"It was good seeing you again, Ram! Visit is again, will you?"
"Good luck and fortune to you, young one."
Jackson said nothing as he watched his parnets hug the small Riolu and wish him farewell. To be honest, Jackson was kind of jealous. His parents never gave him that kind of treatment. Maybe it was because Ramses was brainwashing his parents!!! Or he was just cuter and more of a charmer than Jackson . . . . . naah, he was totally brainwashing them.Jackson escorted Ram home in silence, although the younger kept looking at him like he was about to say something, but didn't say a word. As they got to the doors of Ram's house, he noticed how small it was. It looked only big enough to fit 2 grown Lucario, with only a small family den and a petite den room. Out of of pure curiosity, Jackson asked,
"Hey Ram, who do you live with?"
"Oh! Uh, just me, my mom, and my 17 other brothers and sisters."
Jackson nearly jumped out of his fur.
"17 siblings?!?!"
Ramses scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
"Yep. I was born last. The youngest."
"And you live there?!"
"Yyyyyep. My mom can't afford anything bigger. And she's never really around. She's either working with the healer or hanging around with some dude that I'll probably have to call dad. And your parents are only nice to me since they know my...situation."
Jackson's ears drooped. He felt an ache in his chest. And he felt something else. Something he couldn't feel within himself, but sort of in the atmosphere.
"Wow...I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't. Why would a legend like you notice a disabled runt like me."
"You're not disabled. You seem fine."
Ram looked down and kicked at a rock.
"Well, I'm not. Unbeknownst to everyone— including my family —I cannot use moves. And I haven't learned a new move since I was 5 months old..."
"You can't? Why's that?"
Ram balled his fists and shook his head.
"N-Nevermind. I shouldn't've told you. You probably think I'm a worthless runt..."
"No— I don't think that. Ramses, why can't you—"
"It's nothing. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Jackson..."
Ram climbed in through the window of the den, followed by several growls and groans.
"S-Sorry!"
Ram whispered. Jackson frown.
"Ram..."
He mumbled to him.
"...if you ever need help...just call me. I am a village protector, after all."
The little Riolu peeked his hesd through the window, his eyes wide with happiness. He whispered back,
"Really?!?! Coooooool!!!!"
"Shh!!"
"S-S-Sorry! Bye, Jack!"
"Bye Ram— and don't call me Jack!"
Jackson waved before heading back home for another dreamless night's sleep.
~~~Meanwhile~~~
Black and red zipped through the shadows of the trees, slipping past sleeping Pokémon and brambles that covered the undergrowth. The trickster passed through a barrier and was greeted by guards. They quickly reconized the intruder and let her pass. The shadowy form slipped into a makeshift den, and was greeted with glowing blue eyes.
"Zakku! Where have you been!? We lost another to the Mankey Clan today. We needed you there!"
"My apologizes, Mother. I've just been out committing petty larceny. I brought gifts!"
The trickster combed her claws through her thick and unruly mane, small trinkets, assorted berries, and items falling out. Mother gasped.
"Ahh, wonderful! You have done well, Zakkuro. But *where* did you get all of this?"
"From the village clan of Lucario by the Lake. As you can see they are doing surprisingly well despite their many run-ins with the Mankey Clan."
Mother growled lowly.
"I do not know how they do it. How they do so much better than us!"
" I like to believe it is because of their typing...and the fact that they stay in one place. And they have an army of ready warriors patrolling—"
"I KNOW!!!! And it infuriates me. They are laughing in our faces. They have all that territory in the forest. And we are forced to move camp every month or so. It's a sick cycle. It must end."
"Agreed."
"Zakku, I want you to return to that village. Sneak around, gain information, and bring back more delicious gifts!"_
"I would have done it without your permission anyway, Mother~"
"Wonderful. You will leave at noon."
"Yes, Mother."
Oooh, a new character appears!That's all for now, see you again soon. Much love and appreciation, peace.