~Mama! Mama! Mama look, Peeko birbies!~ Miku squeaked, waving her baton like arms through the air at the Wingull soaring above us. ~Miku save a birbie you know.~ 

:Yes Miku, I am aware.: I smile, rubbing her head. While looking out towards the horizon as small land masses and large rocks jarring out from the sea. The Wailord Ferry we were on had three rows of seating with large isles in between and as we were in the center isle (I did not want to be thrown overboard again) our view wasn't the best while seated. Our merry little bunch had split off into small groups because of this. N, Jake and Kay were by the railing - Jake teaching the two Unovan trainers about some of the Water-Type Pokemon here in Hoenn, Milly was off conversing with some other trainers while Jessica, myself and my Pokemon remained seated. 

Jessica had been quiet for most the trip, she had talked for a little to begin with, explaining how the massive carrier was strapped to the back of the Wailord we now rode and how this was the main method of travel between Mossdeep Island, the not so creative name of the Island where Mossdeep City was, and the mainland of Hoenn. I could tell Jessica was anxious, she kept getting stared at by other trainers, most with not too friendly looks but she was safe sandwiched between my Pokemon - although Samurai and Gardenia had flung back several paper balls aimed for my friend with their usual 'return to sender' fashion of being twice as hard going back as coming forward. 

Something in Jessica's pocket beeped, drawing my attention from the ocean. The ravenette pulled out her phone, I just caught sight of the screen before Jessica moved it away. It was a message from Nichole, a request to call her. After making the screen go black, most likely to stop me from seeing, Jessica stood up. "I'll be back in a moment, I just need to make a call."

I smiled as if there wasn't a problem and nodded. Despite how I much I was scared of her, Nichole was Jessica's older sister and the only family my friend really had. Even though she tried to hide it, I knew she still spoke with her sister every few days, even if just for a little bit to ensure that they were both okay. Jessica didn't really talk about it but as long as she wasn't saying anything that could hurt us, I didn't see the harm. Family is family. 

I rested against Samurai, closing my eyes and relaxing with the feeling of the Wailord cruising through the waves. It was nice but being on the water made me anxious after what happened last time with Team Aqua, although this time I was right by my Pokemon, they were with me if anything bad happened and the Ferry was filled with trainers. I would be fine. My Gallade kissed the top of my head, hugging me close. 

~Are you feeling okay?~ He asked as I took a deep breath of fresh salty air.

With a brief nod, I gave him a snuggle. :Yeah, just trying to relax.:

~It is a nice day, not too sunny so no sunburns but still warm.~ He smiled as I opened my eyes and looked up at him but he was staring happily at the sky, a look at childish admiration in his eyes. Samurai likes clouds.

Jessica came back at this point, her expression stoney. I pull out my blackboard to see if there was anything I could do to help. 

Are you okay? I scribble down, tapping Jessica's arm before showing her. Samurai and Gardenia were both relaxing so I didn't want to disturb them too much. 

"Yeah." She replied after reading. "It's just... he's hurting her, she was crying and she never cries in front of people. I'm really scared for my sister." Jessica looked away, her eyes fearful. 

My expression changed to one of concern. No one, not even Nichole deserved to suffer under Ghetsis. Why doesn't she leave?

"I don't know, I asked her that and she said she needed to figure something out..." Jessica let out a soft sigh. "Ghetsis doesn't exactly trust her anymore. There isn't very good reception out here so she's going to call me back later... I'm sorry, you probably don't care very much about what my sister is going through."

No, not really, but I do care about you as my friend. If you want to talk, I will listen and try to help. It almost didn't all fit... I may need to work on writing smaller. 

Jessica gave me a sideways hug. "Thanks Paige." She smiled, pointing up at a flock of Wingull a small ways off. "Look, that one is shiny."

It took my longer to find the one she was talking about but I eventually lined up Jessica's finger with a Wingull whom had green wing stripes rather then the standard blue. This also caught Samurai and Gardenia's attention - my shiny Gardevoir pointing it out to Champ who was quite self conscious about his own shiny colouration. 

"Hey Paige?" Jessica asked drawing my attention away from the flock. 

I replied with a hum of acknowledgment. "Hmm?"

Biting her bottom lip, she replied. "I know I've said this before but thank you for your support... Mossdeep Gym is actually on my old school grounds, I know you don't do Gym Challenges but you'll come with me right?"

Nodding with a bright smile I again gave a hum as a reply. "Mm-hmm."

She looked relieved. "Thanks..." Jessica nodded over to where Harrison and Laura were seated. "They've no doubt put out that I'm coming back and it would be obvious as too why."

Well, Zyra organised for us to stay with Liza and Tate in Mossdeep, we can go with them to the gym-- I waited for her to read before rubbing out and continuing, the double hyphen signalling I wasn't finished but ran out of room. --I don't think anyone would dare bully you in front of Gym Leaders. 

Jessica gave a soft smile at this. The arraignment was more for my own protection but it was no doubt something that made Jessica much more comfortable. "Yeah, that's true... I'm glad we're leaving immediately after the contest though."

Giving Jessica a sideways hug I blew a slight raspberry, I technically wasn't quite travel ready since my heartbeat was still somewhat out of wack, being thrown pretty much completely off by the shock collar but since I really didn't want to be in Lilycove City and Zyra couldn't hang around forever (she had Gym Leader duties to attend to after all) the doctor said the two day trip to Mossdeep sound be fine but I should see a doctor once then and again before we leave to make sure I could take the underwater way to Sootopolis City due to a lot of medical mumbo-jumbo I pretended to listen too before deciding that I did not want to be doctor when I grow up. What did I want to be? Eh, question for another day.

I looked down at Miku, staring with goo-goo eyes at the sea. Jake had offered to take her with him to the railing to let her have a closer look since not even all the gummy Teddiursa in the world could get me close enough to the railing to be thrown over but Miku was pretty adamant about staying with me, as were all my Pokemon. No risks were taken. 

Yawning droopily, I leant back against my seat, closing my eyes and feeling the sun tingle against my skin. Thankfully Gardenia had reminded me about sunscreen being a thing that existed. 

~Are you having a nap?~ Champ asked somewhat sounding confused. 

:Trying to.:

Champ jumped up on my lap, pushing Miku aside. ~You don't nap though.~ He stated as Miku huffed and pushed him back.

Holding Miku closer in effort to stop the two from fighting. :Yeah I do... Just not often... Don't judge me!:

~Silently judging you.~ He murmured, looking up at me smugly. 

Miku poked her purple tongue out at Champ but went back to looking about her ocean surrounding. :You don't say it, that's not silent.:

My shiny Meditite rolled his eyes. ~Sarcasm stupid!~

~Champ.~ Gardenia called in a warning tone.

~Whaaat?~ He whined.

Gardenia just gave him a look of lack of amusement. ~You know what.~

~I'm sorry for calling you stupid Paige.~ He sighed. ~Although I don't know what the point it, she knows that I don't actually mean it when I call her stupid because Paige is not stupid, she is smart.~

:Naw, thank you.: I smiled, patting his head, he doesn't give complement often. 

This wasn't enough for Gedenia however. ~That's not the point, it isn't nice. There are much nicer things to call people.~

Champ rolled his eyes as if his point was obvious. ~Yeah, but they're boring.~

I just gave a yawn, leaning back once again in effort for a nap even though I wasn't particularly tired, it simply felt like a nice morning for it. Although I did quickly look around, making sure I could see Gummie and Angel before hand but they were safely over with Jake, N and Kay. Content with my safety and that of my friends and Pokemon, I let myself slip into sleep, reclining my chair before I did. 

~~~~~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~~~~~

Word count: 1590

So this is shorter then my average chapters which, you know, sucks but I spent 2 flipping hours in a Centrelink office today trying to get some flipping money because work is a flipping douche, like serious flip build-a-bear, and they didn't even seem to know what papers I needed - I just, needed papers. 

Someone validate my life, please. ;-;