We spent some time by that lazy river. It made me a think of a story from Mark Twain, but the occasional pokémon splashing around nearby interrupted that mental image. There was no way there would be any psyducks or goldeens swimming around in Twain's world. Phoenix was having fun talking to Rasksha and instructing him on being a proper evil minion. I wasn't sure how much he was absorbing since he was pretty much a baby, but I liked to let Phoenix have all the innocent fun she could have. Her other versions of fun could be bloody or destructive to others so it was refreshing to have a change of pace. Besides, he was paying attention and not wandering off, so I took it as a win.
I looked down at the new dratini we had acquired after 'winning' at the Goldenrod gaming center. She was quietly staring at the water seemingly lost in thought. To me the dratini was something new and interesting but at the same time she seemed sad in some way. Like she was missing something, longing for what wasn't there. I looked at the dratini's pokéball going back to my earlier thoughts. That it was a trainer owned love ball and that it had the special stickers on it because said trainer was a pokémon coordinator. Those observations summed up my thoughts that dratini had once had another owner.
How did the little dragon type end up at the gaming center if she had another owner? Did the owner give her up? Or abandon her? I didn't like to think how upsetting either might have been for the dratini. I didn't know what dratini's story was, at least not yet, but I had an idea of how to find out. "Hey Nix? Can you do me a favor? I think that our dratini friend here had another trainer before us. I'm gonna ask her some questions. Can you translate her answers please?"
Phoenix, who had been instructing Rasksha in the proper form for possible bowing and behaving as her minion paused mid sentence. "Really? You think she had another trainer? Sure, I have no problem with being an interpreter, but I demand a berry as payment!"
I smiled and said "Ok, but you know that you're more than welcome to have any of the berries in the pack you want Nix. Though I'd watch out for the spicy ones... they might not be all that tasty."
Phoenix frowned "You have a good point Tori... no spicy hmm but I might use those as a training tool for Sparky later. Yes mouth burning as proper punishment... save that thought for later, but ok let's get started."
I turned to the dratini. "Ok, let's start with an easy question first. Do you have a name? Maybe your old trainer gave it to you?"
The dratini turned to me and paused listening to my words then nodded slowly. It made a sound sort of like a soft squeaky horn sound. I looked at Phoenix for translation.
"Yep, she has a name it's Kazul" I grinned glad this was working "Great! Hello there, Kazul. I'm really glad to meet you and so is Nix." At this point Phoenix waved her little ditto arm "So, time to explain a few things. First off we're not exactly a normal pokémon and trainer... it's a complicated long story. I'll tell you it someday, but for now I'm just going to ask that you don't tell anyone else about how we're... well different. It's for our safety right now. Later I'll tell you the whole story if you want Kazul, but right now if you feel like you can trust us just a little, I'd like to hear your story if you don't mind telling us it." I held up Kazul's pokéball. "I have a feeling you had a trainer before me; if I'm guessing right by this pokéball. Someone who maybe cared about you and competed in special contests with you?"
Kazul stared at the pokéball looking like the saddest pokémon in the world. It's little eyes watered up with tears and even it's ears drooped in sadness. Finally, Kazul nodded and said a few words in it's own language. I wanted to give the poor sad pokémon a hug, but I wasn't sure if my touch would upset or scare little Kazul. Not everyone likes to be touched when they are upset. Having known Phoenix for so long, I had learned long ago when to respect someone's personal space. She let me in cause we were close as sisters, but strangers were a big fat no. I barely knew Kazul, but I wanted to hug her because my inner nurturing self hated to see anyone in pain. I wanted to fix it and make it better. I looked at Phoenix waiting for a translation as Kazul continued talking halting sometimes, but it looked like she was trying to tell us the whole thing.
Phoenix started talking for Kazul and I could tell by the look on her face she was feeling bad for the dratini. "Wow this is a sad story, poor kid. Right, translation time. First off, Kazul used to have a female trainer. She was really pretty and nice with purple hair. She picked Kazul even though she was a strange color that made her an outcast among the other dratini. So when her old trainer picked her, she was beyond happy to have a friend. They were really happy, traveling around the world together. They did indeed compete in special competitions and Kazul apparently did really well, making her trainer happy which in turn made her happy. They went together like that for years. Then one day something happened and they were separated. Bad people took Kazul away and her trainer was badly hurt. She doesn't know what happened to her. The next time Kazul was let out of her pokéball, there was a mean trainer who sold her to the game center. She was there for months she thinks. She says that the river reminds her of her trainer because the first time they met was in her home; an underground lake far away where there's a human town full of dragons and humans... Hey Tori, that sounds a lot like Blackthorn town to me doesn't it to you?" asked Phoenix turning from Kazul to look at me instead. The town Kazul was describing did ring a bell in my memory and Blackthorn fit the bill pretty much to a T.
I thought a second, then nodded. "Yeah it does... Listen Kazul, I don't know what happened to your trainer, but if you're ok with coming with us I promise we'll be kind to you. We won't force you to go anywhere or do anything if you don't want to. And if we find our way to the town your trainer caught you I can ask around for information. Maybe we can find her and get you two back together. I can't make any promises because we are trying to get home too, but I'll do the best I can to help you."
I looked at Phoenix and she nodded firmly, clearly agreeing with my statement. I knew she would because Phoenix did what was right. No matter what she might say or how she acted, she really was a good person underneath all of those walls and shields. Kazul look from me to Phoenix and if the pokémon could smile I swear she was smiling. She moved over to me and rested her head on my chest. I smiled, taking the sweet gesture as an invitation to hug her and wrapped my arms around the thin dragon pokémon. I felt a mixture of happiness, relief, but at the same time a sense of responsibility settled on my shoulders too. Kazul was our pokémon and we needed to take care of her. Just like Raksha and Sparky. If Phoenix and I were gone who would look after them?
Slowly, without realizing it, Phoenix and I had started to form ties to this world. If we left suddenly, would our pokémon friends feel abandoned and struggle in this world without us? That was such a terrible thought it made me sad thinking it. I would have to talk to Phoenix about it. I wanted to make sure if something should happen to us or we got back home that our pokémon would be taken care of. I would make sure that they would somehow be alright without us. Kazul interrupted my thoughts by making a happy sound at me. Though I had no clue what the actual words she used were the tone she used and the happy look on her dratini face gave me a good idea what she said and I smiled.
"Hey Astoria want me to tell you what she said?" Phoenix offered, a rare gentleness in her eyes as she looked at Kazul.
I shook my head smiling down at her. "No thanks, Nix. I think that 'thank you' is something that translates universally." I hugged the pokémon a little longer before letting her go. Looking in her face I wiped the leftover tears from her eyes and said "Ok, for now we'll just do the best we can. I hope that you'll still help me battle other trainers Kazul. I think you'll be a valuable member to the team seeing as how you're a seasoned pokémon. Are you ok with helping us out in battles?"
Kazul nodded at me with a another happy sound. "Great! Ok, let me just scan you with my xtransceiver then. I want to see what your specs look like. I held my wrist and pressed the button to scan Kazul. It only took a second then beeped. I looked at it and said aloud for Phoenix's benefit "Ok, so Kazul here is level 14. That's pretty great actually... and the moves she knows are hidden power... thunder wave, leer, twister and wrap. That's a decent set of moves, Kazul."
Phoenix, now holding an oran berry and happily munching away, at it nodded and said "Yeah, she does have a good list of attacks. Mmmm... these are super yummy! Seriously Tori, you should try one."
I frowned not remembering Phoenix getting into the bag before now. Did she use a little psychic power to help open the bag and get herself a berry? If so, that could end up being a problem long term. There was no telling what mischief Phoenix could get into without even touching the bag now. I sighed, looking at the sky. The sun was starting to set and that meant it was getting close to dinner time. I felt hungry and I bet our pokémon were too. Especially little Raksha, he was still a growing baby pokémon. Looking down at him, I saw he had fallen asleep in a nap but sitting in an upright position right next to the bag.
I smiled and said out loud. "Ok guys, I think it's time to go back to the daycare. I bet they're expecting us. Kazul I'll put you back in your ball for now. You can come back out later and I'll give you some dinner."
I held up the pokéball and sent the dratini back into her ball. I picked up Raksha only waking him a little as I settled him into my hood. Phoenix in a feat that impressed me climbed up my arm without any help to settle on my shoulder. When I said something she shrugged and replied "I think I've been hanging out as a ditto enough lately that I'm getting the hang of what this body can do. I bet you I could even find a way to climb all the way up someone's leg and up to their neck and strangle them. Hmm.. though I think I'd be better at suffocating someone in this particular form."
I chuckled at her homicidal musings and said as we walked "Now Nix, no killing anyone. It would draw unnecessary attention to us. Something we seriously don't need right now."
Phoenix made her usual comment about me ruining her happy little delusions and I smiled, in a very good mood, as we made our way back to the daycare. I was happy to find out my assumptions were correct and Tom and his family were waiting for us. It seemed like forever since we had been back, but having dinner with them was still fun. They shared what had happened that day at the daycare, but they were more interested in my story about the conference, and what had happened with Team Rocket. Tom said that if they saw those hooligans anywhere nearby they would be sure to call Officer Jenny.
I finished dinner a little earlier than the others so I offered to do dishes as a thank you for the nice meal. Plus I needed time in the kitchen anyway to feed Raksha his special food. I let Sparky and Kazul out of their pokéballs to give them their dinner and was surprised when Kazul spoke to Phoenix and offered to feed Raksha his bottle. Phoenix, from her position on the kitchen counter where I had put her translated again for me "Kazul says she really loves baby pokémon. Her owner had a few and she liked to help take care of them. She's never had any eggs herself though."
I paused and shrugged "Ok, then. Thank you, Kazul. Help is always appreciated." I walked fascinated a moment while the dratini used her move wrap to wind her tail around the bottle in my hand. She then carefully took it and held it out for little Raksha. The little silver eevee looked at me and I smiled and nodded encouraging him to let Kazul feed him.
Finally, seeing I was ok with it, he started sucking on the bottle of special formula in and I grinned. "This is so great. Thank you, Kazul. Hey Nix, while they're doing that, let's do these dishes. I'll wash and you can dry. Sound good to you?"
Phoenix nodded and replied "Works for me, Toriori twister. I don't mind helping you at all; just give me a minute, I want to be something that has actual arms..." She paused and thought a minute then smiled "Hey Tori? Let me see your wrist for a sec, the one with the xtransceiver please."
I held it up for her then she hit the buttons with her ditto digits looking for a pokémon. She took a minute then grinned. "Ok, good found it… Yep, that'll work nicely." She closed her eyes and changed, the familiar light enveloping her ditto body as she shifted form. Now the ditto was gone with a pink eyed chimchar in its place. She grinned at me and showed me her flaming tail "Cool right Tori? Now I can dry the dishes with these flames and handle them just fine with these monkey style hands."
I giggled and replied "Well I suppose that will work, but I think you're just obsessed with fire type pokémon just a little."
She grinned at me "Flames are awesome. Besides, are you really gonna tell me you haven't noticed by now that I'm a bit of a pyro, Tori? Come on, you know me better than that."
I chuckled and turned towards the sink and the soaking dishes "Ok then, pyro. Let's get these dishes cleaned before our little guy finishes his dinner. I want to get a good rest for tomorrow when we go train with Max and Brock."
We were quiet for a bit aside from general dish passing comments. Phoenix broke the silence though and said "Hey Tori? Speaking of Max and Brock... do you remember that conversation we had earlier?"
I paused scrubbing a stubborn spot on a dish. "Yeah. I've been thinking about it and I'm not saying no, but there are things to consider. We can't hide our secrets from them forever. If they traveled with us, either we'd have to tell them upfront or live in constant terror that they would find out. Although I honestly think we can trust them. They were always good guys in the show and I think we can agree they still seem the same. I have a good feeling that they will help us if we tell them... though I won't lie and say I'm not really, really worried..."
I started scrubbing the spot trying to vent my frustrations out on the dish in a productive way. Phoenix was heat drying a dish I had handed her as she replied "Well Tori, while normally I shun the idea of hanging out with other people I think that it might be necessary. Aside from what we know from the games and show, we don't know nearly enough about this world yet and that could get us into serious trouble. We could honestly use some help." she sighed setting aside the dish she had dried and took another one from the wet pile I had left in front of her "I really hate admitting it, but I worry that if something happens to me you'll be all alone here Astoria and I can't stand that...idea. It scares me. More than I'd like to admit, even to myself."
Before Phoenix knew what was happening, I was hugging her. I didn't care she was a flaming monkey. The outside shape wasn't important, inside she was Phoenix. "Nothing is going to happen to me. Or you for that matter. We're going to get through this and I will get you turned back to a human girl." Because this is all my fault and I won't rest until I put you back in your original body. My tratious thoughts interrupted the touching moment. If Phoenix knew what I was thinking she would hate me. She would be just so angry that it was my stupid thoughtless wish that got her stuck in this situation.
A sudden screeching sound turned my attention away from me and Phoenix's hug as well as my self loathing thoughts. Down on the floor Sparky was freaking out big time. It looked like he had knocked over his food in his mad scramble of terror to get away from... Raksha? The little silver eevee had finished his bottle and moved over to the pikachu. He was happily wagging his little tail and bouncing around Sparky in a playful manner, not realizing he was scaring the hell out of the electric pokémon. I pulled away from Phoenix and picked up Raksha seriously confused. Kazul watched the scene with curiosity and confusion, although I swear I saw her eyes sparkle with amusement.
"Sparky, what's wrong? Are you alright?" I tried to move towards him, but he freaked out even worse trying to hide behind the fridge. I moved back not sure what to do. "Phoenix, can you go see what's wrong with him? I don't know why, but I think he is scared of Raksha."
Phoenix nodded and easily hopped down from the counter, her chimchar shape making climbing a piece of cake. She went over to Sparky and talked to him a minute. Sparky gestured in a wide eyed terror and fear in my direction where I was holding Raksha.
Finally she looked over at me. "Uh yeah, you got it in one, Tori. He is absolutely terrified of Raksha. It's because of what those plague rats, I mean children, and baby pokémon did to him when he first got here. He can't be near Raksha without full on freak outs."
I groaned. "Darn it, I forgot about that. Phoenix what are gonna do? You tossed him to those screaming kids."
Phoenix frowned at me "Better him than us. Besides, it was survival of the fittest. I'm his evil overlord so therefore he's mine use as cannon fodder if I need to."
I tapped my foot annoyed "Yeah, but how are we going to do anything with him if he goes into fits every time he sees Raksha or any baby pokémon or kid? This is not good, Nix. It's going to hurt us in the long run and I bet it's not good for Raksha or Sparky. They are our pokémon and may need to team up on occasion for battles. We need to think of something to fix this. Phoenix are you listening to me?"
I was shocked cause the look on Phoenix's face made me think she was ignoring me, something that she'd never done in all our years of friendship. She was staring at Sparky and not facing me at all. She waved her hand and said distractedly "Hang on, Tori. I have an idea. I need you to make sure that we won't have any company from Tom's family."
I looked around and said "No, they're not here. Nix what are you planning?" I froze as she transformed suddenly out of her chimchar form and back to her original mew form. "Nix! what are you doing?! This is dangerous! What if someone sees you right now?!" I whisper yelled at the now pink pokémon.
She reached out and touched Sparky's forehead "Trust me for just a minute, Tori I think I can make our problem go away... literally. Keep an eye out for me, ok? I think I'm gonna need to concentrate really hard for a minute or two."
She laughed a bit in her evil way and closed her eyes with a look of concentration. For a few seconds nothing happened. Then I saw a faint glow of soft blue light surround Phoenix's body, the light poured out of her hand to cover Sparky in the beautiful blue aura. He swayed for a second then closed his eyes; for a long time nothing changed, then Phoenix dropped her hand from Sparky and the light abruptly vanished. Sparky slumped into a sitting position, his rear on the floor and his tail laying limply at his side. His eyes opened slowly, but he looked really dazed. Phoenix swayed on her little mew feet looking like she was ready to drop, I sprang forward and caught her before she hit the floor. Admittedly, she wouldn't have fallen far, but I was not letting her get hurt if I could help it. I knelt putting Raksha down and made a more comfortable position for Phoenix in my arms.
"Nix, are you alright? Did you just use some sort of pokémon powers on Sparky?"
Phoenix looked up at me tiredly and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm good. I wasn't expecting that to take so much out of me. I feel like I just ran a marathon and I hate running. Gods damn minion and his mental issues. There's a royal clusterfuck in there, I kid you not Astoria. Anyway, I fixed the memory he has of the other day. As it stands now in his mind he never got attacked by the kids. He got away just in time. Therefore his pathetically fragile psyche is fine."
I frowned looking down at Phoenix, she looked flat out exhausted. I had never seen her tired like this. It made me really worried what kind of toll these powers of hers would take. "Wait. You altered his memory? What made you think that you could do that or that you should even try something like that?"
I guess the worry came through pretty obviously in my voice. Phoenix looked up at me and smiled reassuringly "Don't worry Tori, I'll be fine. I'm just tired. Probably cause I never tried something like that before. As to what made me think of it, remember when I said I could see pictures and feel things stronger as a mew? Well, when I was close to Sparky I could practically read his mind like it was a book right in front of me. He was screaming in his head that loud. Seriously it was really annoying. Anyway, I thought if it was that easy to see the pictures in his head why not try to rearrange them to solve our problem; not to mention the potential for my own evil plans and desires. As for why I should, science. Besides, a little mind rape isn't going to hurt him, especially if it actually helps him and more importantly, us. Fixing our issue is just a perk. Besides, if this works like I think it will, we are going have a serious edge."
I looked over at Sparky. He seemed to be waking up, much like he had fallen asleep. He looked over at Raksha smiling sleepily. He waved at the baby pokémon and didn't seem upset or freaked out at all.
Looking down at Phoenix I sighed and smoothed out a nonexistent messed up hair on Phoenix's head "It does seemed to have worked, but Nix I don't think you should use this new power a lot. Look how tired it made you. I'm worried if you use this too much it could hurt you. Promise me you'll talk to me before you try something like this again, ok?"
Phoenix sighed tiredly "Ok, I promise. But seriously this, in my mind, is an awesome win."
I looked down at our pokémon who were now all talking together quietly and looking happy."Yeah, it's nice that Sparky isn't a basket case over Raksha anymore. Let's go to bed though the dishes are done and I think you need the rest. And Nix? Mind raping someone is not ok."
"Yeah, sure, whatever, mom. 'm tired." came a sleepy, mumbled voice from my arms.
I looked back at Phoenix to see she had fallen asleep and she was snoring softly. I laughed on the inside about how I would tease her later on and let her know that mew snores sound cute and squeaky. I smiled at her and said a soft "Good night, Nix. Have happy evil dreams."
I carried her up to bed after putting Sparky and Kazul back into their pokéballs. Raksha would still sleep with me and Phoenix for a while since he was too little for battling seriously and therefore too little for a pokéball. I had asked Brock about that and a few other questions regarding baby pokémon after we had had some quiet time during our picnic yesterday. After tucking Phoenix into her spot and settling in Raksha, I wrote for a while until I myself passed out from pure exhaustion all my own.