Back Together

It was already sundown by the time they got back.

After asking around, Ian and Patience found out that Roselia had last been seen at the hill with the big tree.

Everything that happened over the past few hours had been quite the doozy. After traversing through Nectar Meadow, which gave Ian quite a hassle with the amount of grass type Pokemon that reside there. Ian and Patience found Budew, which proves Ian's assumptions right. However, she was cornered by a few agitated Beedrills and Combees that had accused Budew of being a honey thief. Ian attempted to talk them down, but only then had he realized he was never really good at negotiating. Ian and Patience managed to defeat them. Well, it was mostly Patience taking care of things because being a fire type gave her the upper hand. Suddenly, a large yellow like creature stopped the fight. Her name was Vespiquen and she was the "queen" of all the Pokemon making honey in Nectar Meadow. Budew explained her situation to Vespiquen and she decided to give her a jar of honey for free. And now they were here, heading back to Roselia to be reunited with her daughter again.

"I think I see her up there!" Patience exclaimed as they walked up the hill. Below the big tree, stood Roselia, who was just looking onward at the view of the village.

"Excuse me, Mrs Roselia?" Ian called.

"What is i- Budew...!" She exclaimed, as Budew ran up to her mother and hugged her. "Where have you been?! Mommy has been so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry... I went to Nectar Meadow to get you some honey, I noticed that you haven't been feeling so well lately..." Budew explained.

"Budew..." She said, as she started shedding tears.

"And it was thanks to Ian and Patience that I was able to get some for you!"

Roselia let go of Budew and only then noticed the Pokemon that were in front of her.

"Thank you...! I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me!" Roselia said.

"We're glad to help." Ian said. "Although running off in the middle of class wasn't exactly the best idea..."

"Rest assured, I'll be sure to tell Principal Simipour about your deeds tomorrow, I'm sure he'll understand!" Roselia said.

"Some money would have been- argh!" Patience elbowed Ian to not press that any further.

"It's getting late, we should head back now. Again, thank you for helping my Budew!"

"Thank you, Ian and Patience!" Budew said. As the two left for home. As the two finally disappeared from sight, Patience broke the silence.

"All's well that ends well huh?" Patience remarked.

"Yup." Ian replied.

The two turned to face each other and entered an awkward silence, realizing the cold relationship they have been giving each other for the past few days. They both didn't know what to say, until they decided to say the first thing that came to their minds.

"I'm sorry for what I've said to you." The two said at the same time, surprising the both of them.

"Y-you first..." Ian said.

Patience coughed nervously, trying to find the right words to say.

"I'm... sorry I said all those things about you being a coward, it was really immature of me to say such a thing."

"Apology accepted. And... I'm sorry I called you pathetic and insulting your dreams, even after I said I would support your dreams."

"That's alright, I know you didn't mean it, and it was because I pushed you too hard." Patience said. "You know Ian? I believe you, I believe that you really are a human." Patience said.

"Wh-what...?! But why...?!" Ian asked surprisingly.

"It didn't come to me at first, but the more I thought about, the more it started to make sense." She explained. "You didn't know how to use your moves, you were always so cautious because you're in a completely unknown world. It all made sense now..."

"Patience..." Ian chocked up, feeling a sense of gladness somebody actually understood.

"And besides, nobody really believes in me as well..." She softly said. "And everyone just distances themselves from me because I'm nothing more than the "troublemaker" in their eyes..." She said, as she looked up at the night sky, that was glittering with countless stars.

Ian kept quiet. Pitying the fire fox Pokemon. Now that he thought about it, he noticed that Patience has never really been that open with anyone else in the village.

"But then you came along, and I thought to myself "I'm going to be at my best and give a good impression to that Mudkip and maybe, just maybe, he would be friends with me. Someone that wouldn't mind all the flaws in me."

Patience turned around, and faced Ian, her face filled with determination.

"So, Ian! Would you be my friend?" She asked nervously.

Ian was taken back by that question, he wasn't expecting such a question. And why did it sound like an order?!

"Please...! After all we been through... I feel like you're the perfect friend!" She pleaded. "But the only question now is: Would you accept it...?"

She bowed her head and closed her eyes, which made Ian feel even more guilty. But after some thinking, he made his decision. He smiled, walked up to Patience and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"After everything that has happened between us, I would gladly accept your offer, friend!" He said, putting up a cheeky smile.

Patience couldn't believe what she was hearing, and suddenly jumped in delight. Hugging the mudfish Pokemon tightly.

"Thank you so much Ian!" She exclaimed. "I promise I won't be a burden to you anymore!"

"You can start by not suffocating me...!" Ian said.

Patience let go of Ian, giggling sheepishly at her new friend.

"Oooooh! I got just the thing to mark this occasion!" She said. "Close your eyes Ian!"

"Uh... Why...?" He asked.

"Just do it, it's a surprise!"

Ian sighed and did what she said and closed his eyes. Not knowing what she was thinking. Then suddenly, he felt something being wrapped and tied around his neck.

"Annnnnnd, done!" She said. "You can open your eyes now!"

Ian opened his eyes and saw Patience wearing a dark green scarf around her neck. Upon looking down, he noticed he was also wearing an identical scarf.

"Ta-dah!" She exclaimed. "Pretty nifty huh?"

"Where did you even get this...?!" Ian asked. Still inspecting the scarf.

"My pops said he found me all wrapped up in these scarfs when I was just a baby."

"Wait... you're...?!"

"Yeah, pops isn't my real dad, I'm surprised you didn't noticed." She said.

"So, why were you wrapped with this?" Ian asked.

"Who knows? But that doesn't matter now, these scarfs from now on show the prove of our friendship!"

Ian liked the sound of that, which reminds him of something he needed to do.

"I... have something for you too, Patience." He said nervously.

"Aw, you shouldn't have." Patience teased.

"It's just my way of making up to you." Ian said. "Now, close your eyes."

Patience did as told and closed her eyes, her face filled with excitement at what the surprise was. Ian reached into his bag and took the thing out, he was glad he had asked Carracosta about where to find these. He slowly placed it around the fire fox's neck, making doubly sure she doesn't notice what it is.

"Alright, you can open your eyes now." He said.

Patience opened her eyes and looked down, and couldn't believe her eyes. Ian had given Patience a sort of premonition to wear, tied to it was a single twig.

"A twig...?! But... How did you-!"

"I asked Carracosta what you liked, and he said that you really like chewing on twigs, must be a Fennekin thing, and so I decided to go and find one yesterday, searching the outskirts of the village for the perfect twig, not to be eaten, but act as a sort of "lucky charm." Ian explained.

Patience was speechless, unable to find the words she wanted to say.

"Th-thank you... Ian..." She managed to say. Ian could have sworn he saw Patience face turned red, but decided not to bring it up.

"Well, it looks like it's getting pretty late!" Ian said.

"Yeah, we better get back home before our "dads" get mad at us." Patience remarked.

"Hah! Yeah I hear ya."

Patience tucked the twig underneath her scarf and walked with Ian back home. When they finally reached their respective homes, they each waved goodbye to turn in for the night.

"Good night, Ian!" Patience said.

"See you tomorrow, Patience." Ian said.

Ian saw the fire fox Pokemon enter her house, and shortly after closed the door behind her.

"It's good to finally talk to you again... Patience..."