"Feint Attack!"
Ludwig cried out when Kitty feinted left and lunged right, a coating of Dark energy bruising his waxy body.
"Smog!"
The Delcatty leaped clear of this disorienting, poisonous fog, coughing for a moment before refocusing on her opponent.
"Flamethrower!"
"Copycat!"
The twin streams of fire slammed into each other in a spray of sparks, cancelling out, and Rachel's mouth twitched up into a faint smile.
"Pretty good, Harry. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a Fifth Year."
The Potter flushed at this praise, aware of Nasrin on the sidelines with Heather, who was sketching away in a massive book.
"Thanks. But we're not done yet! Ludwig, Will-O-Wisp!"
Kitty pranced away from the Ghostly lights that flew out from Ludwig's flame, deftly avoiding even the ones specifically aimed her way.
"Disarming Voice!"
The Litwick yelped as he floated upward sharply to avoid the wave of Fairy energy, twisting away as Kitty closed the distance-
"Play Rough!"
"Flamethrower!"
Both Pokemon were forced to disengage, the Delcatty skidding into a turn as Ghostly energy coalesced into a sphere-
"Hold!"
Everyone on the battlefield went still, tension dissipating as Pearl looked over the damage, paying little mind to Nasrin healing Ludwig and Kitty with Mulan trotting on her heels as always.
"That was a very strong showing." She acknowledged, Lilligant rolling her eyes for Harry's benefit. "You took advantage of your Pokemon's dual-typing to avoid most of your opponent's strongest moves, and kept him mobile against a larger, stronger opponent while trying to wear her down. Just be mindful that a lot of trainers with Normal-types often teach their Pokemon Dark or even Ghost-type moves to counteract just this sort of strategy."
Harry nodded, having learned over the last month visiting Litore Island that this was a way for Pearl to show her concern, even if it sometimes annoyed him.
"For having spent a year with that moron Lockhart as your professor, you did awesome." Heather spoke up, smiling as Smear offered two thumbs up. "I'm just glad you know type match-ups."
Nasrin laughed as Togetic flew over to fuss over Ludwig, Meeko leaning over her shoulder to snuffle the Litwick's face while he landed safely on Snow's back, basking in the affection as Dobby scooped up a rolling, giggling Melody.
Swooping onto her usual perch on Harry's shoulder, Robin twittered happily while Eevee and Pongo bounded over from where they had been chasing Caterpie as Reuniclus appeared with Remus and Moony in tow.
"Well, there you are." He greeted cheerfully, nodding a greeting to Pearl, Rachel and Heather. "Are you two ready to go?"
"Yes!" Harry and Nasrin answered together, Mulan swinging up to join Ariel on her shoulders and Eevee hopping up onto Harry's while the pair recalled the rest of their rather unwieldy horde.
"Be careful." Pearl warned, her Bellossom cooing soothingly. "I trust Mister Lupin to make sure you're safe, but you never know where a Gem Monster could pop up in the wilderness."
"We'll be fine." Nasrin promised, hopping up to press a goodbye kiss to the Gem's cheek. "I'll call Lion if anything happens."
With a few more warnings and goodbyes, Reuniclus smiled and Teleported them away.
Northern Avalon was known as bitterly cold most times of the year, sometimes so frigid that some Ice-types avoided it during the long winter months.
Even summers could be rather chilly, but on nights like this, when the temperature had risen to something resembling warm, the extra moisture made the coniferous forests humid as a sauna.
Still, there were rumors of color-variants here, and Harry was equally as excited as Nasrin to catch one for their growing brood.
Crouched in the underbrush next to a break in the trees, Nasrin waited patiently, Ariel a watchful presence on one shoulder while Mulan immersed herself in the patter of stones and creak of branches and soft cries of nocturnal Pokemon.
Eevee was out in the branches, still and keeping track of something, and she saw the annoyance flash in Harry's eyes at being kept in the dark about what.
After their battle in the Chamber, and Nurse Poppy's rundown of their shared injuries from forcing Zygarde to Speak with them, Remus had banned him from using the lost art without proper supervision.
While she understood the concern and held to the ban when around Remus, Nasrin found herself Speaking more and more when at home, growing comfortable with the experience while Harry could only snatch a few moments.
The snap of a breaking twig, and Robin went still on her perch overhead as both trainers held their breath.
Eevee relaxed as a Bidoof waddled into view, sensing Harry's disinterest, and Ariel hummed softly, almost amused.
While as common and versatile as Rattata, Bidoof were notoriously slow and ravenous, and most people who caught one were doing research of some kind, or trying to get one of every Pokemon.
Watching the Plump Mouse Pokemon paw around, squirrelling away a few more nuts in it's packed cheeks, a low hoot drew their attention skyward towards a flash of white against the darkness.
A Hoothoot, Nasrin realized, intrigued by the flecks of black on otherwise snow-colored feathers along the Owl Pokemon's back.
Circling around, the flyer swooped down and struck Bidoof sidelong with sharp talons, the Normal-type crying out as it was sent tumbling into a tree, dizzy.
A shared glance, and she accepted his claim with easy grace.
All yours.
Harry raised a hand, about to signal Eevee-
Hoothoot gave an aborted screech as a paw smacked across her beak, throwing off her next dive, and the perpetrator bristled from rolled-up ears to cottony tail, hopping from foot to foot like a boxer.
The half-Gem straightened slightly from her crouch, surprised to see a Buneary standing guard over the injured Bidoof, just as snowy-white as the Hoothoot and with light blue eyes that glared up with icy determination.
Regaining her bearings, the Owl Pokemon gained altitude for another dive-
And her talons bounced off a Protect, Pongo baring his fangs in a wolfish smile as Eevee leapt from his perch to Tackle their target into the grass.
Harry hopped up from his hiding place, already ordering a Sand Attack, while Pongo turned to herd Buneary back from the coming battle, ears tilted towards his friend as Eevee kicked up a plume of grit that blinded Hoothoot and caused her next attack to miss.
"Quick Attack!"
Faster than the bird could dodge, Eevee struck with a solid THWACK, bringing them both down to earth, face-to-face-
Pongo howled as his friend began to droop, and Nasrin was rushing forward, Ariel and Mulan crying out.
"Look away!"
But Eevee was already slumped over, sound asleep thanks to Hypnosis, so Harry quickly recalled him and threw out another Ball.
"I'm not giving up that easily! Togetic, I choose you!"
The Fairy trilled happily as she appeared, tiny wings fluttering, and Hoothoot paused to warily take in her new opponent.
"Togetic, use Ember!"
A gush of fiery sparks caught the Owl Pokemon off-guard, and Nasrin felt Meeko's Ball thrum as Hoothoot righted herself to fire back with a Confusion.
Tumbling end-over-end, the Happiness Pokemon clutched her head to fight off the after-effects of this Psychic attack, determined.
"Alright, we finish this now!" Harry decided, and Nasrin lunged to scoop up Pongo and a startled Buneary as static filled the air. "Togetic, use Thunderbolt!"
The bolt of electricity came down hard right on Hoothoot, and she hit the ground with a cry, twitching with paralysis.
Grabbing an empty Poke Ball, Harry tossed it immediately, blinking in surprise when the device only trembled once before clicking shut.
Singing, Togetic swooped down to retrieve the Ball as Nasrin looked down at the Buneary in her arms, ears slowly unravelling to twitch forward.
There was a moment of understanding there, emotions passing back and forth, and the Rabbit Pokemon nodded, reaching out to touch an empty Love Ball on her belt.
Harry sighed as she disappeared inside, exasperated and fond, and Nasrin just shrugged, smiling.
"Dobby!"
Great Harry Potter call for Dobby?
The Alakazam appeared in moments, smiling, and they were proud of how far he had come in that moment from the trembling, fearful, abused Pokemon Lucius Malfoy had made him.
Harry's mind drifted after a moment, and Nasrin knew exactly what path he was going down.
While they had swapped texts and calls with Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna since school let out, neither had contacted Hermione since around the time of her betrayal.
Even with the headmaster, Remus, and the Gems advising them to give her a chance, Nasrin understood how hard it was to forgive someone who had hurt you so badly.
Great Master Harry Potter? Dobby prodded carefully.
"Sorry, Dobby." Harry apologized. "I was distracted."
Great Harry Potter thinking of his Grangy.
"She isn't 'my Grangy', Dobby. She's just Hermione."
Nasrin rolled her eyes, patting the Alakazam's head as Ariel and Mulan giggled.
"She's a friend, Dobby, but one that did something very hurtful."
A nod, and the Psychic-type leaned into her side, troubled by the edge of dark sadness that colored her steady aura.
"Dobby, we're done with the hunt." Harry voiced after a moment, Robin landing on his shoulder to chirp away with Togetic. "Can you see if Remus is done?"
Shutting his eyes, Dobby reached out to Reuniclus with his mind, paw reaching up to clutch at Nasrin's 'I Prefer My Puns Intended' crop top as an anchor.
Nice Remus Lupin is done, Great Harry Potter.
"Teleport us there."
Long months spent traveling by warp pad had curbed the old dizziness, and Nasrin reached out to steady Harry as they appeared in a Pokemon Center, Togetic clinging to his head as her eyes spun.
"Thanks, Dobby…" He muttered, recalling said Alakazam as Remus approached with a smile.
"Any luck?"
"You first." Nasrin replied with a smile, joining Harry in recalling their Pokemon and offering them to Nurse Joy.
"Fair enough."
Holding out an arm, the pair watched a Spinarak scurry across his shoulders and down his limb, lowering himself on a silken thread like a yoyo.
"On most Spinarak, the shell has a design meant to mimic, for lack of a better word, a frowny face. This little guy must have decided that wasn't very cheery."
The half-Gem giggled as she realized exactly what Remus meant, since instead of a frown, Spinarak sported a smile on his carapace.
"Definitely interesting."
"That it is." Harry agreed as Nurse Joy returned with their Poke Balls.
"But I'm afraid we've got you beat."
On cue, they released the newest members of their teams, Nasrin scooping up her Buneary as Hoothoot circled around to land on Harry's shoulder.
"Albinos!"
"Oh my!" Nurse Joy gasped, eyes locked on Hoothoot. "You truly are blessed, sir."
"Oh, I don't know about that…" Harry demurred, reaching up to pet down Hoothoot's belly feathers as Ariel and Mulan popped out of their Balls for fresh air. "I mean, it was lucky for me to catch her-"
"Harry, you don't understand." Remus interrupted gently. "A Hoothoot is a rather popular Pokemon in Avalon, but an albino one? That kind is honored."
"Really?" They echoed.
"It's said that Morgan Le Fay owned an albino Hoothoot." Nurse Joy explained. "In fact, it's said that it was that Pokemon's evolved form that flew her across the sea to Avalon, so she could seek out Merlin and test her might against him."
"I don't remember that…" Nasrin mused, brow furrowing.
"Me, either." Harry agreed.
"Yes, you have." Remus sighed, a touch sad. "You just don't remember. The story of Morgan and Hedwig is told to all children in Avalon. I know for a fact your father read it to you when you were a baby."
A low hooting cry left Hoothoot, who flapped her wings to catch their attention.
"What is it?" Harry asked, smoothing her feathers.
"Do you like that name?" Nasrin wondered, Mulan shifting to touch noses as the Buneary sat up to say hello to Ariel.
"Nothing says you can't use the name." Remus noted at the excited call that answered.
"Alright then. I guess from now on, your name is Hedwig."
