After spending time reflecting against the comfy moss tree. Yellow engaged my eyes longingly. He seemed concerned and albeit genuinely concerned of my behavior in Viridian City as of late.

Even with the Legendary bird that made landing on Route One by the lake. He seemed to know more than he was letting on. The truth is, I was not in the mood to look back into his eyes.

"Leaf," he asked.

"Um-uh-yes," I responded.

The boy took a seat atop a boulder resting underneath a tree. Placing his bag along the stone slab as the fishing pole awkwardly protruded from the top.

"Do you want to know why I could sense that legendary Pokémon had an interest in you?"

"No, why," I asked curiously.

"It was crying for help."

That Pokémon cried for help? I thought with a shocked look on my face.

Pikachu the little yellow mouse leaped onto Yellows lap. Perking her nose and curling her ears.

"The Pokémon did everything possible to admit defeat." Yellow smiled graciously toward Pikachu, pulling a bag of Pika-Bits for her to nibble on. They were small little brown biscuits, that had all the nutritional value for breeders used to bring out a healthy coat.

Raising her small stubby arms to reach in for a bite. I smiled with warm adoration. Yellow showed great care and love for that Pokémon. Wagging her tail happily as Yellow reaches in to place a Poke-Bit in her small tiny crease. I could already tell that those two were meant for each other.

However, one thing got me thinking.

How does he know how a Pokémon feels?

"What did this Legendary bird want from me?" I asked Yellow.

"He called himself, Ho-Oh, guardian of Tin-Tower. Pokémon can't speak our language but they can indicate their thoughts and feelings towards humans."

"Ho-Oh was definitely trying to take you. However, I sensed a powerful resistance within him. Like he didn't like what he was doing."

"You mean to tell me, Ho-Oh never meant for this to happen?" I inquired.

"Exactly."

"He was under the control of someone. Though I could never truly guess as to who it was that is controlling him. Ho-Oh's time was short, someone pulled out of that area. Like he had been found out."

My heart sank from beneath my chest. There was very little that I could say even to a guy like him. How could I trust him?

I turned facing the clear blue sky in thought. Hoping that he would not show any interest in the matter.

"That is... strange," I said with an upset stomach.

This response didn't help at all. In fact it got him even more curious.

"You knew that Ho-Oh was coming for yeah I-reckon?"

My heart sank even deeper to the point where my pale white skin turned frail.

Does he know even more about me, like he does Pokémon? Is he aware of the man that kidnapped me?

Why is he asking these questions?

"I'm afraid of birds, let's just.. leave it at that," I assured with a partial lie. Looking at the sky longingly.

He definitely knows more. The more questions he asks the more embarrassed and ashamed I'll be. Besides, the whole point of my journey was to reunite with my friends and they are the only ones who understand my circumstances. I need to find them.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to pry," said Yellow.

"No it's okay," I apologized.

"I need to find Red and Blue, they are the ones who know about my situation the most."

Yellow looked down at a bug crawling on a grass blade. Pondering as he were in deep thought. I could tell with that look on his face that he felt like he didn't really amount to much when it came to relieving my fears.

"What makes you think Red and Blue are the only ones that are going to help? You are not going to solve this problem without friends. Whatever it may be. Not without a little help, yeah I can read Pokémon's thoughts and feelings quite easily. It's the gift I have."

"I cannot however read people's minds and already I can tell by observing you from the outside that you are emotionally distressed."

"Is someone looking for you Leaf?"

The pale I got, the more flustered I became.

Of course he could read me, I'm blushing profusely.

Even Pikachu and Bulbasaur could tell that my body was doing its best to hold back my grudge. However I couldn't hold it back any longer. There are little to no people that I can trust on this journey. Except my mother and the friends I met for most of my lifetime.

"Yes," I squealed with defeat.

"Who's following you, who owns that Legendary Pokémon—

"Drake," I answered.

With a shocked look on his face Yellow looked just as pale as me.

"The supreme leader?.... I-I thought that man died years ago during the Pokémon War?"

"Ensign Drake."

"He's still alive," I said as I bowed my head to the ground in solemn defeat.

"How do you know," he asked.

"My father Autumn died by his hand during the War and the connection of the Ho-Oh is all too prevalent. That and the fact you say this Ho-Oh came after me and had no desire to fight."

"This man kidnapped me when I was very young."

The horror of the image in my mind of a man with a clown like smile on his face. His sleek blue hair and tall demeanor would punish those who were to test his patience.

His sly posture and striped shirt overshadowed the group. Dominating the round table with his lackeys. As those horrifying murderous eyes stared straight into mine. Ho-Oh, the being with unimaginable luck and power within his grasp. Overshadowed his prominence as the flames did not consume him from behind. Ensign had used me for their dirty deeds

"He has an underworld of criminals that follow him soon after the LOVE organization had been dismantled. Drake went underground kidnapping a host of children to steal Pokémon and plunder peoples homes. The LOVE organization continues in the dark to this day."

"I was one of the children he took away."

Yellow looked down at the ground frowning from the answer I gave him.

"I'm sorry," he paused.

Tears began to flow from my eyes as my heart began to sink deep into my soul as I tried to regress those thoughts of my deeds out of my mind. The thoughts of destruction and broken families never left in my heart. I stole from many people and took Pokémon that did not belong to me.

"I did bad things, terrible things in the name of Drake," I cried despairingly as drops of tears muddied the Viridian soil below me. I've never felt more anxious in my entire childhood then being kept under the control of a criminal warlord.

"I was powerless, I could not leave the group. If I did, Drake would've killed me. Not a moment went by where I and many others attempted to escape. Professor Oak got word of the underbelly and sent elite trainers to rescue us."

"You know the name of the man that rescued you," asked Yellow.

"My memory of the day I was rescued is a bit foggy, I do not remember the name of the man that rescued me. Professor Oak is the only one that knows. However, even he wouldn't tell me who this great Samaritan was."

Wiping the tears off my face I stood up to face Yellow with all the might that I could muster. Staring straight into his eyes I declared with solemnity.

"Now I'm on my journey to be the best Pokémon Trainer out there and stop people like him from hurting Pokémon again!"

Yellow knew my determination was there. That was enough reason to his unanswered questions. He was so encouraged by my story. Smiling towards me he responded in kind.

"Good, I'm on the hunt for an organization as well. I'm sure your trainer friends know exactly who I'm referring too.

"Who?"

"Team Rocket!"

"Team Rocket?" I asked

The boy reached in to pick me up from my horrid state, looking into my eyes. He smiled with such confidence that I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"I like you Leaf!"

"Eh!?" I blushed. "W-what do you mean-

"I mean, I like your courage. There is a lot of things to fear but one things for sure. You took the steps to face them."

"Leaf there are going to be enemies you will make from here on out. You are going to need to train to become stronger. But if you got friends like me, Red, and Blue. We'll be able to face them together no problem."

The wind gently picked up as my white top hat swayed from the breeze. I did my best to hold the hat in place as I pondered on whether or not I should trust him. Yellow did not seem like the kinda person that would hunt me down in the name of Drake.

The boy grabbed me by the hand as we headed north in the woods towards Pewter City.

"C'mon in order to avoid fear we gotta keep movin' otherwise we won't get stronger!"

"Wha-wait! Where are we going?" I squeaked.

"To face the Pewter City Gym Leader!" He grinned.

Both Bulbasaur and Pikachu followed us Trainers into the dark bug infested forest. I'm not sure what will happen if my journey gets dangerous.

But I'm confident on Yellow's advice. I will not fear anymore unless I become stronger. So that's what I'm going to do.