'Why? Why does he have to leave me? I know he's a year older than me and he only stays because I don't want him to leave…but I can't stay here all alone for the rest of my life…' Selena bolted up the stairs, not even taking her shoes off and slammed the door to her room.

Selena placed Foxfire down before collapsing on her bed crying. Her Vulpix jumped on her bed, nudging Selena with her head.

"I don't want him to leave…" Selena said into the pillow.

"Vul? Vulpix?" Foxfire asked, lying down beside her new trainer, trying to comfort her. Selena looked up, a spark in her eye.

"Maybe I don't have to stay…" Selena muttered. She got up and strolled over to her desk. Pulling a sheet of paper out of her notebook, she began to write.

"Six Pokèballs to start, no…ten, three potions, one paralyze heal, two antidotes…" she paused and looked at Foxfire.

"Pix?" she asked, glancing at the list.

"Make that three antidotes, I don't want you to get poisoned and have nothing on hand to help you with." Selena finished writing the list and slipped it into her bag. She pulled out another piece of paper and began writing a goodbye note.

'This way they will at least know where I went, when they find it at least. By then I will be long gone.' Once she finished the note, Selena tucked it into her bag for safekeeping.

'I won't be leaving until tonight; it would be really bad for me if they found the note before I left…'

Satisfied with her work, Selena picked up Foxfire and went downstairs. After lunch, Selena and Foxfire left for training.

"We'll go into town and buy the supplies now," Selena told Foxfire. "Mom will just think they're for training and won't ask any questions. I'll take care of the rest tonight."

Selena and Foxfire made their way into town, stopping only to enter the PokèMart for the supplies Selena needed.

"So that's ten Pokèballs, three potions, three antidotes, and one paralyze heal?" the shop owner asked.

"Yep! That'll be all sir."

"That comes out to…3400 yen." Selena paid the man, placed the items in her bag and headed out to the field to train. Selena explained to Foxfire all the training they needed and just what it took to survive the harsh journey.

"Now Foxfire, I know we've just became friends, but you'll need to be strong and a good fighter if we're going to make this trip." Foxfire cocked her head.

"Pix," she said, jumping off of Selena's shoulder. She stood tall and puffed out her chest. Selena laughed.

"Yes, I think you're strong now too, but we have to get even stronger, what do you think?"

"Pix. Vulpix," Foxfire replied.

"Let's do it then."

Selena and Foxfire arrived at the field shortly after that. They had only trained for about an hour when none other than Seth spotted them.

Apparently he decided to train after all. The two friends stared at each other silently, neither one had forgotten this morning.

After what seemed like hours, Seth straightened, pushing his glasses up his nose. He sent Selena a charming smile before messing up his hair.

"Wanna battle?" he asked, grinning at the irritated look on her face. Selena blinked, surprised.

"But…Bulbasaur's a grass type and the only Pokémon I have is Foxfire." Seth shook his head, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Yes, but Bulbasaur's not the only Pokémon I have…" Seth flipped the Pokèball he had in his hand. Selena tensed, not sure what to do.

"Don't worry, there's no type advantage for either Pokémon, just to be fair." Seth smile widened as Selena slowly nodded in agreement.

"All right, but let's make this quick," Selena grinned playfully.

"I don't want you to think you have any chance of beating me."

"So one on one battle it is than?" Seth asked.

"Agreed."

"Then, I choose you, Pidgey!" Seth lobbed the Pokèball as hard as he could, a burst of red light shot out, sending a Pidgey flying through the air.

"When did you get a Pidgey?" Selena asked excitedly.

"This morning, while training," He blushed slightly at the adoring look Selena sent him. All traces of the argument from this morning were gone.

"Alright! Foxfire, I choose you!" Selena cried, pointing. Foxfire darted past her trainer and shot a small flame in the air.

"Are you ready?" Seth asked, a little hesitant. Even though they battled with the daycare Pokémon when they were younger, the adults observing and helping occasionally, this was Selena's first real battle. Seth didn't want to go too hard on her.

"I know what you're thinking and don't hold back!" Selena called, snapping Seth back to reality.

"I'll never learn how to battle if everyone babies me!" Seth smiled, pushed his glasses back up his face before ordering his Pokémon to attack.

"Alright then! Pidgey! Quick Attack!" Pidgey spiraled down toward Foxfire, wings folded in. Selena wasn't about to let Seth win that easily.

"Foxfire! Use your Quick Attack! Dodge it!" Foxfire avoided Pidgey easily, attacking him from behind. Seth clinched his teeth.

'So she does know what she's doing…'

"Pidgey! Whirlwind!" Pidgey sent a gust of wind toward Foxfire, sending her flying. She landed in the grass a few feet from Selena, dazed but not hurt.

"Foxfire! Use your Ember attack!"

"Nice try Selena," Seth called.

"Pidgey! Dodge it and use Quick Attack!" Selena watched as Pidgey swept past Foxfire's Ember and turned sharply to attack. Selena thought quickly.

"Foxfire! Use Dig!" The little Vulpix dove underground, hidden from Pidgey.

"Be careful Pidgey! It's underground!" Seth called.

"Foxfire! Come out and use your Roar attack!" Selena called, confident in her Pokémon's ability.

Foxfire leapt out of the ground behind Pidgey, and using its Roar, sent Pidgey flying into a tree. Pidgey hit the ground, defeated. Seth was shell-shocked.

"We did it Foxfire!" Selena laughed, holding out a V for Victory. Seth collected his fainted Pokémon and ran over to meet Selena.

"That was great Selena. Where did you learn Dig?" he asked, holding his injured Pidgey. Selena smiled, picking up Foxfire.

"I'll tell you on the way to the Pokémon Center, your Pidgey looks really hurt." Selena leaned closer to Pidgey, and consequently Seth, causing him to blush at her proximity. Selena reached out for Seth's Pokémon.

"I'm sorry Pidgey, we were a little too rough out there," she said, holding Pidgey close. Foxfire leapt onto Serena's bag and peered over her shoulder at Pidgey.

"You both did a really great job," Selena said smiling. Pidgey cooed softly, its bright eyes on Selena. She stopped walking.

"Here, he wants you to carry him." She said, handing Pidgey back to Seth. Once they were at the Pokémon Center and the Pokémon were rested, Selena and Seth sat down at a table together, letting their Pokémon eat.

"I wanted to say…" Selena started, staring at Foxfire eating. Seth looked at her questioningly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so mean this morning. You worked really hard to earn that badge and I kinda sucked the fun out of it." Seth smiled at her.

"That's okay, I could have handled that better anyway…" his face brightened.

"That reminds me…" Seth opened his bag, shielding the opening from Selena's curious gaze. He pulled out the box.

"This is for you, it's a birthday present." Seth extended the box to Selena, shyly looking away. Selena took the box, examining it.

"It has your name on it so our boxes don't get mixed up. I think if you could beat me so easily, that you should try to get a Cascade Badge as well." Selena's face dropped. Seth noticed and slid closer to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's just that…I don't want to go for that badge yet, I only have Foxfire and I want to get some other Pokémon, from other towns, regions even." Selena sighed sadly.

Suddenly Seth got an idea.

"Let's go," he said, standing. He offered his hand to her. Selena stared at Seth like he had grown a second head.

"What do you mean?" she asked, although excitement was building in her chest; she knew what he meant.

"Let's go on an adventure. What do you say?" Seth asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Selena stared at him a moment longer before grabbing his hand, a smile on her face.

"When?"

"Tonight, at midnight."

"Where shall we meet?" Selena asked, the excitement building in her until she thought she would explode.

"How about the field we train in? I got the map, you bring the food." Seth stopped for a moment, looking thoughtful.

"What?" Selena asked, her heart dropping.

'He's not going to do it…'she thought.

Selena had never felt so disappointed, not even when her mom reminded her she couldn't go on an adventure. Somehow it coming from Seth was ten times worse.

Seth looked at her, the most serious look she had ever seen on his face.

"Do you really want to do this?" he asked. Selena thought for a moment; her family would worry…but if her brother could do it, so could she. She took a deep breath.

"I have already examined every part of this trip; I want an adventure so bad…" Selena smiled then blushed uncharacteristically.

"It would mean more to me if you were there…" Seth colored and looked down.

"I…I would, love you travel with you," he stammered, attempting to push his glasses up his nose but only succeeded in knocking them off his face.

Selena laughed at his awkwardness and picked them up off the floor, cleaning them on her shirt before giving them back. Seth smiled sheepishly, and placed the glasses on his still pink face.

"Shall we then?" Selena asked, picking up Foxfire. Seth nodded, returning Pidgey to his ball and leading Bulbasaur and Selena out of the Center. Selena looked up at the clear blue sky, wondering where the journey would take her.