Yay for another Chapter! I'm trying to get as many up as possible before I leave for a few weeks for a family reunion. Review and Enjoy!

I woke up, thrashing in a cold sweat, my bottom lip bleeding I must have been worrying it in my sleep. I had been plauged by a horrible, horrible dream, but that didn't matter. What bothered me was the intense pain in my head.

Where was I, certainly not in the cave. I was tucked securely into a bed, my head resting on a pillow, the only resident of a small beige room. There were no windows in the room, the only exit being the door that was currently closed, shutters pulled all the way down.

The door opened and, to my surprise, Nurse Joy walked in with a glass of water. "Your awake," she said in surprise, setting the water on the table next to my bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I... I don't know," I said honestly, slowly remembering what had happened.

I had finally found Steven, the son of Mr. Stone and Champion of the Hoenn region, and delivered the letter. I remembered hearing the strange rumbling noise and the, suddenly, Steven had braced himself over me, his handsome face staying smooth as numerous rocks hit his back.

I realized that he had but himself in harms way to protect me. I wasn't sure if I was thankful for that. Another emotion seemed more persistent.

But what had happened then? I looked at Nurse Joy pleadingly.

"You were hit pretty well in the head by a falling rock and got a concussion." Nurse Joy pulled a flashlight out and leaned over me, shining it in my eyes- I blinked like and owl. Nurse Joy seemed pleased and withdrew before adding, "You must stay on the island for at least two more days so I can check your progress. If you through up, get double vision, or through up, you must come back immediately. I would prefer if you would stay here for the night. You also have a class two tear in your ankle ligaments, so you will have to wear a walking cast for a couple of weeks. Other than that, you're perfectly alright."

She turned to leave and glanced back at me. "Your mother's here and has been demanding to see you, I'm going to let her in now."

I groaned and rolled over so my face was buried in the pillow. I really didn't want to deal with my mother right now, she was bound to kick up a fuss.

I heard the door swing open, feeling the cool draft enter the room. I flipped back over and saw my mother's red blotchy face above me, her hair pulled up into an untidy bun. She said nothing but pulled me into a tight hug.

"You could have died Samantha," she said after pulling away. I met her gaze unflinching, if it was a battle she wanted, its a battle she would get.

"Mom, I'm fine, see, still fully alive and breathing."

"I want you to come home as soon as you can, I will not allow you to continue as a trainer. I will not lose you again." What the hell. She and dad were the ones who had pushed me to become a trainer in the first place.

I saw pain and fear in my eyes, but I would not submit, so I set my jaw and growlled, "No."

She used her thumb to stroke my forehead in soothing motions. "I will have to think about it Samantha" She whispered, not looking at me. "Why don't you get some sleep, you had a rough night last night."

I cringed. I knew I talked in my sleep, but I had never given it much thought before. My mother left the room, not quite shutting the door behind her, leaving me in peace.

I didn't know if or when I fell asleep, but I do remember becoming conscience of a soft argument being held right outside the door. I strained to listen but I only could pick up unintelligible fragments which I could not string together to make a comprehension conversation.

The voices stopped abruptly, and the door opened. I immediately closed my eyes and feigned sleep. I heard my mother's breath catch, and she left as quickly as she entered. I opened my eyes and sat up, pushing the covers away and sitting up, feeling the heavy walking boot weighing me down.

Three sharp wraps on the door startled me, and I almost slipped off the bed in surprise.

"May I come in," a smooth and gentle voice asked, Steven's head was poking through the door, his silver hair spiked up and his grey eyes flashing.

I felt the skin under my eyes turn red and I nodded dumbly. Steven walked in and leaned against the door, scratching the back of his head in embarresment. "Steven," I said, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible.

"How are you feeling," he asked with just the right amount of concern.

"A little banged up. I suppose I should thank you."

"You should be fine in a couple of days, and then you can proceed to Slateport. I will accompany you along the way. I'm heading out there as well and seeing as you have the Devon Goods..."

He was hiding something. I could tell. "Steven," I said sharply.

He shrugged awkwardly, trying to catch my eye. I stared at him defiantly, bristling. "It's no problem, seeing as you were put in danger because of my father. Your mother has agreed to allow you to continue your travels as long as I watch over you."

I blanched, and he quickly back tracked, thinking that he had offended me or overstepped his boundaries in some way or form. "That is, if that's alright with you..."

That was not what I was concerned about. What bothered me was that Steven seemed to think that he needed to protect me. I was sixteen and a half for Christ's sake, did nobody understand that?

"That would be great," I said slowly, not really believing it. Travelling with Steven Stone would draw unwanted attention. I hated attention. Steven smiled tentivally, looking at me with interest. "What is it?" I asked resigned.

"Its just that, you look really familiar. I realized this earlier at Petalburg. That's all." I shrugged. I was certain I hadn't met him before becoming a trainer. He grinned uncertainly, and I realized he couldn't be that much older than I, he must be just under twenty or somewhere near that.

"Does it matter," I muttered. " But seriously Steven. Your the freaking Champion Steven, which you failed to mention when I meat you in Petalburg." I moaned loudly and buried my head in my arms.

"Samantha?"

"I splattered eggs in the Champion's face" I said, mortified.

That did it. Steven lost control and was doubled over in laughter, holding his sides to keep them from exploding in amusement. I chucked my pillow at him which dodged neatly. "I'll see you in a bit I suppose." Steven gasped, still in hysterics, smiling as he bowed out.

Sleep over took me quickly afterwards.

Lying still in the Pokemoncenter did not bode well with my impatient nature; soon after I woke I started to figit in boredom, flipping through my Pokedex and reading up information on Dewford on my Pokenav. Eventually, I couldn't resist the urge to slip out of the room.

I quickly fastened the aircast to my injured leg and tested the weight on it, I couldn't feel a thing. I slipped out of the room and walked to the lobby, cheerfully smiling and waking my way to the buffet line to grab a bite to eat.

I glanced at the clock, it was 1:29 pm.

Better late than never, I thought as I grabbed a hot dog and sat down at a booth, my boot leg swinging about an inch above the floor. I wolfed the food down and got up again, putting my tray in a stack, and walked back into the lobby, where Nurse Joy was talking in hushed tones to Steven.

I had pretty much sorted out my problems with Steven.

I shook the thoughts from my head, admonishing myself before clunking over to meet them. "Sam!" Steven said in relief as he reached for me and lay a hand on my arm to draw me forward. I leaned away.

"Whats up hot stuff?" I asked sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes. "Well Nurse Joy, now that we have located Samantha Shepherd, the two of us will be off. Thank you for all your help," he said before dragging me outside.

We stood outside, letting the sun soak into our muscles, but I was staring at the hand that was still resting on my arm. Steven noticed what I was staring at and removed it instantly, as if I had been burned.

"Sorry," I sighed before breaking the silence. "Steven, why don't we start over, forget everything that has been said."

"You mean like, it would be a good idea for me to forget that you got egg in my hair?"

"Thats kinda the idea."

"I think that would be a smashing idea," he said, a smile playing on his lips. I smirked. "My name's Steven."

"Nice to meet you Steven, I'm Samantha." I said, shaking his hand and turning red as he shot me a seductive smile. "Well, now that the introductions are over, there's something I want to do. How about I meet you in front of the PokemonCenter in three hours?"

"Alright," he said, tone bordering on suspicion.

I watched Steven until he was out of sight before setting off on a fast hobble towards a fisherman I had seen earlier.

He was right where I had saw him first, sleeves rolled up, old rod in hands, and seated on his pack. His salt an pepper hair were drenched from the sea spray. Just as I approached him, he got a bite and I watched wide eyes as he tugged the rod backwards and dug his heel into the sand to gain leverage. Neither the fisherman or his catch seemed to have the advantage until suddenly, the tension on the rod disappeared and the Fisherman all but fell over into the sand. He brushed his self off, muttering darkly about 'curses from the moon', and didn't stop until he caught site of my ogling.

"Can I help you missie?" He asked as he wound the reel back in.

"Yes, I was wondering where you got your rod. I wanted to try my hand at fishing..." I trailed off uncertainly.

"Well Lassie, why don't you have this one? I'm through for the day anyway, and this is one of my ol'er ones, antic in fact."

He pressed it into my hands before grabbing is tackle box and ambling off back towards the center of town.

I looked at the rod in my hand, and immediately started fishing.

It took me the better part of an hour to hook a Pokemon, and another thirty minutes to real it in. A red fish Pokemon was flopping on the hook, thrashing back and forth on the line. It was beautiful. I just had to catch it.

Finally.

I dragged the rod back out of the water, drawing the sea dwelling Pokemon from the water and onto the beech where it's gleaming red scales quickly became donned in sand. I reached for my Pokebelt and called out Poochyena.

"Tackle!" I yelled. Poochyena darted forward slamming head long into the Pokemon, which immediately stopped struggling. I was surprised it had given up so easily, even more so when the Pokeball I threw at it stopped wiggling, signalling my success.

"Good job, Poochyena!" I cooed, scratching behind his ear before recalling him to his ball. I grasped my newly captured Pokemon's ball and threw it up, calling it back onto the beach. The red fish Pokemon stared at me wearily.

I pulled out my Pokedex and turned it on.

Magikarp, the Fish Pokemon. An under powered, pathetic Pokemon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but usually not more than seven feet. It is said to be the world's weakest Pokemon. No one knows how it manages to survive.

I frowned and switched off the Pokedex. Pathetic? No, my Pokemon wouldn't be pathetic. He was my new friend.

I crouched down so I was eye to eye with the Magikarp. "Listen hear, we've got some training to do, but first you need a name. How about... Spaz?" The magikarp thrashed it's tail around. I assumed that was approval of my excellent name choice.

That's why for the next hour or so, I searched out wild pokemon and trainers and battled them, trying to raise Spaz a few levels. I was surprised, but in the course of a few battles, he almost doubled in size, and sure enough, when I checked, Spaz had reached level eleven.

Pleased, I checked my watch. Letting out an explanation I began running towards the PokemonCenter.

"Steven," I gasped out, trying to catch my breath, resting my hands above my knees and doubled over. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's find Samantha." Steven smiled, and smoothed his blazer tails and led me through the town, showing me his favorite spots. I was happy to trail behind him, nodding when he paused, and making my own observations, mainly watching Steven.

Mr. Briney was busy washing his deck with a very dirty looking mop when I finally reached the boat, Steven in tow. He glanced up, his eyes narrowing in on the man next to me, and waving heartily.

"Well lass, have you delivered the letter successfully? I take it you are prepared to travel to Slateport now."

I nodded. "Mr. Briney, the person I delivered the letter to was Steven," I said pointing to the silver haired Champion, "and he will be traveling with me for a while. I was wondering if you would mind if he rode with us to Slateport."

Mr. Briney looked between us two, a smile spreading over his face and winked at me knowingly. I blushed. "That would be fine lass. Steven my boy, it's been a while."

I shot a confused glance at Steven, but he was to busy shooting back his reply. "The years have done you good Briney, I take it your offer still stands?"

"Of course boy, I'll give you a ride anywhere anytime. Lets set sail immediately!"

When Mr. Briney turned to hustle off to prepare for cast off, Steven's voice whispered into my ear, causing my heart to jump to my throat, "Mr. Briney use to take me across the ocean when I was just starting off. He's always offering his services to young trainers."

I nodded in understanding. I bent my legs, judging the jump from the port to the boat, but Steven stepped in front of me. "No way your jumping, you'll only get hurt," he said kindly. "Here, let me help."

Without warning, he picked me up by the waist, gently but firmly, and swung me over the gap. My skin burned under my clothes where his hands had rested, and I had to grab the side rail to keep my balance. Steven cleared the gap gracefully, and the ship pulled out of the port, after the captain informed us that it would be an two day trip.

I sat on a bench and pulled out my journal from my satchel and started sketching, leaving Steven to his own devises. How I ended up drawing Steven, I didn't know, but eventually I found myself wiping the sweat off my forehead and examined my art work before putting it next to me satisfied. I looked up, Steven was standing on the side of the deck, hair blowing in the breeze, fingers wrapped tightly around the guard rails. The way the setting sun hit his skin... and I was off sketching again.

Steven's POV

I was using her, and I knew it, and I even felt bad that I was using her. But it was just so convinient. If anyone bothered to look into my whereabouts, they would see that I was just travelling with a girl and assisting her on her journey. Let the media make of what they wanted of that. But I knew what was really going on.

I glanced over at the sleeping figure on the bench, relieved that she had finally closed her eyes. Sure, she was a nice enough girl, but he really needed to be able to talk on the Nav without her monitering his conversations.

With one hand in my pocket, I dialed a number that I hadn't dialed in ages. The Nav didn't even ring once before it was picked up.

"Steven" the crackly reply came. Almost out of range. Fuck.

"What the hell Lance, your supposed to be undercover in Mossdeep. Where the hell are you?" I had to keep my voice down as not to wake Samantha, but my tone should be enough to let the other Champion know I was not pleased.

"Something came up, there was another sighting."

"Surely not anywhere outside of Hoenn. Both groups abandoned their posts in Kanto and Jhoto years ago."

"I know that Stone," Lance growled, almost drowned out by the crackling. "I'm in a submerine if you must know, but thats really none of your buisness. This is my jursdiction until something substantial comes up, then I turn it over to you. You already know this so go do more of your own investigations instead of screwing up-AW FUCK!"

The line immediately went dead, and I stared at the phone in dismay. I always knew that Lance didn't like me, but this was getting ridiculous. Everybody had to share information, to work together, if they were going to suceed. He would have to adress that at the next meeting.

But a submerine? Why was he chasing them, Aqua presumably, to the depths of the ocean. I glanecd at the water around me uneasily. So now the water as well as the lands could conceal the enemy.

What was next, the sky? Swearing under my breath, I opened my Nav once more. I needed to make another call.