Chapter Seven:
Choices

Disclaimer: I do not own the series Pokémon. Like, at all. It and all its respectable characters are © to Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri. However, all writing contents and semi-plots here are © to me; unless it is stated otherwise. All shows/ books/ video games/ songs that are mentioned in this chapter are all © to their respective owners, I do not own them.

Notes: Apologies, once again, for a delayed installation. I once more wish to cite school as being a large factor for this. Finals are fast approaching, and projects loom as the deadlines come rushing in. I hope to get on a more regular schedule during the few weeks of break I'm allotted over the holidays, before spring semester next January kicks in.

I would also like to thank the more recent reviews; I am so glad that you're enjoying the story, and that you like the descriptive things that go about in it! It makes me happy to hear things like that!

In the meantime, my lovelies, onward with this chapter! It is long, so hopefully, it satiates you for the time being!

Current Team: Keno the Mudkip, Sela the Poochyena


"Every life has a watershed moment, an instant when you realize you're about to make a choice that will define everything else you ever do, and that if you choose wrong, there may not be that many things left to choose. Sometimes the wrong choice is the only one that lets you face the end with dignity, grace, and the awareness that you're doing the right thing.

I'm not sure we can recognize those moments until they've passed us."
-Georgia "George" Mason, "Feed" by Mira Grant


"Ma'am, I've already told you three times—you can't have your pokémon wandering around the room! Please put them away in their pokéballs!"

"They're worried; I can't tell them to not worry." Shay grinned in spite of the exasperated glare sent her way by the nurse standing in the hospital room doorway. The woman stood there for several extra seconds, staring Shay down, as though daring her to continue challenging her authority. She finally seemed to give up, poked her head out the door, and sighed heavily.

"Fine. Just make sure they don't mess with any of the equipment, please. The second they do, I'll be the one to put them away and you won't get them back until you're discharged." She crossed the room and pulled the portable computer desk around so she could clatter away on the keyboard. Shay reached over to pat a fidgeting Keno on the head. He glanced between her and the nurse who had just entered the room. Sela snuggled closer into Shay's other side, letting out a soft woof.

"Yeah, about that…when can I get out of here?"

"Soon enough. The doctor will be in to talk to you about your kidney stones. Have you ever had them before—"

Shay held up a hand and interrupted her.

"Multiple times. Both sides, although recently the left side seems to be making it a life goal to murder me with pain more than my right side."

The nurse nodded, entered the information, then looked back at her.

"You're a registered trainer, correct?"

"Yes."

"Going on the League Challenge?"

"Does it…matter?"

"Only League Challengers have full medical coverage through the League. Otherwise, you'd have to have insurance through Trinity Health Care here in Hoenn." The woman eyed her up and down, the question clearly written on her face: 'You stupid or are you new here?' Shay decided to not let her be tempted to voice the question aloud and bobbed her head to the nurse.

"Oh. Yes. I'm a League Challenger." Shay licked her lips, nervous now. "Does it…matter that I just started and don't have any gym badges yet?"

"No, just so long as I can see your Trainer ID and you're registered with the League, you should be fine. I just need to enter all that into the system and then we'll have the doctor see you, he'll talk about future treatment, and then you'll be discharged with any medication she'll see fit to send you off with."

"Great."

With the nurse gone, Shay leaned heavily into the hospital bed, closing her eyes. Keno shifted at her side and crawled right into her lap, burrowing his head against her abdomen. She shifted in the bed to sit up better. "You're gonna be okay, right?"

"Yeah. It's just kidney stones." Shay opened her eyes and took a deep breath, smiling at Keno reassuringly. She rubbed his head and he leaned into her hand.

"What, exactly, are kidney stones?" Sela inquired, drawing Shay's attention.

"Little calcified stones that grow in the kidney. When they leave the kidney, they travel down the little ureter tubing that connects to the bladder. It's painful. People compare it to labour pains, but I wouldn't know. No kids."

"Can they fix you?" Keno pressed, his tone urgent, impatient, concerned. He sounded much like a little child who wanted things to move faster and the comparison hit her rather hard. Even Sela's face seemed softened in light of her predicament. Shay couldn't help but to laugh.

"I've been trying, but the docs back home just keep bouncing me around. Most they'll do is give me painkillers and send me away." She sighed, dejected and bitter at the memories of military doctors emphatically unsympathetic, unmoved in assisting Shay with a long-term reparation of her situation. Instead, they focused on short-term solutions.

Shay tilted her head to look up at the ceiling, leaning into the hospital-issued pillow. "Maybe they can do something more here."


It was nearing mid-afternoon by the time Shay was discharged from the Petalburg Hospital. Hefting her pack, she turned this way and that, attempting to reorient herself. Failing in determining which was way east, she hailed a woman wearing a valet parking vest and asked for directions. The woman was helpful in redirecting her, smiling sympathetically as Shay explained what had happened in the Oldale Pokémon Center.

"Oh, sweetie, that's horrible! I'm so sorry that happened, but I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Good luck in getting back on track with your challenge!" She said to Shay as they parted ways. Shay waved to her as she took the road toward the main street that would lead back to Route 102.

Sela's claws clicked loudly on the concrete walkway as they walked, while Keno's footsteps were quieter in comparison. Shay took it nice and easy, knowing from experience if she tried to hike it like in the Marines, she'd be ending up with painful blisters all over her feet by the end of the day. She had managed to avoid it her first day out, but she didn't want to push her luck.

She didn't have any moleskin to tape up to her feet if that happened.

"Is there a reason we're heading back the way we have come?" Keno queried, breaking into the silence between them. She looked up at Shay expectantly.

"Can't miss anything. And we should get some training in before the end of the day with you two." Keno perked up excitedly, quivering his tail fin.

"We could get a new teammate!"

"If we're lucky," Shay said with a grin, continuing to lead the way back to Route 102. It took the better part of an hour to navigate their way back to the outskirts of the city. It took another half hour to delve into the woods proper of Route 102, and by the time they stopped for a break, the sun was slowly descending in the sky. The wild pokémon, however, were teeming with life and raring to go. They all ate a quick snack before diving into training for the better part of the rest of the afternoon. Shay caught a few pokémon to satisfy study inquiries set by Professor Birch as well. The information downloaded to the pokédex as she did, slowly but surely.

They even managed to snag their very first trainer battle. A young teenage girl donning hiking gear came upon them from the trail they had chosen for their training. She introduced herself as Tiana and had a pair of Zigzagoon consisting of her team, and they were unironically nicknamed Jack and Jill. Jack was first up, looking fluffed, pumped, and ready to fight. His fur bristled and quivered with excitement.

Shay was quick to send Sela out, feeling emboldened by their training from earlier in the day.

"C'mon Jack, let's start this rumble off with a Tackle attack! Take out that trashy little pooch!"

"Hey, man, there's no need to insult my girl!" Shay snapped, her shoulders hitching up in indignancy. Still prickling, she barked at Sela to dodge the attack, and the Poochyena did so at the last moment. Jack went sailing past Sela, his momentum carrying him head over paws into the ground. He tried to slow himself down by digging his claws into the ground for purchase, but only succeeded in tearing up clods of dirt and grass.

"Quick, counter with a Bite attack," Shay shouted, just as Sela's paws touched the ground. Sela was quick to respond, charging after the still-recovering Zigzagoon stumbling across the ground. Sela was quick to take advantage of that, sinking her large fangs into Jack's flank and started shaking her head, hard. It was almost comical, how the Zigzagoon took on sudden ragdoll mechanics, but the red spreading across the pokémon's fur was bringing the gravitas and reality of the situation back down to earth in a hurry.

Tiana was quick to recall Jack before it got too bloody and sent in Jill next. Shay called Sela back but the Poochyena remained rooted to her spot, facing down the second Zigzagoon.

"Sela, get back here, now! Let Keno get in there!"

"I can handle this. Just trust me!"

Shay was taken aback by the steely tone Sela had replied with, doubly so by the cool reassurance that she had everything under control. Uncertainty gripped her tight and she knew every second needed to count, that she couldn't continue to hesitate.

"All right, fine, fine! I…I trust you." She consented, albeit grudgingly. Turning her attention back to Tiana and her opposing team, she noticed that the other girl was staring at her strangely. Shay scowled at her and snapped brusquely, "What?"

"You…you're acting like you understand your pokémon," she said, her brow beetling in confusion. Her eyes shifted between Shay and Sela, and it was perhaps this confusion that gave Shay a few extra precious seconds to gather her thoughts. She felt the defensive tension that had built up in her shoulders easing away as she gathered the full scope of Tiana's perplexity. She seemed to have completely forgotten that she was supposed to be battling. Jill the Zigzagoon glanced back at her trainer, her posture no longer battle-ready. Sela was the only one who seemed to have her attention focused on the fight.

"And what if I can?" Shay pressed cautiously, eyes narrowing as she watched the younger girl across from her.

Tiana didn't answer right away. She looked between Shay and Sela, and then even to Keno sitting beside Shay, taking them all in together in a new light. Even Jill was staring at Shay, as though she had suddenly started to glow. Or perhaps she had grown a second head or third arm. Shay couldn't tell from their silence, and it was beginning to chafe her. Sela slowly pulled herself out of her defensive stance, tilting her head.

"Um…hello? Are you two all right?" Shay called, waving a hand at Tiana. The young girl shook her head, as though clearing her head and let out a loud exhalation. Jill, wordless, shared a look with her trainer.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, it's just…I don't know anyone who knows how to understand pokémon. I've only ever heard about it, but…I always thought it was a bedtime story for kids, or some cheesy urban legend."

Now Shay could read what was written in the other girl's eyes: it was uncertain awe.

"Are you…still into the battle, or…" Shay said, motioning between their pokémon. Sela nodded as well.

Keno muttered something, but Shay didn't catch what he'd said. Instead, she kept her focus on Tiana, who was recalling her remaining Zigzagoon. The last look Shay caught on Jill's face was astonishment before the telltale chime and light of the pokéball calling back the Zigzagoon rang in the air.

"No. No, I think…I'm good. I forfeit. You win."

Sela bristled, her hackles standing on end. "What? You can't forfeit! Why are you forfeiting, just because she can understand us?" Sela glanced at Shay over her shoulder, her red eyes staring accusingly at Shay. Shay threw up her hands in surrender.

"Hey, don't give me that look! I didn't do anything wrong here!" She said to the Poochyena. Sela glared at Shay for a few seconds longer before her shoulders slumped and she sighed.

"You're right. I can't blame you. It's her decision for quitting so quickly."

Tiana, who was edging her way closer, stopped suddenly when Sela whipped around to glare at her, her hackles rising abruptly, and her snout curled into an unmistakable snarl. She cast a nervous look Shay's way, a silent plea for help.

"Sela, stop. We'll find someone else to battle later, but it's getting late."

Sela turned on her heels and loped back to Shay's side, her ears folding against her skull. She cast one last resentful glance toward the young girl approaching Shay, who hurriedly held out a wad of cash to her. "Here. Your prize money."

Shay hesitated, but stretched her hand out to take it, thanking the girl. Tiana took her leave, heading back toward Petalburg. Shay watched her until she disappeared from sight around the bend in the road before turning toward Sela.

"What the hell was that back there?" She shot at the Poochyena. Shay felt Keno pressing against her leg, watching on in silence. Sela kept her head hung, her ears pressed down.

"She shouldn't have forfeited. In the wild—"

"Sela, we're not in the wild. That was a trainer battle. We try not to kill our opponents." Keno interjected, earning a sour glower from Sela. He shivered but didn't back down. "You're not in a pack roaming the woods anymore. You're—you're with us. We're your new pack. Team. Whatever you want to call it. And Shay makes the rules."

"Oh, I don't make all the rules," Shay quickly corrected. "But as far as things go between us, Keno's on point. If another trainer decides to pull out from a battle, then that's on them. Let them. We'll do us and they can do them."

Keno, emboldened by Shay's encouraging words, puffed his chest out proudly. Sela considered them both, her scarlet red eyes betraying nothing.

"I suppose…I have much to learn. Thank you." Slowly, her ears lifted up and she even wagged her bushy grey tail. Casting a glance at the sky, she snorted. "Are we spending another evening outside, or are we heading back into the city?"

"We're staying at the Pokémon Center," Shay confirmed emphatically with a nod. Her shoulders and back were aching, her feet were tender and throbbing, and her left flank was beginning to edge back into painful territory as well. She almost wanted to drop her pack and take a painkiller before heading back, but she resolved to wait until they were checked into a room first. It was a long hike back and they'd be doing it in the coming dark. With a nod of her head, Shay began leading the way, calling to Sela and Keno to follow her.

It grew dark all around them, the last of the day's light fading to give way to the brilliant velvet blue sky glittering with stars like swirling white dust above their heads. The glow of Petalburg was a presence they could see through the shield of trees and as they drew closer, they caught glimpses of the city through the forest's front line. Otherwise, they had only the stars and the ripening moon to guide them along on the trail. It wasn't until they were cresting the last hill that Sela stopped in her tracks. Shay and Keno didn't realize it until she barked at them, nearly ten meters away. Shay jumped in surprise, a hand flying to her chest as her heart skipped along like a timpani drum, only seeing the faint night shine glow of Sela's eyes in the dim light.

"Holy shit, don't scare me—" Shay began, but clamped her mouth shut when the Poochyena growled in warning.

"We're being followed," Sela hissed as she came bounding after them. Skidding to a stop just in front of her and Keno, her fur bristled and stood on end as she faced the dark trail they had just walked. Keno joined her, his tailfin stiff and rigid and his back curved over defensively.

Shay strained her eyes to try and catch any movement but failed to see anything beyond. She couldn't hear anything either, not with the faint white noise of the city just within reach drifting their way, drowning out any softer ambient noises. A glimmer of white was her first hint of something amiss. Sela and Keno alike stiffened.

"Come out and face us instead of hiding like a coward!" Sela barked viciously with steel in her voice.

"We're not afraid of you," Keno added, his tone just as bold, just as loud. Shay felt a sliver of nervousness grab hold of her before she stamped it out and told herself to suck it the fuck up. She already cashed in a moment of weakness for the day, and once was enough. She focused on her two pokémon.

"Can either of you see what it is?"

"I've never seen a pokémon like it before," Sela admitted stiffly. Keno affirmed much the same with a vigorous nod of the head.

"Same. I only ever saw Poochyena and Zigzagoon. Maybe a few Taillow and Wurmple, but…I dunno what this is."

"Well, what's it look like," Shay stressed in an insistent manner. "Because all I see is white, and its fuzzy..."

"Small. White. Round head. What more do you need?" Sela said with a huff. Shay thought quickly, realizing just how stupid she was being. Route 102 was the only place in the original and remade games where a trainer could find certain pokémon, ones that were rare and had a low encounter rate…

"It's a Ralts!" She exclaimed, feeling proud of herself. Why didn't she realize it sooner? She mentally chided herself, even as she simultaneously congratulated herself on figuring it out all the same. She needed to stay on her toes, she needed to remember what pokémon were found where in Hoenn. It was this damning knowledge that was going to help her out, even if it was under false pretenses. What she really knew of this world was perhaps the only thing she had never revealed to anyone here. She couldn't risk confiding in Professor Birch, or even Norman about it.

They'd probably never believe her anyways. And even if they did…

Shay shook the thoughts from her head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

The Ralts in question came closer, shuffling along on small white feet, almost waddling as it approached. It stopped when it could be decently seen by Shay, standing tall and proud…or as tall as it could stand. She could see that the Ralts would barely reach her knees. And Shay was just an inch shy of standing at five feet even.

That was saying something.

The Ralts tilted its head, each in the direction of Keno, Sela, and then Shay last of all. Tension drew taut between them all as the seconds ticked by, plodding along at an agonizing pace. Shay's mind was racing as she clawed at everything she knew to remember what moves Ralts knew. So far, she could only think of Teleport and Growl. The Ralts kept its head tilted in her direction, and at last, she swallowed, shucking aside the last of her nervousness.

"How long were you following us?"

"Long enough," the Ralts answered—the voice high yet quiet, clear and practiced. "You feel different from other people that have come through the forest."

Shay felt herself relaxing. Keno and Sela, in contrast, remained ready to leap into action, if need be. "Yeah. I guess I would."

The Ralts canted its head to the other side. "You sound like you know why."

"Probably because I do." She slowly began to unhitch her pack from her shoulder, letting it drop to the ground. At the same time, she went down to take a knee. Her aching shoulders throbbed in relief at the lack of weight crushing down on them. Her back began to throb. She'd have to relish the moment before getting back to it.

The Ralts waited for her to continue. When she didn't, it shuffled closer. Sela snarled at the wild pokémon, her muzzle curling. Keno took a step or two forward in an attempt to ward the Ralts from continuing.

"That's far enough," Sela barked. Shay gently placed a hand on the Poochyena's back. Sela flinched in response but did nothing else. She still kept her gaze and attention strictly on the pokémon across from them.

"Easy, girl." Shay murmured soothingly, then returned her gaze back to the pokémon standing before them. "Why were you following us?"

The Ralts hesitated, taking its time before answering. "I've been waiting for the right time to leave. Waiting for the right trainer to go with. None seemed interesting. Or happy. You don't seem happy, exactly either—but you feel…different from others. Nothing like I've felt before." The Ralts canted its head again. "My name's Ambrose. I want to join your team."

Keno was the first to relax his aggressive stance. He looked back at Shay, waiting. Sela remained alert with her hackles still bristling. Shay regarded the Ralts, considering the offer—and the opportunities of having a duel psychic-fairy type on the team. Ambrose seemed to sense this as well…or perhaps had read her mind.

"I know I can offer a lot in the future. I catch glimpses of what can be from time to time. We need each other. I don't want to go with anyone else. I won't ever want to, not after having felt you."

"Phrasing," Shay said on reflex as she snickered, earning a baffled look from Keno and even Sela alike. She cleared her throat, realizing that this probably wasn't the time for a joke only she understood the reference for, and dug into her pack, pulling out an empty pokéball. "Okay. I'm convinced. Ambrose, it's a pleasure to meet you."

With that said, she tossed the pokéball, and Ambrose disappeared into it. The glow of the pokéball was just as quick to vanish. The pokéball barely wobbled in protest before the chime of success sounded off in the empty air around them. Keno trotted forward, snatching it up in his mouth and returned to Shay.

"Here he is!" He said with his mouth still wrapped around the pokéball.

She took it, thanked Keno, and quickly called Ambrose out. Ambrose grinned up at her and she felt a hint of warmth spreading through her at the simple reaction.

"You won't regret this," Ambrose said, excitement and a hint of cockiness colouring his tone.


I don't ever want to move, I want to die. Oh, dear god, I forgot how much hiking with a full pack suuuuucks.

She groaned heavily and at length as she lay there on the bed, assessing how much she hurt. Her hips, lower back, calves, feet, and shoulders all simultaneously throbbed as though they were all wrapped in one singular welt or blister, just waiting to pop.

The one thing that doesn't hurt is my side. I guess I'll take it.

Last night, she had given a cursory inspection of her feet and she hadn't been entirely surprised to find actual blisters decorating the pads of her feet or in the crease between her big toe and foot. She had grimaced, but reckoned it wasn't the worst. Having one on the back of her heel, however…

That was the absolute worst. She let her feet air out overnight, hoping that the swelling would go down by morning. She had been right, by a small margin, but realized rather belatedly after waking up that she didn't have anything to care for her worn-out feet. She'd completely forgotten to stop by a store on the way back to the center and grab something for just that. And Professor Birch had completely forgotten to add anything to her pack. He probably didn't even get blisters anymore, he was so used to striking out so often, his feet were used to the abuse and calloused all over.

Gingerly pulling a pair of socks and her hiking boots back on, Shay limped her way down to the main lobby floor of the Pokémon Center to sheepishly ask a nurse at the front desk if she could possibly have some moleskin, bandages, gauze, band-aids—anything with padding that she could use for her feet. The nurse was nonplussed by the request, an understanding smile flickering across her face as she nodded to Shay, disappeared into the back, and came back not even five minutes later bearing a parcel package with her requested items.

"We get plenty of inexperienced hikers who come through here that overdo it. There's even a fresh pair of socks in there, too."

"Oh. Thanks. I was just gonna say, I'll probably need to wash my old socks and change them with a fresh pair before I leave," Shay remarked with a slightly self-conscious grin. "I'm not that inexperienced, it's just been a few months since I've taken a full pack on the road. I thought I was good to go, but I guess I underestimated things. Won't happen again, not with all this."

"Is that so? Well, I wish you luck on that," the nurse replied, smiling again. Shay felt herself hitching her breath in response, before sucking back her reply just as quickly. There was an underlying tone in the other woman's voice, a faintly snarky one hidden behind honey-sweet words. The woman was bored and had probably seen this from one too many people, heard all the excuses, and didn't seem to take any value in Shay's words. A part of her wanted to bristle, to snap at the woman, or to return a snarky, condescending reply in kind.

Instead, she suppressed the urge and stomached all the acidic little words instead of vomiting them back up on a kneejerk response and bid the nurse a somewhat stiff goodbye. She limped her way back to her room. It was housed on the third floor, but thankfully, there was an elevator that made the journey easier. She was quick to strip her boots and socks once more when she was safely tucked away inside, and set to work with treating, padding, and wrapping her toes and feet up. When she was satisfied with her handiwork, she slipped on the new socks and her hiking boots and walked around the room a few times, testing it all out.

"What're you doing?"

Shay turned at the voice coming from the bed and saw Keno, Sela, and Ambrose watching her curiously. Sela yawned, her teeth glinting in the light.

"She's got blisters all over her feet," Ambrose answered with a catty grin. Sela and Keno looked at the Ralts, but the little psychic said nothing else.

"How can you even see with that mop of fur over your eyes?"

"I don't have any eyes. I'm blind."

Keno twitched and Sela jumped to her paws in astonishment. She began sniffing Ambrose's head, while Keno leaned in closer. Even Shay was dumbfounded into silence at the admission.

"What? No way! You can't be blind! How were you even following us in the dark last night?" Keno blurted, his mouth slightly agape. Ambrose lifted a paw to pull back the shaggy seafoam green fur and showed off his pale face. Where his eyes should have been there was nothing. Fine white fur covered the orbital sockets, barely any indents where eyes should have been were visible. Ambrose was still grinning, looking very much like the cat that caught a canary as he tilted his head toward Keno first, and then Sela.

"I'm as blind as a Zubat is. Zubat use echolocation to get around. I use my psychic powers to get around by detecting life signs, feelings. Things like that. I won't be able to physically see you guys until I'm evolved."

"Oh, wow," Shay breathed out, earning herself a head tilt in her direction. "I gotta say, that's pretty amazing. Really Daredevil-esque."

In all honesty, she could have sworn Ralts had eyes, but there were plenty of things she thought she had known plenty about this place. Instead, this world has done an incredible job at proving her wrong time and again. The only consistency she could claim victory over was the general knowledge that she had been tested upon earlier in the week. Fire-types still beat out grass-types. Grass-types trumped water-types. Water-types doused fire-types.

Thinking on all that made her feel like she had taken the test years ago, not days.

"Yep. I know I'm awesome." Ambrose puffed his chest out, showing yet another proud grin. Sela snorted, her black lips pulling back into a doggish grin and her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. Keno poked at Ambrose's head, disturbing tufts of his fur. Ambrose's smile dropped and he turned to face the Mudkip.

"But…how does that work, exactly? How can you have no eyes, and then have eyes? That's so weird!"

"It's called 'evolution'. You have heard of that, right?" Ambrose replied flatly as he frowned at Keno.

"Well, duh. Everyone has. Or they should have. You know…for the ones that can evolve, at least."

"Then you'll know that we change when we evolve." Ambrose deadpanned. He turned his head in Sela's direction. "I'll especially like to know exactly what you look like."

"Me? Why me?"

"You're a dark-type, right? I can't sense you. Not like I can sense Keno or her. I at least have an idea of what their shapes are, but you? You're nothing but a gaping void to me. In fact, a lot of trainers come through with dark-types like you, so I've had to learn to avoid them."

"Then why did you decide to begin traveling with a trainer who has a dark-type such as myself," Sela asked in genuine curiousity.

"There's always risk in the choices we make. Even if our types may clash, that doesn't mean my choice was wrong." Ambrose answered, a lingering smile pulling at his little lips. "At least, for now, it seems I've made a good choice. So, are we going to hang around here all day, or do we have somewhere to be?"


The Petalburg Gym was, in a word, an architectural beauty and stuck out amidst the rest of the city all at the same time. Petalburg City bloomed with gardens, parks, nature trails and more, all across the expanse of the city. The buildings themselves seemed to be tailored around the nature and not the other way around. There were leisure trails and roads that detoured around hillocks and along the coast inlet to the southwest. There were parks where people went to enjoy an afternoon or to take their pokémon for a walk. But the architecture of the buildings themselves were more subdued and bland in design. There were very few high-rise buildings that towered over most of the trees that Shay could make out, but then again, she hadn't really been actively looking.

The Petalburg Gym, in contrast to the rest of the city, felt out of place when compared to the housing or commercial buildings just down the road from it. The design was reminiscent to Japanese architecture, and she found it pleasing in comparison to the rest of the city's bland design.

"Are we really going to go in there?" Keno asked in a small voice as he pressed tightly against the back of Shay's leg. She saw him from the corner of her eye peeking out from behind her to look up at the gym looming over them.

"I'm just checking in with someone and then we'll make out way out of the city."

"But this is a gym leader's terrain, isn't it? We're not challenging them right now, right?"

"Why so nervous?" Ambrose asked with a taunting lilt.

"I'm not nervous! It's just—Shay said we're challenging a different gym in Rustboro, not here in Petalburg. At least not yet, we aren't." Keno said, looking stung and defensive as he regarded Ambrose's smirking countenance. The Ralts didn't seem concerned at all, unable to see the expression painted on Keno's face—but Shay had a rousing suspicion that the Ralts could feel the Mudkip's indignance. It was, however, just theory.

She didn't know as much as she thought she did about this world and keeping an open mind was either going to make or break her.

Shay motioned to the incline of steps that awaited before them.

"All right, gang, let's head out. We're not challenging a gym today, but we are saying hello to the gym leader before we leave the city. He kind of wants to check in on me."

Shay mounted the steps, hearing the patter of Keno's paws and the clicking scratch of Sela's claws and glanced over her shoulder—only to stop in her tracks, seeing Ambrose still at the bottom of the steps.

She stared at him. He tilted his head up in her direction. A tense moment passed before she expelled a loud breath.

"Seriously?" She called down to him. He sheepishly ducked his head.

"Can I…trouble you for a lift? I don't do well with stairs. I tried them once." A beat passed. "It didn't end well."

Shay groaned but shuffled back down to scoop Ambrose up. He was quick to snuggle in against her. When she caught the glints in Keno and Sela's eyes, she groaned louder. "Seriously, you guys?"

"He's getting special treatment," Sela remarked blandly, her red eyes scooting over to scan Ambrose.

"He's blind."

"We have tiny legs."

"Oh, my god…"

Was it fair to say that the cuteness overload was too much to handle for Shay? Because, if someone were to ask why she had gone to the trouble of carrying all three of her pokémon up the steps instead of just recalling them to their pokéballs, she would have blamed it all completely on the cuteness overload. A Marine, she might be, but damn it all to hell, she wasn't about to deny that she had a soft spot in her heart for cute things.

When they reached the top of the staircase, Sela and Ambrose relinquished their positions in her arms grudgingly but hopped down when she lowered them to it all the same. Keno lingered the longest, having taken a perch on her shoulder and didn't seem keen on giving up his advantageous position. He rubbed his cheek against hers, whining all the while when she told him the ride was over.

"But I like it up here! Don't make me get down!"

"Keno, my dude, my little blue buddy, I'd love to let you keep on sitting there, but my back and shoulders are still adjusting to the horrid pains of carrying a pack full time and you're helping the strap dig into my flesh and bone. I'm tempted to take a painkiller and it isn't even noon yet. I already took one when I woke up, more for the hiking pack pains than for the kidney stone pains."

Keno wriggled indecisively on her shoulder, a low hum of discontent thrumming through him before he reluctantly leapt off. He cast her a forlorn look, his head sagging.

"I didn't know I was hurting you…" He muttered back, despondent.

"Aw, don't give me that look. It's not you, my little dude. I just—I didn't exactly go hiking every day in my old life. It's gonna take some time getting used to."

As will sleeping on the hard ground outside when we're not in a city or town. Nothing I can't handle. I've done it before, I can do it again.

She smiled reassuringly at Keno, instead of voice any more of her complaints.

"When it doesn't hurt as much, I'll let you hang out on my shoulder. Promise."

Appeased, Keno nodded enthusiastically as he turned back to face the entry into the gym.

Just as they were within feet of the door, it broke open and two forms broke through the doorway. Shay recognized the first as Norman, but the other was a young man, his hair shaggy and unkempt like he had simply rolled out of bed and left it that way. He wore casual jeans and tennis shoes along with a button up, white collared long-sleeved shirt that looked freshly pressed. His hair was a shade or two lighter than the fine fur covering Ambrose's head, a light seafoam green.

People seemed to be quite liberal when it came to having unnaturally colourful hair. Shay wondered if they were all dye jobs, or if they were somehow naturally occurring because of this world's proximity with pokémon. That, however, was a metaphysical question for another day.

Shay had a strong hunch as to who the young man might be, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. Norman paused mid-sentence with the young man, having taking notice of Shay standing off to the side, and he spared her a smile that seemed partly relieved. The young man took notice of her as well and she visibly saw him straighten his shoulders and back at the sight of her.

"Shay. It's good to see you made it this far. I was almost starting to worry you hadn't…or that you had decided to move on and not stop by on your way out of the city."

"I figured it'd be good manners to say hello while I was in town," she replied honestly, which earned her another earnest smile from the older man. He shot a glance toward the young man beside him, as though suddenly just remembering he had been entertaining another guest.

"Sorry, where are my manners? Shay, I'd like you to meet Wallace Leander. Wallace, this is Shay Kenway. She's my niece who's been staying in Littleroot with me for the last few weeks. She's also decided to take the step forward into becoming a traveling trainer bent on taking the League Challenge."

Wallace, who looked perfectly ready to burst at the seams, jolted forward and thrust his hand out to Shay. She carefully extended her hand out and he was quick to snatch it up, pumping it animatedly.

"I am so excited to finally get to be a real trainer! I've always wanted to travel and go out into the world and just—wow! Please, call me Wally!"

With stiff shoulders and a ramrod straight back, Shay leaned as far away as she dared in shock. She could feel eyes locked on her from all angles and she simply stared, frozen, her hand locked in a tight grip as Wally continued to pump it in vigorous excitement. Up close, she could see that his eyes, now wide and fevered as they stared unblinkingly at her, they were pale and blue like clear ice chips set in arctic waters. In fact, she would even go so far as to say they would have been more at home in the face of a sled dog rather than a human. They were actually kind of pretty. It was just unnerving being pinned by them in that moment.

"Um…great. Wally. I'll remember that. I'm Shay Kenway. Just…call me Shay."

Wally finally released her hand, seemed to realize he was a bit close and took a step back. He was still beaming as he regarded the pokémon at Shay's side, staring up at him. Sela snorted loudly.

"Oh, wow. You've got a Ralts. I've always wanted one as a companion. Where'd you find it?"

"I picked up Ambrose off of Route 102 last night. He's the newest addition to the team. And Sela is the Poochyena, and that's Keno, the Mudkip."

"You've got an amazing team."

"I mean…I just started. But I bet we'll do just fine." Shay rebuked, holding up her hands in a mock surrender.

"You'll be heading to Rustboro soon, won't you, Shay? To challenge Roxanne? You'll have an amazing type advantage with your Mudkip!"

"Yeah. Yeah, I know."

Wally looked ready to dive into more but was shanghaied by a violent fit of coughs. He doubled over, one hand gripping a knee as he swayed over and away from all of them, while the other hand clutched at his chest. Air whistled through his chest in the form of a heavy wheeze. Shay froze, and Norman moved forward, concern rippling across his features as he reached for Wally, gently patting him open-handed on the back. The thought of an inhaler immediately came to mind and she wondered if Wally was an asthmatic.

"Easy. Take it easy, Wally. Don't overwork yourself. Remember what you told me earlier."

Norman exchanged a look with Shay and she crept closer, placing a hand gently on Wally's shoulder, giving him a few uncertain but well-meaning pats. The wheezing lingered the longest, but it began to lessen in severity as the attack, whatever it was, faded. They waited until he calmed, and every so often, she glanced over at her team. They stood stock still as they watched, Keno and Sela's eyes wide and Ambrose frowning. When Wally was able to sip down a few breaths without breaking into another coughing fit, he pulled himself back into his full height, although even then, he seemed to slouch. It made him look shorter.

"Thanks. I'm—I'm good now. Please, don't worry about me." He tried to sound reassuring, but the way his shoulders trembled implied he was less than fine. Norman hovered by the young man's side, looking extremely reluctant in stepping away from him. Wally's smile was the only indicator that finally gave him the tiny push to stop hovering at all. When he met Shay's gaze, she could see gears already working and she felt a chill sweep down her spine.

Uh-oh. I know that look. That's a look Gunny Hendrix used to get when he's about to assign something to me.

She liked it less when he smiled suddenly at her and the glint in his eyes brightened as he turned to face her. She had an idea of where this was going, and she Did Not Like It.

"Shay…would you mind doing your dear uncle a favour?"

Oh god, I hate you already. If you were my real uncle, I'd hate you. My uncle is fun and crazy. You're making me do things. The most he did was have me get a tattoo at the same place he gets his.

Shay had to resist the incredibly childish urge to stick her tongue out and stomp off down the way she'd come. Instead, she sucked in a breath, nice and slow, and put on a smile.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Can you take Wally here out to Route 102 to search for a pokémon? He's been wanting to catch one of his very own for a while, and I think he's finally ready today. Wally, I'll lend you one of my pokémon to assist you, and several pokéballs as well. Please wait here, I'll go grab them."

And just like that, Shay and her team were left alone with Wally. As soon as Norman was gone, Wally turned to her, his shoulders hitched upward in delight.

"I'm getting a pokémon. I'm actually getting a pokémon! Oh, holy crap, I'm getting a pokémon, did you hear him?!"

"Relax, it's just a loaner, boot." Shay remarked flatly and with a frown added on.

Wally blinked, taken aback. Shay winced, wishing she could bite her tongue. She had to resist shooting a glare over her shoulder at the snickers she heard coming from her team.

"What? Boot? I don't…I don't know what that means."

Yikes. Maybe I should tone it down.

"Er…sorry. But, I mean…you're going to be getting your own pokémon, one that you catch and get to train and be friends with soon. Save your excitement for that moment. When you meet your real partner, not a loaner from a gym leader. Okay?"

Wally sharply inhaled, his lips pursed tightly together as he nodded ardently. Norman chose that very moment to return, slipping through the doorway as he rejoined them. Wally was practically vibrating, and his fingers twitched impatiently at his sides. Shay could swear she heard a tiny squeal trapped in the base of his chest just itching to rise up. She shot a glance down at her team, and Sela's lips were pulled in a doggish grin, Keno was looking worriedly at Wally, and Ambrose…

Ambrose was neutral. He tilted his head her way after a few moments, and then smiled up at her. Before she could question him, her attention was snagged back on Wally when he literally latched onto her hand and began tugging her along back down the stairs.

"C'mon, we're losing daylight!"

"Holy shit—easy, boot! Easy!"

Before he could completely yank her away, she scooped up Ambrose and peered over her shoulder to see Norman smiling at them and giving them a parting wave of the hand. She wanted to scowl and throw a nasty curse his way, but Wally had hit the street and was already leading her away from the Petalburg Gym.

"Be safe, you two!"

Dammit, Norman!


Shay took a breath as she surveyed the underbrush and fields of grass spread out before them. The blades were tall enough that it obscured what may be crawling about in it, but short enough that one couldn't lose track of one's surroundings easily. The wind picked up and rolled across the grass, turning it into a waving sea of emerald with tufts of hidden gold, hiding its inhabitants jealously, unwilling to spill its secrets without some effort being put into some good old-fashioned searching. In the distance, flitting above the treetops of the forest that cupped the north end of Route 102, Shay could make out a flock of Beautifly taking flight and rising with the wind up into the sky. They quickly disappeared from sight.

"So, how do I do this, again?"

Shay turned to Wally, seeing his skinny frame rigid and still, the excitement from earlier that had him awash now suddenly dissipated, replaced by anxiety and uncertainty. He was nervous, that much was clear. Despite the years she'd experienced playing the Pokémon games—right from the start with the original Red and Blue, to the newer Sun and Moon franchise—Shay herself still felt incredibly raw and new at actually being a trainer. She wasn't sure why Norman had sent her instead of coming out himself. He was more experienced, he was a seasoned trainer and a gym leader to boot and…and…

And oh, my god, I am a complete fucking moron. He's the gunnery sergeant and I'm the sergeant tasked out with a workload. He doesn't have to get his hands dirty if he doesn't want to, he can just dispatch someone under him to do the work for him. And I'm mentoring a goddamn boot.

The realization hit her square between the eyes and she felt stupid for not seeing it sooner. Shay stared at Wally's backside in dumbfounded amazement and embarrassment. She ducked her gaze when he glanced her way over his shoulder again, pretending she had more interest in checking out her hiking boots.

Should've seen this coming. Poor kid. I'd better help before he thinks I don't care.

Another idea didn't escape her notice about her predicament: this was yet another task that the player character, May or Brendan, would have needed to fulfill before they moved on to the Petalburg Woods, and shortly after that, Rustboro City in the games. The disturbing thought that she was essentially replacing May overcame her and her stomach twisted into a multitude of uncomfortable knots and it made her queasy.

Shay steeled herself and found it marginally to slip back into her role as a sergeant, she cleared her throat and stepped into the grass to join Wally. He looked positively ecstatic when she did. She clapped a hand on his shoulder twice and put a finger to her lips, indicating he'd need to be quiet.

"First thing's first. You keep talking loud like you are right now, you'll scare off potential opponents," she said, sotto voce. Wally gasped quietly and snapped his head away from her, as well as his attention, when there came a rustling from close by. He looked around wildly, craning his neck to and fro as he tried to spy what exactly was coming toward them. When he realized the noise was coming from her team joining them in the grass, he visibly wilted.

"It takes time," she added, patting his shoulder reassuringly before dropping her hand back to her side. "Sometimes you'll have pokémon that come straight for you. They want to fight. They want to get stronger. Other times, you have to go after them."

She cast a knowing glance toward Sela, and the Poochyena puffed her chest proudly, giving a curt nod of approval. Keno tiptoed closer to her, while Ambrose hung back a little, his little arms crossing over his chest as he tilted his head toward the forest proper. Shay stooped down to gently rub Keno's head. He readily leaned into the touch. Wally, in the meantime, had begun stalking through the grass, overexaggerating his steps by lifting and settling his long legs as he swept across the field. Shay stayed put, watching him as well as the surrounding terrain. Judging by the lively chorus of insect chirrups and bird cries, there was plenty of life teeming around them.

It was just a matter of finding something within their small patch of grassland. Wally wasn't long in crying out, a mixture of shock and euphoria. Everyone else sat up straight, stood up, gawking to see past Wally's gangly, wiry form. He shot a searching look toward Shay, silently pleading for help.

"Let out your loaner pokémon! Send them out!" She instructed him, her voice firm and authoritative.

Wally nodded vigorously, turned away to fumble with the pokéball Norman had given him. A burst of light and a curious chitter later, Shay felt herself relaxing. She crept closer, just enough so that she didn't have to raise her voice. Wally was surprised when he glanced over again to find her much closer. He seemed to visibly relax as well. Shay nodded to him and checked out what pokémon Norman had given him.

A Zigzagoon. Wait. Is that Bandit?

"Okay, Wally. Do you know Zigzagoon's move set?"

"I think so. Tackle and Growl. This one's a low enough level it won't knock out the wild pokémon. Not in one hit, anyway."

Shay searched the field ahead of them and her shoulders tightened on reflex. It was another Ralts sitting opposite them, waiting patiently. No wonder there was a manic gleam in Wally's eyes. He returned his attention to the impending altercation once more and shouted at Bandit to attack the Ralts. The Ralts, in turn, began to glow, perhaps building up an attack, but the Zigzagoon was quick on his feet and slammed into the Ralts' midsection, sending it flying. The Ralts struggled to lift itself back up.

"Okay, Wally. Now use a pokéball on the Ralts. Don't draw this out."

"Right, okay!"

He whipped out one of the empty pokéballs from his pocket and pressed the button to expand it and threw it at the still-down Ralts. It disappeared in a flash of light and the pokéball snapped shut. Wally waded through the grass closer to watch it and whooped with joy seconds later, picking up the pokéball and brandishing it proudly.

"I caught a Ralts!"

Shay felt a smile tugging at her own lips and she heard the small murmurs of approval from Keno and Sela. Still, Ambrose remained quiet, but when Shay looked at him, she saw his arms still crossed over his chest but now…now he was smiling. As if sensing her stare, Ambrose tilted his head in her direction and the smile broadened into a knowing smirk.

Oh, you sneaky little thing, she thought. Did you set this up?

'You're damn right I did,' another voice intruded, whispering throughout all corners of her head. Her entire skull and along the center of her neck tingled strangely but just as quickly as it had come, it went. Shay gasped, clapping her hands over her ears, eyes widening as she stared, flabbergasted, at Ambrose. She barely heard the concerned queries from Keno and Sela, barely heard Wally returning to her as the grass crunched loudly underfoot. It wasn't until something began pawing at her leg that she broke contact with Ambrose and looked down to see Keno staring up at her, pushed up on his hind legs, worry written clearly across his little blue face. Sela was over by Ambrose, sniffing him curiously, her red eyes narrowed. Ambrose frowned and gently smacked her away, earning a small growl for his troubles from the Poochyena.

"Are you okay, Shay?" Keno asked, drawing her attention again. She had to brace herself, to let out a slow breath that didn't shudder or tremble. Putting on a smile she reserved for her superiors and juniors alike, to hide any sign of discontent, she nodded to him and stooped over, picking the Mudkip up to cuddle him. He readily accepted it, going so far as to try and return the embrace with his little limbs wrapped around her neck and shoulder.

"I'm okay. Just thought I heard something. It was nothing, though. I promise."

Wally, who was standing off to the side, watching her awkwardly—as though he was searching for the right thing to say but still hadn't found it—she turned to with that smile still on her face.

"Hey. Good job on catching your very first pokémon. Why don't we head back to the gym, so you can return Norman's loaner?"

Wally brightened at the suggestion and agreed, his own Ralts secured in the crook of his arm.

As they began their return trip, Shay shot a parting look over to Ambrose, frowning.

When we get a chance, we are so talking about this, she thought, hoping it was projected enough that he heard it. She wasn't entirely sure how it worked. She only hoped that he had somehow heard her, just as he had earlier.


Additional Notes: Having a psychic-type on your team can have some advantages. Although, if we're being honest, having a pokémon that has easy access to your head is probably not all that great, especially if you want privacy.

And before I hear it in the comments section, I know Ralts have eyes. I have elected to ignore this in favour of my personal headcanon. Because damn it, if some people want to give Kirlia cat-like ears instead of horns or female Gardevoir actual tits (which I will never completely understand, by the way), then I can damn well make my Ralts eyeless for the time being.

Hey guys, look! Another team member has joined the party!

Pokémon: Ambrose the Ralts, Level 3
Nature/Characteristic: Hardy and Thoroughly Cunning
Move Set
: Growl