Chapter 16: Home sweet home.

Chapter 16: Home sweet home.

“WE’RE HERE! Welcome to Arrowroot Town everyone. The place where anyone is welcome. Of course. But it’s not like Beach Rose Town where it’s so beautiful, calm and really welcoming.” Xiaoling said as they walked pass the gate. “Well, I think I need to go home now. Please come. There are many spare rooms.” She suddenly walked straight into a forest and walked fast making the others run to catch up to her.

“Hey, why are you walking fast?” Dawn asked.

Xiaoling continued walking fast ignoring Dawn’s question. They continued walking into the forest until there was a clearing. A swing was swinging in the clearing with flowers growing around it. There was a garden filled with berries and fruit. A big house stood near the back with the sunlight shining on it. The sunlight that shone on it made it stand out. Xiaoling smiled and whispered something that no one heard. Trees stood around the clearing, a pond sat on the side of the clearing.

“Beautiful.” Kora muttered.

“Xiaoling, this is beautiful. Where’s everyone?” Key asked. “Who did this?”

“I did. And everyone is no one but me.” Xiaoling answered.

“Wow, your great…..Wait.” Key said.

“You’re by yourself? Where are mum and dad?” Kora asked.

“They left to someplace else. Huh? No guys, they’re not dead. Got it.” Xiaoling said. “I’ve learnt to do a few things. This is one of them. But the real deal is when your inside.” Xiaoling walked down a path and hopped on a rock step all the way to the entrance. It was a veranda. A table laid in the middle of chairs. A swing chair lay on one side of the veranda. “This is my house. Welcome to my ‘Wonders of Memories.’ It’s a name I’ve came up. Thought I should start something, I wanted to do something incredible.” 

“Well you’ve done it. Now we really need a tour of this place.” Key said.

“Hahaha! You’ve got to be kidding me! Hahahaha!” Xiaoling shouted laughing. Key shook his head. “Fine. But let me get this place ready. Cookie anyone?”

“ME!!!” Xiaoling left and came back. “Have a look around this yard. There’s also a place to battle, Ash. Oh grab some berries and fruit please, Kora and anyone else!” And with that she left for real.

              -Time skip-

“I’m back. I made cookies and each room is ready for your comfort!” Xiaoling shouted.

“Thanks!” they shouted and ran to Xiaoling. “So when do we start?”

“After we all eat these cookies!”

“Why?” Brock asked.

“Cause I’m hungry.” And Xiaoling started grabbing some cookies and eating them.

“Hey! We want some!” Ash shouted and ran to get some cookies.

                -Time skip-

“Finish!” Ash shouted.

“I know. Now let me show you around the garden and then we’ll enter.    :)   Now let’s go! Follow me!” Xiaoling announced. “Walk along this path.” Xiaoling walked on the path that was decorated with many pictures and patterns.

“The path is wonderful. It brings memories of all kinds. For young and old. The details are off but you can understand just like parts of memories. Like lost memories.” Kora said while bending down and touching some.

“Mmm. This one is my favourite. The one that stands the brightest in the middle but it is also sad.” Xiaoling said pointing towards another path going futher. She walked down the path and smiled. “Hello.” She saw a butterfree flying across her and flapped around, greeting her. And then flew off.

The path was dark but beautiful. Red roses and colourful tulip stood against each other. The red roses resembled sadness and darkness, while the tulips stood strong against them bright and happy; smiling and dancing. Trees stood behind the flower bushes looking strong and their branches stood still like they are showing them as a prison or as it they are trapped between emotions. Rocks were there too, big and small, of all shapes and sizes. Some were the same and some were slowly getting bigger than the other. But all the rocks had a small symbol on each with a picture on it.

One symbol had a circle with a star in it while having wings and lines showing them it was broken but still flying strong. Another was a heart and gentle wings curled up. Another had rings around a sphere shaped like Saturn but had a sword stabbed through it. Another had an arrow and bow inside a colourless flower (dead/drooping). While drops of rain surrounded it. There were others but rubbed out. “What are these symbols for?” Dawn asked.

“Huh? That’s a secret you’ll find out when someone realises it but best to keep your mouth shut when you know. And let the others find out when we continue.” Xiaoling answered and continued to walk further down the path. Dawn looked at her and back at the rocks.

“Xiaoling. I bet you could be an artist.” Kora said.

“I bet you’ll be the best one.” Key said after.

“I don’t want to be one. Have you’ve seen the first few ones. They’re not as good as the others but once I kept doing more I got used to it and removed the bad ones. Ones I thought wasn’t good to show.”

“You mean you’ve wasted it. Like threw it away?” Dawn asked.

“No I said ‘removed the bad ones.’ Not threw away.”

“Hmmm?”

“Hey, look there it is!”

They all looked up and saw the biggest one of all. It was circle shaped. There were flowers growing and fruit trees growing. Showing them it was new but had features showing them it was old.

“The first big thing I made for my place. I’ve made many things but some things were here already. Like that fountain and pond for Pokémon to wash themselves. I think the previous owners liked Pokémon very much. I’ve met them once. They said to keep it there which I already wanted it there. They said it was a great idea and to create a playground for living things. People, plants and pokémon.” Xiaoling said sitting on a chair. “Anyone want oranges?”

“Huh? Oranges?” everyone asked in union.

“Sure, fresh oranges are the best.” Xiaoling said wiping a wet orange (which she grabbed from a tree and washed it with the fountain) and then finally cutting it. “Want some?”

They all nodded and started sitting down. “I love oranges but I love many fruits too. Well mainly the ones I grow.” Xiaoling said while half laughing. “So should we get going?”

“Yeah but we’re still eating.” Brock said.

“So, eat while you walk. We’re still walking around outside. And tell me when you’re finished. I know where to put those peels.”

They nodded and started walking behind Xiaoling. What’s wrong with Xiaoling. And why does these things look so familiar but different? Key asked himself while frowning.

“Tonikey. What’s wrong?” Kora asked her brother.

“Nothing, Tora.”

“I think it’s something. And is it about Xiaoling?” Kora whispered but looked like she’s not saying anything at all. Key nodded. “Hmm. I see. I know you’re worried but this is her older.”

“But…. Your right.” Tonikey said afterwards. “Let’s go.” Kora smiled but inside she agreed with Key. Something was wrong. Tonikey. I wish I can tell you but I feel something is terribly wrong. I feel we’re being watched, I don’t feel great and I know Xiaoling knows. She always knows after what had happened to her and me she’s more careful. Xiaoling I wish us three were together not being watched or heard. I need to tell you.

“Okay, we’re back to the same path. But-” Xiaoling stopped in mid-sentence. “COME!” She shouted. She ran down to her house. “Guys. We need to separate. You two stay here. At the house. No inside it and watch everything. The rest follow and get your pokémon ready. COME OUT POKÉMONS WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!” Xiaoling shouted and ran down the same path as they ran down pokémon was rushing and looking everywhere ready.

“What’s wrong?” Kora asked.

“They’re here.”

“Who’s here?” Ash asked.

“I thought you we’re with Brock?”

“I was but Dawn said I should be with you to do whatever you wanted to do.” Xiaoling didn’t fight back.

“Arhh. Where are you?” Xiaoling muttered. A spearow flew down towards Xiaoling. “Thank you, lead us there.” The spearow flew up, guiding them towards somewhere.