Ellie was staring at the ceiling.

  An earlier version of Ellie, a year stretch away from the one we see today. Yet, she still resembled the Ellie of the present. The same red sweater. Tailor made to accommodate her smaller frame, fitting snuggly around her body. The same grey leggings, with her light blonde hair shining in summer's radiant hues. A beautiful day shone just outside.

  Yet, here she was, sat on her bed. Occasionally, she tilted her head up to glance at the window, to where she heard the laughter of kids playing outside. She could've went outside to play with them. But, everyone always seemed like they had their own little friend groups. No point trying to jump in. She'd just make everyone, and herself, uncomfortable.

  It had been a year since she had moved into Littleroot. And, she hadn't even made a single friend.

  Ellie pouted, the thought suddenly redirecting her stream of consciousness. Usually, she would just ignore thoughts such as this. Push them to the side to make space for other, more productive ones. But, today, she couldn't help but feel it gnaw at her more than usual.

  She's an apprentice of ours!

  The accustomed line, spoken whenever the professors were questioned about Ellie. Those questions, despite having lived in Littleroot for some time, came up quite often. Maybe she just didn't make much of an impression for people to know her. But, despite that, she felt that more people knew her than she knew people. Maybe that was because of the Professors' impression on the town. They were so social, always talking to the locals, getting to know people, showing the youngsters the ways of how to be a Pokemon trainer. Meanwhile, Ellie was used to sticking in her room, reading up on the ways of being a Pokemon trainer, rather than learning it first hand.

  She's from a long way away, but she's very studious and talented! Ellie'll make a great trainer, or researcher, or even professor someday!

  Ellie scoffed. Usually, that sentence came after the initial comment about her being an apprentice. It wasn't entirely untrue. But, it bended the truth at best, and spat in the face of honesty at worst.

  Perhaps she was studious. Ellie would've thought of it as just passing the time. After all, in a house with two professors, there were bound to be piles and piles of books, research papers, all sorts for Ellie to sift through. Even her room had been infested by the research and studiousness of the two professors, Ellie's foot knocking against a bookshelf sitting at the end of her bed. Thick books lined the shelves, yet couldn't hold all the books, some laying stacked upon the top shelf. A noticeable gap stood in the centre of the middle row, where Ellie had picked off a book to read.

  It now resided on her desk, just beside her notebook. One protected with a lock, keeping all her thoughts and emotions sealed deep inside. Although, it was as much thoughts and emotions as it was notes. Or drawings. The books had plenty diagrams or photos on Pokemon that Ellie liked to draw over to get an impression of what the Pokemon was like. Sometimes they were quick sketches, sometimes she fixed the messy line work on the sketches, and sometimes she fully coloured them in, selecting a wide array of coloured pencils and pens from her Pikachu pencil holder. In drawing it, she remembered it more. Ellie said it was to help identify them out in the wild. Knowing everything about a Pokemon so she could spot them in the wild.

  ...

  Maybe studious was the right word. Sure, Ellie was studying. It was a kinder phrase to be 'studying' rather than 'wasting away time'. So, she conceded on that. But, talent?

  She sighed. Talent wasn't something that came to mind either. And, this time, her feeling remained absolute. She wasn't talented. Hardly. Talented at what? Pokemon battles? That's the best thing to be talented at, for her age group at least. The most popular kid in the town was always the one who could boss around their Pokemon the best.

  So, needless to say, it wasn't Ellie. She'd hardly stroked a Pokemon, let alone caught one for herself. Not that she could command a Pokemon either. She sat just below the age cap, victim of a very recent change to the law, adopted by most regions of the world. Turns out letting 11 year olds off the leash and giving them earthquake spawning gods was a bad idea. So, in came the age cap of 13. Because that's the age where kids would stop smashing up places with earthquake spawning gods, obviously.

  Not that Ellie minded that it was still so low. She'd soon be a big benefactor of that. But, even when she reached the appropriate age, the thought of her own esteem would still hang heavy in her mind. If all she did was lay around on her bed, watching the world go by, would she be worthy to receive a Pokemon?

  "Everything alright, Ellie?"

  A white hatted head poked its way through Ellie's door. Ellie bounced off the bed at the sudden appearance of Brendan's voice, her body jittering slightly, put on alarm. Broken from her thoughts so suddenly, it took a moment for her heart to settle again. Not that Brendan meant to scare her. Just an unfortunate consequence of Ellie being locked in her head so tight.

  "Yeah, fine! Was just thinking." Ellie flopped back onto the bed, blushing in embarrassment at being taken off guard so easily.

  "Hm? Care to share with me, or is that for another time?" Brendan asked, stepping through the door, revealing the rest of his outfit. Little tufts of shaggy brown hair poked out from underneath his usual white hat. Ellie struggled to think of a time she saw him without that trusty beanie. The rest of his outfit seemed to remain the same as his early days as a trainer. Black shorts, with grey cuts at the bottom, as well as a red shirt covering his torso, marked with black stripes underneath the chest, and running along the shoulders. Although, all of this was obscured under a rather long lab coat, akin to his father's attire. His smile radiated the room, comforting. But, Ellie refused to speak on anything. She rolled over, her eyes darting back up to the ceiling.

  "M-Maybe another time, but thank you."

  "Alright then!" Brendan chirped, taking a glance around the room, then strolling over to the window. His form blocked out the rays of light from basking the bed in its usual glow. Ellie tilted her head to the side, squinting with suspicion. But, when he stepped away, she found all he had done was let the window open. The fresh breeze of the countryside town flowed through the room, Brendan taking in a satisfied breath. His eyes found Ellie again, explaining, "Just wanted to let some fresh air in. It's good for you, you know!"

  Ellie did an ever so slight roll of her eyes. Never a day went by without hearing about the wonders of fresh air from both Brendan and May. She knew it was true, but that still didn't prevent them from presenting the fact like it was a new wonderous discovery everytime she so much as had a conversation with either two of them. Exiting the room, Brendan took one glance back, asking, "Would you like the door open or closed?"

  "Closed, if you don't mind," Ellie responded. Brendan nodded, ever so slightly edging the door closed, steady against the breeze, until it shut with a satisfying click. Ellie smiled. Despite everything, they were still so kind to her. Ellie waited for the day where they'd decide their apprentice wasn't worth keeping. She wouldn't blame them when that day came, either. All Ellie really did was eat their food, live in their walls, steal their books, and watch movies with them late at night. Nothing much. A liability above all else. Yet, they never treated her as such, no matter what she did. She was lucky. But, she wanted to be more than that. Someone deserving of that luck. Worthy of it.

  That started with moving her butt from bed.

  Ellie jumped up, sighing as she stretched her limbs. Reaching under the wooden frame of her bed, her fingers clawed against the floor, feeling in the darkness for the metallic surface of her laptop. After a little bit of searching, she found what she sought, dragging it from the depths deep below. Wandering to her desk, Ellie placed her notebook off to the side, next to 'The History of the Hoenn Region', a book so thick you could use it as a club. The laptop took its place as the centre piece of her desk, opening up and blinding Ellie with its blue stream of light.

  Once her eyes adjusted to the unnatural glow of the screen, a website appeared before her, one she had consulted the night before. She made a frequent habit of checking many of them. Although, she didn't interact with them much beyond scrolling down and refreshing. An outsider looking inwards.

  Her favourites to check were always the one that kept up to date about different stats on Pokemon. Forum boards dedicated to different types of Pokemon. Even individual species of Pokemon ended up getting their own dedicated boards. Talking about sightings, seeing them evolve, the requirements for such a change. Tickling Ellie's brain in just the right way, satiating her curiosity enough to never have to wonder too much about the outside world.

  Ellie went to the top of her browser, scrolling through her bookmarks and clicking on each in one particular folder. Her ideal Pokemon team folder. Since she couldn't really catch any of her own Pokemon, she decided the next best thing was to research the ones that she liked, so that she stood well prepared when she found a member of its species in the wild. A few problems immediately stuck out to her upon her first quest to find a team of Pokemon she liked. But, none more prevalent than one.

  There were simply far too many Pokemon to choose from!

  Ellie found herself drowning in Pokemon at first, unable to decipher a team from the wide array of Pokemon out there. The only Pokemon she could definitively rule out were any type of Poison types. The rest of them, all fair game. Ellie would obsess over a particular species of Pokemon for a day, then just as quickly discover another species that would rock her world. With the internet at her fingertips too, she'd discover a new one nearly every week. Even now, she still felt like she couldn't quite know every single Pokemon out there. How could she when there were so many, each of varying degrees of documentation? Where could they be found? What was it like to own this type of Pokemon? Would she even be capable of training such a creature? She didn't have all the answers. But, that made it ever the more exciting.

  But, Ellie decided to keep her expectations realistic, not allowing herself to get too carried away. So, the team folder was dedicated to Pokemon located all around the Hoenn region. Bonus points if they were popular too, so she'd have access to plenty of information. She clicked on the tabs, waiting for each to load up, drumming her fingers gently against the metal shell of her laptop. Checking one page, she found little of note. Checking another, nothing again. A few photos of their recent captures, but not any captures from places in Hoenn. So, it was rather useless information to Ellie. Then, her eyes flickered onto the next thread. One entirely focused on Ralts.

  The Feeling Pokemon. One which Ellie had become interested in from the first time she saw its final evolution. So majestic in its movements, yet exuding power regardless. Both in battle, with its array of impressive attacks, and in the way it could effortlessly unveil the emotions of the people and Pokemon around it. Thoughts brimmed in Ellie's head with ideas of what she could do with the power of a Gardevoir by her side. It'd be so much easier to talk with people if she knew what they were feeling at all times. Or, maybe it would prove to be a curse, tracking people's thoughts. Not everyone's thoughts would be pleasant, after all.

  Pushing her own thoughts to the side, its powers weren't the only reason Ellie had taken an interest in the Pokemon. Gardevoir was majestic, Kirlia was elegant, and Ralts was cute. A pretty set of Pokemon to join onto her team. Plus, Psychic types would be able to blast Poison types into next week. So, Ellie researched them as intently as the other members of her team, in spite of knowing their rarity. Her eyes glanced to the screen, her finger tracing the trackpad, scrolling through the page.

  Her eyes widened.

  Active reports of Ralts found in Route 102, Hoenn!

  Ellie's heart skipped a beat. In Hoenn? Route 102? Instantly, another tab flickered open, hastily researching where Route 102 stood relative to Littleroot. She knew in her heart that it was close. But, her brain demanded tangible proof before anything. Even if the logic tracked. The Route nearest to Littleroot were Route 101, for sure. She'd been dragged on enough walks along there to know that for sure. So, surely, Route 102 was the same? Exceptions existed to the usual Route naming rule. Ellie only had to hope that this wasn't one of those situations.

  Turns out, her heart was right. It was close.

  And, judging from the post, it wasn't lying. Blurry pictures aside, it seemed legitimate. It wasn't like the thread often gave way to false information. Even with the occasional troll, it was almost always legitimate. And, Ellie wanted to believe it so badly. She might be able to see a Ralts in person! Perhaps she could even ask Brendan, or May, if they could capture Ralts. So, that when Ellie was older, she could have one for herself.

  No, she couldn't get ahead of herself just yet. Ellie still had to ask first. And, would the professors take a day out of their busy lives to help their apprentice chase some thing they heard about online?

  Ellie looked back at the blurry picture. The more she thought about it, the more she found the holes ripping into the story.

  What if there was nothing there, and she was chasing after a dead end? What a waste of time that would be. For them more than Ellie.

  What if they said no, being too busy with their research to help? Ellie knew they made time for her rather often, even in spite of Ellie insisting the research was more important than herself. But, what if they were enlisted with a massive task just today? Ellie'd be a distraction.

  But, the worst they would say is no, right?

  Two hours ago, the post read. It was still fresh. Ralts could still be there. Maybe. Just maybe.

  Ellie's hand outstretched towards the laptop, contemplating closing it. But, she left it half open, clicking on the post to ensure that she didn't lose it in the flood of other posts that would inevitably swim their way onto her screen. Then, she sat up from her desk, turning and dashing towards the door. Her hand twisted around the knob of the door, clicking open. The air from the corridor whisked through her room, chilling her slightly. The coo and cries of Pokemon echoed through the hall, followed by a soothing voice. That of a human. Ellie followed the voice to the end of the hallway, dipping her head into the room. There, she found May, sat on the bed.

  A long, pristine white labcoat ran over her red and black tank top, draping down to the bottom of her legs, barely revealing some yellow, rather out of style trainers. When her labcoat swished to the side, it revealed the belt that hung around her waist, equipped with 6 Pokeballs dotting all around. Finally, she wore some skinny shorts, perfect for keeping cool during the summer.

  Next to her on the bed, sat three different starter Pokemon. A Treecko, who seemed more interested in untying the red ribbon around her head. A Mudkip, who lay idle on the ground, giving only a yawn for an answer to anything. Then, finally, a Torchic, who strayed far from the group, its nose pointed up in disgust as if it couldn't be seen trifling with these lower life forms.

  "Hey, my ribbon's not for playing with!" May yelped, carefully grabbing Treecko and placing it back on the bed. The Grass type huffed, spitting a few seeds right into May's face. Taking a deep breath, May brushed the seeds from the face, then exhaled outwards.

  "It's fine. It's fine," she muttered to herself, too caught up taking care of the terrors that were the starters to realize Ellie stood just outside the door, listening in. That was until the breeze suddenly swished the door open, revealing Ellie's peeping eyes, caught like a Deerling in headlights. May's eyes squinted, before recognizing Ellie's form, smiling. "Ellie, do you need something?"

  "Well-, Ellie squeaked in reply, but couldn't amount to any more words than that, sheepishly looking away.

  "It's fine, no need to stand there, I've got everything under control!" May gestured for Ellie to come in, taking no note of the young girl's fidgeting hands and offering her a place regardless. The door creaked open slightly more, with the breeze of the wind seeming to do more work than Ellie did. Her eyes took in the scene, finding only Treecko and May's eyes staring back at her. Clearing some space on the bed, the professor gestured for the young girl to sit next to her. Ellie quickly moved to take the seat.

  Mudkip's eyes flickered open to track Ellie's feet dragging through the room, before closing once more, yawning in unamusement. Treecko scooted off of the bed, jumping around the room, making great use of its tail to do athletics through the air, swinging from the lights. Torchic huffed in the corner of the room, moving as far away from Treecko's trickery as it could, making sure it had no association with either of the two other starters.

  "What can I do for you? Were you just coming to look at the starters?" May asked, as Ellie took a seat.

  "Hm? Well, I-" Ellie hesitated. Then, her cheek fell to brush against the palm of her hand, muttering, "Well, I suppose I was curious about owning a Pokemon."

  "Any of these three take your interest?" May gestured to the starters with a smile. Ellie's eyes glanced around the room. Torchic was too stuck up to be her friend. Trying to get it to cooperate with anything she said seemed like more work than herding a hundred Wooloo. The two made eye contact with each other, and Torchic scoffed, turning its head away. No dice there.

  Treecko seemed far too energetic. She'd spend more time chasing it than training it, with its frantic movements and swinging from the ceiling like a monkey. Certainly better suited for a trainer that would be able to match its pace.

  Then, finally, there was Mudkip. The cutest of them all, in Ellie's opinion. But, also, the laziest. It didn't even take a glance at her when Ellie looked down at her. It just closed its eyes, and slept. Ellie sighed.

  "I'd pick Mudkip if I had to. But, I don't think I'd be able to handle any of these Pokemon."

  "Hm? Don't put yourself down! I'm sure you'd do great! Even if this year is a..." May caught Treecko just as it leapt to dive onto her hair, its hands scrambling out, still determined to steal the prized treasure of her ribbon. May let out a dramatic sigh, dropping Treecko down onto the bed. "More difficult bunch..."

  "Yeah...I guess I'll settle for a different Pokemon."

  "Do you have one in mind?" May asked. Ellie blushed. May's eyes sparkled. "Oh Arceus, you do! Let's hear about it, then!"

  "Well, um-" Ellie found herself stammering. Just the time for it too, when May was showing an interest in what she had to say. Ellie awkwardly glanced to the door, getting up from the bed and gesturing for May to follow her. May nodded, rising to her feet, the rest of the starters trailing after her. Mudkip yawned and lazily strolled beside May, Treecko landing on the top of her head, and Torchic following along from a distance large enough to know they weren't friends. A short walk down the corridor later, Ellie scooted her bedroom door open, letting everyone in. Then, she flickered the laptop fully open, stepping aside to let May observe it closely.

  "Ralts? Route 102?" May smiled from ear to ear, exclaiming, "Ralts is an excellent pick! And, it's very close to Littleroot too!"

  "Y-Yeah! A-and I was wondering, if I could...try and find one today?" Ellie asked, the stutter hanging on every word. It shouldn't have been hard as it was. But, Ellie still felt like she was committing a crime, asking them to take the time out of their days to search for something for her. Even if she knew it was simply a question.

  "You don't have to be so nervous about asking, you know! The worst thing I'm going to say is no," May chuckled.

  "S-So is it a no?" Ellie asked. May raised a hand to her chin, thinking for a moment. The ribbon uncurled around her head, courtesy of Treecko's quick hands, with Mudkip lazying around on Ellie's bed, and Torchic hanging out in the furthest corners of the room. Her eyes glanced to each of the starters, saying,

  "Well, I was going to look after the starters today. But..." May's eyes then glanced to the open door, cupping her hands around her mouth and crying out, "Honey?"

  The sound of footsteps drummed from the corridor, Brendan peaking his head from the stairwell into the corridor. His eyes snapped from side to side, trying to track his love's voice. Then, he found her, sat just next to Ellie. Smiling, he asked, "What is it, sweetheart?"

  May gestured for Brendan to enter the room again, and so he did. The two girls stepped aside to allow him a glance at the screen, the man taking out a small pair of glasses to read the text on the laptop screen. His eyes squinted, then widened. Brendan smiled from ear to ear, clasping his hands together in delight. "You've been researching just like us!"

  "W-Well-" Ellie blushed in embarrassment, before smiling and averting her eyes away from Brendan's fanatical gaze. "Yes, yes I have."

  "Looking for your first Pokemon, I assume? Well, Ralts is an excellent choice! Route 102 is pretty close to Littleroot too!" Brendan exclaimed, earning a small chuckle from Ellie. Both at his overwhelming enthusiasm, and how similar he sounded to May. Almost like they were married or something.

  "Well, I'd like a Ralts as my first Pokemon." Ellie returned her thoughts to the matter at hand. "Plus, the post was only posted a couple hours ago...so maybe-"

  "You wanna go looking for it?" Brendan's eyes turned from the computer screen to meet Ellie's. The girl sheepishly nodded. Brendan nodded back, turning to May and asking, "You'll be ok to look after the starters if we leave for a few hours?"

  "Of course I can! Don't even worry about it!" May chirped back, grabbing the ribbon from Treecko's hands then wrapping it up in her hair.

  "I'll make it up for you tomorrow!" Brendan promised, giving his partner a gentle kiss on the cheek. Then, he jumped up, dashing out of the room, shouting back, "Come on, Ellie! I'll start packing!"

  Ellie looked at the empty doorway, her mind blank. Just like that. Ellie couldn't really believe it had been so easy. Her pitch had been sloppy at best. Yet, here Brendan was, ecstatic at the opportunity to help Ellie see a Ralts, immediately setting aside any other plans for the day to help Ellie find a random Pokemon.

  May took one look at Ellie's face. Bewilderment filled the young girl's expression. May was more bewildered at how much Ellie was surprised they'd said yes. But, that was a conversation for another day. Politely chuckling, she asked Ellie, "What are you waiting for? Go get packed."

  "R-Right!" Ellie exclaimed, bouncing out of her room, rushing downstairs. The fresh breeze wafting through the house combed through her hair, setting the small knots in her hair free. The tension in her chest released, rushing at speeds she hadn't thought possible, every breath and movement flowing like silk. She slid into the downstairs lab, where she found Brendan packing up all sorts of gadgets.

  Many different Pokeballs, both empty and filled, Potions, Full Heals, as well as notebooks and a tablet to go alongside it. Ellie looked around the room, spotting an old, tattered rucksack. The water bottle holder in its side was split, with the net meant to keep the bottle steady close to collapsing. It must've been ancient. Ellie inspected it closely, finding it filled with only a few Potions, a couple Pokeballs, an empty notebook, and a few old pens and pencils.

  "Sorry Ellie, it's the only thing I could find," Brendan apologized, pointing inside and saying, "Take whatever you want with you. We can make some sandwiches and snacks to take with us as well."

  "Got it!" Ellie responded with a thumbs up, looking around the lab for anything else she could find. A couple Full Heals would never hurt. She tossed in a Great Ball and an Ultra Ball, both of which were empty and scattered around the place. From one of the empty boxes, she found a small med kit with bandages, a small amount of Potions, antidotes, etc. She'd seen May always carry one around in case of any Pokemon waddling along with injuries. So, it wouldn't be a bad idea for Ellie to take one. She hoped she'd never see one injured and in the need of a kit like this, but it was always better to be prepared.

  Slinging the rucksack over her shoulder, she dipped into the kitchen, throwing into her bag whatever stray snacks she could find lying around the place. Then, she made a couple sandwiches, as suggested by Brendan. Cheese for herself, peanut butter and jelly for Brendan. Brendan could make it himself, but it saved him a job. Slinging their two lunches into a lunchbox each, themed with a generic red motif for Ellie and a green, Treecko themed lunchbox for Brendan. A child's lunchbox, that even Ellie had grown out of using. Yet, Brendan kept it through all these years. Ellie couldn't help but smile. The thought never got any less funny to her.

  "I've packed food for us!" Ellie chirped, coming back into the lab, finding Brendan just about finishing packing up everything in the room. His eyes sparkled, glancing to the kids' lunchbox Ellie held in her hand.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  "Oh, wonderful, sweetie! Thank you!"

  "It's the least I could do, really," Ellie responded, a small blush coming onto her cheeks. Despite the two years they had spent together, Ellie had never quite gotten used to the pet names that May and Brendan gave for their apprentice. Brendan took the box off of her hands, placing it carefully in his backpack, then asking,

  "Is there anything else you wanna pack? You've got your phone, haven't you?"

  Right here! Bzz Bzz!

  "Yup." Ellie flicked her finger, pointing to her Rotom Phone, which had taken the courtesy to jump out of her pocket to remind everyone of its presence. Sighing, she grabbed the phone out of the air, placing it back into her pocket, "I've packed some more Pokeballs, Potions, and a first aid kit. For myself and for any Pokemon we see."

  "Excellent! Then, I believe we're ready to go!" Brendan said, playing with a Pokeball in the palm of his hand. "You'll get to see a new Pokemon of mine, too!"

  "Really? What's it like?"

  "Oh, you'll see..." Brendan answered with a mischievous giggle, walking out of the lab. Ellie couldn't help but roll her eyes. Albeit, with a massive smile on her face. His attitude was infectious. May wandered down the stairwell, meeting Brendan halfway, with all three starters in tow. A quick exchange of kisses later, Brendan stepped towards the door, Ellie following closely behind.

  "Enjoy your trip! Stay safe, you two!", May smiled at Ellie, waving. Ellie gave a smile and a thumbs up. Brendan waved to his sweetheart, calling back,

  "Love you!"

  "Love you both!" May replied, just as Ellie turned on her heel to leave. She felt her heart stop, then flutter. A warm fuzzy feeling filled her from the head to toe. She clasped her hands over her heart, smiling. Brendan shut the door. Ellie brushed her face, looking up to him with a warm glowing face that melted Brendan's heart just to behold. A smile erupted onto his face, stepping out onto the streets of Littleroot, spinning the Pokeball on the end of his finger. Then, he uppercutted the Pokeball straight into the air.

  "Let's get this thing started!" he cried, as the Pokeball knocked against the ground behind him, cracking open. Out slunk a giant, the biggest Pokemon she'd ever seen till the serpent appeared.

  Great wings flapped first, sprouting from its large bulky body, swirling fallen leaves around its body. Small cuts were edged into the ends of said wings, with green veins running down the Pokemon's pinions. It resembled that of the flora that Ellie might've seen around the garden, like leaves hanging off of a tree. Its limbs comprised of four hooves, brown with yellow claws. As was the rest of its body brown, with a long leaf covering its rear, and a comfy scarf of leaves wrapping around its long neck. Its neck reached high into the air, letting out a murmur of relief as it stretched its body. Yellow fruits swung from the bottom of its chin, wiggling from side to side. The Pokemon was much bigger than Ellie, strong and tall enough to crush her. Yet, when Brendan approached the creature, it buried its neck into his chest, almost letting out a purr.

  "This is my Tropius! It's how I travel short distances. Been with me a while as well, haven't you, big guy?" Brendan explained, rubbing just behind the yellow fruits hanging underneath its chin, a notable softspot of the creature. Ellie carefully edged closer to the creature, Brendan watching. A polite laugh later, he called out, "Don't worry, it's not gonna hurt you!"

  "It's really big though..." she whined. It seemed pathetic when she said it aloud, and Ellie cringed as soon as she said it. Still, she moved closer. At least, until Tropius set its eyes upon her. Ellie froze, watching its outstretched neck close in towards her body Ellie took a step back to reclaim her space. But, every time she did, Tropius stepped further towards her, taking no caution of her boundaries.

  "Stop running from it, I told you, it won't hurt you!" Brendan called from behind, not with the intention to recall his Pokémon back. Not until Ellie trusted it enough. But, the girl wouldn't stop stumbling away from Tropius. Her shoes found a rock, upsetting her balance. She went crashing to the floor. But, before she could make contact, Tropius had thrust its wing under, sheltering her from the hard concrete.

  Ellie made eye contact with the creature. Then, she found her balance completely flipped. She went soaring into the air, screaming, then...

  Her rear found a comfortable seat on the back of the creature. Ellie sat there for a moment, feeling her heartrate slowly go back down to normalcy. Tropius wound its head back to face Ellie, smiling and chirping with its accustomed cry. The girl outstretched her hand, finding it running over the top of the Fruit Pokemon's head. They felt exactly like fresh leaves, with even the same veiny pattern. Soft, like paper. And, when Ellie's hand wound around towards its chin, it didn't bite, or pull back. It leaned further forward, nuzzling gently against her pale hand. Ellie let out a soft exhale, feeling the fresh air run through her lungs again.

  "See? It's not gonna hurt you." Brendan walked around the Pokemon, patting its long neck, then looking back up at Ellie. "He's only ever bitten me once in all our years together, so you can trust my word."

  "Why'd it bite you?" Ellie tilted her head, questioning.

  Brendan chuckled. "A story for another time. But, for now, would you mind scooching along?"

  Ellie moved further down, and Brendan hopped on in her place, taking the furthest position forward. "Grab tight hold of me, and don't let go," he instructed in a more serious tone than Ellie had heard in a while. A small trinkle of sweat brewed on her forehead, as she wound her arms around Brendan. Just her first time flying on a Pokemon. No big deal. Brendan had done this numerous times, probably hundreds of times by now, and he was fine! So, Ellie would be too.

  That thought still didn't calm Ellie down as much as she wished it did.

  "Time to fly, big guy. Route 102," he spoke. Tropius thought for a moment, then its expression shifted as a light bulb popped over its head. Nodding, it began glancing around its body. Luckily, every passerby had taken care to avoid the great Fruit Pokemon. So, when Tropius started flapping its wings, only Ellie and Brendan found themselves in the vicinity of the great gusts of wind.

  "W-WOAH-" Ellie found herself blurting out without thinking. She'd already felt her feet leave the ground long ago, immediately after being lifted onto Tropius' back. But, without even looking at the ground, she could feel the distance widening between her and solid land. The wind whipped through her hair, and almost threatened to knock the beanie off of Brendan's hair. The ground grew further and further out of sight, a slow buildup at first. Then, once Tropius went up a couple tens of metres in the air, it began flapping its wings more rapidly. Ellie glanced back to the ground she would be departing with for who knows how long. She found a boy with jet black hair waving at her, as if he knew her. Ellie looked to him, tilting her head and squinting. Then, just as her arm unwound to wave back...

  WHOOSH!

  "OH ARCEUS-"

  Ellie blurted out, her arms squeezing so tightly around Brendan's stomach she feared he might end up splitting him in two. Brendan didn't feel much, however. Nor was he concerned about much. As long as he felt Ellie's arms remain strongly around his waist, everything was going alright.

  "Here we go!" exclaimed Brendan, infectious optimism dripping on every note of the man's voice. One arm clenched tightly around Tropius' neck, keeping the two safely situated on the Grass type, while his other hand moved to keep his beanie atop his head, preventing the rushing winds from knocking it into the aether.

  Ellie felt her breathing quicken as the ground disappeared from beneath them. The lab became but a dot in the small town. She couldn't imagine what the fall would be like. Neither would she want to either. But, the thought invaded her mind, occupying it with ruthless force. Glancing back to the skyline, she looked for a distraction. Anything to take her mind off of things. It didn't take long to find something to gawk at.

  "It's pretty good, isn't it?"

  "That's an understatement."

  Ellie felt the air in her lungs stolen by the sun stricken sky. Tropius finally flattened out its flight, smoothly cruising through the air. There was no doubt they were in the right airspace for flying too. There were Flying types everywhere! Flying in flocks, or soaring by their lonesome, Ellie gasped either way.

  A Pokemon Ellie recognized as Taillow were the most common amongst the sky. Scarcely did one fly on their own. And, if they started off by their lonesome, they would soon find company in the number of flocks that soared across the sky. The evolved forms frequently showed off their greater prowess in the air, circling around high up in the air, before returning down to lead the pack once more. Ellie had never taken any interest in the rather unimpressive looking birds. After all, they were a very common pick for a Flying Pokemon. But, despite their appearance, their flying abilities were nothing short of remarkable. Ellie made a note in her head to research them once she returned to the lab.

  Watching the flock of Taillow disappear out of sight, her eyes glanced over to a flock flying closer to Tropius. A pack of Wingull. Water and Flying types, known for being found around the ocean, or Water adjacent areas. Yet, they were flying far away from water, not too far underneath Tropius, heading west of Littleroot.

  "Brendan, aren't those Wingull usually around water?" Ellie recalled what she had vaguely heard, from studying the Pokemon native to the seaside towns of Hoenn.

  "Right, you are, Ellie. They'll be migrating. Moving to a different part of the ocean to settle," Brendan explained, pointing to the farthest reaches west, his finger tracing the seagull's route to their new home. "Wingull usually have their nests overlooking large cliffs, near the ocean. That way, they can easily fly and search for prey along the beach." Brendan glanced back to Ellie, smiling and pointing up a finger. "Did you know their bones are almost entirely hollow? It helps keep the Pokemon light, so they can fly long distances, despite them being so small."

  "Guessing you've done extensive research into them?" Ellie asked with a smirk. Brendan responded with a firm nod, stretching his limbs to either side.

  "You wouldn't believe all the things I've done, Ellie! Me and May being professors isn't just a title thing, or something I got from my Pops, we're real deal researchers." Brendan locked eyes with Ellie, and smiled. "We just make time for the people we appreciate, too."

  Ellie sheepishly looked away. Such a campy line. Yet, the smile tugging on her lips was real as could be.

  "T-Thanks..."

  A slow ride along the skyline followed, Tropius occasionally letting out a yawn, continuing to troop along with the two of them hauled on its back. Of course, it was rewarded plenty, the Fruit Pokemon snacking on a healthy feast of berries, courtesy of Brendan. With the berries it consumed, the yellow fruits underneath its chin seemed to grow even more, the natural sugars broken down in its body and regurgitating in the form of those fruits. And, when Ellie asked more about the fruits hanging from its mane, Brendan excitedly jumped into a talk about the Pokemon.

  Ellie was surprised at how much information she was able to take in from his explanations too. Such a succinct way of talking, no doubt from giving many different talks about Pokemon during his time as a professor. Utterly fascinating to listen to. Especially with the passion and love for Pokemon baked into every word he spoke. Even if Ellie had understood nothing of what he was explaining, she'd still listen just to hear that love etched in his voice. That passion continued in every explanation, even as they went into conversations they both hadn't ever anticipated encountering. Talking for hours, while the time passed through. Until...

  "Tropius..." the Pokemon let out an exhausted sigh, its head drooping down to the Earth. Brendan clasped his hands together, turning to Ellie and exclaiming,

  "We're at our stop! Feels like no time at all has passed, huh?"

  "You could say that..." Ellie answered politely, avoiding Brendan's unaware gaze. Her eyes glanced to the sun, still risen high into the sky. Despite the hours that passed, it was still the core of the day. So, they could be out all day long. Brendan glanced down at the ground, marking the trees. They were in the right spot, alright. Pointing to the forest floor, he exclaimed,

  "Alright, big guy, one last push!"

  "Tropius..." the Pokemon yawned, shaking its head. Its eyes locked with the ground, roaring, then soaring down towards the thick forestry of Route 102. Once again, Ellie's arms threatened to squeeze Brendan's waist to death, as the professor put his hands up in the air like they were on the best rollercoaster of their lives.

  Tropius stopped its velocity just as they approached a large branch bed of leaves. Its eyes glanced for the gaps in the branches that let light bask that which hung below. Then, it lowered itself through those holes in the forest roof, Ellie turtling up to prevent herself being grazed by any leaves. But, the two of them came out of the other end unscathed, Tropius well practiced in keeping its passengers out of any danger.

  Ellie's eyes took some time to adjust to the damper light of the route. But, once her eyes could fully take in the scene, they widened in amazement.

  The dripping dew from the fresh summer trees. The light basking the river in a warm glow where the gorgeously coloured leaves didn't blot out the sun. The Bug types that hid within every crevice of the trees, collected together in packs and tribes of their own species, peeping their heads out to view the new entrants to their domain. The occasional lone Bug swung overhead, string dangling from thick and tough branches. Ellie had never seen anything quite like it. A beautiful, Pokemon paradise. Untouched by humans, with the exception of the great gravel path that ran through the centre of the route, helping both the people and Pokemon find their way.

  Tropius landed on one side of the river, one with a little flatter of terrain compared to the craggy cliffs that lay across the waters. Brendan disembarked from the back of the Tropius, stretching his arms, legs, then cracking his back. He offered a hand to a starstruck Ellie. But, it took a little bit for her to acknowledge Brendan, sat in awe at the nature around herself.

  "It's so beautiful." Ellie's eyes sparkled.

  "It's as beautiful as always, isn't it?" Brendan nudged his Tropius, who cooed in agreement. Brendan nudged Ellie's arm gently, too, finally breaking her from her stupor. Ellie grabbed Brendan's hand, hopping from Tropius' back, touching the Earth once more. She stumbled at first, finding solid ground didn't quite agree with her after so long spent in the air. Her entire balance eventually toppled, falling back onto Tropius, leaning on the Grass type for support.

  "It takes some getting used to. Can't imagine you've ever flown on a Pokemon like that, huh?"

  "N-Nope!" Ellie attempted to stand straight. But, she'd stumble again, face going flush with embarrassment as she leant against the green dinosaur's body. Taking a deep breath, she centred herself, taking the extra moment to feel the gravel crush beneath her boots. Then, finally push off Tropius, slowly coming to grips with her own weight, moving on her two feet once more.

  "You okay?" asked Brendan. Ellie responded with a quiet nod, proving herself fit, even if it took all her concentration just to stand. Brendan thought it good enough, continuing to speak. "Now, Route 102's pretty big. Got a lot of area to cover if we wanna find a Ralts. Especially since they're pretty slippery and hard to track."

  Brendan turned, gesturing to Ellie's sweater pocket where her Rotom Phone lay. "Did that post you had saved give us any more information?"

  "I'll check now," Ellie responded, pulling out her Rotom Phone and loading up the forum app. After some scrolling, an exasperated sigh soon left her lips. It told Brendan nothing but the worst.

  "I can't find the post."

  "Seriously? It's gone, just like that?"

  "I-I can continue looking! But, from what I remember, it only gave a blurry picture and just said it was on Route 102."

  "So, no luck there, huh?" Brendan sighed, scratching the top of his beanie covered head. His hands slipped down into his pockets, recalling Tropius back to its Pokeball for a long, and well deserved, rest. Brendan's head tilted around, looking for signs of any Ralts. He didn't seriously hope to get that lucky. Especially with the ruckus they had made with Tropius landing on the ground. But, it was worth a shot.

  Alas, nothing showed up.

  "It seems we'll have to traverse pretty far," Brendan continued, searching on his phone for any reports of nearby Pokemon from another app popular with Pokemon researchers. But, it provided little clues.

  "Can't we cover more area if we split up?" Ellie suggested.

  "That eager to get rid of me, huh?" Brendan joked, only to be met with a stuttering Ellie in response.

  "O-Of course not! I-I'd neve-"

  "Just messing with ya, Ellie," Brendan added, much to Ellie's relief, dropping her hands and sighing. Brendan should've expected a reaction like that really, but moved on regardless. He brought a hand to his chin, thinking for a moment. "We could split up but..." Brendan gritted his teeth, then sucked the air through them. "I just don't want you to get hurt, is all."

  "Hm? I thought this route was safe from dangerous Pokemon?" Ellie asked. From what she could remember, the earlier routes didn't have any Pokemon that could pose a reasonable threat to anyone's lives. Any Pokemon could be dangerous in the right hands, of course. But, looking around at the nature unfolding before her, Ellie saw no red flags of imminent danger.

  "W-Well, not particularly. It's just..." Brendan's eyes returned to meet Ellie's. As much as he hated underestimating Ellie, she was still a young girl in a hard world, without a Pokemon to her name to defend herself. Any of Brendan's Pokemon wouldn't listen to her if she tried to use them. Nor did was Brendan fond of being overbearing. Still, the thought of her alone in a Route on her own did shed light on fears the professor didn't know he had.

  But, he trusted Ellie more than he gave thought to his own paranoia. A smart, capable girl. Talented, and studious. She'd handle everything that came her way. But, he still couldn't just leave it to what he thought. He needed to make sure. The professor crouched down, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  "It's hard not to worry. Especially that this is your first real trip into a place like this. Even if it's a safer route, it's still dangerous."

  "I...I think I can handle it!" Ellie spoke, stowing her fear in hoping to prove herself as strong. "I don't have a Pokemon, but I'll still be careful not to get in trouble. Plus, if I do run into trouble, you'll always be one phone call away, right?"

  "Of course, anything you need, I'll rush there! So...", Brendan stood up, placing his hands on his hips and glancing around. Sighing, he smiled back at the little girl in front of him, "I'll let you go for now. Just, make sure not to go anywhere too far from here."

  "Thank you, Brendan!" Ellie chirped in response. Brendan smiled, giving her blonde hair a little ruffle, before beginning to walk west of the river, up the creak. He threw up two fingers, turned away to form a peace sign. Then, he made his way up the route, and out of sight.

  Ellie breathed in the fresh air of Route 102. True freedom. She could've asked for it earlier, more than likely. To be on her own, somewhere completely new. But, after so long without it, it felt exilirating. The thrill of being able to do anything she wanted. Explore, meet wild Pokemon, paddle in the river.

  Maybe not that last one. But, the choice to do so was there.

  Taking into her surroundings, her first impulse was just to marvel at it. Her second was to recreate the moment in her notebook. There were certainly other things she could've done in the moment. But, making the moment last forever was at the top of Ellie's list. Reaching into her bag, she looked for a notebook. But, a plastic bag blocked most of the way. Digging through and pulling out the plastic bag, she found some boots inside. Footwear she had been familiar with for as long as she could remember. Dirty, long, worn rubber boots.

  "Ah, my wellies! Good thing Brendan packed them," she muttered to herself, before coming to the realization that she was narrating her own life. But, true freedom meant she didn't have to explain her self talk to anyone. Other than the Pokemon who were around to listen to her. But, none of them seemed to bother her. Except for a Wurmple, giving her a nasty eye from atop a tall branch. That one certainly didn't like her.

  But, the freedom high kept her from caring. Ellie continued to happily talk to herself, humming as she slipped off her comfy shoes into ones more suited for the outdoors. They were much more constricting than her previous boots, their sturdiness prevented her legs from moving with as great agility. But, they braved the elements. And, they braved the elements well. No doubt standing up to whatever conditions the route would throw at her. Nothing was off limit. And thus, her eyes quickly settled onto the gleaming river waters.

  Ellie wasted no time merely reflecting on the river from a distance. Grabbing her rucksack, she ran to the edge of the river. Setting her bag next to a large rock, she took her first steps into the river. Her rubber boots waded through the water effortlessly, standing steady against the rocks beneath her feet. Then, once steady, she glanced down at the river. Her own reflection stared back at her. So clear, it shone clearer than a mirror. She pointed a finger into her cheek, watching her expression shift in the water, giggling.

  A stray Magikarp split her reflected face right down the middle as it came bounding down the river, flopping lifelessly against the rushing river tides. Ellie pouted, seeing her form ripple endlessly in the water. But, a Magikarp incoming surely meant more Pokemon flocking down! And, the thought of Ellie getting smacked with a Magikarp didn't sound appealing. Not to mention having to explain how her sopping wet outfit to the professors.

  So, she set herself by the edge of the river, waiting for whatever else would come fluttering down the water. Magikarps came at a frequent pace, hitting the edge of the bank often and usually being sent on their usual course. Occasionally, they were sent hurdling over the sides of the banks, but were corrected by the quick movement of a Surskit, pulling the Pokemon back into the river with a shot of its strong string.

  Taking up her notebook and pencil, the young girl began to sketch the scene she sat in front of. She would've tried to include the Pokemon in the picture, but they came around the river corner so fast she could only try and draw them from memory. And many videos and exercises of such efforts reminded her that drawing from memory was a sure way to end up with an abomination, rather than a Pokemon. So, she instead sketched that which remained rooted to the earth. The flowing trees that lay in front of her. The dribbling leaves that fluttered down onto the worn gravel path. The rocks and rubble that served as stepping stones across the river. Her head got used to the motion of looking up and down, as well as occasionally scanning left to right when a Pokemon came bounding down the river.

  Soon enough, she ended up with a beautiful finished product. Well, maybe it wasn't beautiful yet. It was a rough sketch. And, Ellie's mind kept her from taking full pride in her work, nitpicking the most unnecessary of details. But, what her insecurities did admit, it kept the overall feeling of the place in tact. Peaceful and serene. And, that's all that Ellie could really want. She'd even added a small pair of eyes popping out of the trunks of one of the trees, soft and rounded. She imagined it was a Pokemon. Preferably a Ralts. Even if it made less sense to Ellie that a Ralts' eyes would be showing, with its huge green helmet in the way.

  "Ralts!"

  Ellie suddenly shot up from the river's edge. Nature's splendour had gripped her so tightly, she'd forgotten about her original purpose! The Pokemon meant to be hiding deep within the greenery. To find that ever so elusive Psychic type. Get a greater idea of what it would be like to capture one. Watch how it battles, or fight by its side. Then, perhaps, she'd have her first partner. Maybe not today (although she certainly had the Pokeballs to go down that Route). But, at some point, when she was old enough. When she deserved a partner.

  KIP!

  A cry echoed through the forest. Ellie jumped up. The sound reverberated, a chill running down Ellie's spine. Her head jerked to the right, following the river rapids from which the sound came from. Panicked. Scared. Like a Pokemon had stumbled where it shouldn't have. If that cry came from the river, too, the poor thing might've been at risk of drowning. With no thought to her own wellbeing, Ellie's instincts took over.

  Rescue whatever was falling downstream.

  Planting her notebook to the side, she waded through the water. Even with the unknown Pokemon at the forefront of her mind, she still took careful steps to remain steady against the rapids. Couldn't be swept up like a mere Magikarp. Had to remain steady to save whatever lay ahead. Her eyes squinted, glancing around to try and track where the cry came from.

  KIP!

  Another cry came calling out, echoing through the trees once more. This time, it was certainly coming from where Ellie was facing. A Surskit danced atop the water, sending out strands of string, attempting to whisk the Pokemon from its fate. But, with the running rapids, its shots never seemed accurate enough.

  KIP! KIP!

  The cries became breathless, and coarse. Pain etched onto every tone. Ellie's legs stood steadier against the running tides. She had to be there to catch it. As soon as she saw it drifting in the water, she'd reach out and grab it. Even if it was a stray Poison type. She had to be there for it.

  KIP! KIP! KIP!

  The vague shadow of a Pokemon entered around the river bank, brushing against a stray rock, almost being launched out of the water, before ultimately coming crashing back down into the river. It opened its eyes, whining in pain. Ellie felt a sinking pit in her stomach. But, she knew she couldn't let that deter her. The Pokemon swished to the left, powerlessly floating down. So, Ellie dived to the left, scooping up the Pokemon in her arms.

  Her head hit against the salty rapids of the river immediately, nostrils flaring up. One hurried breath had taken in so much water. Her eyes couldn't open. But, she felt soft flesh in her arms. It held tightly. She secured the Pokemon. With one hand clenched tightly around its side. Holding the creature close to her chest. The other kept tight hold of the edge of the river. Ensuring she wouldn't be swept up.

  A kicking pain thrust into her chest. Paws digging into her sweater. Panicked and frightened.

  "K-Knock that off! Or you'll get us both swept up!" Ellie gurgled under the water. But, her breath was wasted, as the words she uttered never seemed to reach the Pokemon. Instead, it continued to thrash around in her arm. Trying to resist even the person attempting to save it. Then, the attacks grew weaker. Until, nothing. Not an ounce of tension in its body. The creature had went limp.

  Ellie gasped. Her eyes exploded open, stinging water rushing through her eye lids. Not a good idea.

  Panic started to set in. The water began to push away her grip. It threatened to sweep away Ellie in the tide. Even when shallow, the rapids proved strong. Ellie's body tensed. Through stinging vision, she searched for a further stretch of the river. An edge untouched by the furious flow of the river. Her nails clawed through dirt and mud to find it. Then, when she did, she pulled with all of her might.

  Her boots found a foothold. From there, she pushed until her body found solid ground. Escaping the river. The Pokemon dropped from her arms. Ellie's body collapsed against the wet gravel. A massive breath in. Burning flared up in her alveoli. Then, a mad coughing fit. Her chest tightened, wheezing and coughing rapidly. Breathing through her nose just reminder of the rushing water she'd taken in. No relief, nor comfort.

  Ellie crawled to the rock, where her rucksack lay. She spilled its guts onto the rough ground. Her stinging eyes searched. Then, without thought beyond a simple glance, she grabbed her inhaler. A press of the top button, dropping the medicine onto her tongue. Then, deep breaths, through her mouth. Slowly, she felt the tightness in her chest loosen. Still coughing. But, functionable. Safe.

  Safe enough for her thoughts to return. The ones who prompted her into the river in the first place. The Pokemon she'd saved. A beating pain still wracked at her torso. Courtesy of the Pokemon, whose form she couldn't make out from a distance. Her stinging eyes prevented her from quite focusing on its form. But, drawing closer to the creature revealed a Pokemon she couldn't have ever expected.

  "A-A Mudkip?" she muttered under her breath. Its eyes were shut. Not with swirly eyes, like she usually saw Pokemon faint. But, just, unconscious. Ellie assumed the worst. But, a hand placed over its chest revealed it's pulse. Steady, despite its condition.

  These are rare Pokemon, you know! Good thing we always have contact with some breeders, so we can get a set each year!

  May's own words about the trio of Torchic, Mudkip and Treecko. Ellie didn't have any reason to doubt her, either. Starters out in the wild were extremely rare. And, even rarer, were starters in Routes like these. Questions tore through Ellie's brain. What was it doing out in the wild? How hadn't it been taken already? How hadn't she recognized its cry? But, most importantly, how did Mudkip not brave the river? Ellie'd have expected any normal Mudkip to brave the rivers without a word of complaint.

  But, this Mudkip that laid on the floor, wet and unconscious, was unlike the Mudkip from back home. Or, likely, any Mudkip out there. A mere skeleton of a Mudkip. So thin it rendered itself as mostly bone. Flesh became only skin. Skin became torn, disfigured. Injuries from something beyond a Pokemon battle. More akin to a fight for survival. Scratches etched into every leg. Some faded, some new, bleeding crimson. Then, a deep gash in one. Rubble rubbed against its sores, sending shockwaves of pain that would have the Pokemon crying out in pain, had unconsciousness not taken this Mudkip for its own.

  "Arceus..." Ellie nearly gagged at the sight of the atrocities marked on its body. Her eyes stung now not with riverwater, but with fresh tears that Ellie did everything to fight back against. A drop of crimson spilt onto the ground. Ellie couldn't let another trickle down. Her eyes glanced to the rucksack's guts. The first aid kit. Inside lay everything she hoped she would ever need. Although, with the state of injury, Ellie wasn't sure if a Pokemon Centre would be needed. Still, she needed to do something.

  Potion came first. That was for sure. It made all wounds better. Or, at least, feel better. Ellie hadn't the exact knowledge of how it worked. But, the idea of stopping the little one's pain proved enough for her to spray it all over. Even in excess, breaking through her own supply to cover every minute scratch, river or battle related.

  Settling the plastic bottles to the side, her eyes glanced to the rest of the med kit. Bandages. A small roll of them. Then, to the side, a small amount of tape to secure the injury. Ellie's hand gently grasped Mudkip's gash laden leg. Then, she grabbed the roll of bandages. Carefully wrapping them around. Once, twice, thrice. Slowly. Gently as she could. She didn't know how many times it was recommended to wrap a bandage around. So, she did it until half the roll had already been used. Then, she ripped a strip of tape. Finally securing the bandages ends.

  Her eyes returned to the first aid kit. Small bandages and plasters littered the box, all of which Ellie applied in mere moments of each other. Every wound she could see that bled crimson. All patched up. Then, when Ellie took a look back, only then did she realize the plentiful amount she had to clean up. Yet, Mudkip's eyes still rested. Her eyes returned to the med kit. A small yellow capsule sat in a box. A Revive Capsule.

  It's just for waking up a Pokemon. It doesn't give them a boost of energy like normal Revives, but doesn't come with the energy crash either. Just, jots them awake.

  Brendan had explained once when they had encountered an injured Taillow on a walk. Its where she learnt how to even use the first aid kit. And, now, she thanked Arceus she'd decided to go on a walk that day. Her nails plucked the capsule from the kit, taking one last look at Mudkip. It couldn't hope to stand on its own anytime soon, not without any help. The exact situation the medicine called for. Ellie's hand gently grasped open its mouth, the capsule resting on the Water type's tongue. It fizzled away into small chunks, bitter medicine sliding down its throat.

  The Water type's eyes slowly widened. Blinking, only a few moments after the capsule had first entered its system. It worked fast. With a great relief to Ellie's heart. To know it still breathed. Her hands held forward, gently scooping up the Pokemon, cradling it in her arms. Eyes staring down, her emerald eyes the first sight when it awoke.

  "Are you okay?"

  Oh yeah, just a note for Royal Road too. Next chapter will be the last of the daily uploads thing since I'll have caught up to the other versions of this book. The expected transition is to go into biweekly chapters from beyond then, but I think I'll just release whenever I have stuff to release.