"GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY FROM ME," I shrieked, covering my face with my arms. Rusty leapt up and tackled the Zubat away from me, the Pokemon flying up and away back into the cave. "Shh, it's okay Jasmine," Lucas assured, hugging me. "The Zubat is gone."

I began taking deep breaths, calming down as I felt Lucas stroke my head gently. Rusty nuzzled my leg, Hope was asleep in my backpack. "I'm glad you didn't want us to clear the cave out for you, but maybe we should," Barry said. "Yeah, you seem mortified of some Pokémon," Dawn added. "N-no, I'll be fine, I have you guys and my Pokémon," I said naively.

My friends nodded, as Lucas let go of me. "Thanks," I smiled up at him. Lucas nodded, as Rusty began pulling on my pant leg. *Jasmine, there's an exit over here!* "Wait, guys, Rusty says that there's an exit over here!"

Rusty nodded and smiled, running ahead, with me following. Sure enough, there was a hole in the side of the mountain leading out to Route 208. Not waiting for my friends, I climbed through the hole and looked around. The rocky walls of the cliff stretched up until they flattened out at the top. On one of the cliffs, I saw a thin tail of smoke rising up from a hidden source.

My friends had now come out of the hole and looked around. "Oh, yeah, Route 208," Dawn remembered. "Up ahead is Hearthome City," Barry explained. "Fantina is there, but she's the 5th Gym Leader," Lucas told me. I nodded absentmindedly, looking at the smoke.

"Guys, I think there's someone up there," I said. "Oh, maybe someone's camping up there. I'm sure it's alright," Lucas told me. "I think I should go up there; if anything, the view will look really great!" "Alright, Jas, just be careful," Lucas told me, ruffling my hair.

I giggled and straightened it back out, before hearing Hope yawn in awakening. I took my blue Buneary out of my backpack and set her next to Rusty. :Alright, guys, we're gonna go check something out on top of the cliff.: Rusty nodded, running ahead. Hope followed, the two of them leaving me in the dust.

I followed as fast as I could, though that became slower as we ascended. I was still terrified of heights and falling, so I forced myself to move slower. :Well, guess we have each other to talk to while the other 2 are frolicking or whatever.: :I'm scared, Jasper! This is so scary!:

:Jasmine, it'll be okay, just think about something else! And whatever you do, don't look down! And I swear to Arceus, if you look down, you'll never hear the end of it!: Such a threat made me inclined to heed my inner voice's warning. I gulped and moved along the path shakily, only looking up.

:Ah, the sun feels so nice today.: :Maybe because of the gym battle earlier?: :Maybe to you, I guess, but I was asleep for that.: :Asleep, but how? You're kinda just a voice.:

As I asked that, a cloud passed overhead, covering me in shade. Once I appeared in the sun again, Jasper took a deep breath, as if she was deprived of oxygen. :Jasper, are you okay?: :Y-yeah...that's how I fall asleep. When you go inside or when that happens.:

:Wait, so when Team Galactic was trying to capture me in Jubilife City, you were asleep?: :Yes, I was, as well as during both your gym battles.: :Huh, weird...I wonder why...maybe you get energy from the sun? Kinda like a plant?: :Maybe, but who truly knows?: Our conversation was cut short by me coming up to the top of the cliff.

Hope and Rusty were standing in front of something, looking at it. *You look cool, Jasmine would like you,* Rusty smiled. *I don't need anyone, I like being alone,* a female voice said. *But that's not a good thing...I've been alone my whole life, and it was awful,* Hope explained. *Maybe because you're weak,* the new Pokémon suggested.

Hope gasped, before turning away and sobbing into her paws. Rusty growled and glared at the Pokémon. I quickly ran up to Hope, holding her close and petting her head. "Shh, it's okay, Hope, it's okay." As Hope buried her face in my shirt, I looked over to the Pokémon that upset her.

The Pokémon was small and white, with green hair and reddish-pink horns. I took out my Pokédex and scanned it. 'Ralts: The Emotion Pokémon. It can sense the emotions of those around it, and fears negative feelings. Its body temperature heats up when it senses joy and positivity.' *Jasmine, she made Hope cry,* Rusty reminded me.

*Because she's weak! She can't take what someone else has to say about her because she's weak,* the Ralts explained. "Hope isn't weak, she's actually quite strong," I told the Ralts. *Wait...how can you...never mind. But Hope is weak; she can't take other Pokémon calling her names!*

Hope kept running her face into my stomach. *What makes you think you can judge Hope, huh,* Rusty asked angrily. *Because I know what it's like, to be different. But unlike the Buneary, my difference makes me better than everyone else,* the Ralts bragged. "Wh-what do you mean?"

The Ralts moved her hand under her hair, before moving it to the side, showing us that her eye was a golden color. *Wait, so you have different eyes? So does Jasmine,* Rusty said. "So, your eyes are gold," I asked, confused. *Hang on, just wait,* the Ralts told us.

As if on cue, the gold in her was beset by a rainbow of other colors, the hues swirling around in her iris until a lavender color overtook it. *Whoa, your eye changed color,* Rusty shouted. *Yeah, I know, and everyone else hates me for it, but just because I'm better than them,* the Ralts laughed. "Wait..." I muttered, looking around at the campfire and the small cave behind it. "Do...do you live alone?"

*Yeah, so, what's so bad about that?* "That's no way to live. No one should be alone, they should have friends to be with." *I told you, I don't need anyone,* the Ralts yelled. *But maybe you don't know that you do...maybe you just don't want to say you're wrong,* Rusty suggested.

*No, I'm not wrong, I don't need friends!* :I say we leave her, she's a brat.: The Ralts glared straight at me, frowning. :You heard me, you're acting foolish. You know you're wrong, that you need friends, but you just don't want to admit it because no one wants to be your friend!:

The Ralts sighed, looking at the ground. Hiccupping and sobbing was heard from her, as tears began streaming down her face. Hope, feeling bad, hugged the Ralts gently, rubbing her back. *We can be your friends, if you want,* she suggested. *I...yes...yes please...but I don't have a name...*

I smiled and picked up the Ralts, moving her hair out of her eyes. Her left eye was a hot pink, like my eyes, while her right eye was a shade of red, not unlike my hair. I thought back to earlier in the week, and smiled. "I think I'll name you...Palette." The Ralts nodded, hugging my arm.

*I like that name. Th-thank you, Jasmine,* Palette smiled, her body temperature rising. I smiled back, gently stroking her head. I looked down to where we needed to go, the little color in my face draining away. We were still high up, and I was still afraid of heights.

*Jasmine, put Hope and Rusty in their Pokéballs real quick. Then I can get you down there,* Palette explained. I nodded, putting my other two Pokemon in their Pokeballs. Palette climbed up to my arm and held it tight, and with a bright flash of light, we were down to the entrance of the route in an instant. The world spun quickly around me, my head spinning wildly. :You okay, Jasmine,: Jasper asked.

Before I could respond, I had to bend over, as I could feel vomit rising up my throat. I puked onto the cliff wall, the throw-up rolling down the rocks. I repulsed at not only the feeling, but also the sight, smell, and taste of it. I quickly walked away, before Palette poked my cheek. *Umm...Jasmine...thanks...*

:You're welcome, Palette,: I smiled, as I continued to walk. :Seems like someone's travel sick,: Jasper taunted. *Why do you put up with that other voice,* Palette asked. :Well, she's kind of...a part of me,: I explained, ignoring the insults Jasper was throwing at Palette. *Umm...okay, I guess.*

My inner voice and my new Pokémon began arguing, so I tried to ignore it and stay on track. After a bit, they decided to stop and ignore each other. :So...you two done? *Yes,* :Yes,: they responded. :Good, please don't argue like that again.:

The streets of Hearthome City were coming closer, my friends awaiting me at the entrance. Lucas waved at me as he saw me, followed by Barry and Dawn noticing me. I waved back at my friends, before glancing at Palette, who was trying to hide behind my head, her horn cutting through my hair.

:It's alright, Palette, my friends are nice, they'll like you. They liked Hope, so you'll be alright.: Palette nodded slowly, moving back to sitting on my shoulder. I picked up my pace towards my friends, smiling. "Hey guys, this is my new Pokemon, Palette!"

///

The pictures Dawn took of Palette and her eyes had finished developing. At night, while Lucas and Barry were out, Dawn showed me the pictures. "Here, these are all the combinations I had time to find," she told me, handing the assortment of photos to me.

"Wow, these are cool! I never knew her eyes could be this color," I awed, showing her the picture of Palette's teal and orange colored eyes. "Well, the studio got kinda hot then. Maybe her eyes can change with temperature." I looked to my Ralts, curled up under the blanket of the bed, next to Rusty, who was laying his head on Hope.

I giggled, hugging all of them and kissing their foreheads gently. "You know, you make a good motherly figure, Jasmine." "Wh-what," I asked, turning to Dawn. "You're kind and caring, you're always working for your Pokémon, and if they get hurt, you're there to pick them up and comfort them," she smiled. "You look to have the workings of a great parent someday."

I nodded, smiling and hugging Dawn. "Thanks, Dawn, I appreciate it." My friend hugged me back, before a yawn escaped my mouth. "You should get bed, Jasmine." I nodded sleepily, going to the bathroom of the room to disrobe. After I did, I climbed into the bed, smiling at my Pokémon as I nodded off.

///

"Come on, Jasmine, Veilstone City awaits," Barry called. I ran up, nodding, Rusty and Hope behind me, with Palette on my shoulder. "I'm here and ready to go," I smiled. "Well, the gang's all here, let's get rolling," Lucas smiled. I nodded, before Rusty and Hope went running down the Route, and I began to chase after them.

---O---O---O---
Word Count: 1900 Words

So, that's all for today. But hey, some more info about Jasper, and a new Pokémon! That's cool, right?

Right?

Yeah, it is. Happy Reading!