As we gazed at the outside world from the comfort of our blimp, variations of action were taking place outside. A group of Starly joined with Taillow to form a V-formation in the sky. Beautiful cooperation from two different species, that were discovered in two completely different regions. But as this occurred, I was concerned with other matters.
"This room is huge!" I ran from end to end of the room while others enjoyed a simple blimp ride. This was my first time in the sky, luckily I wasn't raised to be scared of heights.
I gasped upon entering the largest part of the room, where my Pokémon were gathered around, frantically jumping around as I entered.
They were hiding something, "what's up?" I asked.
"Skip~loo-" Tini cut off Maple.
Slider ignored them as he was comfortable in his little fountain.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "No one's talkin' huh?" I looked to the weakest link in my group, emotion-wise, who would break at a simple glare.
"Chim!" Comet flinched. All eyes watched the poor conflicted Chimchar. Would he tell? Could he tell? Did he have a choice? Before anyone could answer these questions a squeak from above echoed to my ear cueing the next move.
Surprise overcame my judgment, "Zip?" she was stranded on the chandelier, crying and occasionally making the room brighter as she shocked the lights.
"What the- what happened?" Everyone smiled innocently trying to bear my outburst, "just.. Maple could you," I paused remembering she could only fly on the wind, "Tini can you reach?"
"Rair" Tini swayed, stretching as far as she could, but still couldn't reach.
I climbed on Tini's back after accepting permission, "Alright," Tini stretched out, but even with my added height Zip was too far, "Comet, Maple, mind giving me a hand?" they nodded and ran along Tini's back, up to my hands Maple plopped down with Comet standing on her head. I gave Comet Zip's Pokéball but even the reach of a return couldn't get her.
"Pii~" Zip welled up with tears as we lost balance and tumbled down.
Slider, on the other hand, was watching comfortably with great amusement.
I waved my arms pleadingly back and forth, "no no no, don't cry, don't cry."
I looked over the room for some answer, "Uh um," then a thought, "Visi!" I smiled and called him out.
Visi appeared with his body sprawled over the floor in a deep sleep, "bay.." he snored.
I poked his round belly, "Visi.. I know you don't like mornings, but do you mind helping?" He continually snored, and the constant smile written upon his face made it hard to tell if he was messing with me or not. I ran to the window, "look Visi, the moon's out! If that counts… Or is it just a very circular cloud," I took this into account.
"Piii~cha~" Zip cried, shorting out the lighting.
I pulled out my Pokédex, "Visi, your special ability is Insomnia! This doesn't make sense, are you even sleeping?" But still no response, "return…" I recalled him.
"Zip, you're gonna have to jump," I yelled, if I had to guess, I'd say we were a half-a-mile apart, then again I'm no good at math.
"Pii" she shook her head for no.
With my arms spread out everyone gathered around me, "don't worry, we'll catch you."
Ash then decided to enter the situation, clearing his spectator status, "Crista what are you-" Zip decided to jump right when Ash distracted me.
"PIICHU~~!," Zip screamed. Her aim was way off. Thankfully she bounced off of Tini's folded wings, rolled off of Maple's flower, and Comet decided to play hot-potato with her, throwing her onto me.
Her tears followed as that was not a safe landing. I tried to assert my authority, "Zi-IiiIiiip." Until she shocked me.. Also she somehow caught Ash and Pikachu in the crossfire.
"Wh.. Why?.." Ash twitched.
"Bravo, bravo," a man came into view with a chorus of claps. He helped me up with a laugh, "you and your Pokémon are quite the comedy-duo"
"Sorry, that wasn't a publicity stunt," Ash slid between us.
"Didn't mean to intrude. I'm in the entertainment business. Name's Melvin," he finished.
"Melvin? Hey, wait I remember you," Ash exclaimed, "You've lost weight.."
"Well I had to, to survive in my line of work. And actually, I think I remember you as well. One of my adoring fans correct?" Melvin asked.
"Noo" Ash growled, "You used me to catch all those Exeggutor, remember?"
"Ah, now it's ringing a bell. And still with your Pikachu I see. Anyway, back to business. I'm a magician, looking for a lovely assistant. You fit the criteria perfectly," Melvin turned to me. "And with these wonderful Pokémon to boot."
"Uh, I already have a promising profession thank you very much," I moved away. Ash's attitude told me not to trust the guy. Melvin shrugged with a face of pity like I missed out on the chance of lifetime. We headed back to our seats after the waitress handed out lunches.
"Hmm," I growled while toying my salad with a fork.
"Don't tell me your upset," Ash lightly smiled.
"No, I can't figure it out," I slapped the fork down, "How in the world did Zip get stuck there?"
Ash faltered, and broke into a laugh.
"What? Don't tell me you did it!"
"No"
"Then why are you laughing?"
"Cause' I thought you were thinking about something else."
"Char!" Comet leaped onto my lap and stared hungrily at my food.
"I don't think it's healthy to feed this to you.." I looked over the fried foods on my plate.
Comet dejectedly scratched his cheek.
"Hey, everyone!" I called to my Pokémon, "how about sharing this instead?" I put down a bowl of fruit.
They happily accepted the offer as Tini evened out shares for them.
About an hour more into the trip and we were running out of things to do. Brock could argue that though, he was preoccupied in the restroom for most of the day. Apparently the one time he doesn't make his own food he get's an upset stomach. Ash was having a hard time as well.
"I need to go to the bathroom!" Ash slammed both hands on the table.
"What? Again?" I yawned.
"The juice went straight through me.." he cringed.
"Just hold on, we'll land in no time," Dawn informed.
"How long's 'no time'" He frowned.
"You keep getting goose bumps," I watched the little hairs stood up on his arms. "If this keeps up, eventually all your hairs will pop out."
"Man, this flight's taking forever, I could be halfway to Kanto by now," Barry paced the carpeted floors.
"You're telling me," Ash slouched over the table.
"Ah, I know," Dawn searched her bag. "This'll pass the time nicely," she held up a joke book.
"Oh- please no," Ash begged.
"Lemme see!" Barry hopped over, "ouu, this one."
"Yeah!" Dawn sat at a table while Barry acted refined with a bowl in one hand.
She gasped, "Waiter, I see a bee in my soup"
He sighed at her, "well of course U C A B, it's alphabet soup!"
I laughed, Ash pouted.
Four playful jokes later, Ash could no longer take it and was banging the door down for Brock to let him in.
"Ahh they keep cracking jokes-one of them is gonna make me laugh-you're not gonna like it!" he complained.
"Piika.." Pikachu left Ash and retreated to my shoulder.
I ruffled the hair on Pikachu's head, "ah, he'll be okay"
At long last, the lock clicked. The door sluggishly opened, Brock lugged himself out. And Ash took no time to get in.
"Brock, do you have your head on right?" I asked as he tripped for no apparent reason.
"Definitely not…" his cheeks puffed up, we recoiled, he swallowed.
"Uhh.. It might be a stomach virus," I observed.
"That's what I think, but just a mild one by my temperature," he sat on the floor.
"Mild, huh?" I grabbed Maple and set her on Brocks head. The flower on her head fluctuated and opened wide, until Maple couldn't take it and bounced away.
"The flower on her head helps measure temperature, it opens when hot, closes when cold. I've always wanted to test it," I laughed. Then we got a real thermometer and took his temperature.
"101.9 that's just bad," Dawn cringed.
After we landed, we took Brock to the doctor. We were right, Brock had a bad stomach virus. Ash decided to stay and watch over Brock since he bugged him so bad before. But before that, Dawn, Ash, and me saw Barry off at the ferry for Iron island. Then Dawn and me used the PokéCenter's kitchen to work on dinner.
"It's just us girls," Dawn stated as she read through a recipe book.
I tied on an apron.
"We can cook. I mean Brock's a guy, he cooks, then us girls shouldn't have a problem!"
I gathered the ingredients. Then Dawn stared at me for instruction. I flinched, "what? I don't know what I'm doing.."
Dawn slouched over in defeat, "but you're a girl!"
"What does that make you?" I retorted.
"A girl that knows nothing about Brocks recipes…" she turned the book sideways in an attempt to understand it.
"Oh well…"
We left and ate out for dinner. Afterwards, we sat by the beach and gazed at the sunset.
"Canalave City it surrounded by an ocean. It makes the sun so pretty. But I also like how it looks at- um… Hey, what's it called when the sun rises?" she asked.
"Dawn," I answered.
"Yes?" Dawn asked.
"No, Dawn"
"What?"
"When the sun rises… Dawn, its called dawn…"
"You don't say!" she jumped as if it was big epiphany, "I'm gonna go sleep now," Dawn trailed away.
"Alright, I'll meet you there later."
I held a tight grip on my shoes laces. Carefully untying them. Taking my time, *first thing's first…* I slipped my shoes off, stuffed the socks inside, and rolled up my pants.
I pressed the opening switch on Sliders Pokéball, and he took form from a shaft of blue light.
"Ma?" he watched me.
"It's the ocean!" I leapt from the water, sounding much more enthusiastic then I felt.
I slipped the empty Pokéball into my pocket. "Maantyyke!" he swam away, practically disappearing into the distance. "Tyy!" he saw me, and came rushing back.
"Whoa, whoa whoa!" I pleaded as he charged full speed into my arms. He knocked me into the water, I laughed, "I try not to, but end up getting soaked anyway!" he laughed with me.
But, my joy was drowned out by the incoming tears, "Ha, saltwater must've-" I chocked. "Ahem," I coughed out a smile. "I know you don't like battles, but we've had fun taking on Trainers with our time together anyway." my smile was quickly fading, "I just hope you'll remember our travels as something good, like I will."
"Mantyy" he observed me indecisively.
I stood up and waved, "Goodbye."
Slider just watched.
After I had my shoes back on, someone bumped the side of my head.
"Exeggutor," a Pokémon chanted.
"Uhhm," a haze clouded my eyes at his gaze.
[Writers POV]
The Exeggutor had successfully Hypnotized Crista. And as she stood mindlessly there, Melvin popped out from his hiding spot.
"Ah, finally," he tapped her with a magicians wand. "I hate when I have to resort to this, but as soon as I'm famous, I'll leave you be." As she failed to respond he smirked, "you can't hear me can you? Ah well, twirl around like a Kirlia," he commanded.
"Kiir~liaa" Crista sung as she spun around.
"Perfect, now recall your Pokémon," Melvin pointed at Slider. Slider flinched, he was still trying to understand the situation.
Crista didn't respond, "wha- give me that," he snatched the Pokéball from her pocket and pointed it at Slider. A red light shot Slider, but canceled out.
"Darn, she set it free? This was definitely her Mantyke on the blimp! …Anyway, there's work to be done," he trailed away.
"Yes.." Crista absently followed.
Though he was scared, Slider somehow understood the gravity of the situation. Melvin did something to Crista. Slider followed them along the shore, until they reached a dock.
"Another ferry should be arriving soon. I got our first gig there with the captain and his kids, but perhaps I should prepare first. Crista call out all your Pokémon," Melvin sat back as she threw all her Pokéballs in the air
"Come on out" Crista dully said.
All her Pokémon appeared, shouted, and stretched.
"Oh my, my, my! A Dragonair! Truly something to behold. And if the tall tails speak true they con control the weather. Crista, I want you to command your Pokémon to create clouds, but no rain, I would hate to soak my suit," as he said, she commanded. Tini's wings stretched and she flew into the air, the orb on her neck glowed a bright light of blue. And clouds formed over the sky as night had already settled into place, making the atmosphere rather eerie.
"Wonderful wonderful! Oh, and these other Pokémon can come in handy as well. The Skiploom can add to my bouquet trick. Then this Pichu can be a cute attention grabber! A Banette for my darker scenes and- uhm… There's really no need for a chimp in my performance," Melvin scooted Comet away.
"Chiim~chaarr.." Comet asked for Crista to help, but to no avail.
"Maantyyy," Slider shot bubblebeam at Melvin.
"Aaah!" he drew back behind his Exeggutor, "so, I see you still care for this trainer and her Pokémon," he speculated.
"Maa! Ma, mantyy" Slider told everyone about the situation.
"Bay!" Visi readied a shadow ball as everyone else began an attack.
"Ah, wait, if I'm not mistaken, the shoe is on the other foot. You lay one more hit on me and who knows what I'll do to your precious Crista"
"Tyy?" Slider gasped.
Comet was too shy to attack in the first place, but everyone else ceased fire. Tini from the start was trying to reason with Crista. Crista wasn't listening, or rather, couldn't.