12.

To the Very Best

"To Paldea?"

"Yes, umm…"

Liko had told everything that she could remember of that day on the academy's roof, when the pendant saved her from that man and his Pokemon. About the dream, about seeing that little turtle, suffering, about Paradise, about Paldea, pieces of something she can barely remember.

Serena thinks about it.

"What an exciting mess this all is, huh? Quelle pagaille! Hmm…let me think…I figure that I have to help you, and despite my better judgment, we are both in agreement that you have to get out of Viridian but…" Serena sighed. "You understand if I let you go there's bound to be trouble your way?"

Liko nods.

"I…I know…but…"

"You can't trust the adults in this situation because of what that guy told you," Serena said. "I don't blame you for being cautious of strangers. That's never a bad thing. In my experience, sometimes the friendliest characters are the worst," she laughed. "Look at me! Don't I look suspicious!"

Liko smiled.

And to think they met because of a Beedrill.

What a small world.


"As things go, you have a few options," Serena went on. "I can book you a flight straight to Paldea but you risk being intercepted on the way. I'm guessing our little thief had his eyes on you the moment you arrived at school and has been spying on you for a while."

Liko shuddered; had he read her diary, too, she wondered.

"You could also stick with me but that's another set of difficulties…you'll probably be asked to go with that Volt Tackler crew or the authorities could get involved…too many things, too many opportunities for those thieves to show up and steal your special pendant while we argue about it," Serena said. "I'm not from here. Don't have the influence Blue has, and besides, that Beedrill is keeping me busy and all it takes is a simple distraction…"

Liko could see the logic.

Ann's message had been a very simple trick, and she had fallen for it.

"Or…you can go the long way back home and lose them on the way," Serena continued. "But that's the risky option. You'll be on your own, constantly looking over your shoulder. Safe in a crowd, but alone…although it's the one that might give you the least trouble."

"W-why?"

"Because everyone you meet will think you're a traveling trainer," Serena explained with a grin. "Traveling trainers haven't gone out of fashion last time I checked and besides, people don't ask too many questions to a kid on a journey to be the very best, like no one ever was."

"Are you sure?"

"You might get the occasional worrywart but usually they'll leave you alone if you can handle yourself in the wild." Serena frowned. "But, can you? Staying at Viridian Forest for a few days is the bare minimum and doesn't exactly scream experienced trainer…but then again, no one's perfect."


The plane was out. Too little room for error, no chance of escape.

Staying with Serena was an option but that wouldn't make the problem go away entirely. If those Rising Volt Tacklers were honest, if they were, she'll have to go with them. If they proved liars, the a uthorities would get involved one way or another, asking questions that Liko couldn't answer, maybe thinking about taking her pendant and sending her back home to face the music.

Liko didn't feel like going back home; she missed her father dearly but her mother…she was upset with Lucca, no doubt about that, angry and confused, that man's words echoing all over, making her doubt everything. And suddenly that guy and his crew show up and she's suppose to trust them? No, thanks.

…but being a traveling trainer?

Could she do it?

Her last trip to the forest was unexpected, and Sprigatito had done most of the work. He protected her, found berries for them to eat, all the while Liko ran, not too fast because of her good, bad leg.

It was the safest option; she could avoid the thieves that were chasing her, avoid that suspicious crew, avoid her mother…

Liko took a deep breath, and hours later, gave Serena her answer.

"W-what's the best way to get to Johto?"