Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 32: The Necklace

"We said goodbye to Palmer shortly after the dinner; he had to return to the Fight Area and battle someone who challenged him in the Battle Tower. Rort left soon after as well, having to return home to his wife, and to his job the next day. Gardenia left with Rort, needing to get the Gym cleaned up for her battles tomorrow. In the end it was just Mrs. De Oliveira, Professor Rowan, Sakura, and the rest of us. We stayed at the Pokémon Centre for an extra day, resting up our Pokémon and ourselves before moving along. There was something going on with Professor Rowan when he left though...combined with what he gave me...had I known then what I know now about it I probably would have quit being a Pokémon Trainer a long time ago...or maybe I'd just face my fate a lot sooner. Ha-ha, I am a stubborn person after all."

Sam stood at the door. Professor Rowan, Sakura Oak, and Mrs. De Oliveira stood in front of him, ready to return to Twinleaf Town by a soon arriving Fearow from the NFTS.

By Sam stood Jeremy, Niya and Alyssandra, all of them sad to say goodbye to their friends.

"You fought well, the other day Sam," said Professor Rowan proudly, "I'm proud that you were able to defeat Gardenia; and I'm also surprised that your Empoleon could read your mind and act on its own like that."

"I am too, actually," said Sam smiling, "It's done it a few times before; the first time I never expected it...the second time was sort of...more natural I suppose? Ever since it disobeyed my orders that first time in favour of a better plan, I've sort of let it have its own free reign during some battles, it's paid off."

Professor Rowan nodded slowly. "Well whatever you're doing with your Pokémon to raise them, keep doing it," he smiled brightly, "You're Pokémon are growing quickly, they look happy, and they're strong. You're the protégé your grandfather would have wanted, and if your grandmother were here, she would have been speechless at your skill."

"Well, I thank Palmer and all those years of Shogi and Chess," said Sam, "It gave me a very strategically-based outlook on life."

"That's good, that's good!" exclaimed the Professor, "A Pokémon battle is no different from a game of Shogi or Chess. It is, if anything, exactly the same."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right," ceded Sam, "Are you sure my grandmother's okay, by the way?"

While Sam continued his conversation with the professor, Jeremy and Alyssandra bid their goodbyes to Linda, while Niya had become Sakura's latest obsession and was playing with her as she waited for the adults.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay alone out there?" asked Jeremy's mother.

Jeremy sighed. "Yes, mother," he said, "I have Lyss, Sam and Niya here; I'll be all right."

"Are you sure though? What if there's more rainstorms?" she asked, fawning over Jeremy, and straightening his jacket on his body, "You could catch a cold, or get hurt."

"Mom," groaned Jeremy, "I told you I'm fine—besides you've never worried about me this much when you were on the videophone!"

"I've never had a chance to do it in person before," smiled Jeremy's mother happily, "I am a mother, and you are my son, this is what I do."

Alyssandra averted her eyes, trying not to embarrass Jeremy more than he already was. The blushing was bad enough, but if he caught Alyssandra smirking she would never hear the end of it.

Finally, after Jeremy managed to shove his mother off of him, and get her to relax on her mothering, Alyssandra turned back her attention.

"Well, I suppose this is where I'll leave you then," she said, staring at her son with a sense of pride that only a mother could convey.