Alice's POV
"Keep those leashes tight, newbie. You never know what kind of things these little monsters will pull off."
I growled as the new employee of the rental company in Kalos walked towards me. He was very young, and shook at the sound of my growl.
"Ignore her, she's just trying to spook ya." The man repeated, also the manager of the building and it's inhabitants.
He was a thin human male who weared formal suits but had a fierce talk, he had his Furfrou pet Riffin keep us in line along with the employees.
The employee walked towards me and grabbed my collar, I snarled viciously and the employee jumped back with a yelp.
"Go take a break, I'll take care of her." The Manager snapped. The employee ran off and both the Manager and his pet were glaring at me.
"Alice." Riffin growled. "Quit being stubborn."
"C'mon darling! It just be a little tighin' of the collar!"
I snarled, in front of the building were us display Pokémon for customers to see. This week I happened to be right next to Limedrop Sweetums, a shiny Swoobat that was constantly rented out and also Riffin's mate.
She acted so kind, it was repulsive...
Riffin looked at her fondly and reached up to loosen her collar. He gave her a lick on the ear and glanced at me as I snarled in annoyance.
"She's up here on display almost every week." I snarled.
"Because I'm one of thee best and sweet shinies this here company has!" Limedrop chirped happily.
I was about to retort when I felt Riffin tightening my leash from behind, I snarled angrily.
"My father would kick your pampered butt if he saw you treating me this poorly." I snapped.
"Too bad he's not on display this week." Riffin chuckled. "People don't have much use for a Rapidash."
Riffin smirked and followed his owner back into the building, his tail high and his trot confident.
"So powerful~" Limedrop sighed dreamily, making me gag.
"He's a pathetic mutt put up on a imaginary pedestal." I hissed, earning a shocked look from Limedrop.
"Darling! He's very ambitious and confident! Do you not like confidence?" Limedrop gasped.
It'd never get to her what I've been trying to say, so I just looked to the right to Hydra the Hydregion and Teddybear the Dragonite, whom were chatting eagerly.
"You heard what the manager said?" Teddybear asked both me and Hydra with a grin. "Renting us will have a discount for Christmas break!"
Oh sweet Mary Mew, I did not like that one bit.
"By how much?" I replied.
"Almost half-price!" Teddybear rejoiced, not noticing my visible wince.
Teddybear was a favorite at the International Pokérental Company, because unlike me, he loved human attention and meeting new people and Pokémon. He was a choice favorite over here and his kindness and humor charmed everybody. I even was good friends with him.
"Hoping you'll reach a rental record?" Hydra asked him.
"Getting rented by four people this season?" Teddybear reminded us. "You bet!"
I growled and lowered my head.
I felt better resting on the grass, until I heard a huge crash!
I stood up and saw an older man with a shiny Braviary next to him. He had a huge bag as he walked to the door of the building and entered.
He walked out minutes later.
"I'm going to buy this shiny!"
He pointed straight at Limedrop Sweetums.
"Oh my!" Limedrop gasped. "But Riffin!"
The Manager walked out with Riffin behind him, barking frantically.
"It's an offer I can't refuse, Riffin!" The Manager snapped at him. "We've never had a Shaymin in our company before, and 3 million Poké! What an offer!"
Riffin's tail fell and his barks became more sharp and panicked.
"Somebody get Riffin back in the building!" The Manager shouted.
An employee picked up Riffin and he struggled fiercely, barking even louder.
"And get this man Limedrop's Poké Ball too!" The Manager added.
"Limedrop is leaving?" Teddybear gasped. "But this is a rental, not a shop!"
"The Manager always makes exceptions when the offer is quite high." Hydra growled, looking at him. "He seems not to care that this guy is taking his pet's mate."
"LIMEDROP!" Riffin cried. "I can't lose you!"
"Riffie!" Limedrop whimpered as an employee came out the building with a Poké Ball. "Don't worry about me!"
"But I need you!" Riffin wailed, the person carrying him closer to the door of the building. "STOP!"
Riffin attempted to fight off the employee holding him with even more power, his barking growing weaker.
The employee opened the door and threw Riffin in, closing the door quickly with a slam.
Limedrop's wings drooped and she looked sadly at the Manager before he stretched her Poké Ball towards her and she disappeared into the Poké Ball without a fight.
"Sorry for the setback there." The Manager said. "Here's the Poké Ball, thank you for the Poké and that Shaymin."
"Of course, I better be going." The man said. "This here Swoobat will be quite an appearance for other trainers."
The man released the Poké Ball into his pocket and flew off on his Braviary without another word.
I heard scratching coming from the door and knew immediately that it was Riffin, possibly clinging onto a sliver of hope that she was still out here.
The Manager opened the door and Riffin bolted out like no other, barely remembering to stop before hitting the gate.
"LIMEDROP!" Riffin yelled. I felt a pang of...pity?
I didn't like Riffin, but seeing any Pokémon like this was just plain miserable.
"Riffin, you'll be alright." Hydra reassured him. "There are plenty of Pokémon that we'll meet, you'll find another mate I'm sure."
"None like Limedrop." Riffin choked. "She was one of the few shinies this Company had."
"Shiny doesn't make a Pokémon a better mate." Hydra told him.
"It does to me, or a legendary. The rarer my mate, the better." Riffin explained.
"That shouldn't be your standards for love." Teddybear growled. "It should be who you want to spend the rest of your life with, and who you want to have kits with."
Riffin didn't respond, he only slowly walked back to the building without another word.