With a sigh of deep exhaustion, I collapsed against a cave walls, my eyelids heavy. I'd been walking all day and inevitably gotten myself lost, walking until the early reaches of the morning. It had gotten to the point where if I didn't stop to rest, I'd collapse out in the cold. So I found a cave to spend the rest of the morning in, allowing Miku and I too rest.

I gently stroked Miku's head as she slept soundly in my arms. Such a brave little Pokémon, I thought proudly, smiling softly as tears gathered in my eyes. Scared tears, tears filled with fear. I didn't even know where I was, am I even in Hoenn anymore? Tearing my eyes away from Miku, I stared out as the setting moon. What was going to happen?

~Mama?~

Jumping slightly, I looked down at Miku, her soft blue eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

With a small smile, I shifted her in my arms. :Yes Miku?:

~You okie dokie?~ She questioned, cocking her head to the side. ~You crying.~

:I'm fine Miku, just a little frightened.: I replied, hugging her close. :But things will be okay, we just need to stay positive.:

~Miku can do that! Miku can do that for mama!~ She smiled, hugging me tightly, her chains jangling slightly with her movement.

Frowning slightly, I stared at the chains with disdain. :How about we get those chains off?: I offered, watching Miku nod eagerly. :Can you get Vroom-vroom for me?:

Miku yawned slightly, peering up at me with sluggish blue eyes before pulling out her magic chainsaw. ~Vroom-vroom.~ She cheered despite how obviously tired she was.

Rather then being dreadfully loud and rowdy like most chainsaws, Vroom-vroom rung out with the Nyan-cat theme song while sparks of glitter proofed through the air. The chainsaw's origins and where my tiny Manaphy kept it were still a mystery but it was a helpful little do-dad when Miku wasn't terrorising wild Pokémon with it.

I held my wrists as far apart as the would go while connected by the chain. :Okay Miku, cut just the chain, okay?:

The little Manaphy nodded her head, carefully lining up her weapon before slicing through the chain like a Scizzor through paper. With a sigh of relief, I stretched my arms about, relieved to have free movement of my arms again.

:Okay Miku, I'll help you now.: I offered, taking Vroom-vroom from her only for the machine to poof into a flurry of glitter. :Or maybe only you can hold Vroom-vroom.:

~But Miku want Miku's hands back too!~ The youngling pouted while making grabby hands. ~No fair.~

:I have an idea.: I offered, picking up my little Manaphy and setting her down near a large rock. Taking her arms, I pulled them as far apart as the chain would allow before taking a large rock and dropping it onto the chain. It rung out with a loud noise but didn't break.

This continued for a while, I hit the chain and dropped the rock on it, each time being careful to to hurt my baby Pokémon. Finally, after a tiring ten minutes, one of the links finally snapped and Miku was free to move about without such restrictions again.

~Yay, Miku have Miku arms back, well almost.~ She frowned at the cuffs still digging into her arms. ~This is good, thank you mama!~

With a small breath of exhaustion, I picked Miku up and cuddled her close as I sat down against just the wall of the cave. :You're welcome Miku, now, go to sleep. We need to travel more tomorrow.:

~Okie dokie mama.~ Miku yawned, snuggling into my shirt and drifting off to sleep.

I wasn't so lucky, my mind was a mess. My head hurt. Raising my fingers to the patch, I was relieved to find it still in place, although felt slightly rugged. It wouldn't hold much longer but for the next few days, it would stay in place and stop an infection. I've had cuts get infected before, lots actually but Ghetsis never cared enough to fix them and N always hated that. I could never hide infections from him long, I always ended up sick and he'd always notice when I stopped eating to stop myself throwing up. Then he would get mad at me for not telling him, although he was always passive aggressive about it (N never ever yelled at me, not once) but he didn't get it. I couldn't tell. Ghetsis would just hurt me more whenever I told N about anything he did to me. Gardenia and Samurai always knew right away, they could sense in the moment I walked in the room but I convinced them to keep my injuries hidden from N, on the condition that they weren't serious. He never knew how much Ghetsis really hurt me. It was better that way.

I again looked out at the moon, in a few hours, the sun would rise but I think it would be better to sleep in. I'd been traveling all day and for all I knew, could have to travel days more before I even hit the next town but I was beginning to have doubts about going back. What if Samurai still hated me? It felt like forever since he last spoke to me and the words he did last say to me only brought a horrid feeling in my stomach.

~Paige, maybe you should try opening your eyes a bit more and appreciate the fact that Zyra is your family, whether you like it or not because not all of us have that much.~

Shaking my head sharply, I cleared the thoughts, coming to the tough conclusion that if Samurai didn't like me anymore and I couldn't beg for forgiveness with Lillie-puppy eyes then I might just have to do the one thing I'd never thought I'd ever do. I might just have to let him go...

~~~🌺~~~

My feet dragged the next day, having had a very restless sleep tormented by nightmares of my Gallade's hatred of me. The thought never crossed my mind that I may be overreacting but I was far to tired. It did help having control of my hands again though and Miku was sitting upon my head happily sucking on a lollie from my pouch. I was sucking one also, hoping the sweetness in my mouth would take away the blueness of my mood. It didn't.

I was so caught up in my own thoughts, I didn't realise the small Pokémon in my path until after I'd tripped over it. Crying out slightly in shock, I tumbled to the ground, skinning my knees in the dirt. Wasting little time on the stinging sensation my knees felt, I quickly gathered Miku in my arms before turning to see what I'd stumbled over.

A small Ralts lay on the path, pushing itself further from me. By it's size I could easily tell it was a Ralts around two years old and female.

:Hey, it's okay. I won't hurt you.: I smiled, offering my hand for it to sniff. Having raised two of my own, I was practically an expert when it came to Ralts.

It cocked it's head to the side, most likely not knowing how it heard my voice as humans aren't normally able to use telepathy to the extent I could. Not being able to speak had its few perks, one of them being that this was my main method of communication

~Ralts?~ It inquired, obviously surprised.

Frowning slightly, I looked around the forest, knowing how protective Gallade and Gardevoir could be when it came to family. Again, this came from personal experience. :Where is your family?:

An image flashed through my head, one I vaguely remembered as a tree I'd passed not to long ago. Hmm, convenient.

:Do you need help getting home?:

Ralts nodded. ~Ra-ralts ralts.~ It pointed to its leg which seemed to have some sort of cut along its length.

Sighing softly, I inched closer. :I can't fix that, but I can take you home.:

The young Pokémon nodded eagerly, making grabby hands to signal she wanted me to pick her up.

I carefully picked her up. :Well let's go.:

~Mama, we be this way already. Miku want Team back and Cake and Miwwy.~ Miku whined, huffing irritably from my head.

:We need to help Ralts Miku,: I scolded. :and maybe we can get directions.:

~Ohhh, directions good!~

The hollow Ralts showed me wasn't to far back, just far enough away that it was plausible for this little Ralts to have gotten too adventurous and gotten lost in the process.  :Is this it Ralts?:

~Ralts! Ra-Ralts!~ The baby called eagerly, struggling in my arms before I set her on the floor. ~Rarara!~

Out of no where a bright pulse of light swept me off my feet and blasted me into a large, sturdy tree. A pained shriek rung through the air, mine, as I instinctively curled around Miku to protect her from the impact.

I cried out in pain as I collapsed into the dirt, wincing in pain as I held onto Miku tightly. My rib cage burned with pain from my back. Tears fell freely as I struggled to move.

~How dare you touch my child you human!~

Manageing to push aside some of the pain, I looked up to see a Kirlia standing before the Ralts protectively, a snarl over her features.

~Leave here human.~ Kirlia hissed. ~Leave me and my child be and I'll let you keep your life.~

:Okay, okay! Please don't hurt me.: I begged, clutching Miku close. :I'll go!: My body wouldn't obey my mind so I curled up into a ball, curled around Miku to protect her. :Don't hurt her please.:

The presence of the Kirlia loomed above me, I could feel it but she didn't attack. Miku growled and weaselled out of my arms, I cried out in protest but Miku didn't listen. She roughly pushed the Kirlia away from me.

~Leave my mama alone!~ She cried out in anger. ~She no hurt no one ever! We bring your kiddy here to help you silly billy, not hurt, we help! Now you no hurt my mama again or Miku get out vroom-vroom, Miku will, Miku no joking. Miku keep Miku mama safe cause Miku mama is Miku mama and no one hurt Miku's mama or Miku get super duper mad.~ The little Manaphy then proceeded to stick out her tongue and pull a sour face at the Kirlia.

Miku stood in front of my defensively, glaring at the Kirlia with her arms open in effort to shield me. I managed to push myself up on trembling arms, weak, confused and exhausted. Hiccuping meekly as I lay behind my baby Pokémon as my only defence.

Kirlia took a step back, blinking in surprise as the Ralts took it's parents side.

~Ra-ralts ralts ra.~ It begged, tugging on her arm, red eyes pleading.

She looked down to her child before over at me and Miku. She sighed softly before hanging her head. ~It seems that I may have acted rashly... I apologise.~

Sniffling back the tears I sat up straight, taking Miku into my arms. :It--it's okay...:

~Did I harm you?~ She questioned.

I nodded. :I'll be okay but do you think you could help me? I'm lost...:

Kirlia nodded. ~Where do you need to go?~

Sighing softly, I shook my head. :I don't know... I'm trying to find my Pokémon and friends.:

~You are skilled in the ways of telepathy, were you taught by a Psychic Type?~ She inquired. ~I may be able to track their aura, my mother taught me how.~

:I was taught by a Gallade and Gardevoir. I hatched them and we learnt together.: I explained.

Kirlia simply smiled at that information. ~That makes things easier for me, I find it much better to track Pokémon of my own species in all honestly. Now, I need you too focus on the way you feel around them, their aura. Just focus on that feeling and I'll try to trace them and Teleport you as close as I can.~

Taking in a deep breath, I focused on the feeling I got from Samurai and Gardenia, the good feeling that made her reassured in their presence. How it was the first thing I woke up to in the morning and the last thing I felt before I went to sleep. I could always feel them with me and now that I couldn't, I was scared. They were always there.

Kirlia put a hand against my forehead, humming to herself idly. ~Got it!~ She smiled as the world warped in a way I knew was a Teleport. I just clung tightly to Miku, keeping my mind focused of the feeling until the warping stoped. My eyes flickered open as I felt a familiar presence reinsert itself into my mind.

~Paige?~

~Samurai!~ I cheered, almost forgetting he was mad st me as I took off running in the direction I felt him in. My back and side burned but I didn't care, I just wanted my family back.

~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~
Word count: 2220

So Paige is almost reunited with the team! I wonder how it will work out? Jk, I already know!