Where I belong

Chapter 6

I don't know what to do!

I can feel my body trembling. Opal shouldn't be able to hatch already! If I remember correctly, Pokémon takes days to hatch. I've only been here for about three! 

It's fine!

It's fine!

It's fine!

Everything is okay; Opal is just hatching. That's it—everything is A-OK! But what if she's not? What if I accidentally crushed her while trying to escape that giant Rapidash? I hurt her! This is all my fault. I let my curiosity get the better of me; I should have returned to camp.

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

I felt my surroundings closing in. My blood pounded in my ears. I didn't know what to do. I can't, I can't. I, I, I need to breathe!

"Vee?"

I gasped as I felt something ruling my face. I started to slow down my breathing. "Vee?" It said again. My heart steadied itself. The tension in my body eased. My eyes locked on her. An Eevee...

"Opal?"

"Vee!" It responded with such a cheerful cry as it bounced out of her broken egg to rub her face against mine. I cried again, dropping the egg and holding her closer. "Oh gods...you are safe!"

I hugged her, I missed her so much, my partner, my friend.

She's back... she's back. My Opal. it felt like forever since I held her. My heart swelled with my longing for her as I nuzzled my face into her fur. She's here and everything will be okay. I felt time slip away from me. I don't know how long it's been. I don't care. Her fur was soft and comforting. If I closed my eyes, I think maybe I can remember something... but...I can't do that now.

"Do you know who I am, Opal?" I asked pulling my face away. The cold starting to nip at my nose now that the sun had gone down. The little Eevee cried with joy as if she remembered me. I smiled.

"You are no longer a Vaporeon, Opal."The Eevee let out a small squeak as if she was confused. I wondered if she remembered being a Vaporeon. As I pondered this, she checked her tail. Opal managed to wiggle out of my grip, and I reached out, fearing that I might lose her if she moved too far away. She took a stance as if she were preparing to make a move. Instinctively, I recognized that she was trying to use Hydro Pump, based on her posture.

"Eeee...VEEE!!" I giggled but looked around worried we might attract unwanted attention. "Opal, don't push yourself, you just hatched."

My poor girl looked confused and scared. I do not doubt that she remembered being a Vaporeon; her memories and skills are locked away somewhere inside her, just like they are in me. I shook my head, reminding myself that those details don't matter now that we are together. I got up from the floor, picked her up, and hugged her tightly once again.

"I am not sure what happened to us, but Arceus took us back in time. It's you and me, Opal, we need to be careful here, especially since you are an Eevee again. Okay?" I scolded her and I felt saddened when her ears flattened a little but she needed to know. I can't lose her. She gave me a little kiss and her ears shot back up. "I love you, too." She understands.

"Let's go back, I think we had enough, especially after the Rapidash." I reached out to her with a Pokeball. I know she's not used to this. This is different. I've never had her in a ball before but I need to keep her as safe as possible, for every Pokemon that will be with me...Leona, Jasper...