Julie POV

I stood frozen in Silver City. My legs refused to work, and I felt like I would never speak again, because my bracelet was gone.

Not just gone, stolen.

"Dear? Are you all right?"

I slowly turned to see a woman frowning slightly at me. She looked concerned, so I said stiffly, "Yeah- Yeah, I- I'm alright."

The woman didn't seem to believe me, but said, "well, okay, dear." She hesitantly walked away from me.

No, I thought, I'm not alright.

What do I do? He's gone, off in the forest. And it's just a simple bracelet- why did he want it so bad?

Did he know it was a translator?

I couldn't force the last thought out of my head. How would he know? Perhaps he was spying on me, and caught me talking to a Pokemon? But why suspect the bracelet?

The answer came to me. He must have been spying on me when I told Torch about the bracelet. That's how he knew.

So what do I do? The question tugged at my mind. I need to tell Professor Sapling! But Shadow also wanted me to wait here.

It wouldn't matter anyway. I wouldn't be able to understand anything he says!

Slowly I began to run towards Sweetgrove Town, which would lead me to Jungle City, which would then go to the mountains, and finally I'd be all the way back home.

Aurora POV

The Snow Camp was beautiful.

Caves set into the stone walls, layered in soft, white snow, were filled with Pokemon. The Pokemon ranged from Water Types, Ice types, and a few Rock Types, and they all look genuinely happy, living in the frosty world. I shivered slightly, but despite the cold, I followed Dare down the slope.

As we were walking to a very large cave, someone cried, "Hex!"

I twitched my ears and turned to see a Glaceon running towards Dare. She enveloped him in a hug. "Hex! I thought I'd lost you forever!"

I couldn't help but notice Asha fuming.

"You were caught, and I was so afraid! I thought I'd never see you again, Dare!"

After a couple seconds, she let go and stood back, smiling. Then she noticed me standing somewhat near him and said, frowning, "Who's she? Is she your girlfriend?"

Dare looked shocked, and I spluttered, "Ew- what? Ew. No way! We are not-"

"Actually," said Asha, stepping between me and Dare, "I'm his girlfriend."

Nobody said anything for a second. Then Dare said, looking shocked, "We're dating?"

"Of course we are!" Snapped Asha.

The Glaceon curled her lip and stepped back. "Hex, are you coming back to live in the Snow Camp?"

Dare sadly shook his head. "No, I'm just visiting." Then he added, "my name is Dare now."

The Glaceon stared at him, then said, her voice dripping with bitterness, "So why are you here?"

"To see Ace."

She walked to the large cave and called, "Aaaace! Guess who's here to see you!"

I jumped a little as a large Beartic stepped out of the cave, followed by a tottering Cubchoo. The Beartic- Ace, was it?- blinked at Dare.

"Hex! You're back?"

Dare sighed. "My name is Dare. And I've come to ask you a favor."

Ace paused. "Yeah?"

"We need you- and the Pokemon of the Snow Camp- to charge down a Pokemon prison, and soon," he said clearly and firmly.

The Beartic furrowed her brow, and said, "Dare, come into my cave and explain."

"Can I come?" Asha said hopefully.

"No," said Ace, and the two disappeared into the cave. The Cubchoo continued to suck his thumb as he waddled around in the snow.

Me, Asha, Sapphire, and Gardevoir stood awkwardly, glancing around at the staring Pokemon. Then Asha said stiffly, "I'm going to look around. See you." She strolled away, and soon we dispatched. I walked towards a group of Pokemon to see if they wanted to talk. The group consisted of a Wartortle, a Squirtle, and surprisingly, an Audino.

"Hello?" I said, stepping towards them.

The Wartortle turned to me. "Oh. Hello," she said.

I paused awkwardly. "Um. Watcha doing?"

The Audino said, "we've got an injured Charmander in this cave," she said. "I've been called to take s look at him. He needs his rest- so please, come back later."

"O-Oh. All right."

I walked away, and it took me a minute to realize that the Wartortle and the Squirtle were following. The caught up to me, and the Wartortle said, "Do you know a Charmander? He won't say what happened to him."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I don't."

The Squirtle was holding the Wartortle's hand, looking scared. I guess they're sisters.

"We were just walking around," the Wartortle said, "and there he is, laying in the snow. We carried him back here, contacted an Audino, and checked him over. He can speak, but like I said, he won't say where he's been or what he's done."

I glanced over my shoulder. "Can I talk to him later?"

"Sure. When he wakes up."

"I'd like to meet him," I said.