"Why now, Eevy?" Eevy and Morty's mother asked tearfully, "Why do you have to go now? Just when your brother got home. Can't you wait a while?"

"I'm sorry mother, no. If I'm going to leave, it's going to be now. A whole new batch of senior aged Pokemon trainers leaves in a week! If I'm going to go, I'm going to go when they do," Eevy said, trying to calm her mother down, "Morty, can I talk to you for a minute, please?"

"Uh, yeah, OK," Morty said, walking over to her as she sat on the couch.

"Why don't you stay here?" Eevy asked him, staring at her mother, now balling her eyes out.

"You mean, you, go alone? You don't know anything about the area! Let alone any of the Pokemon out there! Trust me, there are stronger Pokemon trainers out there, they'll challenge you and no matter how tough you think you are, you'll lose! I did too when I started out!"

"Didn't you, big brother, start out alone? If I'm going to learn, it might as well be now! Most Pokemon trainers start when they are 10! I am, oh, let's see, 21! I think I'm a bit behind!"

"Yeah, but you just said that there are a bunch of trainers your age leaving next week. Isn't that enough for the world for a while?"

"Four trainers! Four! The world needs more senior aged Pokemon trainers!"

"Fine! Go! If you get lost, don't ever find your way back to me! I'm not to be responsible for you getting lost, hurt, scared, or sick!"

"Mom! Dad! Come over here please!"

"Are you staying?" their father asked frantically.

"Not exactly…I'm going and Morty is going to stay here with you guys," Eevy said, trying not to trigger another crying fit.

"WHAT?!?!" their mother screamed, running and slamming down on the couch, balling her head off, again.

"Evangelina! You are not going there alone! In fact, after that, you're not going at all!" their father said forcefully.

"I am not a kid anymore! I am 21! I am old enough to vote, I am old enough to travel alone!" Eevy said to him, just as forcefully, "I'm going to pack!"

"Eevy!" Morty said, trying to stop her.

"Let her go, son. She's right. She is getting older, and a lot more independent," their mother said, now that she had stopped crying, "I always wanted to train Pokemon, but my parents always stopped me. I'll let her go, and maybe, that way, my dream will be full filled when I see her succeed the way I know she will."

"She's right, you know," their father said, "Let her go."

"Yeah, maybe. I'll help her pack! She's libel to forget something!"

*^~^**^~^*

After Morty had helped her collect everything she needed, the group went outside along with Kayla, who had snuck away from her brother, and a few of the people from the neighborhood. They had all gathered with Vovo and Ditto out of their Poke Balls. With her mother crying yet again, and her father staring at the ground, Morty handed her a special map reserved just for Gym Leaders.

"That's a very special map, sis" he said, looking a bit grim, "Be careful with it."

"I will. Bye everyone! Good bye! Thanks Morty! I love you mom and dad! I'll call, and visit when I can! I'll be back soon!" Eevy said, walking out of the town gate, "Don't forget me!"

"How could we?!" her mother asked.

"Good bye, sis! Don't forget, I told you so! Take care Vovo! Ditto, you too!"

Variouse good byes came from the group of people as Eevy slowly walked out of site. Everyone knew they would see her again in the future. They all also knew that when they did, she would be completely different, and she would have new friends, new skills, new Pokemon, and will have won a young man's heart as well. As the sun began to set, Eevy dissapeared into Sprig Forest to begin her Pokemon quest.

*^~^**^~^*

Deep inside Sprig Forest, Eevy was sitting on a hollow log in front of her camp fire. She had set up camp a while ago, and was already starting to get a bit freaked by the noises. Vovo sat cringing as another strange noise came from the woods.

"Maybe we should go in the tent now," Eevy said, shaking.

"Eev, eev."

Eevy unzipped the tent, letting Vovo in first. Even though it was only a small tent so it was light enough to carry, it was overly big enough for just a young woman and an Eevee. As Vovo finished getting settled, Eevy grabbed a twig to light their lanturn with with fire from the camp fire. As she did so, she saw a flash of a shadow out the corner of her right eye. It ran out of the woods and around the back of the tent. Eevy quickly lit the lanturn and lunged into the tent. She whirled around and zipped it door up as fast as she could. It zipped from bottom to top, and just as she reached the half way point, she saw the shadow circle the camp fire and run out in the direction it had come from the first time she saw it. She rushed and the zipper jammed. She spastically fixed it and laid down. Vovo walked over to her head and looked down at her. He startled her a bit.

"You saw that too, right?" she said shakingly.

"Eev eevee eev!" Vovo said shaking his head agreeingly.

"OK, so, I'm not nuts. That's good. But I have the feeling that if whatever that was wanted to get us, it could, and probably would."

Eevy lit a few small flashlight/lanturns to put in each of the corners of the tent. At least it would be a little brighter, she thought. As she placed the last lanturn in the left corner of the door, she watched the creature run spirals around the fire. The wind was so strong from its running that the fire went out. Vovo began looking worried.

"I'm not too pleased either," Eevy said, now trembleling in fear, "Maybe its friendly…Or maybe I'm just wishfully thinking…"

"Eev eev…"

Eevy and Vovo both heard a loud roar like cry from behind them and whirled around to see a huge cat-like creature's shadow engulp the back portion of the tent. Eevy screamed and Vovo dashed under a blanket. Just as quickly as it had come, it backed slowly down and left.

"I know you saw that."

"Eeeeeeeeeev!"

*^~^**^~^*

After a long, sleepless night, Eevy and Vovo both awoke to hear more of the same noises from the night before. Vovo shivered, but, strangely enough, Eevy wasn't even the slightest bit afraid. As she walked around the back of the tent, pulling up the stakes holding it in place, Eevy noticed dozens of strange foot prints as well as other strange marks where the shoadowy creature had been the night before.

"It's strange," Eevy said to Vovo, who was still a bit scared, "I'm not scared. I don't think it's a bad creature. Maybe I was right last night, maybe it is just a friendly creature. Hey! Maybe it's a new species of Pokemon! Can you imagine, Vovo? Finding a new species of Pokemon on our first night! Wow!"

"Eev eev," Vovo said, unconvinced.

As the walked, they reached a skinny little river. Just short of being considered a stream, the Gladiola River was about 15 feet across and stretched from one coast of Gertan Rin, to the other. So, actually, it was more like a very long inlet than it was a river. Despite its small width, it was incredibly deep, about 10 yards to the river bed. Considering its width, that is really quite large. Out of the corner of her left eye, Eevy saw a streak of yellow jump straight across the river. Again, she wasn't afraid. This time, Vovo was too concentrated on spitting out the ocean water he had just been drinking from the river.

"Well, let's go."

"Eevee?"

"I think we need a swim, don't you? It's kind of hot out, so, why not swim to the other side?"

Eevy had come prepared, for she knew of the river. She had dressed with her bathing suit beneath her clothes. She dove right in, but Vovo was a bit warey.

"Come on, boy! Just jump…Hey Vovo, help!"

The current was much stronger than she had expected, and she had managed to get her ankle caught in some underwater weeds. The weeds held her, while the current kept pushing her under again and again, ceasing any movement she made.

"Vovo!" she screamed between waves, "Please get help! Do something! Just don't come in the water!"

"Eevee! Eevee! Eeeeeev!" Vovo began screaming, "Eev eev! Eeeveee!"

No one could hear them, they were too far into the forest. Eevy struggled to free herself, but couldn't get the weeds to break for anything. She thought for sure that she was done for, there was no way to get Ditto. He was in his Poke Ball, hanging from her belt, which was slung over a branch Vovo couldn't reach. Suddenly, out of no where, a huge roar-like cry came from the opposite side of the river. When Eevy was released for the moment, she looked and saw a huge, yellow, tiger Pokemon. She recognized it as Raikou. One of the Legendary Beasts from Ecruteak's Burned Tower. How did it get to Gertan Rin? It is much to far for it to have swum there.

"Don't fear me!" a loud, deep, physically transmitted voice boomed in Eevy and Vovo's heads, "I have foreseen your fate! You shall live! Your destiny must be full filled!"

With that, Raikou jumped into the water and powerfully swam to Eevy's side. Raikou took one huge swipe at the weeds and they snapped. When she was released from the weeds, there was nothing to hold Eevy in place, and she was swept down the river in a blast of current. Raikou kicked powerfully, causing larger waves than those created by the water current. He grabbed Eevy's hand in his mouth as gently as he could and pulled her to the shore. He dropped her gently down on the soft sand of the side he had come from. Vovo, still waiting on the other side, dropped his jaw in amazement.

"Are you alright, Evangelina?" Raikou asked her as she regained conciousness.

"Yes, I'm fine. How do you know me?"

"You are destined to be a master. You must live to see your victory. You will feel many pleasures, and many pains, but you will have friends and family with you all the way. Never forget the ones who love you, angel. There will be one more to be with you for life. He will come at a straining time in your life, and he will help you through."

"Who will come? Who will I meet?"

"I have already said too much. Let me get your things," Raikou power swam to the other side of the river and gathered Eevy's things. With Vovo on his back, he swam back to Eevy.

"Thank you Raikou! I will never be able to repay you! You risked your life for me. I'll never forget you!"

"We will meet again, angel. Stay safe!" with that, Raikou dashed into the forest, leaving behind what appeared to be a Thunder Stone at Eevy's feet.

*^~~^**^~^*

In The Next Chapter

Still wondering about her future thanks to Raikou, Eevy reaches Pro. Palm's lab. Pro. Palm needs a vital part for his computer system, otherwise, he won't be able to register any new trainers. He can't leave his lab unattended. Eevy catches a nasty cold from the daring rescue with Raikou, otherwise, she would go. Will Vovo and Ditto be able to retrieve the part alone? Why is Ditto so attached to Vovo all of a sudden? Find out soon in:

Love Blossoms

Notes

Surprise surprise! Raikou! Of all the Pokemon, I chose him because he is my 2nd favorite Legendary Beast. He had to be cool, so I made him telepathically inclined : ) I made Eevy a little dense in this part because, after all, aren't we all just a bit thick-headed at times? The Thunder Stone is for later. I thought it would be kind of interesting if Raikou gave her something. Her future is going to fit that little bit of foretelling to a tee. The guy, you ask? I'm not telling! You'll just have to wait!

*^~^*Kat*^~^*

Comments would be most appreciated! Please send them to:

proeeveebreeder@pokemonarena.net