Kellyn held her hands lightly. Ally struggled slowly upwards, putting her weight on Kellyn. Her legs wobbled beneath her and she stood. She smiled and laughed weakly, obviously having difficulty.

She straightened her legs and took an awkward step. Kellyn didn't miss a beat, moving to help her. She nodded nervously and took another step, but her legs gave out and she fell. Kellyn caught her and helped her back to the couch. Ally groaned and lay back, covering her face with a forearm.

"Two steps aren't bad," he said, patiently.

Ally groaned again. After first arriving at Kellyn's cottage, it quickly became obvious that her feet had suffered frostbite and it would take time for them to heal. In the meantime, Kellyn had bought a wheelchair for her to use. After being condemned to the thing for over a week, she was impatient to get back on her feet.

"I'm sick of that stupid wheelchair," Ally said, glaring at it harshly.

"And I'm sick of your complaining," Kellyn replied bluntly.

Ally blinked slowly, caught off-guard by the remark. "I'm... sorry," she said quietly.

He sighed and waved it off. Sitting on the floor by the fireplace, he peered at her curiously.

"What?" She asked worriedly. "Don't judge okay, I haven't had a shower in a while."

He scoffed and shook his head, biting his bottom lip. "You're keen to get out of here."

"Wouldn't anyone want to get out of here?" She replied, a hint of frustration in her voice.

"No, they wouldn't," he retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Ally sighed and looked at the roof. "Right, sorry. I just meant, I'm sick of being confined to this couch."

"I know, I just can't figure out why."

Ally's head flopped to the side and she looked at him with attitude. "Things to do, places to be."

"Sounds fun," he answered, his voice spilling sarcasm across the floor.

Ally rolled her eyes at the unspoken question. "I'm taking the Gym challenge."

"Oh," he replied, with mild interest. "So, what? Travelling from place to place, beating gyms?"

"That's pretty much it."

"I don't see the point," he said, shrugging. He waited for Ally to respond but when she didn't, he glanced over and caught her staring out the window, a blank look upon her face. His nose crinkled at her reaction. He thought a moment before groaning inwardly. "Do you have any badges yet?" He asked tersely.

Ally smiled softly. "Not a one," she whispered, "Only two days into my journey and I got lost. I wandered for another day or two before getting caught in that blizzard. Now, here I am," she said, throwing her arms up in disgust and irritation.

A sharp bark of laughter escaped Kellyn. "Sounds like you need a partner."

Ally's head snapped around and she looked at him with new interest. "A partner?"

"Yeah, someone to reply upon. A friend who you trust."

Ally looked down and twiddled her thumbs aimlessly. "I don't have anyone like that."

Kellyn grunted. "Well, find someone."

He stood and moved to walk outside, but Ally stopped him, calling out one last question.

"What about you? Who's your partner?"

A dark look flickered across his face before he turned to her, grinning sarcastically. "I've got everything I need."

"What about your Pokémon?" She asked quickly.

Kellyn shrugged. "My Pokémon are my friends, and my comrades, but a partner is something more than that."

He stepped outside, closing the door lightly behind him, ending the conversation. He pulled on some shoes and grabbed an axe which had been left leaning by the door. He stepped down onto the snowy ground and sighed tiredly. His head tilted upwards, he gazed at the sky and remembered someone who's personality was bright as the sun; whose laugh could warm any room; who's fiery red hair meant hope.