The Poke Wars alternate universe was created by Cornova who was nice enough to let me muck about in it with Dawson. Quite a few times in the anime, movie nine in particular, you see people drinking water produced by Pokemon attacks like water gun. I'm not sure about everyone else but seriously that grosses me out a bit. Yeah everyone let's drink some Pokemon spit.
August 20th
"What do you think they're doing over there?" Michele asked looking across the river.
Gyarados had reached the opposite shore on his second to last trip across the river. Michele had ridden over on Gyarados last so much of the work to get the Mareep out of their Pokeball's had been done by the time she arrived. She sat on the edge of the river shore where the turf met the sand, her shoes taken off to enjoy the feel of the grass at her feet.
The two kids peered across trying to see better by squinting at the distance figures."How would I know?" Marcus said, "They're too small to see anything."
"It looks like Joy is doing something with Mr. Dawson." She said watching the small dots on the other side of the river, "Maybe their kissing?"
"What?" He replied incredulously, "Why would Mr. Dawson want to do something gross like that?"
"Kissing isn't gross, I bet they are." She said, "I think it's romantic."
"It is gross and I know Mr. Dawson wouldn't even bother with that stuff. I bet he doesn't even think about Nurse Joy in a kissing way." He said.
"Humph, you're a boy you don't get it. I bet Nurse Joy likes him enough to want to kiss him." She said looking at the young boy, "Mr. Dawson likes her that much too, I bet."
"Oh yeah I think you just want to think that!" He said pointing a finger at her.
"You're a boy, you don't know what to look for." She replied.
"Betcha I know Mr. Dawson better then you." He said with a smug smile, "And I'm one hundred percent sure he doesn't think about Nurse Joy like that."
"What makes you so sure?" She asked.
"Because he's..." He started letting his answer linger in the air for a few moments, "... A Pokemon trainer! That's why!"
Michele felt her head tilt to the side at the assault of her peer's logic, "What?" She said flatly.
"Pokemon trainers only worry about their Pokemon." He said pointing his head up in superiority, "They don't have time to worry about gross things like kissing girls. That's why Mr. Dawson isn't over there kissing Nurse Joy."
Michele just stared at the young boy completely speechless. The silence was broken as Gyarados arrived carrying Steven. He climbed off the water Pokemon and leapt to the shore. As he landed he caught sight of the two kids and their conversation. He looked back and forth between the two as they argued. Marcus was still carrying his smug look and Michele was still speechless as his head darted back and forth between the two.
"What are you two doing?" He asked as he brushed off the sand from his shoes.
"Michele thinks Dawson and Joy are over there kissing." Marcus said, "I just proved her wrong."
"No you didn't!" Michele replied, "You're a boy your can't prove girls wrong."
Steven blinked a few times as he watched the two argue back and forth, "Marcus... didn't Dawson tell you that you were in charge?" He said.
"Yeah why." The boy replied.
"So why are you here on the shore fighting with Michele?" Steven asked.
"Because... I... wanted to..." He fumbled.
"... I'm going to be the one doing all the work then..." Steven said with a defeated tone, "Because that idiot adult left the most clueless person in charge."
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Marcus said, "I can lead this group no problem, I'm just... waiting for nurse Joy to arrive before I take charge!"
His response was met with a look from Steven that made clear his irritation with Marcus. Rather then start what he assumed was a second argument he simply sighed leaving the two to bicker about their ideas of romance. Heading over to the others he checked on the Mareep as they grazed on the nearby grass.
May and Lisa sat by the Mareep as Steven approached. They both gave him a glare that deterred him from getting any closer. In light of the open hostility from the two girls he gave them a wide berth. Despite his annoyance at their reactions he didn't really feel like starting a second argument within spitting distance of Marcus and Michele.
Steven began checking on the Mareep once he made it past the two girls. Checking their wool, cleaning them of dirt and twigs, and making sure they didn't have any injures. He only stopped when he got a strange feeling of being watched. He looked up and about trying to figure out if he was just being paranoid or if something was spying on him. A few bushes off in the distance, the web covered forest, the road leading to Blackthorn, and the mountains it lead too all of which showed no signs of spying. He couldn't see any movement or signs of any sort that someone or something was watching them.
"Hey May, Lisa... you guys see anything around us?" Steven asked looking over at the girls.
"What are you talking about Steven?" May said.
"I dunno... just feels like we're being watched or something..." He said.
"Is this another one of your 'they're all out to get me' ideas?" May said irritably.
"No this is... you know what forget it, you want to be all pissy go ahead." He said going back to tending the sheep.
He tried to bury the unease he was feeling in the back of his mind as he continued to check the Mareep. Most of them were getting more and more worn out as the days continued. They were used to traveling since they needed to get up and down to the alpine pastures. That was back in Agricola however, their journey so far had been more of a marathon then a hike that would take an entire day at most. This trek from Agricola to Blackthorn was draining them slowly and steadily. It didn't help that they also had to fight along the way. They weren't battle Pokemon by nature, he wasn't sure what would happen if they had to fight like this all the time.
Steven let out a small chuckle at the thought he just had. He was here worrying about the Mareep and he didn't even give a second though to himself or any of the others. He didn't know why but the world was starting to feel different to him. The only word he could put to his feeling was 'larger' but it felt too limiting for him. He pushed the out of his mind and headed over to the groups packs.
They had been piled together one by one as everyone came over to this side of the river. Many of the kids immediately dropped their packs as soon as they could, eager to be free of the weight. Steven went about double checking everything like Dawson had shown the group previously. It irritated him slightly that he was even doing something an adult like him told him to do. He was jarred out of his thoughts when he heard the incessant chattering of Michele as she walked towards the flock with Joy and Marcus in tow.
He could tell by the red flush in the Pokemon nurse's cheeks that Michele was likely prying into what she and Dawson did on the other side of the river. "We weren't kissing." Joy insisted, "I don't even know where you could have gotten that idea."
"But you were getting close to Mr. Dawson. I saw it." Michele insisted.
"That was... he had dirt on his face that's why, I was helping him clean it off!" She said blushing even more, "Marcus are we ready to go?"
The boy blinked a few times before frantically looking around, "Umm... well let's see..."
"Yes Joy, we are ready to go." Steven said as he finished checking over the last backpack, "I've just finished checking the backpacks."
"Hey Dawson left me in charge." Marcus said indignantly.
"He also thought it was smart to walk into a forest covered in webs and filled with dangerous Pokemon." He replied.
Joy tried to hide her unease at Steven's words as she attempted to defuse a fight before it happened, "Kids kids... let's not fight..." Joy said nervously hoping Steven wasn't going to start more trouble.
Letting out a 'humph' Steven bit his tongue and let Marcus step up to take charge of the group. Despite saying he had already checked them the group wasted several long minutes as Marcus looked over the packs again. Eventually the packs had been double checked, and the party set out down the road towards Blackthorn.
Even as they traveled to the city Steven couldn't help but feel uneasy as they walked down the road. Every few minutes he'd feel the hairs on the back of his head prickle, however every time he looked around for the source he only saw the bushes and grass along the side of the road. His position at the back of the group saved him the trouble of having to explain why he kept looking around at least.
As Dawson suggested the group only traveled for a few hours to get far enough away from the forest to prevent the web makers from leaving their leafy home to capture a meal. They also stopped early due to the extra weight they carried as the tents and backpacks would normally be inside the wagon rather then carried by the children.
As soon as Joy felt they had made enough distance from the forest for one day she called an end to the walking. The kids immediately dropped their packs collapsing to the ground in fairly exaggerated manners. Joy wasn't setting much better an example as soon as her pack was on the ground she started rubbing her lower back.
Steven sighed as he was the only one still wearing his backpack and not playing up how tired he was, "Alright you twits you're not all that worn out." He said irritably, "Take five minutes and then we start setting up the camp."
"Hey you're not the one in charge!" Marcus said from where he sat on the ground.
"Marcus..." Steven started letting the pause in his statement hang in the air to show how annoyed he was, "Unless you get off your butt and start being in charge I'm going to do it for you."
"I was just giving everyone a break first." Marcus said, "Then we'd get the camp ready. I just didn't think I needed to tell everyone."
"Marcus... shut up... just shut up before I hit you." Steven said though gritted teeth.
With the leader of their group cowed Steven took off his pack placing it down on the ground. The rest of the kids, along with nurse Joy, watched as he started setting up his tent. A few moments later Lisa and May both got up and followed suit working together to put up their tent.
Joy watched as Rachael and Michele soon began unpacking their tents as well. Soon even Marcus had started assisting Steven on his tent. She eventually realized that she was the only one left who wasn't doing anything.
Within the next half hour the tents were set up, a fire had been made, and the children were eating their supper as the sun set in the distance. Rachael basking in the wake of compliments for making the meal. Steven was the only one not sitting with the rest of the group.
He stood at the edge of the camp holding his empty noodle cup, and watching the grass and bushes around the camp. The sun was beginning to begin to fall below the horizon while he continued his vigil. He glanced back towards the fire when he heard a sound of someone approaching behind him.
"So... what did you think of the meal?" Rachael asked walking up behind him.
"Its a cup of noodles." He said looking back towards the perimeter of the camp, "What do you want me to say? Congratulations you can heat water."
"Jerk." Was the curt reply he got from Rachael, "You know you don't always have to be so mean."
"If I want you to leave me alone I do." He said.
"Fine if you want to be alone out here doing... whatever it is you're doing then be my guest." She said.
"I'm looking for whatever is out there watching us." He said to her.
"Nothing's out there Steven... you're just being paranoid again." She replied.
"No something IS out there, I just don't know what." He said going back to his vigil.
Now more the slightly irritated Rachael turned and headed back towards the campfire. Circling around the fire she approached Joy and Michele as they tended to Rapidash. The fire Pokemon's wounds had grown worse over the course of the day. Her body was sweating and Rachael could hear her labored breathing as she approached.
"How is she?" Rachael asked as she approached.
"She's alive for now..." Joy said as she paused in her cleaning of the wounds, "But she's getting worse every hour."
Michele stopped cleaning Rapidash of sweat and looked at Joy, "But you'll save her right?" She asked earnestly.
"I don't know if I can do anything for her now... but I'm sure we'll be able to figure something out when we get to Blackthorn." She said reassuringly, "But for now we should all start heading to bed."
At her announcement a chorus of complaints and whines were launched at her from the kids. Ranging from 'we're not tired' to 'its not that late' Joy never the less sent each and every one of the children to their tents. Once the last one was inside she let out a sigh of relief and sat down near the fire. She looked about at the Pokemon as they went about guarding the group.
Torterra was resting in a patch of long grass near the tents. He may or may not have been sleeping but Joy didn't feel like checking. She took solace in the fact that Togekiss, now freed from the cart and in good health, had perched herself on the back of the continent Pokemon and was dutifully keeping watch. The flying Pokemon noticed Joy sitting in front of the fire.
In her lap was Poochyena, the dark Pokemon sleeping in her lap. Joy absentmindedly petted his fur while staring at the firelight before her. Togekiss let out of soft chip and drew her attention to herself. With her nose she pointed to the nurse's tent then back to her. She did this several times indicating that Joy should get some sleep.
"No I think I'm going to stay up..." She said, "I want to wait for Dawson."
Steven sighed as he overheard Joy talking to Togekiss. He stared up at the canvas ceiling in the tent he and Marcus shared thinking about his next course of action. His tent-mate looked at him from his sleeping bag trying to figure out what he was bothered by.
"What's up Steven?" He whispered.
"Nothing..." Steven replied turning on his side away from him, "Go to sleep already."
Realizing he wasn't going to get a response from his companion the boy closed his eyes and tried his best to get some sleep. Steven remained awake inside the tent. He watched the firelight create shadows along the tent wall as he waited. The minutes ticked away constantly and without end.
Eventually he saw the firelight along the tent wall start to dim. Taking that as a good sign he silently climbed out of his sleeping bag and crawled towards the front of the tent. Marcus didn't stir from his slumber as Steven reached the flaps and slowly pushed one aside.
Peering outside he saw the fire smoldering in the center of the tent circle. Joy was slumped on her side sleeping in the dim light of the campfire. He couldn't see Togekiss or Torterra but knew the tents facing allowed him a small measure of unseen movement. With Joy asleep he began to slip out of the tent.
Taking great pains not to move too quickly and make too much noise he climbed out and circled around to the side of the tent opposite the two Pokemon. Peering around the edge Steven glanced at where Torterra and Togekiss watched over the camp. Both Pokemon rested in the firelight.
Letting out a soft sight of relief at the sight of the two sleeping Pokemon he slowly stood up. Even with everyone asleep he felt the need to remain quiet. As quickly and quietly as he could Steven headed over to the sleeping Mareep.
Approaching the Flaffy sleeping near the edge of the heard he did his best to awaken the drowsy Pokemon. A few gentle nudges and they began to wake, rubbing their eyes while wondering what was waking them. Steven made sure each time he woke one they understood to be quiet by holding a finger over his mouth.
While the Flaffy shrugged off their weariness the boy quickly headed back to the tent. Grabbing his now lighter backpack he placed it over his shoulders, and before heading back to the electric Pokemon he placed another few logs on the fireplace. With everything he needed Steven and the three Pokemon started walking away from the camp into the night.
It didn't take long to get some distance from the camp. The night wasn't dark as clear sky allowed the moon and stars to illuminate the path the group had only just finished walking on. Regardless as soon as he was out of sight of the campsite he had the Flaffy light up their tails and pulled out a small flashlight.
With a click and a surge of electricity the area around him lit up and Steven nearly jumped out of his skin in shock at was was before him. Lisa sat off on the side of the road with a bored expression across her face while Togekiss fixed the young boy with a stern glare. Before the boy could say a word the flying Pokemon hovered over to him and started off on a completely incomprehensible tirade.
"Toge togeki to to toge toooge togekiss geki toge ki toge geki to toge ki geeeki!"
Steven stared at the ranting Pokemon completely flabbergasted, and unable to understand as well, as she continued to rant at him. Eventually she changed her target to Lisa beginning her rant anew and pointing her wing at the young girl several times. She finally rounded on the Flaffy who rushed to hide behind Steven to no avail. This rant was much shorter and to the point with the electric Pokemon not saying anything. Finally Togekiss let out one final 'toge!' before flying off towards the campsite.
"Uh... What was that?" He asked looking at Lisa.
The girl stood up, brushing off her backside, and picked up her own backpack hidden in the shadows, "Togekiss wanted to stop us from doing what you're going to do." She said with a bored tone, "I convinced her to let us go."
"What?" Steven said looking at her, "What do you know about what I'm doing?"
"You're going after Dawson right?" She asked.
"... well... I..." He started fumbling with the words.
"I'm going too." She said not letting him finish.
"What? No you're not!" He replied recovering from his earlier stuttering.
"Yes I am," She said, "You'd never even make it to the forest without me anyways."
"What... no wait... WHAT?" He said aghast, "What the hell is this? How do you know what I'm going to do, How did you convince Togekiss to let us go, How are you going to help me get to the forest."
She slowly began to put on her pack while explaining each of his questions, "Dawson's taking too long to get back. Something happened to him. You were against his plan to start and you would do anything for a chance to one up an adult. You're also more worried than you let on." She said answering his first question, "I explained to Togekiss what we were doing and convinced her to let us go since she was worried about her trainer too. I also explained you would take the Flaffy with you."
Steven blinked several times as the young girl finished putting on her pack, "What? How... This makes even less sense now after you explained it." He said with a frustrated tone, "And how are you supposed to help me at the forest?"
"I was always weird... loony Lisa remember..." She said looking off in the distance with a wistful gaze.
"The forest." He said not liking the lack of an answer.
"I... um..." She said starting to fumble her words.
Under any other situation Steven would have reveled in being able to make Lisa stutter, "Lisa answer me!" he said.
"I... can hear her..." She said quietly.
"Hear her?" He said, "Hear who, why aren't you answering me?"
"I am... I can hear her... Dawson's Gardevoir." She said shivering in the night air, "I can hear her calling me... tugging at my mind... She needs help, and so does he."
"You really are crazy aren't you..." Steven said as he leveled a blank stare at her.
"I'm not crazy!" Lisa shouted back.
"Fine fine whatever, you're not a loon." He said rolling his eyes, "If you're not going back then just don't slow me down with you're craziness."
Ignoring the irate response from Lisa, Steven and the Flaffy headed off towards the forest. Walking down the road they had already traveled allowed them to make good time towards the woods. It hadn't even been an hour until the two had crested the hill and saw the river they had crossed wind it's way though the forest before them.
When they had left the campsite they had heard Hoothoot, Noctowl, and occasionally even a Spearow in the distance. Sounds that let them know other creatures were around and moving about in the night. Only at the top of the hill did they realize that all those sounds had gone quiet.
Both children stood next to each other as they looked down on the forest before them. The treetops reflected the pale moonlight making the woods a sea of silver light that shifted and swayed with the night breeze. Seeing his objective before him finally hammered home just what he was about to do. Gulping down his nervousness Steven took a step forwards towards the woods.
Before he got anywhere he felt a gentle tug on his hand holding him back. Looking down at his hand he found it being held onto by Lisa's as she softly trembled behind him. She held onto him with a force that surprised the young boy. Rooted to the spot she kept taking in calming breaths but her body refused to move towards the forest.
"You know you can go back." Steve said as he tried to pull his hand away.
"N-No... I need to go in there." She replied weakly, "I just... I... don't wanna."
"Well then don't take one of the Flaffy and go back." He said again, failing to pry his hand away from the girl.
"Everything in my head is telling me to go forwards, but my body won't move." She said.
"Oh for the... this is why I didn't want to bring you." Steven said moving stepping in front of her and kneeling down.
"What are you doing?" She asked watching as he put out his hands behind him.
"I'll carry you if you're going to be all loony like that." He said, "otherwise we'll be here all night."
Tentatively Lisa climbed on top of Steven, placing her legs in his arms and letting the young boy carry her. With Lisa on his back the young boy started towards the forest. The Flaffy, who had been waiting for their decision, followed along dutifully. Their light along with the light of the moon lit the way for the two children as they headed to the forest.
"Steven?"
"What loony?" The boy replied hiking her up in an attempt to dissuade her from talking.
"Why are you going?" She asked as she watched the forest grow closer.
Steven paused and glanced back at her, "What, Why do you care? I thought you knew anyways. I'm doing this to spite Dawson." He said
"I know that but there's more to it then just that." She said before blushing slightly, "...And I don't want to think about going in those woods..."
"Well think about going into those woods cuz I don't really want to talk about it." He replied.
"Steven... please." She said hanging onto him a little bit tighter.
"God you're annoying, I liked you better when you were all creepy and emo." He said picking up his pace, "Fine I'm doing this because I don't trust adults."
"you're putting in a lot of effort simply because you don't trust adults." She replied.
"Well did you believe for a second that Dawson was telling us everything about his plan?" He said glancing back at her.
"No."
"Adults lie to us because they think they know best. They treat us like idiots because they assume we're stupid." He said, "I hate that. THAT'S why I do everything they don't want me to do."
"Even if what we're doing is incredibly stupid." Lisa said as she looked up at the forest before them, "I wish it took longer to get here."
"You said you'd help me get though the forest... well?" Steven asked.
Lisa said nothing as she looked up at the trees before them. The Flaffy's light lit up the trees and added to their shadows making them feel taller then they actually were. Doing her best to stomach her fear she extended a hand over Steven's shoulder and pointed towards the forest.
"That way." She said.
"Wait... am I going to have to carry you the entire way?" He asked.
"I don't think I could bring myself to walk through this forest even during the daytime..."
"Crap, I think I was better off just getting lost." He said as he advanced into the woods.