28.
Before the Firestorm
Mauville looked less like a city and more like a giant mall.
A redevelopment project, Nanu had called it; old man Wattson remodeled the city years ago, the design inspired by the big city of Lumiose back in Kalos.
Liko didn't know how modern or how big Lumiose City actually was, having never left Paldea until recently, her best guess at a modern city had been Mesagoza with Naranja Academy at the top, the Great Crater of Paldea at the end.
All roads lead to the crater, after all.
But Liko didn't know where she was going to end up after everything was over.
Wattson is a jolly old man, like a grandfather Liko never knew.
Lucca's father had disappeared from his daughter's life before she was born, never to be seen again. Neither Lucca nor her mother talked about the man, pretending he was dead and gone like bad breath. Liko didn't see anything wrong with that, she was too young to ask the important questions, and when she grew older she forgot all about them to care.
Training in the Mauville City Gym had gone better than her training session in Johto with Miss Whitney.
Floragato listened and excelled; jumping, scratching, throwing seeds, he had the advantage against any electric types that came his way, ready to break out of the paralysis to strike back. Houndour, as per usual, tripped to victory, not really understanding how his legs worked yet but his ember always seemed to hit the mark. He only lost the fight because he had been distracted by a bit of praise from Liko, and he started to spin and chase his little tail before an Electrike hit him with a critical hit spark. Rotom had done better, so long as Liko didn't order any hydro pumps. Squawkabilly tried his best but being a flying type it was a lost cause, too much dodging, not enough damage, losing stamina until he hit the floor. He had managed to take down a Voltorb at least, and Wattson was laughing at the end of it all, a job well done and all that.
Wattson had complimented her Pokemon and strategies, and Liko, feeling rather shy, took the praise but a voice whispered that she wasn't strong enough yet, never would be if all she does is run away.
Liko pretends she doesn't see the masked stranger's reflection glaring at her as she leaves the city gym.
"Okay…from Mauville head straight to the Fiery Path, kid…be on your guard. The place ain't dangerous but it gets a little too hot with all that steam from the volcano. Wouldn't do any good for your little cat but if he's feeling brave, let him have a go at it."
"...It won't hurt him?"
"Nah. But as much as grass types enjoy the sun, they don't like getting sunburned. He'll get tired at best. I would recommend your Houndour but seeing as he can barely walk straight, Floragato will do fine either way."
Nanu had told her to head to Lavaridge Town, make it look like you're visiting the hot springs, u-turn back to Mauville, catching a midnight ship that goes straight to Lilycove. It's another ship to Mossdeep, another training session to keep her and her team sharp, and after that is a ride on a Swellow Taxi to Sootopolis City.
By the end of the week, Nanu figured Liko would be out of Hoenn.
A family of trainers living in the outskirts of Mauville stopped Liko in her tracks; it was the oddest challenge ever and after that a nice lunch, a bit of snacks from the mother, the daughter and grandmother wishing her good luck as they sent Liko on her way to the unknown.
Nanu had warned her there was a family of trainers that challenged any passerby that came from Mauville City. "It's a tradition," he told her.
The masked stranger hides in her shadow, Liko pretends not to see as she rests, Floragato by her side.
Her leg had begun to bother her a bit, pulsating with a pain that was there but not, a reminder that she'll never walk straight ever again, a reminder that the journey wasn't a choice, that she was running for her life…
…she hears water in the distance, not understanding.
The desert is miles away, the volcano so close, hot springs galore, and then, she sees them, lying like discarded paper, a reminder of the past. Magneton and Beheeyem. They don't move, Liko can't move. Floragato hisses, waiting for an attack that's never coming.
Liko's shadow points to the distance.
A boy is standing there; Liko stares at him, he stares back, fate meets fate, everything clicks.
…nothing, nothing…the shadow whispers.
Liko forgets her pain, she stands up, holds Floragato's hand, and they both run, hearing the footsteps of the boy running behind them seconds later.