Chapter two

After I left, I ran to route 201, with Hiko on my shoulder. The Summer sun shone 

over our heads as I walked. Hiko loved the sun because he was a fire type.

 “Chaar!” he shouted, his flame growing brighter.

 “You excited as I am, Hiko?” I asked him. He nodded, smiling. But then something 

strange happened. I heard voices I had never heard before.

 “Mes,” one exclaimed. It sounded like a girl...

 “Ux,” one asserted. This one sounded like it was wise...

 “Az,” the other screeched. That one reminded me of Lucas... 

I looked around me. There wasn't anyone close.

 “Cheem?” Hiko asked, concerned. I shook my head and continued on. 

 “Where did that come from?” I wondered out loud. I felt like they were close, but 

they just seemed to disappear.

 “Did you hear them, Hiko?” I asked. He shook his head, looking worried and 

confused. 'Thats weird,' I thought, confused myself. I just shrugged it off. We 

then reached the tall grass that blocked the way to Sandgem.

 “This is it, Hiko. You ready?” I asked him.

 “Cheem!” he squeeled. I nodded back to him. I took my first step into the grass, 

fingers crossed. Nothing happened. I sighed in relief. 'Hey, this isn't so bad,' I 

thought. But then things got bad. After taking a few more steps, something jumped 

onto my back! 

“Eeep!” I squealed. I jumped back to see a bidoof in the grass. 

“So, it was you, huh?” I implied.

 “Beee!” it cried. I looked at Hiko.

 “You ready for your first battle?” I whispered.

 “Char!” he cried, jumping off my shoulder. He ran out and braced himself for 

battle! 

“Alright, Hiko! Use scratch!” I ordered. He ran out and ran his sharp claws all 

over bidoof! 

 “Bee!” it cried. “Beeeeeee!”

Poor Hiko covered his ears. It was using growl!

 “Don't give up! Use your growl!” I loudly commanded. Hiko then opened his mouth 

and let out, “Chaaaaaar!” bidoof couldn't stand the noise and crouched down to 

cover its ears.

 “Now! Finish it with scratch!” I ordered. Hiko once again ran out at it and 

covered it in claw marks! Bidoof couldn't take it, and it fainted!

 “Yes! We won!” I cried with joy.

 “Char! Chimchar!” Hiko was jumping in the air, waving his little hands in the air.

During our celebration, Hiko and I heard a voice say, “wow, your pretty good.”

I looked behind me to find Roy standing there, his piplup by his side. His blond 

hair blew with the breeze. 

 “Hey,” I waved. He walked over to me. 

 “Hey, you wanna battle?” he asked.

 “Huh?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we're supposed to meet in the same place, aren't we? Besides, 

we've got plenty of daylight.”

I nodded back.

 “Alright!” he shouted, surprising me. “Don't expect me to go easy on you!”

Hiko and piplup then ran up to each other, ready for battle.

 “Go piplup! Use pound!” Roy ordered.

 “Dodge it! Then use scratch!” I ordered back.

Piplup ran at Hiko and full speed, its wing ready to attack. But Hiko was too quick

for him, and jumped up into the air! He pulled out his claws and let them out on 

piplup! “Piip!” he cried out in pain.

 “Don't let him get to you! Use pound again!” Roy ordered. Piplup got his strength 

back, and went towards Hiko! Hiko tried to dodge it, but piplup was too fast!

 “Chaar!” he cried painfully. I grind my teeth together. I couldn't lose!

 “Don't give up! Use growl!” I ordered. 

 “Chaaaar!” Hiko growled. Piplup covered its ears, trying to avoid the painful cry.

 “Piplup!” Roy shouted, concerned.

 “Now finish it! Use scratch!” I yelled. Hiko then ran at piplup while it was 

detracted and got him head on!

 “Piiiip!” he cried, flying backwards. It then landed on the ground, knock out!

 “Chaar!” Hiko let out joyfully.

 “Piplup! You okay?” Roy asked, helping his pokemon up. Piplup then opened its eyes 

weakly. “Pip!” it cried, trying to be strong.

 “That was a great battle!” Roy told me, standing up. 

I smiled. “Thanks.” 

He then looked up at the sky. “We'd better get going, or that Lucas kid'll get 

mad,” he grumbled, walking ahead, stubborn as ever. He seemed so serious, that is, 

until a starly popped out and startled him.

 “Woah!” he shouted, falling backwards onto me, knocking me over. “Sorry,” he 

mumbled. I looked down at the starly. It was an adorable little girl. I could tell 

because of her curled tail feathers. “Aww!” I said. “I want her!”

 “You can have 'er,” Roy said coolly. “Piplup's too tired.” Piplup looked at him 

furiously. I tried to ignore him. 

 “Go, Hiko! Use scratch!” I ordered. Hiko ran up and scratched the poor little 

thing! “Staar!” she twittered loudly.

 “Go! Pokeball!” I yelled, throwing it. It hit her dead on, bringing her inside. 

The ball wiggled three times before stopping.

 “Yes!” I shouted excitedly, picking it up. “Okay, now! Come on out!” I threw it up 

into the air to reveal the new pokemon. 

 “Starly!” she cried, flying to my shoulder while Hiko sat on the other.

 “You make a great couch!” Roy laughed. I ignored that smart remark.

 “I think I'll call you... Twitter!” I told her.

 “Star! Starly!” she cried.

 “Hmp!” Roy snickered. “Lets go.”

 Huh, he sure didn't sound like himself. He's 

usually happy and cheerful, running around everywhere. Now he was gloomily walking 

behind me, his piplup in his arms. He fell further and further behind me. We 

eventually reached Sandgem.

 “There it is!” I pipped up cheerfully.

 “Cheem!”

 “Star!” my pokemon cried, excited as I was. I ran towards the center, thinking Roy 

was behind me. I found Lucas in a big comfy chair, stroking his turtwig in his lap.

He looked to his left to find me running in.

 “There you are!” he said excitedly. “And you've caught a new friend too!” he 

rubbed Twitter's chin. She chirped happily.

 “Where's Roy?” he asked.

 “Oh, he's...huh?” I looked behind me to see Roy was gone. Where'd he go? We ran 

outside and searched for him. He was nowhere. He had vanished without a trace.

 “He's gone,” I whispered. “Why would he do this...” Lucas put his hand on my 

shoulder. “He might have already gone ahead,” he told me. I sighed.

 “Knowing him, he probably did.”

we then walked back into the center, wondering why he left.

 “We're just going to have to go on without him,” Lucas explained to me. I nodded.

 “Sometimes he's better off alone.”

We sat in silence before Lucas asked, “Holly, do you still want to go with me? Even

though Roy won't be with us?” 

I glanced up at him. “Why wouldn't I?”

Lucas smiled at my answer. We then got up and left for Jubilife city.


If you want to know ahead of time why Roy left, just read the prologue! :) Sheimi