Trent snickered.

"Sounds about right," he said. He grinned. "A good Bubblebeam can still put one in the dirt."

About a week later the two pairs were getting ready to go their separate ways. Aleron had, once again, volunteered to stay behind to watch over the ranch, but Quen had decided to go with Margaret for a while. Because Margaret was still leery around him and he kind of hated it.

Even though she was wary of Quen, Margaret was more than willing to be back on the road. She wasn't quite ready to settle down in one place, yet, and she still wanted to travel. She and Quen just happened to be going in the same direction.

"You sure you'll be okay here on your own?" she asked Aleron as she gathered her things.

Trent, on the other hand, also volunteered to stay behind. He was kind of fascinated with how the ranch was run, and he wanted to help out.

"Watch yourself," he said to his brother. "I hear there's a fighting-type gym in Johto. Don't get your ass kicked." He grinned. "And travel safe and all that."

"I'll be fine," Aleron said with a tolerant grin. "I've got my helpers, and the local pack of Growlithe seems to listen well enough most of the time. You go explore and have fun, and we'll all be here when you get back."

Quen rolled her eyes and grinned anyway. "Yeah, yeah," he said. "Sure thing. I'll call you once I get somewhere."

"Call if you need me to come back," Margaret said, giving her friend a hug. "Noctowl will help you, if you ask her. I'll take Ralts with me, though, so you won't have to worry about him."

Trent nodded.

"Alright," he said.

"Don't worry, I will," Aleron said, still grinning. "Really, you go on. Next time will be my turn."

"You stay safe too," Quen said after a moment. "And try not to piss her off." Because he knew his brother was planning on staying with the crazy fire lady as he somewhat-affectionately called her.

"Alright," Margaret said. She grinned. "I'm going to wander around Johto for a while, and then come back home. Good plan?"

Trent grinned.

"No promises," he said. "But I'll try. Besides, Lady can protect me."

"Yup, sounds like a good plan," Aleron agreed with a grin. "And do let me know if you find any interesting pokemon."

Quen snorted. "She's a terror," he said flatly, though he was grinning. He'd been of that opinion back when Lady had still been a Magicarp.

"I will," Margaret promised. "Although," she added, grinning, "I doubt I'll see any more interesting than the ones here."

"She's a sweetheart," Trent replied. "And she's sweet on Big Red."

"Not as interesting but still interesting." Aleron grinned and started to shoo her away. "Now stop stalling and get going. Really, he's not that bad, and he won't attack you randomly." She grinned teasingly. Because of course she knew that Margaret was nervous about Quen.

Quen snickered. "If I come back to a pond full of Magicarp we're tossing half of 'em in a lake somewhere."

Margaret rolled her eyes.

"Hush, you," she said. "You know I'm not good with dark-types."

Trent just snickered.

"Just go already," he said to his brother. "And don't scare the girl too much."

"Yeah, yeah," Aleron said, rolling her eyes. "Go get used to them so you won't be so damn jumpy."

Quen just rolled his eyes at his brother and moved over to the gate, waiting for Margaret to decide she was done so they could go. Absol was out next to him again.

Margaret gave Aleron a half-hearted shove and then walked over towards Quen, Espeon beside her.

"Ready when you are," she said. "Tohjo Falls is that way." She gestured down the road.

Quen nodded and started walking easily, Absol staying next to him.

"Looks like you were more eager to go than Aleron."

"I like traveling," Margaret admitted. "City girl and all. I like being out and moving."

"Can't fault you for that," Quen said feelingly. "I hate being stuck in one place for too long. I was starting to get a touch of cabin fever."

Margaret nodded.

"Yeah," she agreed. "I mean, the city is nice, and I go back every so often, but I just love traveling." She grinned. "I'll go home occasionally to help my brother train up his pokemon some, but otherwise I stay out of Saffron City."

Quen snickered and nodded. "Yeah, we'll usually stop in towns and cities for a few days, but..." He trailed off and patted Absol's head. "People tend to be scared of this guy."

"Legend says Absol only appear to foretell disaster," Margaret pointed out. She barely broke stride as Espeon jumped up onto her shoulder to ride.

"Yeah, and you of all people should know that legends aren't always true," Quen shot back. Because he was nothing if not protective of his pokemon.

"I know," Margaret replied defensively, her shoulders hunching a bit. "But people never really know which ones are true until they come face-to-face with them."

Quen was quiet at that, just walking for a little while.

"Yeah well if people weren't so stubborn sometimes..." He looked off to the side.

Margaret sighed. This wasn't going to work if they were at each other's throats all the time. So she fell back on what experience told her was the best way to make friends with another trainer.

"Do we need to have a battle?"

She would likely regret it, but still.

"I don't know, do you?" Quen asked, looking over at her. "You're the one that's been eyeing me like I'm a rabid Houndoom from the moment we got to your little farm."

"Dark-types scare me, okay?" Margaret snapped. "No psychic-type in their right mind would face one down if they didn't have to because they can't be hit and they're like the stuff of nightmares. I don't like dealing with dark-types without being able to counter them somehow, and that's really hard." When she realized what she'd said, she gasped slightly and covered her mouth.