How should I know?

Chapter 15: Can you stop?

KRYSTAL's POV

As Sasha and I made our way through the forest, we noticed that the sun was beginning to fall. I just felt like it didn't matter what time we got to the lake I knew the water giant was going to be there. So there is no point in having Sasha tired before we arrive.

"Hey Sasha." I said stopping looking down at her.

"Yes Head Lady?" She asked me, looking at me questionably.

"Let's call it a night." I said looking up into the sky to welcoming the new moon.

"Aww, but why? I'm sure Ferali is just up ahead if we keep going we're bound to run into him."

"I know what you mean, but think about it like this. Ferali must have one hell of a reason for leaving the way he did. And I'm pretty sure he's unstable at the moment, he's also a damn good fighter, he likes to use his head when he fights...bottom line is we need to rest for then continue at day break."

"As you wish Head Lady I understand." She said nodding to me.

I bend down to rub her on the side of the face, and smile to her to cheer her up. She looked up to me and smiled back with her eyes closed.

I stood up letting go of her face, turning around to face the road that lay ahead of us. Looking at the very rocky ground made my left leg shake a bit. So now would be a good time to get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow things will never be the same ever again. Though if that voice of Max's was true then I should be a little bit more worried about Ferali.

The thought of my Max began running through my mind. If it was him what would he want with Ferali, why would he want Ferali to go to The Lake of Rage. Dammit what the hell is going on, Max shouldn't know anything about Ferali.
And yet...

"UGH!!!!" I yelled gaining a headache then grabbing my head.

"Head Lady are you ok?" Sasha yelled looking up to me.
I calmed my mind and shook my head, then turned back to face her. "Yeah I'm fine just doing too much thinking I guess."

She shook her head and stepped closer to me saying, "We should start setting up camp and get something to eat, maybe that'll take you mind off things."

The way she sounded was reassuring, so I nodded to her and smiled.

We walked off the main trail about fifty feet into the forest. I saw a tree that looked comfortable to sit underneath and make a camp near. So we came to it without hesitating even though the moonlight did not shine near there.

After thirty minutes of setting up the camp went by quickly, and then I began cooking our food, which was a quick mix stew made with some berry juice. I saw Sasha looking on the outside of the camp and nodding her head from one side to the next, humming a tune. For the most part it sounded good; I wonder where she might have picked something like that up from.

"Ah sounds wonderful." I said loudly setting my cooking ware to the ground.

"Oh...you heard me?" She said turning to me in embarrassment.

"Yeah it sounds beautiful. So where did you learn it from?"

"Oh...that it was from my old master..." She said sounding a bit depressed.

I turned to her and smile to bring comfort to her. She looked as if though she didn't want to bring it up the past. I decided that it wasn't worth bringing up something painful, so I decided to change the subject.

"Hmmm...Sasha can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure Head Lady anything shoot." She said cheering up.

"You don't have to answer it if you don't want to." I said with a blush spreading across my face.

I grabbed a large spoon and turned back to the stew and nervously stuck it inside the stew and stirred it slowly. She came closer to me from behind and sat down looking at me curiously. Feeling that she was standing behind me caused me to stir a bit faster. Though I'm not really sure what I'm being so nervous about since we are friends I should be able to ask her anything.

"Head Lady are you ok?" She asked innocently.

I took a deep breath and gulped loudly. Turning to her I closed my eyes and asked, "What do you do when you're in love with someone?"

After a five second awkward pause I peeped my eyes open to her to see her reaction. When I got a good look at her face, it wasn't at all what I expected. She just had the same cheerful smile on her face, not at all what I was expecting. Though when I think about it logically of course she wouldn't freak out or anything like that. She's reacting like any friend would when another have a concern, as usual I assume the worst in people and Pokémon.

"Oh, that's all?" She said confidently.

"Wow you sound like you have a lot of experience with this subject." I said excitedly.

"Umm...not really just know a few things that were taught to me a when I was younger with my old master."

"Oh I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about it we don't have to..."

"No no Head Lady its fine since I never knew who my parents were or anything, so she taught me things about life." She then closed her eyes to recall the past. "Well let me think...When you're in 'Love'." She said still thinking about the past. "Oh yeah when you're in love you should do what you can for that person and give them hundred percent of yourself and them to you. I think you should cherish every moment you can as if it were your last..." She said growing increasingly silent.

I notice that she was beginning to trail off in thought. So I turned back to the stew and continued stirring, for it to be a quick mix it smelled wonderful. Once it was all done I took a deep sigh wiping my forehead and getting my curly hair out of my head, I turned back to see how she was doing.

She now had her head on the ground lying down and staring forward pass me. She had a very dull facial expression as if to be reflecting deeply on herself. I continued to ignore her so that could think in peace; I guess losing her old master must have been tough on her.

I wanted to know what happened to her master, but I guess it's something that she'll have to tell me when she's up to it.

I walked over to where my backpack was and grabbed two bowls from it and returned back to the pot. Taking the large spoon I scooped the stew up and poured it into both of the bowls. I set the bowl I was going to eat out of, to the side of the camp fire and took Sasha's bowl and brought it to her. Kneeling down and setting it down right in front of her smiling, she lifted her head up and looked to me confused.

"Oh Head Lady I'm sorry I must be acting weird aren't I?" She said with a depressed tone.

"Hehe it's no problem I was just in that state...and Sasha thank you..." I said with a single tear running down my face.

She stood up quickly when she noticed my face. She looked to me concerned saying, "Thank you? For what...did I do something? Why are you crying Head Lady?"

"Yeah you did..." I said as I used my left hand to pet her on the head. "You are a good friend...and whatever troubles you have you can tell me, only if you're ready though."

"Thank you for being so understanding Head Lady. I'm truly blessed to be friends with you and our water giant." She said with a giggle. "But to be honest, I think I'm over anxious for what we'll encounter tomorrow."

Using both my hands to dry my face off while asking her at the same time, "So what do you think will be waiting for us when we get to the lake?"

She lowered her head down to the ground saying, "I don't know and what kind of scares me I don't want anything bad to happen to anyone of us. I would like for things to go back the way they were."

I brought my hands down to the ground pushed myself back up to my feet and walked over to my bowl. "Yeah I know what you mean, but you know we can only hope for the best. After everything is said and done we can only look forward to happier days." I said as I grabbed my bowl and sat down.

The fire underneath the pot was low so there was no need to lift it and set it to the side, plus it kept the food warm so if either one of us wants seconds it'll be there.
"So that's what you mean by that?" She said as she lowered her face inside her bowl.

"Mean by what?" I said picking my bowl up and bring it closer to my face.

"By saying there will be happier days." Picking her face up from the bowl dripping food from it.

"Mmm-hmmm." I mutter now I had food inside my mouth.

"Ah I see I guess you're right we need to stay positive."

Once we were done eating our food, I took the rest of the remains and carried them out into the forest. Seeing that I was out far enough I began dumping the rest of the food, maybe some lucky creature will so happen to stumble upon it. 'Atleast I'll be helping something out at the end of the day' I thought to myself as I began backtracking to the camp site.

Returning back to the camp the first thing I notice was the low flame that burned. Sasha head was buried inside the ground asleep. I walked closer to the fire and set in front of it, taking a deep breath of the night air my mind began to run over the thought of love.

'Do I really love Max or Ferali? Who is it that I'm willing do more for? Who is it that I'm willing to give my hundred percent to? Who is it that I'm willing to give every moment of my life to as if it were my last.' I thought to myself as I started to yawn loudly from sleepiness.

"Guess I'll have to think about it later I need to focus on one at a time and right now, and Ferali is in danger...of me." I said mumbling to myself.

"Umph-I don't need a mate..." Sasha said talking in her sleep.

I giggled lightly at the sight and remember that she said that a few times to Ferali in the past week of training with each other. Though I think she may have developed a little crush on him, I thought it was cute, but I think he got to me first.

Giggling at the thought I began making standing up looking towards my tent. Taking a nice long stretch with both arms in the air I dropped them both to my side, smacking my thighs in the process. I ignored the pain as I made very droopy steps towards the tent and making sure I didn't fall.

Once I reached the tent entrance I pulled back the curtain and looked inside to see that it was very messy inside but I didn't care I crawled inside of it. I sat inside of the tent staring at the wall of it, though it was a small one I was still able to sit up.

My eyes began getting really heavy so I snapped to attention and started feeling around for my long shirt. Once I found it I immediately started getting undressed throwing all my clothes in any which direction not really caring where they landed. I started putting it over my head; once it was on I felt a cold breeze fly through it.

"Ah...Sasha Hehe." I said giggling and remembering how I got a large rip.

I laid down pulling the blankets over my head not thinking about else just sleep. As everything went black I mutter something that even I could understand, and then drifted off to sleep.

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The next morning came much quicker than I thought because the sun rays were pouring through my tent. This caused me jump up quickly inside my tent and almost knock it over. I sighed to the thought of remembering what happened last time when I did that.

I very sleepily opened up the curtain and sort of dragged myself out of it. One hand digging inside of the dirt and heaving myself out at a time was the motion I made to get out of the comfortable prison. Once I was completely out I lifted my head up to greet the new day.

I pushed myself up to stand up and took a nice long stretch with both arms behind my back. Once I was loose and limber I began looking around the camp site. I saw Sasha who was sprawled out over the ground with both arms and legs in the air. I shook my head and giggle lightly at the sight, 'Well while she's still sleep I'll get ready for the final stretch of our trip.' I thought to myself as I turned back to my tent.

Ten minutes passed by quickly as I got dressed. My outfit was the black no-sleeve turtle neck shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and black light weight steel toe boots. Once I was done getting dressed I turned back to Sasha, and then to the camp area and how much of a mess it was in.

"Well I know I'm not going to clean this up myself." I said to myself quietly.

I began walking over to where Sasha was, and then stopped once I was right in front of her. I got down on my knees and leaned down to her, using my left arm to hold down both her front arms and my right arm to hold down her back legs. I began to press down slowly so she wouldn't notice it at first, but I pressed down further she immediately woke up.

Kicking and struggling as she panicked to break free I just held her down without the thought of letting up. Her eyes shot wide open as she stopped moving; once she saw who I was she took a deep sigh. I began laughing loudly at the disappointment in her face.

"Morning sleepy head." I said letting up on her.

"Ugh Head Lady what's going on?" She said grunting setting up.

"You and me with the campsite this morning, once we're done we are going to sprint all the way to the lake. I'm sure it'll be a short trip then, sounds good?" I said looking down to her smiling.

"Hmm...yeah that sounds great. The sooner the better so we can start on our adventure." She said smiling looking back up to me.

Another thirty minutes passed by the time we finished taking down the camp. Once I had my back pack all gathered together I threw it across my shoulders and looked towards Sasha. She gave me a determined nod; I looked to her with a serious face and gave her a nod back.

With a final leg stretch, Sasha and I bolted down the forest on to the rocky road. It was a lot bumpier than I expected, so both slowed to a light jog/trot. As we continued I saw a sign that said, 'Mt. Mortar this way.' I smiled to the sign knowing at least I was going the right way.

As we continued running until we came across a cave, it was quite large but nothing to give another look to. We had to keep moving though it gave me a great idea of where we could start our adventure. I could just think of it now a dark spooky cave the three of us having to fight our way out to the end it'll be great. Maybe I'll just be a real Pokémon trainer and try and understand them better with the help of Sasha and Ferali, that'll be more than enough to help me do so.

I think this is how other people feel when they want to set out and do something with themselves. To aspire to do something better with my life is something wonderful, and to have friends to do it with is even better.

We began picking up speed as the road started to clear up of rocks and the path became clearer.

"We should be there in no time if we keep going at this pace." Sasha said as I snapped out of my day dreaming.

"Yeah hopefully we're making such good ground, but if you start feeling tired let me know. I don't need you tired for when we get there."

"Yes, Head Lady I understand and I will." I said with a hint of cheerfulness in her voice.

Another ten minutes passed before we spotted something very strange. We both drastically slowed our speed down to a sliding halt. What we saw just didn't fit with anything inside the forest. It was a half melted clump of ice that seems to have made something.

I began to look around the surrounding area, and then turn back.

"So what do you make of this?" I asked Sasha.

"Not sure Head Lady, only thing I can think of was there might have been a struggle here."

"I don't think so..." I said disagreeing with her.

"Why you say that?"

"Well I mean look around us, there are no imprints on the ground, scratches on the tree, or anything to indicate that there was a struggle." I said pointing something's out.

"Hmm...you're right Head Lady I think we need to be careful someone could be doing this to distract us or throw us off our guard somehow." She said as a warning.

I nodded to her and smiled we began picking up our paste by running at full speed. It wasn't too long before we saw another sight that was just surprising upon arrival.

We both slowed down to a light jog; there was town that was completely invisible to us before we actually approached it. The town was really small and really quiet unlike the other town that we came through. Most of the town looked very old fashion from where I stood, but there was a Pokémon Center and a Gym. So I guess time hasn't completely forgotten about this place.

Sasha and I slowly proceeded to the town. We began looking around to examine the small peaceful town, but there didn't seem to be anything here. So we continued till we reached the towns exit.

'Maybe I'll come back here when I want to relax from all the battling or if I want to attempt the Pokémon league.' I thought to myself as we passed by the gym.

The Pokémon center here wasn't at all that large compared to the one in Golden Rod, but then again for such a small town it was large enough. As we neared the exit on the north section of the city I just kept getting a creepy feeling about this place. The feeling mostly came from why we didn't see any people walking the streets or any Pokémon. It was all just so weird, but that was the least of my concerns.

Now leaving the small town we saw a sign saying, 'Route 43 this way, also to The Lake of Rage!' My heart almost skipped a beat when I saw that.

Sasha brushed passed my leg gaining my attention, as I saw her continuing forward. Seeing this made me instinctively follow behind her.

At this point I was starting to become paranoid, and I'd much rather have a backup plan just in case things start looking bad. So I thought of a plan and I thought of it quickly.

"Hey Sasha wait."

But nothing she kept walking as if a zombie.

"Sasha I said wait!" I then yelled to her.

"Wha-huh?" She said in a confused tone.

"Can you stop for a sec please?"

"Why what's wrong Head Lady?" She said looking back to me.

"I have a plan that just might save our hides in case we get in over our heads. After my last encounter of that person and the way things ended I can't help but be a little nervous."

I got down to my knees as Sasha calmly walked over to here I was.Chapter End Notes:Oh my I wonder what the plan is?! I'm getting chills just thinking about it...Everythings starting to come together lets see if we can fit all the pieces together!

Anyway folks there you have it! Please show some love and leave a comment!
~Pod155 outta here