Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 5

"Travel got easier as time went on. We enjoyed the time outdoors, and we learned a lot of about each other and ourselves.

It's funny, how you can know someone your entire life, and learn so many new things about them all the time. For example, Alyssandra had a secret crush on someone from our hometown—she wouldn't say who though.

And Jeremy's grandmother was the former Sinnoh League Champion before Cynthia—I've only met her once, but she was quite the hardened women. It was something he kept from people for similar reasons why I kept my family's wealth and business a secret for so long.

Of course, one of the biggest things we learned was that not all wild Pokémon are simply good or bad, in fact a lot of them are simply lost or confused. At least that was the case with the Turtwig we found..."

* * *

Jeremy exited his tent, a confused and worried look on his face.

"Hey, what's up?" asked Sam.

"Everything okay?" inquired Alyssandra.

Jeremy shook his head. "No. I can't find my Pokétch. Have you guys seen it?"

Sam and Alyssandra shook their heads. Everyone turned to look over at their Pokémon. The small cluster of creatures were happily eating their bowls of Pokémon food.

Pikachu, the two Piplup, the two Starly and the two Shinx looked back at their trainers. They sat puzzled for a moment, then returned happily to their food.

"Well, that concludes that search," said Sam. "Maybe you just left it somewhere in your tent?"

Jeremy shook his head and sat down in front of the fire. He ladled himself some oatmeal. "No, I remember clearly putting it in my backpack last night before bed, and now it's gone. I searched the tent and it's not there."

Alyssandra finished off her oatmeal then looked over at Jeremy. "Well, I hate to say it, but if you can't find it then it's probably lost."

"I know it's lost," said Jeremy. He paused to blow on his oatmeal. "That's why I'm trying to find it."

Sam walked down to the river and began to rinse his plate and cutlery in the clear, crisp water. "Jeremy, she means that it's gone lost. You'll have to get a new one."

"I don't want to get a new one," said Jeremy defiantly. "That was a special Pokétch, I refuse to believe it's just lost. Lyss, will you help me look?"

Alyssandra looked down at her empty bowl and then to Sam.

Sam sighed. "Yeah, go on. I'll clean the bowl."

Alyssandra handed Sam the bowl with a grateful look, then walked into the tent with Jeremy to help him look for the Pokétch.

Sam couldn't help but shake his head a bit as he washed his friends dishes. Alyssandra could have asked him to commit murder and he would have done it. He had always been sweet on her, nearly to a fault. He had always wondered—dared hope—that she felt the same way as him.

But last night they had had a very uncomfortable conversation as a trio about embarrassing secrets. Sam now knew how she felt about him, and unfortunately it was as he had always feared. She only saw him as a friend, or family. Alyssandra had admitted she had a crush on someone back in their hometown but refused to say who.

There were lots of other kids in Twinleaf Town. For all Sam knew it could've been someone who had gone off on a Pokémon Journey long before Sam and his friends had.