Eclipsed 5: A New Start

Blossom's POV

As we approached town, I really got to know Apollo. He was a great guy and we had a lot in common. Then he veered a different direction.

"Where are we going?" I asked, quickening up my pace so we were side-by-side.

"To the mountains." He replied calmly.

"Why?" I said a bit dryly.

"Because there's a relaxing waterfall there." He stopped. "I think we could all use a bath.

Ember looked at him like he was crazy.

Apollo laughed. "Don't worry! Nearby is a pool of molten lava."

Her ears perked. She had heard if lava but never swam in it.

"We're almost there!" He stood up and trotted around a boulder.

When I saw what was on the other side, it nearly took my breath away. There was a tall waterfall that powered a lake. A few pines bordered one of the edges. It looked even more beautiful in the colorful sunset.

"I'm going to show Ember towards the lava lake, m'kay?" Apollo said.

"Alright..." I replied absentmindedly before dashing in the water.

It was great. I got really clean with the tiny soaps Apollo had brought in his pack. I had tried not to snoop much, but he was one of the most prepared Pokémon I've ever met.

When he returned, he grabbed a few more soaps and climbed up the small dents in the giant mountain slope behind us. When he felt he was high enough, he jumped and did a few somersaults in the air. He made a large splash. I waited for a while but he never surfaced. Worried, I swam over to where he had landed and called out his name. "Apollo?"

He suddenly popped out of the water. "Rawr!" Before I could react he dunked me.

I surfaced, giggling. We continued this game for a while and the moon was high in the sky.

Apollo sighed. "I'd better get Ember. My friends must be getting worried."
I nodded. "Okay."

When he was out of sight, I climbed out of the water and shook it off. I then sat down and neatly wrapped my tail around my paws.

A minute later he returned with Ember. "Alright, let's go!" He headed towards the town lights, his yellow rings lighting the way.

A/N: You can see how bad I was. I didn't want to write about grief over them just losing their parents...