Never Too Far From Home

After getting all washed up, Yugi and his friends decided to settle down for lunch. They decided to have something quick and simple. "Chicken sandwich again?" Joey asked Emily. He and Yugi were eating hamburgers.

"Mm-hmm," she replied. She couldn't speak with her mouth full. After swallowing her food, she replied, "I think they're good and tasty."

"Besides, hamburgers aren't all that healthy," Kaiba added. "A lot of people get heart disease by eating them."

Joey shrugged. "Yeah, if you eat them a lot."

"I thought you liked burgers, Emily," Yugi told her.

"I do," she replied. "It's just, after taking a nutrition class in school, I just don't eat them a lot anymore. Besides, I'm on a diet."

"Why?" Joey asked her. "I know you're not that slender, but you're not fat either. And your arms are so thin like your dad's."

Emily began choking on her food. She spat and coughed. Kaiba quickly gave her water to wash it down. She cleared her throat and pleaded, "Joey, I would really appreciate it if you didn't mention him."

Yugi and Kaiba felt the same way. The last time Emily and her friends remembered seeing Robert Briar, a lot of unpleasant things happened. He got aggressive and tried to go to court for custody. After that, he tried to take his own life. He was sent home to recover and let everything else go, including the daughter he disowned. Joey remembered too and he apologized. Everyone agreed not to talk about it anymore and just finish eating lunch.

After eating, Joey went to the lake to wash off. He felt really bad about mentioning Robert to the subject of health. The old man wasn't very healthy in mind or body. And after what happened back home, who knows if there'll be any change in his condition?

Joey rubbed his hands with scented soap. It smelled like honey and vanilla. After rubbing his hands, he rubbed it on his face and cupped his hands and splashed water all over himself. As he cleared his vision, he saw a red shell. Inside was a slimy yellow creature. Joey recognized it was a Pokémon called Shuckle. Shuckle were very shy and preferred to hide from humans. They also had the ability to make juices and store it in their shells. For that matter, they were attracted to any sweet scents. This Shuckle was attracted by the scent of the vanilla and honey in Joey's soap. The Shuckle approached Joey and slithered up his back. It was gross feeling its slimy skin and it felt weird feeling it latch on to his head.

"Come on, Joey," Yugi called, "We're leaving."

"I'm coming," Joey answered. He picked up his backpack and rejoined his friends. "Sorry it took so long."

Emily noticed Shuckle hanging on to Joey and asked, "Um, Joey, do you know there's a Shuckle on your head?"

The blonde lad looked up and Shuckle looked down at him. "Yeah. He's attracted to the scent of the soap in my hair. It's got vanilla and honey."

"That's understandable," said Yugi.

"But it's going to have to come off sooner or later," said Kaiba. "You can't wear it like a hat and you'll need to wash your hair."

Shuckle's eyes widened at the word 'wash'. He was a bug-type, but he was also a rock-type and rock-type Pokémon hate water. The timid Shuckle climbed down Joey's back and crawled away. Joey was sad to see Shuckle go, but he agreed he would have to wash up after being covered in slime. But that wasn't his only concern. He turned to the blonde girl and said, "Hey, Em, I'm really sorry for mentioning Robert. I was just-"

"It's okay, Joey," she told him. "I shouldn't have been so sensitive. It's just upsetting how a friendly conversation can suddenly turn wrong. But it wasn't intentional and I know you weren't trying to hurt me."

Joey tried to smile. "So you're not mad?"

"I was upset, but not anymore. I needed time to think and you apologized. And that's why everything's okay now. When something's wrong, you always try to make it right, Joey, and that makes you a real friend. And like all my friends, I love you and I need you. I can feel alone without you. And it's because of this sensation that I can't bring myself to be mad at my friends no matter what pain I was caused. Sure, there are times when we may fight and argue and say hurtful things, but you and I will always be friends."

Joey's smiled brightened up. He placed his arm over Emily to hug her. "You've got a big heart, Em, and I like that about you."

Kaiba agreed. "I like how you always look at the bigger picture of things and realize what others overlook. You take time to think about things you never thought of before and notice things others don't."

Yugi smiled and held Emily's hand. "You'll always have us and we'll always have you."

The boys were right. They would always have each other and it would stay that way for the rest of their lives. They've been together through thick and thin and nothing was even going to change that.

When everyone got to the Pokémon Center, Emily sat in the guest room surrounded by her Pokémon. Luna rubbed herself against Emily and the blonde girl scratched her ears. "What's wrong, Emily?"

"I guess I just have a lot on my mind," she tells her. "When I said I couldn't bear to be away from the people I love, I started to wonder, do I feel the same way about Robert?"

Shade tilted his head in curiosity. "Robert?"

"My dad who disowned me," she clarified.

Luna was curious. She pulled Emily's dress and wondered, "Emily, what's 'disowned'?"

"What she means is, her dad didn't want her anymore, so he deserted her," Salamando answered.

"That's cruel," said Undine. "It's bad enough that there are trainers who abandon their Pokémon because they don't want them anymore. But it's awful for parents to not want to have anything to do with their children."

Syphid agreed. "Our mom and dad love us more than life itself and that's why they put themselves in harm's way for us."

"And we love them as much and that's why we're going to rescue them," Lumina added. "No matter how long it takes or how far we have to go."

"We can't do it alone," said Sylphid. "We may have grown bigger and stronger, but we have to stay with Emily. She promised to help us. And that's why she understands our problem. She doesn't have her parents and she doesn't want us to end up like her."

Emily nods. "You all deserve to be back with your parents."

"And when we do find our parents, what will we do?" Shade asked. His siblings faced him in confusion. "Do we go back to the wild or do we keep traveling? Don't get me wrong, I want to be back with Mom and Dad, but I want to keep traveling with Emily too. I've had so much fun and I've seen and learned so many new things."

The others agreed. "Maybe it can be both ways," Lumina suggested. "We can stay with our parents and with Emily too. We can build a new home as a family."

"A family," Emily said softly. "That's always something to look forward to."

"And we'll always have each other," said Undine. "We've been together through thick and thin and it's been the same way since we started traveling with you. Because, Emily, you're part of our family too."

Emily appreciated what her Pokémon were telling her. She hugged every one of them in gratitude and they hugged her as well. She also began singing.

Sometimes life is hard, you travel roads so far

Away from friends and family, yeah

You've learned to sacrifice, always ready to pay the price

But what you have to understand, even heroes need a helping hand

Then the boys came by and started singing. Whatever you want, whatever you need, you know you can always count on me. There'll always be someone waiting, 'cause you're never too far from home

Wherever you go, whatever you do, you know we'll be there to pull you through. There'll always be someone waiting 'cause you're never too far from home.

Yugi began singing again. We never had a doubt. You always figure out

Which way you're going

Be proud of what you've done and the person you've become

But if you ever feel afraid, we're gonna help you find your way

Everyone sang, Whatever you want, whatever you need, all of our love will set you free. There'll always be someone waiting 'cause you're never too far from home.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, all of your dreams will soon come true. There'll always be someone waiting 'cause you're never too far from home.