Amanda reached her hand down slowly towards the animal. "You're sure?" she asked, a little worried. The zigzagoon sniffed her hand, then rubbed against it. Amanda was amazed, and started to per it. "It's softer than I thought it would be." She smiled. SHe had never be this friendly to wild pokemon before. She felt a sense of guilt, so she took her hand away and backed up. "I think we should keep going. The town is pretty far from here." She turned and started to walk away.

Frank stood up and looked at Amanda," Are you okay?" he asked walking away from the pokémon, it started following the two as tehy walked

Amanda didn't look at him, and kept walking. I don't even feel like a trainer, anymore. she thought. She laughed silently to herself. The forest seemed to thicken ahead, so Amanda pulled part of Rich's care package out - a very large knife. "Thank you, Richy." she said and began hacking away, pushing her way through the brush that blocked their path. Just then, a vine that had been hanging from a tree caught around her throat. Amanda screamed as her mind flashed back to that day 8 years ago.
It's all my fault. I can't- I can't believe that Rich would leave. I'll be alone for the rest of my life. Alone. I'll always be alone.

"Amanda" Frank called running forward grabbing her knife and cutting down from the tree, "are you okay?" he said catching her "zig" said the zigzagoon licking her hand "look you have a friend" Frank said with a smile

"I don't want friends. I've never had them, and I don't need them now." Amanda took the knife from Frank's hand. " Leave me alone, and stop following me." She looked at him with hatred in her eyes, and walked further into the forest.
The whole time this was going on, Amanda was screaming in her head. NO! Frank, I didn't mean that! Why did I say that? What's wrong with me? And deep voice laughed, and returned her thoughts. You did that because I told you to. Amanda was frightened, because it was her own voice speaking to her. H-How? Amanda thought.
The other Amanda laughed again. I'm the real you. The you from 8 years ago. That thing on your wrist had kept me dormant for the past 8 years. But something has caused me to stir. Who is that boy with which I was speaking? And why am I a trainer now? I always hated pokemon. They took our brother away, remember? Of course you do. I don't mean you any harm, but that bracelet in weakening for some reason. If I can talk to you now, that means that I might break free from it's hold entirely. Then you and I will switch places. Amanda stopped dead in her tracks, then said aloud. "Is it Frank? Is he the one that set you free?" I know not. The voice said. But be wary around him. I believe that he is keeping a secret from you. Amanda, not knowing waht to do with this new knowledge - and with a voice in her head - sat down in the grass, and waited.

Frank found Amanda sitting in the grass "hey whats wrong Amanda?" he asked as the Zigzagoon came out along with him

Amanda laughed. "I thought she told you to stop following us." She reached her hand over to the zigzagoon and put it in her lap. "She doesn't like pokemon, you know. But I think that they are the best." I never said I don't like them. The just annoy me. The voice said. "Yes, but you still don't like them." Amanda laughed again. If you keep taking to yourself, your boyfriend is going to think that you are crazy. "He is not my boyfriend!" Amanda said. Then she realized that the voice was right. She felt really silly all of a sudden. "Sorry. We should keep walking." Amanda stood up, taking the Zigzagoon with her, and began walking again. Frank looked at her like he'd seen a ghost. "I tell you later." she said. "I don't really understand it myself anyway."

"Um, okay see you like Zag" Amanda looked at Frank funny, "i nicknamed our tag along" he shrugged

A nickname? The voice said. What kind of whiney little kid is he? Amanda was amused at the voice's presence, but at the same time worried. I don't know. I kind of like it. Amanda squeezed Zag. "He is so cute!" Gah. How did I become you? Amanda laughed, and kept walking. "You look bothered by something. How did you sleep? My couch can't be that comfortable."

"I slept fine, it's just i think i need to tell you something that your Father told me" sadi Frank looking at Zag instead of Amanda

"That I killed myself when I was 13?" Amanda asked shyly, then she chuckled. "I'm sneakier than I appear. I- I wasn't sleeping while I was on the couch. I heard everything that Blaine said. I also heard everything that Rich said. If it was something other than that thought, you can tell me."

"so you know the braclet is keeping you alive right" said Frank looking at her, "and you know that i asked to take your place"

"Yeah." Amanda said in a whisper. "Why did you do that?" Even I can tell it's because the boy loves you. Why do you doubt him so much? "Because I'm scared to trust him. Because I don't want to lose him." Amanda said - aloud - to the voice. "I've already lost so much. I can't bear to lose anymore." Amanda became embarrassed and started walking faster.

"hey Amanda what's going on, when did you start talking to yourself, are you sure your okay?" Said Frank keeping pace with her

"I'm fine. I said I'd tell you later, didn't I?" Amanda lashed out. Then she shook her head. "Sorry," she smiled. "You didn't answer my question. Why did you offer to take my place?"

"Because Blaine wants a powerful person, you are powerful but i beat you, so i figured he just wanted the data you should not get hurt anymore, and i like you a lot Amanda I really do" Frank said taking Zag from her so he could there new friend

How much is a lot? The voice said. I want to test him. The voice took control of Amanda's body. Amanda felt the weightlessness of being only thought. I've been like this before. "Yes." The other Amanda said out loud. "Before we traded places." The other Amanda looked at Frank. "You love me?" She said, her voice that was not different from Amanda's. The other Amanda smiled wickedly. "Prove it."

"Um, okay" Finaly Frank thought putting down Zag, and wrapping his arms around Amanda, "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked and she nodded. Frank leaned in and planted a long hard passionat kiss, he started to run his hands up and down her back during the kiss, he felt her shudder and kiss him back. When they were done he looked at her "enough proof?" Zag made a gagging sound and Frank turned to see that the pokémon was acting discusted then Frank laughed

Amanda regained control of her own body sometime during that kiss. She'd shuddered, and kissed him back. Is that proof enough for you? The OA said. It is for me. I like this boy. Amanda smiled. "More than enough."Frank was looking at Zag, their new companion. Amanda tilted Frank's head so he was looking at her, then set her lips lightly on his, and wrapped her arms around his neck - she began to play with his hair as she deepened the kiss.

After a few more minuets of kissing Frank took a gentle hold of Amanda wrist and said into her braclet "Proof enough old man?" then he smiled and held Amanda's hand as they started to walk forward "That was, well, Amazing." said Frank as Zag followed behind

"Are you courting me, or my father? I assume that 'the old man' is my father?" Amanda laughed. He can't hear through that you know. Tell lover boy that. Blaine has no idea what just happened. All he knows is where you are, and that you heart rate spiked. Amanda told Frank what OA had said - she didn't mention OA though. "It's not like he's going to swoop down and carry me away. He knows that I'm not his anymore. I haven't been since I was 18." I've never been his daughter. I was always my own person. OA said. Amanda smiled. "How long do you think Zag is going to follow us? Not that I mind, but isn't it wrong to take something from there home?" Amanda didn't realized that she had used a duel meaning.

"Well all pokemon were wild at some point, and i think he just likes us and he doesn't care" said Frank "and sometimes taking things out of there home is good for them" he grinned catching the double meaning

Smart boy. OA said. Very smart indeed. I can see why you are in love with him. Amanda and Frank kept walking through the thick forest. "It doesn't seem to end." Amanda laughed. "Are all forests like this one? Dark, and cool, and silent?"

"for the most part but it is kinda wierd we haven't heard anything in a while" Frank turned and Zag was still there with them but sniffing the air, "You smell something Zag?" he asked bending down

I'll make sure we don't see anything. OA said. "Terror!" OA said naming her pokemon. A dark Arcanine appeared with a whirlwind and a loud roar. Zag was frightened and ran behind Frank. "Sorry." Amanda said. "I-I didn't mean to call Terro out. But I don't think this is Terro." The dark Arcanine sniff Amanda's hand, then appeared to nod. It looked at Frank and growled. Hmm... So this is what happens when I call out our pokemon. I kind of like it. Get on Terror, he'll take us to the safety of the edge of the forest. Amanda climbed on Terror, and held her hand out to Frank. "It's alright. He's not going to hurt you. Trust me."