We have been traveling for a few days now. Nora seems to be in a good mood. She has taken to talking my and Zinnia's ears off. I believe a Zinnia is a rather beautiful flower if memory serves. One not native in this region according to Nora. When she got her name, Zinnia began to shout about how she was going to be known as Hero Zinnia and become the best Meganium to have ever been. She wasn't so keen on opening her mouth for a few hours after making that declaration when Nora left her in my paws for about an hour. She has motivation and determination in spades, what she lacks is the body for her bravado. Hopefully my pushing her will get her there.

"Say, Alistar." I crack an eye open that I use to look at the Chikorita and hum questioningly. It has become fairly apparent that the younger Pokémon had questions but never seems to ask them. For the past three nights this has happened, and I hope she spits it out already. Perhaps this is how Arcturus felt when dealing with me when I was young. "Do you think... I can be a hero?" I mull over the question. She has been declaring that's what she will be this whole time and yet she asks me if she can be one?

"A hero, huh." I let what would normally be a question come out as a statement. "Do you know what being a hero means Zinnia?"

"Of course I do. It means doing what's right and fighting for justice. Locking up the bad guys and saving others." I hum at her view and while it's right in some aspect, it's not the complete picture.

"Being a hero isn't all it's cracked up to be." I fully open my eyes and go from looking to her, who's staring at me intently, to looking up at the stars. "Most only become heroes once they have breathed their last. Either by taking down a great threat at the cost of their own life, or by choosing to sacrifice themselves for one reason or another. Their actions hold sway, over the direction of the world. It is a weight that many would never dare to lift. They take up that weight onto themselves without hesitation." I lower my head to look at her again. She seemed to be taking in what I have said so far. "If you want to be a hero then one thing is certain, you have to be prepared to die like one. To throw yourself into the fire of Hell itself without hesitation. All for the sake of others. Most you will never meet or ever come to know. That is what being a hero is."

Zinnia was quiet for quite some time, and she had taken to looking at the stars. "How is that different from you?" The question was quiet, as if she was hesitant to ask. It seems what I had to say made her nervous.

"Knights are different in a few ways. We take oaths for one. Where a hero protects everyone, a knight does something similar but to a select group or singular person. When I became a knight, I swore that I'd protect and serve by any means necessary. I will battle in the arena for their honor. I will stand watch over their home and safety. I will kill to protect their life, even should it cost me my own. It is the Oath my brothers and sisters in arms took. When one swears that oath, they are bound by duty to serve that house, family, or individual with everything they have.

Zinnia was quiet for a few moments. "That sounds like the hero's pledge."

"The hero's pledge?"

"Yeah, my mother told me about it. It goes like this, 'As a hero I will honor any foe with my all in battle. I will protect the homes and safety of the innocent. As it is the will of Arceus, I shall strike down all evil that appears before me.' I want to be a hero. Just by hearing it, a warm feeling rose in me." It is rather similar to my own oath, but it doesn't determine if the evil is vanquished permanently or not. Nor is evil ever really so cut and dry. I wonder who or what Arceus is to be noted in a pledge, but it isn't important right now.

"It is rather similar, but I don't think I could be considered a hero. A hero is all encompassing where I am not. You will have to become far stronger than I am. That is, if you want that for yourself. I can set you on the path you want. It will be your choice to what it is you want, with the strength you earn. Be what it is you wish to be for Nora. If you wish to be a hero, then be a hero for her and anyone in your immediate reach. You asked a shortsighted question. Do you think I can be a hero? My answer, it doesn't matter. Nor should anyone else's but your own. Instead of a question, make it a statement. One that you should wake up and say to yourself. Another that you should tell yourself, before going to sleep." Zinnia leaned in with her head tilted, the leaf on her head following the action. "When you wake up recite the hero's pledge then say, 'I will be that hero today.' Before you go to sleep recite that pledge again, and say, 'I was that hero today.' It will remind you of your goal. How to act and make it reality. Never ask permission for your dreams or goals. Make them come true." Glancing at the moon I huff slightly at its position. It's nearly two in the morning if my estimation is right. "Now get some sleep. I'm going to do my best to run you into the ground tomorrow."

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I curl myself up on my cushion and after an observant sweep of the surroundings. I have been getting at most two hours of sleep each night since we have left Pallet town towards Viridian City. I've been keeping my exercise lighter over the past two days to ensure I have the energy to keep watch at night. I hear Zinnia whispering to herself and I can't help but internally smile. It seems she is set on taking what I said to heart.

A soft sound of a twig snapping an hour later had my eyes flashing open. I stayed still focusing on my hearing, I picked up a small hissing sound and I moved slowly towards Nora searching for the source of the sound. It hasn't reached her yet, but it is getting closer.

The sound cutting off rang an alarm bell in my head. I leapt over Nora's sleeping form and was met with a purple snake with a yellow stripe around its neck and a matching raddle on the tip of its tail. My lips drew back in a snarl and a growl rumbled in my throat. It was about a yard away and that was far too close for my liking.

"This is your only warning... Leave or your life is forfeit." My voice came out in a snarled whisper.

It gave no vocal response but the lunge and attempt to bite me was the only response I needed. Lifting my paw, I used Rock Smash on the side of the snake's head. The strike sending it about two yards away. I feel my blood in my body heat up as my heart quickens. I stared at the snake Pokémon that rose from the ground. My strike didn't seem to have done much. If that was any indication my attack wasn't very effective, it would be that. It seemed this one was resilient to my go to attack of choice.

That however, wasn't important now. I had to keep it away from Nora. I took a few steps and it's head swiveled to keep locked on me. I had it's attention. Good, just like I wanted. It's body began to coil as it prepared itself.

It lunged again after a moment. I was prepared to crack it in the face again, but it fell short. I'm unsure exactly why or how it did, but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and pounced. I felt my body become dense as I fell on the snake, before clamping my jaws around what I could of its neck. Keeping some of its body pinned to the ground with my own body. I could taste blood as it thrashed about trying to get free, but I wasn't about to let go so easily. I could feel its tail striking me, and by the stars it definitely hurt. One of those tail lashes managed to shove me off, and sent me rolling. It managed to get me same spot of the ribs three times. It definitely sucked.

Getting to my paws I stared it down. I don't know why, but I could tell it was afraid. It's eyes had some clarity now. When I took a step forward it flinched. I think that was all the strength it had left. It didn't move from where it was as I approached cautiously.

"P-ple... e." I could hear it whimper softly but I couldn't tell what it said. I got a little closer and realized the sound of it was female. "...Mercy." It seems she is begging for her life. She was still bleeding, and she wouldn't last too long without help. Nora, should I wake her, no doubt would be able to help this wretched being. Does she really deserve it though?

I growl internally and I could feel my face scrunch up but I nodded my head. "Remain still and stay awake... I will wake my Lady. Be thankful for what little mercy I have. You will not receive another chance. Should you make another attempt to harm her, I will remove your head."

I move to Nora and shove my body against her. This will likely make her grumpy, but what am I to do? I have no way to patch the snake up on my own or I would. Most likely to perhaps beat them down again. They deserve to be punished for their attempt. It is not my judgement to determine now that they have surrendered. I would leave the snake's fate in Nora's hands.