The sun had once again smiled upon Sinnoh on a cold winter morning and Iron Island seemed to remain none the wiser with its more inhabited areas sound asleep. Tourists hid away from the cold in slumber and workers stocking and moving inventory were the lone inhabitants of the otherwise quiet industrial sector. That was, aside from just one hardy individual and his companions.
"C'mon… It's gotta get here soon." Ash complained, impatiently shuffling about the pier. Pikachu had left his shoulder, growing dizzy with all of Ash's pacing, and he sat along with Bulbasaur and Charizard, who had accompanied their trainer on his sneaky little errand. "I've just about had it with snacking' on nuts and berries, by now." Even if it was enough to get by, complaints from his stomach still occasionally pestered Ash. Traveling with Brock had definitely spoiled him.
"Pika…" The mouse agreed. Though that was very much a natural diet for him, he missed the quality cooking he'd grown so accustomed to. Though, his ears soon perked up. "Pikapi!" He pointed towards the horizon. The latest ship from Canalave had climbed into view, growing larger by the moment as it neared the isle's shores.
Ash's eyes grew wide, a smile growing from cheek to cheek as he recognized the incoming freight. "Alright! They made it!" Pumping a fist in the air, Ash cheered. Had the area been more crowded, he certainly would have made a scene. At this point, though, he could hardly care about that. His stomach mattered more than a little embarrassment. And, of course, his teammates did, too. Riley did provide pokechow, but soon, he'd be able to give it in abundance.
"I'm sure glad we decided to call Mom, huh, Pikachu?" He looked to his partner. "I knew she'd set us up with something great!" While he'd survived at least a few days on Riley's instructions, Ash had soon folded. As soon as Delia heard, she was quick to arrange a deal with a store in Canalave, guiding them to send food along with the ferry that often moved between the city and the island. In fact, he'd had to beg Delia not to chastise Riley herself for the conditions of the training. Whether it was simply a mentor, or even a legendary pokemon, no one would mess with Ash on her watch.
Soon enough, the boat docked, allowing Ash and his pokemon to salvage their inventory from inside. Once they'd made their claim, they were quick to depart, with Ash bearing as much as he could, Bulbasaur assisting with his vines, Wartortle stubbornly struggling to carry a box, and Charizard carrying the bulk. Looking to make as little commotion as possible, the group avoided wild pokemon whenever they could, even when that meant calming Charizard from seeking a spar.
"Thanks a lot, guys. Now we won't have to eat like that anymore! I promise you'll get your fill when it's time for us to chow down, alright?"
The trio of Kanto starters cheered, always happy to help their trainer out. Especially when it paid off, like it would now! Each was returned to their respective pokeball in a flash of red light, afterward. Ash and Pikachu rushed their supplies inside the small home, shuffling various containers into their room, doing their best to obscure the supplies amongst his usual storage. "Man… It's a good thing Riley's off with Byron right now. I didn't think we'd ever get a chance to put this stuff in!" He slumped up against the wall, exhaling in relief. "I know we shouldn't go behind his back 'n all, but that was getting crazy."
"Pikachu." As guilty as he felt, he agreed. Well, Ash was growing, after all, right? He needed to eat. That was justification enough for the two of them.
One filling meal of grits and toast - both smothered in butter and cheese - later, Ash was hastily cleaning up the kitchen, making sure to leave as little evidence as to what he and his team had been gorging themselves on. Perfectly timed, the last pot was put away by Ash and the last spot scrubbed by Pikachu just as Riley walked in.
Though Lucario sniffed, perhaps thrown off by the sudden arrival of these new spices, the aura guardian himself seemed vaguely disinterested. Byron must have been lively today. "We're heading down to the caves."
Ash thanked his lucky stars. Riley was none the wiser.
The next few days went much more smoothly than before. Ash, belly fuller, went through his exercises with much more ease.
During the morning weight training in the depths of the caves, he would nibble on cereal bars with the Gravelers between him and Riley.
Whilst he was jumping rocks, he didn't mind so much falling between them since he could land on his feet and the time he climbed back up could be spent chewing on fruit jerky.
Running across the rocky plains was the best. Rebellious yet hidden, he could gulp from his canteen before Riley. It was intended for water, but the trainer filled it with sports drinks.
It made lunch much more focused on relaxing. While the student noticed his mentor's focus upon the way Ash didn't ravenously devour his meal, the raven haired boy was ever eager with food, so perhaps Riley just chalked it up to the Kanto native finally getting used to a more meager diet.
Truth be told, Ash just knew that after lunch, he'd be able to nibble on some of the thick skinned fruit Delia sent. It was perfect for eating out in the ocean!
And, so, his day wound down nicely. Come dinner, Ash sat outside with Riley for once. The aura guardian had found a pair of lawn chairs in his few stored items and they were enjoying the surprisingly warm evening. With Ash's whole team out, it was rather lively. Charizard lazed, lapping at the suspiciously abundant food… though Riley was yet able to decide whether Ash was getting better at foraging or if something was up. Likewise, Misdreavus occupied herself by floating around Ash as he ate, already full herself; she seemed amused by the messy way Ash ate, getting himself and the egg in his lap dirty. Meanwhile, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Wartortle, and Lucario all discussed this or that over their own meals.
"Ash, watch how you eat," Riley chided.
Merely nodding his head while not really listening - what was Riley going to do, spoon feed him? - Ash slowed down the rate he was shoveling the sticky rice into his pie hole. After a moment, he wondered if he'd plopped some into his lap since there was sudden movement in it. But, no.
It was the egg. It was moving!
"Oh! Oh, man! Oh shii -" Ash trailed off, standing up with the egg but not daring to cuss quite yet. "Shucks."
Frowning at Ash's vocabulary but not inclined to speak on it at the moment, Riley likewise stood. "She's hatching," he happily declared, drawing near. Misdreavus likewise hovered nearby and Lucario, elated and aware that he would have a kin of sorts now, also came over.
Pikachu remained by the others, certain that crowding a newborn might be disorienting. After the aura specialist (and Misdreavus, he supposed) got to meet her, he would also meet the Riolu. Bulbasaur's opinion was much of the same, while Wartortle seemed excited in the same manner a sibling might be about the birth of a baby brother or sister. In essence, he was already thinking about whether they'd be a good battler or not. Charizard tried to pass off as passive, but his indifference was a thin veneer as he reared up onto his hind feet, neck craning to watch what was happening.
"She's really hatching!" Ash cheered, holding the egg delicately but supporting it fully with his arms. Soon, the shell began to crack before it completely burst into bright white light. After a moment, where the egg had been, nuzzled into Ash's chest was an infant fighting type.
"Rio…" Riolu's eyes slowly opened, exposing it to its first view of the outside world. Blinking several times, its large red orbs focused only on the growing boy that held it within his arms. Blinking upon spotting a pair of kind eyes, the pokemon looked to the nearest figure without a sound. Floating by the youth was a floating specter surrounded by jewels. Spooky looking, but it looked harmless enough, gazing intently upon the newborn.
Though, it couldn't help but feel as if there was more present than just these two. Taking note of Riley, and his Lucario next, the pokemon seemed to panic. Cowering into the boy's chest, she began to whimper before crying loudly. That one she saw first… The floating companion… And then more people, and more pokemon! Overwhelmed, her wails were enough to make most present to cover their aching ears.
"It seems… She's a bit overwhelmed!" Riley spoke over the crying, reluctantly holding his hands over his ears. "Perhaps we should take some action to calm her…!"
Ash, as much as his eardrums ached, stayed calm. "Hey, it's okay! These people here… No one's out to hurt you." Smiling down upon the tiny fighter, he gently reached to stroke its back, "You've got nothin' to worry about." Calm and consoling as he could be, he maintained eye contact with Riolu.
The sobbing and whining slowed, and deteriorated into sniffles. It clung to Ash's jacket, gradually calming with his contact. Its gaze turned up towards Ash again, eyes marked with tears that would soon fade away. His aura… It felt kind. Very familiar, in fact. Like they'd been bonded well before she'd popped out of her little blue egg. His warm demeanor was readable enough, and she smiled, nuzzling her little head into the boy's t-shirt.
"It seems she recognizes your aura," Riley ventured to guess. "I'm assuming the large audience was quite overwhelming for Riolu, but you did a good enough job in calming it down." He paused. "Judging by the pitch of its cries, I'm going to assume your Riolu is female. Now, would you like to give it a name?"
"A name…?" Ash brought a hand to his chin, the other resting on the small pokemon's back. He'd never really given one of his pokemon a nickname before. He'd thought about one back when he was trying to decide on his starter pokemon, but ever since… "Uh… I dunno."
Riley's steely gaze averted, looking for some sort of hint. It would be a lifelong bond that Ash would be creating, after all. For the most part, the large group obscured the natural backdrop. Out of the corner of his eye, though, the Aura Guardian spotted a small patch of flora growing from the rocky earth. Tall shrubs roughly a foot tall stood from the ground below, decorated with deep blue petals. Though hardly native to such a rough climate, they seemed hardy enough to survive on the island.
"Ah… Rosemary," he recited the name of the floral plant. "How about Rosemary? They typically represent enduring affection. Fitting for a bond between Aura Guardians, isn't it?" Knowing Ash to not be the type for symbolism, he continued. "The color is quite suiting, too."
"Rosemary, huh? What do you think?" Ash pondered, looking down to the pokemon that he held.
The Riolu stared at him, then Riley, then the plant. Quite liking the pretty arrangement, she let out a bark. Along with it, came a feeling of affirmation that came quite strongly through a seeming mental link. Not one for constructing her words yet, she transmitted feelings.
"I guess that's a yes… Alright! Then I'm gonna call you Rosa, okay?" Ash grinned. It sounded a bit less formal, and more suiting for someone of Ash's vernacular.
"Rio!" She barked again, satisfied. Rosemary and Rosa. She liked that.
"Well then, Rosa, welcome to the group!" Ash chimed. He was feeling like a parent, already. "My name's Ash. I'm the guy who's gonna raise you." Allowing her to get acquainted with her trainer, he looked to the group. She didn't seem to respond to a crowd well. Maybe if they took this slowly…
"And, I'm Riley." The young man introduced himself, his tone soft. Perhaps they could introduce the idea that none of them meant any harm. "I'm training Ash to harness aura. You'll be his partner in training."
She was fixated on Riley next. Like Ash, he had quite a prominent aura. Though he felt a bit less warm and enthusiastic than the other, he seemed kind and well-intentioned all the same. Her heart rate slowed as the second individual was accepted in her mind, making the endeavor just a bit easier on her.
Lucario made a greeting of his own, his voice soft and cautious, as well. He was Riley's partner.
Quickly recognizing the other as one of her own kind, she eased quickly, greeting him in return.
"And, these are all my other pokemon!" Ash gestured to the group, who had tactfully kept their distance, despite wanting to make friends with the new addition to Ash's team. Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Wartortle, Charizard, and now Misdreavus waited patiently.
Rosa began to shudder again, calm faltering over the overwhelming number of new companions.
Ash reached to scratch her behind her ear. "Hey, it's okay. We'll introduce ya one by one, okay?"
Huffing, the pokemon nodded. That'd be easier.
Although her arrival had been a bit more hectic than everyone had expected, Rosa had quickly become a happy, welcome addition to the group. Ash's pokemon had a new teammate to converse with and raise, and Ash had forged yet another bond with a pokemon that would surely stick with him through thick and thin.
With baby Rosemary in tow, Ash's training began anew.
The morning strength routines now included small Geodude for her to push around while Ash worked with the Gravelers. While initially she was fairly feeble, she quickly put her fighting type strength to use.
With the jumping exercises she was much less adapt and there were several times where Ash had to dive to save her, but when it came to balancing on his shoulders - as Ash had quickly discovered was the better idea - it worked out fine. Over time, she gained control over limited jumping skill. She was still very short, after all.
During their pull-up sessions, she ended up more interested in push-ups, which Ash also swapped over to in order to make her feel like they were doing the same things. She rather liked mimicking him, much like a child would with a parent.
Come lunch time… Well, it was rather lively with a new baby to tend to with her fussiness concerning food arrangement, but Riley was decidedly less pleased with the larger mess. All the same, everyone had to admit the way Rosa insisted on taking her afternoon nap on Ash's chest was altogether precious.
Unfortunately, concerning swimming, Lucario was of more help. Having a similar body make up, he taught Rosa how to doggy paddle and did the baby sitting while Riley had Ash explore deeper waters. She was rather keen on playing with all the pretty seashells she could find, though, arranging them by color, shape, and size.
Finally, come dinner, the poor pup was tired out every day. Though Ash adored the new member to his team, he had to admit he was glad… Baby pokemon were always a handful.
The group, now consisting of five rather than four, trekked into yet another dimly lit cavern, led by Riley and Lucario, as always. The grey stones occasionally grazed by beams of light from the outdoors had become a common sight for Ash and Pikachu, often visited for routine sparring sessions. Rosa peered about, tiny pupils dilating to adjust to the youngster's surroundings.
"Now," Riley begin, "the commotion of Rosemary's introduction has passed, and she's had time to catch up to the rest of us. I'd say it's time to return to the more difficult half of your training, Ash. Now that you can sense Aura, you'll have to learn to combat it, and in time, hone it on your own. Today, Lucario will be aiding with that, as well." He gestured to the Aura pokemon, who stepped forward. "The cave will provide him stealth, and he's going to assault you with Aura Spheres. I expect you to catch on, and defend yourself. As always, he'll hold back enough for you to acclimate. I assume you're ready?"
"Defend myself, huh?" A gleam appeared in Ash's eyes. At least this would be fun. "Alright, I'm in!" Dashing toward the center of the chamber, Ash stood, bold and ready. Once again, Pikachu had joined their other companions, knowing that this was one of the few trials Ash would have to face on his own. "Let's get started! Ready whenever you are, Lucario!"
"Now, I want Rosemary to watch this, as well. Soon, you'll need to learn the very same lessons, and in time, you'll be able to do just as Lucario does. Use your eyes, and your aura to keep up."
~I will, I will!~ A high, peppy voice passed through the minds of everyone present. ~You can count on me!~ The small pokemon hopped in place, chipper as ever. She'd watch Papa Ash, and Lucario, for sure!
Lucario stepped forward apart from the group, eyeing Ash. It was true that he'd grown notably more observant, and healthy, since he'd arrived. But, would he be able to take this task on? One spiked paw was raised, conjuring a glowing point that grew into a teal, vibrating orb. While not his strongest Aura Sphere, it would suffice to start. With a roar, Lucario launched it forward.
"Alright. Here we go!" Ash grinned, widening his stance. The orb was flying his way, growing closer by the instant. One hand was raised over his body, readied before Ash swung it forward. Flesh struck out against energy, sending an odd sensation through the trainer's wrist, and then his spine. The rush aside, the orb was sent flying astray, bursting after crashing into one of the cavern walls.
Riley nodded to himself. "Good. Now, Lucario?"
The Aura pokemon needed no more words. Sprinting, he moved well out of Ash's line of sight, springing from rock to rock along the arching walls. Once he felt his hiding spot was sufficient, he attacked. Both hands were drawn back, unleashing another Aura Sphere with a grunt.
The pokemon's vocalization had crossed Ash's ear, turning his eyes toward the growing light that was headed in from the left. Just in the nick of time, Ash was able to turn on his heels, punching the second attack out of his way. The blast exploded upon hitting the ground, allowing Lucario to move without making much noticeable noise.
This time, Lucario made little noise. Only the quiet commotion of loose rock cracking and falling was able to prepare Ash for an Aura Sphere that was coming his way. "Agh!" He shouted as he smacked a attack aside, only to spot a second coming from further away, and then a third. Each sphere was backhanded, rattling Ash's bones. Lucario seemed to be holding back just a bit less, and Ash's connection to the life force present in each sphere became gradually more vivid.
"Hey, not bad, huh?" He boasted, growing proud of his performance. "Going like this, I'll be sure-" A shout and a complete loss of breath followed. An Aura Sphere had struck him square in the back, leaving the teen to cough and hack. "Ahh… Yeowch!" He whined, righting himself.
An exasperated sigh left his teacher. It was a good thing that patience was his strong suit. "You mustn't let your confidence get the better of you. Be more careful next time. Or should I retract some of your rest time from our routine?" He didn't like being harsh; Ash was a good kid. But, if he wanted to learn this serious discipline, then he might have to learn it the hard way.
"N-no way! Ya don't have to do that!" Ash panicked, waving his hands frantically. That was really the last thing he needed. Not wasting another moment, he turned back around, just in time to swat another Aura Sphere away, and kick another to the side in haste. Wincing as the contact made his shin numb, Ash struggled to lay weight on that leg. He couldn't afford anymore screw-ups.
The lesson continued, with Lucario speeding from one rock to the next, launching Aura Spheres at any interval he saw fit. Ash continued to smack them aside, growing more and more used to the routine, beginning to strike them with greater force with each successful parry.
Now, it was time to move on. "Lucario, Double Team!"
The bipedal pokemon quickly split into many different copies, lining the boundaries of the cavern in a mesmerizing array that threatened to make Ash dizzy. He peered every which way, taking in the sight of the many copies surrounding him.
"Now, sight will no longer aid you. If you want to defend yourself, you must sense Lucario's Aura!" Riley instructed. "Don't allow the onslaught to disorient and confuse you."
"Got it!" Ash affirmed, scanning over the myriad of blue and beige figures that dotted his surroundings. Though, he had little time to judge, as a storm of Aura Spheres flew his way. Closing in like a barrage of shooting stars, they couldn't help but make Ash feel a little overwhelmed.
"I've gotta sense it out…!" Ash's eyes fell shut, eyesight falling second to his sensitivity to aura. With that, nearly all of the incoming attacks disappeared. It was faint, but he sure he felt an entity of aura drawing closer… Soon enough, it came in from the right, threatening to hit him head-on!
"I've got it!" The Aura Guardian in training shouted, striking out at the orb. Still in tune with its ethereal essence, Ash couldn't help but channel his own unique signature into the orb, willing it right back in the direction it came from. Inexplicably dipping into his own aura, he succeeded.
The Aura Sphere was sent flying back towards one of the Lucario. The real deal leapt out of the blast's way, landing with grace after a rather brilliant explosion.
"Excellent," Riley commended. "You managed to not only sense the attack through the many distractions, but placed your own will upon that Aura Sphere. You're one step closer to being able to manipulate aura freely."
"Pika! Pikachu!" Ash's partner cheered, hopping in place from the sidelines. He was really making progress! Usually, it was him and his teammates who were the ones growing stronger under his watch. Now, it seemed to be the other way around! In any case, he was proud.
~You did it! You did it!~ Rosa chimed in, bouncing gleefully.
"I thought that felt kinda weird…" Ash glanced down at his open palm, which was notably sore by now. Pain aside, though, it did feel unusual. Nerves were buzzing, like there was something greater his palm - no, his whole body, had to offer. "I wonder if I could do it now."
He strained his open hand, tensing muscles where the odd sensation had grown. Trying to hone the same phenomenon from moments ago, Ash struggled, teeth bared and grit together. Breath hitched, he was practically growing red in the face before his efforts bore fruit.
"You mustn't struggle too hard. Your aura should come naturally, by your will. Assert mind over matter. Control your body's natural energy; don't allow it to control you."
He imagined what he'd done with the Aura Sphere. The inexplicable feeling of two life forces exerting their will on one another. Finally, a tiny, but sure enough brilliant light formed in his palm. Hardly taking shape, a bright blue mass of energy appeared. Dark brown hues were lit over the phenomenon. "Hey, check it out…! I'm doin' it!" Ash laughed, overjoyed and amazed.
Though, as soon as it came, it went. He sighed, finally allowing air an easier path to his lungs. "Ah, man… That stuff's not easy!" Already, he felt a little exhausted. "But, it was pretty cool, huh, Pikachu?"
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu flashed a peace sign. His own trainer with powers like that of his pokemon… He never thought he'd see the day. Though, with Ash's wild exploits, he shouldn't have really been surprised.
"That was definitely a start. Now you know how to channel your own aura. After this, you'll need to learn to keep a clear mind, and exert more finesse over your creations. I don't expect you'll disappoint me, Ash." Riley's expression lightened. For all of his strictness, and all of Ash's fumbles, he was truly proud. In just a few short weeks, his apprentice was indeed making progress.
It was dinner time again. Whilst Riley and Lucario already sat at the table, their meals prepped and being consumed, Ash was finishing up portioning out the food to his team. The last to get their share were Pikachu and Rosemary. As Pikachu juggled a bowl of rice, eggs, and vegetables smothered in ketchup, Ash struggled to find the one divided plate in the house. Rosa simply had to have it for all her meals.
Thankfully, Ash managed to find it. As he put down the rice first, the little Riolu watched intensely, making sure her foods didn't touch. Ash had played it safe, deciding not to scramble an egg for Rosa but merely boil one - there was a less of a chance for it to touch anything if it was in one single piece than a bunch of small. However, the problem would come with the vegetables. They were a little drippy, and he knew if it got into the rice -
~NO!~
Rosa would freak out on him.
~They're touching, they're touching!~ she psychically squawked, outwardly doing nothing more than whimpering and holding her paws to her face but blasting Ash mentally with enough emotional energy to just about give him a headache.
"I'm fixing it!" he promised, quickly scooping out the dribbled on rice and putting it on his plate. She seemed satisfied by this and happily took her plate, careful to hold it just so that there would be no chance of the food going over the separation ridges.
With that settled, Ash made his own food, lumping everything together indifferently and headed towards the table, the two small pokemon following him. After sitting down, the feast began.
How Riley loathed how they ate. Ash shoveled everything indiscriminately into his mouth, making a mess. Pikachu swirled all of his food together as if the ketchup were a gravy, getting it all sticky and red before gobbling it down. Rosa lingered between the two methods, carefully eating only one section of her meal at a time but showing that she had learned Ash's poor table manners all the same. "Ugh," he muttered, shaking his hand when a stray piece of rice flung onto his hand from Ash's ravenous speed-eating.
Giggling madly, Dawn brushed off the snow thrown at her by Piplup. Buneary pointed at her, laughing as well. Absol stood off to the distance with Togekiss, watching it all passively. As the coordinator continued to play with her two smaller pokemon, she suddenly looked around. Crunching snow under her boots, she paused. "Hey… where's Pachirisu? She was here a while ago."
"Toge?" the flying type inquired before flapping her wings and taking off. Absol likewise began fanning out. Soon, the entire group was searching for Pachirisu. After some time, Togekiss came back to them, chirping happily. She'd found Pachirisu…
Who was treed by a Houndour!
"Hey, leave her alone!" Dawn shouted as the quintet stumbled upon the little electric type. Dawn gasped. "She's burned!" She could see the light singe marks upon the white furred squirrel's body. Clenching her teeth, the coordinator frowned. "Piplup, Spotlight! We're going to rescue Pachirisu!"
"Dour?" the little dark type inquired, blinking dumbly.
"Hydro Pump!"
Before it could realize what happened, the fire type was pushed and blown away. When the water stopped torrenting, Houndour was left unconscious.
"... it's not that strong?" Dawn wondered. Soon, Pachirisu ran down and made itself at home instead on Dawn's shoulder, trembling. "Maybe you got scared… either way you're burnt. Here, I've got a burn heal in my bag!" She assured. After healing Pachirisu up, Dawn turned to the still unconscious Houndour. Pulling out her Pokédex, she went over its moves. "Hm, Fire Fang and Bite… he kept making you flinch after you got burned, huh?" she asked poor Pachirisu. Shaking her head, she decided she couldn't leave it all on its own with no healing items. Putting a berry before it, she figured her share was done. "Let's try to have some fun, huh?"
Soon, the group left. Quilava eventually joined them. She had been sulking in her pokeball earlier, not a fan of the snow… but now that Dawn was finally growing cold, she was happy to warm up the coordinator. Piplup and Buneary were fighting again, lobbing snowballs at each other. Absol rested, allowing Dawn to use her as a pillow. Togekiss slept in a tree with Pachirisu nuzzled against her, actually tuckered out for once.
Soon, the coordinator realized she was also getting tired.
"Hey, let's start heading home, huh?"
"Hound!"
Sitting up, she frowned. "Are you kidding me?" Dusting the snow off, she saw the Houndour from earlier had arrived, wagging its little tail. Figuring he was here to bug Pachirisu again, she quickly returned every pokemon except Piplup before snatching the water type up and running off. "Leave us alone!"
Naturally, the puppy gave chase.
Now, Dawn was decently fit, as most people who engaged in pokemon training in any degree, whether their focus be on breeding, coordinating, or gyms. Even so, the Houndour was quickly gaining on her.
"I said to leave!" she repeated. The Houndour didn't listen. Turning on her heel, she glared at it. "I'm not going to let you hurt my pokemon!"
The puppy whimpered, poking his tongue out.
Furrowing her brows, the brunette crouched. Piplup hopped out of her arms, walking up to Houndour. The two exchanged words before Piplup let out an arrogant chirp, stepping back. Likewise, Houndour stepped back. Dawn stood. "Wait… does it want to battle again?" Shaking her head, she consented all the same. "Fine. Piplup, use Headbutt!"
As Piplup rushed forward, Houndour did as well, fangs coming down on Piplup's head in a nasty Bite attack. Both flinched, though, their attacks clashing.
"Well… it's not particularly strong, but it's got guts," Dawn noted. It was cute, now that she was distancing herself from what it had done to Pachirisu. "Let's try Ice Beam!"
Again, Piplup's attack was met with resistance. Using Fire Fang, Houndour broke apart the Ice Beam. Seemingly distracted, it continued to bite at the ice until it all melted before wagging its tail at Dawn.
"...You're super silly." She couldn't help but laugh. She then blinked. "Hm, you'll just keep pestering people if I leave you here. I'll catch you, then!" Smirking, she commanding Piplup once more. "Alright, let's use Drill Peck!"
The little dark type yelped, being sent tumbling. It used Bite then, retaliating for its injury.
"Bring it on in with Hydro Pump!"
Seeing what was about to happen at point-blank range, the Houndour loudly Howled in vain. In moments, though, it was once again knocked out. Dawn quickly captured it, retrieving its pokeball with little trouble. "Hehe, let's head home! You need some training! In battle and in manners!" Then again...
She looked towards Piplup.
"... I'm not sure how great I am with that."
