Touichi didn't expect to find himself sitting in a stunned silence as his Dewott ranted in her usual chatters, her annoyance obvious as her small hands gestured, trying to make her irritation more obvious. Aah... she really was mad, wasn't she? It left the crossdresser unsure, shifting in place nervously as he watched her go, tugging his sleeves nervously.
The small boy didn't really have to try very hard to understand why she was so upset - Tomoe had been annoyed and upset ever since encountering that alternate, ever since Touichi went back to Striaton City. She... didn't want to give up, did she? Biting his lip, Touichi let out a sigh, closing his eyes and flinching a little as she continued chatering, glaring at him in irritation.
"... I'm sorry." Touichi managed to murmur to the Dewott in a quiet voice, tugging his sleeves. "I-I'm sorry, b-but... you know he w-was right, T-Tomoe..." The boy continued to speak, and the Dewott went silent, glaring at him. She wasn't happy, but the alternate was right. Touichi wasn't strong, he couldn't get stronger than this - and, he was putting his Pokemon in risk by continuing. There were far stronger Pokemon, far stronger trainers ahead, and Touichi would never be able to keep them safe from them.
"I d-don't... want you t-to get... hurt... and... y-you know you will... I c-can't protect you, and there are... s-stronger, we'll g-get beaten, you'll g-get hurt...!" Hesitating, Touichi opened his eyes again, looking at her sadly. "... If... y-you want to continue s-so m-... much... I can... I c-can... see if I'll t-take you b-back to the P-Professor... so s-she can find a better t-trainer for yo-"
He was cut off, however, as Tomoe pulled one of her scalchops from its place and raised it against him. She was glaring at him in anger, and even if she wasn't close enough for the blade to be a threat, the gesture was obvious to the boy. Don't you dare. She was furious, and for the first time, Touichi found himself actually startled in front of his partner, leaning back on the seat nervously. However, the Dewott didn't attack. Instead, Tomoe shook her head, lowering the scalchop slowly before gesturing with it to herself.
"To-... Tomoe..." Touichi started, his voice cracking lightly. He didn't know what to do, or what to say, but after a moment of silence, Tomoe shook her head, raising her head as she stared up at her trainer.
She could get stronger. She believed she would get stronger, and so would the others. She needed her trainer to actually believe in his Pokemon, and keep going. For once, it seemed like Touichi understood, for once it seemed like they knew what to do. Lowering his head, Touichi hesitated, biting his lip as he hesitated, trying to figure out what to say, but finally managing to say in a small voice. "... I'm sorry."
Lowering her scalchop, Tomoe stepped closer to her trainer and, timidly, Touichi pulled the Water type to his arms, holding her close to himself.
They had to go back to their journey.
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