Hope everyone had a good holiday.
Thank you all for the reviews!
As Raphaim suggested, here is a list of my pokemon so you know who's who:
Loxley (fennekin), Tobio (pidgey), Delacour (fletchling), Zen (zorua), Levi (azurill), Basil (bulbasaur), and a litleo that's not sticking around
Chapter 16: Gearing Up
On Madam Pierre's suggestion, my father drove us all to Favioli Villeurbleu, a restaurant on the Blue River that served Fiore cuisine. I crossed my fingers, hoping that Fiore's similar location to Italy translated to the food.
I walked in the door to cozy red walls and dark wood tables... and deliciously spicy smell of tomato and basil that paid homage to my turned fortunes. I tilted my head up with a happy hum as I breathed the flavors in, Loxley still on my shoulder with his nose twitching in time with mine. My father laughed, shaking his head, and gently put his hands on my shoulders to keep me moving. A waiter in a crisp grey suit glided by with a glistening pizza, the smell of butter and garlic wafting in his wake.
I barely restrained myself from making grabby hands. I definitely knew what I was having for dinner.
"Are you sure this is alright?" Madam Pierre had asked. "We wouldn't want to intrude."
"Madam," my father said kindly, "I'm more than happy to meet my daughter's new friend and his family. And when teenagers are involved, food is never the wrong answer."
She and Louis had come with us, directing my father through the winding narrow streets to the restaurant. We were supposed to meet her husband and Jean here for dinner.
"Madamoiselle Gryphonne!"
Speak of the devil. A tiny blonde rocket crashed into my stomach, and I happily embraced the squirmy hug monster. I happily cooed over him and his scatterbug as he dragged me over to meet his father.
"You must be Madamoiselle Gryffin! I am Hugo Pierre. Je suis trés heureuse de vous rencontrer." (1). Thank you for what you have done for my sons." Monsieur Pierre offered a light bow with one hand over his chest, a more European style than I was used to. But he was a happy looking man, with blond hair similar to his wife and sons but warm brown eyes instead of their rich hazel. Only a little taller than Louis, he had a cheery expression under his neatly combed mustache and open arms that cheerfully cuddled Jean as he launched himself from my arms to his father's. He gave off the perfect dad vibe, and I instantly liked it.
"It's lovely to meet you too," I greeted with a grin of my own. "Louis and Jean were pretty helpful to me too, though. I'm not sure I can take credit for anything."
"You are too kind," the man's eyes crinkled, and he immediately dipped his head over my hand when I offered it. Monsieur Pierre turned away to greet his wife with loud, affectionate kisses on both cheeks, and I snickered at Louis as he rolled his eyes at his father's overly gallant behavior.
"And you must be le grand inspector Higashi," Monsieur Pierre nodded when he finally turned to my father. They shared a strong handshake, my father bowing in a more formal manner over the grip. "Votre fille fait votre honneur.(2)"
"She does," my dad replied with a very satisfied smile. "I'm very proud of her."
"You should be, especially after today. Winning a gym battle, and against such injuste odds," he nodded to me. "Dinner will be my treat, mademoiselle."
My father's eyes jerked wide before narrowing in alarm. "Monsieur Pierre…" he started, one hand raised in caution.
Louis' father flushed in embarrassment. "Mais bien sur…(3)" he faltered. "You are her father and of course it is your right." He closed his eyes in resignation. "But please, grand inspector, permettez-moi ma fierté.(4) For I must ask yet another favor tonight."
The whole Pierre family kind of shuffled together. Only Louis could look me in the eye, and even then he did it with a wince.
My dad sighed, and moved to pull out a chair for me to sit in. He waved for the Pierres to sit as well.
"I can only hope this doesn't mean more paperwork," he quipped flatly. "Alright Monsieur Pierre, how can I help?"
XYXYXY
I crunched through another slice of the perfectly crisped pizza I was sharing with Louis and Jean as our parents conversed in hushed tones over a second bottle of merlot.
"I'm sorry if this is more trouble for you," Louis mumbled, fiddling with his own food.
Hilariously, he ate his pizza with a fork, and I'd mocked him grandly for it. He'd had the grace to merely turn his nose up at me, making exaggerated gestures while cutting his next bite. I'd shoved half a slice in my mouth in response, getting Jean to splutter his apple juice over the table as he laughed at my chipmunk cheeks. That had earned scandalized looks from all three parents, and our impromptu food war had ended quickly.
"Don't worry about it," I finally answered, slipping the last of my cheesy crust to a very cheerful yellow fox on the chair beside me. "It's a sucky situation."
[Quest Alert!]
Gotta Catch 'Em All!: The Santalune City Trainer's Academy needs pokémon for the next graduating class.
Catch 30 pokémon by June 1 to donate to the school.
Completion: +2000 EXP, +€10000, +200 [REL] with Kalos
Failure: +200 EXP
Accept? [Y]/[N]
I'd looked at the window briefly during a trip to the bathroom, pressing yes immediately. My neutral good alignment was inching close enough to Lawful to make me shudder, but I just couldn't see myself not helping out.
It really was an awful situation. The Trainer's Academy's budget was supposed to equally supplied by both the International League and the Kalos League, but due to the bureaucratic disaster caused by my mother and Madam Lapointe (and the subsequent audit of every file and form they'd so much as sneezed on), the quarterly payments from the Kalos League were … indefinitely delayed. In addition, there'd been several attacks on the charitable breeders and alumni trainers in the area that the Santalune academy relied on to provide pokémon to its students. Literally dozens of the creatures were being killed or stolen by unknown assailants. One farmer in a neighboring village had come home from errands in town to his entire flock of mareep vanished from their pasture and half his neighbors missing as well. It screamed of Team Flare, but no one had any concrete evidence so of course it was all being written off as separate tragic incidences.
My father was, true to his nature, having absolutely none of it and already mapping out various avenues of investigation. The harsh undertones of his whispers with Louis' parents scraped across the deliberately light mood Louis and I were trying to keep around Jean, and Patrick Higashi's shoulders were absolutely rigid. I knew my dad was dedicated, but part of me was honestly surprised I wasn't being dragged to the airport right that very moment.
"You're not staying anywhere near the city," he'd commanded after finally relenting to me helping out with the project. "And you're not going anywhere on your own."
Louis had promised that he and another classmate would stick with me. And we'd both had to swear that we wouldn't go anywhere Team Flare had been reported.
I'd scoffed mentally at that one even as I made the promise. I loved my dad dearly, but the was no way The Game was going to let me off that easily. There was PLOT afoot, and I was bound to be dragged into it again sooner or later. Preferably later, after I got to a much higher level.
Stupid level caps. At least it had gone up to level 30 for now.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Louis asked again. I looked over to see him pushing the last bit of cold crust around his plate. Loxley watched it carefully from his seat.
"It's fine," I promised, snagging his scraps for my fox. "We'll be safer together, my dad's certainly not leaving with all of this going on, and we'll do our best to avoid trouble. Besides, it will be good training for the next gym."
"It certainly can't hurt," he agreed, laughing at my starter's rumbling purrs as he crunched on the bread. "I need to train my team up as well. Santalune is a popular gym because of le type insect, so Violette rarely has time for rematches. But the gym in Relifac is less crowded, and Lino welcomes any dresseur that can make it up the mountain. He will let me test myself again."
I nodded along. Even if I was unfamiliar with the Kalais names, it was pretty obvious Louis was talking about the rock gym in Cyllage City.
"It will be an interesting challenge," I mused, "with so much of my team weak against rock types."
"…I never did show you the GTS did I?" Louis asked unexpectedly.
I perked up, liking the change in topic. "No, you didn't," I recounted. "Have you used it before? What's it like?"
He laughed, promising again to help me with it in the morning. "You need to register at the Pokémon Center, non? The desk will be closed at this hour. We can go in the morning."
"I'm holding you to that," I warned, pointing an accusing finger at his nose. "I've had this litleo for almost three weeks!"
"I know," he consoled. "I know. But perhaps now you can get something to even out your team a bit. Either that or quand on chasse dans les steppes.(5)"
"I did not understand that," I admitted freely.
Louis laughed, bending to chuckle into his plate. "When we are attraper les pokémon."
"Catching pokémon?" I clarified, a little annoyed he was back to the game of teasing me with unfamiliar Kalais.
"Oui."
I flicked a large crumb of crust at his nose.
"Tu es si grossiere,(6)" he clucked at me, that terrible smirk back in place.
My dad caught my hand before I could throw more food at him.
Loxley snagged the chunk of pizza crust from my fingers with a wet slurp.
XYXYXY
The next morning Louis caught an early bus and met me at the Pokémon Center closest to the hotel.
"…And the fee for Le Système Troc Mondial est mille pokeuro and we will hold your pokémon for les quinze jours."
I looked to Louis with wide blinking eyes. "And 'les quinze jours' is…"
"Deux semaines," he clarified, with a gimlet eye on the stuffy desk clerk. "Two weeks."
"C'est parfaitement acceptable,(7)" I cooed at the clerk with my most saccharine smile, enjoying the way she suddenly looked like she'd been slapped in the face.
When I'd been in Santalune I hadn't had any trouble at the Pokémon Center. The nurses and the clerks mostly spoke in Common. And it was actually a required language of the International League, and all regions needed to be able to provide services in it in addition to the native language. There were even little placards next to the desk saying "In accordance to IPL guidelines, all services can be provided in Common".
Today though? The Kalais had been so thick even Louis was giving people affronted looks.
Luckily my language skill was up to a delightful 62%, in no small part to the skill books I'd acquired back in Lumiose. As much as dissolving books hurt my heart, I had needed the language boost. Because clearly the public outrage of my mother being accused of anything was going to be causing problems for a while.
I could only hope it died down quickly.
But I'd gotten my litleo into the GTS. In a wonderful twist I'd actually been able to search for people who'd been specifically looking for a litleo, and see what they were offering in return, instead of just looking for what I wanted and hoping for the best. Unfortunately most of the people looking for litleo were only offering other fire types. Mostly slugma or numel, which I absolutely did not want, as well as a magby which had Louis muttering about how dangerous the entire evolution line was. Considering what the pokedex said about magmar I was inclined to agree with him. And as tempting as a vulpix was, as they'd always always been one of my favorites, I was trying to get rid of my fire type, not add another.
[Are these trade conditions acceptable?] [Y]/[N]?
I flicked yes on the game window, annoyed that it repeated what I'd literally just told the clerk. Unlike the GTS in the games, you were allowed to set a trade for both automatic transfers or allow people to make offers before accepting a trade. Rather like random trading in something like the old Union Room, but done remotely through the Pokémon Centers.
I'd given the litleo to them with instructions to automatically accept a shinx or luxio, but that I'd also look at other offers if my preference didn't come through. With a little help from Louis with translating for the obnoxious clerk, and I'd made clear notes on my account that I was really looking for an electric or ground type to even out my team.
I swiped my shiny new bank card to pay the €1000 fee and happily turned heel back out the door where my father was waiting.
[Congratulations!]
It was becoming rather routine to ignore the game windows as they popped up. At least I'd been able to change the setting so that only thin alert bars opened, instead of the whole window. Focusing on the actual world around me was much easier that way.
"Get everything you need done?" My dad smiled as he opened the car door for me.
I shot him a thumbs-up before sliding into the backseat, moving to the far side so the blond boy could climb in behind me.
"So where to?" I asked as I buckled up.
"I got the confirmation last night for his compensation funds for the League," my dad answered, tilting his head to Louis in the rearview mirror. "So we're off to get supplies."
"Really?" Louis gaped. "How did you…? That was so fast!"
Patrick Higashi's blue eyes narrowed at the road. "The International League works very differently from Kalos," he offered, as if it was any sort of explanation at all. "I have an appointment at two, however, so please keep that in mind."
Not willing to question his good fortune, Louis just nodded. We browsed through Callbook on our phones as my father wove through traffic, showing each other interesting posts.
"Regarde,(8)" he offered me his phone, "That contest acteur you like won another competition."
He showed me a quick clip of Harley Davidson, again in a striking green buttoned up coat, waving at the crowd as he released his pokémon.
"Is that…" I gulped halfway through, "a shuppet?"
I didn't know what else it could be. Luminous gold eyes bulged from a tiny grey head. It almost looked like someone had draped dark cloth over a balloon, but the edges seemed to dissolve into smoke at the bottom. I'm glad the screen wasn't any bigger, because even without a close-up the creature just seemed … wrong.
"It is a polichombre," Louis nodded. "He is very brave indeed to own such a phantom. They are dangerous creatures."
"Braver than I am," I agreed with a shudder, remembering the rotting tree spirits from Santalune Forest. "I can't imagine ever getting a ghost."
"No." Louis' voice was soft as the shuppet on the screen twirled a purple blaze of fire at an opponent off camera, face ripping open in a silent scream. "Neither can I."
The rest of the car ride was intensely quiet after that.
XYXYXY
Ducking into the changing stall, I pulled up my Game windows. Louis was still dawdling, trying to get over some strange nervousness about using League funds to replace his camping gear, so I had time to go through the alerts blinking on the side of my HUD.
Congratulations!
You can now access the Global Trading System [GTS]!
You can now access Wonder Trade!
I blinked, confused at the screen, before tapping on an offered tutorial. A computer screen popped up, almost exactly like the one in the Pokémon Center but this time in Common. It showed the litleo I had on offer, complete with my instructions translated back from Kalais. I felt my nostrils flare as I took a steadying breath.
Would you like to take back your litleo?
Tapping no, I exited out of the screens. Another window popped up, asking me if I wanted to start a Wonder Trade. I tapped no again, as I didn't have any other pokémon I was willing to trade away.
You can now access [Trades] on your Team Page.
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. This Game seemed to enjoy making things overly complicated. Why would it give me access to things like the GTS after I had already accessed the GTS? The only good thing about the feature is that I didn't have to pay anymore fees, but it still didn't explain why I had to wait so long to access the trading system. In the Nintendo games trades had been available pretty much immediately. Goddess only knew how much I'd abused the Wonder Trade, and later the Surprise Trade, feature back on Earth. I never would have filled up my pokédex without it.
[Quest Alert!]
I groaned, slumping against a wall. I'd tempted fate. I'd tempted Fate, and she'd come calling like the Grand Bitch she was.
Gotta Catch 'Em All! (En Kalais!): Complete the Kalos National Pokédex! Catch or scan all the pokémon listed on the region's registrar.
Completion: ?
Failure: NA
This quest has been auto-accepted.
I waved away the screens with a groan. That quest wouldn't be finished for a long, long time, if it ever was at all. But with no penalties for failing and no time limit imposed I wasn't going to worry about it. It was kind of part and parcel to the whole Pokémon franchise, so it was only to be expected. But there were more pressing issues at hand.
Like getting all my new camping gear squared away.
My dad had taken Louis and me to Au Vieux Montagne, the largest outdoor supply store in Lumiose. It somehow managed to make warehouse shopping look impossibly stylish, with gleaming steel racks offset by ebony blue signs with pale gold lettering. I thought it was disgustingly ostentatious, considering I was just there to buy stuff to go roughing it in the mud. Once one pushed past the luxury sports jackets and bespoke cleats that cost more than my monthly salary from the League, however, I had to admit the quality of the supplies they offered was exceptional.
My appreciation didn't stop me from wincing at the price tag of the four-season tent Patrick Higashi was insisting I take.
No wonder Louis felt so out of his depth. My father was adamant that my friend should have the same tent. I was stuck between embarrassed that someone would spend this much money and cheerfully letting someone else pay for it so I could have it for free. Because that's what was happening here, really. Dad was essentially insisting we go on a shopping spree.
"It's not outrageous," the man was insisting to a stammering Louis. "It's what you're owed. You are a registered trainer. Team Flare destroyed your supplies. The League is replacing them. Take. The. Tent."
My friend had no defence against my dad's Inspector Commander Voice, and the green dome tent went next to my red one in the pile growing at the register. Between just the tent, a dark purple leather and canvas hiking backpack, and a teal sleeping bag rated to -20 Celsius I was already far past what would have been my monthly budget from the League. And dad wasn't slowing down at all, dragging us both through the store, getting even the most random tools and insisting they were necessary. The total he was racking up was a little shocking, as I'd never spend that much money in one go in my life.
Back on Earth, I'd never even had that much money to spend in one go.
So yeah, I could understand why Louis was torn between elated and mortified.
On the plus side, I finally got that rope I'd wanted back in Aquacorde. 10 meters of nice, sturdy red and white nylon cord all neatly bundled up and ready to clip to my backpack. Or, as the game put it:
1x Escape Rope: A long and durable rope. You can use this item to return yourself and your party and team to the entrance of caves or dungeons. If used in an Instant Dungeon, you will be returned to the Starting Zone.
I clucked in consideration as I tossed the rope on my pile. It would be interesting to see how the item worked in real life, but I'd need to come back and buy some extras for emergencies first. Technically it was climbing rope, so it was a little more expensive than I expected at €2000. I'd never used them much in the handheld games, but now that I was living in the world of Pokea the item could be a literal lifesaver. My inventory was definitely going to stay stocked with them.
Patrick was still coaxing Louis into various supplies when I abandoned the camping section for the clothing racks. Something in a far corner display was glowing and who was I to resist such temptation? Wading through a bunch of neon coloured t-shirts I got a glimpse of my target.
A long display stand held cloth mannequins, alternating between head and chest forms. I grinned at what each mannequin was fitted with. I reached out with one hand to stroke the smooth material and a blue game window shimmered into existence.
Au Vieux Le Dépôt Du L'Armure
[Buy]
[Sell]
I quickly listed most of my loot items from the Infested Forest to be sold. I hadn't gotten anything new; it was just some big scales, a few more bits of spider web, and various wild plants I wasn't going to use anytime soon.
You have selected:
Antenna (3) €450
Chitin (7) €700
Dandelion (16) €1600
Small mushrooms (2) €1000
Spider silk (4) €1200
Wild Mint (9) €4500
Your total is €9450
Is this correct? [Y]/[N]
I hit yes and then went back to check what I could buy. I was ecstatic that I had actually found an armor shop! The only armor I had at the moment was my leather vest. And while it was holding up well against the bugs I'd been battling, I was very close to levelling up my Instant Dungeon skill after all the hours I'd put into training. Stronger dungeons necessitated stronger gear. I wanted to find weapons as well, but I wasn't going to pass over protective gear when it was right there in front of me.
[Light Armor]
€3000 leather gloves: light but durable gloves +1 DEF +3 DEX
€5000 Leather vest: a light but durable vest +5 DEF
€7500 Small scaled breast plate: a light but secure vest made from chitin scales +7 DEF (x0.5 protection against fire) +2 DEX
€8000 Ribbed leather kirtle: a fashionable top with bone insets that laces together +7 DEF +3 CSM
€11000 Survival Vest: a rugged leather vest with a protective inner lining +10 DEF +2 VIT
€14500 Chromed gorget: a strong leather collar that protects the neck and upper chest +12 DEF +2 WIS
[Heavy Armor]
You cannot access [heavy armor].
[Mystic armor]
You cannot access [mystic armor].
Frowning, I tapped on the highlighted box for mystic armor. Sadly, the Game only repeated the message that the category was unavailable. It didn't provide any information about how to gain access to the different armors. But the fact that they were even an option in the game was interesting. I was still riding a high of having magic at all. Even if my current arsenal was only 2 non-offensive spells, they were still magic and I loved it.
Mystic armor hinted at an actual mage path.
Longing burned in my chest. I wanted that. I wanted magic. I savored the cool twist of light that misted around my fingers every time I cast Cure. Having pokémon was absolutely amazing but being able to fight for myself…
I was going to have to find a magic shop. Even if I had to explore every inch of Lumiose City. There had to be one somewhere. And I was going to learn how to cast spells if it killed me.
Shaking my head, I turned back to the screens in front of me. The gorget looked like kind of a black leather belly shirt with several dark matte buckles. It had a collar that was higher in the back, so that it nearly reached the base of my skull, but more open in the front so I could move my head around. It looked really cool, to be honest, but wearing it out in the city would definitely draw some odd looks. It would be good for dungeons and hiking in the wild though.
I also bought the kirtle for wearing around town. It looked kind of like a renaissance fair vest, with blue patterned fabric and pretty silver lacing down each side. It would look nice over a white shirt and the boost to Charisma would be helpful while I was in public.
The papers were still gossiping about my mother after all.
I bought a pair of leather gloves before I closed the armor shop windows, the items all going directly into my inventory after I declined to equip them. Looking around, I couldn't help but be amused about finding a store inside another store. But if they had armor here, maybe there were weapons too. Sports stores back home had knives and guns right?
Cruising by my father and Louis again, I started a more methodical search of the store. The aisle of sports balls was completely ignored, but I rifled through the sports equipment in the next aisle. There were weapons, technically, but the baseball bats all gave only +5 STR. A serious downgrade from my oak staff, and not nearly as cool looking. Past another row with skateboards, an aisle of rollerblades, and fairly large show section, on the opposite side of the store from the register, I finally found it.
Au Vieux L'Arsenal
[Weapons]
€5000 Baseball Bat: a light aluminum bat +5 STR
€7500 Oak staff: a sturdy wooden staff capped in brass +10 STR +2 VIT
€8500 Bamboo Pole: a long piece of flexible bamboo +12 STR +2 DEX
€10000 Cypress cane: a strong hiking cane with a steel spike and handle +8 STR +5 DEX
None of these were a particularly good purchase right now, with the bamboo offering only slightly better stats than my current staff. Looking to the left of the glass case I frowned. Several knives were lined up, gleaming from fresh polish.
You cannot access [Daggers].
Looking up at the wall the same obnoxious message popped up.
You cannot access [Bows].
You cannot access [Guns].
You cannot access [Axes].
I groaned, bending over as my elbows dug into the top of the display desk.
"Is everything alright sweetie?"
I turned to see my father looking at me with a bemused expression.
"I just…" I fumbled, gesturing widely at the various weapons I could see but not use. "…I don't know what to do."
Patrick Higashi frowned thoughtfully at my frustration. "I don't really like the idea of you with a weapon," he admitted. "But I like the idea of you unarmed right now even less."
He stepped up to the counter and a clerk hurried from behind him to get around and unlock the case.
A moment later and he gently placed a black lacquered tube the length of my forearm into my hands. I twisted it slightly, revealing a long, slim asian style dagger that slid effortlessly from the sheath. The handle grip flowed seamlessly into the straight blade, with no guard to disrupt the smooth outline.
Hwando: A long Johto style knife +30 STR +5 DEX
You have unlocked [Daggers]!
"Dad," I stammered, holding the knife back out to him. "Dad, I can't…"
Patrick Higashi gently pushed my hands back to my chest, never taking the dagger.
"You can," he intoned. And with a single nod to the clerk now locking the case back up, he walked back to the front registers.
I watched him for several long moments before turning to look at the case the blade had come from. The price tag that sat in front of a now empty display cushion listed the price as €16500. I stared at the numbers as the clerk took a small ticket and followed my father to the front.
My father had just handed me a tier three dagger. With a nod of his head, he'd unlocked an entire new weapon category AND upgraded to a dagger that was three times as powerful as my staff. I knew my dad loved me but holy freaking shit.
I clutched the hwando close to my chest, completely ignoring the rest of the weaponry. Nothing available here was even close to the power of the blade my father had just purchased for me. The cool lacquer burned in my hands as guilt warred with excitement. It was, by far, the most awesome blade I'd ever owned. Better than the ornate theater swords I'd swooned over in my last life, caught up in the age-old joy of "Ooh! Shiny! Sharp!" No. The hwando was a live blade. Sharpened to a razor's edge, the dagger was going to be capable of dealing serious damage. It was incredibly expensive. It was massively dangerous.
I couldn't wait to try it out.
XYXYXY
My father had dropped Louis off at the bus station at exactly 1:45.
"See you next week!" I waved after my friend.
"In Camphrier!" He'd called back with a wide grin. Louis had hopped on the bus with his new, enormous pack hefted high on his shoulders and his chin in the air. It was really nice to see him in such high spirits after everything he'd been through.
And all it had cost was small fortune of a shopping spree with my dad.
I had not looked at the final total. I did not want to know. But Patrick Higashi had bought Louis nearly everything he'd gotten for me and already emailed the receipt off to the International League as official reimbursement. Speaking of which.
"Will you be alright heading back to the hotel on your own?" he asked.
"Dad," I laughed. "It's three whole blocks. Go to your meeting."
I shifted my own bag onto my shoulders as he drove away. There hadn't been time to move things to my inventory before, and out here on the busy streets of Lumiose City wasn't good either. The tightly rolled tent bumped lightly against my head from its place strapped on top of the purple camping bag. The sleeping bag and cookware I'd gotten to fit inside for now, but they wouldn't when I repacked it with the rest of the supplies I was currently carting in two fancy nylon shopping bags from the outdoors store. I'd realized while talking with Louis at the store that I wouldn't be able to just shove everything in my inventory while I was with other people. It would be way too suspicious to have supplies appearing from nowhere all the time. Resigned, I trudged back to the hotel with Loxley out and yipping cheerfully at my heels. At least I wouldn't need to carry everything when I was off in my Instant Dungeons.
Gleefully stuffing my bags into my inventory screen, I let the rest of my pokémon out as the Infested Forest materialized around me.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" I clapped for attention. Four pairs of ears and two feathery crests perked up. "Today's goal is simple, we're leveling up this dungeon. I'm sick of bugs."
A chorus of purrs and coos echoed an affirmation, but one stood out. My starter yowled loudly, yellow paws scratching at the ground in frustration.
"Yes, Loxley," I rolled my eyes at him, "We can level you up too. I know you want to evolve."
Loxley purred loudly, and as he grinned at me something nudged the edges of my senses. A push, somewhere between a brush of static and the sound of a whisper. I froze, looking down at my fennekin.
"Loxley," I started, unsure of the feeling, "Is that…"
A second roll of the sensation, with Loxley staring with his teeth bared in a vulpine grin, rubbed against my brain. This time I was sure. Loxley's psychic powers were beginning to manifest. I couldn't remember if the second typing became official at the second or third stage of evolution, but fennekin could still use the mental abilities even without ever evolving at all. A smile grew on my own face as I looked down at my little golden fox.
"No wonder you understand the game windows," I laughed, getting a smug chuff in return. "Let's do this then."
Stepping out of the starting circle meant a curtain of sound pouring over me. It was still daytime in the dungeon, so sunlight filtered through the tall branches as the chirps and clacking of countless bug pokémon echoed through the trees. Zen and Basil stuck close to my feet, unwilling to go very far from my side with their type disadvantages. Loxley charged ahead, eager to fight and level up, with Tobio and Delacour flying in circles above with the same resolve. Levi bounced gamely behind them, the little blue mouse seemed to really enjoy battling even if he wasn't particularly good at it yet. There was so only so much he could do, after all, seeing as he was only about the size of a grapefruit.
Ember has leveled up! LVL MAX…
Loxley has learned Flame Charge!
Loxley has learned Psybeam!
A trio of giant caterpie fell victim to Loxley's improved fire moves. It was interesting to watch him use the move. He first breathed fire like he was preparing an ember, but instead of pushing the flame at his enemies it pooled at his feet instead. Once his paws were properly alight, he rushed at the bugs, each step leaving tiny charred marks behind him, and jumped. He latched onto his target with teeth and claws all burning bright orange. I watched in awe as each insect fell under a single blow from the little fox. But as impressive as the new move was, it was nothing compared to his evolution.
Loxley has leveled up! Loxley is now level 19! Loxley is ready to evolve!
Evolve Pokémon? [Y/N]
This time he didn't wait. Loxley immediately raised one paw to the screen, and swatted the Y in a blur of yellow. The game windows melted away, and everything seemed still for a moment. But a light seemed to emanate from under Loxley's fur, and his red eyes drifted shut as the glow grew stronger. His whole body was covered in golden rays until I couldn't make out the shape of him anymore. The light gently wafted up like embers, all the brighter in the shadows of the forest.
Tobio and Delacour had perched themselves on low branches, staring intently. Levi had hopped back to me, pressing into my ankles. He, Zen, and Basil were all crouched low, ears high and still as they watched.
I held my breath as the light surrounding Loxley swirled up and out then faded slowly to reveal him again. He was still sitting on his haunches, but I could clearly see his body was larger. The white of his whiskers had spread over his chest, creating an ivory ruff, and all the way down to dust his paws. His ear tufts stretched further, as did his tail. And where his front paws had turned white, his back legs were now longer and covered in dark fur, making him look like he'd stepped in charcoal.
He was gorgeous and I told him so. He sniffed himself cautiously at the compliment before pushing up to sit on only his back feet. He tried to stand, only to tumble clumsily onto his side. He kicked several times, his legs too long for him now and unwieldy in their new size.
Stepping over my other Pokémon, I reached Loxley in a few paces and reached down to pick him back up. I didn't quite set him down, giving him room to reach out with his legs to try standing again. He wobbled several times, letting himself fall back into my arms before finally managing to stand upright. He grinned, his elongated muzzle open to show sharp fangs. A single step, then two, and he tumbled back onto his tail.
Zen sniggered from the sidelines, and Loxley rolled over with a steamy huff.
"You'll get used to it," I promised. I didn't bother to try hiding my own giggles. The new braixen's clumsiness was adorable, like watching a toddler learn to walk, all bumble and tumble and completely precious. He'd get it soon enough though. For now he settled for walking on all fours still, regularly standing to get a better look at his surroundings.
Fighting another giant weedle seemed to help. The fire from his flame charge gave him more confidence as he ran upright the last few steps.
I scooped him up with a cheer as the monster fizzled from existence, and he snuggled in with a loud purr. His newly elongated paws reached up tentatively. Squeezing him just a little tighter, I melted into my very first fluffy embrace.
"So cute!" I cooed, as I snuggled into his fur. He purred back, claws lightly scraping through my hair. Warmth spread through his fur, rolling gently out of his ears and puffing out his nose. But more than the physical heat was the light pressure that whispered across my mind again.
It wasn't words so much as it was impressions. Happiness. Pride. Belonging. All wrapped up a cozy whisper across my senses and fuzzy snuggle.
I knew right then I would do anything for my pokémon. Absolutely anything.
I squeezed Loxley a little tighter with a happy garble of my own. And as I slowly dropped to my knees, the rest of my pokémon piled on top of us in a giant victory cuddle.
If you're in Lyon, France (which is roughly analogous to Santalune in terms of geography) Fabioli Villeurbanne is an actual Italian restaurant. Apparently very delicious with great reviews.
Hwando are technically short swords, but can range pretty drastically in length from dagger size to broadswords. It's like taking Japanese swords from a tanto to an odachi and calling them all katana. Hwando are similar in style, but lack the curve and the guard.
Also, camping gear is expensive. Especially if you get the good stuff.
The French in this chapter, since it keeps coming up:
(1)Pleased to meet you
(2)Your daughter does you honor
(3) But of course
(4) Allow me my pride
(5) When we hunt on the steppes
(6)You're so gross
(7)That's perfectly acceptable
(8) Look
I'll be providing this from here on out, but the French really will be going down as the language skill goes up.
Relupo: I'm glad you like the sense of exploration! I really like Pokemon as an open world format and enjoy exploring wild areas.
basicfirebird: I'm sorry? I'm not really a humor writer and I use this fic as therapy ::shrug:: But thank you for saying it's well written!
EDIT: Thank you to Angeuss for correcting my French!