~??? pov~

I sat casually at desk, going over plans when my monitor flicked to life, I glanced over to the screen to see I had a call coming in, the identity of the caller surprised me but I answered non the less.

"What do you want Ghetsis?" I hissed watching the monitor as his face flickered on screen. "I heard you were shut down, by a girl who couldn't even speak. I must say others are laughing at you."

Through the screen Ghetsis glared. "You won't be laughing when you hear the deal I have for you."

"Oh really, what is that?" I laughed at loud. What could he have to offer?

"The little runt who stuck her nose where is didn't belong is now in Hoenn and since that is your area of expertise, I would like you to capture her for me. Alive."

I burst out laughing. "The little scamp is your problem, why would I waste my time following a girl I have no business with?"

"I'm offering a substantial amount of money for her to be turned over unharmed and one of her Pokemon I think you'll find an interest in."

"What would that be?"

"Some how, the weakling hatched a Manaphy. It could be of use to your own cause, couldn't it?"

I thought about this. True the Manaphy would be useful but the girl I had nothing to do with... but I could use the money...

"I'll see what I can do." I replied cooly while stroking my chin. "But I won't go out of my way for one girl. Unlike the likes of you, I'm a civil human and I don't even want to know what you'll do to the poor child."

Ghetsis smirked. "That is my own business but remember Archie, I want the girl alive." At that, the monitor cut to black.

I shook my head. "Poor child." I've known Ghetsis long enough that he'll always get his way but whoever stands between him and what he wants is in a lot of trouble.

~~~🌺~~~
~Paige's pov~

:Okay Gummie, use Shadow Ball!: I called.

~Oookie-doookie!~ She giggled while charging in the attack. The purple ball of shadows formed quickly in her mouth, she spun in a circle using the speed from her spin to make the Shadow Ball hurl even faster towards Ghoul.

"Ghoul get out of the way!" Jake called but the already weaken Gangar wasn't fast enough and was hit by my Duosion's attack.

:We did it!: I called triumphantly as Ghoul fell to the ground fainted.

~Yaaay!~ Gummie squealed as her body started glowing.

"Gummie's evolving!" Jake exclaimed, running to my side.

Her body shape changed slightly and two arms sprouted from her side, each with three fingers. The two nobs on her head became more pointed and ear shaped. When the glowing faded Gummie was a completely different Pokemon from the little Solosis she was originally.

~Reuniclus!~ Gummie shouted before tackling me into a hug.

~I've wanted to do this for so long!~ She giggled wrapping her arms around me and squeezing all the air from my lungs and knocking me to the ground.

I flinched slightly. :Gummie, you're suffocating me: I told her telepathically.

I'd been mute since the day I was born but my entire team was mostly made of psychic types that I could talk to me in my head and read my thoughts. My only two exceptions are Miku, a legendary Pokemon I'd hatched in Unova (My home region). I'd found the egg while swimming with my, at the time, newly made friends, Jake and Milly. The egg had not that much later hatched into the adorable little Manaphy I have today. My other exception was Angel, a special Sylveon given to me as an Eevee by 'big brother' N. He wasn't really my big brother but that's how I'd always seen him, he'd taken care of me for years after Team Plasma kidnapped me when I was little but that's a whole different story all together.

The rest of my team consisted of a Gallade, Gardevoir and Duosion, now a Reuniclus. Samurai and Gardenia were my first ever Pokemon, like Angel, they were given to me by N only years earlier. The two Ralts have been with me since my eighth birthday, normally trainers don't get their first Pokemon until they turn ten but N gave me their eggs anyway and now, the two rarely left my side. I'd also learnt in my recent journey that Samurai and Gardenia were shiny Pokemon which means they're a different colour to most their species. Gallade, like Samurai, are dark green with a red spike coming from his chest compared to his dark blue colour and orange spike. Gardenia shares a similar colour scheme to her brother, only much lighter, being a Gardevoir. Gummie can also speak to me telepathically (<which is a word I'd only just learned to pronounce properly) and read my thoughts but only mine. I'm not quite sure why I'm the only one she can communicate with but Samurai says it has something to do with the link all Pokemon share with humans but I didn't really pay attentions of that speech... Angel was similar but she could only hear my thoughts and not speak to me though my mind like my other Pokemon can.

Gummie released me and gave an awkward smile. ~Sorry Paige, did I hurt you?~ She questioned, obviously worried about me.

I smiled and nodded at her. It had only been a few months since my final encounter with Team Plasma and the man I'd come to dread known as Ghetsis. He'd been responsible for kidnapping me from the orphanage when I was 7 and because I was mute, he found me useless and wanted to get rid of me immediately but it was thanks to N that I was still alive since then. A few months after I'd escaped (and a few more encounters with Team Plasma) I'd been forced to face Ghetsis and to stop N and Jake battling. After I'd put an end to a victor less battle Ghetsis had attempted to strangle me, making my friends watch helplessly until Samurai helped me by doing what Jake had referred to as Mega evolution which was also should of been impossible for Samurai at the time. Either way, I'm still alive today, and that much I have to be thankful of.

Jake gave me a pat of the head while he pulled out his Pokédex, scanning Gummie with the device, soon after the mechanical voice rung out with Gummie's information of her new form.

"Reuniclus the Multiplying Pokemon. When Reuniclus shake hands, a network forms between their brains, increasing their psychic power. They use psychic power to control their arms, which is made of a special liquid. They can crush boulders psychically."

Jake let out a long low whistle. "Pretty impressive I must say. You're gonna be stronger than me pretty soon." He smirked while sticking his hand out for my to grab.

I smiled and accepted it, letting him pull me lightly to my feet.

"Looks like Gummie learnt some new moves to... Psyshock, Hyper Beam, Recover and Focus Blast. Pretty impressive."

So that means she learnt Hyper Beam and Focus Blast when she evolved. Since she already knew Psyshock and Recover when she was a Duosion.

I hugged Gummie close. :Great job, you've grown so much since you were a little Solosis:

~She's not the only one who's grown a lot.~ Samurai smiled, taking my side. He used my head for support while he leaned against me, like he often did.

~Over the past few months you've grown a lot to.~ Gardenia smiled while I batted my Gallade away from my rosey pink hair that cascaded down my back like a waterfall made of fairy floss (or candy floss for those who call it that).

My Gardevoir was right though, I have grown a lot. I was only a few inches shorter than Milly's shoulder now compared to when I first ran away I was about the size of an eight year old and now I looked much older. I was still quite short compared to other kids my age, which is fourteen but I liked being short it's makes it easier to hide in smaller spaces.

Gummie sat on my head and Angel jumped on my shoulder, the proud little Sylveon looked up at Gummie with interest since the two were best friends and did a lot together.

~Miku bwig girl tooooo!~ Miku squealed, putting her hands on her side and sticking out her chest. The little Manaphy beamed with pride. Angel jumped from my shoulder and poked Miku's chest making her fall on her back.

Angel giggled while helping Miku back up while the rest of us, including Miku, laughed. ~Miku stwill a baby.~ She giggled.

I picked her up and hugged her. :You're my little baby:

~Cause, MIKU KAWAII!!!~ She squealed, throwing her arms above her head as she often did.

I smiled again and giggled.

"Come on Paige, it's lunch time." Jake said leading the way back to his house.

It had been a few months since I'd first first come to Hoenn with Jake and Milly and I was loving it. There was so many different types of Pokemon here and I wanted to learn them all. Milly had been teaching me about contests, while Jake continued to help me with battling. I was even going to get a Contest Pass so I could do contests with Milly when we go traveling. Which we were starting tomorrow.

I was really excited about seeing all the new Pokemon here in Hoenn. Jake's mother was really nice and letting my Pokemon and I stay with her while I stay in Hoenn, however long that may be. Jake lived on the water, literally. The whole town was build on rafts in the water and I'd fallen in so many times I'd lost count and I'd pushed Samurai twice as many times as that.

I've been an orphan for longer then I can remember, I don't remember much of my life before Team Plasma kidnapped me but I still remember a lot at the same time. Things like playing with my old best friend Makayla, who'd joined in on part of our Unova journey and playing with a little Axew that belonged to an old lady who lived next to the orphanage. Like me, Makayla (or Kay) was an orphan and shed returned to the orphanage after Jake, Milky and I had left for Hoenn since she still had hope of being adopted, which she is currently in the process of being adopted right now, but it takes around a year for it to become legal apparently but Kay didn't seem to mind. Me on the other hand, I didn't have much of a chance, I'd been taken off the 'list' and somehow, wasn't even recognised as an orphan anymore. I suspected that Team Plasma or even N had something to do with that but like many things in my life, I would never know.

Jake pulled a Pokèball from his belt and sent out Tutie-Fruitie a big flying Pokemon called a Tropius. He climbed on before extending a hand out to me so I could climb on behind him. Milly, Jake's younger sister, climbed on behind me while I returned my Pokemon apart from Gummie and Angel. Gummie could fly next to me while Angel hopped up onto my lap, she always loved flying.

With a pat on the neck from Jake, Tutie-Fruitie took off. I smiled and squealed with excitement as the rush of the wind blew in my face.

I looked down at the whole of Hoenn below me and smiled. This was going to be one grand adventure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So 'Find my courage' is finally published. I'm not going to apologise for it taking so long cause no apology is due. Any way, I will think the people who waited so patently for this book and encouraged me.

You do not need to have read 'Find my voice' to read this be but I do recommend it but I'll leave it completely up to you. Please be patient with updates, I'm writing other books that I love just as much as this one but I will update when I can.

Throughout this book I would love to see people vote and comment. As much as they're able. They inspire me so much to write and the Absol-utely make my day. You can comment by hitting the little speech bubble and vote by hitting the little star at the end of each chapter (it even changes colour ^3^)

Anyway, thanks to every reading this and being patent with the updates. It means so much to me.