Chira and company arrived in Viridian again at sunset, and didn't have a choice but to stay at the pokecenter. Chira returned Insight and Cami before entering, remembering the last time they had been there. They had ridden hard to arrive in Viridian from Pewter in half the time it had taken to get there.

Now Chira pushed open the double doors and froze as the amount of people and pokemon inside overwhelmed her. Everyone was talking and laughing. It seemed like everyone knew each other. No one was out of the loop, except maybe a group in the corner who everyone seemed to defer to. Chira got some food and headed over to the telephones. Her mother answered on the first ring.

"Hey, Sweetie, how are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Mom. How's everything on the home base?"

"Everything is going well, but everyone misses you, especially Growlithe. We haven't heard from you since you were at the pokecenter in Viridian. How are you doing on your pokemon journey?"

"I'm doing really well. I got the Boulder Badge thanks to Insight, and now I'm back at the pokecenter in Viridian."

"Why?"

"I guess I'm headed to Indigo Plateau for that pokemon competition."

"Are you going to participate? I don't see how you can be ready to enter that kind of thing."

"No, I'm not participating. That picture of my birth parents? It was in front of the main entrance of Indigo Plateau. I'm hoping someone there will know them. Maybe they will even be there!" She paused. "If they're even still alive."

Her mother was silent. "Have you read that letter yet?" she asked at length.

"No," Chira said. "I haven't had the courage to. It says their dead, doesn't it?"

Her mother nodded. "I'm afraid so. Honey, you need to read it before too long."

Chira stared at the counter the phone was on. "I will."

"Be strong, Chira. You know your father and I are proud of you."

Chira blinked back tears. "Thanks, Mom. I promise I'll do my best for you. Don't worry about me. I have Cami with me if anything happens. Now I have to go, people want the phone. I love you. Say hi to Dad for me."

"I will. I love you, Chira."

They hung up. Chira stared at the screen for a moment before standing up. She headed to the dining room and sat at a table, thinking. She pulled out the letter and stared at the envelope. She bit her lip and reached for the flap, but stopped. She eventually put it away, unopened. She gathered her things together and left the pokecenter. When she was at the edge of Viridian she released Insight and Cami.

"We're going to spend another night under the stars," she told them. Cami knew not to say anything and nudged Insight to keep her silent. Chira was in a strange mood.

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Lucky chapter thirteen. Yes! Okay, I know this isn't a very good chapter, just bear with me. It'll get better. I had a bit of writer's block on this chapter after the phone call, and I just wrote something. Any suggestions? I would like some input on my story here. Thanks.