Melli entered Jubilife Village with only Skuntank following, having split off from that Rei kid when they reached the Obsidian Fieldlands. The brat was tired of working with Melli, and Melli was sick of having to do everything with him. Gathering, feeding Lord Electrode, searching the lands for danger.
Every. Stupid. Thing.
Adaman said he would get a replacement for Melli, but that was a while ago. Did he have to hound the guy just to get a fresh face following him?!
It was stupid.
And then there's the clothing shop he was forced to pass on his way in.
Of course he had to get that woman the Eevee picture, and it wasn't surprising seeing it plastered right out front as advertisement for her new custom dye line of clothing.
Supposedly Melli would get a big discount the next time he shopped there, though he highly doubted he'd ever even speak to that woman again.
He definitely didn't want to, and the Diamond Clan made their own clothing.
Absolutely no reason for it.
After what felt like an eternity, Melli finally reached the sick bay.
Sinnoh all mighty, he needed to sit after that walk.
It was nice to not see any of the Medical Corp ladies for once. He and Snowflake could just relax without their judging gazes the whole time. Melli knew they were always listening, ready to strike like an angry Parasect, and after the last few days, he had very little patience left to deal with that.
Pulling back the privacy curtain, the Warden took a few steps, only to freeze at the sight. Snowflake sat at the edge of the bed without a shirt or facial bandages. Pana was in the process of changing them, finishing up with his chest and arm right when Melli walked in.
He couldn't help but stare at what had been a mystery all this time.
Snowflake's hair was wet… and not copper in color.
It was a foggy grey, boarding on white. The hair that he still had anyway.
Melli vaguel notices lots of facial hair on his left side, but all of his focus was drawn to the right. That part of his jaw and head had been shaved, the most damaged skin showing little signs of hair growth while the better sections were coming back. A short beard and mustache occupied his lip and chin. It was splotchy, given the injuries still healing in those areas.
The right half was swollen overall with large tracks where the skin had ripped away, having been patched back together like a quilt made of scraps. Some of the stitches were recently removed by Pana, with others still tied where needed. Long, raised, dark pink lines leading from his chin and lip all the way up his cheek to his right eye and up his shaved head. A rip in the ear and two open sections around the jaw too large to sew together in one attempt were recently debrided and pinched close together with sutures.
There was even a wound that looked fresher and more irritated than the rest right by his mouth, which Melli concluded had to be where his stitches ripped when… Well, he didn't like thinking of that day. He still had flashbacks to the lashing that old hag gave him.
Then there was the part that made Melli really sick. Snowflake's right eyeball was an angry pink color, and the entire socket surrounding it a yellowing bruise.
He felt like vomiting.
Snowflake seemed excited at Melli's presence initially, only to shrink back under his slack jawed stare.
"M-Melli! Though I'm happy you are here, you have arrived too early. P-please come back in a little while!"
The Warden felt his face flush. He quickly pulled the curtain back in place.
"I-I didn't see anything!"
"Next time ask if you can visit before coming in." Pana scolded.
Melli cursed under his breath and pouted. How was he supposed to know Snowflake was getting a bandage change?!
… okay, maybe he should have knocked, but the Medical Corps ladies freaked him out!
So he waited, trying very hard to forget what he'd just seen. Unfortunately, the image of what was under the bandages remained burned in his head. Granted, it looked a million times better then when he first rescued him from Man Eater, but he still barely looked human.
Perhaps if he tried thinking of what still looked normal, then he'd feel less bad? Melli just hadn't paid much attention when he had the chance.
What could he remember? Lots of hair on the left side of his head. One piercing silver eye that wasn't all disgusting. Just a few stitched areas on the left, nothing nearly as bad as the right. Then there was… wait, did he not have eyebrows?!
Melli had to pace a bit trying to think. Did that Luxray rip his eyebrows off?! Or maybe it scared Snowflake so badly they fell off? Nobody deserved to be eyebrowless like Ingo and Cyllene.
Maybe they'd grow back eventually like the rest of his hair seemed to be? He really hoped they'd grow back at least.
Pana stepped out from the privacy curtain, scissors and a bundle of dirty bandages in a tray.
"He's ready for visitors now. Again, please knock before entering next time."
"Yeah yeah." He definitely wouldn't forget ever again. Not after that sight.
Taking his chance he slipped behind the curtain, seeing Snowflake had his kimono on now with Caboose trying to lick his exposed section of cheek.
"Caboose, please. I just had my first cleanse in ages."
"Eeee!" The little Eevee didn't seem to care. She wanted attention and she wanted it now.
"Uh… sorry about… that." Melli mumbled. Skuntank finally waddled into the room feeling it was safe, putting his front legs on the bed wanting pats.
"It's okay," Snowflake sounded sheepish, like he was trying to gauge Melli's reaction. "J-just please knock next time… if you come back again."
"If?"
Snowflake stared at the floor, giving up on keeping Caboose from licking. He absently reached down to greet Skuntank, not making eye contact with Melli.
"I had my first bath today. It was great, but I also saw what I look like… I-I wouldn't blame you for not wishing to return." His voice got very quiet. Quieter then when Melli first heard it after he woke up in the Diamond Settlement.
It hurt to hear.
"Please. As if a few scars and stitches would deter someone as great as myself." He huffed, crossing his arms and taking a seat.
"B-but-"
"You have an adorable Eevee and myself hanging around. Neither of which care. Now, I have a great story that happened yesterday." An epic distraction that wasn't about scars and depressing subjects! Melli took a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Lord Electrode had to dispatch a mass outbreak of Rotoms invading Moonview Arena. They are so rude, and very prone to zapping. Well, you already know Voltorbs release electricity when they are excited, but Rotoms are different! They do it to be jerks!"
Snowflake didn't answer right away, wiping some moisture from his visible eye. Melli knew exactly what the tugging at his mouth meant. He was not dealing with that today!
"No more surprise hugs, crying or ripped stitches! I will walk out of here if you do it!"
"Who said anything about that?" Snowflake laughed. His voice still sounded too weak, but he kept himself in check. "You're the one that brought it up."
Caboose hopped onto Melli's lap, looking for affection Snowflake wasn't providing. Melli scratched her ear, more focused on the conversation.
"I'm watching you."
"I know…" Snowflake's face fell at the statement.
He was thinking about something, and not sharing.
"Now what?" Melli huffed.
"Well… I did want to ask you a question," Snowflake fiddled with his shirt hem, seeming hesitant.
Huh. He wasn't expecting to actually hear about it. "What's on your mind?"
"… Sometimes, at night, I see something strange outside the window. I asked the doctor if she noticed, but she acted like I was seeing things."
"Strange how?" Melli raised an eyebrow.
"It's a Pokémon, I think? From what I can make out, it has something dangling off its head, and really long arms."
That fits the description of a few Pokémon, though Melli had a particular one in mind.
"… does it walk on two legs?"
"I think so? Actually, yeah, I'm pretty sure it does…" Snowflake had to mull it over. "… It most definitely does. Oh! And it has a big hump on its back."
"It sounds like Lady Sneasler."
"Who?"
Melli's gutt tightened. He couldn't think of another Pokémon matching that description.
But why was she here?
"You know how I serve Lord Electrode? Lady Sneaseler is the Lady of the Highlands, holding the same status as my Lord. Ingo is her Warden."
"Lady Sneasler… aren't the Highlands verrry far away from here?"
"They are." Melli rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And with the, uh… current situation, I would have expected her to stay near her territory…"
What if Lady Sneasler sensed something? The last attack happened in Jubilife after all.
Or worse.
What if Ingo sent Lady Sneasler because he doubted Melli could handle Snowflake?!
How dare he!
Melli was more than capable of keeping him safe! No Noble Pokémon were remotely necessary!
He'd show that Skyfallen weirdo. He'd show everyone!
"Are you okay, Melli? You got a verrry weird look on your face-"
"I am absolutely fine!"
Snowflake paused, humming.
"… I think something is wrong."
"Well there isn't anything wrong at all! You are just being paranoid!" Melli growled. He wasn't taking this from Snowflake of all people!
The patient eventually gave up, choosing to change their conversation topic. "Can you tell me more about the Rotoms? They sound interesting."
Melli waited a moment to see if the other was trying to trick him, but Snowflake didn't mention Lady Sneasler again.
He supposed it would be fine to continue.
"Very well, but prepare yourself. This is not a story for the faint of heart. There was so much static in the air, my hair was sticking straight up in the air!"
"Please share!" Snowflake let Skuntank crawl onto the bed, using his lap as a headrest. He rubbed his neck, the skunk Pokémon sighing happily while the story continued.
Snowflake was completely enthralled, Melli having a grand time regaling the tale… and maybe adding some embellishments here and there.
A little flavor never hurts, especially when entertaining a friend.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
Panting heavy.
Legs wobbling.
Every muscle screaming in protest.
One more try. One more try.
He could get further if he tried one more time!
Grabbing at the railing, Snowflake shakily pulled himself into a crouch over the bar, having to lean heavily for support.
Caboose had stopped sparing with Zisu's Ambipom, the two watching him carefully.
Zisu had stepped out of the rehab room to speak with Cyllene, Melli was grabbing food, and none of the medical ladies were there to tell him no.
A little more effort. He needed to push himself a little harder and he'd be walking like everyone else. When he felt like he could do more they always stopped him, no matter how much he protested.
They didn't understand.
They couldn't understand.
He couldn't be stuck here any longer at everyone else's mercy.
Just one more try!
Shakily, he squared himself back up with the hand rails. Focusing on the feet that failed to listen, Snowflake inhaled deeply, still leaning heavily on the only hand he had.
One step…
Two…
… Three…
….
…. Four-
"GAHHH!" His knee completely buckled, hand slipping and nearly smacking his face on the bar.
Two swollen hands caught him before impact. Opening his eye, he realized Zisu's Ambipom was right next to him, keeping his upper body from more damage.
"…. T-thanks for that…" Snowflake let out the raspy breath he was holding, entire body trembling from the strain.
Why?
Why was this so difficult?
"Damn…" there was genuine anger behind that word. Nothing he did made a damn difference.
He put in so much time and effort.
Did everything he was told to do.
Yet, here he was.
On the floor.
Again.
Four steps. He made it four steps.
After all that strength training, he could only support himself for four steps.
"Y-you can p-put me down now." The words came out through heavy, grating pants.
He couldn't go anymore. This really felt like his final stop.
Ambipom pushed him to the wall, Snowflake letting all of his weight rest against the cold, hard surface. He was still trembling, in pain, and ready to pass out.
"Eeee!" Caboose rushed over, worriedly trying to help, but too small to do anything. She climbed onto his stomach and licked the sweat dripping down his cheek, crying for him to do something.
Pet her.
Speak to her.
Look at her.
There wasn't enough energy left to do any of it. He just stared at the ceiling, gasping for air.
There never seemed to be enough air.
He was vaguely aware of Ambipom leaving the room, though his mind was too scattered to really care. It was hard to think straight, knowing how hopeless everything seemed.
And it was all that damn Luxray's fault.
What even happened before he woke up inside that thing's jaws?
Bad breath.
Painful pressure.
Warm sticky fluid.
Cracking bones.
His bones.
He couldn't move back then, and he can't protect himself now.
"EEEEEV!" Caboose started jumping on his chest, hitting right in the bad rib.
He let out a grunt of pain, the little Pokémon hopping more now that she got a response.
It really hurt!
"C-Caboose- AGH! S-stop…"
"EEEV!"
"Caboose, no!" He shoved her off, regretting it almost immediately. She looked ready to cry.
"C-Caboose… I am so sorry…" he held his hand out for her, trembling. "I'm sorry… I'm just tired…"
The Pokémon quickly forgave, rushing up to lick his hand.
He was so lucky to have a compassionate Pokémon like her.
"The chair is more comfortable then the floor," Zisu's voice made him jump. He hadn't realized the woman and Ambipom returned already. "You doing okay? Looks like you strained yourself."
"I-I am fine." His voice was still hoarse, throat dry.
Water would be great right about now.
Zisu crouched down, arms resting on her knees.
"Huh, it's really not so bad down here. Much cooler than upstairs."
"Is it? I wouldn't know." Snowflake's attempt at humor wasn't fooling her. She gave him a stern glare.
"You know you shouldn't push yourself so hard. You've only been at this a few weeks."
"And I still can't walk…"
"The doctor said two to four months before you can walk normally."
"I could only walk four steps."
"That's great!" Zisu smiled wide, though it did little to quell his anxiety.
Her excitement fell when it wasn't returned. "Something else is bothering you? It's not just learning to walk, is it?"
Nothing slipped past this woman, though he supposed that's why she was in charge of the Security Corps.
"… Caboose is a quick learner," Snowflake mumbled. "She's nearly mastered every move she can use indoors. Soon she'll need to go outside to a proper training area, and right now, I can't take her there."
"I could bring you outside. You don't have to be stuck in here all the time," Zisu offered. "I'm sure Passelle would agree some sunlight would do you good."
Snowflake shook his head.
"I want to be able to do more than sit and crawl by the time I leave here…" he didn't want to be an easy target when he finally left this building.
He felt too vulnerable.
Too scary to look at.
Zisu sighed, rolling out the kinks in her neck. "Well then. The only thing you can really do is keep working as you've been doing. Just don't overdo it again to this point, alright?"
"Yeah… I'll keep working."
Zisu waited, but Snowflake had nothing left to say.
"Welp, I'd say we've done enough for one day. It looks like you could use a rest."
"I'm okay to keep-" his protest went ignored. Zisu scooped him up bridal style, Snowflake letting out a yelp at the unexpected motion.
It was no effort at all for her.
"Hey, you've gotten heavier since last time! I'd say you're putting on some muscle!" She carried him to his wheelchair, gently setting him down.
"I'm guessing another week and you'll be on crutches. Just don't overdo it again and you'll make steady progress. Maybe your arm will be healed up by then too!"
Snowflake knew it would still be a while before he could do much with his arm, if he ever could. He was able to twitch a few of his fingers, and sensation had been… inconsistent. Some sections of his arm and hand maintained feeling, while other parts were still numb.
It worried him as much as his eye did.
Caboose hopped onto his lap, flicking her tail and looking up to him expectantly. She rubbed up to his good arm when he didn't pet her, crying for affection that he wasn't giving.
He felt bad, but also couldn't bring himself to move.
Watching her try so hard. How she grew and improved while he was barely making progress.
It was eating him up inside.
Zisu had started pushing him back to the medical bay, Snowflake unable to handle the guilt anymore.
He had to ask.
"Am I holding her back?"
"Holding who back?" Zisu leaned down to hear him better.
"Caboose… am I holding her back? I could let her train with you… but I don't want her to move on without me…" he couldn't rip his eye off Caboose, chest clenching. "Is that selfish?"
"Eeeee?" The little Eevee tilted her head in confusion.
Zisu hummed, thinking her response over carefully. "I think Caboose wants to get stronger with you. There is no need to feel guilty about that."
"I keep deploying her breaks and slowing that progress though."
"And once you're better you can do as much training as you want. For the time being, you and Caboose should take it slow, alright?" Zisu smiled kindly, but Snowflake knew there was more he could do.
He could take Zisu up on her offer to bring him to the training grounds… but that would mean exposing himself, both to that Luxray and everyone's stares.
He knew what he looked like, and it wasn't pretty.
Why did his appearance give him such a fright?
Why did other people's opinions matter so much?
Why was that Luxray still prowling the region?
Caboose jumped down when Pana took over, giving him another sad glance before rushing towards the door.
She was probably going to charm her way into snacks or something. Not that Snowflake cared too much. Water, rest and self pity were all he could really think about.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
Potato Mochi.
If Melli had to say one good thing about Jubilife Village, it would be how good the potato mochi was.
Not the over abundance of people, or the overcrowding of buildings.
Just the food.
He decided to have a sit down lunch, mainly because Arezu needed to speak with him apparently. It was odd at first, given the two generally avoided each other, but as the conversation continued her motivations became clear.
"So, this "Snowflake" fellow. Are the rumors true?"
"What rumors?" Melli swallowed a mouthful of mochi, looking at her suspiciously.
"You know, the one where Adaman wants him to join the Diamond Clan. Is it true? Is this Skyfallen actually joining?" She leaned against the table, grinning at the prospect of some gossip.
"I don't know if he's joining or not," Melli huffed. "That will be his choice when he's well enough to make it."
"But you hang out with him ALL the time! Surely you have some inside information."
"All I know is he wants to feel better before making any major decisions. Besides, you work at the shop directly across from Galaxy Hall. You should stop in and ask him yourself."
"But he doesn't know me," She pouted. "I've never been inside Galaxy Hall either."
"Then get to know him, or stop asking. You'll find out when everyone else does."
Arezu rolled her eyes. "Fine, but I want to know first, okay?"
"Whatever." Melli went back to his food. He honestly didn't know if Snowflake would want to join the Diamond Clan or not, but he certainly hoped so.
He'd hate to come to the village of crazies every time he wanted to talk with Snowflake.
A little brown ball of fluff caught his attention. Peering around Arezu, he noticed Caboose rushing towards a particular stand. It was the woman that sold all those evolution stones and whatever other items.
The extremely expensive items.
Melli had no clue what Caboose was doing, until she started working her charms on the shop owner. She cried and Baby Doll Eyed the woman at every angle possible, rubbing against her leg and making cute sounds.
She only got a smile and pat for her efforts.
Was she trying to find more gifts for Snowflake? If that was the case, she was going to the wrong person about it. Everything in that shop costs an arm and a leg. No amount of cute would get that woman to give handouts.
The shop owner eventually got distracted by another customer, Melli returning to his potato mochi while watching. Caboose went behind the lady while she was talking, attention falling to a rather tall basket. She was scratching at the thing.
Why would she-
"CABOOSE NO!" Melli clumsily leapt out of his chair and started running, right as the little Pokémon knocked the basket over, evolution stones falling everywhere.
The world seemed to move in slow motion, Caboose rushing back while the large stones flew all over the place, landing heavily on the ground. Arezu was standing too, the shop owner finally seeing what was happening and tried to grab her, but Caboose was too fast.
She rushed towards a thunder stone.
he wasn't going to make it!
A blur of yellow, and the familiar smoke accompanied by a Pokémon changing shape.
When the dust cleared, a little Eevee sat recovering from getting shoved, while an orange Raichu stood over the little Pokemon looking angry.
The shop owner screamed, Melli managing to scoop Caboose off the ground right as she got her mouth around a sun stone. She had tried carrying it towards Galaxy Hall for some reason, though Melli had no clue why.
"CABOOSE! WHAT ARE YOU- OW! STOP THAT!" Melli lightly shook the little Pokémon when it bit him, getting her to snap back to attention. The shop owner rushed to pick up her fallen items, and Rei ran down from the training grounds to check up on his former Pikachu.
"Pikachu! Are you alright?!"
"Rai?" Raichu huffed.
"Sorry… I'm gonna have to get used to the change, I guess." Rei sounded sad, but Melli was just stunned.
Rei sent his Pikachu to help Melli.
Rei HATED Melli!
"You helped?"
"Of course I did," Rei said as if it was obvious. "As soon as I heard you scream, I just… reacted? No, that's not what I meant," Rei leaned down and gave his Raichu a scratch behind the ear. "I mean, it must have been important if you were that desperate."
"Well, Snowflake could never afford the evolution stone, for one."
The shop owner cleared her throat. Both men turned, seeing she was watching Rei expecting payment.
The teen checked his wallet, giving Melli a nervous smile. "I don't suppose you can loan me 800 for the stone? I don't have quite enough."
Damn, this whole thing was going to leave him homeless. At least he was good at foraging.
"Just take it, but don't expect anything else. Being a Warden doesn't really pay," He handed over the money, attention turning to the Eevee in his grasp. "And as for you, we need to have a serious talk with your human."
Caboose tensed at hearing Melli's tone, realizing how much trouble she was in. She wiggled and kicked in her struggle to escape, but the Warden wasn't letting go.
"Please. You think I can't handle a ten pound Eevee? I've wrangled far worse than you."
"Eeee!" The little Pokémon tried one more Baby Doll Eyes, but Melli was already cold to it.
"Don't be too harsh on her~" Arezu decided to join them, along with Skuntank.
"You're being tricked by her charms. She is not as innocent as she seems!"
"Eeeee?" Caboose tilted her head as if she had no clue what was happening.
A ruse Arezu fell for easily.
"Stop treating her like a criminal! She's too cute to be punished, isn't that right?" Arezu couldn't stop smiling at the little Eevee, though Melli's patience was spent at this point.
"Skuntank. We are going." He turned towards Galaxy Hall and marched off before Arezu could protest more. She had no part in any of this, so she should mind her own business!
Nobody even tried stopping him, even Cyllene choosing to take a few steps back when they passed each other in the hallway. Zisu was on her way out of the infirmary, stopping when she saw what Melli brought in.
"Did something happen?"
"Something is about to happen." Melli stormed by without a second glance.
Snowflake was in bed, eye closed but not sleeping. He opened it as soon as he heard Caboose's distressed cry.
"Caboose?" He sat up, frowning at the way Melli was carrying her. "Melli? Did something happen?"
"Your Eevee has moved from charming for gifts to shoplifting," He dropped her in Snowflake's lap, crossing his arms letting his annoyance be known. "When begging at the evolution stone shop didn't work, she knocked over a basket and tried evolving with a stone, to which Rei's Pikachu came to the rescue. He didn't want to evolve his Pikachu to begin with, by the way."
"Caboose? Why would you do such a thing?"
Her ears flopped down at the question, presenting her belly like she was begging for mercy.
"That's not all! When evolving didn't work, she tried to steal a different stone and bring it here! Do you know how expensive those are? They are extremely rare and she just tried to steal it!"
Snowflake looked Caboose over. "You should never steal, Caboose. That was very bad. If you wanted to bring a rock inside, there are plenty of free ones on the ground."
"Eeeee! Eeeev!" Caboose shook her head and circled a few times.
"… Were you really trying to evolve? This is really about getting stronger?" His frown deepened. "D-do you want to move on that badly? I can ask Zisu to train you, if that's what you want."
Caboose shook her head again. Her responses weren't making sense.
"I think she wants to try evolving you." Zisu laughed. Melli turned around seeing the tall redhead in the doorframe.
"Evolve me?" Snowflake blinked.
"She was with us during our talk earlier. You were worried about recovery taking so long, remember? That's the logic I would follow if I were a Pokémon." Zisu shrugged.
"…. Were you trying to evolve me?" Snowflake asked. Eevee's shimmy and cry seemed to confirm Zisu's suspicions.
Melli watched carefully, unsure how to approach this himself. He had no clue that's what Caboose was trying to do, and it was honestly adorable, in a sad way.
"Caboose." Snowflake kept his voice gentle. "I am glad that you want to help me get better, but humans don't evolve, and we don't have the same healing factor you Pokemon do. We take a lot longer to recover from these things."
"Eev!" Caboose cried. She was not happy.
"I know it's frustrating. Believe me, I understand," The man subconsciously squeezed his leg. "But that doesn't mean you should resort to stealing. I would rather make progress the right way, even if it does take longer. Do you understand?"
"Eee?"
"Sorry, I'm not really good with this type of thing." Snowflake chuckled. Melli would have to disagree, given that was the most well thought out and articulate thing he'd ever heard from this guy.
Maybe it was just people he struggled talking to?
"I propose we travel this track for two together. I don't want to leave you behind, and I hope you don't want the same."
"Eeeee!" Caboose cried in agreement. Eyes sparkling, she rubbed against her human's stomach happily.
"I think you both understand each other now." Zisu snickered.
"I think you are right," Snowflake let out a long breath, giving her a nice scratch on the chin. "I'm glad we have come to an agree- Caboose?!"
The little Pokémon glowed, body whipping up in a whirlwind of smoke as her form morphed into something new.
"Caboose is evolving!" Melli stepped back, Snowflake just staring at the spectacle on his lap with a mix of panic and awe. Zisu even joined, watching the evolution intently.
When the smoke vanished, a white and pink form stood strong, four long ribbons fluttering from bows on her ear and neck. She was taller, with giant blue eyes to accompany her permanent smile.
"Caboose… you…" Snowflake's mouth was agape, eye wide. "You're… adorable!"
"Breeeee!" The now Sylveon jumped in the air, so light and graceful she practically floated back down.
"Well, isn't that interesting. Congratulations, Snowflake!" Zisu gave him a pat on the back.
Melli just watched in horror.
Sylveon.
Not an Umbreon or Espeon, but a Sylveon.
It HAD to become a Sylveon.
He knew all about them. Carnivorous creatures that used charm to lure in their prey.
And the fleshy tentacle ribbon things.
They were just creepy.
"Melli look! She has flesh bows now!" Snowflake was beside himself with joy. Caboose wrapped said ribbon feelers around her human's arm, chirping happily. "They are adorably terrifying!"
Snowflake was struggling not to split his stitches from smiling again.
The Warden really didn't want to ruin it for him.
"Yes… I see that." Melli smiled tightly, his friend too ecstatic to notice his discomfort.
"Hmmmm… since you're a Sylveon now, we can start coming up with a moveset and strategy to beat Ingo and his Gliscor," Snowflake scratched his chin. "I don't remember all the moves a Sylveon can learn… Magic Leaf… Wish… MoonBlast?"
"Woah there. Sylveon can only learn one of those moves, and Wish isn't an actual attack." Zisu added.
"Hmmmm… I think you are wrong." Snowflake grinned.
"Says the amnesiac," She elbowed him jokingly. "How about you find me when it becomes clear you'll need some advice."
"And you shall be begging for forgiveness once I prove you wrong." His small grin never vanished. He sounded so pleasant, but Melli could pick up on something else…
Was that a challenge? Was this an actual bet between those two?
"Breeeee!" Caboose wrapped her creepy ribbon around Melli's hand, looking at him with those Baby Doll Eyes she spent so long mastering.
The eyes he never fell for.
Melli would need a long adjustment period getting used to this thing.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
So through research I learned, where someone is relearning to walk, it can take 3 to 5 weeks for every week of bedrest. It never occurred to me how long the physical therapy process is, but I wanna keep it semi realistic, so he's doing his best!
Also, CABOOSE HAS EVOLVED! Some people likely weren't expecting a Sylveon, but I have a lot of things I'd like to do with Caboose, the little attention whore Sylveon. I can think of a lot more ways a Sylveon will benefit Snowflake's recovery too, and many more cute moments. Though if Sylveon didn't exist, Jolteon would have been my pick.
Also, we'll be checking back with Ingo next chapter! He's been off doing his job (for once XP)