"Where!?," I whipped my head around to see.

"There!"

Sure enough, there was a creature lurking at the edge of the trees; it was so far away that I could barely see the outline of the figure.

"What is it?," Jack questioned, taking a step closer squinting at the outline.

"I don't know," Chance replied.

"Let's find out," I walked towards the Pokémon but Chance ran in front of me.

"VIOLET! No, we can't! We have no idea what that is!? It could hurt you.."

"The point is to find out and Chance... I could hurt it too," I brushed past him continuing up the sandy slope closer and closer to the ominous shadow. I'm fierce! I can be viscous! I'm a Vulpix, we can be intimidating. "Hello," I called. The black figure didn't move, it froze with anger or fear I had no idea, but I was positive it saw me walking to it. I paused, afraid to scare it off, "Hello?," I repeated, now I was questioning my decision. I should have listened to Chance! This is a bad idea!

"We mean you no harm," Chance said walking up by my side," We just want to know if there is a way across the ocean? Would you know?" I smiled, of course he would follow me.

I thought that we seemed innocent enough, none threating but then a second figure appeared next to the first. They looked identical, two of the same species staring at us they looked calm but how much can I tell from a shadow?

"Come on, let's go," a deep, dark voice belted to it's friend.

"We should help!," a faint dainty voice floated on the air.

"No! They are not our concern, let's go!," the deep male voice was stern and serious.

"Please! They seem friendly, they need help!" the girl whined.

"I said no," he snapped at her.

"Fine, it's not like you ever listen to me! It's not like I matter at all or anything! I'm just your mate...for life! I don't have have an opinion or anything, I'm just a piece of meat to you, for you to use and-"

"FINE! We will assist them, but if it comes to a fight you owe me."

"Don't I always!"

The two figures came out of the shadows; they were Deerling. The girl was a small petite little thing, she looked very young but she was very beautiful. Her fur was a burnt orange, like the glow of the sunset and she had yellow spots by her hind legs. The boy was slightly bigger and stood with his chest puffed, in a threatening way. His fur was the same as his mates, they only difference was their eyes. Her were big and innocent while his were cool and stern.

"Uhm... Hello, I'm Violet," I say to them, "this is Chance and we were just wondering if you knew a way over the water?"

The male scoffed at me," You can swim across."

"Jeff! They are fire types," she gawked at him," Be nicer!"

"I'm just saying, that's the obvious answer!"

"If they wanted obvious they could have thought of it!," she turned to us smiling," Hi, I'm Tracy and this is my mate, Jeff."

"Pleasure to meet the both of us," Jack was now next to Chance," I'm Jack."

"It's so nice to meet new people" Tracy was beaming" Living here is nothing but dull, all we have for neighbors are other Deerlings, it can be pretty bland. The only fun neighbors are the ocean Pokémon," she giggled.

"Tracy..," Jeff spoke with a warning tone.

"What?! It's true!"

"So sorry to bother you, but we just were curious if-"

"If we know away across the ocean, we got it! And the answer is no. Let's leave," Jeff grunted to his mate.

"Jeff..., we can help these Pokémon. They just want across the ocean which means they are leaving which means they will leave the territory. Right?"

Jeff rolled his eyes," Right.," he grumbled unhappily.

"We can help you," she beamed enthusiastically to us.

"Wait you don't mean.."

"Yes. I mean that," she replied.

"But..." Jeff tried to persuade her.

"No, we can ask her. She'll be happy to help. Follow me," Tracy winked. She trotted down the beach to where the tide was pushing to the shore.

"Tracy! I don't think.."

"Pshht," she snorted," Stop worrying!" Tracy turned back to the waves and closed her eyes" AYYYYYYYYYYYYIIIIII!" she screamed to the water.

The noise was so sudden and loud I yelped in surprised and her voice was so high, I feared hearing loss. After about 30 seconds of her screeching a the open water, she opened her eyes and went to stand by Jeff.

"What the hell?," I blurted.

"Oh," she giggled. "I should explain: I have a friend who is Wailord and I think she can help you cross the ocean. That how I call her when I want to talk or vent, she is kind of my counselor slash mother figure."

Jeff scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Jeff just gets mad because she doesn't approve of him," she looked up to him smiling at his irritation

"As if...," he mumbled unhappily.

"What if she doesn't come?," Jack asks.

"Then we wait," Tracy says happily.

"Hey! Hey guys!," Theresa waved to us, she was walking with Singe towards where we stood. They were walking holding each others paws. Lucky Chance and I can't do that... but we do link tails. Same thing! I glanced to him he was sitting close enough, I casually reached one of my tails over to his. I was careful to place it softly on top of his big fluffy fuzz ball of a tail. He didn't seem to noticed, so I scowled and wrapped my tail around his and tightened. He then perked up and looked behing him, smiled then looked to me. He squeezed back and showed me his teeth with his foolish grin.

"Who are you new mates?" Singe asked.

"They are going to help us cross the ocean, Chance told him.

"Great to meet you."

"Charmed," Jeff retorted.

"Hi," Tracy pranced over to them," I'm Tracy!"

"Singe."

"Theresa."

"Wonderful to meet new faces!"

"Yeah, nice to meet you, too," Theresa smiled happily.

"She's' here," Jeff announced.

We all looked to the horizon and saw a giant whale immerse from the water sending a giant wave to the shore. She spurted water from her blow hole and quickly made her way to us at the shore. She was huge!

"Waila! Waila, hello!," Tracy jumped excitedly.

"WAILORD!", the ground shook with her mighty voice.

"Waila! Oh, it's so good to see you again!"

"Oh, my little Deerling, it's been too long!"

"Far to long," Tracy was shouting so the massive creature could hear her small voice.

"Besides this chat, do you have reason for your call?"

"Do I need a reason?," Tracy sounded offended.

"Oh, goodness no child! But I do see some new faces here," he eyes darted to where I stood with my friends.

"AH, yes! These are some new friends of mine and Jeff's and we would-"

"JEFF! Where is the boy?"

"Hello, Waila," Jeff yelled to the Wailord.

"No need to scream, boy. I can hear just fine."

"Pardon me," he mumbled.

"Waila! Waila, I need a favor."

"What is my child?"

"I was hoping you could escort my friends here across the ocean!?"

"I haven't carried people in years, my dear!," the Wailord was surprised.

"Oh, Please Waila! Please!," Tracy begged for us.

"Let me meet the children before making a decision. I won't travel with rude people as you know," she shifted in the water to face us, making the ocean ripple. "And you there," the looked at us," make yourself known!"

"Me?," Theresa gulped nervously.

"Yes! You! I haven't met a new Victini in years!," The Wailord was intrigued.

"My name is Theresa!," she was clutching Singe's hand so hard, his face was scrunched with pain." It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Very well... and you," her gaze went to Singe.

"Singe! My name is Singe and I am a Braixen."

"Hmm..," then her eyes fell on me.

"My name is Violet, ma'am."

"Such manners, but I feel far too old with 'ma'am', you may call me Ms. Waila."

"Yes, ma'-..," I saw her look turn stern," Uhmm, Ms. Waila." She smiled and continued on.

"I'm Chance, Ms. Waila."

"Very well."

"Hello, Ms. Waila, my name is Jack and it is indeed a pleasure to meet another friendly Pokémon like these two Deerling."

"Only one of them is really worth mentioning," Ms. Waila mumbled to herself.

"WAILA!," Tracy exclaimed," Please try to be nice to Jeff. We've talked about this! He is my mate for life!"

"I know, dear... I feel like you could do better is all."

"I know you feel this way, but you will grow to love him as much as I do!"

"You've been saying that for year!"

"I have hope for the future," Tracy rested her head on Jeff's puffed chest and he smiled down at her. They were a beautiful couple, complete opposites but still so in sync.

"I will chauffer your new friends to the far side of the sea, it's the least I can do for you, my child," Ms. Waila spoke to Tracy with such a compassion, like she was her own daughter.

"Thank you, Waila! Thank you," Tracy pranced around giddily.

"I will return in the morning, I hope you will all be ready by then?," she asked. "I must go eat."

"Yes, we will. Thank you, Ms. Waila. We will wait patiently for your return," Jack gave her his charming stud smile.

"I shall see you all at dawn," Ms. Waila paddled out to open water and dove back into the ocean, angering the water, sending violent small waves to the shore.

"I can't thank you enough," I turned to Tracy and Jeff," Is there anything we can do to return the favor?"

Tracy's face turned serious and it scared me, she wasn't the serious type," Yes, all of you. Treat Waila with respect. She deserves it, do not do anything that will make me regret this decision."

"Of course, Tracy," Chance bowed his head slightly with respect. "We will treat her as if she was our own mother, respect all the way."

"Thank you," She smiled again and I let out the deep breathe I had been holding in in anticipation. "Would you like to come back to our camp with us?"

"Tracy..," Jeff said in his warning tone again.

"Uhm, no thank you," I said politely, knowing we were not wanted," We need to be here when Ms. Waila comes back."

"Oh, right. I hope we make it back in time to see you off."

"Me too," I smile and she beamed brightly.

"Let's go, Tracy. The chief will be worried," Jeff turned back to the trees.

"Tracy rolled her eyes," Coming," she bounced to her mate's side and they walked back to the tree line and disappeared into the shadows.

"I can't believe it...," I said to myself.

"What? What is it," Chance was worried. "I'm.. I'm GOING TO CROSS THE OCEAN!," I jumped enthusiastically.

chance laughed," Yeah. Tomorrow you will cross the ocean," he looked down.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just, I think you'll back out last minute, Violet," I was ready to defend myself but before I could he continued." Not because you're scared or anything! Because... because there is a very very small possibility that we could ever come back...," his eyes were soft and understanding.

"Oh...," I had never thought of that. Never come back? Never!? Never see Jade, or Scarlett, mom...or even dad? Never. It was so final, I got a little antsy.

"I understand if you don't want to go anymore," his eyes started to fill with water.

"No! No! Oh god no! Chance I-I-I I...," I was chocking up. "Chance... I can't live without you!"

His eyes were red from the tear build up, he sniffled," Did you think I would leave you here?"

It hit me then, He is willing to stay here for me! He would stop traveling... lose his adventure, his best friend, his life -for me. My eyes began to water at his love for me, he only wants me to be happy.

"You won't have to," my voice cracked and he looked confused," because tomorrow, together, we are going to ride a Wailord and cross the ocean. Chance, I wouldn't give you up for anything! I wouldn't give up the adventure you give my life, you give my life a sense of purpose. I don't think I'll ever be the same Vulpix I was on Mt. Frolic...," the last part was mostly for myself.

"Violet... never change," his brown honey eyes were so eager and perfect. I leaned in and kissed the boy of my dreams, the Growlithe that completes my life, my other half. He was all I needed from now, he was my life source. I would give up anything to be with him and it was only right because I now knew he would do the same for me.