"Good evening, Pokémon Hunter J," Cyrus said smoothly. His face was currently occupying a portion of Hunter J's impressive view screen. The only problem was: this view screen was not producing as clear of an image as Hunter J was used to. Hunter J mentally cursed that girl's wretched Lucario. What a massive thorn in her side indeed. Fortunately, that thorn was now dealt with, possibly forevermore.
"Evening," J said curtly from her captain's chair. She had been sitting there all along, silently fuming whilst her men were frantically attempting to make repairs. Her mood was too sour for her to feel particularly motivated at the moment, but she could always fake a calm demeanor whenever dealing with a wealthy client.
"So, how has my little request been coming along?"
"I can't complain. I currently have two of the Lake Pokémon in my possession at the moment. I shall resume my search for the last one tomorrow," she replied somewhat robotically and decided that she wouldn't go into any of the details at the moment. Obviously, she was still rather irritated with her previous ordeal.
"…Wonderful…" Cyrus looked pleased, "May I see them?"
"Of course," J reached over to take Azelf's Ultra Ball off of its pedestal. She pressed the release button and tossed the ball lightly to the ground before her. But the Ultra Ball merely fell to the ground, open, empty, and utterly useless.
Hunter J's eyes widened and flared with rage, "WHAT?"
"Excuse me?" Cyrus' eyes narrowed, "Is there some kind of problem?"
"Things are not going smoothly at the moment, but I assure you that they will soon…" J had to clench her teeth together to keep herself from flying into a rage, "Ex…cuse me… But I must go for now. I will speak with you again in the morning…"
"See to it that you do. I expect this to be explained to me in its entirety tomorrow morning," Cyrus said curtly and promptly severed his communications.
J's men braced themselves for a massive fit of rage. This wasn't going to be pretty…
"Will someone PLEASE EXPLAIN to me HOW this Pokéball is EMPTY?" Hunter J roared. She stomped her foot onto the ground, smashing the empty Ultra Ball into pieces.
The room was silent.
"It was HER!" J suddenly shrieked, "That infernal GIRL bested ME, the greatest bounty hunter in the land! IDIOTS! WHY DIDN'T ANY OF YOU STOP HER?"
"Sir! I don't believe any of us expected it to happen…" someone spoke up, but he trailed off when he realized how grave of a mistake this was.
"Idiot!" J slapped him hard across the face, "What do I pay you for?"
"I apologize, sir," he whimpered slightly, holding the side of his face.
Hunter J held her temples, "I'm going to bed now. No one shall disturb me. I want this entire airship in perfect running order when I wake up tomorrow morning…"
No one dared argue while Hunter J swiftly turned around and left the room, the folds of her long jacket billowing behind her.
oOoOoOo
Blathers whistled pleasantly as he strolled down the road to the local market. He had had a busy day at the office yesterday, but today was Saturday, the start of the weekend! Blathers had planned to treat himself to his favorite tasty snack this morning when he had made the unfortunate discovery that he had run out of sunflower seeds.
"Hello, Guildmaster!" the Chatot waved at a nearby Wigglytuff as he strolled into the market. The Wigglytuff just turned and stared at Blathers like he was crazy. Whatever. He was a loser anyway.
"Excuse me, sir," Blathers said to the man behind the counter, "I would like to buy some sunflower seeds, please!"
"Hello!" the man behind the counter beamed, "I just-a made-a some pizza! Would you like-a some pizza?"
"No," Blathers shook his head, "I would like some sunflower seeds."
"Okay!" the shopkeeper grinned, "I will get-a you some sunflower seeds!"
Blathers frowned. This shopkeeper looked familiar… Oh yes, this shopkeeper looked just like Pokémon Trainer Riley! But, he couldn't have been Pokémon Trainer Riley because he did not have an Italian accent… or did he? Suddenly, Blathers couldn't really remember. All he could think about was that beautiful hat.
"I want some pizza!" Knuckles suddenly declared. He had just appeared in line, and apparently, he was hungry.
"No, if you want pizza, you will have to wait! I was first in line," Blathers explained to him.
"Hmm… Maybe I want some chocolate instead…" Knuckles looked like he was in a trance as he began to imagine the amazing deliciousness of the finest treat in the world. But Blathers knew better.
"Chocolate will make you fat," he stated.
"What? How dare you say that!" Knuckles gasped, "Do you wish to debate me?"
"No, I wish to challenge you to battle! You will fall before my awesome might! You stupid Lucario! Taste my POWAHR!"
Knuckles just smirked. Suddenly, the both of them were transported to a ridiculously stereotypical high school classroom. Once there, Knuckles began to present his viewpoint on the pros and cons of chocolate consumption. He might have made a convincing argument, but no one was really certain because they were all too busy either falling asleep or trying their hardest not to.
Blathers' eyelids were drooping… It was all so… BORING! He could hardly take it anymore!
"Alright, Blathers, now it's your turn!" the teacher beamed, "Please present your side of the argument!"
"Oh no!" Blathers said frantically. This was just too much! It was Blathers' duty as a Chatot to say the craziest things possible! He couldn't bring himself to say such boring things! It just wasn't right!
"Blathers? Wake up! We'll all ready to go! We've gotta hurry up and find Riley today!" the teacher suddenly started to sound exactly like Leaf.
"NOOOOOO!" Blathers wailed in agony. He was too busy freaking out about his cruel situation to even listen to that last bit.
"CHATOT!"
Blathers opened his eyes and was relieved to see that it was all a dream. A terrible, awful dream. His heart was pounding and he felt breathless. Thank goodness it was all a just dream.
"I wanted to make sure you got up in time for breakfast," Leaf smiled at him.
"Please don't make me eat chocolate!" Blathers wailed.
"… I won't," Leaf shrugged. She left the Chatot to collect himself and crawled out of the den to talk with Toby now that he was back from washing his face and changing his clothes.
"Grovyle bring all food for morning time," Toby told her, "Grovyle good at catch food to eat… Leaf want Weedle?"
Leaf blinked profusely, "Uh… did you say… Weedle? Are you suggesting that we eat Pokémon for breakfast?"
Toby shrugged, "Yes… Weedle very tasty. Slugma make fire and all can eat roasted Weedle!"
"You're kidding me!" Leaf felt like she might be sick.
Toby just blinked. Didn't Leaf eat meat? Meat comes from Pokémon, doesn't it?
"Uh, tell you what. I'll make us some breakfast," Leaf suggested. She didn't have much food left, but she'd make it work.
"What is that?" Toby's eyes widened in wonder as he watched Leaf put slices of ham and cheese together between two slices of bread. It certainly looked delicious.
"It's called a sandwich," Leaf explained, "Here; I made this first one for you."
Toby's eyes shined in adoration as he sunk his teeth into the delicious 'sandwich.' It tasted as great as it looked!
"Sandwich is… so… cute!" Toby cried out happily.
"Uh, thank you, I guess," Leaf giggled.
oOoOoOo
After they had all eaten, Leaf, Toby, and all the rest of the Pokémon headed off to search for Riley. After a long time of wandering around, Ki suddenly grunted loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Ki sense man with many Pokémon ahead…" Toby translated.
Knuckles suddenly perked up and frantically indicated in the same direction Ki pointed out. He cried out frantically, trying to tell Leaf something.
"You're saying it's Riley? And he's with Vegeta and the other Pokémon?" Leaf was ecstatic. She immediately ran off after Knuckles as he led the way.
"Yaay! Riley's hat! Riley's hat!" Blathers sang happily as he flew after them.
Leaf practically ran into Riley's Lucario when they finally met up again.
"You don't know how glad I am to see you!" Leaf cried and hugged him tightly while the Lucario struggled to get away from her.
"Leaf! …I was really worried about you," Riley told her as soon as he had caught up to them.
"I'm sorry, but I-" Leaf began as she let go of his Lucario, but she was cut off by a flying hug from her Swablu. Popuri nuzzled against her neck; she was so glad that Leaf was safe. Blaze bounded over and nuzzled against Leaf's legs. Then Leaf heard a thunderous pounding, and she looked up to see Vegeta the massive Blastoise running at top speed to see her, knocking over any and all trees in his way.
"Vegeta, no! Please slow down!" Leaf gulped, preparing herself for the most powerful embrace she'd probably ever have in her life. Vegeta scooped up Leaf in a crushing one armed embrace, practically plowing over Riley on the way there.
"Yes… I… missed… you… too… Vegeta…" Leaf barely managed to say and patted his shell awkwardly since her arms were pretty much pinned to her sides, "But… you're… crushing… me!"
When Vegeta finally let go of her, Leaf was able to breathe normally again. Popuri flew in for another hug, but then she squealed when she realized how dirty Leaf was. She frantically began to dust her off.
"Oh… I… MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" Blathers said tearfully as he landed on the brim of Riley's hat and hugged the top of it lovingly.
"Leaf…" Riley said to her, "Please… don't ever run off like that again… As you can see, we were all worried about you…"
"I'm sorry," Leaf bit her lip, "But I had to do it, for Azelf…"
"Leaf," Riley sighed and shook his head, "You can't just put yourself into danger like that… What if something terrible had happened to you?"
"Oh, come on now; lighten up, Riley," Leaf shook her index finger playfully, "It wasn't all bad, you know… Besides, if I hadn't left, I wouldn't have this right now, would I?" she grinned widely and held out Azelf's Pokéball proudly.
Riley's eyes widened significantly and he gawked, momentarily unable to speak, "H-how… H-how… How did you…?"
Leaf explained everything to him proudly while Riley just stared, hardly able to believe his ears.
"… I'm really sorry I left you all behind, but at least Azelf is safe again," she finished, "Hey… Wait a second… Where's Toby?"
Knuckles pointed back toward the bushes and told her that Toby was too nervous and afraid to approach Riley.
"Who's Toby?" Riley asked.
"Uh, Toby helped me navigate through the forest to find you guys. He's, uh, kinda been living in the forest for… a looong time," Leaf explained.
"Why's he over there in the bushes, then?" Riley asked. For a second, Leaf wondered how he knew that, but then she realized that he probably sensed him there the entire time.
"Uh, I guess he's nervous… Maybe it's because you're wearing expensive clothes or something…" Leaf mused, remembering how much Toby disliked people obsessed with money, "Just wait here a second…"
"Come on, Toby, you don't have to be afraid of Riley…!" Leaf assured him and tugged gently on his arm, "Come out and meet him!"
"No," Toby slipped out of her grasp, "Toby not want to talk to Riley."
"C'mon, Riley's a good person! Ki can tell you that by looking at his Aura! You would like him!" she insisted.
"Toby know about Riley's Aura, but Toby not want to meet Riley. Riley… Riley rich so Riley know other rich people, so Toby not want to see Riley…"
"Oh, come on! Now you're just being ridiculous!" Leaf seized his arm and practically dragged him out of his hiding place. Toby reluctantly acquiesced. If Riley truly was who he thought he was, he'd have to face him eventually…
"Hello," Riley said pleasantly and held out his hand to shake. He was looking at Toby thoughtfully; the young man looked vaguely familiar somehow… like he had seen him before… but Riley couldn't remember where…
Toby ignored Riley's outstretched hand. Instead, he knocked Riley's hat off his head.
Both Blathers and Riley's hat were sent flying, "Nooo!" Blathers wailed, and he immediately swerved in the air to save the precious hat. He managed to catch it just before it hit the forest floor. Then he breathed a tremendous sigh of relief. It was a good thing he had the powers of the Matrix on his side…
Still not satisfied, Toby held Riley's hair back with his hands so that he could get a good look at his face. Riley just blinked, too stunned to think of anything to say in this odd situation.
"What are you doing, Toby?" Leaf exclaimed. Who seriously went up to total strangers and just grabbed their faces like that?
"Yes…" Toby said softly and let go of Riley, "Toby sure of it now… Riley is Toby's cousin…"
"Whaaaaat?" Leaf practically shouted.
"My hat now!" Blathers said happily and put on Riley's hat even though it was far too big for his head.
oOoOoOo
Notes: Wow, over a hundred reviews? What? I never thought that would happen! Well, thank you for taking the time to write them! It's great to see what you guys have to say. Thank you!
Oh yeah, I have to say that I changed the age Toby was when he ran away to five years old. Otherwise, he wouldn't really talk like that. If he ran away at five, then he wouldn't have much schooling, so that would explain why he doesn't speak clear English… Don't worry though; he'll eventually get better the more he talks with Riley and Leaf…
Oh, and while I was at it, I fixed the spelling for Feraligatr! I always chose Chikorita, so I never really paid much attention to that spelling… (;