The Journey
Chapter 7- N
By: Belletiger

"Blah blah"- human speech

"( blah blah)"- pokemon speech

Gary (o)- Gary Oak
Gary(K) -kujondo

XXX

Blue was in really bad mood. The reason? Well, he found out that the strange activates that were happening at Nacrene's city was all because of a little Yamask that had lost its mask and making all that fuss to recover it. The human named Lenora had came to the museum to fix the mess that her husband had caused accidentally. Gary was feeling a little uncomfortable with Blue's bad mood. He might can't read or see aura like Blue does, but he could 'see' that Blue had a dark aura around him.

"Blue….. your aura is dark," Gary

"Really? How can you see that Mr. Aura Reader?"muttered Blue darkly.

Gary sighted, Blue's bad mood was really giving him headaches. At least his friend was following the advice of that little Yamask to go to Ninbasa City. The little pokemon told them Nimbasa City was the most populous city in the Unova region and they could find clues what they were looking for in there. He didn't know why but he feels something big will happen in this city.

XXX

At a pokemon center, Gary Oak was in the cafeteria white Nurse Joy was healing his pokemon. But his mind was in another place. He was still thinking about that boy, Blue. He could swear Blue was Ash's slipped image, except for those red eyes. But he wondered why that young boy had reacted so weird when he accidentally called him Ash. Gary Oak sighted as he took out from his pocket two pieces of a broken pokeball. He remembered Brock being the one to give him after Ash's funeral 4 years ago.

*Flashback- 4 years ago*

It was raining on the day of funeral. All Ash's friends and family already left but he stayed behind. He was all soaked but he didn't mind. He only looked at the tomb stone that has the name of his childhood and rival written in it. He still can't believe Ash died and in a very tragic way.

"Gary?"

Gary turned around and saw brok. He was dressed in a black suit, under an umbrella. The ex-Gym leader looked at him with sympathy eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"What do you think?" Gary Oak muttered darkly to the ex gym leader.

Brock couldn't blame Gary for being like this. Brock had been traveling with Ash only for 2 years while Gary had know Ash all his life before they went to their own pokemon journey. Gary does not show but he was suffering most. Then, Brock took something from his pocket and gave it to Gary. The young Oak blinked as he saw what he had in his hand; it was a piece of a pokeball. Gary's eyes widen in surprise when he recognized the piece.

"This is….."

" Ash told us once about the meaning behind of this piece of pokeball." Brock said to Gary . "You know Ash better than any one of us and I think Ash would like you keep it." With that Brock left, leaving Gary alone.

Gary closed his had as tears rolled down on his face. He promised he will treasure that piece with his life. After all, it was thanks to that broken pokeball that made Gary and Ash giving their best, proving who was the best one between them to each other. The rain stopped as Gary looked at the sky. He could see a rainbow forming in the sky as he saw a shiny bird flying trough to it.

"Ash… I promise I will never give up. And maybe someday we will meet again…. Until there, rest in peace….. my friend."

*End of Flashback*

Gary (O) sighted as he took the pieces back to his pocket as he drank some coffee. The young researcher blinked when he saw a photo in the newspaper; it was Misty Waterflower. He didn't see the gym leader of Cerulean city since Ash's funeral. From what he was reading in the newspaper, she and her sisters were going to do a water ballet at Nimbasa City and by coincidence, he was on his way to there. He thought for a moment; it might be a good opportunity to talk to her since they do not see each other for a long time. Then he heard the signal; his pokemon were already healed. Time to go to the road again.

XXX

Clara sighted as she looked at her 3rd badge in her badge case. She was happy that she got her 3rd badge and some of her pokemon team had evolved but in the deep she was still concerned. She still can't stop thinking about that unknown pokemon. For some reason that pokemon knew her name. But how? She didn't remember meeting that pokemon before.

Dewott- the evolved form of Oshawott was looked at her trainer very worried. She didn't know why her trainer was so concerned about. And lately the otter pokemon was feeling they were being watched by someone but she can't see who or what was watching them. She was so in deep in her thoughts that she didn't noticed a pokemon had just tackled her.

"Dewott! Are you ok?" Asked Clara as the otter pokemon nursed her head. The duo saw what hitted Dewott; it was a sewaddle.

"Wow, it's a sewaddle!" Clara exclaimed as she took her pokedex to see the data about sewaddle.

"Sewaddle: the sewing pokemon. It hides its body from natural enemies by covering its head with a leaf hood. Its leaf clothes are said to become an emergency ration when food becomes scarce."

Dewott growled at the bug pokemon and she drew out her double shell blade to attack it. Clara tried to stop her pokemon but the otter pokemon did not listen to her and she started to attack the bug pokemon. Sewaddle dogged the attack as it used its string shot to tie Dewott up. Clara went to help her pokemon as she glared at the bug pokemon.

"Hey! What's the big deal? We didn't do anything to you!"Clara shouted at the sewining pokemon. As she tried to remove the bounds on her poor Dewott.

"Sewaddle? Are you there?" a male voice called out.

When Clara turned around, she saw a young man coming out of the bushes. He was tall, wearing a black and white cap, white jacket, black t-shirt, light brown pants and green tennis-shoes. His skin was pale, with a long green hair tied in a pony tail and he had shiny green eyes. Green eyes meet brow eyes for the first time. Their contact was broken when Sewaddle tackled Clara's head and running off. Clara glared to the direction where the little bug pokemon had run off.

"What's its problem? I didn't do anything to that little guy."

"Maybe we accidentally entered in its territory? It also has attacked me without reason."

The green haired man offered his hand to help Clara to get up. The young girl glady accepted his hand to get up. Clara looked the young green haired man. For some reason she feel that young man was familiar to her.

"Have we met before?" Clara asked

The young man blinked as he looked at Clara with more attention. He also feels he had met her somewhere. Before he could say anything, both their stomachs growled very loudly. Clara and the young man blushed very embarrassed.

"Heheh, would you like to lunch with us?" Clara asked very embarrassed.

Clara prepared the food while the young man was helping her with the pokemon food. The young man had introduced himself as N. Clara was a bit confused, at first she thought his name was 'Anne', but he soon fixed that his name was just N. Clara took out her pokemon Dewott, Tranquill Herdier and Munna. N looked at her pokemon team and he noticed they were all healthy and very deeply cared. N also noticed her pokemon were very happy, which made N also happy. Then he took out his pokemon team. They were a Zoroak, a zorua, a Krokorok, Darmanitan and a Carrascosta. Clara was amazed when she saw Zoroark and zorua as N tells her they were mother and child. Darmanitan looked at the girl carefully before smiling and giving her a bear hug. N and the other pokemon were totally surprised ( especially N). It took a few minutes for N freeing Clara from the fire pokemon's hug.

"I am sorry. I dunno what happened." N apologized. "Darmanitan never reacted like this around of strangers."

Clara looked at Darmanitan who was still smiling at her. For some strange reason, the pokemon looked at her as if he had met an old friend after a long time. Suddenly an image of a young boy with a little Darumaka in his arms appeared in her mind. She could not see the face of the boy as Clara felt a strong headache before she fainted in N's arm; unable to hear his calls.

XXX

"Dewott…." Dewott whimpered as N smiled at him.

"Do not worry Dewott." N said to the otter pokemon. "I she's alright. She will be fine in the morning. Why don't you sleep with the others? I will take care of her."

Dewott didn't like the idea of being away of her trainer but she knew that N had a good character and will take care of her. She need gets answers from that Darmanitan. Dewott went where the other pokemon were and she could see her conrades in a circle with N's pokemon. They also want answers as well.

"( Ok, now that Dewott is here let's start to talk.)" Herdier said to the group. "(why did you hug our trainer?)"

"( why can't I hug an old friend that I haven't see for a long time?)" asked Darmanitan to the dog pokemon.

Krokorok blinked in surprise when he mentioned that. Then, he released something.

( wait! Darmanitan don't tell me she…")

(Yep! She's our little Clara.) Darmanitan happily said to his friend.

( Excuse me, but how did you know our Trainer? ) Tranquill asked interested. The bird pokemon wanted to know why these pokemon knew their trainer.

"(I don't what you talking about.) Comented Zoroak to the fire pokemon. ( How could you know the girl? Master N looks like he never seen this girl before.)

Then, Darmanitan, Krokorok and Carrascosta made sad faces. They could see there was sadness and regrets in their hearts. Something real bad must have happened to make them feeling like this.

"(That's right Zoroak. You were not there when that happened.)" The ancient turtle pokemon said to the dark fox pokemon.

( W-What happened?)" Dewott asked, being afraid of the answer.

Darmanitan sighted. He didn't like to remember 'that day'. The day where was a blood bath , a pokemon in rampage and two friends being separated.

"( That day… N and Clara were friends but…. because of an incident, Clara almost lost her life and N's father forced Clara's father using Gothilelle erasing N and Clara's me memories.)"

To be continue.

Next chapter: At Nimbasa city we will have a water ballet show, a Ferris wheel date and a rampaging pokemon.

Please, review. I wana know your opinion about the story . your reviews make me writing faster. And suggestions are welcome ^^