Chapter 45: Bound by Fate

As I soared through the sky on Pidgeot's back, I felt the familiar wind whip against my face, cool and biting. Below, the world stretched out like a painted canvas—endless forests, glistening lakes, and distant towns that seemed like nothing more than specks. I patted Pidgeot's neck, and he chirped in response, his wings effortlessly cutting through the air as we flew toward the clearing where I knew Alisha and Lucy would be waiting.

I glanced down at the injured Squirtle—Splash, as Alisha called him—still nestled in my arms, his eyes half-open, his tiny body trembling slightly. He'd put up one hell of a fight against that Kadabra, but he wasn't in the condition to do it again anytime soon. I tightened my grip on him, my thoughts swirling. Alisha was going to flip when she saw this.

After a few minutes, I spotted the clearing, and Pidgeot began his descent, gliding smoothly toward the ground. Alisha and Lucy were already there, sitting under a tree, Lucy clutching her Eevee tightly to her chest while Alisha leaned against the trunk, her gaze sharp and focused. The second we landed, I hopped off Pidgeot, still cradling Splash carefully in my arms.

Alisha was on her feet in an instant, that familiar playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You left with a Pidgeotto and came back with a Pidgeot?" Her eyes glinted with mischief. "What else are you hiding?"

I ignored her, extending Splash toward her. The teasing light in her eyes vanished, replaced by panic as she rushed forward, snatching Splash from my arms. "What happened to my Splash?" Her voice was frantic, laced with concern.

Lucy stood beside her, worry written all over her face, though she didn't speak. Her Eevee shifted nervously in her arms.

I met Alisha's gaze, speaking steadily. "Splash and Raichu were fighting an abandoned Kadabra when I found them."

Alisha's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing with a fiery anger. "What did you do with that Kadabra?" Her tone was ice-cold, a far cry from the playful banter she usually threw at me.

"That Kadabra's different," I said, walking over to a nearby tree and leaning against it. I rummaged in my bag, pulling out an apple. Tossing one to Pidgeot, I took a bite from another. "Its trainer left it when it was still an Abra. It's stronger now. Angry."

Lucy's voice broke the silence, soft but filled with an underlying sadness. "That's... awful," she said quietly. "It's a pity."

Alisha wasn't letting go of her anger so easily. "What did you do with him?" she demanded, her tone sharp, almost accusatory.

I chewed thoughtfully, then shrugged. "He challenged me. I beat him. Caught him. You want more details?"

"No," she muttered, already focusing on Splash. She ran a hand through his shell, her earlier anger simmering into something quieter but no less intense. "I've already used a healing spray on him," I added, watching her closely. "He just needs rest. Don't call on him for battle anytime soon."

She nodded, her lips pressed into a tight line, and returned Splash to his Pokéball. Lucy, standing quietly beside her, finally found her voice again. "What about Raichu? Is he okay?"

I gave her a small smile. "He's fine, Lucy. Just needs rest too."

The tension in the air was palpable, but what Alisha said next took me completely off guard.

"I've decided not to travel with you anymore."

I stopped mid-bite, staring at her in shock. "What?"

Before I could say anything more, she continued, her voice firm, unyielding. "If I stay with you, you'll die. And... you won't marry me if I do."

Lucy, wide-eyed, muttered softly, "Marry... marry... marry..." Her voice trailed off, and she blushed furiously, staring at the ground.

I couldn't help it. I grinned and teased her, "Lucy, are you proposing to me by saying 'marry, marry, marry?'"

She went even redder, and I stifled a laugh, but Alisha wasn't playing games this time. Her gaze bore into me, intense and unwavering. "Punit, I'm serious."

I tossed the apple core aside, all humor draining from my voice. "What's this about? Why the sudden change? Did Lucy say something?"

Lucy shook her head quickly, nervously fiddling with the scarf around her neck, avoiding my gaze. Alisha answered for her, her tone sharp. "Lucy didn't say anything. I just realized my approach was wrong."

I raised an eyebrow. "And what's your new approach?"

She crossed her arms, her expression hardening with determination. "You won't marry me if I stay with you, but if I defeat you, you'll have no choice. So, I can't travel with you anymore—I need to grow stronger, stronger than you."

I nodded, trying to process this sudden turn of events. "I get it... but what about the part where I die if you stay with me?"

Her expression softened, a trace of vulnerability flickering behind her confident façade. "Because you're kind. And anyone who's kind to me dies... especially men."

I blinked, thrown by her words. "Wait... are you cursed or something?"

To my surprise, she nodded, her eyes dark with something I couldn't quite place. "It's about my past. Professor Elm told me... I was abandoned as a baby."

Lucy's grip on her Eevee tightened, and even Pidgeot shifted uneasily beside me, sensing the weight of the conversation. Alisha's voice trembled slightly as she continued, recounting a story that felt like it had been buried deep inside her for too long. 

"I was left at an orphanage in New Bark Town," she said quietly. "The older kids bullied me, locking me in dark rooms, laughing while I begged them to stop. Then one day, a young trainer came and adopted me. He was kind, like a father." Her voice wavered, and I could see the pain in her eyes. "But he went on a mission for his organization... and never came back."

She dropped to her knees, tears finally spilling over, and for once, I didn't know what to say. I knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder as she continued, the words tumbling out between sobs. "After that, the bullies came back. It didn't stop until they left to become trainers, but by then, I was broken."

She wiped her tears away, standing abruptly. "That's why I have to leave. I have to get stronger. If I stay with you, something bad will happen. You'll die."

I stood up too, my voice calm but firm. "Alisha, I'm not going to die. And you're not cursed."

Her eyes met mine, filled with an intensity I hadn't seen before. "You don't understand."

I sighed. "Alright. If this is what you need to do, then fine. But don't think for a second I'm going to make it easy for you when we meet again."

Her lips quirked into a faint smile, her usual teasing tone slipping back. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

And with that, she turned on her heel, calling over her shoulder, "We'll meet at the Indigo League. Don't cry if I'm not there, darling!"

As she disappeared with Lucy down the road, I turned to Pidgeot and muttered, "Am I the only one who thinks she's a little too crazy about me?"

Pidgeot tilted its head, clearly just as confused as I was.