{"sf1_id":251816,"sf2_id":"rn9VW2L1","title":"A Trainer's Tale - Chapter 10","author":"FoxStriker25","words":10309,"posted_at":"2011-05-23T08:21:00.000Z","tags":["Clean","Gardevoir","Human","Mismagius","Pokemon"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/251816-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-10","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rn9VW2L1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/d6/cb/d6cb86b5-675e-45b2-9356-0054b041e54d","description":"#10 of A Trainer's Tale","content":"Author's Note: _So yeah.\u0026nbsp; It's here.\u0026nbsp; I don't know what to say, so I'll jut stop here and let you all read._\u0026nbsp; _I apologize for any grammar mistakes.\u0026nbsp; When I first got this back from my friend, about a quarter of it was marked as \"Needs to be worked on\"._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n**Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright of Nintendo, Game Freak, etc.\u0026nbsp; Individual characters are my own imaginening, and are not intended to be any part of main cannon / plotline.\u0026nbsp; Individual characters like Aaron, Song, Zin, etc, are my own creations, so please ask before using.\u0026nbsp; Thank you.**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nChapter 10: Observer\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI woke up suddenly, the only light in the room was what little filtered in from underneath the closed door.\u0026nbsp; My body moved sluggishly, as I slowly sat at the edge of the bed.\u0026nbsp; I felt my hands curl up into a fist before relaxing again.\u0026nbsp; My toes and fingers wiggled for a moment, before they stopped on their own.\u0026nbsp; Standing up slowly, so as to not disturb anyone's sleep, I made my way to the bathroom.\u0026nbsp; Opening the door and closing it behind me, I turned on the lights.\u0026nbsp; My eyes closed instantly as an overload of light washed everything white. Yawning as my eyes adjusted, I made my way to the white sink.\u0026nbsp; I tested out the water for temperature, and finding a preferred balance of hot and cold, began to wash my face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Interesting.\u0026nbsp; It is good to see that you are not completely under my control, even when you are asleep._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI flinched, backing up and almost falling against door behind me.\u0026nbsp; Gasping for breath, I looked around but found no one inside the small room.\u0026nbsp; I rubbed my temples gently, trying to ease what felt like a headache coming along.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_That will not work, Master._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist?\" I asked, as realization dawned on me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_But of course,_\" she said, her voice soft inside my mind.\u0026nbsp; \"_Who else would it be that is sharing your body_?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded slowly, trying not to aggravate the pain that was starting to become more pronounced.\u0026nbsp; A sudden chill went up my spine, as something felt like it was coming out of my back.\u0026nbsp; I lost my balance, only managing to avoid hitting my face against the sink by grabbing hold of it with my hands.\u0026nbsp; On my knees now, my body shivered uncontrollably as what felt like something was being pulled out of me.\u0026nbsp; The sensation wasn't painful, thankfully, but it went with the speed of water trickling through a pin hole.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe seeping sensation became more intense, as Mist's body began to pull out of my chest.\u0026nbsp; I shivered, the feeling of a bucket of ice water being dumped on my head wracking my nerves.\u0026nbsp; Gasps came out strangled, as I tried to keep my mouth clamped shut.\u0026nbsp; It was bad enough that Joy probably suspected something.\u0026nbsp; I didn't want to give her more reasons to treat me differently.\u0026nbsp; Like she needed any more.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs Mist finally exited out of my body, it felt like my body was missing something.\u0026nbsp; The sensation still felt extremely odd, and I tried not thinking about it.\u0026nbsp; She floated in front of me, before coming closer.\u0026nbsp; I cradled her in my arms, still in awe that she can do such things.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer 'hands' stroked my hair gently as I looked at her with a mix of fear and respect.\u0026nbsp; Mist must have known what I was thinking, because she smiled at me.\u0026nbsp; We didn't speak to each other for a moment, the silence between us was comfortable as I lay there on the tiled floor.\u0026nbsp; She giggled softly after a while, breaking the stillness in the air, as she floated slightly away from me.\u0026nbsp; I stood on shaking feet, my hands holding onto the edges of the sink to steady myself.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Good morning, Master,\" Mist said softly.\u0026nbsp; \"I apologize for awakening you, but it was for the best.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Your body needed to use the restroom,\" she stated.\u0026nbsp; I sighed, shaking my head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Are you going to watch, too?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"If that is your wish,\" she stated enigmatically.\n\n=================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ========================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI exited the room as quietly as I could, closing the door behind me.\u0026nbsp; Mist followed me silently, refusing to rest back inside her Pokéball.\u0026nbsp; I considered recalling her, but thought better of it.\u0026nbsp; Wild Pokémon were known to roam around, so it's better to be safe than sorry.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe made our way down the hallway and into the main room of the Pokémon Center, finding it empty.\u0026nbsp; A Chansey waved in our direction, and I waved back.\u0026nbsp; The Pokémon didn't ask questions, and continued with her duties.\u0026nbsp; It was a good thing, as we didn't want to wake Nurse Joy.\u0026nbsp; We exited the building, the dawn slowly making its way the sky.\u0026nbsp; Street lights were still on as they washed everything in their even white light, even as the sun's rays slowly begun to peek over Mount Coronet.\u0026nbsp; I made my way back west, this time with the intention of going over that bridge.\u0026nbsp; Nausea flooded over me immediately, just from the thought of crossing any bridge.\u0026nbsp; I smothered the feeling as best I could, but my stomach continued to churn against my will.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt wasn't long before we encountered the bridge.\u0026nbsp; I gulped audibly, trying to stem the fear I felt rising again.\u0026nbsp; The water was as calm as I saw it yesterday.\u0026nbsp; I had to remind myself that this couldn't be some flimsy thing.\u0026nbsp; I mean, this was standing next to a city.\u0026nbsp; I'm sure they kept it in constant repair.\u0026nbsp; Right?\u0026nbsp; My feet stopped at the edge of the bridge, nerves beginning to take over again.\u0026nbsp; I could feel the cold sweat dripping down the back of my neck.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"At least if I fall, it won't be so bad,\" I said out loud, chuckling nervously.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I have learned from my past mistake, Master,\" Mist said.\u0026nbsp; \"I will not fail you again.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded silently, trying not to think about the possibility of falling.\u0026nbsp; There were no rails, but as I stepped on the wood, it didn't sway.\u0026nbsp; Emboldened, I slowly took another step forward.\u0026nbsp; A smile crept on my face as I took yet another step forward.\u0026nbsp; Though my heart was pounding in my chest and my breath was caught in my throat, I managed to continue walking forward.\u0026nbsp; Mist floated beside me, eyeing me with caution.\u0026nbsp; I smiled widely at her, nodding.\u0026nbsp; Starting to become less hesitant, I tried to walk normally, forcing the hesitation out of me.\u0026nbsp; Though it took a few attempts, my knees stopped locking up and I managed to walk normally up to the halfway point.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA large square platform was the junction that connected two bridges.\u0026nbsp; I nodded, standing in the middle of the square area.\u0026nbsp; Dawn was coming along quickly, shadows of the nearby buildings stretched as the sun finally pulled its light above the horizon.\u0026nbsp; The bridge under my legs didn't sway, though there wasn't any breeze.\u0026nbsp; The water was calm, the surface mirrored the surroundings perfectly.\u0026nbsp; Slight distortions rippled along its surface, from either something shifting or a Pokémon, I couldn't tell, but it was the only thing that disturbed the breathtaking scene.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Quite a lovely sight, isn't it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI gasped, turning around to see a man standing next to me.\u0026nbsp; I didn't even hear him!\u0026nbsp; Either he just moved extremely quietly, or I was completely absorbed in looking around me.\u0026nbsp; I quickly studied him, finding his clothing unlike anything I've ever seen before.\u0026nbsp; The man wore some kind of robe, I imagine?\u0026nbsp; It was a dark brown color, the only thing I could compare it was mud.\u0026nbsp; A matching sash held it tight around his flat waist.\u0026nbsp; Thin looking arms were crossed in front of his chest, long fingers cradling his elbows.\u0026nbsp; A long face with a strong jaw was outlined with a rather wild black beard.\u0026nbsp; The hair on his head matched the beard, though it was more tamed.\u0026nbsp; Though from my perspective, the long hair looked like it needed a good brushing.\u0026nbsp; I could spot some tangles in his hair, though I'm not sure if he didn't mind.\u0026nbsp; His green eyes watched me silently, as if studying me in turn.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI cleared my throat, trying to keep my breathing under control.\u0026nbsp; I nodded to the stranger.\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, it really is,\" I said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm sorry. \u0026nbsp;I didn't hear you walk up to me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe bowed his head slightly in my direction.\u0026nbsp; \"I apologize.\u0026nbsp; I did not mean to startle you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe spoke like Mist.\u0026nbsp; I grinned.\u0026nbsp; \"No worries.\u0026nbsp; My name's Aaron.\u0026nbsp; Nice to meet you,\" I said, extending my hand to him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe man smiled, grasping my outstretched hand in a firm handshake.\u0026nbsp; \"It is a pleasure to meet you, Aaron.\u0026nbsp; My name is Aiden.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's nice to meet you, Aiden,\" I said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"Where are you from, if I might ask?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe man smiled at me, chuckling softly.\u0026nbsp; \"I am not from one of the major cities,\" he answered me.\u0026nbsp; \"I come from the far south, along the Coronet mountain range.\u0026nbsp; There is a monastery there, which I am part of.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Oh!\u0026nbsp; I've never heard of such a place.\u0026nbsp; It would be nice to visit, if it would be possible.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe man smiled at me.\u0026nbsp; \"It is nice to see someone so young be looking for adventure.\u0026nbsp; Are you out to make a name for yourself?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI grinned.\u0026nbsp; \"Kinda.\u0026nbsp; I want to see places, travel.\u0026nbsp; Becoming a Pokémon trainer seemed like the logical step.\u0026nbsp; I'm not interested in becoming famous, if that's what you're asking.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I see.\u0026nbsp; A wandering spirit,\" he mused, his smile never leaving his face.\u0026nbsp; \"It is my hope that you find what you seek, whatever it may be.\u0026nbsp; And that you have the wisdom to acknowledge it, when you do.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI was stunned for a moment by his words.\u0026nbsp; I coughed, trying to coerce words to come out of my throat.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you, Aiden,\" I said after a moment.\u0026nbsp; \"Sorry, I've never met anyone quite like you.\u0026nbsp; Even living in Solaceon, and that place gets a lot of strange visitors.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You are not from around here?\" he asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Nope, I'm Solaceon born and raised,\" I said with a hint of pride.\u0026nbsp; \"Though it's a small town, that old couple of the daycare center made it famous.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes, I've heard of Solaceon,\" Aiden said, smiling warmly.\u0026nbsp; \"It is a nice quiet town, from what I understand.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yep,\" I said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"Not a whole lot happens.\u0026nbsp; There's always the Solaceon Ruins to the east, and if you need to visit the Lost Tower, it's only a short walk away.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe man nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Is it true that Pokémon are buried there?\" he asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes they are.\u0026nbsp; They are placed within their Pokéballs when they are put inside of the tower.\u0026nbsp; There are a lot of graves in there.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Have you been inside of it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"I helped keep it as clean as possible while I lived in Solaceon.\u0026nbsp; So many leaves.\u0026nbsp; I still don't know how they kept getting in there.\u0026nbsp; Are you headed for the Lost Tower?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nFor the first time, his smile left his face.\u0026nbsp; He looked immensely sad.\u0026nbsp; I was about to apologize, but Aiden shook his head.\u0026nbsp; Though the smile wasn't back, the frown was replaced with a stoic look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes, that is my ultimate destination on this journey,\" he said, his voice rather flat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said, looking away.\u0026nbsp; I rubbed my shoulder, feeling extremely uncomfortable.\u0026nbsp; I've met a few trainers while I was cleaning around the Lost Tower.\u0026nbsp; It was always an awkward moment when it was brought up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWhen I looked back at the man, the smile had returned.\u0026nbsp; He shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips.\u0026nbsp; \"Please, do not apologize, for you could not have known,\" he said gently.\u0026nbsp; \"It is my partner's brother who I am to honor.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I see,\" I said, still feeling awkward.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I can tell that this subject bothers you,\" he said, chuckling softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI cringed at the accusation, but I sighed.\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, talking about the dead isn't easy for me.\u0026nbsp; It doesn't feel right.\u0026nbsp; Don't really know how to explain it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAiden laughed, his head thrown back as he guffawed loudly to the morning air.\u0026nbsp; I turned to Mist, who shook her head at me when I raised an eyebrow at her.\u0026nbsp; I turned back to Aiden, who was now chuckling.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Please, do not feel this way,\" he said, smiling again.\u0026nbsp; \"While it is unfortunate that these things happen, everything happens for a reason.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Right_, I thought darkly.\u0026nbsp; _Because Darkrai completely had a reason to do what he did_.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAiden must have seen a change on my face, or the way I was standing.\u0026nbsp; His eyes narrowed for a moment, his easy smile disappearing into his stoic look once more.\u0026nbsp; I don't think he looked disapprovingly at me, but there was something that told me that he would argue his logic to the ends of the earth if he had to.\u0026nbsp; We stayed silent, and while trying to get out of this weird situation, Mist tapped me on the shoulder.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI turned to Mist, who had her eyes narrowed past me.\u0026nbsp; \"We should head back, Master,\" she whispered.\u0026nbsp; \"I do not like this human.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; Sounded like a good enough of a reason to get out of here.\u0026nbsp; \"Aiden, I apologize, but I have to head back,\" I said, forcing a smile.\u0026nbsp; \"Have to get my Pokémon and things from the center.\u0026nbsp; Meet up with my friends, busy day.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I see,\" he said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"Mind if I follow you?\u0026nbsp; I would like to rest for the moment.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Sure, I'll show you were the Pokémon Center is.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =====================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHurray for small victories.\u0026nbsp; Walked over a bridge and didn't freak out.\u0026nbsp; Twice!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAiden and I walked inside the Pokémon Center, to run into Joy and Jonathan.\u0026nbsp; I was about to greet them when the first thing I get is a punch that left my head ringing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Where the fuck have you been?!\" Joy demanded sternly.\u0026nbsp; I stumbled backwards, held up by Aiden to prevent me from falling.\u0026nbsp; Damn, she hit hard.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You pathetic excuse of what crawled into your mother's womb!\" Mist raged loudly, floating in front of Joy's face.\u0026nbsp; \"You shall NEVER hit my Master!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe punctuated her verbal threat with a physical one, a wave of shadow energy pulsing in front of the ghost.\u0026nbsp; Joy only had a moment's notice, but even when she brought her hands forward to protect herself, it seemed to have little to no effect in helping her.\u0026nbsp; The wave of energy washed over her, pushing her back.\u0026nbsp; Joy slammed against the receptionist counter with a loud thud.\u0026nbsp; Joy let out a gasp of pain, though she didn't attempt to stand.\u0026nbsp; Mist slowly floated towards her target, though I have no idea what kind of intentions she had.\u0026nbsp; Before anything worse could be done, I decided to intervene.\u0026nbsp; I quickly made my way to the floating ghost and spun her around to face me.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes glowed brightly, though when before I would associate that light with the normal calm Mist I know, this light that came was wild and erratic.\u0026nbsp; I made the mental picture of trying to put lightning in a bottle, power barely being contained inside of its vessel.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist, I'm going to ask you to stop,\" I said, trying to swallow the fear that was beginning to crawl up my throat.\u0026nbsp; \"I appreciate what you-.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No!\" she screamed at me, purple energy crackling around the ghost.\u0026nbsp; \"She has no right to hit you!\u0026nbsp; I will not tolerate it anymore!\u0026nbsp; This is the last-.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"MIST!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nFor the first time, I screamed at her.\u0026nbsp; She was silent as soon as her name echoed around the room loudly.\u0026nbsp; If anyone wasn't awake yet, they were now.\u0026nbsp; If they didn't wake up to Joy banging her head against the desk a few moments prior, that is.\u0026nbsp; For a moment, I hesitated, probably being the focus of everyone's attention at the moment.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, both to clear my head of the fear and buying myself time to think of something.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIn a flash of inspiration, I decided to take this somewhere else.\u0026nbsp; Anywhere that was away from Joy.\u0026nbsp; I don't think that having her there would benefit anyone at the moment.\u0026nbsp; While still holding onto Mist, I made my way outside again.\u0026nbsp; A few people turned towards me, giving me awkward looks, but I ignored them.\u0026nbsp; I headed south this time, following the road towards the outskirts of town.\u0026nbsp; Now that we were out of earshot from anyone, and away from Joy, it felt like a good opportunity to talk to Mist.\u0026nbsp; She squirmed out of my hands immediately, floating in front of me with a look that I could only describe as hate on her face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist,\" I said, taking deep breaths to steady my nerves and voice, \"why did you do that?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe didn't answer immediately.\u0026nbsp; I was afraid that she would start yelling at me.\u0026nbsp; After a moment, she sighed, hovering there silently.\u0026nbsp; The glow ebbed from around her, but didn't stir.\u0026nbsp; I didn't know if she had an answer or not, so I continued regardless.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Look, I can appreciate what you did to an extent,\" I said, giving her a small smile.\u0026nbsp; \"But hurting her isn't going to help us.\u0026nbsp; I don't really like her either, but she's determined to come along, and Jonathan doesn't seem to mind her.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So, are you not going to fight?\" Mist asked softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What do you mean?\" I asked, perplexed.\u0026nbsp; \"Fight?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Were you just going to allow her to belittle you?\" she asked.\u0026nbsp; Her voice was back to normal, but I could still feel the anger in her words.\u0026nbsp; \"Were you just going to sit there and do nothing?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Stooping to her level doesn't make us a friend, Mist,\" I said sternly.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't see a reason to fight, nor should you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But she hurt you!\" Mist exclaimed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stood there, quiet for a moment.\u0026nbsp; I had a response in mind, but I decided to switch tactics.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist, I appreciate your concern over me.\u0026nbsp; I really do,\" I said, crossing my hands in front of my chest. \u0026nbsp;\"But, since when did you become so concerned for me?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I truly do not wish to talk about it,\" she stated.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why?\" I asked softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA gust of wind swept around us, whistling softly past.\u0026nbsp; Mist's eyes widened at my question, and she quickly looked away.\u0026nbsp; It was the first time I've seen the Mismagius act so awkward around me.\u0026nbsp; She gave me the feeling that she was always completely sure of herself.\u0026nbsp; That personality was no longer in front of me.\u0026nbsp; What was left was an unsure being, her eyes darting to and away from me.\u0026nbsp; Her gems glowed erratically as her makeshift hands played with the frills of her dress.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Please, answer me Mist,\" I pressed gently.\u0026nbsp; I extended my hands to her, hoping that she would accept.\u0026nbsp; \"I promise I won't be mad.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I know you will not,\" she said, slowly approaching me.\u0026nbsp; Silence threatened to loom over us again, but she shook her head after a moment.\u0026nbsp; It was as if the act cleared her mind.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"My previous master,\" she said suddenly, \"she... she was not the best person to choose, now looking back in hindsight.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI probably was looking rather confused, for she elaborated.\u0026nbsp; \"Ghost Pokémon are not easily captured.\u0026nbsp; We choose to go with a trainer, not the other way around.\u0026nbsp; We do not appear in front of someone that we do not consider worthy in some degree.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded in understanding, but kept quiet.\u0026nbsp; This wasn't easy for her to talk about, that much was obvious.\u0026nbsp; Though I've never taken her for hesitating in most things, I could understand being so cautious now.\u0026nbsp; I imagine that it was the fear of abandonment that held her.\u0026nbsp; I wouldn't imagine why she would feel that way, seeing as that she's probably pulled everything out of my head by now.\u0026nbsp; Knowing and doing are two different things, though.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe sighed after a moment.\u0026nbsp; \"I had chosen a female trainer that was passing by,\" Mist said.\u0026nbsp; Her voice was quivering slightly, distorting the speech.\u0026nbsp; \"When this happened, it was not the first time I had seen her.\u0026nbsp; She looks rather similar to this Joy woman, but her hair was blonde and her features were more rugged.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I presented myself to her in her dreams,\" Mist continued.\u0026nbsp; \"She was ecstatic about me.\u0026nbsp; She was looking for a ghost Pokémon to finish building her team.\u0026nbsp; That was her excuse.\u0026nbsp; After being captured, everything was as well as I expected.\u0026nbsp; That trainer made me feel like I belonged, that I had a place where before I had only my own.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI wanted to stop her.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't that I didn't want to hear the story, far from it.\u0026nbsp; I didn't want to see her in this weakened state.\u0026nbsp; It looked like she wanted to sink through the ground, and never reappear.\u0026nbsp; I reached out to her, placing my hands at her waist and bringing her close to me.\u0026nbsp; While she didn't cry, Mist shivered against me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She wanted me to be a child bearer,\" Mist intoned.\u0026nbsp; \"She was planning on using me as a breeding tool.\u0026nbsp; I did not believe it, until they put me in that damnable daycare center with that shape changing blob.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; I had a feeling this was going to turn ugly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That is not what the worst offense was,\" Mist continued, looking up to me.\u0026nbsp; \"While I did obey her, out of nothing but the link of master and servant, I could not bear the child.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI blinked, the implication sinking in really quickly.\u0026nbsp; \"Wait, so you're infertile?\" I blurted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMist nodded slowly, and I felt like an idiot for saying it like that.\u0026nbsp; She smiled sadly at me, patting my cheek with one of her hands.\u0026nbsp; \"It is not your fault, Master.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I should have been more tactful, though,\" I countered with a frown.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Perhaps, but I know you did not mean to be hurtful,\" she said, a smile creeping on her face.\u0026nbsp; That smile quickly disappeared, as she threw her arms around my neck and shivered in my arms again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Please do not send me away.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI was shocked for a moment.\u0026nbsp; Why would she think I would?\u0026nbsp; Because she wasn't fertile?\u0026nbsp; While unfortunate, it isn't going to stop her from being next to me.\u0026nbsp; I raised Mist's head from my chest, my fingers gently tracing the outline of her face.\u0026nbsp; I smiled down at the ghost in my arms, taking a moment for her to finally relax in my arms.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist, I had no idea what you've been through,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"As a trainer, I'm sorry that you've been through that.\u0026nbsp; But, it doesn't mean that I'm going to send you back.\u0026nbsp; Song is with us, even after our encounter with... that one.\u0026nbsp; I'm not going to send you away, not after all you've done.\u0026nbsp; Not unless you want to, of course.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMist's expression was somewhere between belief and fear.\u0026nbsp; I didn't let her sit there for long, though.\u0026nbsp; I brought my arms around her and pulled her tightly in a hug.\u0026nbsp; For a moment she stiffened, but then relaxed.\u0026nbsp; Then the tears came, as her body shook in my arms.\n\n================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ======================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ====================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm sorry, Aaron.\u0026nbsp; I know I shouldn't have done that,\" Joy said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe were outside of the Pokémon center, standing in front of the twin statues of Palkia and Dialga in Eterna City.\u0026nbsp; Jonathan had agreed to help Aiden get situated while he stayed here in Eterna, so we all agreed to take in the sights.\u0026nbsp; I still wanted to check out the gym, in case there was some sort of procedure that had to be done before challenging the leader.\u0026nbsp; Either way, we weren't going anywhere anytime soon.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe were all spread out.\u0026nbsp; Aiden and Jonathan went together near the steps that led downward to Mount Coronet.\u0026nbsp; They were talking rather animatedly, so I imagined that they knew each other.\u0026nbsp; Joy was standing next to me.\u0026nbsp; As I turned to look at her, she was mumbling softly.\u0026nbsp; I shrugged to myself, not sure if she saw me or not.\u0026nbsp; Mist and Song were both standing near me, keeping me company.\u0026nbsp; I still didn't want to deal with Zin after Mist threw her into the Pokéball.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shrugged at Joy.\u0026nbsp; \"Look, it doesn't matter,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"Just don't hit me again.\u0026nbsp; Not unless I really do something stupid.\u0026nbsp; And even then, I'm pretty sure if you'd talk to me instead, it would be better than punching me in the face.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Sorry.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't worry about it.\u0026nbsp; Really, it isn't that big of a deal, unless you keep reminding me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But how do you just shrug it off?\" she asked me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What do you mean?\u0026nbsp; You hitting me?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, and I grinned at her.\u0026nbsp; \"Because I won't stoop to your level,\" I said simply.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't think I need to hit someone to get their attention, or for you to punch my face to get mine.\u0026nbsp; If you really wanted to say something, you'd ask for my attention, in a way that doesn't involve physical violence.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe stayed quiet, and I continued.\u0026nbsp; \"Besides, do you really want to get on Zin's bad side?\u0026nbsp; Or even worse, be on bad terms with Song and Mist?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe stiffened at the mention of the last two.\u0026nbsp; Seeing as they were both present in the conversation, it had that implication that they could do something.\u0026nbsp; Plus, they heard her confession.\u0026nbsp; I don't think they'd go easy on her now.\u0026nbsp; Especially Mist, after that display earlier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So again, don't worry too much,\" I said, chuckling.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll try not to,\" she said softly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You can always go your own way.\u0026nbsp; No one's making you go with us,\" I pointed out.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I asked Jonathan if I could travel with you two, and he said to ask you,\" she said softly.\u0026nbsp; \"After the short time that we've known each other, I don't think that'll happen, knowing how I've acted.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSo, when in the world did this change of heart happen?\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, trying to get that annoyed feeling from my chest.\u0026nbsp; But why would Jonathan defer such a decision to me?\u0026nbsp; Shouldn't it be at least a group choice?\u0026nbsp; I'll talk to him about it later.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOn one hand, she was an experienced trainer, and she claims that she's a breeder.\u0026nbsp; She's obviously used to traveling, much like Jonathan in that respect.\u0026nbsp; She seems to know the areas around Sinnoh pretty well, as well as local Pokémon information.\u0026nbsp; How in the world she knew about the Abomasnow migratory path, I'll never know.\u0026nbsp; Maybe it really was just local information, and we messed up.\u0026nbsp; Rather glad that we ran into her, even if it was by chance.\u0026nbsp; Though I'm pretty sure Spirit would have handled things if given the opportunity.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOn the other hand, she was a bit arrogant, impulsive, and downright rude.\u0026nbsp; She likes hitting me in the face, and loves to pick a fight.\u0026nbsp; I'm honestly surprised that I've managed to tolerate it for this long.\u0026nbsp; I imagine Jonathan has more experience with asinine people than I do, but it's reached the point of ridiculous in my book.\u0026nbsp; I mean, who goes and slaps someone across the face for looking at them?\u0026nbsp; OK, staring, but even then, who does that?\u0026nbsp; Not even Song would.\u0026nbsp; Well, except that one time when a pretty girl was walking by.\u0026nbsp; I think I deserved it, because I ended up drooling.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Would it be really that bad to have her with us, Master?\" Song asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No, it wouldn't,\" I said, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; I faced Joy to address her.\u0026nbsp; \"You can come, as long as Jonathan has no major complaints.\u0026nbsp; Though from what you said, I don't think he does.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe smiled at me, a sigh of relief heaving out of her chest.\u0026nbsp; She grabbed and shook my hand forcibly, almost making me bounce up and down by sheer force.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You won't regret this!\u0026nbsp; I promise!\" she said, before releasing me.\u0026nbsp; \"Oh!\u0026nbsp; I gotta go get my stuff from Sis.\u0026nbsp; Be right back!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWith that, she ran down the stairs in direction of Eterna.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head as she weaved in between people walking the streets.\u0026nbsp; I wondered what I had just unleashed into my life.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Are you sure this was a wise choice?\" Mist asked, voicing my thoughts.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI chuckled.\u0026nbsp; \"Not at all,\" I answered.\u0026nbsp; \"Though there's safety in numbers.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You and Jonathan have done fine so far,\" Mist pointed out.\u0026nbsp; \"We did not need someone of her caliber.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Probably,\" I conceded.\u0026nbsp; \"But in all honesty, it's better that she's with us than not.\u0026nbsp; I don't need her spreading around rumors about me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What do you mean, Master?\" Song intoned.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Zin's slip up a few days ago,\" I said, lowering my voice.\u0026nbsp; \"She did mention that I was her mate then, remember?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBoth Song and Mist winced at the reference.\u0026nbsp; \"I see your point now,\" Song said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"It's better if she is with us.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, for the time, anyway,\" I said, sighing.\u0026nbsp; \"Still have no idea what's going to happen when I let Zin out.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I am sure that she would be content to see you once more,\" Mist said calmly.\u0026nbsp; \"I did explain to her what was going on.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Then why did she act the way she did?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Perhaps she forgot?\" Mist offered.\u0026nbsp; \"I did mention it to her before we left to Eterna.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shrugged.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, we'll deal with it when it comes up.\u0026nbsp; Right now, I still want to inspect this statue more thoroughly.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why?\" Song asked.\u0026nbsp; \"Is it because of the Celestic Ruins?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Basically,\" I answered, tapping the foot of the four legged beast.\u0026nbsp; \"Dialga and Palkia are part of the creation process, or so the legend goes.\u0026nbsp; The ruins pointed that there were three creatures created by Arceus.\u0026nbsp; We know these two, but who's the third, is the real question.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sighed, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"I doubt anything is written here that we don't already know, but we can at least cross this place out for any clues if we've inspected it properly.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI ignored the footsteps behind me, focusing my attention on the statue.\u0026nbsp; The wording was still the same as I remembered from when we passed this a few days ago.\u0026nbsp; I ran my fingers over the letters, trying to embed it all within my memory.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Dialga and Palkia,\" I murmured to myself.\u0026nbsp; \"The Roar of Time?\u0026nbsp; The Space between Worlds?\u0026nbsp; Would these be their tittles?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"They are indeed, Aaron,\" Aiden said, breaking my concentration.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTurning around, both Aiden and Jonathan stood next to me, looking curiously at my actions.\u0026nbsp; I looked at Aiden curiously when he didn't continue.\u0026nbsp; With a smile, he spoke to me.\u0026nbsp; \"Would you like to know what information I have?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; His smile widened as he continued.\u0026nbsp; \"It is generally believed that Arceus is the creator, correct?\u0026nbsp; Well, the first things he created were his first two sons.\u0026nbsp; Dialga and Palkia, time and space made physical beings.\u0026nbsp; To Dialga, Arceus gave him rule of the stars, while to Palkia, he gave the power of space and dimensions.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That sounds a bit crazy,\" I said, frowning.\u0026nbsp; \"I've never heard of this, not even in all my time with my parent's research.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Not much is recorded, and quite a bit is inferred by other, older writings,\" Aiden said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"It is as much belief as it is a mystery.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sighed, frowning.\u0026nbsp; \"That doesn't explain the third jewel I saw in the Celestic Ruins.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That would be Giratina,\" Aiden said stoically.\u0026nbsp; I blinked for a moment.\u0026nbsp; The name sounded familiar.\u0026nbsp; I know I've at least read it once before.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Isn't Giratina the gatekeeper?\" Jonathan asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, that is what is generally believed,\" Aiden conceded.\u0026nbsp; \"It has not been made apparent what is Giratina's duty.\u0026nbsp; All that is known is that he is the third son.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What is he the gatekeeper for?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJonathan looked at Aiden, who shrugged.\u0026nbsp; Turning to me, Jonathan said, \"Well, it is generally believed that Giratina is the gatekeeper of the dead, to be judged by him in front of Arceus.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It is also implied that he was given charge of our world as its caretaker,\" Aiden intoned.\u0026nbsp; \"Similar to how Dialga was given the stars and Palkia was given the dimensions as their duties.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, taking this new information.\u0026nbsp; \"That still doesn't explain why Darkrai showed up, though,\" I said, sighing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAiden flinched, bringing his hands over his ears and eyes wide.\u0026nbsp; \"You fought against the Night Walker?\" he asked in a hushed whisper.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sighed and nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Not willingly, if that's what you're worried about,\" I answered.\u0026nbsp; \"He kinda picked a fight with me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe blinked for a moment, before turning to Jonathan.\u0026nbsp; \"Is this what you were worried about when you visited?\" Aiden asked him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJonathan nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, this was exactly what I feared.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked at them, confused at what they were talking about.\u0026nbsp; They ignored me for the moment, as they looked at each other.\u0026nbsp; Through the silence, they seemed to reach an agreement.\u0026nbsp; Aiden nodded, while Jonathan just shook his head and sighed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Can someone tell me what's going on?\" I asked at the two.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It would be better if I showed you, but this isn't the place,\" Jonathan said.\u0026nbsp; \"Where's Joy?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm right here!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI turned around to see Song helping Joy with her belongings.\u0026nbsp; She had various objects in her hands, which seemed to have fallen at one point or another.\u0026nbsp; I sighed, shaking my head at the sight.\u0026nbsp; At least Song seemed to be taking everything in stride.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Change of plans,\" Jonathan stated.\u0026nbsp; \"We're headed south.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"South?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; \"But what about the gym?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"The gym isn't going anywhere,\" he rebuked calmly, shaking his head.\u0026nbsp; \"Where we're going, we have a chance to helping solve this mystery about Darkrai.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJoy stiffened visibly at the name.\u0026nbsp; \"Wait what?\u0026nbsp; What are we doing?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Aaron, can you pull out your Pokédex, please?\" Jonathan asked me, ignoring Joy's question.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, pulling the device out of my pocket and opening it.\u0026nbsp; Activating the map function, I passed it over to Jonathan.\u0026nbsp; He quickly tapped a few buttons and passed it over to me again.\u0026nbsp; Instead of the local Sinnoh area, where the major routes and cities were labeled, there were more routes and a few locations that I've never even heard of before.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"There's a monastery, hidden near the edge of the land mass of Sinnoh, located at the end of the Coronet Mountain range,\" he said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"This is where I was before I flew over here to Celestic Town to correlate information.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Is that what you were doing?\u0026nbsp; Gathering information?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I told you that I'm also looking into this whole Darkrai phenomenon,\" he said, rolling his eyes.\u0026nbsp; \"You just so happened to be the latest victim.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Wait, what's going on again?\" Joy asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll fill you in when we land,\" Jonathan said, shaking his head.\u0026nbsp; \"Unless you guys have some fast flyers, we're in for a long trip.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But I thought we were going to stay here longer?\" Joy asked, clearly irritated. \u0026nbsp;\"I wanted to talk to my sister!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury,\" Jonathan said clearly.\u0026nbsp; \"Either you come with us, or you can stay.\u0026nbsp; We'll be back, Arceus willing.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked at Jonathan for a moment, thinking that he lost his marbles.\u0026nbsp; What would be willing to kill us?\u0026nbsp; Oh, wait, that's right, kinda hard to get away from darkness itself if it wants you.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\"My master would be glad to see you once again, Jonathan,\" Aiden said, bowing to us.\u0026nbsp; \"May your journey be swift, and the winds of hope be at your back.\"\n\n=================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =========================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe were to leave as soon as we resupplied back in town.\u0026nbsp; I was still miffed about not checking out the gym, but I guess Jonathan had a point.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't going anywhere, and we'll be back.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully we can learn something productive, and this trip doesn't end up feeling like a wild chase across Sinnoh.\u0026nbsp; It's already starting to feel a bit hopeless.\u0026nbsp; I was still stuffing the last bit of potions and vitamins in my backpack when Jonathan and Joy ran into me inside the Pokémon Center.\u0026nbsp; They gave me an inquisitive look, and I just shrugged.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"With this guy,\" I said, pointing at Jonathan, \"I have a feeling that I wouldn't know when we'll reach this place.\u0026nbsp; I'm just making sure we're prepared with extra supplies.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"We all bought extra supplies,\" Joy reminded me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Extra on extra,\" I said, grinning.\u0026nbsp; She sighed and rolled her eyes at me, but left the subject lie.\u0026nbsp; Though we didn't exactly see eye to eye, it looked like she was making an effort to change.\u0026nbsp; I can live with that.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJonathan chuckled at me, though.\u0026nbsp; \"Very true, that is,\" he said.\u0026nbsp; \"While Storm can get there in no time, I don't know how fast your flying Pokémon are, so we'll take our time getting there.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully luck is with us and the weather stays clear.\u0026nbsp; We don't need anything starting up that'll throw us off-track.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nBoth me and Joy nodded.\u0026nbsp; We really didn't need something like that messing our travels.\u0026nbsp; Getting lost is one thing, because at least the maps were accurate on my Pokédex.\u0026nbsp; Becoming separated in the wilderness, where maps were less updated, it would be equal to suicide.\u0026nbsp; I picked up my backpack and headed outside, quickly followed by my two companions.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt was a brand new day.\u0026nbsp; We decided to stay over to get a good night of rest and double checking our Pokémon, before making such a long journey.\u0026nbsp; Jonathan estimates it would take us at least five days to get there.\u0026nbsp; I'm betting my money on a week.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI fished out Spirit's Pokéball, quickly letting the green dragon out of her confines.\u0026nbsp; When she fully materialized, she gave me a quick hug, seemingly intent on double checking my physical condition.\u0026nbsp; I chuckled as she ran her claws through my hair and opening my mouth with her claws.\u0026nbsp; I obliged as best I could, though I had no idea why she would need to check my tonsils.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why does she do that?\" Jonathan asked, putting away his Dragonite's Pokéball.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Beats me,\" I said, shrugging.\u0026nbsp; \"I think she's making up for being shy around me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit nodded, the scales around her cheeks changing into that familiar red hue.\u0026nbsp; I laughed as I patted her on the shoulder.\u0026nbsp; She smiled down at me, but immediately cringed when she looked in Joy's direction.\u0026nbsp; I turned to see that three headed thing again, hovering next to her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That thing isn't going to roar at me again, right?\" I asked, backing away slightly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJoy laughed, petting the Pokémon's 'arm'.\u0026nbsp; I don't even know if it can be called an arm, because both ended in a face with a huge maw.\u0026nbsp; Filled with teeth.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Zefyra understands that you aren't a threat,\" she said, giggling.\u0026nbsp; \"She might allow you to pet her.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll let her decide that, thank you,\" I said, waving my hands in front of me.\u0026nbsp; \"No need to get my hands bitten off.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"And before I forget, her species is called Hydreigon,\" she said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; The beast in her hands rumbled happily, two of her three heads nodding simultaneously.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll remember that,\" I said, grinning.\u0026nbsp; \"Though I think that Jonathan is waiting for us.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Thank you for remembering me,\" he said, already atop of his Dragonite.\u0026nbsp; \"If you two are done introducing each other, we need to get going.\u0026nbsp; Daylight's burning.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit quickly bent down as I made myself comfortable.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Double checking my backpack straps and making sure I wasn't going to slide off Spirit's back.\u0026nbsp; She tested her wings, their buzzing louder than what I was used to.\u0026nbsp; I was sitting on her back, my legs just behind where her wings were.\u0026nbsp; I grinned as she twisted her neck to see if I was alright.\u0026nbsp; I nodded and leaned forward to pat her neck gently, and she nodded back at me.\u0026nbsp; After adjusting her footing for a moment, a leap into the air had me holding onto her shoulders.\u0026nbsp; Her wings buzzing next to me, I looked to my side to see the roof of the Pokémon Center pass by.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJonathan was already in the air, and Spirit aligned herself to him and his Dragonite, Storm.\u0026nbsp; How did he take off without me noticing?\u0026nbsp; I voiced my concern, raising my voice over the buzzing of Spirit's wings.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She's pretty good about that, isn't she?\" he asked rhetorically, his voice loud.\u0026nbsp; \"Storm's had a lot of practice!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shrugged, and he laughed, tilting his head backwards.\u0026nbsp; I was afraid that he was going to fall, though my worry was proven false as Storm adjusted to him.\u0026nbsp; He nodded at me, pointing next to me.\u0026nbsp; I turned to see Joy and her Hydreigon, Zefyra, flying next to me.\u0026nbsp; The beast's six wings beat at the air, lifting her without seemingly a care.\u0026nbsp; I nodded at her, as a blast of air made me aware that Jonathan has moving.\u0026nbsp; Joy laughed, shaking her head and motioned me to follow.\u0026nbsp; I patted Spirit on the neck and nodded.\u0026nbsp; Don't know if it was for my own sake, or if she saw the action.\u0026nbsp; She raced after them just the same, flying in formation behind Zefyra and Joy.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI couldn't tell how fast we were traveling, but if I was to venture a guess, pretty fast.\u0026nbsp; The wind howled, mimicking the sound of a Houndoom, the temperature making me shiver slightly.\u0026nbsp; The sun was still shining, which helped a lot to mitigate that feeling though.\u0026nbsp; It was the reason why I wasn't wearing a jacket.\u0026nbsp; Sensibilities be forgotten, we were going to solve this damn mystery, one way or another.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI thought wistfully of home.\u0026nbsp; I wondered how mom and dad were doing.\u0026nbsp; Were they worried about me?\u0026nbsp; I imagine they were.\u0026nbsp; They're parents, after all.\u0026nbsp; I wonder how they would react if I called them about breaking my ribs.\u0026nbsp; Or meeting Suicune.\u0026nbsp; What about finding Xola almost dead?\u0026nbsp; Darkrai?\u0026nbsp; Would they even believe me?\u0026nbsp; I sighed, closing my eyes and shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; No use worrying about that right now.\u0026nbsp; Maybe I can use that phone thing that Jonathan did to my Pokédex to call them.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully it can get a signal, wherever we're headed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nDread rose in my stomach suddenly.\u0026nbsp; What if Darkrai found out about my parents?\u0026nbsp; My heart felt like it skipped a beat at the implication.\u0026nbsp; They didn't have Pokémon to defend themselves if he did show up.\u0026nbsp; I ground my teeth, and I pulled my hands from Spirit's shoulders, to avoid surprising her by accident.\u0026nbsp; Taking deep breaths, I forced myself to focus on Zefyra and the Pokémon's rider.\u0026nbsp; Spirit's neck twisted slightly, red covered eye looking at me with caution.\u0026nbsp; I smiled, shaking my head at her.\u0026nbsp; I doubt she bought my ruse, but she nodded and kept flying, following our guide to wherever this place was.\n\n============\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==========================\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe began our decent around what looked like midday.\u0026nbsp; The sun was high in the sky, and the clouds were getting thicker when I saw Storm and Jonathan slowly lowering themselves into the cloud cover underneath us.\u0026nbsp; I leaned forward, holding tightly against Spirit as we followed Joy and Zefyra into the clouds.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes, the water droplets obscuring my vision and making it painful to try to keep up.\u0026nbsp; I envied my Flygon slightly, for having natural eye protection.\u0026nbsp; Passing the cloud cover didn't take as long as I thought, as the droplets of water stopped soaking everything I had.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe clouds above us now were uniform across the sky, fluffy white preventing the sun's rays from fully reaching the surface.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, both Jonathan and Joy were easy to spot above the impressive tree line and the rolling mountains that spanned the landscape.\u0026nbsp; While the trees were thick in some areas, it wasn't all connected.\u0026nbsp; Large open areas were easily visible from our vantage point, and it's where Jonathan was headed.\u0026nbsp; Both Joy and myself quickly followed him towards one of these spots. \u0026nbsp;From high above, it didn't look like it had much in the way of grass.\u0026nbsp; It looked like a barren rock field in a rather circular shape.\u0026nbsp; Like someone made a cut-out of the forest, and forgot to put it back.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit landed next to Zefyra, and I dismounted as quickly as I could.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to give her a good rest before we flew again.\u0026nbsp; Scratching under her chin, she gave me a sigh of relief.\u0026nbsp; I grinned as she tried to mimic my actions, and I followed with my other unoccupied hand.\u0026nbsp; She copied me again, using both of her claws to gently scratch my neck.\u0026nbsp; I chuckled as I stopped, and she quickly followed suit.\u0026nbsp; I wondered if she was ticklish.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright, we're going to set up camp here,\" Jonathan said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"We're making great time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why are we stopping so early?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; \"It looks like it's barely noon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's about one o'clock right now, but yeah,\" he said, waving my comment away.\u0026nbsp; \"The reason why we stopped is because the next part has no clear and safe area to land to rest.\u0026nbsp; I don't want to overextend ourselves without a reason.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, understanding the concern.\u0026nbsp; Knowing him, he'd be there by now.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Let's set up,\" Joy said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"If you two give me your tents, I'll set them up.\u0026nbsp; If you two brought food, one of you can cook it and the other can look for dead branches for the fire.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Dibs on cooking!\" Jonathan exclaimed, as soon as Joy finished talking.\u0026nbsp; I blinked, surprised by the reaction.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shrugged regardless.\u0026nbsp; Wasn't going to complain about it, and I wasn't sure about my own cooking skills anyway.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Spirit, I want you to rest here, alright?\" I asked her, gently petting her in between her eyes.\u0026nbsp; \"You deserve a rest.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, though gave me a concerned look.\u0026nbsp; \"What, you think I'll be in danger?\" I asked her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, playing with her claws again.\u0026nbsp; I chuckled, opening Song's Pokéball.\u0026nbsp; The Gardevoir appeared with a twirl next to me, a soft giggle in my ears.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's good to finally be out of that thing,\" she said happily.\u0026nbsp; \"Are we there yet?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No, not by a long shot,\" I said, chuckling.\u0026nbsp; At her sigh, I shook my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Apparently, this place is at the end of the Coronet Mountains.\u0026nbsp; Jonathan guesses we'll make it there in five days.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I think a week is more appropriate,\" she said, nodding.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI laughed, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Well anyway, I've been asked to gather some firewood.\u0026nbsp; Would you like to help me?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But of course!\" she exclaimed, grabbing my hands.\u0026nbsp; I stopped her for a moment, if only to shed my backpack and keep it with Spirit for safe keeping.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Let Joy get anything she needs from there, Spirit!\" I called, as I was dragged away by Song's enthusiasm.\u0026nbsp; I stumbled a few times, losing my balance on the uneven ground and by being pulled along by Song.\u0026nbsp; She slowed down when she saw me almost fall, laughing about it.\u0026nbsp; I laughed with her, feeling giddy about everything.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You should let everyone out,\" Song commented.\u0026nbsp; \"It'll do everyone some good.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, pulling out everyone else's Pokéballs and releasing them.\u0026nbsp; With everyone present and accounted for, it wasn't long before Zin and Akalia tackled me, barely staying upright.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You did it!\" Zin exclaimed at me.\u0026nbsp; \"You did it!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs much as I wanted to ask what she meant, I really didn't want to know.\u0026nbsp; Probably about the whole Mist being possessive thing.\u0026nbsp; I didn't dissuade her, nodding at her happy exclamation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright, I need help gathering some firewood,\" I said, smiling at everyone.\u0026nbsp; \"Probably what you didn't want to hear, but we get food at the end.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Cooked food?\" Zin asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yep,\" I said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"So find as much as you can.\u0026nbsp; It doesn't look like it's rained around here in a while, so we shouldn't have a problem finding dry stuff.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nEveryone nodded, and we walked together in a loose group.\u0026nbsp; Akalia and Zin began finding sticks and branches quickly among the trees.\u0026nbsp; It didn't take long for us to have two good armfuls of the stuff.\u0026nbsp; It also didn't help that Mist was cheating, shaking the trees gently if any loose branches came down.\u0026nbsp; I was quick to point it out, to which she giggled at me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Are you truly going to argue?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Not me, but probably an angry bird,\" I said, grinning.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTo prove my point, a Murkrow flew right past me, the gust of wind trailing behind it almost making me lose my balance.\u0026nbsp; I looked upwards, to see a leafless tree with a full swarm of them.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't tell when a Murkrow ended and the next began.\u0026nbsp; A Honchkrow flew down, a feathered wing tipping his 'hat' down, as if greeting us.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI mimicked the Pokémon's actions, much to the birds surprise.\u0026nbsp; I looked at Song, who nodded at me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Song, could you translate for me?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't think there's a need for that.\u0026nbsp; They were sleeping.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nRight.\u0026nbsp; Murkrow and Honchkrow are nocturnal Pokémon.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"We're sorry for waking you,\" I said clearly.\u0026nbsp; \"We're not here to pick on anyone.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI hoped that the leader got the message.\u0026nbsp; For a moment, all the bird did was look at me straight in the eye.\u0026nbsp; As much as it made me feel uncomfortable, I didn't look away.\u0026nbsp; I began to count time by my heartbeats, feeling the moment stretch as my perspective got focused.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully, it only took ten counts for the Honchkrow to nod and fly up to his flock.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe quickly headed opposite to where the nest was, retracing our steps back into the clearing.\u0026nbsp; As we passed the trees, I noticed that the sun was starting to come down.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, startled by the time change.\u0026nbsp; I chided myself, and frowned when I remembered that my Pokédex had an internal clock.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe walked in silence together, enjoying each other's company.\u0026nbsp; Zin and Akalia were ahead of us, Zin's calls warning us for unstable footing.\u0026nbsp; We swiftly made it back to camp under their watchful eyes, Jonathan and Joy meeting us to relieve our burdens.\u0026nbsp; We got a fire started, and Jonathan began to lay out some food for all of us.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOur tents were set up already.\u0026nbsp; I asked where Spirit was, and Joy pointed to my tent.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, but shrugged all the same.\u0026nbsp; She deserved the rest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Do you need help getting her out of there?\" Joy asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Nah, that's fine,\" I said, shrugging.\u0026nbsp; \"She's probably more tired than I thought.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She's probably not used to flying long distances,\" Jonathan said thoughtfully.\u0026nbsp; \"Flygon's tend to be strong flyers, but not for distance.\u0026nbsp; I think we might have problems tomorrow.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why do you say that?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe shrugged, as he pulled a cutting board from his backpack.\u0026nbsp; Joy pulled a head of lettuce and handed it to him.\u0026nbsp; While Jonathan was cutting, she pulled out a small soup pot and poured some bottled water inside of it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Sorry, only enough soup for the humans,\" Joy said to Zin, giggling at the Houndoom's hurt look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI knelt down and petted her between her horns.\u0026nbsp; \"I'll let you taste some,\" I said, grinning.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Sorry, I totally spaced,\" Jonathan said, putting in the sliced vegetables inside the water.\u0026nbsp; \"Just a personal observation.\u0026nbsp; I've never met a Flygon that can go a full day of flying.\u0026nbsp; Not saying it isn't possible, just that I haven't seen one do it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, grinning.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't know how strong Spirit is, but I'm sure she'll surprise us if given the chance.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe laughed as Joy dropped some noodles inside the water, and began passing some tomatoes to Jonathan.\u0026nbsp; \"Too true,\" he said, chuckling still.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm not going to be surprised by anything today, not after her Ditto.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Who?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe pointed behind me, and I turned to look.\u0026nbsp; What I saw made my entire brain process stop.\u0026nbsp; The scream that I wanted to yell died in my throat, panic completely locking me up.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to run, do something, but fear kept me still.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nDarkrai was right behind me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSong's scream was the only thing that snapped me out of my paralysis.\u0026nbsp; Not caring if I had imagined it or if it was real, I lunged forward at the shadow, my fist meeting the Night Walker's face.\u0026nbsp; Meeting the ground, I stood up as fast as I could to see Zin lunge forward.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hey!\u0026nbsp; Stop hurting my Ditto!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nZin stopped just before she leapt at the creature.\u0026nbsp; Focusing on the creature, its skin began to convulse, shrinking rapidly into a pink blob with two eyes and a wide mouth.\u0026nbsp; Two little tentacle hands rubbed the sides of its cheek, most likely where I had connected.\u0026nbsp; Joy ran past me, scooping up the Pokémon in her hands, giving me a horrified look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Why would you do that?\" she asked me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sighed, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Me and Darkrai... we don't get along?\" I offered.\u0026nbsp; She stared directly into my eyes, and I laughed nervously.\u0026nbsp; I sighed again.\u0026nbsp; \"I'll explain.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You better,\" was all she said, as she went back to Jonathan's side.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked over at Mist, who was currently just hovering next to my tent.\u0026nbsp; I walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.\u0026nbsp; She blinked, as if lost in thought, then focused on me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I apologize, Master,\" she whispered.\u0026nbsp; \"I... I knew what it was, it-.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't worry about it,\" I said, as I wrapped her in a hug.\u0026nbsp; Since when did such a confident ghost turn the other way?\u0026nbsp; \"We'll get stronger, I promise.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe laid her head on my shoulder as I walked back to the fire.\u0026nbsp; Before I got there, her body began sinking inside of me.\u0026nbsp; Though I knew the feelings, it wasn't without its suddenness.\u0026nbsp; I was thankful I could keep walking and prevent myself from shivering.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe didn't say anything once inside of me, but I could feel her.\u0026nbsp; She was safe, that was all that mattered.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJoy looked up at me, her eyes narrowed.\u0026nbsp; I sighed as I sat down and began explaining my situation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=============\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =====================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==================\n\nThe sun was now down, officially.\u0026nbsp; I talked myself hoarse, barely eating my soup as Joy questioned my story time and time again.\u0026nbsp; I came clean with her, starting all the way from the beginning of my little adventure.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, that explains it,\" she said, as I finished detailing the events in the Celestic Ruins.\u0026nbsp; \"Doesn't make sense why he'd attack, but now I understand why you reacted that way.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I want to apologize to you, for my Ditto,\" she continued, sighing.\u0026nbsp; \"He's a bit eccentric like that.\u0026nbsp; He likes to copy any and all kinds of Pokémon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"It's fine,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you, for accepting my apology.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I think you said it best,\" she said, waving my apology away.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI laughed as I brought my bowl of soup to my mouth.\u0026nbsp; I was surprised at the taste, the broth warming me up almost instantly.\u0026nbsp; While it scalded my tongue, all I wanted was to drink it down as fast as possible.\u0026nbsp; Jonathan laughed as I panted, feeling myself sweat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't drink it too fast,\" he advised.\u0026nbsp; \"Enjoy it.\u0026nbsp; You're cooking tomorrow.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI laughed and nodded.\u0026nbsp; Zin pressed a paw on my knee, sticking her nose up to smell the contents of my bowl.\u0026nbsp; Everyone chuckled as I brought the bowl to her level, letting her taste it.\u0026nbsp; She licked for a moment, before diving forward, almost knocking the bowl out of my hands.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, that's a first,\" Jonathan said in between laughs.\u0026nbsp; \"Never seen a Pokémon go so crazy about the food I've made.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nZin didn't respond, but looked at him while licking her chops with her long tongue.\u0026nbsp; She snuggled next to me, her head resting on my lap.\u0026nbsp; Song was resting against my back, Xola next to her.\u0026nbsp; Spirit was still inside my tent, and Akalia had gone inside there not that long ago.\u0026nbsp; Mist was still inside of me.\u0026nbsp; Good, everyone was accounted for.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So, who's going to take first watch?\" Jonathan asked.\u0026nbsp; \"Just in case any wild Pokémon show up.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI raised my hand.\u0026nbsp; \"I'll stay up,\" I said, grinning.\u0026nbsp; \"I haven't finished my food, since I was talking all this time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Fair enough,\" Jonathan said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"You can have the leftovers, too, if you'd like.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Thanks,\" I said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; Both of them headed for their nearby tents a few steps away from the fire.\u0026nbsp; They waved goodbye and disappeared inside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI held my bowl of soup in one hand, grabbing a handful of sticks and putting them inside the fire.\u0026nbsp; I grabbed a larger one and gently prodded it inside; making sure that it wouldn't roll out of place.\u0026nbsp; Putting a fist sized rock next to the last large piece, I nodded to myself.\u0026nbsp; Bringing the bowl to my lips, I enjoyed the flavors that danced across my tongue.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Master,_\" Mist said, her voice echoing softly inside my mind.\u0026nbsp; \"_There's something out there_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSlowly lowering the bowel from my lips, I looked around casually.\u0026nbsp; At first I didn't see anything.\u0026nbsp; A second look didn't bring anything strange in the encroaching darkness around me.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't hear any footsteps across the barren rocky field surrounding us, so I couldn't imagine anything or anyone bypassing me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Unless they can float_,\" Mist whispered warningly at me.\u0026nbsp; \"_Do not let the darkness deceive you_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI willed myself not to stand up at the mention of levitation and just nodded at her warning.\u0026nbsp; I focused on my food again, trying to keep those thoughts out, while trying to keep an ear out for anything suspicious.\u0026nbsp; Focusing on my breathing, I drank my soup slowly, doing my best to stem the paranoia that felt that was crawling up my spine.\u0026nbsp; No one stirred around me.\u0026nbsp; Zin was still asleep, while Song and Xola were still unmoving behind me.\u0026nbsp; I could feel Song stir for a moment against my back but nothing more.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI lowered my bowl, and just beyond the ring of light of the fire was... something.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't tell any more than two glowing white eyes in a field of black.\u0026nbsp; They looked to be level with me, so I couldn't tell if the creature was short, or kneeling.\u0026nbsp; I didn't look away, but I didn't move.\u0026nbsp; I hoped that we weren't in some Pokémon's territory.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI blinked, but in that moment, the eyes that were in front of me disappeared.\u0026nbsp; I almost jumped, startled at suddenness.\u0026nbsp; Did I see what I really did, or am I just seeing things?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_No, I saw it too_,\" Mist said thoughtfully.\u0026nbsp; \"_My powers could not sense what it was, either.\u0026nbsp; It was as if it was protected from psychic powers_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Whatever it was, it looks like it's gone,\" I whispered, slowly shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you, Mist.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe giggled softly, the sound echoing inside of me.\u0026nbsp; I smiled, as I let the happiness she was feeling warm me.\u0026nbsp; Along with the fire, I felt content.\u0026nbsp; I hoped, again, that we weren't inside a Pokémon's territory.\u0026nbsp; I also hoped that they wouldn't show up again, with more friends.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe clouds had cleared out slightly, stars peeking out in between the nimbus.\u0026nbsp; I smiled, enjoying the company of my friends.\u0026nbsp; I just hoped that Aiden hadn't sent us on a wild goose chase.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"A Trainer\\'s Tale","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/248446-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-9.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/256865-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-11.json"}}