January 17, 2020 - Pecha Town Countryside

Raymond's Perspective

While everyone else was cowering inside their homes during the storm, I was outside and enjoying the rain to its fullest.

If I was any other pokemon, this would be seen as weird, but snivys and other grass types do this for almost every storm that comes.

I felt energetic as my body absorbed the raindrops, I extended my leaf-shaped arms and let myself get bombarded by the rain.

I stood there for several minutes, listening to the thunder and the rain colliding with the ground, I looked around and saw some other grass types strolling in the distance.

" oh hi there Ray! " I looked over and saw Evie covered in a large yellow Rain jacket.

" hey " I smiled.

" How do you even enjoy just standing out here, It's wet as hell! "

I chucked, " I am part plant right? "

Evie contemplated that for a few seconds, " yeah that makes sense "

We listened to the rain and thunder for a while, " Where's Jojo? We all promised to go out adventuring "

" I don't know, maybe he's too scared to get his fur wet " we both chuckled and went over to Lucario's house.

We reached Lucario's giant house and rang the doorbell, we heard some footsteps inside and the door swung open.

" hello the- AH " Jojo immediately got drenched by the rain, " aw, I just got my hair done "

Evie laughed, " now you know what I feel like ".

Jojo sighed, " I'll go look for a rain coat ", he invited us in and closed the door.

Warmth enveloped my body as soon as I walked in, It almost felt as good as the rain.

" I think I saw a wardrobe in Lucario's room, wait here ", me and Evie waited in the living room.

" found it! " Jojo said in another room, he walked into the living room where we were.

The raincoat was a dark green that contrasted with Evies bright yellow, the torso bit was shaped like an upside-down triangle, and the hood extended over his pointy bangs.

" how do i look? " he gave a smug smile at us.

Evie nodded, " hot… er I mean, cool "

I chuckled, Jojo readjusted his hood, " lets go "

Jojo's perspective

Evie said it was too dangerous to go into mystery dungeons in this weather, so I suggested we take a trip downtown.

" downtown? I don't know... my parents always told me those areas are a total mess " Raymond was apprehensive about going there.

" I never actually went there before, I always find enough places to explore back in the countryside ".Evie on the other hand, was interested in what it felt like walking around there.

Raymond reluctantly went with us to see the city.

It was a half an hour walk to get there, but it was all worth it, the skyscrapers extending almost above the clouds, the sound of people angrily honking their cars at each other, and the smell of fancy restaurants lining the streets.

Me and Evie were subconsciously wagging our tails at the sight of everything here, Raymond just stood there, jaw agape.

I ran forward and peered through the windows of one of the fancy restaurants. There were pokemon of varying forms sitting and enjoying their food while wearing suits that were probably worth more than a kidney.

My mouth started watering, before Ray pulled me back and whispered into my ear, " don't even think about going in there, I heard that high-ranking 'team syndicate' guys go eat in these places "

My ears perked up, " team syndicate… who are those? ".

Evie frowned at the mention of them, " they're this underground mafia that pretty much owns the city, I'm not even sure we're safe talking about it right now ".

" hmm… sounds shady, lets just keep walking then ", they both looked at me with serious expressions,

We continued walking down the rainy streets until we came across a dimly lit cafe.

Raymond looked up at the neon sign, " I could go for a drink, what about you guys? "

I gave a soft grunt and went in.

It was a pretty messy place, the floor was made out of wood panels, while the walls were a faded white.

The patrons gave discreet glances at us, Me and Evie hung our raincoats on the coat hanger on our left and we all sat on the bar-stools at the wooden counter.

A brown and white bird man carrying a giant leek came up on the opposite side of the table, he had three menus in his hand.

" what can I get you kids? " he gave us the paper pamphlets.

I looked in it and saw something of interest, " I'll just have some soda " I pulled out a small pouch of coins and rummaged in it.

The bird man raised his palm up, " no need for that, it's on the house ".

I perked up, " why? We just came in here ".

Evie and Ray gave confused " hmm? "s at the bird person.

" I'm Charles, I'm friends with Lucario "

I gave a faint smile, " how long did you know her? "

Evie raised her head in interest, while Raymond just read the menu.

" We met way back in… 1990, we were both still in elementary, you should've seen her when she had glasses ", he snickered.

I imagined a small Riolu with glasses on, that cracked me up.

Evie looked back into the menu and back at Charles, " I'll have... a glass of pecha berry juice ".

Ray finally looked up from the pamphlet, " can I get some chocolate milk? ".

Charles went to the back, " comin right up! ".

We stayed at the cafe and chatted with Charles for a while, I have to admit, he was a pleasant guy.

Evie's Perspective

While we were talking, the pokemon in the cafe discreetly and hastily exited, they seemed pretty nervous.

I sat there, drinking my juice, when suddenly the door opened, revealing a Ursaring in a fancy suit, he walked over to the counter.

Charles whimpered, " I-I-I'll get the money tomorrow I promise! ".

The suited Ursaring responded in a deep voice, " hmm, I could've sworn you said that yesterday, and the week before… you do know the syndicate doesn't like it when deadlines are passed ".

Charles stumbled back, " c-come on man... I-I barely have enough money to keep this place afloat, s-surely the syndicate folk can spare another w-week? "

Me and Ray stayed quiet, meanwhile Jojo was gritting his teeth in anger, oh no…

The bear person started coughing heavily, " I should've stopped asking you nicely for a long time now " he pulled out a cigar and reached into his back pocket .

" If you're looking for your lighter then you're not going to find them in either of your pant pockets, you should check your breast pocket instead ", Jojo got up from the bar stool.

The ursaring put his hand out of his back pocket and reached into his breast pocket, he gasped as he pulled out a lighter!

" next you'll say!: How did you know where my lighter was kid! ". Jojo pointed at the bear man.

" how did you know where my lighter was kid!, HUH!? " the ursaring jumped back in surprise.

Jojo smirked, " I can also tell that you're also hiding a pistol underneath your suit, specifically the right side of it ".

The ursaring stepped back and checked underneath the right side of his suit, there was a gun there, just as Jojo predicted!

The ursarings eyes widened.

" you will then say… you wanna see what a big city tussle is like you rascal, then step right up! "

The bear clenched his fists, " you wanna see what a big city tussle is like you rascal, then step right up… WHA- "

I gulped, " Jojo control yourself please! "

" for my final glimpse into the future... you will step forward and try to jab me... with your left arm ".

The ursaring jumped forward and swung his left fist forward, Jojo quickly stepped out of the way.

The bear gasped realizing that Jojo predicted his attack.

" you left yourself completely vulnerable! 「zoom punch!」"Jojo's right arm started glowing with hamon, it then extended far beyond its limits, coming right over to knock the ursarings teeth out!

The bear man flew backwards and collided with the back of the cafe's wall, he groaned as he rubbed his bleeding face.

He looked up to see Jojo holding the gun that he was carrying under his suit, he examined the pistol for a few seconds before snapping it in half!

He tossed the two halves of the pistol to the ursaring.

" tell your fellow mafia-men to never enter this establishment again, unless you want another beat down " Jojo clenched his fists.

He pointed to the door, the ursaring got up and limped outside.

Raymond's Perspective

I now have two ways to describe Jojo, first way is that he's badass, second way is that he is absolutely insane!

Charles was standing in absolute disbelief at what happened, before relaxing and leaning against the counter, " thanks, now it won't be me the syndicate will be after anymore ".

Jojo looked over at Charles, " what do you mean? ".

" I mean, they're after you now, not me… the least I can do is compensate you for the trouble you kids are going to get into ".

Me and Evie gave the most disapproving looks at Jojo, " this is what we warned you about Jojo, now we got an entire mafia on our trail! " Evie growled.

Jojo gave a nervous chuckle, " don't worry Evie, he's probably just going to get made fun of for getting beat up by a 14 year-old ".

Charles sighed, " well now that they're not going to bother me anymore, I can finally spend money on important things ".

He stared at a puddle of Arceus-knows-what, " like a janitor ".

Later…

Jojo's Perspective

We said goodbye to Charles and went on our way, it was really nice of him to give us free drinks whenever we came in.

It was still raining hard, " maybe we should get an umbrella… " I shuddered as the rain pounded on my raincoat.

' ah come on Jojo, a little rain never hurt anyone " Raymond turned his face towards the sky.

" you're only saying that because you're a plant " Evie wiped her forehead.

Raymond said nothing and we continued walking.

BANG! BANG!

Gunshots! We all turned to where it was.

Raymond yelped, " we gotta get out of here! ".

I ran towards the source of the sound, Evie and Ray went after me, " Jojo come back! ".

I ignored them and ran faster, the black tendrils on my head started levitating, suddenly I could... 'feel' other people around me, I felt someone injured at the source of the sound, they seemed familiar.

I finally got to the person… wait… is that?

My friends caught up to me, Evie gasped, Raymond looked away in terror.

" L-L-Lu-Lucario?… "

Chapter 7 End