"Well we are off." I say as I hug mom. She had tears in her eyes and my dad had a look of pride on his face.
"John, be sure to call when you get to the Pokémon centers in the towns and cities." Mom said, trying not to cry.
I nod, "I will mom." We break the hug and she hands me one final thing. It looked like a black pokeball. The top was clear but tinted black with a hex shaped crystal inside. The ring around it was raised and the front button was also hex shaped.
"I got this from a friend that lives in Paldea. She thought I could use a good luck charm. It worked well for me so I'm going to give it to you." Mom said, wiping some tears away.
I look at the orb. It looks cool and what harm can it bring? I put it into a side pouch of my backpack. I walk over and hug my dad.
"I'm proud of you son. Do your best." He said his voice hitching a bit.
"It is all I can do dad." I answered, pulling away. As my parents said goodbye to the girls I walked over to Shocker and Torch. The Blastoise and Blazekin called out to me. Shocker pat my head with one of his stubby arms. Torch held out a fist and I bumped it with my own. "Thanks for keeping an eye on me all these years."
After we all said our goodbyes and mom finally stopped hugging Opal I turned away from my home and marched toward Oldale town. I had Opal sitting on my backpack. Ruby and Sapphire were walking beside me.
[John, how far?] Sapphire asked me in her broken speech. I looked at her and smiled.
"We should be there by nightfall so long as nothing delays us." I tell her. Ruby was running to various things to explore.
"Don't go too far Ruby. A wild Poochyena might jump you." I looked around as I said this afraid that my words might be true. After an hour I started to relax.
I was so panicked due to all the Poochyena stories I heard. I felt my shoulders get lighter and saw Opal floating in front of me to walk. She looked at me and smiled, her gold eyes peeking through her light blue hair..
[ I can't have you always carrying me.] she said before running towards Ruby. She and Ruby began to run around to look at the various flowers and plants while Sapphire stayed by me.
"Do you not want to go with them?" I ask her while scratching the top of her head. She looked at me all serious. Her eyes started glowing a pale blue.
[No, I stay. Protect.] I could hear her broken speech in my head. She was trying so hard to use her aura powers like Opal uses her telepathy. She would spend time between training sessions with both Gramps and Jenna to learn how.
"Ok then." I rub one of her ears and focus my eyes back on the path. We kept walking and only stopped for some food. Because we didn't want to get the rations out we searched for a berry tree. Luckily we found a sitrus berry tree and grabbed some for all of us. Opal was able to use her powers to collect them. The sweet and sour taste of the berry was nice. The berry gave way with a nice snap.
Opal was having Sapphire practice talking with her Aura while I was petting Ruby. I felt bad as she was the only one who would not be able to communicate to me through her own abilities. While we were eating a group of four Zigzagoon showed up. The girls dropped their berries and moved in front of me.
The Zigzagoons got defensive when the girls became defensive of me. "Girls calm down, I don't think they want to fight." I said standing up.
[You don't know that John.] Opal said staying behind Sapphire as support.
Sapphire took a fighting stance. [Protect!] she declared. I could hear her growling. Ruby just barked once. I sighed, reaching into the tree and picking some berries.
"You girls need to learn that if you can talk your way out it is better." Once I had a handful I stepped past the girls and crouched down. "You guys just wanted to eat too." I put the berries down. The Zigzagoons were a bit apprehensive of me. The lead one let out a low growl but I ignored it. Once I got the pile nice and neat I stood and walked back to the girls to get my pack.
"Come on girls let's go. We need to make as much distance as we can before setting up camp."
The girls looked between me and the Zigzagoons before running over to me. When I looked back the Zigzagoons were eating the berries I gave them. I smiled and kept walking.
[Why, no fight?] I heard Sapphire ask. I slowed my pace.
"The answer is that I thought we might lose." I told her honestly. "There were five of them and three of you. You were outnumbered and it could have put me in more danger than what we did."
She looked at me a bit sad. I leaned down and pat her head. "That doesn't mean I don't think you could have beaten anyone of them. That goes for all three of you."
Opal and Ruby just smiled before hugging me. I laughed as I rubbed the top of their heads. "Let's get going. Anyone want a break from walking until I make camp?"
Opal raised her hand and Ruby hopped on her paws. I pulled their Pokéballs off the Thigh holster and put them inside. When I Turned to Sapphire she was stretching. "And what do you think you're doing?" I ask.
[Stretch. Run?] she said while doing some lunges.
"You know me too well. Ok, you ready?" I get next to her. She takes a ready stance. "Go!"
We start running at a race pace. My pack was heavy but didn't move with how it was cinched to my body. We ran until the sun was starting to set. Sadly even with this we were nowhere near Oldale town. Half way through our run Sapphire started to slow so I threw her on my shoulders and kept going.
I moved off the path and started looking for an area to make camp. When I found a place big enough for the tent and a small fire I set Sapphire down.
She began to look for sticks to make a fire. I smiled at her diligence. I removed my pack and released Opal and Ruby. "Why don't you two help Sapphire with the fire. I'll get the tent ready." They Ran off while I pulled the tent from the top of my Pack.
It was pretty straight forward. Use the pliable Nitinol rods to hold the tent up. I anchored it to the ground then pulled the sleeping bags inside and opened them. I laid one on the other then placed the Pack in one of the corners.
When I stepped back outside it was getting dark. The girls had the modest fire pit ready.
"Alright before we get the fire going let's get some food before the sun is completely gone." They cheered and we started the hunt.
It didn't take us long to find a berry tree and some wild Vegetables. As we were picking a few carrots and Razz berries Ruby perked up and pawed my leg. When she had my attention she pointed like a hunting hound. I pulled out my bow and nocked an arrow.
Carefully creeping to the tree I could see a few rabbits milling about in the dusk. They didn't know I was there and were eating the grass. I pulled the bowstring back, placing my thumb behind my cheekbone. My eyes focusing between the tip of my arrow and the rabbit. I waited as the critter moved around. Then when it stopped I released.
The arrow flew true and skewered the rabbit I had targeted and another behind it. The first was pierced in the body, the second was pierced through the head. Ruby ran over to the dying rabbit and broke its neck with a quick bite. She then proudly waited for me to come collect them. The other rabbits ran off once the arrow hit.
"Great job." I told her. "Let's get these stripped and get back to the others." I pulled my knife from my boot and began to skin and clean the rabbits. When I was done I tied them with the Paracord I wear as a bracelet and walk back to where I left Opal and Sapphire.
They had worked together to scrounge up an onion, 3 carrots, and an armful of Razz berries that Opal was holding over her with her psychic powers. "Good job you two. Let's head back to camp."
We quickly made our way back. I stabbed my knife into a tree and hung the rabbit carcasses there. I then went into the tent to get the simple metal plate and the fire starter.
I got our small fire going and prepared the food on the metal plate. I seared two servings of the rabbit meat for Ruby and Sapphire. They liked their meat rare. For Opal I made a warmed chunked salad with the carrots, onions and Razz berries. I took a bit of everything, making sure my meat was cooked thoroughly.
We ate, talking about our travel so far. Ruby was translated by Opal. Ruby talked about the plants she saw. Opal would chime in every now and then. Sapphire just practiced her ability to talk through Aura. Though it was making her tired faster.
After dinner they sat around. Opal was helping Sapphire with the telepathy while Ruby laid down staying aware of her surroundings. I on the other hand cleaned up the cooking plate and our collapsable bowls. I didn't have access to a stream so I rinsed the bowls with the water from the canteen and used dirt and fire to clean the plate careful to not burn myself. Satisfied I put everything but the still warm plate inside the tent.
"Ok girls time to hit the sack." It was dark by now. The moon shining down. The girls got up and went into the tent. Inside they climbed between the sleeping bags and waited for me. I however grabbed my sweat pants and changed outside.
Coming back in I was in my sweats and shirtless. It was a warm night. I crawled into the sleeping bags with the girls telling them good night before I turned the flash light off. I could feel Opal pressed herself against my side. She liked to sleep like that as it felt safe for her. Sapphire would hug Ruby in her sleep.
I however looked at the top of our tent. I didn't really believe it. I was finally on my journey. I smiled looking at the three who will be with me until the end.
[If you keep being so happy it's going to keep me up.] Opal said, poking me in the side.
"Sorry it's just, here we are." I told her while apologizing. "We always talked about it and now…" I could find the words to finish.
[I know it felt like an eternity. But now we can see the world. Now go to sleep before I make a point to learn hypnosis.] she said threateningly before rolling over to get comfortable.
I chuckled but rolled onto my side rubbing her head while being mindful of her horns. "Goodnight girls." I said again before closing my eyes.