Part of the journey is the lull.

"Welcome, Citrine-- wait, why are you so dirty?" Wallene froze at the door.

Citrine was covered in dust, dirt and mud. Well, it was reasonable seeing she didn't have a decent wash in three days, but this was overkill.

Her long sleeved shirt was ripped down the shoulder, and her hair was bundled in a mess of rocks. It was an awful sight, and Roxanne scratched her cheek, a bashful admittance of error.

"Ehe," Citrine didn't know where to begin, "stuff happened on the way."

"Would it be trouble if I were to borrow the bath, Miss Wallene?" Roxanne spoke up, politely bowing before making an entrance.

Wallene watched with muted surprise, but promptly led them in. "Of course, the bath was just drawn," she was quick, frantic, "neither of you are injured, are you? Wally, could you bring the first aid kit? Oh, please stay the night, Roxanne, we're really grateful you brought Citrine over the mountains, so please have dinner and breakfast before you--"

"Alright, alright, Wallene, calm down," Citrine fussed, trying her hardest to assure the woman she was alright, "we just had uh, a little too many Pokemon battles up there."

"I'm very sorry for neglecting to care for our health, but I assure you neither of us are seriously injured as we took proper breaks in between," Roxanne held Wallene's hands in hers warmly, "please forgive me for my oversight."

Wallene actually flushed, "no-- it's fine!" she seemed horrified to have a renowned Gym Leader actually wholeheartedly apologize to her, "please raise your head! it's fine, really!"

As the two had their adult fuss over responsibility and the lack thereof, Citrine removed her belt, placing it and her Poke Balls on the cabinet.

"Hi, Citrine," there was Wally, holding up a few towels in his hands, and a first aid kit in the other. He called out to the girls with a meek and reserved smile, approaching them with quick little steps, like a rabbit-- "the bath is drawn, so go right ahead."

Citrine took the towel, grateful, plucking off her shoes, she hoped mud wouldn't be tracked in. 

"Miss Roxanne, let's wash off the mud before it sticks!" she called out to the older girl.

—

Soaking in the tub together, they seemed content. 

"Nothing beats a nice, long soak after a journey!" Roxanne was in bliss. She leaned back, and although there wasn't much space with two in the tub, she enjoyed herself.

Citrine scooped up a handful of water, watching it stream across her fingers and return to the still flow in the tub. There was a cut across the side of her palm, just a scratch, not enough to bleed. Perhaps, it was from when she fell this morning.

Her and Roxanne were both covered in cuts and scratches. For Citrine, she sustained numerous slashes in her arms when Nosepass' Rock Throw misfired; for Roxanne, it was when Whismur's Uproar managed to shoot them right back.

As for the mud, they realized a little too late that Rock Throw and Water Gun don't make the most hygienic combination possible.

"You're slowly, but steadily getting stronger," Roxanne told her, leaning on the edge of the bath tub, "can you feel it? I think your Lotad might evolve soon."

At that, Citrine brimmed with happiness, "I thought so too!" she was excited. "I guess we really are getting a little tougher now."

"Be a little prouder of the fact, would you?" Roxanne sneered, "a Gym Leader has recognized you, Citrine! you can boast about it if you want."

"No! I wouldn't dare--" Citrine shrank, "I don't want to uh, get too big of a head and all..."

Roxanne lay back, resigned, "well, you're a humble one."

Citrine sighed, unable to return the statement.

"I do think you've got a long way to go, though," Roxanne decided, "you should get more Pokemon, Citrine. A Pokemon that can bail you out, like a Poochyena."

"A Poochyena?" Citrine wondered about the suggestion. It would keep her warm at night... "is it for their ability to Run Away?" 

"Running away is often a good choice, Citrine," Roxanne said defensively, "perhaps even a Wingull, so it can use Light Screen or Protect in a pinch. To protect your own well-being, of course-- currently, your Pokemon don't make up a balanced team."

Citrine pouted, "I'll think about it."

—

"So," she turned to the older girl, a concerned look in her eyes, "is there really no ulterior reason you decided to escort me to this town, Miss Roxanne?"

Hearing that, Roxanne felt a little seen through. 

She retained her calm demeanor, looking toward the empty sky outside the window, as if something to avoid this conversation would appear if she looked long enough.

"A girl I met last week, she defeated me in a gym battle," Roxanne admitted, beginning to enlighten the younger girl, "and when she did, I realized... I was placed as a Gym Leader to educate the young ones regarding the importance of basic Trainer Knowledge on a Journey, but knowledge itself, wasn't everything."

Citrine considered the older girl, and wondered if she should stop her.

To ask her if this was personal, and if Roxanne didn't really want to share something like this to a girl that wasn't even all that close to her to begin with.

"I buried myself in books, thinking that it would help me succeed further," Roxanne sounded frustrated, a steaming determination in her eyes, "it got me as far as a Gym Leader, after all."

Citrine stopped, realizing something.

Was Roxanne referring to...

"That girl was much younger than I was... she might have been younger than you, Citrine," Roxanne beamed with a sort of admiration in her, "but she taught me that knowledge within books are nothing compared to knowledge absorbed from personal relations with nature."

...Sapphire Birch, she breathed.

And suddenly, everything just made sense now.

Roxanne came to soul-search. To experience the wisdom of nature after suffering a defeat against Sapphire, to find out what she was missing, and to fill in the gaps that made up her flaws as best as she could-- to improve herself.

"You inspire me, Citrine," Roxanne turned to the girl, eliciting a surprised gasp from the girl, "after all, you made the decision to go out and experience the understanding yourself, instead of being content with all the books in the vast Rustboro Library."

Citrine's eyes met Roxanne's deeply.

And somehow, Citrine began to cry.

Not because she was sad-- not because she was touched-- but simply because she was overwhelmed. Blown away in utter admiration, for this young girl, so young-- yet so mature. So amazing, yet so humble.

For Miss Roxanne, who she looked up to so much.

And for the praise she definitely, definitely did not deserve at all.

—

Citrine saw her off, watching her ride her Graveler on a rapid route back toward Rustboro. After an initial goodbye, and one curt wave, Roxanne was gone beyond the cliff. 

Citrine ran her fingers around the gleaming Stone Badge pinned on the inner side of her vest.

"Badges aren't just the proof of strength. They do, to some degree, hold strength," Roxanne explained, "the more you gather, the stronger your Pokemon can and will be."

Reaching for the third Poke Ball on her belt, she eyed the Pokemon inside as it slept, not rousing.

If I gather enough badges, I'll be able to use you in battle, she spoke only in her heart, then, you'll cheer up, right?