Elm took a few moments to explain the route before she left. She had to go from New Bark to Cherrygrove first then north, Mr. Pokémon lived farther along the road, outside the city proper.

"If you keep a reasonable pace," Professor Elm said, "you should reach him well before evening."

"And if I don't?"

"Stay in Cherrygrove." Mrs. Elm added that part immediately. "There are inns near the Pokémon Center."

Professor Elm nodded. "Yes. Don't try travelling unfamiliar roads after dark."

Ravina glanced toward Cinder. He had decided the floor was no longer interesting and was now sitting beside her foot. "You really think it's that dangerous?"

"Not usually." Professor Elm chose his words carefully. "But a partner Pokémon isn't only for battling other trainers." He added as he glanced down at Cinder. "They watch things you don't."

Cinder perked up like he was being addressed. "They hear things first."

Ravina followed his gaze. "And if something decides I'm lunch?"

Professor Elm smiled faintly. "Then hopefully Cinder convinces it otherwise." The little Cyndaquil puffed himself up.

Ravina laughed. "Look at you." Cinder looked very pleased with himself.

Professor Elm handed Ravina a small parcel. "This is for Mr. Pokémon."

She turned it over. "What's inside?"

"Research notes." Elm paused. "Mostly."

Nostus looked sharply at him. "Mostly?"

"Nothing dangerous."

"Professor."

"Nothing dangerous."

Nostus continued staring.

Professor Elm sighed. "I'll give you the inventory sheet."

"Thank you."

Ravina watched the exchange with concern. "Do I want to know?"

"No." Both of them answered at once.

 

There were no Poké Balls in her bag, nor trainer kit, stack of potions or a badge case. Ravina wasn't beginning a Gym Challenge. Not yet.

For now she carried water, food, the parcel, a few emergency supplies, her Pokégear… and one Cyndaquil.

That was enough.

At the laboratory door, Nostus stopped her. "Ravina."

She looked back as her mother's teasing expression had softened. "Check in when you reach Cherrygrove."

"I will."

"And don't rush."

"I know."

"If Cinder gets tired, stop."

Ravina glanced down, Cinder was already pawing impatiently at the ground. "He seems fine."

"For now." Nostus smiled. "Several hours is different from several minutes."

Ravina nodded. "I'll look after him."

Nostus's gaze shifted toward Cinder. "And you." The little Pokémon looked up at her. "Look after my daughter."

Cinder stared for a moment, then gave one determined little chirp.

Ravina's eyebrows rose. "Traitor."

Nostus laughed. "Good boy."

 

Outside, the road stretched west, beyond New Bark's last houses, the landscape opened into green fields and distant woodland.

Ravina adjusted her bag as Cinder stood beside her and for a moment neither moved.

This was ridiculous, She wasn't embarking on some grand adventure. She was delivering a parcel, that was it.

Still… Something about standing there made it feel larger than that, Ravina thought as she looked down. "You ready?"

Cinder looked up for a moment, then marched forward.

Ravina laughed. "Apparently." then started walking.

 

From the laboratory window, Nostus watched them disappear toward the edge of town as Mrs. Elm joined her. "You don't seem worried."

Nostus folded her arms. "Oh, I'm worried."

"Then why send her?"

"Because she's eighteen."

Nostus watched Ravina pause as Cinder became distracted by something near the roadside. Ravina waited for him instead of calling him back and eventually he hurried after her.

Nostus smiled. "And because if I'm standing beside her every time something happens… she won't find out what she can do without me."

Mrs. Elm nodded. "That's difficult."

"Extremely." 

There was another pause before Mrs. Elm glanced sideways at her. "You know, for someone who's spent the morning threatening my husband's filing cabinets..."

Nostus looked over.

"...you're surprisingly sentimental."

"Don't tell anyone."

Mrs. Elm laughed.

 

Farther down the road, Ravina hadn't gone ten minutes before Cinder discovered tall grass, Specifically… that things lived inside it.

Something rustled causing Cinder to freeze.

Ravina stopped. "What?"

Another rustle and a Rattata burst from the grass. Ravina jumped in surprise and the wild Pokémon jumped too. For one confused second, both sides simply stared at each other. Then Cinder moved, He stepped directly between Ravina and the Rattata, Flames erupted along his back.

They were not enormous. But the sudden and bright flare caused the Rattata to recoil. Its ears flattened as Cinder gave a sharp little warning cry.
The wild Pokémon took one look at him...and fled back into the grass and silence returned.

Cinder remained planted in front of Ravina, flames crackling. Ravina stared for a moment before she slowly crouched behind him. "Cinder?"

He glanced back, The flames immediately shrank.

"...Were you protecting me?"

He perked up a bit and Ravina smiled as the last flames disappeared. She reached down and scratched behind one of his ear nubs. "Good boy."

Cinder leaned into her hand as Something warm settled in Ravina's chest.

Not the fire. Something else, They had known each other less than an hour and already he'd stepped between her and something he thought might hurt her.

Ravina scooped him up and Cinder immediately settled against her. "Alright." She started as she resumed walking. "You can ride for a bit.”

Cinder made absolutely no objection.

 

Back in New Bark… A red-haired boy watched the laboratory from across the road.

The girl was gone, The professor's assistant was busy and Professor Elm had disappeared deeper into the building.

The boy's eyes settled on the window. Behind it… Two Poké Balls remained.

He stared at one in particular, the one containing Totodile, then he stepped away from the road and vanished around the side of the laboratory.

 

Ravina never saw him.

She was already well beyond New Bark Town... Walking toward Cherrygrove with Cinder asleep against her chest... Completely unaware that by the time she returned, everything at Professor Elm's laboratory would have changed.