"You're just a burden! I don't want to travel with you anymore. Can't you see? I can't get stronger with you around!"

"NO!"

Mairin sat bolt upright in bed, breathing hard. Her room was dim, the only light entering through the tiniest crack in the window. Everything was calm, quiet - except for her own heart.
"Just a dream," she told herself. "A stupid nightmare. Nothing to be bothered about."

Mairin blinked as the room was suddenly flooded with light. As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she made out a tiny green-and-brown pokemon running towards her. He clambered on to her bed, the quills on top of his small head twitching with worry. "Pin?"

"Ah, Chespie, I'm fine," Mairin said, but the Chespin didn't look convinced.
She reached out and scratched her partner's quills. "Okay, maybe I'm not completely fine, but I will be," she assured him.

"Pin, Che," he said, curling into her lap.Mairin stroked his soft back gently without really noticing what she was doing.

This wasn't the first time she had had that dream. Arceus, she had lost count of how many times she had dreamt Alain leaving her.
Of course she knew it wasn't true. Alain had changed a lot since then. He would never leave...