Chapter 9

[fullmoonstory]

[Bag over her shoulder and large pink egg-loving pok_mon by her side, Estelle stands at the entrance to Ecruteak City. In her arms this morning is a recently-hatched Smoochum, holding the gear on record]

Don't look so sad, Sunny. Even though we're going to some places we've visited before, it's not the same as going backwards on this journey. We're

Comments

[action]

[shieldofjustice]

[Here comes Athrun, running!]

Hey! Hey--Estelle!

[action]

[fullmoonstory]

[Estelle stops, hunching her shoulders a little. Is he here to try to convince her to go along anyway?]

What is it, Athrun? [Either way, she turns around with a genuine smile.]

[action]

[shieldofjustice]

I wanted to catch up to you before you left.

...So you're really heading back, huh? Are you sure you'll be all right on your own?

[action]

[fullmoonstory]

I'm not on my own! [before Sunny gets any ideas about expressing how she's indignant that Athrun doesn't think she's enough protection. You know she would do that.]

...And I really think this is for the best. I want to be strong enough to keep up with all of you, and when I get that far, I'll be sure to catch right up to you again.