn't like his 'I'm better than you' attitude, there was something that just irked me about it.

"She's been out of town since I got here, kid. Besides only an idiot charges in a battle unprepared. Thanks for your offer to help, but not thanks. I'll be fine by myself."

He opened his mouth to reply but the Gym aide chose that moment to interrupt, having spied me.

"Eliza! Good to see you. Roxanne's back and she's waiting for you. Are you ready?"