Author's Note:

Hello all, Ninja here! Here we have chapter three. My current goal is to try and upload as frequently as I can. My biggest obstacle right now is real life. It likes to take all my time away from me and make me do things that aren't fun, but what can you do? So I guess upload speed really depends on how much time I can actually devote to writing this. I have several things planned out, but I just gotta get it on paper, screen, whatever. So, yeah...long-winded, whiny explanation of upload speed...moving on.

If there are any typos hidden within the story, feel free to let me know. Sometimes my brain and my fingers don't communicate so well and I end up using the wrong word, write some words twice, or even forget a word. It's very irritating so if you spot any typos let me know and I'll see about fixing them. That goes for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes too. I like for things to be as they should.

Also, I suffer writer's block too frequently. Reviews and feedback of any kind keep me going and help me out tremendously! It lets me know that people are interested in my story and provides ample encouragement. (I'm not fishing for reviews, really I'm not. This is the honest truth. If you don't believe me then fine) Making this story one of your favorites or following it also makes me feel good. It still lets me know there's interest, but more on an...anonymous front...I guess you'd call it...

But back to business. I gladly present you with chapter three of Lauren Ketchum's journey. This is the chapter where the story picks up somewhat. (at least I hope) But without further ado; happy reading to all of you!

Hovering in the Shadows,
Ninja

Chapter Three: Excitement, Resolve, and a New Adventure

It had been two days since Lauren had received her trainer's license and partner Pokémon. It had been two whole days since she had decided not to leave home for her journey yet. Ash and Misty had remained supportive of her, but inwardly they were beginning to worry. They never knew what was going through Lauren's mind and, to them; it seemed she just didn't want to leave home. Each day Lauren had taken her new Cyndaquil and gone out into the backyard. The only thing they did out there was talk-if you could call it that. Whenever Misty was in the kitchen she would watch them from the window, rarely catching glimpses of Lauren's face in profile. It was the only way she knew Lauren was talking to Cyndaquil. Surely the ten year old wasn't lonely; it had only been two years since Jenny and Kelly had left for their journeys.

Ash seemed especially disheartened and immersed himself in training his Pokémon. Misty could tell he was just as confused as she was, even if he didn't talk about it. Whenever Misty tried he would merely respond, "It's Lauren's journey, she can do it however she wants". After a few attempts, Misty gave up on questioning him. He would talk to her about it when he was ready.

By the third day, Misty felt she should talk to Lauren about the whole situation. She was more worried than anything, but she also suspected that there were many things Lauren was keeping to herself. It was obvious that the young girl was struggling with something, but much like Misty she had opted to suffer in silence.

As soon as Misty had decided to confront Lauren however; a most unexpected turn of events derailed her plans. She had assumed Lauren was out back again and had begun making her way out there. Lauren was not outside though; she was seated in the living room with Cyndaquil resting happily in her lap. Before Misty could even open her mouth, Lauren spoke.

"I think I'm ready to start my journey Mom."

The only thing Misty could do was raise her eyebrows and open her mouth slightly. She searched for a reply, but it seemed that her words had disappeared due to a moment of shock. Misty blindly sought out a chair, not taking her eyes off of Lauren, and upon finding one she flopped down into the seat. Her mind was reeling as she processed what Lauren had just said.

Lauren took a deep breath. "Seeing this has left you speechless leads me to believe you were worried I would never leave…" She paused in case Misty summoned a reply, but was only met with silence. Lauren offered Misty a smile. "I always planned on leaving, just so you know…"

Misty shook her head, ridding herself of the stupor she had been trapped in. She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath to help ensure she had regained her composure. When she felt sure she had, she turned her eyes back to Lauren.

"Are you…are you sure?" Misty asked, hoping she appeared sympathetic.

Lauren nodded. "I'm positive. I just needed a little time to figure out what I wanted to do."

"You mentioned this on the day you were supposed to leave," said Misty, "I must confess that I'm not quite sure about what you mean…"

Lauren started to reply, but then stopped. She looked down at Cyndaquil for a moment and then looked back at her mother.

"Can we wait until Daddy gets home?" Lauren asked. "I don't want to have to explain it twice and I'm sure he doesn't want to hear about this from you…no offense…"

Misty pursed her lips, nodding her head. "I don't see why not. He'll be home around dinner time. Is it safe to assume you'll be leaving tomorrow?"

Lauren nodded and sat up a little straighter. She had a smile on her face, but her eyes burned with determination. The sudden change in demeanor made Misty's heart flutter. It was clear that Lauren was serious and had every intention of beginning her journey the following day. Even Cyndaquil had his chest puffed out a little as he demonstrated his own confidence and determination.

"Well, alright," said Misty as she stood up, "If this is your decision, you know I'll support you…" Misty smiled at Lauren and began walking towards the hallway so she could call Ash in private. As she reached the entrance to the hall she turned back to Lauren, still smiling. "I'm proud of you Lauren. I really am."

Lauren beamed as Misty disappeared into the hall. She ducked off into the master bedroom, closing and locking the door behind her. She leaned back against it, letting Lauren's announcement fully sink in. Misty retrieved her cell phone from the dresser and dialed Ash's number. Once again, she found herself overwhelmed by an array of emotions.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey Mist, what's up?"

"You're going to be home for dinner right?"

"Of course, why?"

"Lauren finally announced that she's ready to start her journey. She's leaving tomorrow, but she wants to explain to us why she waited like she did…"

Silence.

"Ash?"

"Yeah…yeah, I'll be home in plenty of time tonight. I'll go ahead and schedule tomorrow morning off as well."

Misty could hear the quaver in Ash's voice even though he was trying to hide it. She couldn't tell what emotion it was from since they were on the phone, but she hoped it was from happiness.

"Okay, just thought I'd call and make sure. I've got to go and do some paperwork for the gym, but I'll see you tonight."

"Okay, I love you Misty."

"I love you too."

Misty hung up and fell back onto the bed she shared with Ash, staring at the ceiling. For the second time in a week, she was going to have to prepare herself for Lauren's departure into the world. Misty was both excited and a little depressed. She thought back to the letter she had written and began wondering if Lauren had found it. With a sigh, she rolled onto her side and stared at the family photo beside the bed. What were her other children up to? It had been a little while since she had heard from them.

"Ugh, too much nostalgia," Misty groaned as she got off the bed. She walked around the bed and exited the room.

"That's cheating! Being a fire type doesn't make you invincible! Don't give me that look! You know the rules!"

Lauren's loud banter with her Pokémon brought an amused smile to Misty's face. Giving in to the sudden temptation, Misty doubled back to her room and retrieved her camera. She turned it on and paused in the door way to adjust the settings.

"You big fat cheater Cyndaquil; why can't you play fair? You're a jerk—hey!" Lauren barked as a series of thumps and bangs echoed through the house. Misty giggled quietly as she began walking back down the hall.

"Ouch! You'll pay for that one!"

The commotion continued to escalate until it finally resulted in a very loud crash. Misty gasped and rushed into the living room to see what had transpired. As soon as she laid eyes on the scene before her, she couldn't hold back her laughter. The rambunctious pair had managed to knock over the recliner, a side table, and a standing lamp. Only a hand and leg were visible beneath the overturned recliner and both were twitching slightly. The side table and its contents were strewn across the room. The lamp shade was now stuck on Cyndaquil's head as he stumbled around haphazardly. The lamp itself was rolling back and forth on the floor due to being knocked over.

"Is…is everyone still…alive?" Misty choked out as her laughter began to subside.

Lauren was mumbling something in response, but it was muffled and incoherent. Cyndaquil was still trying to get the lamp shade off. He growled with frustration as he thrashed about on the floor. In a desperate attempt to be rid of it he jumped up and dashed across the room, running right into the wall and falling over. Misty took advantage of the situation and began taking pictures. Lauren, meanwhile, had finally emerged from beneath the recliner, rubbing the back of her head. Cyndaquil made another wild dash and managed to run into Lauren. The ten year old took one look at her Pokémon and started laughing. The highly annoyed Cyndaquil let out an angry bark and blindly tackled his trainer.

"That was uncalled for!" Lauren snapped as she gave Cyndaquil a little shove.

"Cynda-Cyndaquil!" the little Pokémon sobbed, clearly tired of the lamp shade being stuck on his head.

"Just calm down Cyndaquil," said Lauren as she grasped the lamp shade, "I'll get it off. Now, just hold still."

Lauren tugged on the lamp shade, but it barely moved. She grumbled a few words under her breath as she tried several more times, but to no avail. Cyndaquil whimpered quietly as Lauren stopped pulling to catch her breath. She pursed her lips in thought as she studied her stuck friend. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her mother was still taking pictures and giggling.

"You could help you know," said Lauren pointedly shooting her an annoyed look for added emphasis.

Misty took one last picture and then set the camera aside. "Alright, I'll get the butter…"

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A couple of hours later, they had successfully freed Cyndaquil and returned the living room to its original state and were now occupying the kitchen. Misty was now preparing dinner while Lauren and Cyndaquil were sitting at the table. Lauren was recounting the events that led up to the living room destruction.

"We were playing 'the floor is lava', but Cyndaquil wouldn't follow the rules," Lauren explained. "He thinks that just because he's a fire type he has lava immunity—

"Wait, wait, wait," Misty interrupted, "Before you explain anymore; what are the rules of 'the floor is lava'?"

"You can't touch the floor," Lauren replied, "That one is pretty obvious. It's kind of like the game 'horse' in basketball. One person goes from point A to point B—

"Without touching the floor?"

"Yes, Mom, without touching the floor. You have to use the furniture and stuff to get around. Once the first person finishes their route, the second person has to follow it exactly. If you touch the floor, you lose. If you don't copy their route, you lose. Simple enough right?"

Misty nodded. "It sounds easy enough."

"Okay so anyways, Cyndaquil decides that because he's a fire type he can just walk around on the floor and not follow the rules," said Lauren. "So, I called him a cheater and we started arguing—But then, this little jerk starts trying to knock me off the recliner. We started wrestling around, eventually making it onto the floor. Cyndaquil then decides to tackle me, so I tackled him back and we ended up plowing into all that stuff and knocking it over."

Misty could only shake her head as Lauren concluded her story. It seemed that Lauren and Ash were more alike than she had previously thought. This filled Misty with an array of mixed emotions-but mostly just sick with worry. If Lauren did indeed take after her father, trouble was guaranteed to follow. She knew very well that her son Dillon had inherited Ash's talent for trouble. The twins even seemed to have inherited the ability-but that was mostly due to them being the cause. It seemed that the "Ketchum Talent for Trouble" had divided itself amongst the children so as to continue the legacy. Misty's biggest concern was figuring out which portion Lauren had received.

"Misty, I'm-oh, what smells so good?" Ash announced, as he walked in the door.

Misty smiled slightly. Well, speak of the devil.

"Dinner of course. How was your day?" Misty replied, tending to the items cooking on the stove.

Ash shrugged and snaked his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "It was a little slow to start, but then an excellent training partner happened by..."

Misty turned around in his arms, raising a questioning eyebrow. Ash simply offered her a very wide grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Misty studied his face for any sort of clue. When his expression yielded no hints, she looked over at Lauren who shrugged.

"So, are you going to tell me who?" she asked impatiently, making Ash's grin widen. He was clearly enjoying teasing her and it was beginning to wear on her nerves rather quickly. When she still received no response, she pushed herself out of his arms and put her hands on her hips. "Ash!"

Ash chuckled lightly and then turned to the door. "Alright, I've had my fun; you can come in now!"

Misty sighed and shook her head as she turned to face the door. As soon as the mystery visitor came into view, Misty flew across the room and engulfed him in a spine crushing hug. Only when he pulled away from Misty, gasping for air, did Lauren see who it was. He adjusted his hat, took a deep breath, and then flashed a familiar smile. Lauren giggled and then smiled widely.

"Dillon!" she greeted loudly, still grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi Lauren," he replied as Misty wrapped him in another hug, making him laugh. "It's good to see you too Mom."

Misty rolled her eyes and then looked her eldest child up and down. "Dillon, you got so tall all of the sudden! I feel like I haven't seen you in...Arceus knows how long!"

Dillon shrugged, sliding his backpack off and setting it against the wall by the door. He turned to Lauren and ruffled her hair. She grumbled something under her breath as she fixed her hair and then stood up. She swiftly punched Dillon in the shoulder, grinning widely at him.

"I got my first Pokemon Dillon!" Lauren exclaimed, "Check it out!"

Lauren waved Cyndaquil over and the little red fire mouse Pokemon pranced across the floor in a showy fashion. He sat at Dillon's feet and puffed out his chest in an attempt to make himself seem more impressive. Dillon chuckled and crouched down, patting Cyndaquil on his head gently.

"You got quite the character here Lauren," said Dillon, "I bet he's a powerhouse in battle."

Cyndaquil sat up as straight as possible, relishing in Dillon's attention and compliments. Lauren rolled her eyes and crouched down beside Dillon. She playfully poked Cyndaquil's side making him squeak indignantly. He shot her a pointed look and then shuffled closer to Dillon.

"Yeah, he's a character alright," said Lauren as a sly smile crept onto her face, "Got his fat head stuck in a lamp shade today too." For a brief moment Cyndaquil looked mortified, but then began chattering and wildly gesturing at Lauren in an attempt to take the heat off himself. Lauren only giggled in response, causing the little fire mouse to growl at her in irritation.

Dillon laughed. "Really now? How did he manage that?"

"While arguing over the rules of a game," said Lauren with an embarrassed smile. "It sort of escalated into a wrestling match and we ended up knocking some furniture over during the argument..."

Cyndaquil smiled bashfully, nodding slightly to confirm the story. Lauren patted Cyndaquil's head and then scooped him into her arms as she stood up. She offered a reassuring smile and gave him a light squeeze to show her affection. The little fire type returned the gesture by snuggling into her embrace and resting his head in the crook of her arm.

"Cyn-Cynda-Cyndaquil!" Cyndaquil exclaimed happily as he settled into Lauren's arms.

"His color is rather unusual," Dillon observed, "I've never seen a red Cyndaquil before."

Lauren beamed at her older brother. "Me either, but I'd love him even if he didn't have a unique coloring. I just know we'll be the best of friends."

With a gentle smile, Lauren looked down at Cyndaquil as he shifted and looked up at her. Although she didn't know what she had done; her words had touched Cyndaquil's heart. It was clear that Lauren and Cyndaquil were friends by the way they carried on with each other. But in this moment and with those words, something new had emerged between them. The bond they shared had, unknowingly, become stronger. It was an important event that would soon be a key factor in Lauren's journey.

Ash cleared his throat, reminding his children that he and Misty were still present. "Speaking of Pokemon; I hear you've got something to tell us..."

Lauren nodded earnestly, smiling slightly. "That's right, I do."

She glanced at the stove and then back at her parents, now grinning sheepishly. "But can we eat before we get into all that?"

Ash laughed light heartedly, throwing an arm around Misty. "Of course! I'm starving too!"

XXX

XXX

Once the Ketchum family had finished their rowdy dinner, they all adjourned to the living room. Ash, Misty, and Dillon all sat on the couch while Lauren was seated in the recliner. Dillon had released his Phanpy and it was now sitting in his lap. Phanpy was incredibly tiny and extremely shy. Dillon was now busy telling them all about her.

"She was very weak when I found her," he explained, "And she was even tinier than she is now! At first she wouldn't let me help her, but I guess exhaustion overtook her and she fainted."

"Oh the poor thing," Misty cooed, making another attempt to pet Phanpy. But like all her other attempts, Phanpy shied away.

"Yeah, so I rushed her to the nearest Pokemon Center," Dillon continued, "At first Nurse Joy was mad at me because she thought it was my Pokemon, but I finally explained that I had found her. She quickly apologized and took Phanpy in for treatment." Dillon looked down at Phanpy and smiled, gently stroking her back. "It took almost three days for Phanpy to get better. As soon as she was outside though, she took off to try and find her herd again-

"You followed her right?" interrupted Ash, looking slightly concerned.

Dillon nodded. "Of course! She's really fast too; I almost lost her a few times. When I finally caught up, she had found her herd, but they rejected her just like before. At that point, I think she realized there was no hope of returning so she ran off again. And yes, I followed her still. We were slowly becoming friends, but then a Graveler appeared out of nowhere and attacked us." Dillon paused, ginning sheepishly. "I protected Phanpy, of course, but I...well, I kind of forgot I had Pokemon who could battle..."

Misty looked at Ash, smiling mischievously. "I wonder where he gets that from..." Misty teased, making Ash roll his eyes.

"But long story short; we battled that Graveler and won, helping her to trust me and ultimately leading to her joining my team." Dillon concluded.

"Good job Dillon, I'm very proud of you," said Misty, "I'm sure Phanpy is going to be spectacular!"

Ash nodded in agreement and then turned to look at Lauren. His youngest daughter was now gazing intently at Cyndaquil. He could tell Cyndaquil could sense Lauren's anxiety and had snuggled into her lap in an effort to comfort her. Cyndaquil would occasionally glance over at Phanpy, clearly curious about her however; he chose to remain in Lauren's lap and offer his support.

His dedication to Lauren is impressive. Ash thought. They've only been partners for a short time, but it's like they've been together for a long time.

"Well, I suppose it's my turn now," Lauren announced, interrupting Ash's thoughts. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to Lauren as the room fell deafeningly silent. The youngest Ketchum glanced down at Cyndaquil one last time, took a deep breath, and then sat up straight. Her facial expression changed as she squared her shoulders in hopes that she appeared absolutely sure of herself.

"I know that my decision not to leave on my journey right away was a bit...well, shocking," Lauren began, "But I felt I needed to figure out what I wanted to do before I left-

"What does that mean?" Ash asked, "I'm not quite understanding that..." Misty rolled her eyes, muttering something about being dense.

Lauren smiled briefly, but reverted to looking serious again. "Well, like you wanted to be a Pokemon Master or Jenny and Kelly wanting to be a Coordinator and a Groomer-

"Don't forget me!" Dillon interrupted, earning an elbow to his side from Misty.

"You're following in Dad's footsteps so you don't count in my examples," Lauren retorted, "But anyways, I needed to figure out my path and be absolutely certain it was the one for me. It's a hard decision. I like to battle, but I don't want to do the Gym Challenge. I definitely know I don't want to be a Coordinator-I mean, Contests are cool and all, but it just isn't for me."

Lauren fell silent for a moment, looking back down at Cyndaquil. He gave a small nod, urging her on. She nodded back and then looked back up at her family. Misty offered a warm smile to show her support while Ash looked genuinely interested in what she saying, but a little confused as well. Dillon seemed to have turned his attention to Phanpy as he was now playfully tickling her tiny trunk and ears.

"After tons of thinking and talking about it to Cyndaquil," Lauren continued, "I think I know what I want to do on my journey..." She paused, searching for the right words to explain it. "Um, well...I'm not sure it has a title, but...I really want to just help trainers with their Pokemon. Not like as a nurse or a doctor, but like...help trainers and their relationships with their Pokemon. I want to help them strengthen their bond, help with Pokemon who won't listen, or something like that. I guess it would be like a counselor or something? I don't know, but that's what I want to do; I want to help trainers, coordinators, and anyone else with their Pokemon."

The room was silent as Misty and Ash appeared to be processing what Lauren had just told them. Dillon was still playing with Phanpy, seemingly oblivious to all that had just been explained. Lauren looked down at Cyndaquil who patted her arm and nodded. She smiled back at him, happy to finally get all that off her chest. Ash and Misty exchanged glances as Misty opened her mouth to say something however; Dillon beat her to it.

"That's so cool Lauren," he said, still playing with Phanpy, "I've met lots of people and Pokemon and sometimes you come across someone who needs help like that. I think you could make a lot people happy doing that."

Lauren was surprised by Dillon's comment-mostly because she thought he hadn't been listening. Even Ash and Misty seemed a little caught off guard, but quickly dismissed their astonishment and turned their attention back to Lauren.

"I think Dillon is absolutely right," Misty said with a smile, "I couldn't have said it better myself. Right Ash?"

Ash blinked several times and then nodded his agreement. "Yes, right! But, I have a question..."

Lauren opened and closed her mouth, somewhat unsure of what was about to be asked. "Okay..."

"You're still going to participate in battles aren't you?" he asked with somewhat of a whine. "They don't have to be for badges, just for fun..."

Misty smacked her forehead and then hid her face in her hands while Dillon began laughing loudly, disturbing Phanpy. Ash had a pleading look on his face, meaning his question was a completely serious one. Lauren couldn't hold back her own laughter as she heard his question and saw his pleading look. Misty soon joined her children in laughing causing Ash to begin whining about getting an answer and being serious.

When their laughter finally ceased, Ash was left pouting with his arms crossed over his chest. He was mumbled something about being taken seriously as Misty put an arm around his shoulders, still grinning widely. Lauren wiped the tears out of her eyes as a few remaining giggles escaped. Once she caught her breath, she smiled big at Ash. It was a smile overflowing with joy and so large it seemed too big for her face. Ash's expression quickly softened and he returned the smile.

"So, are you?" he asked, still smiling.

Lauren gave him a thumbs up and continued to smile. "You bet I will!" she exclaimed heartily. Cyndaquil jumped to the floor and approached Ash's feet. He puffed his chest out and raised his paws upward to show he and Lauren felt the same. Ash nodded, smiling wider now.

"Well, that being said," said Dillon with a yawn, "How about you battle me tomorrow morning before we leave?"

Lauren opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it. She narrowed her eyes at him, suddenly feeling apprehensive.

"What do you mean 'before we leave'?" she asked bluntly.

Dillon shrugged. "Mom probably has a better answer than I do..."

Lauren's eyes widened as she looked at Misty. Her mother's face was now a lovely shade of scarlet as she pretended to be interested in something else. Realization washed over Lauren and was soon replaced by agitation.

"Mom..." Lauren hissed through clenched teeth. "What does Dillon mean?"

Misty laughed nervously, running a hand through her hair before finally meeting Lauren's gaze. As she looked into Lauren's eyes, she suddenly felt like she was looking in a mirror.

I guess this is what it's like for them when I'm mad...

"I'm waiting." Lauren demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Misty smiled hesitantly. "Now don't get mad..."

XXX

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Author's Note:

Okay, so there it is! Sorry, it took so long to update. I'm working on it so hopefully you guys won't have to wait so long for the next chapter! Hope you guys enjoy it!

I would also like to extend my many, many thanks to those who reviewed!

Jenificent3007: Thanks again for your review! The intro for Chpt. 2 was hard to get right. But then again, I have a hard time writing the beginning of anything. I was going for a kind of 'start of episode' feel. Good to know it came across that way. Also I figured that since they invented the PokeGear-which included the feature of a phone-they could easily invent a modern day cell phone. The Black and White games even have something like a portable video phone or something. (I forget what it's called) And yes it was intentional to make Lauren late just like Ash. I figured she had to be like her father in some ways, right? The letter chapter will be arriving soon, I've been working super hard on that in particular.

And super thanks for catching the errors in the chapter. Even when I reread them, my brain will occasionally fall down on its job. I strive for perfect, but well...yeah, not gonna happen. But THANKS again!

nyislandersgirl: It's so ironic that you're reviewing my story, because I'm totally a fan of a few of yours. ("Family Matters", "A New Era, A New Adventure", and "Alphabits" to be specific) You're an awesome writer yourself and now that you've reviewed my stuff, I'll return the favor and leave a few for you. But anywho...

Ash and Misty will probably crop up throughout her adventure rather frequently. (I have a rough idea of how I want some of the events to go) As for her siblings; I'm not entirely sure about their involvement. Dillon's stance is neutral and supportive (as shown in the above chapter). The twins...well, you'll have to wait and see about them. I have a plan for that. And thanks for the compliments on my writing and stuff. I'm certainly not an expert, but I try to do everything right and make sure everything is correct. But thanks a bundle!

Sincerely Lurking,

Ninja