A Lonely Exploration

Even though the guild considered Pecha forest to be a bit of a joke, a training grounds more than an actual dungeon, Alki felt butterflies dancing in her stomach. She felt a sudden, strong desire to go back to the guild, back to Darcy and the gardens and books and cards... wouldn't that be better? "W-What am I even going here for...?" She asked herself, ignoring the desire to turn back. She knew why.

But now it was time to actually do it. She remembered the Skorupi she'd met back at the guild. She didn't want to be replaced, and maybe, if she could tell Darcy she'd explored something... anything by herself, it'd be less likely to happen? Maybe Darcy would be impressed... Alki shook her head.

And even more than that... Alki couldn't stay afraid of her parents forever. Melanie had threatened to take her back, and Alki had felt terrified. Her eyes began to gaze off into the distance. She couldn't be so afraid of them. Not anymore. She'd found a new life at the guild. With friends, and people who cared about her. And this was the best way... no, the only way, for Alki to get over that. Wasn't it?

Alki was just about to step into the forest, just about to leave the safety and security of Grassveil behind when a noise made itself heard behind her, prompting a fearful squeak from Alki. Some explorer she was... Hello? She managed to say, clearly, to her relief. She waited a bit for an answer, but would she get one? Alki waited, just in case, otherwise, she'd move on, into Pecha forest.

[Energy: 20 - 5 = 15]

(Energy! 22 - 5 = 17)

Rouge walked towards the entrance of Pecha Forest; thats where he saw a small Igglybuff nervously standing at the entrance. Rouge stopped and watched for a moment as it seemed to hesitate to go in. He smiled and walked forward, breaking a twig loudly as he approached. Stopping when the little pokemon called out with 'h-hello', Rouge took a moment before responding.

"No H-harm, F-friend" Rouge said in the friendliest voice he could. He hoped it would be enough to calm the frightened pokemon in front of him. It's hesitation was already concern enough that it shouldn't be here, but this proved it. This small pokemon would not be safe alone in this forest. Rouge decided that if it insisted on going in, he'd follow it to make sure it didn't get overwhelmed.

Alki heard a voice respond to her. Alki didn't know how, not quite, but it sounded a bit fake. Forced? She didn't know, but either way, it wasn't a threat. The Cubone stuttered. Like her. He wasn't that much taller than her either.

"O-Ok..." She mumbled, as she turned to look back at the forest. He was quiet, wasn't he? Alki couldn't say she minded. Darcy was nice. So was Nightingale, and... a lot of the Pokemon she'd met recently were nice. But they were all so talkative! Sometimes it was nice. Sometimes she needed nice words. Other times... it was nice to have a bit of quiet. And Alki would prefer that, today. Silence was something she needed. I-I'm going in, i-if you'd like to come... err... Alki thought back to her experiences with a Sandshrew in Grassveil town. "I-I'm Alki, by t-the way."

She looked down, steeling herself. "W-Well... I-I'm going in anyways... I have... erm, t-things. I need to do. S-So... it's ok if you don't want to come." She managed, looking up at the Cubone in front of her. What would he say? Would he come along anyways? Alki wasn't the sort of P okemon to do things alone, so even if she meant to go alone... a bit of company was always nice.

Rouge listen to the pokemon's shaky voice, she sounded frightened. He continued to listen, making sure to note her name was Alki. He smiled and nodded the invitation to come along would make it easier for him to protect her, and at the same time he could make a new friend. This pleased Rouge, as even though he enjoyed being alone, in this large world he needed friends.

"R-rouge Bon-ne." He stated as he walked closer, holding out a hand. "W-want come w-with. P-protect Alki." and this was the truth, she seemed so frail and frightened that no respectable pokemon would leave her be. Though in the back of his mind, He hoped his difficulty with speaking wouldn't be a problem and that she didn't need him to read anything, after all, he was illiterate and still trying to become 'tame'.

"P-Protect me?" Alki mumbled, a bit surprised at what this Pokemon wanted to do. She didn't need protection! Pecha forest wasn't dangerous ! It was full of Pecha berries, and it was nice and sunny and full of color! Protection wasn't necessary!

Then again, Alki felt as though it'd be rude to brush him off, especially after she'd been the one to invite him. She shook his hand with hers, before nervously beginning to lead him towards the forest. "W-Well... E-Erm, I guess we better get going! L-Let's go."

Alki led Rouge Bone further into the forest, bouncing while she awkwardly led him by the hand. Or maybe she just wanted to hold his hand? Now that she was actually in the forest, she felt afraid. Afraid of her parents, afraid they'd take her and make her stay at their home again, yet that wasn't possible, that couldn't be possible. But what if it was? The colors took on a less cheery hue, and Alki tightened her grip on his hand. It made her feel safer, but it was weird. She shouldn't do that. Yet she couldn't bring herself to let go.