Indigo exchanged glances with Margo. [color=8882be]"Do you-?"[/color] Margo shook her head before he could finish his sentence.

[color=1a7b30][b]"No, I'm good! You need to train more than me anyways. Last I recall, I beat [i]you[/i]."[/b][/color]

Indigo rolled his eyes. [color=8493ca]"Right. Well, Ronaldo, I guess I'll help you out."[/color] Though Indy didn't exactly want to battle, he couldn't say no to someone who wanted their pokemon to evolve. 

An hour later, and Indigo's pokemon were thoroughly exhausted. Hawka, Mimzy, Neon, and Kovi had certainly met their match, evident by the way they sprawled out on the ground, panting. Healing up his newly evolved pokemon with super potions and the like, Ronaldo was beaming at his new proud Fearow and wise Noctowl. 

[color=8882be]"That was close,"[/color] Indy said, wiping sweat off his brow. [color=8882be]"But it looks like you did it. That's awesome."[/color] 

"I can't even be mad," Ronaldo said happily. "This is just magnificent-- look at Hoot and Screech!" The Noctowl and Fearow respectively rose their heads, looking equally overjoyed. 

[color=8882be]"Pretty sure if I hadn't gotten a critical hit at the last second, it would have been way harder for me to pull off,"[/color] Indigo conceded. 

Ronaldo tossed a few berries and super potions at him. "Ha, maybe. But go ahead and heal your pokemon too! It's the least I can do. If you guys are heading this way, you've gotta be going to Jimmal City. And you'll need all the strength you can get. Thanks again for helping me out with my pokemon."

[color=8882be]"I'm not the one to thank,"[/color] Indigo said with a smile. He stretched out and arm and Kovi perched delicately, while Mimzy ran up for pats. Hawka preened herself and Neon seemed to be absorbed with examining everything around them. [color=8882be]"Good job, guys." [i]At least we got to help someone out... And I can't believe I won. Ronaldo had some tough pokemon. Maybe when we get to our first contest...[/i][/color]

After healing up his pokemon and the final thanks from Ronaldo, Indigo and Margo were out once again. Not wanting to walk the entire night however, they set up camp, pitching a tent and starting a crackling fire. 

[color=8882be]"So, about what happened earlier..."[/color] Indigo said, twirling a stick with a marshmallow on top. They were toasting marshmallows by the fire now, having finished dinner. [color=8882be]"Today's been a day, huh? Like, too insane for words."[/color]

[color=1a7b30]"I'll say,"[/color] Margo agreed. Beside her, Crowne was curled up, his fluffy tail wrapped snuggly around himself. She absentmindedly stroked the turtle pokemon's shell. [color=1a7b30]"I almost can't talk about it. It feels so emotional? Like I'm getting choked up or something."[/color]

[color=8882be]"What do you think about us seeing Ho-oh?"[/color] Indigo lowered his voice to a whisper. 

[color=1a7b30]"I haven't got any guesses,"[/color] Margo shrugged, the light of the fire illuminating her wistful expression, only puncutuated by the inky night around them. [color=1a7b30]"There's legends that say Ho-oh reveals itself before pure-hearted trainers. But..."[/color] 

[color=8882be]"I don't think I'm pure hearted,"[/color] Indigo mumbled. [color=8882be]"I'm not trying to diss myself either. I just don't know if that's it."[/color]

Margo wasn't sure what to say. Gone was the initial anger she had towards Indigo for abandoning his Burmy, but she couldn't honestly vouch for his prowess as a trainer. [color=1a7b30]"If it makes you feel better, I don't think I'm pure-hearted either."[/color] She chomped off a golden brown piece of marshmallow. [color=1a7b30]"I mean, I haven't really done anything great. And I don't think I'm a very nice person all the time. Not as nice as I could be."[/color]

[color=8882be]"That's not true, you're always nice,"[/color] Indigo said. Margo looked at him with raised eyebrows.

[color=1a7b30]"You think I'm nice?"[/color]

[color=8882be]"Yeah, you're nicer than me anyways,"[/color] Indigo responded. [color=8882be]"I mean you can be a little annoying. But you're a good kid, Margo."[/color]

[color=1a7b30]"I guess you're not too bad either,"[/color] Margo murmured. There was some silence as the conversation lulled, but Margo spoke up again. [color=1a7b30]"It was like Ho-oh [i]knew[/i] me."[/color] Her eyes sparkled. [color=1a7b30]"And I felt like I would die, which I know sounds crazy."[/color]

[color=8882be]"We saw a [i]legend[/i],"[/color] Indigo reaffirmed. Both looked at each other with light in their eyes, the sober mood of the conversation turning into a happier one. [color=8882be]"I can't believe it happened."[/color] Indigo was all a grin. 

[color=39b54a]"Ho-oh, and then that book!"[/color] Margo was giddy. [color=1a7b30]"Maybe-- maybe it doesn't even matter about being pure hearted or whatever. Maybe this is all about proving ourselves when things happen. Maybe it's more about what we do, and who we're going to be, what we're going to work towards..."[/color]

[color=8882be]"Like potential,"[/color] Indigo finished. [color=8882be]"Hey wait, can we look at that book again?"[/color] As Margo took the hardcover bound book out of her backpack, she opened it once more, her fingers tracing the page with hesitation, as if she had to restrain herself from excitedly flipping through.

[color=1a7b30]"That flower and that tree, and Ho-oh. Maybe it's connected."[/color]

The speculation went on for another few hours. The trainers couldn't help themselves, there were infinite possibilities to sift through. There was magic, perhaps even something cosmic at work. But no matter what theories they conjured, it was soon time for rest. They would have to be up early if they wanted to reach Jimmal City by early afternoon. Retiring to bed, they set out once more as soon as they awoke. Winding Pass was no doubt exhausting, but it became easier as Jimmal City came into view from the horizon. And before they knew it, they had reached the Jimmal pokemon center, readying themselves to explore the city.

[Edited]