DPA: Rivals

Chapter 50: The Midnight Skye

"This is nice," Skye said, and smiled.

She, Daryon and Cameron were lying on the grass, looking up at the stars in the midnight sky. Max was asleep in his sleeping bag. Vince was powered down, charging. And Ero typed away on his smartphone. Vermilion Harbor was only half a day's walk away, and everyone would have to get up early tomorrow to get a head start. But for the time being, none of that felt like it mattered. The only thing that Skye could think about at the moment was the stars.

And the buzzing sound.

Buzzing?

Skye sat up, looking to her left. A colony of Beedrill buzzed about, only half a mile away, enjoying the night together.

"Cameron," Skye whispered, pointing to the colony. "They seem to be having fun. Maybe your Beedrill could join them."

Cameron hesitated for a moment, but then smiled, taking out Beedrill's Pokéball from his backpack. He sent out Beedrill, the Poison Bee Pokémon glistening in the moon.

"Go play," Cameron encouraged his Bug type friend. "Have fun. I'll be right here."

Beedrill buzzed happily, flying over to its fellow kind.

"Beedrill will be okay," Skye said.

"I know," Cameron sighed. "Beedrill means a lot to me. I would be a wreck without Beedrill, I don't want to lose it."

"Can I give you some advice?" Ero asked, putting his smartphone in his pocket.

"Yes," Cameron replied.

"It's good that your Pokémon are helping you get through these tough times. But please remember that as a trainer, you have a responsibility for the welfare of your Pokémon, not the other way around. Make sure that your Pokémon's well-being comes first."

"I know that!" Cameron yelled. "You don't think I care about my Pokémon?"

"I know that you do," Ero said. "But I also think you are on a path that could easily lead to you dragging your Pokémon down into your downward spiral. You don't want that, and we all know that. We're here to talk if you need it, and you do need it."

"I don't need this," Cameron stood up, walking over to his tent. "I'm going to bed. When Beedrill comes back, direct it to my tent." With that, he unzipped the tent, and crawled in.

"Did you have to say that?" Skye asked.

"We both know the answer to that," Ero replied. "He is struggling. He's doing better, but he needs people to rely on. People. Not just Pokémon."

"What can we do?" Skye asked.

"Listen. Just listen."