When Walcekite left the pokemon center, it was only the afternoon, but she wanted to stay in NacreneCity just a bit longer. The beautiful warehouses decorated by various artists certainly catches ones eye.
Walcekite sat at the Warehouse Cafe just near the outskirts of the city. All three pokemon were eating various pokemon food, which they selected by their taste. As Walcekite is a fast eater, she was soon left with an empty plate and just smiling at the cute pokemon nibbling their pokefood.
„Eat up little ones. Serious training is awaiting us," announced Walcekite and her pokemon looked at each other and started eating even faster.
„Now, Meilli, if Chesire could use your most powerful attack, that means that you can do it too," Walcekite talked with the tricky fox pokemon just at Pinwheel Forest's outer area, as the other pokemon observed the two. „Now, Meilli, Use Night Daze!"
Meilli's eyes instantly started glowing blue and she rose her front paws into the air. A crimson aura appeared around her and she landed her paws on the ground. A crimson wave started spreading through the field, but it wasn't very big, only about two meters in diameter. As the wave disappeared, Meilli seemed exhausted. Walcekite came to Meilli and sat next to her. Meilli was looking at the ground and scratching it with her front paw.
„I-I'm sorry..." Meilli shivered saying these words.
Walcekite picked her up and looked at her eyes, tears started appearing in them.
„I-I really tried. Please, I can do it..."
„Shh, Meilli. It's ok." Walcekite pressed Meilli to herself and started petting her. „Why are you taking it like this?"
„My Night Daze only works when I'm in danger... I can't control it. That's why...That's why my previous trainer abandoned me..." Meilli tried to control her feelings, but she wasn't able to. Drops of warm tears fell on Walcekite's jacket as she pressed Meilli even more, but that only made Meilli want to cry more and she started sobbing louder and louder.
Pela and Chesire both came to their trainer and teammate and both started nuzzling their heads to Meilli.
„Everything is ok. I wouldn't abandon you even if you wouldn't be able to attack at all. We are all friends. We are family." Walcekite comforted Meilli and Pela with Chesire meowed in agreement.
„Thank...you," Meilli was still sobbing, but she softly got out of Walcekite's lap to the ground and raised her paws, as her eyes started glowing blue. Walcekite, Pela and Chesire got back, wondering, if they will get to see something spectacular.
Again, a crimson aura appeared around her and a crimson wave went through the battlefield, once she smacked her paws down. The wave went further, almost five meters in diameter. Meilli smiled and fell on her belly.
„Meilli, oh no!" shouted Walcekite running towards the fainted pokemon though the other pokemon ran faster than their trainer and poked Meilli with their noses a few times, until Walcekite got there. She carefully picked up the little dark grey pokemon and rushed to the pokemon center.
„It seems your Zorua is just very exhausted. She is perfectly fine, she just needs some rest." Nurse Joy calmed Walcekite down.
„Thank goodness," sighed Walcekite.
„But do tell me, what were you doing. I remember that you gave me your pokemon maybe less than an hour ago."
„I asked Meilli to execute Night Daze, but it seems it takes too much out of her. Nurse Joy, do you think she learnt it too early? I mean, maybe her level is too low for this move?"
„Hmmm, not sure. It seems she just needs to improve her stamina or maybe to just try it more times."
„Well, her second time was better than the first," thought loudly Walcekite.
„Then she needs training," smiled Nurse Joy. „But you shouldn't push her too much."
„Wh-what? I wasn't," Walcekite got so irritated she almost wanted to shout. She doesn't want Meilli to get hurt, to be sad. She doesn't want anything to be wrong for her or any of her pokemon, but she kept that to herself and just breathed deeply.
„Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed," it seemed nurse Joy felt bad about that.
„I-it's ok. Never mind," smiled Walcekite, but she felt how fake it was.
After getting Meilli back and leaving the pokemon center, Walcekite released the tricky fox pokemon.
„Are you feeling better, Meilli?" inquired Walcekite.
„Yeah, I'm fine." Meilli was sad again so Walcekite squat down beside her.
„I told you – everything is ok. But… I think you should get the story out of your chest," advised Walcekite petting her pokemon.
"…Alright," sighed Meilli.
"Let's go find somewhere to sit."
As they found a bench near the place they were training earlier, Walcekite released Pela and Chesire, so they could hear the story too. Meilli sat in front of them and began:
"You see, my parents and little brother were kidnapped, or rather pokenapped. The humans couldn't get me because I was napping somewhere by the time they arrived, I don't even remember when and where. I don't know why they needed my family, but I was wondering all alone for quite a long time. Finally, I met a nice boy and after he beat me in battle, I was caught by him. I just remember I helped him to catch a Gothita, but then he saw, I couldn't do Night Daze. When he commanded and I tried to do it, the aura around me barely left my body and broke almost immediately. I still remember his contempt towards me after that. He kept me for a few days and then let me out of my pokeball and gave it to Gothita, so she would break it with Psychic. She looked at me sadly and tore apart the two parts of my pokeball. I cowered and then he sent me to the horizon. I was wandering all alone again and finally I found you," she smiled at Walcekite and sighed. "That-that felt really good."
„I'm glad you shared at least one of your secrets. I know it should be easier now." Walcekite smiled back. „Now come here, little Meilli," she opened her arms and Meilli ran as fast as she could towards them, like those arms could close before she reached them and never open, but that wasn't the case. They would remain open until she came to them.
Walcekite decided to walk around in NacreneCity until night and enjoyed the colorful views of this magnificent city. Suddenly she noticed a group of people near the PinwheelForest entrance. Once she approached the crowd, she heard someone chattering.
„That can't be!"
„Is that true?"
She pushed her way through and saw some people dressed up like knights and a man with very light green-gray hair and a dark robe. He was walking in front of the knights and was giving a speech.
„Pokemon liberation, ladies and gentleman. It is the only way to be sure that humans and pokemon are equals. We sincerely appreciate your attention."
And all the knights and the dark man left. The people gathered for the speech chattered for a bit and left too.
„But, I'm sure that all my pokemon wanted to be with me," thought worriedly Walcekite. „Meilli chose this on her own free will, so did Chesire. Pela didn't want to leave me when she understood that I was too young to capture her, so she was captured by her wish as well. Pokemon like having caring and loving trainers, don't they?"
As it was evening, Walcekite decided to spend the night at the pokemon center and leave first thing in the morning. Once in her room, Walcekite released all her pokemon and asked the question that has been eating her since the speech.
„Do you prefer being in the wild, or traveling with me?"
The pokemon were caught by surprise and got confused, why did she inquire that. After Walcekite told about the end of a speech she had heard, the pokemon smiled and Meilli spoke for all of them.
„We wouldn't trade the time we spent and will spend with you for anything. We wanted to travel with you and still want, so you have nothing to worry about."
Walcekite sighed with relief and petted her pokemon.
„That's good to hear. I wouldn't want you to do this as if you were my slaves."
„Don't worry, we aren't," said Meilli lying next to her trainer, who was sitting on the bed.
As morning came, Walcekite gave her pokemon to Nurse Joy for one last check up before leaving towards CasteliaCity. Once she reached the entrance to the PinwheelForest, the knights were there again, but without the dark man. There were five of them and they all were standing in a line, like a barrier. People were trying to get through by battling and Walcekite went to see the battles.
Two knights were battling two trainers in a double battle. The knights had a Sandile and a Patrat and the trainers had a Tympole and a Sewaddle.
„The knights have the disadvantage, so the trainers should win." Thought Walcekite and observed the battle.
A few water and bug type attacks fired from the trainers' pokemon to Sandile and it fainted, though the Patrat was more powerful and took out Tympole before fainting himself.
„The Sewaddle has survived, so its trainer can pass, but the Tympole is now ours!" announced one of the knights that battled the trainers.
„What? But we were the ones that won. My Tympole's attack took out Sandile, that means I can pass too!"
„That's not how it works. The pokemon mustn't faint. If it faints, it means he lost and is our property. We warned you that we will take your pokemon!" The Patrat that wasn't returned to its pokeball after fainting, got up and stole the Tympole from its trainer. „Now, who wants to prove that they deserve to keep their pokemon and venture onwards? But I warn you again – we will not stop until we free all the pokemon and our troops, that are further on, will be more and more powerful. If you really want to save your pokemon, you shouldn't risk their well being and stop your journeys now."
„What? Are you crazy?" shouted one boy.
„We want to keep our pokemon and they want to travel with us further," explained one girl.
„Lies! Pokemon never want to be caught!" yelled one knight.
And a furious argument lit near the entrance to PinwheelForest. Walcekite knew she could beat them with ease, but this was just a stupid campaign where everyone was risking their pokemon. Walcekite turned from the entrance and went around the guards and as they were busy yelling and proving their theory, their attention was far from Walcekite. She heard someone following her, but those were just trainers trying to do the same as Walcekite did.
„Hey you!" someone yelled, but Walcekite didn't turn around. „That group, it's trying to avoid us! Get them!"
Walcekite started running and fast footsteps followed her and the ones that were following.
„Hey, the blue haired girl is their leader! Block her way!"
A sand tomb appeared in front of Walcekite, probably conjured by a Sandile. She turned around and saw the trainers running towards and beside her. They were trying to break the wall with their pokemon.
„Why are you doing this?! Our pokemon want to be with us!" shouted Walcekite at the two guards that were gaining on her.
„They will never be happy if they aren't free!" they replied and sent out two Watchog. „If you beat us, we will let this whole group with you through, as proof of your partnership with your pokemon!"
Walcekite looked at her pokeballs. Her pokemon weren't in an advantage with Watchogs and Meilli's Shadow Ball wouldn't have any effect on them, but...maybe her Night Daze would be powerful enough as the Watchogs were pretty close. If not, then at least she could use Pela's Ice Beam to freeze the opponents.
„Meilli, Pela, come out," Walcekite released her pokemon.
„A-a Zorua," everyone was amazed and one of the knights shouted.
„Are you crazy to capture such a rare species pokemon?! We have to take it no matter the cost!"
„I don't want to leave Walcekite. She and her other pokemon are like family to me," said Meilli telepathically and left everyone even more stunned.
„She can use telepathy. We need to save her even more!"
„I am not in any danger!" Meilli's eyes started glowing as she raised her front paws to make the crimson aura around her appear. "I WANT TO STAY!" she screamed and let down her paws.
Pela jumped to Walcekite's arms so that the dark, crimson wave wouldn't get her and her actions were needed. As the wave hit the Watchogs, they were flung to their trainers and they fell, like everyone once the wave hit them, including Walcekite and the kids behind her. The Sand Tomb was destroyed. After the wave disappeared, the Watchogs were near fainting and Meilli as well. Walcekite returned Pela to her pokeball, took Meilli and ran again to the pokemon center. This exhaustion was a huge problem, but it didn't matter, if Walcekite will have to beat these knights with her other pokemon, she will not risk Meilli. The group of trainers that hid behind Walcekite happily ran to PinwheelForest, while the others had to fight their way through.
"Oh dear. Did the training go wrong?" Nurse Joy took Meilli and asked Walcekite.
"Some kind of knights are blocking the entrance to PinwheelForest. Meilli used Night Daze to beat some Watchogs and I bet she did it, but she was exhausted after one try, though it was very powerful." explained Walcekite.
"I see, well, I will try to make Meilli recover as quickly as possible," smiled nurse Joy and carried Meilli away.
While Meilli was being healed, Walcekite went to see what was happening at the forest. Strangely enough, the knights were gone and everyone was able to walk where they pleased. Walcekite came up to a young brunette girl and asked.
"What happened? Are the knights gone?"
"Oh yes. A courageous boy with a double team holding a Zweilous and a Braviary beat them so hard, they ran away."
"Amazing," Walcekite really was amazed.
"Yeah, it was. The two pokemon furiously attacked their opponents and finally Braviary used such a strong Whirlwind, even the knights' pokeballs were blown away."
"Wow. So I guess I won't need to battle them anymore. Were the children' pokeballs given back?"
"Yeah. Everyone got their pokemon back," smiled the girl. "Well, I need to get going to CasteliaCity. Maybe we will see each other again there." the young girl waved and ran off.
Walcekite waved back and got back to the pokemon center, where Meilli was waiting for her.
"Are the knights still there?" asked Meilli.
"Nope. Some boy beat them so hard they ran away. That must have been some power."
"Yeah," Meilli looked down. "The kind of power I don't have."
Walcekite softly put her hand on Meilli's head.
"Don't be silly. You have probably beaten those Watchogs in one hit. You should be proud of yourself."
Meilli raised her head and smiled at her trainer. It was obvious how she needed the kind words.
"Well, let's go." Walcekite retrieved Meilli to her pokeball and after a bit, finally entered the inner area of the Pinwheel Forest.
