Chapter 1 – What You Want To Do

“Just a little more. Come on, you can walk just a little more.”

I mumble to myself once more; a habit which had started to vent frustrations has turned into the only way to keep myself awake. The sun is setting on another day filled with what I’d call “adventure” if I were generous, or “uneventful walking” if I were being honest. I knew becoming an adventurer wouldn’t be easy, but this kind of trial by boring fire is not nearly what I expected. Or rather trial by starvation, in my case.

A dejected sigh escapes me as I reach into my bag for what feels like the millionth time this hour. I ate the last of my apples and berries many hours ago, but deep down I’m holding onto hope that I just missed one. With these stubby arms it’s not out of the question, right? The lint on my paw says otherwise, yet again. I appreciate the supplies my brothers scrounged up for me, but in hindsight I should have been a little greedier.

I reach into a different pouch on my bag to check the map Dad gave me. It’s far from comprehensive, just showing the path from our home to Radiant Square. We always poked fun at him for his obsession with history and geography and whatever, but for once it’s paying off for me. Sana’s artistic skills are pulling a lot of the weight too.

This pleasant reminiscence is interrupted by a near-comical growl from my stomach.

My love for my family can only physically sustain me for so long, I’ve really gotta put some pep in my step. I can handle the hunger, but if I stop for the night in the middle of the road, I’m just asking for trouble I know I can’t handle. Hunger aside, every bone in my body is killing me. By now, my tail’s been dragging on the sand for Arceus knows how long. Each step somehow feels even shorter and heavier than the last. Am I in over my head? I can’t even handle a couple nights of walking, what was I thinking leaving home?

Alright, let’s say I swallow my pride and waddle home tomorrow morning. Arceus, I don’t even wanna think about it. I can hear it already…

“You’re back already! How was your adventure? Was Radiant Square super-duper cool?” Oh, Sana, even your innocent questions sting like a Beedrill.

“Did you get your butt kicked by a super cool Pokémon? I wanna hear all about it!” Unless you’d call my own stomach a “super cool Pokémon,” no, Ty.

“…Welcome home.” Thanks for the enthusiasm, Alec. I can tell I was greatly missed.

“I hope you at least brought back some of our berries… We worked hard picking them for you, you know…” Sorry, Jess.

“This is because you slacked off on your training. I told you that you weren’t ready.” I’d like to see you do any better, Polo.

“Guess being a cleaner beats starving as an adventurer, eh?” Ugh.

That cleaning lady crap is all I need to push myself forward again. I don’t even want to think about what Mom would have on her mind if I came home. Dad’s silent disappointment might be even worse. I push such thoughts out of my mind and continue down the path. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a clearing not too far that sits at the shore of Lake Radiance. If nothing else, I can quench my thirst.

---

“Stand back, Eloise! Here I go!”

I bite my lip and brace for impact. Vincent lifts Eloise into the air, clearing the way for the beating this big Rhyhorn brute is about to send my way. As always, those two have the nastiest grins on their faces. I’ve given Ellie a piece of my mind before, but it pisses Vincent off more than you’d believe, so I have to hold myself back lest I face his wrath.

My violent train of thought is broken as I’m hit full force with a Bulldoze attack. As usual, I couldn’t react in time. I got ahead of myself and closed in for an Arm Thrust too soon, so there was barely anything I could do here. The electricity stored in my cheeks and palms feels like it’s banging against the walls of my body in response to that attack.

A second later, he launches me forward with his horn, sending me flying into the dirt. Thankfully his horn didn’t pierce my back, but I’m left reeling from such a strong collision to my spine. I’m pushing it, but I can pick myself up and reposition a little.

“Not so fast, bug!”

Crap.

“Urk!”

Before I know it, I’ve got the headache of a lifetime. For just a moment, Gligar talons dig into my ears, whip my head upwards, and slam me to the ground. Acrobatics: Vincent’s specialty. Before I can register it all, I feel Ellie close in for a Faint Attack. That Bulldoze from Bryon messed with my footing, I couldn’t pull back in time.

Even if I wanted to, I can barely pick myself up anymore.

But this is my chance. If I keep perfectly still, they wouldn’t bother to check whether I’m still conscious. They don’t know about Grandpa yet, so they’ll probably run before they think it’s too late. If I can just stay perfectly still, it’ll be over for today. I can go home. I can sleep. I can get something to eat. I don’t need to keep fighting, it’s pointless, right?

But that doesn’t feel right. If kicking my ass makes Vincent feel all warm and fuzzy inside, whatever. But he’s gonna have to earn it.

I brush all reasoning aside and move my arms to get up. Drip, drip, drip. Something warm wells up from my left ear to the dirt below. Still, I push myself up. I let out a little electricity from my paw pads as I wipe the red from my ear. That big dope Bryon is unsurprisingly stunned as I get up, but even the ice queen Ellie looks a bit dumbfounded. All eyes are on Vincent, but he just silently stares me down.

“Not done yet. Round two, Vincent.”

As if it’s his cue, Vincent’s blank face contorts into a small smirk, his eyes narrowing as well. That smirk isn’t one of confidence or condescendence, though. I can tell, he’s pissed.

“You’re real confident, bug. I think it’s about time I crush you.”

---

The subtle sound of the waves close by is music to my ears. The sound alone gives me the energy to dash at full speed. Most Pokémon can go a few days without any food, right? As long as you’ve got water, you’ll be okay for a little bit. Not to brag, but my stamina is even better than most of my brothers, so I’m feeling pretty hopeful again. Just as the lake enters eyeshot, tinted a beautiful orange by the setting sun, I hear a pair of voices cry out from the clearing just up ahead.

“Not so fast, bug!”

“Urk!”

That shrill yelp tells me all I needed to know. Someone is in danger! Just a few moments ago, I don’t know if I could’ve even brought myself over to investigate, but I’ve got my second wind now! Until I can’t move my little legs anymore, there’s no excuse not to take a look.

I soon arrive at the forest clearing, peeking out from behind a rock. I’m able to make out the figures of a Gligar, a Rhyhorn, and a Sneasel. The surrounding ground is fractured, likely by a Ground-type attack. The Gligar had just landed, with the Sneasel detaching itself from the Gligar’s talons as it descended. They’re all gathered around something, but that big Rhyhorn is blocking most of my view.

I shuffle around the border of the clearing to another angle. They’re all facing away from me, so I can tread on the dirt and grass for now to mitigate any rustling from the bushes. Finally, I’m able to see just a tiny bit and find them staring at… a Pawmo? Oh, shit, is that blood?

Big crater in the ground around him, like from an Earthquake or a Bulldoze…

Gligar is classified as Flying and Ground-type, Rhyhorn is Ground and Rock…

The Pawmo’s a bit smaller than average, I see why they’d liken him to a bug. Which means that scream was probably…

Yeah, I get the picture, and it’s not a pretty one! I gotta do something! Throwing caution to the wind, I start to charge up a Swift attack. To my wonder, that Pawmo is actually standing! It looks like he’s taken the beating of a lifetime, but he’s actually up!

“Not done yet. Round two, Vincent.” I hear him say through bated breath. It’s pretty non-threatening coming from someone who looks like he’s on death’s door, but I’ll admit it’s still kinda cool.

“You’re real confident, bug. I think it’s about time I crush you.” Not good! The Pawmo is preparing to attack, I gotta intervene right now!

Forcing myself into action, I swipe my arm across the air and let loose three Swift beams, one for each target. Of course, they connect without any issue, and suddenly all eyes are on me.

Oh man, maybe I am a little ahead of myself here.

---

Before either of us can make a move, Vincent’s head twitches a bit, as if something hit him from behind. The three of them all turn to see what hit him, while I shimmy to the side to get a better look. I catch a glimpse of a Pokémon I don’t recognize. They’ve got gray fur with big ears and a long tail tipped with white. A tuft of hair sticks up from between their ears, and a bit visible from behind her head too, forming a sort of bob below the ears. Big beady eyes complete a non-threatening appearance, but they’ve got a determined frown on their face. Their huge blue coat contrasts with a long and striking red scarf that adorns their neck. Grandpa used to have this big black trench coat, but nothing as intricately crafted as what this one’s wearing. I had plenty of time to process everything about them, as they seem to be completely petrified…

It’s Vincent who finally breaks the silence. “Well? Something the matter, missy? We’re real busy here, so get lost already.”

---

I take a deep breath to find my courage. C’mon, you can do this! You’ve gotta! “No! I will do no such thing! Tell me, what business do you have with that Pawmo? He’s clearly injured, but you’re all just standing here!”

The Gligar chuckles for a second. The bewilderment on the Rhyhorn and Sneasel’s faces give way to similar laughter. “Alright, let me dumb it down a little for you. This whole shindig doesn’t concern you. Here’s your last chance to leave, unless you want us to show you the same hospitality we gave to this bug.” The Rhyhorn seems to tense up a little at that comment.

The odds are hardly in my favor here, but turning back means… facing everyone back home… and if I leave, this Pawmo will…

No, I can’t even think about backing down! “If you won’t tell me what’s going on, so be it. In that case, though, I can’t just stand idly by. Get ready, here I come!”

That sounded pretty cool… right?

---

“Get ready, here I come!”

This girl’s serious! Despite her cutesy look, her determination has got me riled up!

Hey, hey, snap out of it! This is your chance. She’s got everyone’s attention, so I’ve gotta make this moment count!

---

“Ha! Yeah, sure, whatever. That bug isn’t going anywhere, so it’s three on one. Ellie! Bryon! Let’s show bug number two how things work around here.”

Shit, shit, shit! I’m so screwed. That Pawmo was standing, but there’s no way he can still fight with all those injuries. No, it’s okay. You can do this; you just need to buy him the time to get out of here.

Yeah, that’s right. If I do this, it’ll be worth something. I’ll have to crawl back home, but it’ll be worth it if he can get away. It’ll all be worth it. They’ll all be proud, right?

Wait, huh?

---

I can barely move a muscle. My legs feel like they could crumble under my own measly body weight. I can’t do this. I wasn’t made to be able to do this.

I’m gonna have to, though.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Step.

One at a time. If I break it down, it’s not so bad. One step after another. The closer I get to the colossus in front of me, the more I feel that spark again. The steps become faster. My body becomes lighter. Is it the electricity guiding my movements? Or is it tricking my brain? It doesn’t matter, something’s working.

“Ha! Yeah, sure, whatever. That bug isn’t going anywhere, so it’s three on one. Ellie! Bryon! Let’s show bug number two how things work around here.”

Shut up. Shut the hell up, Vincent. “That bug,” huh? That’s what I am, right? That’s what you’ve always been calling me, just “that bug.” Well, Vincent…

---

Behind the Rhyhorn, I see sparks begin to fly like crazy. As much as I want to look, I take care to avert my gaze lest they catch on too soon.

Sorry, Pawmo. I should’ve put a little more faith in you, huh?

---

This stupid bug you hate so much…

---

He leaps atop the Rhyhorn’s back, who is too stunned to react before he jumps once more, high into the air.

“Three on one, huh? Are you so sure about that?” I can’t help but crack a big dumb smile as I watch the battered Pawmo soar down from the skies above.

---

Is gonna beat the crap out of you!

“Three on one, huh? Are you so sure about that?” Just as the unknown Pokémon finishes her sentence, Vincent and Ellie look back at me, but it’s already far too late. Hardly a second later, I feel my foot connect with Vincent’s head, the electricity trailing behind me boosting my acceleration on the way down.

“Urgh!”

“How’s it taste, Vincent!”

THUD!

---

A cloud of dust obscures my vision for a moment, but the silhouette I see within is clear. The small frame of a Pawmo… standing atop a Gligar! Holy crap, he did it! After another little stomp for good measure, he takes his place next to me as the other two begin to close in. Before they can attack, however…

“Wait, numbskulls!”

They both look shocked. The Gligar – or, Vincent, I suppose – stands up and brushes himself free of dust and dirt. He’s not in critical condition or anything, but that kick really did do a number on him all things considered.

“The big-eared bugs here have made a real commotion. If we don’t scram now, the Kleavor might have our heads!” Kleavor? Wait a minute, big ears?

“R-Right boss! Let’s get out of here!” Rhyhorn pipes up at last. I take it this one is Bryon.

“Yes, let’s go…” Much more mellow, that Sneasel. That would make her Ellie, then.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, bugs. If we wanted, we could bury you right here and now. Be lucky you’ve got that stupid old fart in your corner! Next time, you’re both dying for real!” That comment about the ‘stupid old fart’ clearly gets a rise out of the Pawmo, but he takes a deep breath and swallows whatever words were on his mind.

Vincent, Bryon, and Ellie all depart the same way I came. The Pawmo and I watch until they disappear into the forest’s night shade. And the second they’re gone…

…we both collapse right there in the dirt.

“T-Thank you, for all that…” His voice is coarse and tired. I’m surprised he can still talk at all, frankly.

“Y-Yeah, of course. Are you okay?”

“I can barely feel anything. I think I’m still bleeding a little, too.”

“That’s go-”

Wait, no it’s not! The bleeding!

I jolt up from my seat and pull the Pawmo to the lake with me.

“Ow, ow, ow! What’s wrong?!”

“You’re bleeding! That’s what’s wrong! Hold still, I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh… Yeah, I guess I am. Thanks, sorry for yelling…”

Real handful, this one. I pull a small rag from my bag and get it damp, squeezing excess water back into the lake. I clean the wound on his ear. The bleeding has mostly stopped by now anyways, but it’s important to wash up around the wound lest he get an infection.

While I’m treating him, I finally get a better look at him. The first thing I notice is a huge scar on the right side of his face, set diagonally a bit below the eye. It’s accompanied by a big one on the left-hand side of his jaw and a smaller one on the lower left of his torso as well. Scars aside, rugged patches sprinkled his fur, and it looked as if he’d lost a chunk of his right ear. Did Vincent’s gang do all this to him? He’s got a brown scrap of cloth tied around his right arm too, probably covering another wound…

“There, all done. You’re good as new.”

“Wow, thanks. It’s been a while since I got treated like this, I really appreciate it.”

He doesn’t usually treat his wounds? I guess that could explain a bit if he’s getting roughed up like this by Vincent regularly.

“So,” I break our brief silence, “do you have a name, Pawmo?”

---

Huh. It’s been a while since I’ve had to introduce myself. Last time was to Vincent’s gang, and that was a while ago. They’re so content calling me a bug anyways that sometimes I forget my own name.

It’s… kind of exciting… meeting someone new, y’know.

“Hopper… It’s Hopper. Nice to meet you! I’ve never seen a Pokémon like you before, what’s your name?”

“Wait, really? I’m a Minccino, my name is Eri. It’s nice to meet you too.”

Huh? Am I supposed to know what a Minccino is? I hope I didn’t upset her.

---

It wasn’t until now that I got the chance to properly take in the clearing. It’s hard to see by now, our surroundings only illuminated by the glow of the rising moon and any stray sparks bouncing off Hopper. Like the path I’d taken here, the ground beneath us is comprised of dirt that held only sparse amounts of grass. The crater left by Bryon remains, but the ground all around seems disturbed in similar ways. Do Hopper and Vincent’s gang clash here often? Around us, the surrounding trees are as dense as they were along the path but give way to the beauty of Lake Radiance.

Looking out at the lake is serene. The moon’s light and the calm, rhythmic crashing of the waves at the shore hold this indescribable healing power. The insecurities I’d let build since I left home all wash away into the vast body of water before me, and the exhaustion of my journey thus far is alleviated somewhat. In the distance, the surrounding land gives way to a coast that stretches infinitely into the horizon.

In these precious moments, Hopper and I don’t exchange a word. Like me, he gazes out at Radiant Lake, but he doesn’t seem nearly as infatuated as I am. He fidgets with his paws and tugs at a patch of fur, we even exchange a quick glance or two. For a little while we just sit here, but something was clearly on his mind.

After a little bit, he breaks the silence.

---

It’s been ages since I’ve had the chance to properly chat with another Pokémon. But she’s so absorbed in the lake, I don’t want to break this moment for her. But… I need to make the most of this, who knows when I’ll next see another Pokémon? Aside from Vincent’s gang, that is.

It feels like she’s expecting something. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to speak up.

“So, Eri, if you don’t mind me asking, what brings you out here? I usually only see Vincent’s gang this deep in the forest.”

“Oh… Uh… I’m, uh, an adventurer… Well, I want to be one anyways…”

“Woah, no way! Grandpa told me about adventurers! He used to be one, too!”

Her eyes dart away for a moment, and a troubled expression takes over her face. After just a second, she continues.

“Sorry, I’m not really an adventurer yet… Truth is I just left my home today. I was… actually contemplating turning back earlier…” After finishing her sentence, she just stares at the dirt and shuffles her feet a little.

Is she embarrassed? I don’t get why, being an adventurer sounds cool!

“What’s making you question it, Eri?”

“Uh… well that’s-“ Her thought is interrupted by a loud growl from her stomach.

Oh. Yeah, I get it.

“Hungry?”

---

What awful timing…

“Yeah, I’ve hardly eaten all day. I should probably get going to find some food.”

“Wait, wait! I have some food at home. You look tired, I have a spare bed I can get ready for you too, if you want.”

“No way, seriously? That would be amazing, Hopper! Er… I mean… Yes, if you don’t mind, I’d certainly appreciate that.”

Or maybe not awful timing after all?

Hopper guided me to his home in the forest, further along the path I was headed. The road forks at two paths leading to either Radiant Square or further into the woods towards Hopper’s home. Thankfully, some moonlight peeked in through the trees above the path to guide our way, but before long Hopper led me off the path and into the woods proper. It looks like he made a subtle marking on a tree indicating the way to his home. As we passed through the deep, dark forest, Hopper used his electrified paw pads as a light to guide us. Our little walk was nearly silent. The little bit of water I drank at the lake gave me the strength to talk a bit more again, but at this hour and after such an exhausting day, we wouldn’t want to alert anyone to our presence.

Or, at least, that’s what I told myself. The silence felt kinda comforting too, you know…

Before long, we arrive at a medium-sized hut deep in the woods, just a little off the beaten path. It’s a stone abode constructed in a spot with less foliage and trees, but not exactly a clearing either. Up above, the moonlight floods in between the leaves like a spotlight on the home.

“Here we are! Make yourself at home.” Hopper’s enthusiastic tone is clearly strained by dehydration and pain. I can just hear the relief in his voice at finally arriving home. He holds the door open as we both enter. It’s a humble home, but it’s overflowing with charm. A large, wooden rocking chair sits around a short, rounded table in the center of the room atop a rug. In the corner, what looks to be a kitchen with a small dining table is segmented off, with a counter-top window connecting it to the rest of the home. The rest of the room is an open floor, with three doors off to the sides of the circular room. A fireplace around halfway across the room really pulls it all together. Most interestingly, the ceiling is quite tall, much taller than Hopper is. He mentioned something about a grandfather, right? I hope I’m not intruding…

After we enter, Hopper immediately dashes to the kitchen, pulling out a large stash of Oran berries and apples.

Uh, maybe too large of a stash, actually…

“Here, Eri! I’ve got plenty of foo- woah!” Hopper begins to wobble back and forth, berries and apples falling from the huge pile he’s pulled from his cupboard.

“Steady, Hopper!” I dash over to him as fast as I can. Not only is he at risk of hurting himself, but I’m not privy to eating food off the floor…

“Woah, woah, wooooooah!”

THUD!

Just as I reach him, an avalanche of fruit comes crashing down on both of us.

---

Crap, crap, crap! What was I thinking? Eri’s gonna be so mad at me…

“Oh no, I’m so sorry Eri! Are you okay?” I push the berries and apples off of the little gray Pokémon as her large ears pop out from the pile, followed by a little tuft of her hair, and finally her whole head.

For a moment, she just stares at me blankly.

Completely silent.

“Pfft.”

Huh?

I see a little smile form on Eri’s face, which soon develops into a grin as she bursts into hysterical laughter.

“Y-You acted so cool back when we fought Vincent… I… I c-can’t believe you’re even the same person, Hopper! Pffhahahaha!”

Huh? I acted cool? Hold on, wait a minute!

“Hey! I still look cool, you know!”

“Woah, relax. I get it. Vincent might have been tough, but a b-bunch of apples is nothing to s-scoff at either! HAHAHAHAHA!” She takes just a moment between laughs to power through an Oran berry in no time flat. The second she’s done chewing, she’s back to laughing at my expense.

“Yeah, thanks Eri. You sure looked cool standing up to Vincent like that. I’d forgive you if you didn’t realize, given you were frozen solid the whole time. Thankfully, you don’t seem to be afraid of those berries at least.” I chuckle a little at my own joke. Serves her rig-

CLUNK!

The core of an apple bounces off my forehead and disappears into the pile all around us. I look up to a pouting Eri. Guess I struck a nerve.

“Sheesh! Kidding, kidding! No need to throw!” Eri can’t hold her straight face for long before giggling a bit more and laying back in the fruit pile covering my floor. At least she’s done mocking me, I hope.

“If you’re finished, feel free to eat up. We- no, you’ve earned it, Eri.”

“Hey, you’ve earned more than your fill too, you know! I… meant it when I said you looked cool.”

For about half an hour, Eri and I ate together. We made a little small talk, but mostly just laughed and enjoyed the company. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this happy, and even my time spent with Grandpa was nowhere near as lively as this. For the first time in weeks, I smiled. Not the cocky smirks I give to Vincent and his gang, but a real happy smile, y’know? You’d be surprised how much you need smiles like that.

…Wow, Eri’s a real big eater, huh?

---

After a while of stuffing ourselves with floor fruit, Hopper turns to speak for the first time in a few minutes. “So… Eri… Why did you choose to become an adventurer, anyways?”

I suppose I should have seen that coming. I feel like he’s had that on his mind for a while now. Was he too nervous to ask? “Plenty of reasons, I think. Minccino and Cinccino are really good at cleaning, so Mom runs a cleaning business with all my siblings. I get it, if that’s their calling… but it’s just not my thing.”

“But why an adventurer?”

“Well, for one it’s a way to get out of the house. My family’s supportive, but they’re a real pain in the butt sometimes. If I pursued something else back home, I’d never hear the end of it from Mom. But I figured if I travel, I’ll get their support and not have to field any judgement. All that and… Well…”

“And?”

A sigh escapes my lips. It’s so embarrassing, but I can’t just not tell him if he’s asking… “Promise not to laugh, Hopper?”

“Swear on my heart.”

“Alright. Here goes. More than anything, I want to know I’m helping people. Yeah, cleaning is helpful, but I want it to mean something to me, you know? I want to meet and help all sorts of people with real problems, not just the dust on their carpet. I’m a really lucky girl, but not everyone is. It’s those people who aren’t so lucky that I want to help.”

Arceus. Embarrassment aside, it’s so hard to articulate. He must think I’m some idealistic idiot right now. Nearly wincing, I turn to face Hopper and he’s… smiling?

He’s, like, really smiling. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile this much all night.

“W-What? Is there Oran berry juice on my face? What’s with the dopey smile?”

“No, no, sorry. It’s just… It’s so cool how different people love adventuring for different reasons. Grandpa didn’t talk about it much, but he never told me about such noble ambitions… It’s nice to hear a different perspective, and it’s also just nice to talk.”

Alright, I’ve been wondering about his grandfather, here’s my chance to ask for real.

“Hopper, you’ve mentioned your grandfather a couple times, do you guys live together?”

He perks up a the question, but then his smile fades a little. Not completely, but it turns from a beaming grin to a smaller, more melancholy expression. He breaks our eye contact and looks down at his feet, fidgeting with his paws, and then starts.

“Uh… We used to. This is Grandpa’s house. I’ve lived here since I was little, but he’s not around anymore. It’s just been me the past few months.”

Oh, wow. I feel kinda bad for even asking now. Especially after talking so much about my crazy family.

“Oh, Hopper I’m sorry. We can talk about something else now if you want to…” I don’t want him to feel like I’m pushing. I’m sure it’s hard to lose someone like that.

“Well, no… It’s okay, Eri, really. Truth be told, I haven’t really had the chance to talk to anyone about it yet. It’s a little difficult, but maybe talking about it isn’t such a bad idea…”

“In that case, do you mind telling me what he was like? I get the feeling you two were very close. You can tell me as much or as little as you like.”

“Hmm… Well, he was a Kleavor, if you’re familiar with them.” He looks over at me, and I nod in response. He looks back at his paws and continues. “Yeah, a Kleavor, really big and really strong. He looked and acted intimidating, but deep down I know he was kinda soft. Obviously, he wasn’t my flesh and blood grandfather, but he’s taken care of me here since I can remember. He was an adventurer, but he didn’t like to talk much about it. I dunno if there’s something he was hiding, or if he was just being humble, but I hardly heard anything about his adventuring days. I’d do housework for him, and he’d train me in the forest. I was no good at either, truthfully, but he always told me I did well.”

He stops for a moment, so I take his cue. “Wow, Hopper, he sounds incredible.”

“You think so? I guess you could say that. My big, gruff grandfather. That’s the gist of it.” At last, he looks back up at me for a moment with a grin. I can tell it’s a little forced, but I think the sentiment is genuine.

We’re silent for a moment. Hopper looks back down at his paws, and I just sit speechless. It seems like talking helped a bit, but again I don’t want to push him too hard. I decide to pipe up.

“So, have you thought about what you want to do?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well, your grandfather and I both wanted to be adventurers, there must be something you want to do now that you’re on your own, right?”

Hopper takes a second to answer my question. Rather than his paws, this time he stares at the wall across from him. “What I want to do, huh?”

“I mean, it’s alright if nothing comes to mind. I’m just curious is all.”

“Yeah, I’ll have to think about it. I haven’t given it any thought, honestly.”

Silence once more. I look out the nearby window and see the moon has risen even higher in the night sky.

“Well, I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow, so I’d best be sleeping. You said you have a room for me, right? Is it really okay if I stay the night?”

Hopper breaks from his trance. “Ah, yeah! The door furthest to the right leads to a guest room. It’s never been used, so it’s all yours if you want it. My room is on the far left, so I’ll get some sleep too… I’ll see you off in the morning, okay?” That last comment feels a little restrained, but I don’t pay it much mind.

Waving good night to Hopper, I disappear into the guest room. I hardly have the time to take in the room before exhaustion takes its hold and ushers me into a deep sleep the moment lay down.

---

“What I want to do, huh?” I mumble to myself in my room as I pace back and forth. It’s a good thing there’s a buffer room between us, I wouldn’t want to wake up Eri.

“Well, I might have an idea… Or at least somewhere I can start…”

I feel anxious just thinking about it.

---

Sunlight pours in through my window onto my sleeping face, awakening me from a dreamless night.

“Where even am I?”

The ceiling I’m staring at is unfamiliar.

The bed beneath me is much firmer than the one I have at home.

Most noticeably, there’s no siblings screaming.

It’s… kinda nice, wherever I am.

Oh, yeah. That’s right. Vincent, Bryon, Ellie.

Hopper, of course.

It’s nice to finally get some quality rest, but I should really be going right away. Daylight’s wasting. I’m just outside of Radiant Square now, so today’s gonna be a really busy day getting everything in order there.

I quietly open the guest room door. Hopper is nowhere to be seen, so he must still be asleep. I wouldn’t want to wake him, not after everything he did for me yesterday.

Oh, shoot, we didn’t clean up all the fruit last night. I grab a couple apples and shove them into my bag. I’m sure Hopper won’t mind. I make my way to the front door and quietly open it as well, not that it matters with how creaky his floorboards are.

Before I step out, I take one last look at my first stop as a prospective adventurer. “Thanks, Hopper. It means the world.” I crack a little smile as I walk into the forest outside.

It’s still fairly dark but beams of morning light peek through the gaps in the leaves. “Okay, I think I can trace my way back to the road pretty easily, and then it’s just a little more walking until I hit Radiant Square. No time to waste, so let’s get go-“

“Eri! Wait!”

---

The creaky floorboards outside my room tell me everything I need to know. I picked the worst day to sleep in! I rub my eyes and jump down from my huge bed, dashing out of my room, through the house, and out the door just as I hear it shut.

“…it’s just a little more walking until I hit Radiant Square. No time to waste…” Shoot! She’s leaving! What do I do? Even if I had the courage, I don’t know how to say it right… Maybe… maybe I should just let her go after all…

Wait, what? Snap out of it, guy! Is the Hopper who kicked Vincent’s face into the dirt really gonna wuss out at a time like this? No, no, no! It’s now or never, so go with your gut!

“…so let’s get go-“

Throwing caution and critical thinking to the wind, I yell as loud as I can.

“Eri! Wait!”

The Minccino in front of me jolts up as I yell her name, quickly turning to face me. Her startled expression immediately changes to a pitiful one as she jogs over to me.

“Oh crap, I’m so sorry Hopper! I forgot you wanted to see me off this morning. I’ve gotta get going, but seriously, thanks for everything!” As I look her in the eyes, I’m silent for a moment. This is my last chance to back out. “…Hopper? Is everything okay?”

“Eri, I have a question. Will you hear me out?”

“Hm? Yeah, of course!”

“And… you promise you won’t laugh?”

“Not if you don’t want me to.”

This is it. No turning back anymore.

“Eri… Do you… need a…”

My nerves tell me to swallow the word down at the last moment, but I fight back and finish.

“…a partner?”

The moment the word comes out, my eyes shoot down to my feet. I can just feel it, my face must be red as a Cheri berry right now…

I can’t believe… I actually asked…

---

No way.

No way, no way, no way!

Does he- is Hopper serious about this? I’m not even a real adventurer yet, but he already wants to be my partner? I can’t believe it. I take a second to articulate myself, but I would hate to leave him waiting in suspense.

“Hopper, are you for real?”

---

Ugh… I feel sick. What was I thinking? Of course she’d say no, Hopper. You two just met, and you could barely even stand against Vincent’s stupid gang.

I nod a little in shame, not lifting my gaze. Not until she grabs my paws, at least.

“Yes! Of course I want a partner! But, why now? I thought you didn’t know what you wanted to do. Are you sure about this?”

Wait, she said yes? She said yes! Ok, calm down, Hopper. She asked you a question.

“Well, yeah. I still don’t know what I want to do, really. But sitting around at Grandpa’s house, sitting at the lake, and getting my ass kicked by Vincent every day isn’t going to get me any closer to the answer. You saved me yesterday, r-really. You said you wanted to help people, right? That that’s what being an adventurer means to you? Well, if that’s what b-being an adventurer is, then you’re already one, E-Eri! And I don’t know if being an adventurer is my calling, but I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by. Eri, if you’ll have me, I think adventuring with you is the first step to finding my answer. B-Besides, I owe you one, don’t I?”

When I snap out of my monologue trance, I see tears welling up in Eri’s beady eyes. I didn’t even realize, but I started crying my eyes out halfway through that little speech. With a huge smile on her face, Eri leaps forward and embraces me.

Through tears, she forces the words out. “In that case, please take good care of me, partner.”

I can’t control my own sobbing anymore, but I wrap my arms around her and manage to slip out, “Of course. And I expect no less of my partner in return…”

We both chuckle in each other’s arms, letting this precious moment last.