Here I started thinking, "Yeah, I'll get three chapters for my next update!" Tch! As if that would be an easy one! Yeah right! Nonetheless, I have three chapters back-to-back here for you today! Enjoy!
~~**XI**~~
A Home for Dwebble
Gwen inserted the left hand needle through the loop on the right hand needle and pulled the last loop over the remaining one. Now, with only one loop left, she drew the end of the line through the remaining loop, binding off the project. And one more thing...weaving the first row and last one together to make it...one...big...loop. Done. "There!" she exclaimed. "Finished!" She showed her handmade infinity scarf to Cilan.
He turned from the counter where he was laying out bread for the sandwiches. "It's lovely," he told her.
"Thanks," Gwen replied, fixing her glasses. For the sewing, she'd actually squinted through her glasses and only now did her eyes start to noticeably sting. "My mom taught me how to do it." Before leaving Luxuria Town, Gwen had found a craft shop where she bought two rolls of a bulky, cream colored yarn. When Gwen finally got around to it, she began knitting a nice, thick scarf out of them. It was long enough for her to wrap comfortably around her neck twice. It would be perfect for the coming cooler weather.
"You'll let me borrow it, right?" Iris asked, taking another bite from her sandwich.
"I asked if you wanted me to make you one of your own," Gwen replied. When returning to the Pokémon Center with Cilan, Iris and Gwen had made their peace and agreed to at least be more considerate of the other. That basically meant any snide comments would be withheld as much as possible. It was satisfying enough for each of them to the very least.
"Well, you were going to take forever to make it," Iris told her.
"It took me barely two hours," Gwen replied with a light shake of the head. "Sure the yarn stayed in my pack for a few days, but I got it done."
"Well," Cilan interjected, finishing up the neat sandwich for Gwen. He didn't get the chance to do the same for Iris before she bit into it. "The weather hasn't been mild enough yet for a scarf. It's hardly anything to fight over right now."
"But it will be in the future," Gwen said, sending a playful grin Iris's way. "Besides," she pulled the scarf behind her as if putting on a jacket and adjusted the wide stitches to make a shawl over her shoulders, "there's more than one way to wear a scarf like this."
Iris pursed her lips, taking in the conventional garment Gwen made. "Okay, I want one."
Cilan chuckled, placing the plate in front of Gwen. "Next town, then."
Gwen smiled up at Cilan. "Thank you, Cilan. It looks yummy." She picked up the sandwich and took a big bite. "Mhmmm," she sighed, leaning her head back. "Four-and-a-half stars," she told him. He smiled in turn. That was always going to be a running joke between the two of them.
"What do you think, Pikachu?" Gwen asked.
A bowl of Pokémon food sat in front of Pikachu and Axew who sat atop the table chowing down. "Pika pika!" he cried the affirmative. Axew joined in, just as enthusiastic.
"I think we can simply state here and now that Cilan's cooking is and will always be spectacular," Iris said.
"Well, compliments don't hurt," Gwen told her. "Though," she tapped a finger to her chin, "I wonder what it would be like to taste an unsatisfactory meal made by Cilan."
From across the table, Cilan scoffed. "I would hardly present anyone with a lackluster meal to such important regular consumers."
Gwen grinned. "Everyone has a slump. And besides, if you're trying out something new, wouldn't you like a second opinion on how you could improve?"
Cilan opened his mouth as if to protest, but closed it before he could make it. "I still would not subject anyone to a tasteless meal. It's against the morals of any respectful chef."
"Cilan, it's food," Gwen replied a bit dryly. "As long as you don't mix vinegar into a fruit salad or the like, I don't think the majority are going to slight you."
"Vinegar in fruit salad?" Cilan gasped. Iris was just as shocked at that.
Gwen shrugged. "I got on someone's bad side once. That was his revenge. But don't worry, I got in back in a way that he could not get away from!"
"I almost don't want to know," Iris snickered.
"Oh, the look on his face," Gwen laughed.
Iris shook her head. "I wasn't talking about him, but what you possibly came up with."
Gwen slowly turned her gaze to Iris. The girls stared at each other for several moments before breaking out into laughter.
Axew seemed to hear something as he rose from sitting on the table and wandered off. "Axew..."
Iris noticed immediately "Axew? What's the matter?" She rose from her seat and followed her little Pokémon. Pikachu followed as well with Cilan and Gwen at his heels.
Axew and Pikachu stopped behind a large boulder, peeking beyond it. "What is it, buddy?" Gwen asked.
"Pika pika." He pointed over the rock at a tiny burnt-orange colored crab-like Pokémon. It seemed to be inspecting a rock in front of it, one that Gwen presumed could crush it if it went on the offensive. Though she hoped it wouldn't as the little thing's eyes looked positively adorable.
"Of course!" Cilan exclaimed quietly next to her. "It's a Dwebble! Although strange to see one without a rock on its back."
Gwen felt her brow knot, taking out her Pokédex. "It's supposed to have a rock on its back?" Dwebble, the Rock Inn Pokemon. After finding a suitable rock, Dwebble digs a hole in the rock's bottom to use as a protective shell. Gazing back up at Dwebble, Gwen noticed that it had flipped the rock onto its side and began clawing out a hole just as the 'Dex said. Not only that, but it began to sit some sort of liquid from its mouth. She looked back down at the Pokédex, shifting her glasses. Dwebble can make rock easier to carve by producing liquid from its mouth.
"So, we're actually watching a Pokemon build its own home!" Iris stated.
"Make sure you're not too loud or we might scare it away," Cilan told her.
"It's impressive," Gwen breathed. "And a lot of work." Dwebble was slowing down in carving the inside of the rock, less for making a hole and more about shaping it.
"Well, since it will be protecting Dwebble from their enemies, they have to do a really good job," Cilan said. The Dwebble's movements became even slower, getting the details just right before turning around and crawling in. But it didn't stay very long.
"What's wrong?" Gwen wondered.
"Probably not satisfied yet," Cilan replied. "Just a minor adjustment...see?" Dwebble crawled back into the rock and lifted it with its tail, a smile on its face.
"And that's what Dwebble looks like normally," Cilan stated.
"Looks like a little moving cream puff!" Iris gushed. "It's so cute!"
Just near the Dwebble, the ground shifts and three more Dwebble rise from underground. Gwen blinked, noticing that the three were quite bigger than the lone Dwebble. "Look at all those Dwebble!"
"Maybe they're friends," Iris wondered.
But it didn't seem so as two of the Dwebble rushed at the small one. Gwen gasped as the little Dwebble used Protect as two Slash attacks were made at it. "What the-?"
"Pika!"
Little Dwebble lifted itself from the rock and made to retaliate with a Slash of its own but was blocked by a Protect as well. The third and biggest Dwebble took this opening to knock into it and separate little Dwebble's rock from its back. The big Dwebble took the rock and placed it on its back, gluing it on with liquid from its own mouth.
"Hey!" Iris called out. "That's the house Dwebble just made!"
"And they're ganging up on it, too!" Gwen added.
"Pika pika!"
Gwen leapt to her feet. "Hey, knock it off!" she hollered. The three Dwebble merely smirked and disappeared underground. The small Dwebble soon followed them. "You go and get your house back!" she encouraged him, not caring whether he heard her.
Cilan followed her, releasing Pansage from his Poke Ball. "Pansage, I want you to use Dig and go help Dwebble!" Pansage nodded and made for the underground as well.
It was around a half hour before they saw anyone. Not the three Dwebble, the lone Dwebble, or even Pansage. But soon Cilan's partner returned to them. He leapt from his dug hole and looked up to Cilan.
"Alright, Pansage," he started. "What happened?"
Pansage's face falls slightly. "Pansage. Pansage pan," he stated. The ground next to him rumbled and out popped the rockless Dwebble.
"Oh no," Gwen murmured. "He still doesn't have his rock." The Dwebble's head was lowered in morose and shame.
Cilan approached Dwebble and knelt in front of him. "We saw everything," he told the little Pokemon. "We're so sorry about your house." Wary of Cilan after his previous encounter, Dwebble scurried away from him.
"Where's he going!" Iris called.
Gwen made after Dwebble. "Hey! Wait up Dwebble!"
The trio ran after Dwebble, Iris leaping along the stones to cut off his path. She knelt down in front of the Pokemon just as Cilan had. "You don't have to be afraid of us," she told him softly. But Dwebble wasn't having it. He whipped around and made to run before realizing the three of them had him cornered.
Gwen held up her hands in a surrendering fashion. "Just relax, Dwebble," she said. "We just want to talk."
"We're not here to hurt you," Cilan added.
Pikachu leapt off Gwen's shoulder and approached Dwebble. "Pika pika."
But Dwebble, still fearful, retaliated at Pikachu using a Slash attack. Pikachu quickly dodged it and had Dwebble careening for a rock instead. The rock shatters into chunks, one of which pitched right to Pansage and knocking into his forehead.
Cilan gasped. "Oh no, Pansage!" He knelt down to his injured Pokemon.
Dwebble, realizing he unintentionally hit a bystanding Pokémon, gasps himself. "Dwebble?!" He scurried over to Cilan and Pansage, muttering fast apologies. "Dweb dwebble."
Cilan took a Potion from his pack and sprayed it on Pansage's forehead. "It doesn't look too bad," Iris commented from a short distance away.
"Yeah..." Cilan replied absently.
Dwebble moved closer to Pansage with more apologies. "Dwebble dweb! Dwebble!"
Pansage gave the Pokemon a soft smile. "Pansage pan."
"We know you didn't really want to hurt anybody," Gwen said, slowly reaching out and patting Dwebble. He tensed, but allowed the action without fussing. "It's okay."
"You must have been so upset about having your home stolen," Cilan commented.
Dwebble hung his head. "Dweb dwebble."
"I know!" Iris exclaimed. "You can make yourself a new home!" Dwebble recoiled as if horrified and insulted by the thought. Iris slumped. "You want your home back."
"Of course," Cilan said. "Dwebble worked so hard to make it."
Iris looked down at Dwebble sympathetically. "You really love it, don't you?" Dwebble nodded.
"And you can't just give up and walk away," Gwen agreed. "We can even help you get your home back."
"Pika pika?" Pikachu asked how Dwebble liked that idea.
He didn't. He turned away from them and shook his head, burying himself underground and disappearing without a word.
"Dwebble, hold on!" Gwen called, but it was too late, Dwebble was already gone.
"No matter," Cilan stated. "We can do our own search." Gwen and Iris nodded in agreement.
Gwen called out Pidove and even Growlithe out to do some searching. Pidove could go farther by air, but Growlithe's nose could do its own work. Though for the next hour and a half, they had no luck and the sun was setting. Pidove came hovering down and let it be known that her search came up with nothing. Pansage appeared up from the ground and Growlithe came running back. They were just as unsuccessful. Eventually, Dwebble showed up as well in a no better mood. The entire group felt Dwebble's disheartedness.
But Cilan was quick to help alleviate the situation. "It's getting late. Hoe about having a nice dinner? You too, Dwebble."
Dwebble blinked in surprise. "Dwebble?"
"Cilan's a great cook, you'll love his food," Gwen said. Dwebble gave a soft smile and nodded.
The sun had fully set by the time everyone was settled down with their food. The light of the fire made more shadows than light on the table where Gwen, Cilan, and Iris sat, but glancing up Gwen could see the hint of stars. Cilan prepared more sandwiches and Gwen lightly wondered how, no matter how similar the food seemed, it always tasted new and different. Sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and now dinner, and Gwen still wasn't bored.
Gwen glanced down at the Pokemon who sat digging into their food, Dwebble included. "How do you like Cilan's cooking, Dwebble?"
Dwebble lifted his head from his bowl and beamed. "Dwebble, dweb!"
Her gaze shifted to Pansage who sat next to Dwebble who didn't attack his food like the other Pokemon, instead slowly popping pieces into his mouth. He looked tense as well and even fell backwards.
Cilan saw this and shot up from his seat. "Pansage!" He knelt down to his Pokemon and lifted him onto his lap, placing a hand on his forehead. "He's burning up."
"It must have been from the rock earlier today," Gwen said.
Dwebble looked down in shame. "Dwebble..."
"I'm afraid I don't have any more Potion," Cilan stated.
Gwen leaned down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm good with herbal remedies. For now, just give Pansage some cool water. Little sips at a time. I'll be back. Come on, Pikachu." She and her Pokemon went into the forest, scouting around for what they could use for Pansage's condition. Even though she wasn't too familiar with Unova, Gwen did notice over time that it did have many of the plants, herbs, and fruits that Kanto and Johto did. It was only about picking up what she needed.
Pikachu found it first, holding up the plant by the root. Gwen smiled. "Take it back to camp and start mashing it. I'll catch up." There was one more thing she needed to find and she did, grabbing the weed up from the root. It was always better to pick it by the root.
She returned to the came and knelt right for Pansage. She broke the root off from the weed and gave it a couple bites. "Chew on this for at least a a minute and then spit it out," she told Pansage gently, popping the lightly chewed root in his mouth. She looked up to Cilan. "That'll help him sleep." He nodded and Gwen went to the table where Iris help Pikachu mash the herb with the pestle. Grabbing her cantine, Gwen dripped some more water in it until Iris was just about one.
"How's that?" she asked.
"Perfect," Gwen affirmed, taking the bowl and returning to Pansage. He spit out the root just as Gwen got on her knees. "Now, this will be bitter," she told him as she spoon some into his mouth. He shuttered momentarily after he swallowed it but soon allowed himself to relax. Gwen brushed her thumb against his warm cheek. "The root will allow him to get a good night's sleep and that's just what he needs. He should be right as rain in the morning."
Cilan smiled. "Thank you so much." Gwen blushed and nodded, shifting her glasses with a brush of a movement.
"That's amazing, Gwen!" Iris exclaimed.
Gwen turned to her and smiled. "Well, I like to think I've learned a few things when traveling for the past five years." She turned to her partner. "Pikachu, too!"
"Pika!"
"Now, let's get Pansage comfortable," she continued. Iris spread a small blanket for him and Gwen shrugged off her scarf, laying it out on top of the blanket and rolling the top of it to make a pillow. Cilan gently placed Pansage down and Gwen smiled as she heard him sigh slightly. A scarf of many uses.
The next morning, Pansage was indeed right as rain, backflipping with a beaming face and full of energy. His fever was a thing of the past and long forgotten.
"I'm glad you're all better, Pansage!" Gwen stated with a big smile.
"Pan pansage!" Pansage beamed.
"It's all thanks to you, Gwen," Cilan said, turning to her. "Thank you so much."
"It's the least I can do," she told him softly.
"Yeah, I could use some of those," Iris said.
Dwebble stepped toward Pansage, still slightly guilty. "Dweb, dwebble."
Cilan looked to Pansage. "Dwebble was up all night watching over you, Pansage."
The Pokemon's eyes widened. "Pansage?"
"Alright then, Dwebble," Cilan continued, "Let's go get your house back!"
It didn't take long before it seemed that the three Dwebble were looking for a rematch. Pansage found them and brought them back to little Dwebble who made to face against them.
"Now, you give Dwebble its home back!" Gwen ordered the smug-looking Dwebble.
One of them lunged for little Dwebble, but the little on dodges. This brings in the second Dwebble who went for little Dwebble with a Tackle using its rock just as little Dwebble made to land.
"Dwebble's outnumbered three to one!" Iris stated.
Gwen grit her teeth. "Pikachu, Dwebble needs help!" But as Pikachu made to step for ward, little Dwebble held his claw out to stop him. Gwen stared at it. "Do you really think you can get you home back all by yourself?"
Dwebble nodded, determined. "Dwebble!"
Gwen nodded back. "Then go get 'em!"
The first Dwebble made a Slash attack and little Dwebble did the same, but the first Dwebble seemed to have more power behind it and lands the hit.
"Uh oh!" Cilan exclaimed. "With no rock on its back-"
"-that leaves Dwebble defenseless!" Gwen finished.
Little Dwebble rose to his feet and used another Slash attack, but the opponent Dwebble used Protect. The Leader Dwebble made to strike little Dwebble this time, ramming him with his own rock. That was the rest little Dwebble had to make as he collapsed to the ground and the three Dwebble retreated back underground.
Gwen went over to Dwebble and knelt before him. "Taking all three of them on at once is impossible." Dwebble hung his head in defeat. "But it isn't hopeless," she continued, noticing Dwebble raise his eyes in slight hope. "If you can separate them and battle one-on-one, you can take them out. Not only that, but take their egos down a few notches."
"Yeah!" Iris agreed. "We can help you split the other Dwebble up at the very least and you can handle the rest."
Cilan grinned. "And I know just how to do it."
It took no time at all to gather three bowls of Pokemon food together and tying them up with Pikachu, Axew, and Pansage. Dwebble stood fast in wait, raring to go.
And just like clockwork, the three Dwebble rose in front of the three bowls and start eating. They barely got their first bite when Gwen called out to move. The bowls were situated in a triangle formation so that when the Pokemon moved away, each bowl would head straight out and away from each other. Waiting with Cilan and Pansage, little Dwebble went for that one first. He made toward the more rocky foundations with the other Dwebble following him into battle. He used the rocks as his own cover and to lure the other Dwebble right where he want to, to a cliff that boasted a very unstable boulder at its top. One forceful attack had the boulder rolling down the ledge and right into the opposing Dwebble. This left it wide open for little Dwebble to use a combination of X-Scissor and Slash attacks, effectively finishing the battle!
"I have to say," Cilan commented. "Those X-Scissor and Slash attacks really make for one spicy combination!"
One Dwebble down and two to go.
The second Dwebble was following Axew heavily on his little heels. Little Dwebble immediately came in hot with a Slash attack, taking the other Dwebble quite by surprise. Continuing by bring it to a rocky corridor, little Dwebble had his opponent strike rock first just in between them. The effect had the Dwebble trapped between the two rock formations and unable to shift loose. Little Dwebble went in with an X-Scissor that ended that match as well.
"Yes!" Gwen cheered. "Only one more left!"
The leader Dwebble was found munching on the Pokemon food just where Pikachu had left him and the group stood opposite him, little Dwebble ready for battle. "Dwebble!"
The leader Dwebble took notice of them and looked to his comrades, whom he noticed were no longer at his side.
Gwen grinned. "That's right. You're all by yourself. How does that feel? Alright now Dwebble, go!"
The leader Dwebble turned and used a Tackle attack with the rocks on its back but little Dwebble managed to dodge it. Little Dwebble then made to use Slash on the lead Dwebble but stopped as it turned its back on him.
Gwen frowned. "Why did Dwebble stop?"
Cilan bit his lip. "Dwebble doesn't want to damage his own home!"
The lead Dwebble turned and used a Slash attack, but little Dwebble hopped away successfully. Only for lead Dwebble to use Smack Down, hitting little Dwebble head on! Little Dwebble hit the ground hard in front of them but rose back on his feet.
"Keep going, Dwebble!" Iris called.
Little Dwebble went right for the lead Dwebble, making to attack but gearing toward the right just shy of it. Lead Dwebble followed on his heels, right under a rock ledge that had it trapped from the height of its rocks. Grinning, little Dwebble veered around and made an X-Scissor right on the mark. But the other Dwebble wasn't giving up so easily with its Slash attack.
That didn't stop little Dwebble as he began to shine and crack, bursting free with a wave of visible energy.
"What was that?!" Gwen exclaimed.
"That's Shell Smash!" Cilan explained. "It gives up some of its defensive power in trade for some great offense!"
Dwebble powered up his claws yet again for another wave of X-Scissor that hit the lead Dwebble right on the rock, effectively shattering it and releasing little Dwebble's home! Cowed and defeated, the lead Dwebble retreated underground.
Happy to have his home back, little Dwebble went right for it, reaching his tail inside and propping it back up. "Dwebble!"
"You did it!" Iris cheered.
"You've got your house back," Gwen added "I'm so happy for you."
"And you did it by yourself," Cilan said. "You must be so proud!"
Dwebble beamed at them. "Dwebble!"
Cilan made to check the rock for any cracks or imperfections and gently dusted it off before stepping away. "Alright then, Dwebble," he said. "Time for us to move on."
Gwen smiled gently. She was going to miss him. "Take care. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Pika pika!"
"And make sure your home doesn't get stolen again," Iris added.
With some resolve, the trio turned to leave, but the pattering of claws stopped them. "Dwebble!"
Cilan turned. "Dwebble? What is it?"
He merely smiled. "Dweb, dwebble dweb."
Gwen's brow perked as she understood. "I think Dwebble wants to join you, Cilan," she told him.
His eyes widened as he looked back down at Dwebble. "Is that true?"
Dwebble beamed. "Dwebble!"
Cilan beamed back. "I get it! Getting your home back all by yourself was heavy fare, and worrying about Pansage was delicate and light! We're a great match!" He smiled, reaching for a Poké Ball. "The perfect Pokémon for me!" He tossed it in the air and Dwebble leaped to meet it. When it stopped shifting, Cilan picked it up. "Such exquisite taste! My Dwebble!"
Gwen came up behind him and gripped his shoulders lightly. "Hopefully by exquisite taste, you meant your pairing," she giggled. "Don't want you getting too proud."
Cilan shook his head with a light smile of his own. "There's nothing prideful about the truth." He shifted and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Gwen responded with an arm around his waist. "A wonderful partnership that is only bound to grow stronger."
"And not only yours," Gwen added, looking at Pansage. "What do you think, Pansage?"
He smiled and gave a leaping back flip. "Pansage!"
Axwe joined in as well. "Axew, yew!"
"Let's get moving," Iris said, trudging forward with the rest of them in tow. It was a while before Cilan and Gwen took note of their close gesture.
