____________________

Chapter - 18
____________

Pikachu rubbed his feet in the sand, trying to get rid of the water, he did not hate it but he wasn't in a mood for a little splish-splash. Lotad, on the other hand, enjoyed the waves, coming and going, back and forth, it was like magic to him, Lotad would smile everytime the water touched his small legs.

"How are you enjoying this?" Pikachu talked to Lotad for the first time. "It's just water."

"It is just water, but we should learn to enjoy life with whatever we get." Lotad said, calmly. "Try to walk here, rather than standing on dry sand doing nothing."

Pikachu looked around, Poochyena and Psyduck came outside of Mister Briney's Cottage. Correction - Poochyena was chasing Psyduck, who was running away towards the Petalburg Forest.

"Oh no-" Pikachu was worried. "Psyduck, what are you doing?" Pikachu ran after Psyduck.

"Hey! Don't leave me here alone." Lotad complained. "Wait for me then-"

Lotad ran after Pikachu, he was too slow compared to Pikachu, he tried his best, but by the time he reached Mister Briney's Cottage, they were gone, in the forest.

Pikachu found himself in the middle of the quiet forest, not a single soul to be seen, Poochyena and Psyduck were gone.

Lotad did not want to go inside, he wanted to look for his new friends, it felt like it was his responsibility. "Why do I do now?" Lotad asked himself.

"You go and find them, do what you have to, what you want to." Said a voice.

"Hello? Are you in my subconscious?" Lotad asked. "Woah! I can talk to myself? And why does it sound like a girl?"

"Lotad? Turn around please." Said the voice, Lotad slowly turned around and saw who was talking to him.

"You're a- girl?" Asked Lotad. Enid smiled at Lotad. "Wait, can you understand me?"

"I am Enid, and I will help you find your friends." Enid picked Lotad up. "And yes, I can understand you."

Lotad was glad someone was there to help him, but at the same time he was afraid of this girl. She wore a black hoodie with Pitt Cola printed in white, along with denim shorts. She did not have the hood on, she had long brown hair with curls at the ends. Most importantly, with all her beauty, her voice was soft and expressionless, which made her sound like a sociopath.

"How do you understand me?" Lotad was very curious about her. She started walking towards the forest.

"Let's just say - It's a gift." Enid chose her words carefully. She had a purpose of being there, of helping Lotad.

This is the easiest way for me to get to them, I want to know more and this is the only way, I am not doing anything wrong and I know it. I just need to be carefull, I don't want them to know about who I really am - what I really am. Enid thought.

Enid looked back at Mister Briney's Cottage, Red and Leaf walked outside, looking for their Pokémon. Enid continued walking into the forest.

Pikachu was running as fast as he could, looking for Psyduck and Poochyena, but he knew he was getting tired. He was determined to find the two. "What a menace!", he said. Suddenly, he heard a strange sound from a distance, he quickly dashed to it, and there they were - Psyduck and Poochyena.

Lotad looked at the girl - Enid, who was carrying him, she had a pale face, as if she hadn't been in the sunlight for a while. And now too, she was in a forest with no direct sunlight. Lotad was trying his best not to get scared of the little girl.

"Hey, how old are you?" Lotad asked just to make conversation. He was curious too, he wanted to know why the girl was there.

"12 millenniums." Enid said casually.

"What?!" Lotad was surprised but then he started laughing. "Nice joke. So you're 12?"

"Yep."
"And who are you?"
"My name you already know, I'm just a nobody. I see what you're trying to do Lotad, but really I got nothing to hide."

Lotad was shocked. She is good, how did she know I was-

"-Interrogating me?" Asked Enid. "Years ago, my home was attacked, now, I'm just looking for the person who attacked it."

"Can you read minds too?" Lotad was scared of this girl, he started to wonder if she was really human. Is she even human?

"Are you questioning my humanity? The answer would be - I have it more than most people living on this planet. I hardly trust people anymore-"

"Do you mind me asking what happened? Tell me about the attack."

"This is not the right time, but I'll tell you." Said Enid, smiling at Lotad. "Your friends are nearby, I can sense them."

Oh great, let's find them — Lotad thought.

"Don't do that, Lotad." Enid asked politely. Her tone was constant, always neutral and expressionless. "Found them." Enid started jogging in one direction and in a matter of seconds, Enid and Lotad were standing in front of Psyduck, Poochyena and Pikachu.

Red was near Mister Briney's Cottage along with Charizard, waiting for something to happen. He could not find his Pokémon anywhere, he was hoping Leaf did.

Leaf came running to Red. "Red, where are they? I couldn't find them anywhere. The beach, the city."

"Wait, we didn't check the forest yet?" Red and Leaf exchanged looks and started running towards the forest, but they stopped before they could reach it.

Their Pokémon were walking out of the forest along with Enid. Red and Leaf smiled, and sighed in relief.

Later the day, Mister Briney placed the 10th candle on his Lotad's birthday cake. Everyone, including Enid, were sitting on the dining table with the Pokémon behind Lotad's chair.

It was time for Lotad to blow the candles. "Not yet, first, I'd like to know why Psyduck ran away." Briney's Lotad asked.

"Well, Psyduck accidentally hit Poochyena." Red's Lotad explained.

"So?"
"Between his legs. "Briney's Lotad started laughing and blew the candles. Leaf could definitely work at a bakery after making that delicious cake.

"So, Enid is it?" Asked Leaf. "Where are you headed?"

"Oh, I'm working on this project, researching about Pokémon Trainers. I heard that two of them were here, so I visited Mister Briney again." Enid explained, trying her best to show expressions. "And Mister Briney? I'm sorry for my disappearing act, it was a rough day for me."

"That's fine." Briney smiled. "I was just a little worried, but now all's good."

Enid smiled.

"Alright, we'll leave for Dewford in an hour. Be ready for a long ride."

"Enid? You can come with us if you want, you'll get to know alot about being a Pokémon Trainer from us." Leaf insisted.

"Yeah, she's gonna give you one of her books with homework for school." Red giggled.

"Yeah, I didn't get any of that?" Enid was confused. "But thank you, I'd love to join you for some time. And what books were he talking about?"

Leaf pulled out a book from her bag and handed it to Enid.

"Bird Box?"

"Came out this March. It's about a woman trying to survive in a world where you can't see, else you'll be killed." Leaf explained. "Kinda dark."

"It sounds amazing, can I read it on the way?" Asked Enid.

"Sure you can!"

The bell rang and Mister Briney walked to the door as fast as he could. Enid looked at the door, Briney was talking to someone outside, but she couldn't see who.

Mister Briney walked back inside, followed by Cassidy and Butch. "These two are going to accompany you to Dewford."

Enid smirked.