I grab my bag, the Sun Stone deep in my pocket and my eyes set on the road ahead. At any moment I'm expecting Clara to stop in her tracks to look behind her. For Clyde to pause and decide it's time to go already. Back to Geosenge Town.

"Let's take a rest," I'm taken off track by Clyde's suggestion, and the three of us stop and I begin setting up the blanket. We're right next to Anistar City, so we could just have gone back. From where I am I can still see the shine of the Sundial.

I take Petilil and Meowstic (who doesn't mind being in a Pokeball when she's sleeping) and tend to the both of them.

I made a lot of Poke Puffs for them since they did great against Olympia. As they both begin eating them and I let the others have some I brush Meowstic's tails.

"Mrow!" She purrs, flexing her curled, elegant tails.

"Lil! Lil!" Petilil hops onto my lap, demanding a brush herself.

I giggle."Petilil, you don't have any fur."

"Lil!" She droops at the fact until I stop brushing Meowstic to reach into my bag and pull out a Spritzee spray bottle.

"I'll hive you a spritz instead!"

"Lil!"

"Meow." Meowstic, completely uninterested in water, gets up from her spot to sit on Clyde's lap.

"Aw, hello, Meowstic," he says as he scratches her chin.

I smile as I start spraying water on Petilil, who seems to thoroughly enjoy it. Only then do I notice how quiet Clara's been. She's sitting opposite to me, feeding her Frogadier one of the Poke Puffs with a blank expression.

"So," I begin, spritzing Petilil's leaves."How come you two only have one Pokemon? "

"Hm?" She seems to be in her own little world. Maybe it was because of Olympia. The Anistar City Gym Leader gave advice to both Clara and her brother, but I still don't know of what was said.

"Our other Pokemon are back at home," Clyde begins explaining on both their behalves. "We wanted to go out with our main Pokemon."

I wonder why. Wouldn't a Trainer want to have all of their Pokemon with them on their journey? Come to think of it, I haven't caught a single person since I set out on my journey. I haven't even really considered catching one, nor adding one to my team.

"Lil?" Then again, it's not like it's a mandatory thing. I'm having fun just like this, with my very best friends!

"Clara has a ton of Water-Type Pokemon back at home."

"Yeah." Clara just barely joins the conversation, looking completely uninterested in what we're talking about.

"So Millie," Clyde begins, focusing on me this time."If I may ask, what's your mother like?"

"My mother?" I've told them about her once, even breaking out in tears over my past with her. I suppose I'm strong enough now not to do such a thing again.

"My mother is Veronica." I don't think her name is so big in Kalos, but in Unova...

"The former Champion Veronica?!"Of course something like that would get Clara's attention..

"Yes..."

"That's so cool!" I smile as Clara gets closer to me on the blanket, all of her previous gloominess fading away with her usual happy grin.

"I just-" But a ring from her Holocaster interrupts her, and she holds up a finger to silently check it.

"Lil?" Petilil is just as anxious as I am, our worst fears being brought into light. It's time.

"It's time," Clara says, grabbing her bag with a nod to Clyde.

"I'm sorry, Millie." Clyde's getting ready to leave, too... "We didn't tell you."

Do I tell them that I already knew? That every day since I found out I've been keeping up a fake smile, trying my best to keep my tears at bay? But all of that falls apart now, and overflowing tears are inevitable.

"Please don't cry, Millie."

I wipe my tear sodden face, and I can feel my mouth forming a forced smile. I can't cry now, because if I do then that will mean that I haven't grown as much as I'd hoped. I have to smile!

"You're smiling..."

"I knew this day would come eventually. Trainers can't be together forever, and the same is with friends."

"Millie..."

I rise to my feet, grabbing both their hands to bid farewell."Don't worry about me! I've learned so much from both of you, but this is the end of the road for now.

Once I win my next Showcase and move on, maybe even become Kalos Queen, a new road will be opened, and I'll hope to see you all on it with me!"

"Millie..." Both Clyde and Clara are holding back tears, but they both smile anyway.

"Goodbye." I wish they didn't have to leave so early, but me holding them back will only make things worse. If I've grown at all then I should at least be able to create and walk on my own path, and since I'm here standing strong on my own two feet, I'm already halfway there.

          Chapter 19... End! :)