"S-Sparky?"

"Yes..." replied the old Jolteon, glancing at her concern at the reaction. "Something the matter, child?"

She shook her head reassuringly. "No... it's just..." She was sure she had heard the name before. She just couldn't remember how or when.

"Sparky... it's a pretty name," she said with a smile while she stared at the road ahead, immersed in thought.

"Thanks." Sparky smiled back at her, grateful for the compliment. "It's really nice of you to say that."

Then, the bushes nearby began to rattle and shake slightly, as if something was moving behind them.

Ribbon didn't have time to question what was going on when the Jolteon suddenly grabbed her by the scruff and ran away from the commotion, bewildering her.

Soon enough, they found themselves at a completely different part of the woods, and Sparky gently but quickly let the Pichu down on the grass.

"Huh? What happened, sir?" she inquired with utter confusion, finally able to move freely again.

The Jolteon was panting tiredly from the fast run, mostly because of his age as well, but he didn't seem remorseful at all. "There..." He inhaled deeply before continuing with his grandpa-like voice.

"There was something there."

"Eh?" Ribbon tilted her head to the side, still not understanding his panic. "But why did you run away?"

He suddenly turned at her with a strong sense of anxiety, clearly fearful. "Because it could have been a human!" he yelled, losing his tone for a moment. "Those filthy trainers are heartless in nature... they don't care what they have to do to get what they want...!"

Ribbon became slightly scared at his outburst; this obviously was a sensitive subject for him for some reason.

"B-but what if it was just another Pokémon?" she questioned.

"But what if it wasn't?" Sparky responded with another question. "I... I'm sorry, Ribbon..." He finally came to his senses again, sighing deeply. "I just don't want anything to happen to any other Pokémon because of those evil creatures..."

She herself knew humans weren't like he described them. Ash, Bonnie, Serena and Clemont were nothing of the sort; they were always kind and good at heart.

"But not all humans are bad, sir!" Ribbon told him firmly, gathering all the courage inside her to defend her friends to the point she actually surprised herself.

"Yes... they are. Don't be fooled, child," Sparky replied with a sharp side glance. "Now come on, there are berries somewhere around here, too."

Ribbon was still puzzled over his strange behavior but followed him reluctantly. They were able to reach some Grepa berries, and Ribbon was only able to take a few before Sparky urged her to leave the forest again.
.
.
.

Now back home at the cave, Ribbon was snuggling comfortably inside a sleeping bag made of wide leaves, while Sanda laid next to her in a similar one. The two cuddled close together.

"So..." Sanda interrupted himself with a yawn. "Did you find the berries?" He rubbed his eyes to help him stay awake.

"Yeah..." Ribbon nodded softly, pulling the covers closer to her face.

"Good!" the shiny beside her chirped. "It's important that you eat, Bow! So you can always be full of energy!" he nagged her with a chuckle.

"Thanks for worrying, Sanda," she muttered in response, giving him a small smile. "Um..." She hesitated for a second before asking an inquiry of hers that had been bothering her ever since the walk.

"How did you meet mister Sparky, Sanda?"

"Huh?" Sanda tilted his head at the question, not really expecting it. "Well..." He glanced away thoughtfully. "I don't really remember."

"Eh?! Not even a little?"

The other Pichu shook his head in confirmation. "Grandpa found me when I was just a baby and he took me in. I didn't have parents, so..."

"Oh... I see..." she said sorrowfully. "I'm sorry, Sanda..." she apologized sincerely for asking something like that.

"It's not your fault, Bow," he reassured her with a wave of his hand. "I'm fine with Sparky. We're... family." He allowed himself to smile wistfully.

She hummed, feeling happier after hearing him say that. She was glad he wasn't lonely because of Sparky.

"But..." She still didn't receive the answer she was looking for, but decided against snooping any further. "N-nevermind..."

"It's time for sleeping, not talking." The Jolteon approached them inside the room authoritatively.

Ribbon nodded at the elder, closing her eyes.
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"Papa! Can you come with me?" A younger version of Ribbon called for her father's assitance. As soon as Pikachu noticed the tiny blue-eyed Pichu was there, he turned around, leaving Ash's side.

"What's wrong?" the Electric-Type questioned with concern.

"Can you tuck me into bed?" the Pichu asked, fidgeting with her feet.

"Huh? Why?" He tilted his head in confusion, not understanding why she would want him to do that.

"Mama does it every night, but she's at a performance with Serena..." Ribbon explained, shifting around. "It works so that I don't have bad dreams. So... can you do it? Please?"

"Oh." Pikachu sighed with an endeared grin before nodding in amusement. "Sure! Come on."

Afterwards, he told her a story about his days in Hoenn before she fell asleep. He made sure to pull the covers of her small Pokémon bed up to her nose before giving her a small kiss on the forehead and marching out, feeling content.
-

Ribbon smiled fondly at the memory and her breath became slower as she fell asleep.

Later that night, the Pichu had terrible nightmares.
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"No whiny little Pichu anymore!" Hana smiled gently, while walking up to a happy Pikachu.

"I know!" He grinned cheerfully. "She was so weak... it's better she's not around." He told the Sylveon as he ran towards her and they hugged lovingly.

Hana scoffed at his words. "Yeah... but if she had been at least a little stronger, maybe she wouldn't have been such a disappointment of a Pokémon..."
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.
.

She realised warm tears where streaming down her face when she opened her eyes again. Could such a thing as her parents acting like that be true?

No... she remembered all the times her parents had showed her just how much they immensely loved and cared about her.

But there was still that panging feeling behind her head.

Ribbon brushed away a single tear before getting up gently and walking towards Sparky's sleeping figure close to theirs.

She managed to wake him up as she approached him, and he let her sleep next to him if it made her feel better, to which she complied gratefully.

_

"Ugh... if it weren't for you, I'd still be at Kanto and none of this annoying stuff would happen..." a tall, brooding figure muttered spitefully at the much smaller Pokémon walking next to him.

"I told you... this was the best way," the other critter said firmly, going ahead. "Now follow me! I can see a cave nearby!"

-

"Pikachu..." At Hoenn, a Buneary was staring at a picture with a deep frown plastered on her face. "Stupid idiot..."

"Why? Why did you do this?" she questioned to the bright yellow Pokémon in the photo. "Get married to this stupid girl you barely know...! What about me?!"

"No... Pikachu wouldn't do this!" she exclaimed, completely sure of her opinion. Buneary sat back on Dawn's bed, making herself comfortable. "This... this must be a misunderstanding."

"Buneary!" Dawn's voice suddenly boomed inside the bedroom, taking the bunny Pokémon by surprise.

"We're almost leaving for the airport! Get ready!" the blue-haired girl ordered, dashing around the house, gathering and packing stuff.

Buneary giggled at the statement, blissfully clasping her hands together. "Pikachu... I'll save you from that evil Sylveon!" she declared, extremely motivated. Nothing would get in her way.

-
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