"You know," Dallas starts as we keep going down the Route, "I'm surprised you actually caught a Rockruff as your first Pokemon."

"Oh yeah?" I ask down at the PiT, "Why is that?"

"Well, it's a Rock-type and you have a Normal-type partner. Statistically speaking, you shouldn't have been able to do much damage." He was right with this. The fact I did anything to my new Rockruff, Jazzmyne, was amazing. Sure, Blue did take a little bit of damage, but it was nothing to him. The dude's surprisingly durable. I take a second before answering back, "Hey, what can I say? I am awesome."

The short student just rolls his eyes and looks around. "This place is so freaking pretty." He right. For such a city-esque region, even the small routes and slightly naturish areas had a calm, beauty to it. And that's coming from a guy from Johto! Sadly, like I said, this is a short route and we walk into Striaton City in borderline no time, minus the unimportant training that everyone tries their best to skip, both in game and let's plays. The city is actually really nice, for being in the middle of Arceus no where. The roads were very nice and laid out, as if this was an actual city where cars would drive, but there aren't because for some reason vehicles don't exist in this universe unless you're a moving company or police! Sorry, had to internally rant for a second.

The one building in town that caught my attention the most was the small, black and white building close to the Pokemon Center. If I know anything about video game layout, the building that sticks out the most is where you need to go next. But first, to the Pokemon Center to heal Blue and Jazz. I nudge Dallas and point ourselves to the red roofed building and start walking, being followed by the PiT and a, slightly, injured Blue.

We walk into the Center and go up to the desk. For a hospital, these places are always so freaking empty. This one only had about three other people waiting in it, plus a Houndour sitting by a chair. It's weird. Once we get to the main desk, the Nurse Joy- yes, we're still going with that because M is unnoriginal-greets us with a smile. "Welcome to Striaton Cities Pokemon Center. How can we help you two today?" I was about to ask who 'we' was until an Audino walks out of the door behind her, holding a tray with three pokeballs in it.

I step forward and greet the Nurse, "Hi, we just need a little fixer-upper."

Joy nods with a smile as the nurse Audino pulls up another of the pokeball trays. "Well," Nurse Joy says, "we are more than happy to help. We just need your pokeballs and we'll be in business." She looks down at Blue, "Oh, I'm sorry. Does your Zangoose not do pokeballs?"

I look down at Blue and he kind of just shrugs at the question. I haven't actually thought that part through. He only got out of that thing maybe half an hour ago and he seems pretty happy. I guess for the time being he's a free roam Zangoose. I look back up to answer, taking out the ball that had Jazz inside, Dallas doing the same with Jet and Purrlion's. "Not really. Blue's a free roamer."

Joy nods again , "Great. If your Blue will follow me, we can have everything ready for you an few minutes."

"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Dallas says as the Audino takes the pokeballs and Blue back into the doorway. We both turn and walk over to the small seating area in the corner. I didn't realize until now, but there was music playing from the ceiling. Great, waiting room music. Because that's what I wanted today. Thought these places were supposed to be silent or something. I look onto the small table next to me and pick up the pile of magazines to see if anything's worth a read. 'Pokemon-amie: How to Love and Care for Your Pokemon.' Nope, already know how to do that. 'Natural Geographic: Native Inhabitants of Johto, Millennium Before Advanced Science Made its Changes." Not a history person. 'People & Pokemon: Special Interviews With Unova Gym Leaders and Elite Four." I'd do it, but I hate reading interviews. Just like with my vacation to the Sinnoh region, I expected more than what I knew would be there. I toss the magazines back down and lean back.

"So, Dallas," I say after a minute or two of awkward silence, "where you from?"

This PiT sits up, slightly startled before looking over to me. "Oh, I'm from Castelia City!"

"So you're native here then?"

"Yes sir, born and raised! Although, I wouldn't mind going somewhere else for a while. This region gets so annoying!"

"Really? If you don't want boring, you'd may want to stay away from Johto then."

Dallas tilts his head at this, "Why would I stay away from Johto? Is it that bad?"

I laugh at this. "That bad? It's the region that uses pokeballs equivalent of Almia. Freaking open land for miles and almost no cities. Was quiet, though."

"Hmm... I like quiet." Dallas leans back and looks up at the ceiling.

"Cool..." I respond back before going quiet again. Just like that we are back to the awkward silence. I can tell this is going to be weird for some time, so I do something a little bit unnecessary I guess one could call it. "Alright, that's it," I say out suddenly, causing Dallas to jump slightly.

"Mother of Mew, what the heck man?" Dallas said with a little annoyance in his tone.

"Sorry about that. Look, I was thinking," I start off with, "if we're going to be on this little trek thing, I think we should try to get to know each other a bit, y'know?"

Dallas looks back down before smiling and nodding back, "Yeah. Yeah that sounds like a good idea."

"Great. So, uh... who do you want to start, or should I just go, or what?"

"Hey, your idea, your first."

I tilt my head before nodding back to him, "I guess you have a point. Alright, well, let's see... I was born in Johto a little over sixteen years ago. I've always wanted to be a Pokemon trainer but my Mom was a little against it. And... holy hell, I am apparently extremely boring." I try to think for a second before remembering something, "Oh, I also really love those Malasada things from Alola. Not Alola itself, but those Malasadas. Freaking amazing."

"Huh, ok. Cool little bits I guess." Dallas takes a second before sighing and talking again. "Well, I'm just under fifteen, always wanted to be a professor or scientist or something, I raised my Jet from an egg, and..." He stops for a second and looks down. "I have a minor, very minor... swimming problem..."

Swimming problem? Was that even really a thing? Unless of course I'm just bad at reading things and he means what I think he means. "So, you can't swim? Is that what I'm getting from that or am I just bad at reading things?"

Dallas' face goes a little red before nodding a little. "Yeah... Never learned how to. To busy trying to, y'know, do the science/professor thing."

I laugh a little and pat the guy on the back. "Dude, there ain't nothing to be ashamed of. It isn't all that hard." I try to cheer Dallas up, which I think was working because with what I said his head perks up a little. "Look, tell you what. Next time we get the chance, rain or shine, river or sea, with or without Pokemon, I'll go out of my way to try and teach you. Sound cool?"

Dallas' face got a little more red before cracking a smile. "I think that's be pretty cool."

"Great! And, hey, look. Since you told me something a little, I dunno, private? Would you call that private?" He just nods his head in response. "Yeah? Yeah, well, it would only be fair if I did the same."

"Oh, yay, trading private information about each other! Amazing way to start a friendship."

"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not... But anyways! My thing is that I'm... kinda scared of Ghost-types." I could swear my face was getting even redder than Dallas' was.

Dallas just laughs quietly to himself before looking at me. "Walter, that doesn't sound like a problem. That just sounds like totally normal, uh, normal thing, y'know? People are scared of some things, and you're scared of Ghost-types." The PiT shrugs his shoulders and leans back and looks back to the ceiling. "Heck, I'm scared of some stupid stuff, too."

I felt like it might have been going over the line at the moment, but I felt like I had to ask. He basically set me up for it. "And... what is it?"

"Legendaries." That is literally all he said. Although, I didn't really get it.

"So, legendaries? Why Legenday Pokemon?"

"It's just... like I said, stupid stuff. Just all the power controlled by one, massive Pokemon! And there are so freaking many of them, too. I think it kind of just adds to my general fear of being small in the universe. Knowing a creature that alter all of time and space itself just makes me feel so small..." Dallas stops and looks over at me. To be honest, I was a little drawn back by this. Not only was I not expecting to have an existential conversation, but I was also starting to think of my own smallness in everything. Dallas tries to laugh it off. "Oh. Yeah, sorry about that."

I shake my head and bring myself back into reality. "N-no, Dallas, it's alright! Just, didn't expect to get so deep right there."

In a moment of trying to un-awkward the situation, the short student smiled and joked, "That's what she said." Of course, since I'm a sucker for those jokes, I laughed too. When we finished laughing, I see the nurse Audino and Blues walk out of the doorway again. "Oh, hey let's go."

Dallas and I stand up and go back to the desk and grab our Pokeballs and the Luxuryball. Still, that lucky, lucky Buizel. "Here you go, sirs. All happy and healthy!"

"Thank you, Nurse Joy. Nurse Audino, thank you as well."

This is met with a cheerful 'Dino' and the antenna things curling a little. Cute. I look down at Blue and am met with his normal little smile. "Feeling good, Blue?" Like usual, Blue lets out a mew and affirmative 'Zaaang!'

Let's see how Jazz is doing, shall we. I take her Pokeball and let the Rockruff out. Jazzmyne looks up with her tongue out and happy smile, pawing at my shoes. "Hey, Jazz! You doing good?" This is of course met with a cute bark. "Yeah, you're good."

"Nice," Dallas says, "I guess if we're good, ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's roll!"

"Zaangoose!"

"Ro-ock!"

The four of us turn and go to leave the very lit up Pokemon Center and back into Striaton streets again. Like promised to Candice, we turn and go into the Ranger building right next to the Center. When we do, we see a pretty nice setup of a main room. Semicircle with two tables at each end, black and white floor like the ceiling outside, circle swivel chairs. The place had everything. We look forward and she a young man wearing an orange outfit sitting at the main desk. I guess that's the secretary or something.

"Dallas, Blue, Jazz. Go sit down, I'll get Candice."

"Whatever you say, Walter." Dallas starts walking over to the table on the black side of the room and looks down at Blue and Jazz. "So, Blue. Care to know some things about Hoenn even a native Pokemon doesn't know?" To which Blue lets out a confused 'Goose?'

Weird guy. Talks to Pokemon. I walk up to the counter and catch the secretaries attention. "'Scuse me, sir?" The guy looks up and smiles. Probably Ranger policy, because this guy did NOT look like the kind of guy that should smile. Dude's teeth were very unstraight. Aside that, he looked very professional. Properly combed black hair, freckled as all hell, bright ass blue eyes, and a black and white headband. What is with this place and the black and white? Oh, yeah. Unova. Black and White's game region.

"Yes, sir. How can I help you?" The guy sounded like a higher pitched Robert Downey Jr. Really? That's the one we're going with? Alright then.

"I'm looking for my friend, Candice. This is the Ranger Base or Station or whatever, right?"

The secretary leans back and smiles again. "Yes indeed! Striaton City Pokemon Ranger Station! Candice mentioned you I think. A guy in a yellow and black hat, a shiny Zangoose, and a kid wearing literally the worst color combination ever, purple and white."

"Yeah, that's us. Name's Walter." I reach my hand over the desk, getting my hand broken once again by the strong handshake.

"Kenny, Ranger Secretary. Candice is in the back getting some things together. Should only be a minute."

"Thanks man."

"No problem. It is a secretaries job, after all."

I nod at Kenny and turn around, going to the table Blue, Jazz, and Dallas were at. Dallas was still talking about Hoenn and was apparently on something about space.

"-just a big laser at the thing, hitting the stone and bringing a change in the stone. Soon, the stone turned into an alien Pokemon named Deoxys!"

The two Pokemon tilted their heads in interest.

I sit down on a swivel chair and catch the threes attention. "Deoxys? Are you seriously trying to say that 'alien rock' was a real thing?"

"Uh, duh!" Dallas raises his arms dramatically to strengthen his point. "There was whole thing on the news about all over the world! Sinnoh, Kalos, Johto, even here knew about it!"

"Sure, because it's not easy to fake something like that. It's not like there are movie studios that do that stuff, and only that stuff, all the time!"

"Seven satelites were destroyed by that Pokemon! Rayquaza even woke up to take care of it!"

"Rayquaza. Like that big lizard is actually patrolling the atmosphere! It's probably in hole somewhere, waiting to be summoned to by some stupid artifact thing."

"Are you two arguing about Legendaries?" A familiar female voice says as Candice walks up to the table and sits down. "No one knows jack about them except the basic stuff they control. It's a pointless argument."

"Oh, hey Candice!" Dallas smiles and waves to the pink haired Ranger. "Hey, can you answer something for us? Was Deoxys a real Pokemon thing that happened or was it staged?"

"Are you serious right now?" Candice asks, rolling her eyes annoyed yet entertained. "Of course it was a real Pokemon! There was so much stuff going on with it. There was a whole thing about for like three months!"

Dallas smirked and leaned back in the chair, before starting to fall since swivel chairs don't have backs. Luckily he was caught by Blue who jumped down quick enough to catch him. "Ugh, thank you Blue."

Blue just smiled and let out a mewl again, pushing the professor in training back onto the chair.

"Anyways, I told you! I freaking told you!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I still say the whole thing was staged!" I pointed to the two in a very 'I'm right and you know it' manner. I put my hand down and turn back to Candice. "So, you ready for this thing?"

"You bet your ass I am! Best part is, my partner finally arrived and he's coming with us!"

"Cool! Can we see him?"

"Of course." Candice turns around and whistles into the door she just came out of. "Hey, Scrap! Come meet the dorks!"

After a second, the doors slide open again and a small Pokemon that looks like a... a Pikachu? It wasn't a Pikachu, obviously, it looked like a very poorly made costume with scribbled face and stick tail. The little Pokemon also also had two small lines on it's stomach, that I could only assume were the eyes of the real Pokemon underneath. The partner slides along the floor and jumps up onto the table in front of us. I don't know why, but I felt a weird... feeling to be away from the thing.

Candice than puts her arms out to show off the Pokemon, "Guys, this is Scrap! My partner all the way from Alola! Scrap, this is Walt, Dallas, and Blue." She points at each of us as she lists us, the little Pokemon sliding to each of us. When It got towards to me, I leaned back trying to avoid it.

"Uh, can I ask. What... exactly is Scrap?"

"Oh, right. Y'all probably don't know. Scrap here is a Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokemon! He's a Ghost- and Fairy-type!"

Hearing this, I get up from my chair and turn away from the table, wrapping my arms around myself. "Ok, nope. Nope, nope, nope. All of the nope. All of it."

I couldn't tell, but it felt like Candice was tilting her head confused. "What's the problem?"

"Oh, dang," I hear Dallas say, "Walter's kind of has a fear of Ghost-types. Maybe should have told you that beforehand."

I start to say something but I am interrupted by the feeling of some kind of hand on my shoulder. I refused to look over but I could probably tell what it was. Still, I felt the need to ask. "Guys... Please tell me it's not touching me..."

"Uh, yeah, he's touching you." Candice answers.

"If I look over my shoulder... am I going to want punch it?"

"I... actually don't know, but if you do I'll bust your teeth."

Against my better judgement, I take a deep breath and slowly look onto my shoulder. When I do, I see a very long, black hand on me, connected to an even longer black arm which was coming out of the bottom of the Mimikyu.

"O...k then..." As I try to force this out of my mouth, I realize I was starting to black out slowly, before my vision going completely black. Before I hit the floor, which I knew I was going to do, I heard a very quiet 'Oh shit' come from one of the two other companions. Oh shit was right indeed.