Jennifer, Ralts and May were all driving home from the hotel, after having finished talking with the officers back in Jennifer’s hotel room.

May kept glancing at her friend, who was very deep in thought at the moment.

She’s probably just going over everything we talked with Officer Jenny about… that was a lot to take in at once…

         

“………………….”

          

 I still can’t believe she agreed.

            

≈I can hear you, you know…≈ Jennifer sent May telepathically, teasing tone.

          

May hit the steering wheel with the palm of her hand.

“Well! I can’t!” May reiterated in a shout. “Jennifer?! Why did you even agree to help them?!” May cried out in distress. “You know what she asked you to do, right?!”

“…I know…”

“And you’re still okay with that?!” May questioned in shock.

“…May… I just!—…… If I don’t help them, they might never catch this guy, unless it’s by blind luck. I don’t want what happened to Ralts’s mom, to happen with anyone else.”

“Jen… You can’t know that they won’t catch him next time, and you heard what she wants you to do. Are you really going to subjec—“

“May!” Jennifer shouted back to get her hysterical friend's attention. “I know you’re just scared for me; scared and worried. And right now, I’m terrified and afraid……” She told her friend honestly. “The thought of having to face that Pokémon, that exact same one, once more… it terrifies me.”

                 

                           

 ————————————About an hour earlier—————————————

                       

                    

“………So? What is it that I have to do exactly………”

“Well, ideally. We would go through everyone of this punk’s Pokémon and let you psychically interrogate them. Drawing out any information out of them so that we could track them down……. But……”

As she trailed off, Officer Aviary took over.

“But the thing is, there is only one Pokémon of his left, that we are currently holding, just in case we turn up any leads… the rest of the Pokémon we have had in custody have………… sad to say, been euthanized.”       

             

*GASP*

               

Both May and Jennifer gasped at the shock of what had happened to the Pokémon the police had apprehended.

“That’s awful!” “Why would you do that?!” May and Jennifer exclaimed at once.

          

Officer Jenny raised her hands to forestall anymore questions.

“I know that this might upset you two; especially you Jennifer. But that is the way of things, if we have an unregistered Pokémon, who is unable to testify or be rehabilitated into the wild or society: they’re to be euthanized.”

“Oh Arceus…” May bemoaned at the news.

“BUT THAT’S NOT FAIR!” Jennifer yelled. “They didn’t do that on purpose! That wasn’t something they chose to do! That was something their irresponsible trainer foisted onto them! Why’re they punished and killed for, what it is essentially, what their trainer made them do?!” Jennifer cried out in outrage at the injustice of what had happened to the Pokémon.

But Officer Jenny shook her head.

“It’s not that simple Jennifer… these kinds of protocols are in place, for exactly the reason we’re in right now. We can’t just keep collecting the Pokémon this guy is abandoning and leaving around, just to take care of them. We also can’t do anything about their behavior, if we can’t unbind them from their registered PokéBall. So as protocol dictates: after a month of no contact or any new information provided of the Pokémon’s trainer’s identity: they are to be terminated. No exceptions.”

                  

“……N-No way……” Jennifer bemoaned in despair.

                             

The Sergeant Officer nodded her head.

“Way….” She said lamentedly. “I wish it wasn’t, because you’re right: it isn’t fair. But that is the way of things; normally, there isn’t even a need to observe this protocol. But that is the unfortunateness of this situations before us. If we don’t stop him, more innocent wild Pokémon could get hurt, along with the evolved Pokémon this person is just leaving everywhere for us to clean up after.”

“Arceus! What an ass!” May grumbled in anger.

“Mmm…” Aviary mumbled in agreement. “And that isn’t even the worst part!” She said to them.

“What is the worst part?! What could be worse than that?!” Jennifer questioned.

“That if we don’t catch this guy soon, we’ll have to call off all on foot traveling and for younger Pokémon trainers to go home, until it’s safe for them to travel around again.”

“Oh goodness! I didn’t even think about that!” May fretted over the idea.

                

“……………………..”

Jennifer stared at May and Aviary in confusion.

“.……Huh?.……”

“”Huh?!”” They looked at Jennifer in confusion, because of her confusion.

             

Jennifer shrugged her shoulders.

“I mean? What is the big deal? So a couple of younger brats can’t go on a Pokémon journey for a few months until you catch the person; is it really that big a deal?”

“”HUGE!”” The officer and trainer exploded at her.

“Ha—Huh?!” Jennifer flinched at their outburst.

“You don’t get it! Because you only just became a trainer!” Aviary scolded. “This is like, the one time event and wonderful chance for kids ten and up, to leave home and journey out into the world, to find and explore this whole crazy planet of ours, that is filled to the brim with mysterious creatures called Pokémon!”

“……………………….”

“She’s right Jen!” May lectured as well. “This is the opportunity that most kids wait their whole young lives for! Not everyone was like us when we were younger, some actually can’t wait to start their journey. If this disrupts that, at the least. You’re right, a few young trainers will be disappointed they can’t go out. But at worst!—“

“At worst.” Officer Jenny interrupted her to pick up where she was speaking. “Is that we could have certain species go into decline. Injured trainers attacked by wild aggressive Pokémon, as a result of this guys Pokémon, who were spurred on by some dumb trainer’s abandoned Pokémon. Destroyed ecosystems. Shifted ecosystems. Or even an outright extinction of a certain species; not to mention what it might do economically if young trainers do go out into the world to spend or make money at shops geared towards trainers...”

                

Jennifer’s eyes were wide open in shock.

               

“All of that just over some douche who is abandoning Pokémon?!”

Officer Jenny shook her head.

“This is more than just abandoning I’m afraid. This person has been abandoning Pokémon, almost every two weeks for six months now, and that is only the Pokémon we’ve found… the moment could be higher.”

“Oh Arceus…” Jennifer murmured quietly in disbelief.

Officer Jenny nodded her head.

“This is why we’ve registered this guy as an ecoterrorist. Because he is pretty consistent on leaving his trappings of abandoned Pokémon around. That is why we know it’s not just an accident or an act of carelessness… we get those from time to time… but this is more than that.”

 

Then Officer Jenny shrugged.

“But right now, we’re pretty lucky at the moment, I would say.”

“What do you mean? how is any of this lucky?” Jennifer questioned.

“I mean, I think this guy has also cooled down a lot. Ever since this last incident, they haven't released anymore Pokémon since, or at the very least, we haven’t found or heard of any new cases from them it yet.”

“This also lead us to believe, that this person might have some sort of influence within the police or higher ups as well!" Aviary commented. "Because we believe, they went quiet after hearing about how this last incident caused a trainer to get hurt.”

“But I wasn’t a trainer—“‘

“At the time, we know.” Officer Jenny anticipated Jennifer’s response. “But we also had to do a cover up for this last incident, because of who, or rather, who your parents and friends are.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sergeant Jenny sighed.

“Just as much as we were being handcuffed to not talk to you about the case, others were also paid and told off, to not involve you in this case in anyway; your mother’s influence, I suspect.” Jenny concluded.

“Mom did?”

May nodded next to her.

“I know my dad and your dad talked about it after that day you were hurt. I guess your mom got involved too. I wasn’t privy to all the details, but like I said earlier: we just wanted you to be able to relax, now that you were back. So we they didn’t want you involved in any incident.” May shook her head in frustration. “But I had no idea what kind of incident you may have just walked in on Jenny.”

“…………Wow!….. That is umm….”

“A lot?” Officer Jenny supplied the word to Jennifer.

“To say the least…”

         

After a brief moment if silence, Jennifer looked up at Officer Jenny a little more composed.

“Okay… so all you need me to do, is come down to the prescient and read that Mightyena’s mind… is that right?” She asked for confirmation.

The Sergeant nodded her head.

“That’s right. Get us a name, or maybe a memory or something of what they look like, so that our sketch artist can draw their facial profile.”

“That would be me, by the way!” Aviary announced. "I'm, thee artist!~”

“Got it,” Jennifer stood ready and determined. “Let’s go then.”

                       

“Woah woah, WOAH! Easy there! We can’t just waltz you inside the precinct. There are procedures to this sort of thing.” Aviary chided.

Sergeant Jenny nodded her head in agreement.

“Officer Private Aviary is right, there is a method to this sort of thing.” Jenny reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a card. “This is my number, send me a text so I can have yours, and I’ll call you when we’re all set up.”

“How long will you take to get me promission to enter?” Jennifer wondered.

Jenny shrugged.

“At best tomorrow. At worst…. Never…”

“Never?!”

Officer Jenny nodded.

“Unfortunately… because of certain… influences… we’ll have to be quick about letting you in and getting you out, without anyone really taking notice of who we’re bringing in.” Officer Jenny told her.

Aviary wrung her hands together.

“It will be our butts on the line if we’re screw this up!… we need to get you in, get our information, then get out, before anyone can really tell us “no”.” Aviary added in.

Jennifer nodded in understanding.

“Got it,” She reached down behind herself, to pick up Ralts on the bed. “Then I guess I’ll hear from the two of you tomorrow?”

Jenny nodded to the young woman.

“Tomorrow.” She assured her.

                                           

                                    

---

                            

                                     

Jennifer sat there in the car as she remember the conversation they had, about everything they learned about why Officer Jenny needed her help.

"I get that you want to help, especially since you have some involvement in this, but are you really just doing this, just to get back at the guy who hurt you and Ralts?"

"Huh? what are you talking about?" Jennifer tilted her head questioningly at May.

"I mean... That is why you're helping, right? To bring some sort of justice for what happened to Ralts's mom?"

Jennifer looked from her friend, to back down at the sleepy Pokémon in her lap. She then shook her head as she thought about it.

≈I won’t say that isn’t part of it. But, the biggest part of the reason why I’m doing this, is because of Mightyena.≈

“Mightyena?! Why would you even care—“

“Because!” Jennifer interrupted her friend. “I just!— feel so bad for him now… now that I know it was all part of some person’s schemes like that!… I mean… I still hate that he killed Ralts’s mother… it’s just… I’m not sure I blame him for it anymore.”

Jennifer absentmindedly ran her fingers through Ralts’s hair, as she spoke to May.

“I think… at the end of the day, I want to help bring this guy to justice, along with saving the Pokémon he has abandoned… I know it’s too late to save the other Pokémon he threw away… But I can at least save Mightyena, and I can save any others from suffering the same fate as Ralts and I.”

        

As May watched her friend sit in the passenger seat, in quiet contemplation as she fond over her Pokémon. May couldn’t help but let out a defeated sigh.

“Look…….” May said to Jennifer. “You have a lot of people who are worried about you, worried about your mental health; as well as your physical: so please remember that, and not worry us so much. Don’t go getting into something dangerous or something unsavory, okay?” May pleaded.

Jennifer smiled without looking over to her surrogate sister.

“I won’t May, I promise I won’t.” She assured, while smiling down at the Feelings Pokémon in her lap.

I now have more than just myself to worry about. She thought to herself.     

               

                 

                  

“………………………”

                     

May stared in eyed wide shock as they approached Jennifer’s house.

“Oh Arceus……..”

“Hmm? What is—….”

          

Standing there, at about one point three meters. Almost a full half meter shorter than Jennifer. Was May’s little brother.

        

“Max?!” May called out as the pulled into the parking spot.

“UGH!…” Jennifer groaned as the car to a standstill.

Max was standing there, holding a bouquet of roses.

“Aawwww! Look at him Jennifer! He’s brought you flowers!~” May teased.

“Great… Thanks… Can I just die now?”

“Aww! Come on! Don’t be embarrassed~”

“Too late!…”

           

As they were talking and getting out of the car. Max approached them with the flowers in hand and a smile on his face. He was wearing very newt designer clothes that made him look more mature than his twelve years of age.

He’s gotten a lot taller huh?… maybe he won’t be—

             

“Good afternoon my dear, you are looking even more absolutely stunning than the last time we met Miss Barakat.” He fawningly greeted Jennifer.

       

—Quite as annoying as the last time I’d seen him…… Arceus! He is worst than last time!  She thought horrified.

“…Hi Max, it’s good to see you again…” She told him sincerely. Because, despite his constant hitting on her, she didn’t think ill of him; she did like him as a little brother.

Just could he lay off of hitting on me, or trying to impress me for a few minutes?!

But before she could even say anything, the bundle of roses were thrusted into her arms.

“For you, my flower of the desert.”

Jennifer looked back at her friend, to see a giggling May, desperately trying to hold in her laughter at Jennifer’s perturbed nature.

≈Seriously?! Where has he picked up this behavior? He is worse than before!≈ She complained directly into May’s mind.

<Probably from a friend of mine while we were traveling together: his name was Brock, and he, was a handful! Every woman, in every city, this man had to hit on and ask on a date or their phone number.>

Jennifer couldn’t help but roll her eyes mentally.

She focused back onto Max in front of her.

            

“Oh… this is… very nice… thank you Max…”

He smiled brightly at Jennifer’s complement.

“I’m glad they please you my dear. These are to commemorate you finally becoming a trainer.”

Jennifer’s eyes went wide at his words. She looked back towards May, who was holding up her hands in surrender.

“I didn’t call him or tell him!” She assured Jennifer.

                 

“Heh~heh~heh~” Max chuckled. “She didn’t need too,” He informed them. “I saw Solidad’s post on social media.” He then pulled at his phone to she Jennifer the Page.

She saw a selfie of her, May, Solidad and Brawly at the restaurant, which was titled: My new friend’s first Pokémon!

Jennifer glared at it, as she realized it was from May’s phone that took that picture.

May must have sent that to Solidad…

Jennifer had to take a deep breath to calm herself down.

It’s okay, Jen… no one meant to make it a big deal, no reason to freak out…

“So if you would allow me, I would love to escort you to Professor Birch’s to get your PokéDex, maybe get a few other essentials while we’re at it.” Max suggested.

Jennifer let out a frustrated sigh.

“Max… I am—“

“She would be glad to go!”

        

Jennifer did a double take at May’s words.

“May?!” She exclaimed in shock at May’s betraying words. Even if this is a joke, that is going too far!

May walked up to Jennifer, cupping a hand over her ear.

“Come on, Jen!” She whispered. “Just indulge him! He hasn’t seen you since you’ve been back. He’s really excited to spend time with you.” She encouraged.

“May!” Jennifer hissed back. ≈You know I don’t like his advances, and you know I swing for the other team!≈ She pleaded desperately.

May nodded in understanding.

<All the more reason to go with him. Spend the day with him, go shopping for what you need, then let him know about that; let him down gently.>

Jennifer couldn’t believe what her friend, what this person’s older sister was suggesting.

≈Are you seriously suggesting, that I come out to your brother and break his heart?≈

May shrugged.

<Better than leading him on.> She thought.

*URGH*

Jennifer growled, because she realized, that May had a point.

             

<You need to get that stuff anyways, why not spend some time with him. Satisfy his want to see you, then break the news to him gently.> May reiterated to get her point across.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay… I guess we can…—“

“RALTS!”

       

Screamed a tiny shrill from the Pokémon trapped between her mistress’s chest and the roses.

With a psychic burst of kinetic energy, the flowers were launched back into the senders face.

“R-Ralts?!” Jennifer exclaimed as she watched as her Pokémon partner and friend, basically attack her little brother.

“Oh my Arceus, Max! Are you alright?!” She asked worried.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” He assured Jennifer. “I’m just glad I opted to go the extra mile and get thornless roses, Hah hah hah haa…” Max chuckled nervously as her lowered the flowers to reveal his rose petal covered face.

Jennifer smiled at the fact that Max was unhurt by what had happened. But she looked down at the Feelings Pokémon in her arm in surprise. While she didn’t condone what Ralts had done. She realized that it was probably Jennifer’s fault that happened.

“Sorry Max, give me a seconded, alright?”

He nodded while trying to get the rose petals out of his hair and nice clothes.

He waved at her to go on ahead.

“Yeah, sure. No problem here Jen, take all the time you need.”

Jennifer smiled at him before walking about two meters away.

             

“Ralts, what was that? Why did you throw his flowers back at him?”

“Because he was clearly bothering you mistress!” Ralts replied.

“Bothering me?! Max? No! He’s like a little brother to me.” She explained.

But Ralts shook her head.

“You know I can feel what you feel mistress, you were upset that he was there, and that he brought you those flowers.” Ralts told her with a cross of her arms. “He also kept having some very presumptuous thoughts about you: like how you were practically his already!” She puffed up her cheeks. “I don’t like him! No one is mistress’s except mistress’s.”

She smiled at Ralts’s reasons for throwing the flowers back.

“Thank you Ralts,” She told her gratefully. “But when it’s a problem between two humans, I’m more than capable of defending myself, or telling people off: I appreciate why you did that. But Max is a friend, I was annoyed to see him here, because I knew he was going to hit on me. But he is also a very important person to me; a really close friend. Someone I consider a little brother.” She explained.

“So he may annoy me a little, but as you might be able to sense.” She let feelings for Max bubble up to the surface.

          

Ralts sensed at that moment that her mistress did indeed care for the young man, that she wasn’t just pretending to indulge him. She genuinely cared about him and his feelings towards her. But she also sensed that her mistress’s was something of the same, that Ralts felt for her own brother, towards this boy.

Ralts lowered her head, ashamed of what she had done, how she had disgraced her mistress.

        

“Hey now,” Her mistress called to her. “I’m not saying this to make you feel bad, or to feel ashamed for what you did. I’m just letting you know, that you can trust me, I can handle myself.” She said with a reassuring smile. Her hand reached down to cup Ralts’s cheek. “And if I get into any sort of trouble, you can bet I’ll call on you for help, okay?”

Ralts nodded reluctantly, but she smiled back up at her mistress, as she understood what she was telling her.

“Okay, mistress. I understand.” She replied.

“That’s good. You leave the human problems to me, and I’ll leave the Pokémon problems to you. How does that sound?”

“Ralts!” She cheered in agreement.

Jennifer chuckled at Ralts exuberance.

            

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Ralts tilted her head at her mistress as she heard her speak.

“Also be careful on reading peoples minds: sometimes knowing, that can do more harm to yourself than what they could have said or done to you.”

Ralts tilted her head in confusion at her mistress’s advise.

“I’m not telling you shouldn’t; I realize, this is basically what your species naturally does, is read the minds of others… just that, sometimes, if you know something about a person ahead of times; if you know their true intentions early. It might cause you heartache or make you feel differently about those people.” She told Ralts sagely.

        

Ralts was still confused after her mistress told her this, but she also realized that this was some sort of lesson that her mistress had learned before she had met her.

              

They walked back to the boy and his sister, they were both still waiting there patiently with smiles on their faces.

Once they were back to them, Jennifer surprised Ralts by bowing towards her friends.

“I’m sorry for the trouble my Ralts has caused you.”

Ralts felt mortified that her mistress was apologizing on her behalf for what she had done.

She went to speak up, to say it was all her fault.

≈Don’t.≈ Jennifer sent her telepathically.

≈But!— But mistress! I was the one!—≈

≈And I’m for you now, as you’re trainer, Ralts… somethings are going to be different now…… I’m responsible for whatever it is you do.≈  She informed her.

Ralts was horrified about the mistake she had made, which caused her mistress to humble herself on Ralts’s behalf.

≈This is what it means to be a trainer and Pokémon, Ralts… The not so glamorous side of being trainer and Pokémon to each other: That what you do, reflects onto me; that I’m responsible for whatever it is that you do.≈

Ralts realized what a mistake she had made, it made her felt like crying in that instance.

“Don’t be sad,” Jennifer whispered. “It will be fine.” She assured her.

“R-Ralts?…”

         

“Hey Jen! It- It’s nothing!” Max assured her. “No harm, no foul.”

Jennifer stood up straight, which allowed Ralts to see the caring, reassuring smiling faces of her mistress’s friends.

“See Ralts?” Jennifer called to her.

Ralts looked up at her mistress’s smiling face.

“There was nothing to worry about, I knew he would forgive us.” ≈And I knew he would, without even having to read his mind: because he is a cherished friend. I knew he would be understanding and forgive us. Because I came to learn and know about him, without reading his mind; by just being around him and understanding how he thinks without listening to his thoughts.≈ She informed Ralts.

Ralts was understanding everything that her mistress had just told her, just a few moments ago when they talked with each other alone.

        

She heard movement next to her, as she saw the boy approaching again.

He stood next to both of them, but he was decidedly looking towards Ralts this time.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” He told her with a smile. He lifted his hand and held it out towards Ralts. “My name is Max Senri, it’s a pleasure to meet the Pokémon that made Jennifer become a trainer.”

Ralts felt her spine stiffen at his words. She wanted to read his mind, to know the meaning behind them. But she also wanted to heed her mistress’s words; so that she would be impressed with her for being understanding.

Ralts lifted her mitts and gripped onto the young man’s hand.

“Ralts alts Ralts.”

            

Max smiled at the Pokémon in front of him, as it was showing considerably less hostility than it did previously.

                                       

*AHEM*

                                

Max looked up at Jennifer who cleared her throat.

“While I appreciate you introducing yourself to my Pokémon, and treating her like a person Max. You’ve seem to misunderstand something.”

Max tilted his head in confusion.

“What did I misunderstand?”

“While it’s true that I didn’t want to be a trainer before; that I didn’t think it was right for humans to own Pokémon. That didn’t mean, that I didn’t believe that humans and Pokémon couldn’t be before friends: And also,” She went on to inform him. “Ralts didn’t force me to become a trainer. She was just the Pokémon that I was more than willing to become a trainer for, so that we could remain friends and stay together.”

                      

All three present for Jennifer words, blinked at her for varying levels of surprise:

Max because he did not expect to be so off the mark or to be lectured by Jennifer .

Ralts because she felt vindicated at her earlier emotions and actions because of her mistress’s caring words; because she knew she her mistress came to her defense just now.

May, because she wasn’t expecting Jennifer to be able to put it into an easy to understand words for why she choose to finally become a trainer.

      

I realized it myself, but I wasn’t sure Jennifer understood her own reasonings herself: that she didn’t want to give up Ralts. May thought to herself. I’m glad she figured it out.

      

Max nodded, then scratched the back of his head in embarrassment for getting it wrong.

“O-Oh yeah! I totally get that! Yup! That is one of the best reasons to become a trainer.” He agreed with Jennifer in a placating tone.

*THWACK*

“OUCH!”

        

Max rubbed the top of his head in pain, before looking up at his sister who was holding a clenched fist over him.

“And what would you know?” May lectured. “You were just another gun-ho child, who couldn’t wait to get started on their own Pokémon journey, and get their very own Pokémon.” She reminded.

Jennifer nodded her head.

“That is very true.” She reminisced. “I remember coming back here and being disappointed that May wasn’t here to hang out with, and I had no choice but to go with him and escort him around, since I was older than him.”

“I—… I would have been fine on my own!” Max shouted. “I knew how to take care of myself!” He argued.

“Oh really?” Jennifer challenged. “I still remember being woke up in the middle of the night, because somebody was terrified of the noises at night.” She adopted a ponderous look on her face. “Something about a Sableye chasing after them in their dreams and it made you—“

“WWWAAAAHHHHH! S-STOP JENNIFER! You promised not to tell that to anyone!”

“Oops!” Jennifer brought her fingers up to cover her lips in mock embarrassment at having being caught. “My bad!”

“JENNIFER!” Max called out plaintively.

Jennifer and May started laughing at Max’s hopelessness at his revealed embarrassment of his trainer’s journey.

This made Ralts giggle at the jovial feelings coming from her mistress. She was happy to see that everything was resolving itself in equitable manner.

                             

Or, so she had thought.

         

“So? Will you please allow me to accompany you? To go meet professor Birch? For my earlier faux-pas.”

Ralts couldn’t believe the persistence of this person. How he went from being forward, to being insulted, to insinuating against Jennifer, to humiliated, right back to asking her out again.

Ralts felt her cheeks puff up in indignation once again.

But before she could say anything, Jennifer spoke up first, knocking the wind from her sails.

“Sure, I’d love too.”

Ralts did a double take in disbelief at her mistress.

She could feel the repulsed thoughts of her mistress about having to indulge this young man.

                 

Max smiled widely at Jennifer.

“Great!” Max said enthusiastically. “D— *COUGH* —Do you want to go now?!~” His voice cracked as he asked her.

She nodded her head.

“Might as well,” Jennifer told him. “The sooner we get this done. The soon I’ll be an official trainer.” She told him.

Ralts was about to protest going with him, when she felt her mistress’s thoughts.

<It’ll be alright… Trust me, you’ll see.> She thought aloud.

At Jennifer’s thoughts, Ralts remembered Jennifer’s earlier words, and decided to just stay quiet.

“YES!” Max pumped his fist in celebratory fashion at Jennifer’s accepting his proposal. “We’re going to be great!…— I mean!— we’re going to have a great time!— No, wait! What I mean is!— we’ll go to a lot og great places and I’ll show you a great!—“

Jennifer rolled her eyes at the hopeful young man, whose voice was cracking as he stuttered over what he was saying.

“Let’s just get going,” Jennifer told him as she walked away from him. She looked back over towards May. “Thanks May!” She called back towards her friend. “For everything you did for Ralts and I today.”

May chuckled at her friend, as her brother chased after her like a Mightyena in rut.

“Your most certainly welcome friend.” May felt a little guilty as Jennifer walked away after being thanked.

Because, if I’m was honest about everything: I’m was so happy that she gave into Ralts’s desperate plea to become her Pokémon: even if it was something that Jennifer actually wanted herself but was denying; I really wanted Jennifer to feel what what I felt for Pokémon, after finally became a trainer myself.

How it had healed me from my hatred of my dad…

I hope Ralts heals you of all the pain you’re bottling up Jen… about the stuff you can’t tell others, or even me.

                                

                                    

                                           

About a ten minute walked from Jennifer’s house, Max and Jennifer made their way to Professor Birch’s laboratory.

“You ready for this!” He asked Jennifer excitedly.

Jennifer had to roll her eyes once again at Max’s enthusiasm.

“We’re just picking up a PokéDex. It’s not like this is some sort of mystical life changing event.” She smiled down at the sullen Ralts in her arms. She then petted the top of her head, running her fingers through her hair.

“Ralts~“ She cooed at Jennifer’s touch.

“…My life changing event has already happened.” She said with a fond smile at her Pokémon.

               

Mine… no one else’s…

                 

She thought she noticed a blush rise to Ralts’s cheeks at her thoughts, which only made her want to tease her more.

She focused back up at a confused faced Max, which only caused her to giggle.

“Shall we?” She said with a flourish of her hand, towards the door.

Max nodded and opened the door for Jennifer. She then walked in ahead of Max, into the Laboratory.

Upon entering, they were greeted by one of the many assistants that worked there.

       

“Afternoon kids!” Said an older man with sandy blond hair and a goatee. “How you doing? Can I help you with something?”

Max went to speak, but Jennifer put a hand over his mouth.

“No thanks,” She told the lab assistant. “We’re just here to see Professor Birch about a PokéDex.” She told him upfront.

“Aaahh!” He looked at Max, who was slightly behind her. “For your brother then?”

She felt Max stiffing where her hand pressed against his mouth, while hearing his indignant thoughts run through his mind about how he was being mistaken for a ten year old again.

Poor max, forever short and thought of as younger than he is. Jennifer thought to herself.

      

Jennifer shook her head at the man before answering.

“No, not for him. For me.” She told the man.

“For you?”

She nodded her head.

“That’s right, me.” Jennifer confirmed.

“But!… you’re so much older…”

Jennifer put a hand on her, while jutting it out, making her look annoyed with the conversation.

Which she was.

“Look, I realize that I’m not exactly starting off at an appropriate age, like most people do. But I only became a trainer recently, because I only cared to be a trainer recently. So… let’s not make a big deal about it, okay? Where is Professor Birch?”

The man was taken aback at how quickly this young woman had turned the conversation around.

He felt very well indignant that she was speaking up to her betters like she was.

“Now listen here, I get you want to get your PokéDex and start your journey or whatever, but that doesn’t mean you can—“

“You know what?! Never mind, I’ll find him myself.” Jennifer announced, before she started walking past the man.

        

“Hey wait!—“ He reached out, grabbing her upper arm. “You can’t just waltz around in here like you own the place! There arrrRRRRAAAAGGH?!—“

The man then flew backwards towards where he had come from, right towards his desk, right before crashing into his chair, as they both then toppled to the floor.

Max watched in wide eyed horror as the man flew away from them. He was about ready to send out his own Pokémon as a warning against the man, when he grabbed at Jennifer’s arm. But when he saw the man float and fly backwards, he was shocked that Jennifer had it in her to make Ralts attack someone like that.

Max walked up to the departing Jennifer who was walking farther into the facility.

“Wow Jen! I can’t believe you just did that!” He said amazed.

“Well, he started it.” She told him. “If he would have just said, one way or another whether Birch was here or not, rather than making it a big deal, I probably wouldn’t have gotten so mad: him grabbing my arm, pushed me over the edge.”

Max nodded in understanding.

“But still though,” Max went on to say. “You should be careful on how you use your Pokémon’s abilities against others… it could be taken as an assault, like an equivalency of pulling a gun on the man.” He warned her.

Jennifer smiled at Max from ahead of him.

“Thanks for the warning Max, but as far as he or you are concerned. All I did was give him a light push away from myself, after he assaulted me by grabbing my arm.” Jennifer pointed out.

               

She then shrugged her shoulders.

“Besides, you are missing out on a couple things.”

“What’s that?” He asked her curiously.

                    

“For one, I plan to tell Dad or Birch about that guy once we find them.”

“And the second thing I missed out on?” Max questioned.

Jennifer smiled at her surrogate little brother.

“It wasn’t my Pokémon that attacked him.” She told him with a coy smile.

                          

Max had stopped moving for a second as what Jennifer was implying sank in.

“Huh?!” He shook his head to clear his thoughts. “H-Hey, Jen! Wait! What is that supposed to mean?!”

Jennifer laughed, with her Ralts laughing with her as they sprinted away from Max down the hall.

                             

                                

                     

It was about two-and-a-half hours later, that Max, Jennifer and Ralts found themselves finally found themselves out of the PokéMart, after having purchased everything a new trainer might need.

“Wahh! Being a trainer sure is expensive!” Jennifer cried as she realized that she was going to have to ask her dad for an extension on her allowance, or at the least, foot the bill for everything she had just spent.

She heaved another drawn out sigh at the thought of that.

Max laughed at his crush’s dilemma.

“Yeah! Being a trainer is not all fun and games and Pokémon battles: it is real work to become a great trainer; takes a lot of money and upkeep.” He told her sagely.

“Yeah, no kidding!” Jennifer said facetiously. “I can see why trainers go to tournaments and do battles for prize money… UGH! I feel so!… out of the loop! Like, I had no idea it was this financially tight for trainers.” She spoke her thoughts.

Max nodded as the continued on through the trail, which lead through a park nearby.

“That it is, that it is.” Max agreed. “That is why it’s popular to get a sponsor or to have a backer, at least until you get into the big leagues.” He explained.

“Mmm…” Jennifer hummed as she thought about this.

She looked down at her surrogate little brother, who was now a lot more confident than he was just two years ago.

“Last time we saw each other, we were on your trainer’s journey through Hoenn. I got to see you compete all the way back to Petalsburg City’s gym, where your father promptly kicked your ass.” Jennifer reminded him with a teasing smile.

Max gave a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Yeah, not my finest moment, I’ll admit that.” He told Jennifer. “I wished I looked cooler in front of you more before you headed back to Ejapul that time.”

Jennifer shrugged.

“I don’t know, I was really not into it either way, if you remember. I sat out of a few of your battles that you did in gyms. Mostly so I didn’t have to see or watch the Pokémon fighting.”

Max nodded in remembrance.

“Yeah, I remember. You hated watching Pokémon fight or do battle with each other.” He pointed out.

“Still do.” She confirmed.

Max looked up at Jennifer who was still holding her Ralts in her arms.

“So? If you hate Pokémon battles. Why did you decided to finally become a trainer? I remember what you said earlier, but there has got to be more to it that just that, right?”

                                  

Jennifer nodded slowly before speaking her answer.

“If I had to point out one thing, I think that would be a mistake.”

“What do you mean?” Max questioned.

“What I mean is, that if I pointed at any one reason, I would be telling an almost lie of why I finally decided to become a trainer; it was a culmination of different reasons.” She told Max.

She smiled down at the Pokémon who was nodding off to sleep in her arms.

“But, if I had to point out just one thing, I would repeat what I said earlier: Because it was, so that Ralts and I could remain friends and stay together forever.”

Max stared at Jennifer in disbelief.

“So? You really only became a trainer so you could keep Ralts?”

Jennifer nodded.

“I know, selfish right?”

Max shrugged his shoulders.

“I mean, I guess? But there are lots of other, more selfish reasons, to want to be a Pokémon trainer… at the very least, the feelings between you two were mutual, correct?” Max pointed out to her.

Jennifer nodded again in acknowledgment.

“Yeah, that’s true too, I guess. We both selfishly wanted to stay together. But I was to much of a coward to ask her to stay, thinking it was wrong to keep her for myself, just because I liked her.” She smiled at the thought of Ralts throwing the ball at her.

“I’m glad that Ralts was the one who decided to choose in the end… it made becoming a trainer easier for me… I think—… I think Ralts realized that, that’s why she threw the PokéBall at me: so that I didn’t have to be the one to make the choice; so all I had to do was accept it.” Jennifer explained.

Max was quiet for a moment before he asked what was on his mind.

“So? Why bring up my journey? Is that what you plan on doing?” He asked her.

Jennifer shook her head.

“No, I was mostly asking, because I wanted to know how you did after I left… I wanted to see what you were doing now: maybe hearing from another trainer and exploring my options.”

Max nodded at her wise words of consideration.

“Okay, that’s pretty smart thinking then.” He put his arms behind his head as he stared up at the burnt orange sky of the late afternoon.

“Right now, I’ve collected all the badges in the Hoenn region, and I’m training with dad to one day take over his gym.” Max told Jennifer flatly.

“Well hey! There you go! At least you have a goal in mind and know what you want to do.”

Max nodded at that.

“Yeah, and I’m more than happy to take over the gym for my dad… I just think… that I want to do something else before I become a gym leader.”

Jennifer tilted her head at his words.

“What’s that?” She asked.

        

Max stopped in front of the fountain they were passing and turned back to look at Jennifer in her eyes.

        

“Jen,” He spoke seriously. “I am going to go and beat the elite four here in Hoenn, then I am going to go beat the gym leaders and elite four back at my rival’s home town of Kanto… I’m going to beat the elite four there; beat the current champion, then… and only then, can I say that I’m better than him…” Max said with a clenched fist while staring at his hand in passion.

He then looked back up at Jennifer’s face, with a large, but serious smile.

“And at that time, after all is said and done: will you be my girlfriend?”

                                 

Jennifer looked at the earnest expression on Max’s face, how he was completely dead serious about what he was saying.

And all Jennifer felt at that moment was pride and guilt.

            

She felt proud of the fact that this little boy, or this young man now: but the little boy that she had once knew and loved like a brother, had grown up to be a strong young man that knew what he wanted.

That he was set and determined on what he wanted to achieve.

She couldn’t be more proud of him.

          

And she felt incredibly guilty for what she was about to say to him.

                

                 

“No Max.” She told him simply.

                   

             

Just like that, with her simple words, she realized she had crushed a large portion of his dreams.

Sorry Max. I was really hoping you grew out of this crush and I wouldn’t have to do this.

             

“Max…… I have to tell you something… the reason why I have to say no to your request Max… to be your girlfriend.”

“Is it?— *GULP* —… *SHAKY INHALE* …—Is it because I’m younger? Is it because I’m May’s brother?” He asked Jennifer with tears in his eyes.

Jennifer shook her head.

“It’s not like that. Those things don’t help, but they aren’t the main reason…..” Jennifer trailed off as she walked towards the wrought iron fence that surrounded a fountain, at the center of the park they were at.

“Then?… *HIC* what is it? Why won’t you see me like that? See that I’m serious?!” Max asked her desperately.

“I do see that you’re serious Max… that is why we’re having this conversation right now, if I didn’t take it seriously, or all I thought of you was the brother of my friend who had a crush on me, I probably wouldn’t pay attention to you like this: you mean more to me than that max.” She told him. “I think of you like I do your sister, as my family from another set of parents…”

“Is…— *GULP* is that why? Because you see me as family?”

She turned around, spreading an arm against the fence and she leaned against it, while staring at Max.

She shook her head.

“Max…… I—… I…” Jennifer paused to take a deep breath while looking down at her shoes. Then after gathering her strength, she looked back up at Max.

          

“When and after you become the champion of Kanto, I’ll not become your girlfriend, but how about I go and help you find a girlfriend?” She suggested to him with a tear filled smile.

Max couldn’t help but laugh at Jennifer audacious suggestion.

“So instead of being my girlfriend, you want me to go with the girl I like to go find someone else?!” He asked her incredulously.

Jennifer shrugged.

“If it makes you feel better, if I’m still single by then, which I’m pretty sure I will be. You can help me pick out a girlfriend for me as well.” She told him casually. “We can make a day of it, together. Just like today.” She suggested.

He laughed at her proposal.

“So that is your offer is it? That instead of being my girlfriend, that we would go out together and look for girl…— friends………— for……… each other?…….”

Max’s eyes went wider and wider at every word that came out of his mouth as he realized what Jennifer was saying.

           

Jennifer nodded her head at him before standing up straight and walking towards him.

“Yeah Max…” She said to him. “I wasn’t sure how to tell you this… I had been working on what, or how I was going to tell you on this outing, but Max…” Jennifer sighed before looking directly into Max’s eyes from about less than half a meter away.

       

“I think I’m gay Max.”

He stared at her in shock at her own confession.

“You— You think you’re gay?”

Jennifer winced at her own choice of words.

“Well… I know I like girls… I just… Don’t have anyone I’m particularly in love with at the moment… there is a girl back in Ejapul who likes me, but!…. I… *SIGH* I’m not sure that will work out……”

Jennifer then walked past Max, as she thought back about the friend she left back there.

Max shook himself from his revery of what Jennifer had just told him.

“W-W—What’s her name?!”

“Her name?”

“Y-Yeah,” Max shouted with determined emotions, his eyes wet with unshed tears. “T-Tell me the name of the rival of my love! T-Then I’ll one day c-challenge her, and show you whose better!”

Jennifer stared at Max in disbelief that he hadn’t given up after she told him she was gay.

She couldn’t help but let out a snorting laugh at his stubborn single minded focus.

Guess I can’t fault him for being committed. She thought amazed at her little brother.

She lifted her free hand in a gesture of indifference.

“It really doesn’t matter Max, one way or another, I’m a girl, who likes other girls. Even if you were to fight her over me, I would probably just end up not choosing either of you.” She told him. “Because anyone who fights over me, and tries claiming me as theirs, isn’t a person I relish being in a relationship with.” She explained to him honestly.

“Grr…” Max growled in frustration before he stumped his foot. “Of it doesn’t matter than, at least tell me her name! This way I’ll know she’s at least a real person, rather than someone you’ve made up and you’re just using being in love with another girl as an excuse not to date me!”

Jennifer was a little miffed at his accusal, but she understood his point.

Guess it won’t matter.

“I can do you one better, I have her confession on my phone.” Jennifer told him.

“W-What?!” Max stuttered in disbelief.

Jennifer nodded and reached into her pocket for her phone.

“That’s right,” She told him.

She pulled up the saved video in question, then fast-forward to the spot of Sara’s confession.

This will give me an opportunity to tell him my other secret. She thought.

           

Jennifer watched as Max stared fixated at the girl on the other side of the screen. In the only few seconds it played, he ran through quite a few emotions: anger, disapproval, disbelief, disappointment, and reluctant acceptance.     

             

Poor guy.

              

Max sighed at the end of the video.

“So? That convince you yet?”

      

But to her surprise, this only made Max wipe the tears from his eyes in frustration, as he shook his head.

“T-T-That doesn’t mean she loves you like that! She could have just been saying that because she cares about you!” He argued. “Just like the rest of your friends in the video!” He folded his arms like he hand won the argument; his face smug with superiority.

            

But, much to Max’s chagrin, the smirk never left Jennifer’s lips.

      

Jennifer was then shaking her head, back-and-forth, which only made Max’s face fall further.

       

“Not likely Max,” She said to him. “I’m afraid I know that was her real confession, that she really does like me like that, and it wasn’t meant as an affection between friends.” She informed him.

She took a deep breath, readying herself to tell Max the truth.

            

≈I’m psychic Max≈

                    

To say that Max was stunned was an understatement.

“A-A-A—Are you fo—for real?!” He said shocked.

He seems more surprised that I’m psychic than that I’m gay…… But I guess he was just in denial about the latter. She thought.

“This whole time?! Ever since we knew you?!”

Jennifer nodded her head.

“Yeah,” She said simply. “That’s right.”

            

Max felt like he wanted to fall over in that instance.

“Oh my God…” He murmured. <I can’t believe that the girl I like, is both a psychic and gay……… if only she wasn’t one of those things… this would be awesome!>

Jennifer let a a laugh at his thoughts.

“You’re absolutely right on that.” Jennifer told him. “It is a shame.”

At hearing her laugh, Max felt his face got bright red.

He took off his glasses and rubbed his face with both his hands in frustration. He walked back over, towards the wrought iron fence, where he leaned against it, practically laying halfway over it.

Jennifer smiled sympathetically at her surrogate brother.

She walked back over to him, before putting her hand on the back of his shoulders, rubbing it in gentle, comforting circles.

“I’m sorry little Maxxy… I know you had your heart set on me, and that you had this whole big plan to win it all in my honor… and while I appreciate it; look at it this way?! Now you have a girl, friend, who you can go pick up girls with!” She told him enthusiastically.

He just snorted at Jennifer’s words.

“Yeah right! *SNIFF*” He said to her. He looked up at her with wet slanted eyes, but a watery smile playing on his lips. “If we— *HIC* —we were to go together, I would— *HIC* —wouldn’t get any of the girls!” He argued.

Jennifer laughed at his emotional ranting.

“Why’s that?” She questioned.

Max just rolled his eyes at her.

“Come on!” He said like it should be obvious. “You’re tall! Strong! Have a permanent tan! Come from a foreign land! Have a silky accent! And you also have those beautiful blue eyes! UGH!” He groaned while putting his head back into his hands. “How am I to compete with that?!”

      

Jennifer smirked while scratching her cheek.

“Well… when you put it like that…”

“UGH! You could at least lie to me!” He shouted in mock outrage.

Max then turned around and slid his back down the fence to sit on the ground, looking back out into the mostly empty park.

                

“……………………………Not how I thought this day was going to go……………” Max mumbled pathetically.

              

Jennifer chuckled as she looked down at the sleeping Feelings Pokémon in her arm.

“Yeah… Tell me about it.”

        

           

They both sat there in quiet contemplation, one on the fence, thee other on the ground. As they thought about their day today, respectively.

        

Max sighed, then was the first of the two to speak after about ten minutes.

“Guess that explains what happened with mister Jason earlier.” Max observed.

“Jason?” Jennifer asked confused.

“The guy that you “pushed” across his desk.” Max said with finger quotations.

Jennifer opened her mouth in an “OH” shape, she realized who Max was referring too.

“Oh yeah, him… I gotcha now.” She said in understanding. She nodded her head before answering him. “Yeah, like I hinted then: it wasn’t Ralts that did that, it was me.” She confessed.

Max sighed once again as he thought back upon it.

“Wow… that is so cool… I can’t believe you haven’t told us until now…… Unless I’m the last to know! And May's known all along?!” Max questioned in panic.

Jennifer laughed at his assumption.

“Nah, I only told her after I was attack by the Mightyena. But she had figured it out; not that I was being subtle about it by then.” Jennifer commented to herself.

Max snorted.

“Or now even!” He pointed out. “… Why are you using your powers now, if you were keeping them a secret before?”

Jennifer had to think about that one for a minute before she answered.

      

She then shrugged.

“I don’t know.” She told him honestly.

“You don’t know?”

She shrugged again.

“Not really, no. I just…— I just started to become more comfortable with using them more, ever since Ralts and I met… and while I was using them with Ralts and her siblings, your sister found out, and……” She shrugged. “I just stopped being so concerned about who knew, or who I showed off too.” She smiled down at Max as she said this.

“But for now, I’m only telling people I care about, or people I know I can trust.”

Max nodded his head.

“Probably wise.” He noted. He the stood up and stretched. “While psychics aren’t necessarily rare or  unique, they certainly are uncommon: being one in every ten thousand born… or at least, that is the written estimate.”

Jennifer nodded.

“So I’ve been told.” She concurred.

                  

Max turned back towards Jennifer, right before wiping the last of his tears away.

“Guess this is the end to my crush on you, huh?” He said with a downtrodden tone.

Jennifer smiled at her little surrogate brother fondly.

“Afraid so.” She agreed.

He nodded back, and reached out a hand towards Jennifer.

“Well, thanks for being honest with me Jen.” He thanked her. “And thanks for hanging out with me, I know I’m not your friend or your most favorite person to hang around with—“

“What are you talking about?!” She shouted at him.

Her shouting startled Max into jumping in place.

“B-But don’t you just hang out with me because I’m May’s brother?!” He questioned.

Jennifer laughed sadly at Max’s assumption.

“Max, I do hangout with you because you are May’s brother.” She informed him. “But,” She reached over and pulled him into a side hug. “No one forces me! I do it because I love you, silly!…. Brotherly! Of course!” She hastened to add at the end, with a cheeky smile.

This only got Max to laugh as he was pulled into Jennifer’s side, much like May used to do when he was younger.

“Thanks Jen…” Max told to her in a strained voice. “That means a lot to hear you say that.” He said nearing tears.

“Aawww! My bad! I didn’t mean to make you sad again.” Jennifer apologized.

“I’m not sad! And I’m not— *HIC* —Crying!” He argued in a crying shout. “Damnit!”

They both shared a laugh before sharing one more final hug.

        

“Thanks again for spending the day with me Big Sis-J…”

Jennifer smiled at Max from the top of his head.

“My pleasure.” Jennifer told Max honestly. “Let me know when you become the champion, we’ll find you a date easily.”

He laughed before punching her shoulder.

“Jerk!”

         

She laughed and rubbed it with her free hand.

“Oh yeah! You never told me your girlfriend’s name.” Max realized.

Jennifer rolled her eyes.

“She’s not my girlfriend, and I don’t think she and I will become a couple.” She informed him.

He waved her off as if she was just saying nonsense.

“Whatever, she is as good as yours if you want her. So? What’s the name of the girl that likes you then? Or were you really making her up?”

Jennifer laughed at his now cocky attitude.

                        

“Well!” She smirked at him. “If you must know, her name is Ra—…”

        

“Ra?…” Max questioned.

           

Jennifer panicked as she almost said the wrong name.

“Ra…— Sara!” She blurted out in a hurry. “That’s her name! Sara! Yup! That’s the one! Ah haha hahaha!….”

“……” He looked at her with a tilt of his head. “You okay there Jen?” He questioned.

        

“Yup! Never better!” She told him. She the pointed down at the Pokémon in her arm. “And would you look at the time!” She announced. “I’ve been out all day!” She told him. “I best get home and get this one to bed! Ah-hahaha…”

      

Max shrugged his shoulders at Jennifer’s antics and just chocked it up to her being tired and have had a long day.

“Fair enough, I need to get home soon anyways……. I bet May is waiting to grill me on what happened with us…” Max said reluctantly.

“UGH” Jennifer groaned. “Don’t remind me! She’ll probably call me after she gets done with you…”

Both younger siblings of May sighed at the thought of her pulling rank and demanding info on their lives.

Jennifer smiled at Max sincerely and gave him a wave of her hand.

“See yeah Max,” She told him a final time. “We should hang out sometime, just for fun now, as siblings and no hitting on me.” She told him with a smirk.

He chortled nervously at her suggestion.

“I’m going to need some time to adjust before I can get used to that.” He told her honestly. “But I’d like that Jen, I really would.” He turned around and waved at her sideways as he walked away.

“See ya later Jen!”

“Bye Max!” She replied.

      

She looked down at her sleeping Pokémon in her hands with a nervous expression on her face.

I almost said Ralts’s name, rather than Sara’s… what is wrong with me?!

She shook herself of those thoughts, then started on home.

“I’m just tired…” She concluded.               

                     

                                   

                     

                     

                     

About ten minutes of walking later, Jennifer found herself in front of the house.

“I can’t believe I’ve not been home for two weeks, seems like forever ago.” She mumbled.

As she entered, she was greeted by a familiar sight of her dad, snoring on the sofa. His head curled up on Charmeleon’s lap, as they both fell asleep watching T.V.

Arceus you two are so old, I swear!  She thought to herself.

             

“Welcome home Jenny…” A familiar, yet alien voice called out to her.

She looked down at the hallway leading past the kitchen, towards the counters near the kitchen, and saw what she expected to be an Eevee.

       

“E… Eevee?!” She called out to the black and golden ring furred Pokémon.

“Not any longer.” He told her. “I’m an Umbreon now.”