"Okay you two, go play," Daisy said. This time, she wasn't talking to any of the other parents, but instead keeping watch on Nate. After the last time we were here, it seemed like the mother learnt her lesson on keeping track of her son. I highly doubted she'd be looking out for me, since I was wild, plus I can handle myself right?
The first thing on my mind was finding that Flareon I played tag with. People and Pokemon's eyes followed me as I walked past them, but none of them tried anything. Off in the distance, I could see a Flareon chasing a ball its trainer had thrown. A small smile made its way onto my face, without hesitation, I sprinted towards their direction barking.
Off in my peripheral vision, there was a Mightyena sitting next to its trainer, which made the fur on my neck stand up. I don't exactly remember what that Mightyena's trainer looked like, and I wasn't ready to fight it again.
"Hey watch where you're going!" I looked up to realise I had accidentally slammed into a trainer's legs, the Flareon's trainer. Before I could blink, the two of us fell to the ground, having fallen on top of her legs, there was growling and yelling. Flareon had returned, the ball it was carrying fell to the ground, he bared his fangs. "Get off of me!' I was shoved off the human's legs.
The trainer was female. Her blue eyes glared at me as she got up. "Where is your trainer? They did a bad job at training you!" Flareon stopped growling at me to check on his trainer. Was this the wrong Flareon? If these were the same from the other day, then what was with their attitude now?
I hung my head, trying my best to look sorry. In truth, I was. If I were any larger, the Flareon's trainer would not be in the greatest of condition. These two were likely having the time of their lives, and I had ruined it for them both.
"I'm okay Flareon." I glanced up from the ground to see Flareon being gently pushed off his trainer. Immediately he turned and tackled me. "Why did you attack my trainer?" He growled. The sound of his voice told me I was right: He was the same Flareon. "I didn't mean to." I said calmly. There wasn't a point in trying to knock him off of me, that would probably start a fight, one I wouldn't win. Why did he not recognize me? Was I that messy when we met that he thought I was a different Ninetales?
"Flareon get up and off of her now," his trainer said. "I just wanted to say hi." I got on my feet and shook myself. So much for that bath earlier.
"You sound familiar," Flareon said. "You know that messy Ninetales from yesterday days ago?" I asked. Flareon's eyes widened. His trainer knelt down and started running her hands through my fur. "Sorry about yelling at you, you just took us by surprise. Just watch where you're going next time, alright buddy? Now you're going to tell me why you were running." She said. Her tone became friendlier, which was an upgrade from being cursed at.
"I was playing with your Flareon a day ago. I just wanted to say hello, and maybe play with him again." This made her jump. "I think you hitting me is driving me crazy." she said. "You're not crazy, I think, this is simply telepathy. Sorry about knocking you off your feet." I responded. Lowering my head again, keeping my eyes on the trainer.
Flareon ran up and almost tackled me again, this time his tail was wagging, no fangs were bared. Instead of growling, I could hear him sniffing me, probably to make sure something like this wouldn't happen again. While he was keeping note of my scent, I took another few notes of his, and then he backed off of me.
"So you were playing with my Pokemon yesterday…" the trainer patted the tuft of fur on my head. "Well, if you want to play with us you can, just try not to kill me again okay?" She said with a chuckle. The human picked up the ball she threw for Flareon and threw it again. Flareon remained still, I did the same. What on earth were we playing? "C'mon, it's your turn!" the Flame Pokemon coaxed.
"It's my turn? For what?"
Flareon looked taken aback by my question. "You've never played fetch before?' he asked. "I barely even know how to wrestle, let alone play whatever fetch is." I said. "Look, just run after the ball when Jane throws it, and bring it back to her. It's fun!" He pushed me forward, and I immediately started running after the ball. I collected it, turned around and stopped in front of Flareon's trainer.
I sat down and kept the ball in my mouth. Jane knelt down and placed her hand under my mouth. "Give me the ball Ninetales," she said. With some hesitation, I gave it back, and took a couple steps back. She threw the ball again, but Flareon remained still again. "Go on, just give it a couple tries at it, Ninetales." I nodded before running after the ball once more.
After a few throws, Flareon ran after the ball while I sat and watched. An itch in my legs made me want to go after the ball, but I restrained myself. Jane threw the ball once it reached her hand again. This time both me and Flareon ran after the ball, getting in each other's way, trying to grab hold of the ball. Despite my efforts, Flareon jumped over me, tails included, and grabbed the ball. He triumphantly trotted back to his trainer, even though I could tell he tired out from that.
Even if he hadn't, I was tired from competing with a Pokemon that weighed a ton. Flareon laid on the ground next to his trainer after dropping the ball on the ground in between his legs. With heavy breaths, I wobbled over and laid down next to Flareon. "So how was that," Flareon panted as he spoke. "Tiring," I said as I flopped on my side. He chuckled as he grabbed my scruff and pulled me closer to him.At first, I tried to get away, but Flareon wasn't having any of that. Dragging me back, until I gave up. "I can just lay on the grass, you know. "Y'know, you shouldn't lay on the grass like that. It's not super comfy." Flareon said.
Before my mouth opened, a flash blinded me for a second. "You two are adorable together!" Jane said. She had a pocket camera in her hand as she chuckled. I looked down and saw that I was partially laying on top of Flareon. Flareon laughed while I just sat there, my mind was processing what had just happened.
From being growled at, to now cuddling, with somebody who just taught me how to play fetch. "I see you're having fun Ninetales." my head snapped backwards as Daisy chuckled. She walked around us and started talking to Jane, I could just about hear what they were saying. "Sorry about my Ninetales running into you," Daisy said. "No worries, you've got a pretty little Ninetales," Jane commented. Flareon nudged me. "Did I tire you out that much?" he asked.
I was still lying on top of my friend. "Oh sorry!" I said, before quickly shuffling off of Flareon. "Don't worry about it. I just didn't want you being uncomfortable," he said. "You consider grass uncomfortable?" I asked. "Of course I do, nothing beats sleeping on a couch, or even on a bed." Boy was Flareon spoiled. If I ever got to sleep on grass out in the wild, long grass, it was luxury. "I was just recently captured so I'm still kind of used to laying in logs."
Flareon looked at me like I was crazy. "How is that comfortable?' he asked. "It wasn't." I said while chuckling. "Well, hopefully you enjoy having a trainer better than being in the wild!" Flareon got up and laid on top of me, making me freeze up a bit. "What? You got to lay on top of me, so fair is fair!"
I groaned. "Why are you so heavy?" I joked. Before I could say anything else, Flareon was fast asleep. "Looks like you've got a new friend, Ninetales," Daisy teased. She petted my head and the Flareon, while Jane took another photo. I let out a fake groan as I acted like I didn't enjoy this.
This certainly beats battling for sure.