"That was INCREDIBLE! I knew your Corphish was strong so seeing it picked apart like that had me worried, but your Ralts is insane!"

My team was currently getting looked at by Nurse Joy, and after a quick shower to get the sand out of my everywhere, I returned to the lobby of the Pokécenter to find Samantha waiting for me.

"You've beaten that gym right? Was it that rough for you?" I couldn't help but ask, still trying to process what all had happened.

She snorted, leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms, "Not even close. Not just me either, I've seen my fair share of her first-badge battles over the years. She definitely had it out for you, that's for sure."

I groaned, "Then it was Preston. I really didn't think he could actually do anything to make my life more difficult, but I guess he can somehow sway gym leaders so who knows what other fun surprises I'll get."

"I wouldn't worry about that too much. Mom seemed pretty unhappy with the whole thing. I'm pretty sure she's giving Leader Georgia a piece of her mind right now, and I'd bet Preston is next. We both saw him there, and he didn't look too happy when you won."

"Yeah, must suck to find out money and influence can't always get you what you want. I'm just thankful she didn't pull out a Lairon or something."

"Nah, that would have been too obvious. The Sandstorm and Self-Destruct are pretty bad, but not nearly as bad as pulling out evolved Pokémon against a trainer with no badges or evolved Pokémon of their own. At least this way she can try to play dumb."

That made sense, no matter what kind of convincing Preston had done, she surely wouldn't be keen on losing her job over it.

"Say, did your mom relay that message I asked her to?" I suddenly asked, remembering my last conversation with Roxanne. Apollo currently wasn't in my mind, so I had no problem ignoring the little warning bell that rang in my mind telling me not to think that thought when it came up.

"Yeah, she did… You're sure you don't mind? She didn't talk you into it or anything, right?"

I felt a small prang of guilt, but to be completely honest I didn't have any issues traveling with her for a short while. Most of what I'd said to Roxanne had just been my gut reaction to what felt like a social situation being sprung on me, something I was naturally averse to.

My pragmatic side knew that it was beneficial for both of us, and I didn't have any problems giving our 'friendship' a chance to grow into a real one. It would only be for a couple of days if it was to Verdanturf, maybe a week or so if we stuck together until Route 111. We got along well enough and I knew it would probably do me a bit of good not to be such a loner. My main hangup was our upbringings would likely clash and she would bring additional attention on top of what I already faced having Apollo with me, for the promise of a Dawn Stone and the potential to have a real friend I could give it a try.

I shrugged, "Sure, why not? It works out for both of us, and it's only temporary anyway. We'll have to part ways at Route 111 regardless, and if it gets inconvenient for either of our plans we can just do it a bit earlier. But we're heading the same way so may as well give it a shot."

She hummed, considering my words and giving me a critical eye before eventually nodding in agreement.

"Works for me, just don't go catching feelings for me. I'm into girls, just so you know."

My eyes widened briefly as the meaning of Roxanne's cryptic words fell into place. I'd been wondering why she was so fine with her daughter traveling with a random boy, but between this new fact and that she surely realized I didn't see Samantha that way either, it made more sense.

"Fine by me. Spoiled rich girls aren't really my type anyway."

"Then what is your type? I'll be your wing-woman, that could be fun," she asked with a teasing grin.

I decided not to humor her and instead changed the topic, "I just realized you know both of my team members but I have no idea what you have. Wanna spill the beans?"

She pouted and crossed her arms, "You're no fun. And no, I think I'll let that mystery linger for a little while longer."

I enjoyed banter, but being left in the dark for no reason other than personal amusement was something I found truly annoying. I really hoped we'd be able to get along during our stay together, but I was beginning to think it was going to be a nightmare.

Nurse Joy waved me over, and I nervously approached the desk to find out how my team was doing. I had no doubt Apollo was alright, but I was deeply concerned about Duran.

"Mr. Ingram, we've checked your Pokémon thoroughly. Your Ralts is perfectly fine, just a few minor cuts that'll be gone in no time. Your Corphish needs to stay the night, possibly tomorrow as well. He needs time to rest and heal before molting, then we'd like to monitor him for possible complications. His shell cracked in multiple places, largely because it was already under a lot of pressure and rather thin in preparation for his molt. The real concern is how the new shell he's been developing held up. Chansey and I agree it would be best to let him rest until he feels up to molting before declaring him cleared."

Nurse Joy handed me back Apollo's Pokéball, and I couldn't help but notice how odd it felt, clipping it to my belt with Duran's absent.

"But you think he'll be alright?" I asked worriedly.

"Your Corphish is not in any serious or life-threatening danger, we've confirmed his vitals are all fine and he isn't bleeding. But his newly developing shell is very malleable, and if it took any serious impact or damage it might have a deformity, but that would likely resolve itself after the next molt. There is a small risk of complications for this molt though, so we'd like to keep an eye on him to ensure things go smoothly and double-check him before clearing him for release."

I sighed in relief and nodded, thanking her as I turned to return to Samantha, but Nurse Joy stopped me.

"Mr. Ingram, a moment please. Your Corphish is clearly overdue for molting, and considering you just got out of a gym battle it's not hard to piece together what happened. I wouldn't necessarily call it dangerous or reckless, but I would like to caution you against putting your own desires over the needs of your Pokémon. You're a new trainer and this isn't a serious enough offense for me to feel compelled to put it on your record, but I would be remiss if I didn't warn you that this mindset is a slippery slope I've seen end badly countless times. A loss on your record is surely worth ensuring the safety and well-being of the Pokémon under your care, wouldn't you agree?"

I felt my heart drop and suddenly felt horrible. Somehow this light scolding by Nurse Joy hit harder than any I could ever remember receiving from Miss Augustine or my own mother.

I thought of trying to explain myself; how Duran had been given a choice and wanted to battle just as much as me and how I didn't know that it would be dangerous for him, but she was right. It was my responsibility to make that judgment call, and I'd made the wrong one. Worse yet, I had been selfish in pushing him to battle, I couldn't argue that.

"You're right, I won't excuse it. I promise I'll do better."

She seemed pleased with my answer, offering a nod and telling me I was welcome to check back later. I returned to Samantha, sitting down with a sigh and a heavy heart.

"Something wrong with your team?" she asked with a concerned look.

"Apollo is fine, but Duran needs to stay for the night at least. Nurse Joy is pretty sure he's alright, but he's molting and she wants to keep an eye on him to make sure there's no complications."

"Considering he's in Nurse Joy's care I'm sure he'll be fine, no need to worry. Besides, I have some good news for you."

Doing my best to hide the turmoil I was feeling within, I focused on Samantha and raised a brow, "What's that?"

"I sent my parents a message in our group chat saying I'd accepted your invitation, and Daddy invited you for dinner so he can meet you!"

I was unable to hide the look of horror as my face went pale.

"How exactly is that good news for me?"

Samantha looked confused, "What do you mean? Do you know how many people would kill to be in your shoes? I thought you would be excited."

"Is that really necessary? We're just traveling together for a little while, it's not like we're eloping."

She slugged me in the arm, "We're friends you jerk! Don't try to tell me your parents never wanted to meet your new friends!"

I groaned as I rubbed my arm, "No, actually. Am I able to decline?"

She huffed, crossing her arms.

"Not if you want a travel buddy. My parents want to know I'm not about to travel with a lunatic, and I want friends who can get along with my family."

"Can't you and Roxanne just vouch for me? I know I'd feel uncomfortable in a mansion, and I know nothing about things like table etiquette. I'd make an ass of myself," I pleaded.

"It would be at a restaurant, and I promise you nobody cares, just act like a normal person; it'd actually be refreshing. You worry too much Daniel, you'll do fine. Trust me, alright?"

I hesitated for a few more moments but eventually relented. This was likely something I had to do if I wanted the Dawn Stone, and the only real reason I had for not wanting to go was because of my antisocial tendencies. I truly was interested in trying to be Samantha's friend, and although we might have gotten off on the wrong foot I did like Roxanne. I just hoped that Samantha's dad didn't think I was romantically interested in his daughter, since I knew that would make things much more difficult.

Samantha excitedly excused herself to make a quick phone call, presumably to make plans for what I was sure was going to be a nerve-racking meal.

After informing me of what time and restaurant they'd decided on, Samantha excused herself to go home and begin packing after I'd told her I wanted to leave tomorrow if Duran got released from care. I briefly considered taking Apollo to the battle court or doing some training but decided to let him rest in his Pokéball while I spent some time reading Telepathic Tendencies. I needed to take my mind off things and figure out how to not only build up my mental defenses but also ensure I had control of my own thoughts.

The book was eloquently written, and despite not being very thick I found it to be a wealth of knowledge. Something that it brought up repeatedly was the concept of mindfulness; keeping yourself in the present moment by focusing on what you are currently experiencing, sensing, and thinking. Using the present as an anchor to keep your mind from wandering, especially when you find yourself in a situation where you don't want a specific thought lifted. I knew enough about how my mind worked to know that this was going to be exceedingly difficult for me, as I'd always had a bad habit of letting my mind wander and thinking of how things might affect the future. The book acknowledged that it was an impossible task to always stay completely in the present, but strongly suggested that as the starting point for whenever you found yourself worrying about what a telepath might pick up.

It recommended doing routine meditation, not only to improve your familiarity with staying mindful of the present but also to help you understand your own thought patterns. It gave detailed instructions on how to 'properly' meditate which included finding a quiet location, setting a timer, clearing your mind of thoughts and worries, and maintaining paced breathing. Once you felt completely free of all distractions, you were free to think and were encouraged to not only pay attention to which thoughts lead to one another, but also to practice doing a non-judgemental review of how and why your mind worked the way it did. It encouraged journaling your observations afterwards in a notebook until you were capable of performing it in real-time, and the goal was to get good enough at it to do it even when you weren't meditating.

It convinced me that I should start doing routine meditation sessions with Apollo, as it would surely help a psychic to have more control and insight into their own mind.

Roxanne had been right; there were many techniques one could use to bolster the defenses of their mind, but I quickly realized that many of them were tied together intricately. It outlined steps on how to train yourself to detect unwanted presences and not only limit the amount of information they had access to but also expel them from your mind. The book stressed that your mind was only yours and that you had ultimate control of it. Identify the intrusion, cordon it off from the rest of your mind, focus and believe that it is unwelcome and must be expelled from your mind, and visualize yourself pushing it out with the firm belief that you are capable of controlling what goes on in your own mind. There were examples of different ways you could visualize it, and you could employ your 'inner voice' to not only communicate with the presence but also subconsciously influence their own mind.

By focusing on a phrase and repeating it with conviction and full belief that it was true, something as simple as 'I control my mind, you are unwelcome' could suffice. The book warned that the effectiveness of all these techniques depended on many factors including the willpower and mental control of both you and the intruder, and that even if you are unsuccessful in completely expelling the presence you can greatly reduce their effectiveness.

I put the book down and rubbed my temples. Truthfully this kind of thing gave me a headache and was exactly the kind of stuff I wasn't good at learning, but I was sure after a bit of practice and having some hands-on experience with Apollo's help would help me understand better.

I checked my Pokédex to see how much money I had before quickly deciding to do a bit of shopping. I still had a couple of hours until my dinner plans with the Stone family, and I definitely wanted to get new pants and shoes as well as a stopwatch with a timer. I wasn't about to buy an outfit specifically for the dinner, but considering all of my clothes except my new hoodie were quite worn and unsightly it couldn't hurt to replace them too.

I released Apollo from his Pokéball and spent a few minutes filling him in on both Duran's situation as well as the plans I had made with Samantha, both for traveling as well as dinner. He seemed exceptionally pleased, and after asking him why I learned that he thought she was funny and friendly.

Part of me believed he genuinely wanted to see me make a human friend, and the other part thought he found personal amusement at seeing someone who kept me on my toes; I couldn't say for sure.

What I did know was that if the two of them worked together, they had the potential to be the source of a lot of future headaches.

I found myself with about an hour to kill after buying myself some new cargo pants, shoes and a stopwatch. I got largely the same clothes I already had, just better fitting and more modernized versions. The main difference was that I made sure the black sneakers I got had black soles so they would be more resistant to grass stains, and I changed the color of the cargo pants from brown to a darker olive green for much the same reason.

I seriously considered getting a haircut, but it wasn't quite long enough to be annoying yet and I didn't want to come across as trying too hard to prepare for dinner with the Stones. I was already going to be showing up in less than impressive clothes, but I had no doubt that Samantha would see fit to tease me if I showed up in a new set of clothes as well as a haircut.

Returning to my Pokécenter room and changing clothes, I decided to pass the remaining time by trying out a meditation session with Apollo. I spent a few minutes explaining what I had read in the book regarding mindfulness, how our minds were completely ours, and how meditation was like exercise for the mind, allowing us to better understand how our minds worked and to exercise control over them.

He seemed eager to try, and after determining that the room was sufficiently quiet I used the stopwatch to set a timer for fifteen minutes. We sat on the floor and closed our eyes, then I instructed Apollo to sever our mental link, control his breathing and clear his mind as we both gave it a try.

At first I found myself focusing on my breathing a bit too much, and was unable to fall into a smooth rhythm. The more I focused on it, the more I found myself struggling to do something that usually came naturally to me. I became acutely aware of just how much effort it actually took to breathe at a consistent tempo. I realized that I was trying far too hard and needed to simply let my body do what it does naturally. After straightening my posture and relaxing myself, I soon found that breathing was once again natural and I fell into a natural rhythm.

That finally sorted out, I focused on clearing my mind and being in the present. I became aware of just how much noise breathing actually made, the thumping of my beating heart, the low hum of the air conditioner I hadn't noticed before.

Although unable to clear my mind, I did become aware of lingering thoughts and emotions I hadn't realized I'd been trying to bury.

Resentment for a boy born into wealth having enough influence to make my life difficult just because he felt entitled to the world.

Anger that a gym leader had been so easily swayed.

Disappointment that the Pokémon League was so vulnerable to corruption.

The burden of a dead Taillow who didn't deserve it, and the guilt that their trainer may never know of their Pokémon's fate, likely blaming themself.

Hesitance to call Samantha a friend, both because of a name she didn't choose and my own hangups with letting people get close to me.

The shame of allowing Duran to get completely thrashed in what was supposed to be an easy fight with a major type advantage, and for selfishly making him be uncomfortable for my own gain.

A fear of being rejected by Apollo as he realized more and more that I wasn't a shining example of nobility, and that I was slowly building a riff between us by the decisions I was making and the thoughts I felt compelled to hide away.

But most of all, worry that no matter how hard I tried I'd never be able to make a place for myself in this world. That I was destined to be alone and would always be looked down on as 'trash'.

I had been desperately trying to act like everything was alright and that my life was on the upswing, but I was floundering. By trying to distance myself from potential problems and make choices that would gain me some sort of edge, I was negatively affecting others in the name of self-preservation. If I wanted to change things and live a fulfilling life, then I–

Apollo suddenly connected to my mind, and although it was a very subtle feeling I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I jolted and snapped my eyes open.

Worry. "Strong feelings."

I looked down at Apollo and saw him looking up at me with concern. I gave a faint smile, "Sorry buddy, didn't mean to distract you. I guess it was probably hard for you to focus with the emotions I was going through right next to you. How did you like meditation? It took me a while to get the hang of it but I think I was making some good progress."

Agreement. "Calm. Helping."

"Helpful," I corrected, "It is, we should keep doing it. Maybe we should separate next time though if I'm going to be a distraction to you. Not that I don't appreciate your worry, but you also kind of broke me out of my–"

*BEEP BEEP*

I startled as the timer went off and quickly shut it off, shocked that fifteen minutes had gone by so quickly. I'd probably spent about half that time just getting relaxed enough to even begin, but it still seemed like time had flown by in the blink of an eye.

"Guess it's time we find that restaurant. We still have a bit of time but I don't want to be late," I said with a stretch as I stood up.

"Ball?" Apollo asked hesitantly, and I could sense a bit of disappointment in his voice.

I snorted, "Hell no, unless they have a no Pokémon rule. I'll need you to help me not say anything stupid, so be sure you're checking my thoughts and do your best to warn me if you think I'm about to be dumb."

Determination. "I help."

"Not bad, but it should be 'I'll help'. Still, good job using 'I' correctly. You're getting closer to sentences every day," I praised as I picked up my starter and sat him on my shoulder.

After quickly checking in with Nurse Joy to learn that Duran was still resting but seemed to be recovering well, we headed out into town in search of the restaurant Samantha had told me to meet at. I was wearing new clothes and felt pretty good about myself, but dearly hoped they hadn't picked something too fancy where I'd stick out like a sore thumb.

Considering what I knew of Samantha and the Stone family, I wasn't holding my breath.

I found myself incredibly grateful that I'd given myself so much time to find the restaurant. Rustboro was much bigger than it initially seemed, and it took asking a couple of the locals for directions for me to finally find it. By the time I found the unassuming pasta place, the time on my Pokédex informed me that I was dangerously close to being late.

I was even more thankful that this particular restaurant seemed to be rather casual and had no issue with Pokémon being out, provided that it didn't use moves or cause any problems. I felt a bit awkward telling them that I was here for a reservation with the Stone family, and it only multiplied when the greeter went from being generally courteous and friendly to suddenly treating me like royalty.

Apollo and I were ushered into a private room in the back, and my jaw nearly dropped when I stepped inside.

Sitting at the table were Samantha, Roxanne, and Steven Stone, the ex-Champion of Hoenn. It was impossible not to recognize him, even if he looked older and now sported a goatee. I instantly remembered seeing that face on television very frequently when I was a young boy. Although he'd been Champion before I was born, he used to be very active in politics and media, and was easily the most famous person in Hoenn.

He'd been the Champion before stepping down for Wallace to take the helm, but unlike Wallace, this man was nearly universally loved. He was very selective about what he put his weight behind and had wisely distanced himself from Wallace before the media turned on him. I wasn't sure if it was still the case, but he'd been the president of Devon Corp for years and was responsible for many of the improvements Hoenn had seen to its infrastructure. The past decade or so he'd been much less public, but there were still plenty who sang his praises and claimed he worked for the betterment of the region behind closed doors.

I was kicking myself for not piecing things together sooner; I had just assumed there were more members of the Stone family that Samantha was likely a part of. Of course it was a possibility that her father was the ex-Champion, but my brain had just never allowed myself to seriously entertain that thought.

"Daniel, it's nice to meet you. Please, take a seat."

I struggled to maintain my composure as I realized he'd just said my name, and nearly had a moment of panic as I realized that he was gesturing to the seat beside him. Samantha and Roxanne were on one side of the table, and I was being asked to sit beside someone who used to be Champion of the region.

Reassurance. "Polite. Sit."

I gulped, walking over as I took a seat next to Steven, who despite his smile seemed to be slightly amused by my behavior.

Samantha cast her father a warning glare, "Daddy won't bite. He promised me he'd be on his best behavior, right?"

Steven coughed, steeling himself as his face became more neutral. I could swear Roxanne was suppressing a giggle, but a quick glare from Samantha quickly ended that. It seemed that despite both of these adults being powerful and authoritative in their own right, Samantha was the one who truly held the power in this family dynamic; something I found not only amusing but also calming.

A waiter entered the room, setting a basket of sliced bread and a bottle of some sort of oil on the table before pouring each of us a glass of water, "The usual I presume?"

Each of the Stones voiced their approval, and I felt a bit awkward when I was the only one handed a menu so I simply asked for the house special or whatever he recommended, not wanting to awkwardly browse the menu in my current heightened state of anxiety. Thankfully he took the hint and retrieved the menu before quickly scurrying off, leaving me alone in the room with the Stone family.

Roxanne spoke up and broke the silence as both Steven and Samantha dug into the appetizer ravenously, "So Daniel, how are you enjoying Rustboro?"

I gave a forced smile, "It's much bigger than what I'm used to in Petalburg, that's for sure. The beach is also closer, and I really liked crossing the bridge coming in; very scenic. The brick roads and the wide variety of street vendors are fantastic, but if there was one thing I'd say Petalburg has Rustboro beat at its hospitality."

My eyes widened a bit as I realized what I'd said, but Steven and Samantha both nearly choked on their food before giving hearty laughs while Roxanne gave a sad smile.

"I can't fault you for that view, you have indeed had a series of bad experiences. The man at the cafe, Preston, and of course Leader Georgia. I've spoken to the last two and am quite sure they won't be a bother to you anymore, but as for the cafe incident I fear no matter where you go you'll find that some people are simply distrustful of telepaths. Most of it is born of ignorance, but some have their reasons."

Sadness.

I gave Apollo a reassuring rub of the head as Samantha swallowed her mouthful of bread and adopted a scowl, "I can't believe Georgia did that crap. I used to like her too. Even if she used the same Pokémon she usually would for a first-badge challenge, the Self-Destruct and Sandstorm tactics were at least a third-badge level."

I nodded in agreement, "I'd actually thought she might have studied my team and picked counters, but I guess I was just being paranoid."

Steven chimed in, "I watched your battle on the League website after Roxanne told me about her concerns. I'll be honest, the only thing that stood out to me as unusual was the use of Self-Destruct. Sandstorm may have been an especially difficult challenge for somebody with no badges, but considering you had such a major type advantage I'd say it was fair game. As for Aron resisting your Ralts, I'd have to chalk that up to your own lack of research on your opponent. Her choice of Pokémon and their order are pretty standard, you'd have found the same thing across most of her first-badge battles."

I flushed at being called out, "Fair enough. I didn't actually even know who the gym leader was, let alone what Pokémon they used. I know plenty of trainers like to plan around their opponent, but to me that feels a bit… cheap, I guess."

Steven raised a brow, "Curious. Mind explaining your reasoning?"

"I've just never liked the idea of building a strategy around an opponent. I could see how it could be both fun and necessary for a type specialist, considering they need to work around the limitations of their team. But I kind of think that part of being a true trainer is being flexible and adaptable, ready to handle any challenge. Knowing which Pokémon to expect and the way a trainer battles… It just feels cheap," I shrugged.

"Yet you brought a water-type to the gym, and your Ralts was clearly using its telepathy to gain an advantage," Steven pointed out challengingly.

"I'll admit I knew it was a rock-type gym, but I stumbled upon him on my way here and it was just too good to pass up. I wanted a water-type anyways for their incredible utility, so it worked out."

"As for telepathy?"

"That was actually our first time using it that way," I admitted. "But I'd say it was deserved after that Self-Destruct. I'd also say using a Pokémon's natural abilities against an opponent is completely fair game. Do people complain that birds are unfair because they are too high up or mobile to hit? The same could be said about Pokémon who dig and swim. I see no reason telepathy or teleportation should be treated any differently."

Steven hummed, "All valid points, but isn't it a bit hypocritical to say you don't want to prepare ahead of time for what an enemy might throw at you when you are using telepathy to do just that?"

Samantha suppressed a giggle and Roxanne grinned as I tried to come up with a response to that, but he kind of had me there.

"Maybe it is hypocritical," I shrugged, "but it still feels different to me. I'll admit that it's a bit of a dirty tactic, so we'll probably only use it when our opponent plays dirty first. We didn't go into the battle planning on doing that, for the record."

"Trainers wield their knowledge and experience to provide guidance for Pokémon. How can you hope to give your team the best guidance possible when arbitrarily limiting yourself? Had you done your research you would have known that Sandstorm was something you might have to overcome. Pokémon train to prepare for battle, but a trainer researches and plans. Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap many young trainers do where they expect their team to do all the heavy lifting."

I wasn't about to ignore advice given by an ex-Champion, so I graciously thanked him for his insight and promised to keep it in mind. The waiter knocked on the door before stepping into the room, wheeling a cart as he served us our meals. I found myself digging into a large plate of some sort of buttery-tasting pasta with alfredo sauce and some vegetables. I'd never had anything so good before, and after scarfing down a few bites Apollo nudged me and I realized that the Stones were staring at me with amused looks.

I suddenly felt very self-conscious and slowed down considerably, but I was now hyper-aware of just how much I stood out. They had placed napkins in their lap and were expertly using both a fork and knife to twirl the pasta into neat bites, whereas I had simply been using my fork more like a spoon and unconsciously slurping the noodles, making frequent use of my already dirtied napkin.

Thankfully Samantha noticed my sudden change and came to the rescue, "Don't worry Daniel, we're the weird ones. It's just something you pick up when you have people watching your every move, you're the normal one here."

That helped me feel a bit better, but I still slowed down and began twirling the pasta against the plate, deciding to take a middle-ground. The atmosphere was a bit awkward for a minute, but if I'd known what was to come I would have cherished it.

"So Daniel, tell us about yourself if you wouldn't mind. Petalburg is a wonderful city, what was it like growing up there?"

My eyes widened as Steven broke the silence, and I found myself caught between not wanting to give too short of an answer and preferring to not explain my true circumstances.

Support.

"It was… good. Nice people, well integrated with nature. I have plenty of fond memories, but truthfully I was really eager to get out and explore. I'd been there my whole life and was ready for a change of scenery," I answered diplomatically.

This time Roxanne spoke up, "You're a new trainer right? Given your proficiency, I assume you attended the Petalburg Trainers' School?"

I shook my head, "Nope, normal school. Although I did graduate a year early, so I had time to prepare myself for my journey."

"What of your friend there," Steven nodded towards Apollo who was acting unusually bashful. "Samantha mentioned it was your starter, did you hatch Ralts from an egg?"

I cast Samantha a look, sure I'd told her that I'd captured Apollo myself. She didn't catch my gaze though and was too busy enjoying her meal, seemingly content with listening.

"I met Apollo about a week before I got my license. I taught him how to defend himself and we just sort of became friends, and he agreed to come with me on my journey."

Steven grinned, "Apollo is a rather unique name. Don't suppose it was inspired by the first mission to the moon? I actually helped facilitate–"

He suddenly cut off mid-sentence and jolted, and based on the look on Roxanne's face I had the feeling she'd just kicked him under the table. He wasn't wrong though, in a roundabout way he had a hand in naming my starter.

"It's rather remarkable you managed to befriend a Ralts. That's no easy feat, you must really have a knack for Pokémon. I assume you grew up around them?"

I shook my head, "Apollo was actually the first Pokémon I ever really got to interact with in any sort of meaningful way."

Samantha spoke up and seemed interested, "Really? Your parents didn't have any growing up? How come you never went to trainers' school or got a starter earlier if you knew you wanted to be a trainer?"

I groaned internally, really hoping I'd have been able to avoid this topic but not seeing any way of dancing around it further.

"I'm an orphan," I blurted out, deciding to just get it out of the way as the Stone family stopped eating and gave me various looks of shock and sympathy. "My dad died when I was a baby, and my mom passed away a couple of years ago. Being a single mother doesn't exactly leave you well-off, and our apartment didn't allow for Pokémon. Trainers' school costs money, so I just never really had that option."

Apollo nodded in agreement, hugging my neck and sending me feelings of affection as the Stone family cast glances at one another, seemingly trying to figure out how to proceed. I decided to try to break the tension.

"Sorry, bad topic to bring up during a friendly dinner. You really don't need to feel sympathy or anything like that. I worked with what I had, and truthfully I'm very happy with how things have panned out. I couldn't ask for a better partner than Apollo; both him and Duran are like family to me. We haven't been together for too long, but we've been through a lot and have gotten very close."

"No need to apologize Daniel, my daughter can be a bit nosy and thoughtless, so please excuse her," Roxanne shot Samantha a reprimanding look, but her eyes were already downcast and she seemed riddled with guilt.

Steven spoke up next, "It takes a special kind of person to be able to earn the trust of a Ralts, which you clearly have. I have no doubt you'll be a wonderful travel partner and friend to Samantha."

I caught myself beginning to think about my discussion with Roxanne after my private telepathy lesson and quickly pushed it from my mind, nodding in response before focusing on how good my food was as I resumed eating.

The rest of the meal was mostly uneventful. Samantha was unusually quiet and the other two Stones no longer asked me personal questions. They instead offered up stories and information about themselves, the two carrying the conversation while I asked the occasional question or made a quick comment. I learned that Steven was indeed still the president of Devon and that he still trained his team regularly. I also learned that Roxanne had apparently once been the Rustboro gym leader and had even helped train Georgia for her position, but her passions lay in teaching and academics so she retired to focus on assisting the Rustboro Trainers' School.

I'd known she was a strong trainer considering her position at the trainers' school and the obvious strength of her Lunatone, but I hadn't expected her to be on the level of a gym leader. Samantha was from a family of powerful trainers, and I couldn't help but wonder just how strong she might be. She had told me she didn't care too much about battling, but I had no doubt she was more than adept at it.

Dinner came to an end with Roxanne and Steven asking me to take care of their daughter during our time traveling together, and with Samantha apologizing for prying before informing me she was ready to leave whenever Duran got cleared from the Pokécenter. Samantha gave me her email address and told me to let her know when I planned on leaving and where we should meet up.

I learned that Steven had apparently been able to pull some strings with the League to have Samantha's trainer profile hidden, so I wouldn't have been able to get her email from the PokéNet. This was something the League was willing to do because of her increased risk of being targeted and because she had agreed not to participate in any tournaments. I had always thought that Pokémon contests were something put on by the League, but it was apparently run by a group called the Pokémon Activities Committee which was a separate entity. They were recognized by the League and closely partnered, but technically separate. They apparently had their own website which had coordinator profiles, but it wasn't nearly as in-depth as the PokéNet and didn't allow for crowdsourced information such as the location they were last seen or a breakdown of their team.

Samantha hadn't registered with them yet; she informed me that was something she planned on doing once we got to the Beginner Contest Hall in Verdanturf. She was going to be registering under an alias, which they allowed as long as they could confirm you were indeed a licensed trainer.

To my utter surprise, the Stone family left via Teleport by Steven's ace; an absolutely menacing Metagross whose presence made Apollo shudder. My guess was that it had been somewhere nearby keeping an eye out, because it wasn't released but rather suddenly Teleported into the room after what I assumed was a telepathic command by Steven. After a moment of the family gathering around it and bidding me farewell, they all vanished leaving me gaping like a Magikarp.

I guess the no-teleportation rule of Rustboro didn't apply to somebody like Steven Stone. Not that I was surprised; he probably had a litany of exemptions due to his status. Still, it served as a reminder of just how differently high-standing members of society had it compared to the average person. I couldn't help but wonder if he would have been afforded that luxury if he hadn't been Champion.

I returned to the Pokécenter to check on Duran, and was told he had recovered enough to molt and was now resting. They'd given him a check-up and determined he was perfectly fine and would be able to be returned to me in the morning. I was reminded that he should be given the next couple of days to rest and should avoid battling while his new shell hardened.

I asked Nurse Joy if she would be able to give him his vitamin and she readily agreed, so after fetching that for her I sent a quick email to Samantha. I told her we'd be leaving tomorrow and that I planned on doing some morning training before buying some supplies, requesting that she meet me at the Pokémart no later than noon ready to go. I wanted to get a full night of sleep in the comfortable Pokécenter bed before resuming my journey, so noon seemed like a reasonable amount of time for both Samantha and I to make final preparations.

Apollo and I retired to our room and spent some quality time together before going to bed. All things considered, I thought that the day had gone exceptionally well and Apollo agreed with my assessment. He was proud of how I handled the dinner and seemed excited to have Samantha join us, even though I warned it wouldn't be a permanent thing.

As I lay in bed and thought of the day, I couldn't help but feel a bit of anxiety start to boil up. I really hoped that Samantha and I would be able to get along; spending all day traveling together might add some tension or reveal underlying differences that could be hard to manage.

Even more worrying, I really hoped that traveling with a Stone wasn't painting a bigger target on my back than I currently had. People were already envious of Apollo, and I might be on Team Rocket's radar due to my slip-up at the battle court.

Most of all though, I thought of Duran. He'd gotten hurt because of me, both physically and emotionally. I had no doubt that he was taking the loss hard, particularly because of how I had hyped up its importance and given him the expectation he would do amazingly.

I'd thought that being a trainer would be simple and carefree, but things weren't going to be as straightforward as I had always believed. I'd expected to travel around the region, see the sights, and bond with my team while training and battling until nothing stood in our way. I thought things like badges, money, and friends would come naturally. But each step was a struggle, and I didn't only have myself to consider anymore; my new family had their own hardships to overcome, and I needed to do better so we could all live the life we dream of.

I'd let Duran down. Losses were to be expected, but as a trainer it was my job to ease them as much as possible. I'd made mistakes before the battle had even begun, and I vowed to myself to make sure we came in with the right mindset and preparation next time.

I'd been childish. I was cocky in assuming the battle was a foregone conclusion, and I'd let my pride get in the way of ensuring we were properly prepared for what was to come.

Reassurance. Faith.

Apollo's presence and support gave me immense comfort, and I slowly began drifting off to sleep with a newfound sense of determination.

I needed to do better, for all of our sake. I still had Apollo on my side, but I wouldn't blame Duran if his faith in me was wavering.

For my new family, I'd sacrifice everything. Blood, sweat, tears and my pride were a small price to pay if it helped them achieve their dreams, just as they were helping me with mine.

They gave me their all each and every day. It was only right that I did the same.

TRAINER ID
Name: Daniel Ingram
Age: 16
Badges: 1
Account: 6,920 credits

POKÉMON
Ralts (Apollo) - Male
Corphish (Duran) - Male

AN: Poor Daniel was SO close to having a breakthrough during his meditation. At least he's making some progress and dinner with the Stone family went relatively smooth. Hopefully he takes Nurse Joy's warning seriously, gets along with his temporary travel companion, and is able to smooth things over with Duran.

Thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, or reviewed.

Shoutout to TysonG for beta-reading this chapter.

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