(Part 2)   Poke-Passion


   Ashton swatted branches from her path disdainfully, grumbling short curses 
under her breath as she was 
scratched several times by the splinters that hanged from the tree limbs. A 
small black belt hugged her waist, 
six pokeballs hanging loosely from it. With a sigh of relief, Ashton emerged 
from the thicket of trees into a 
clearing. She took no notice of the small camp that had been made in the center, 
perched behind a large boulder
that was rooted along the edge of a small pond. Ashton strode over to a small 
flat rock and sat on it,
stretching her limbs fully.

"This is the life," she said to herself. "This is what I've wanted for so long."

   She raised her gloved hands and ran them through her shoulder-length brown 
curls contentedly. With a smile at
the surrounding beauty of nature, she flipped the catch on the belt and lifted 
the first pokeball. All it took
 was gentle toss into the air, and a small golden Torchic fluttered out of the 
pokeball in a flurry of red light. The
Torchic peered up at Ashton through youthful, innocent eyes that made Ashton 
want to pick her up and never let 
go. Ashton tapped her chin lightly with her forefinger, contemplating.

"I want to name her something... something good."

   The Torchic cocked her head at this little burst of sound from her trainer 
that didn't seem to be at all
directed to itself. Picking up her other five empty pokeballs, she looped them 
back onto her belt and gazed
thoughtfully at the torchic for a long moment. 

   With a sudden smile, Ashton cried, "I've got it," and then scooping the 
torchic up and hugging it lightly
to her breast, she continued. "I'll name you Paris. Because like the beautiful 
city with all of the new and
unfamiliar faces and places, you keep on sparkling through day and night."

Paris cheeped a reply, a grin playing upon it's beak if it could ever grin.

The bushes shuddered under the weight of footsteps, and Ashton whirled around to 
see a trainer. She let out a little surprise, and the young woman before her put 
down the frying pan that she had such a firm grip on with a sigh of relief.
�?oHoly�?� Let�?Ts just say you scared me!�?� Ashton said, breathing heavily.

�?oI scared you? Well, you gave me a hell of a fright.�?� The woman replied.

   They both smiled nervously and Ashton stepped forward to inspect the trainer 
closer and shake her hand. With thoughtful eyes, Ashton looked the trainer up 
and down. She had silky black hair that was pulled into sections that were 
dangling around her shoulders. She was wearing loosely-fitting jeans and a white 
T-shirt with a logo on it that Ashton couldn�?Tt recognize. Draped across her 
chest like a sash was a scarlet nylon poke-belt with six pokeballs on it, much 
like Ashton�?Ts own. She looked to be about fourteen. Paris hid timidly behind 
Ashton�?Ts legs as she smiled and reached out to shake the woman�?Ts hand. 

�?oWhat�?Ts your name? I�?Tm Ashton.�?�

�?oMy name is Alleka. I hate my name, so I just have people call me Alli. It�?Ts 
a pleasure to meet you.�?�

�?oYes, I�?Tm afraid I didn�?Tt see your camp when I came in. Sorry �?~bout 
that.�?�

   They shared a laugh, commenting eachother nervously until Ashton smiled as a 
Nuzleaf appeared in front of Alleka and sniffed tentatively at Paris. Ashton 
glanced up at Alleka and raised an eyebrow, watching the two pokemon go through 
the same ritual that Ashton and Alleka had just whizzed through themselves.

   �?oWhere are you headed?�?� Said Ashton.

�?oOh, I plan to brave the Pokemon league and travel. I want to be a Pokemon 
master.�?�

�?oOh, really,�?� Ashton replied excitedly. �?oMe too!�?�

�?oShall we travel together?�?�

�?oSounds great!�?�

   They began chatting like old friends while their pokemon frolicked around the 
edge of the spring happily. With a glance to the sky, Ashton noticed that the 
sun was descending behind the mountains that loomed in the distance. 

�?oAlli,�?� She said softly, �?oI think we�?Tre going to have to set up camp 
again. It�?Ts getting dark.�?�

   Alleka nodded in agreement and they retrieved their pokemon into their 
pokeballs before heading towards the tent and campfire.


TO BE CONTINUED