DPA: Rivals

Chapter 21: Please, Mr. Postman

Daryon looked out at the rocky wilderness of Route 3. Mt. Moon loomed in the distance, fifty miles away. Once they arrived there, it would be another twenty-five miles before they could get out, and then fifteen miles to Cerulean City. All and all, he and the crew had roughly two weeks of walking. Yikes.

Daryon took off his hat. He had clipped the Boulder Badge to the bill of the hat, so that anyone who looked at him would see he had defeated a Gym leader. He felt proud, this was his first big accomplishment. But he also felt a bit nervous. Brock was only the first Gym leader, and there were seven more he had to beat, each one more powerful than Brock. If he struggled with the first step, how was he going to handle the second, or the third, or fourth, or so on...

Daryon looked back towards Pewter City. They had been walking for only an hour, and the city had already become nothing more than a distant blot. Ahead of him, an uneven stony terrain, sporadic patches of tall grass littered about, and stone boulders hundreds of feet wide scattered everywhere, presented a difficult trek on the way to the towering Mt. Moon.

"It feels like we were walking through Viridian Forest just yesterday," Daryon complained. "I'm still tired from that, and now we have to go walk almost a hundred miles to Cerulean City?"

"That's the nature of traveling!" Cameron replied, rather chipper. "Stop focusing on the end and just enjoy the journey!"

"Yeah!" Max jumped in. Poliwag was Grumpiggy backing on his shoulders, letting out a gleeful "Blub!"

"WAIT!!!!" A voice shouted from the distance.

Everyone turned around. Approaching them from a distance was a young man dressed in a postman's uniform, probably, well, a postman. After a solid five minutes, the postman reached them, exhausted, hands on his knees, panting.

"Thanks...for...stopping," the postman thanked them in between gasps for air.

"Uh, no problem," Daryon replied. "What's up?"

"Are any of you Cameron?" the postman asked.

"That would be me," Cameron answered.

"Awesome," the postman continued, reaching into his satchel, and pulling out a large parcel, handing it to Cameron.

Cameron looked down at the large parcel, wrapped in brown paper, curious as to its contents. He looked up to thank the postman, but he had already bolted off back to Pewter City. Peculiar.

"What's inside?" Daryon asked, his curiosity peaked.

Cameron gently tore open the wrapping. Inside were two pairs of shoes, a small wooden case, and a letter. He opened the letter, hoping for answers, reading its message.

"Hi, sweetheart! I hope you are well in your travels, and staying safe. I miss you so much back here in Pallet Town, but I know that you are having a wonderful time, and that brings me peace. Inside this package you will find a set of running shoes for you, as well as one for Daryon. I've also included a new pair of glasses, in case you need a spare. Given how crazy the world can be, you'll definitely need them. I've also included some more yen in case you are running low. Say hello to Daryon for me! Know that I love you with all of my heart, and I wish you nothing but joy and excitement for everything you will experience. From your loving mother, Lisa."

Cameron looked up from the letter, a tear running down his cheek.

"Are you okay?" Daryon asked, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Cameron replied, wiping his face before folding up the letter and placing it gently in his jacket pocket. "It wasn't that long ago that I was living at home with my mum, and now I'm miles and miles away. It feels strange."

"Yeah, yeah it does," Daryon said.