And… CUE MAC AND DUSTY! At the moment I'm in a dilemma. I CANNOT chose which pairing I like better, Mac/Seth or Mac/ Dusty. I would totally appreciate it if I could get your input. I know you haven't seen much of Seth, but Work with me here. I have the ending mapped out, except the small problem between which boy Mac ends up with. I'm hoping to clock this out at around 20 chapters, maybe 30, then start the sequel. BUT I NEED TO DECIDE BEFORE THEN ON WHICH GUY WILL BE, well, I can't say anymore or risk blowing the ending. Just, give me your input and you will be rewarded. :)

BTW, there is Mac/Dusty fluff in this chapter, and some Mac/Seth (through flashbacks) in the next.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

"You go in first."

"No, I think you should."

"Seriously, I don't mind going in after you."

"That's okay. Go on ahead."

"Ever heard of the saying 'ladies first'?"

"Yeah, so what does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything! Just, go in first so I can, er, protect you from behind."

"And my front?"

"…"

"Know what? Don't answer that."

Mac sighed loudly as she faced the opening of the tunnel. She gulped nervously and closed her eyes as she took a step inside.

"I am ri-ight behind you." Dusty drew out the "i" as he followed closely behind the blond. She rolled her eyes, knowing he was completely freaked out about entering the tunnel. Not that she could talk… Neither of them had ever been through a mountain, and both had no idea about what to expect. Misdreavus popped out of his pokéball and sat (floated?) on top of Mac's head. He enjoyed the dark and was counting on taking a nice loooong nap on his trainer's head. Flames, the Houndoom, walked stiffly by his trainer's side as the two teens made their way, ever so slowly, through Mt. Coronet.

Something flew past them and Dusty jumped. "W-what was t-that?" he stuttered. He didn't like the dark while Mac had adjusted quite quickly.

"A Zubat." She said with a wave of her hand. "You have one don't you? I thought you'd know their habits better."

"Yeah, but I haven't had him for long. Zutzu was only a cover Pokémon so my other ones weren't stripped away from me. 'I thought you'd know that'." he taunted back. Mac turned to him with a small smile playing on her lips.

"I did."

Dusty couldn't help the blush that surfaced, but was thankful for the dark to mask it.

He just didn't know Mac had amazing sight in darkness.

'He's cute when he blushes…' she thought to herself, a smile playing on her lips.

—BREAK—

After a while of walking in silence, Mac caught sight of another human being inside the tunnel. He had blue-ish hair and was staring off into space. When he heard them approaching, he turned around. His piercing gaze made Mac shiver despite the warm atmosphere of the cave. A Cleffa cried in the distance…

"What is life?" he asked spontaneously.

"Uh…" Dusty couldn't form an answer and neither could his female companion.

"Why do we humans pollute a world that was given to us? Why have we no sense of what is right or wrong? Our earth is dying, and no one is to blame but ourselves…"

Mac and Dusty looked at each other. He was just another insane environmentalist. Whatever, no big deal.

"But,"

Apparently Crazy wasn't done talking.

"I have a vision. One that can create a better place for humans; a home that we will take care of with our own hands. Pokémon will work beside us and help preserve this land so nothing ever happens to it…"

He smiled at them.

"You have a strong aura about you; I can feel it." He said pointedly to Mac. "Good luck on your journey, Mac."

And with that he was gone.

"W-wait, how did you know my name!" Mac called after him. He never turned around or said another word. Something was off about that guy, and Mac couldn't help but feel that he knew something vital to her quest in saving Seth. Dusty grabbed her hand and gently tugged her further. He could see the exit and desperately wanted out.

"It's nothing, Mac; just a lucky guess. Let's go." He urged. Mac blushed at their intertwined hands and her brain stopped functioning altogether. Her palms felt sweaty and her face heated up.

'What's wrong with me…?' she asked herself. 'I've never felt this way before. It's just Dusty."

Mac stumbled and fell into Dusty a few inches in front of her. He turned in time to catch her, but fell down against the hard ground underneath her. His milky brown eyes widened as her head landed on his chest. She tentatively moved so they were face to face. Dusty snaked his arms around the blonde's waist and Mac placed both her hands on either side of his head to steady herself. Her cerulean orbs bored into his and Dusty felt a magnetic attraction pulling him to her.

"Mac..." he whispered hoarsely. She blushed furiously and chewed on her lower lip. Glancing swiftly around, she realized no one was there. 'What the heck.' She thought before crashing her mouth against his.

She'd never kissed anyone before; she didn't know what it felt like, or even how it would taste. Dusty, surprised at her boldness went rigid underneath her, but fell into the rhythm not long after that. His arms pulled her closer to his chest and her hands moved from their position on either side of his head and into his locks of silver-gray hair.

"Dusty, I—" she couldn't finish her sentence as one of his hands came to pull her head down once again. The blush came back, fierce as ever. Not that he could see it…

Breathing hard, Mac finally came to her senses and gently unlocked her lips from his. She was completely mortified; she had just made out with Dusty. Dusty! She had known him for a week tops and here she was, way out of her comfort zone, kissing him! Her teeth came back to chew her lower lip as she stood up.

"D-dusty, I-I'm so s-sorry. I-I really don't know w-what came over m-me." She stuttered. Dusty stood, a hand making its way into his hair. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and let out a chuckle, his breath still slightly ragged.

"Um, well, i-it was kinda my fault t-too…"

The two teens proceeded to leave the cave without saying another word to each other.

'Smart, Mac.' She scolded, 'You just had to go and make everything awkward. Smo-ooth.'

Misdreavus and Flames were right behind their trainers, confused at what had just occurred. The small ghost looked to the large fire-type wolf, and they both sighed.

Humans were so complicated.

Mac, still chewing on her lower lip, began to twirl a strand of hair between her fingers. She just couldn't get that kiss out of her mind. What made her do it? She didn't know. It definitely wasn't Mac-like. A blush was still prominent on her face and as she looked at the back of Dusty's head, only one thought came to mind:

He tasted like cinnamon.