A Love -Hate Relationship

15

Mushroom Madness!

A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC

"That was MAD!" Hop huffed after dropping himself onto the mat, "I swear I'm sore all over..." he groaned.

"Well...you know what they say." said Anani as she finished drying up her hair, "No pain no gain."

"Indeed." Hop grinned, "I think I can feel myself getting stronger already~!"

Guuurrrrrggglllrrrooowwwll~~~

"...Or perhaps I only feel myself getting hungry..." Hop chuckled awkwardly.

"Not surprising." said Anani,"I don't think we've really eaten a thing all day!"

"Come to think of it..." said Hop as he slowly sat up and gazed at the sky through the Dojo windows, "It looks to be about High Noon or so." he said, "Well around lunch time."

"Ahhh Lunch time!" said Master Mustard as he stepped into the room as well, "Very good yes!" he stated, "I think we could all go for a spot of lunch!"

"Works for me!" Hop beamed, "What's on the menu, master!?"

"Hmmm...that's a mighty fine question, young Hop." Master Mustard pondered a moment until finally having a Eureka moment, "I got it!" he stated, "I could really go for a big old bowl of Max Soup!"

"Max Soup!?" Anani and Hop blinked as they exchanged glances with each other.

"I was thinking some kind of curry." said Hop, "What's Max Soup?"

"Ahh...well surely as Gym Challengers...you are aware of the ability unique to our lovely Galar region known as Dynamaxing, yes?" asked Mustard.

"Aye, but of course!" said Hop.

"Well...Max Soup has a very special quality to it." said Mustard, "It makes nothing more than a good meal when a human eats it, but if Poke'mon eat it..." he stated, "It can give them the ability to Giagantimax!"

"Gigantimax!?" said Anani.

"You mean...our Poke'mon would get even BIGGER?" asked Hop.

"Indeed!" Mustard nodded, "More fierce in battle too."

"Wicked!" Hop beamed, "I've gotta get me and my team some of that Max Soup!"

"Alas...but I'm afraid there's just one problem with that..." said Mustard, "In order to make Max Soup we need to have Max Mushrooms...which I'm afraid we're a bit short." he grinned, "And so brings us to your next trial..."

XXXXX

"MUSHROOM GATHERING!?"

The fellow students were all shocked to hear such a chore to be labeled as a trial.

"That's right!" said Mustard, "Not just any Mushrooms though...these are Max Mushrooms, the secret ingredient for Max Soup!" he said, "the first team to bring some back will have an opportunity to obtain this Dojo's secret Armor~"

"Armor!?" Klara and Avery gasped.

"The secret armor of the Dojo, I can't believe it!" said Klara.

"Whatever happens, we certainly can't let those two children BEAT us this time!" said Avery.'

"Agreed!" said Klara, "This time...we crush them!"

XXXXX

The trees of the Forest of Focus were high above head. Despite being such a small area, they seemed easy to get lost in. Anani couldn't keep herself from looking up as they moved. They shifted above her hypnotically.

This place...reminds me of the Slumbering Weald...

She thought to herself, and clutched her trembling hand a bit tighter to Hop's clothes. The place itself seemed calm enough, but somehow that made her feel uneasy.

"You all right, Anani?" Hop asked, sensing her uneasiness through her grip.

"Uhh...yeah..."She said softly, "I just get weird around forests I guess..." she stated.

"Understandable." said Hop, "After all it was a Forest in which I found you in...unconscious and beat up so I imagine you would feel a bit uneasy in a place like this..." he stated, "But I figure, since it is mushrooms we're looking for, what better place to look than in a forest?"

"True..."Anani muttered, "Hey, isn't that a mushroom there?"

"Eh?" Hop blinked curiously as he looked to where she was pointing. Indeed there were some decent sized mushrooms, but something seemed odd about them. "Hmmm..." Hop pondered.

"Max Mushrooms are a very pecuilar look to them." Said Mustard, "They are massive and red, with a swirl on top of them..."

Hop shook his head as he pondered through the description a few times.

"I don't think those are the kind we need to find." he said softly, "Come on, let's keep looking."

But Anani was locked on these. They were just so strange.

"Maybe they aren't Max Mushrooms..." she stated, "But they still seem out of place don't they?" she questioned as she began to approach them, "They kind of remind me of Poke'balls..."

"What's that?" Hop blinked,"Poke'balls?"

"Ah...I think they're moving..."

"Anani-" Hop gasped as he soon realize exactly what these "mushrooms" were,"Anani wait-THOSE AREN'T MUSHROOMS!" he turned quickly to try and catch her.

"Say what?" Anani blinked.

But it was too late.

"Amooongus~!"

"Huh!?" She gasped and quickly tried to pull back when a wild Amoongus sprouted its head up and released a noxious poison powder.

"Anani!" Hop cried and quickly tackled her into the ground. They rolled together into the cool rushing stream of water that passed through the forest. It wasn't that deep so they had to lay in order to submerge themselves into the cold water. He held her tight against them and made her hold her breath as he did while the Poison powder was active, and they stayed like this until it dissipated.

"GAHUUUHGH!"

They both gasped for air as they finally made surface to the air once it was breathable once again, each one choking and coughing as they stumbled their way up and out of the rushing water.

"Anani!" Hop coughed,"Anani, are you all right?"

"Y-Yeah..." she choked, "I think so..." She whimpered while she hugged herself trembling, "I'm so sorry, Hop!" she cried, I didn't realize what it was right away until it was too late!"

"Hey, hey, no tears." Hop said Gently taking her into his arms to calm her shaking, "It's all right, that's how they lure their victims." he stated, "I guarantee you aren't the only one to have fallen for an Amoongus trap." he stated, "I know I have a couple times." he said smiling awkwardly, "Their poison is mad, though." he stated, "If we would have gotten hit by that, we'd be down for the count and completely out." he sighed in relief.

She sniffled a few times and rubbed her eyes. But then something else caught her attention. It was the small weakened cry of a Poke'mon. She blinked a few times and searched for the source when she finally came across a young Zorua, trembling on the forest floor.

"Oh no!" she cried out and quickly ran to its aide.

"Oi...that's a Zorua, isn't it?" asked Hop, "I'd be careful Anani, I'm pretty sure they're known for being shifty..."

"Shifty...That's a good name for him I think." she said as she softly placed a gentle hand on its back. it seemed to have a purple tone across its face and a hard time breathing.

"Naming it before its even you, huh?" Hop chuckled, "Leave it to you, Anani..."

"Hop..." she said softly, "I think he might be hurt..."

"Say what?" Hop blinked and kneeled down for a closer inspection of the small Zorua, his hazel eyes went wide, "I think you're right!" he said, "He must have been hit by that Amoongus's Poison Powder!"

"Hand me my pack, quickly!" said Anani, "I should have a few antidotes in there!"

"Roger!"

They acted quickly. Hop tossed her an Antidote to spray into the wounds the small critter had and then she carefully fed it a Pecha berry, which it ate carefully, but in turn seemed to stabilize itself into a restful breathing.

"Poor thing..." said Anani. She then began emptying her pack and rearranging some things around to make it into a carrier for her to lay the resting Poke'mon.

"Anani, what are you doing?" asked Hop.

"We can't just leave the poor creature like this..." she said softly, "I'm bringing it with us." she blinked, "It can rest in here until it feels well enough to go back home." she said softly.

Hop looked upon the girl in absolute astonishment. Simply amazed at her quick reaction and quick thinking. He was impressed to say the least.

"...Very well then." he said with a gentle chuckle, "You truly are a kind soul." he smiled as he tucked the Poke'mon carefully away into her pack and fastened it snugly, "We'll move carefully then." he said softly.

She gave a nod and carried the bag securely against her, checking on the sleeping Poke'mon on occasion while their search continued.

To Be Continued