Chapter Four
Since the battle had come and passed, several hours had gone by. In those several hours, Dixie and Jaxx had both been scolded by Nurse Joy for engaging in a Pokémon battle right outside the center. Dixie had come to apologizing for what she and Jaxx had gotten into and then explaining to Nurse Joy what it was that had gone on and why the battle had taken place. After the scolding and Dixie declining Nurse Joy's offer to take in Zalaras for minor wounds, the duo were soon being led to Jakkaru's house once more.
It took a moment for Dixie and Jaxx both to adjust to seeing Jakkaru's house when they had reached the gates that led to the entrance. The house, itself, was huge. It had two floors and Dixie even caught sight of a relatively large pond in their backyard when she and Jaxx were being walked to the front door of Jakkaru's house.
As the Jakkaru opened the door to her home, a pleasant aroma wafted through the air and hit all three of the kids' noses. The smell was alluring and immediately drew both Dixie and Jaxx in the house. Jakkaru couldn't help but to smile slightly in amusement to their reactions to her mother's cooking.
"So... this is were I live. Be sure to make yourself at home!" Jakkaru happily said, stepping in through the door and taking off her shoes. She motioned for the other two to do the same, and they did. Jakkaru stepped into a living room looking area and then spread her arms out to show off the decently sized room. However, she motioned more to the maroon coloured, leather couches and then waved the two over. After she had, Jakkaru walked out of the room and towards the area that was presumably the kitchen.
Both Jaxx and Dixie hesitantly made their way over to the couch and took a seat on it. Jaxx furthered himself from Dixie and the golden lizard and took to leaning against the arm of the couch. His black hair shagged over his eyes for a moment before he shook them out of his face and then turned his attention to Dixie. She was cradling Zalaras as he slept, a small smile on her face as she cooed to him.
Jaxx gave an inaudible sigh as he watched Dixie with her Charmander and then subconsciously fingered the PokéBalls that were attached to the chain that dangled on his left side. Noticing this, the dark-haired male took three of the occupied PokéBalls from it and released each Pokémon that were contained within. Now before him, a Spearow, a Squirtle and a rather dazed Growlithe stood.
Dixie had averted her gaze for a moment and then saw that Fang the Growlithe had jumped up onto the leather seating of the couch and snuggled up against Jaxx. A smile grew onto the boy's mouth as Dixie watched him and his Pokémon together. He seemed so different when interacting with Pokémon as he did with people in general. Dixie had tilted her head a little as she watched Jaxx's Squirtle also come over and reach up, hoping to get pulled into its trainer's lap.
Succumbing to the Squirtle's wants, Jaxx had leaned over and picked the Squirtle up, placing it next to him. The little turtle Pokémon seemed pleased by this and like the Growlithe, curled up against Jaxx. The boy's Spearow, on the other hand, had taken to a potted plant that stood next to the couch on Jaxx's end and was fluffing his feathers. As it did, it eyed both Jaxx and Dixie rather cautiously and then gave a slight series of chirps that resembled a cackle when it saw Zalaras' rather poor condition.
"Slooooooow pooooooke..."
Turning their heads in the direction of the sound, Dixie, Jaxx and their Pokémon came to be looking at a Slowpoke that had meandered into the room. It gave them all a rather dumb look and then proceeded to yawn before walking ahead a couple more feet. It completely ignored the fact that both of the preteens were watching him with piqued interests. Dixie more so than Jaxx, as she had pulled her PokéDex from her messenger bag and aimed it for the Slowpoke.
'Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokémon. No one can tell when a Slowpoke is thinking, if it ever does think. Its specialty is fishing with its tail.'
"Huh..." Dixie was looking at the image that Dexter had provided and then looked up at the Slowpoke that was slowly making its way into another room. As Dixie compared the image that was on the screen that was on her PokéDex, she noticed that the one she was seeing right in front of her was more of a light peach colour as opposed to the pink colour that Dexter was showing that they normally were.
"Never seen one like that back at the zoo in Fuchsia..." Jaxx commented, raising a hand to pat Fang on the head affectionately. He had shrugged off the sight of the Slowpoke as if it were no big deal... the same as he had when he laid eyes upon Zalaras and his different colouration at Professor Oak's laboratory.
"... What's it like in Fuchsia?" Dixie asked him, now no longer focusing on the Slowpoke, but now looking to Jaxx and putting her Dex away. Zalaras had stirred in his sleep as his trainer had moved, however, as she sat back and placed a hand on top of him, he seemed to come to be more at peace.
"It's nothing all that special..." Jaxx started with a shrug, not looking to the dark-haired girl. "It's like any other city. It's got a gym, it's got a Pokémon Center, a mart.... Like I said... nothing special."
"B-but... there's the Safari Zone there!" exclaimed Dixie, edging a little closer to Jaxx with a grin. "I mean... there's so many different and exotic Pokémon living there! Doduo, Nidorino, Nidorina, Chansey, Tangela, Kangaskahn, Scyther, Pinsir, Tauro--"
"I get it, Dixie... and there's no point in listing them all for me. I come from Fuchsia, remember?" Jaxx said, a little annoyed with her. "We all have our views, alright? I come from Fuchsia, so it's not that exciting to me...."
"... Sorry..." came a meek response from Dixie as she turned her attention back to Zalaras. She slowly started to stroke him and then remembered Scout, who was still within his PokéBall. She reached for her messenger bag once again and then pulled out the occupied PokéBall. Looking to it for a moment, she pulled a permanent marker from her bag as well and uncapped it.
Arching a brow to this, Jaxx watched as Dixie drew a fedora on the capsule.
"Any particular reason you're doing that?" Jaxx questioned, turning his attention back to Fang.
"Mhm!" Dixie held the PokéBall capsule out to Jaxx and grinned. "It's so I can tell the difference between what Pokémon is in what PokéBall!"
"Jakkaru... how many times have I told you to come home during the afternoon so that we know that you're at least alright?" an older woman's voice rang out, catching both Dixie and Jaxx's attentions. They had turned their heads to look to the other room that the voice was coming from and saw a relatively tall, brown-haired woman who's hair came to about her mid-back. She had a hand towel in her hands and was walking rather hastily out of the kitchen towards where Jaxx and Dixie were sitting.
The woman's brown eyes had caught sight of both of the preteens with their Pokémon sitting on the couch in the living room and she swiftly made her way over, a smile finding its way upon her lips. She tucked the hand towel into the pocket of the apron that she wore and then looked back to Jakkaru.
"You didn't tell me that you brought friends over, sweetie..." the brown-haired woman said to Jakkaru.
"... Yes I did, mom..." Jakkaru responded, a little flustered. She looked over to Jaxx and Dixie, a slight pleading look in her expression.
"When was this?"
"When I walked into the kitchen. I said, 'mom, I hope you don't mind, I brought a couple friends here to spend the night so that they can be on their way to Pewter City tomorrow.' ... Didn't you hear me?"
"I must've not been paying attention. I'm very sorry, sweetie." Jakkaru's mother then turned her attention to both Dixie and Jaxx, offering them a warm and welcoming smile. Extending a hand to Dixie and then Jaxx for the handshake greeting gesture, she was quick to [belatedly] welcoming them into their home.
"This is the Korekuta residence. It's pretty much a haven for both Pokémon and us. But please! Certainly make yourselves at home!" She brushed a lock of brown hair out of her face and then took a seat in one of the empty chairs that was also in the living room. "My name is Tora Korekuta... and obviously you both know my daughter, Jakkaru. Though, if you two ever spot my husband around, his name is Hinaki."
"So... what are your names, hm?" Tora looked to both Dixie and Jaxx, that warm smile still on her face.
"I'm Dixie Tucker!"
"Jaxx Meola...."
"Ah, such a pleasure to be meeting you both. I'm really glad that Jakkaru was able to bring people here this time instead of only Pokémon." Tora looked back to her daughter and gave her a wink to let her know that she was kidding around. Averting her attention from her daughter and back to the two preteens that were sitting on the couch.
"I'm also guessing that you two aren't from around here, either. Judging by your Pokémon, I'm going to say that you both have come from Pallet Town."
"Yep! Me and Jaxx are going to be on our way to Pewter City tomorrow morning!" Dixie chirped, patting Zalaras and giving a small grin in Tora's direction. Jaxx had merely turned his attention from her again and then looked to the Spearow that was perched upon the potted tree's branches.
"Pewter City, huh?" Tora questioned, her expression becoming thoughtful before a man's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Tora, dinner's starting to burn!"
"Oh my..." Tora started, hurriedly getting up from the seat and rushing over to the doorway that led to the kitchen. As she made her way over, Tora had taken to smoothing out her apron and muttering to herself, "I shouldn't really be all that forgetful, I really need to start to remember the things that I was doing."
Jakkaru made her way over to where it was that her mother was sitting and took up the seat. She gave an apologetic look to both Dixie and Jaxx as she smoothed out her shirt. Not really sure on how to bring up any kind of topic.
"I apologize for my mother, she gets distracted real easily when she's not in her study..." Jakkaru explained while looking to her left and motioning towards a door. Both Dixie and Jaxx glanced at the door and then turned their attention back to Jakkaru. She gave then a sheepish smile as soon as they looked to her and then rubbed the back of her neck, still not quite sure on what to say.
"What's with that Slowpoke?" Dixie asked, looking in the direction that she remembered the Slowpoke going in.
"You mean Mango?" Jakkaru questioned. She smiled some in acknowledgment that it was the orange-y Slowpoke that Dixie and Jaxx had seen before, "Mango is a pet that my parents found on the Orange Islands. His colour is something that my mom was looking into, but we came up that it was just from what area that they found it from. My mentor actually showed me that there were other kinds of Slowpoke, but the ones that are like your Charmander are actually much darker in colour."
"The Orange Islands? Wow... that must have been really awesome! What was it like there?" Dixie asked, hugging Zalaras to her and waking up the small lizard Pokémon. Zalaras fidgeted a bit before sitting up and looking around rather tiredly.
"Yeah! Let's talk more about that at dinner... I'm sure my mom has finished it up. Oh! And why not also let out your Sentret? I'm sure that it would like something to eat as well."
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Outside, the air was crisp and cool as Dixie had made her way into the Korekuta backyard. It was a good size for a yard as the dark-haired girl looked around and observed some of the decorations that were out there. She paused near the pond and then crouched down next to it to look inside. A smile found its way onto her lips as she looked down and saw Magikarp and Goldeen in the water.
Staying there for a few minutes, Dixie got up and then continued towards a gazebo that was a few paces away. There was a few times where she actually stopped to admire the Butterfree that fluttered around in the moonlight.
Pulling out the PokéGear that her aunt had given to her before leaving, Dixie finally had made it to the gazebo and then checked the time. She had gotten up after everyone else was tucked away in bed and had made her way to coming outside. Luckily for her, none of the Pokémon that Jakkaru or her parents had inside really made any noises as she passed by to go outside.
12:43 AM.
Putting the Gear away and then proceeding to drum her fingers against the railing of the structure that she stood in, Dixie rose her gaze to the moon. Thoughts about gym battles and some day entering the Indigo League entered her mind. They were all very exciting thoughts, there was no doubt about that. To actually compete against some of the best trainers in the region... it was something that she had looked forward to when she and Trixie had left from Saffron City together.
"There you are..."
Jumping, Dixie turned and looked around to be looking over to Jaxx. He stood in the center of the trail that led to where she was and had a hand stuffed into his pocket. She waved to him and then offered a slightly sheepish look.
"Hey Jaxx, what are you doing out?"
"I could ask you the same question. I had woken up and saw that Zalaras and your Sentret were asleep on the bed without you."
"Oh..." Dixie then gave a slight chuckle and then turned her attention back up to the moon.
"I wanted to get out since I couldn't go back to sleep...."
Jaxx made his way into the gazebo and then leaned against the railing that was opposite of her.
"Why are you checking up on me anyways?" Dixie asked, also leaning with her back up against the railing and giving him a rather playful smirk. "Ya can't tell me that you were actually worried about me."
"Tch, no.... Honestly? I'd be more worried about your Pokémon before I'd even consider being worried about you."
Dixie gave a subtle flinch at that. She liked her Pokémon a lot, yes... but the fact that Jaxx had just said that to her in all seriousness was something that felt like a slap across the face. Turning away from Jaxx, she propped her arms up on the railing and then scowled a bit, keeping quiet. She didn't voice it, but it showed in her expression... Dixie was saddened by what words that came from Jaxx's mouth. There was a hope when she had met him at Professor Oak's that they would at least be able to become rather close friends.
"Whatever... at least you're not out and about or doing something stupid, I guess I can go back up..." Jaxx said after a while, pushing himself from the railing and walking away from the gazebo. Dixie had clenched a fist, keeping herself from calling out to him as she heard his footsteps against the cobbled pathway as he made his way back to the Korekuta residence.
Hearing the door close, Dixie stayed out for just a few moments longer before slowly making her way back to the house as well.
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"Sentret sen seeeeentret!"
The small cries of Scout had made Dixie stir in bed and then finally sit up to rub at her eyes. Looking around and blinking to clear the blurriness from her eyes, the dark-haired girl made out Jaxx's figure. He looked to be getting his stuff packed away into his bag and getting his hair fixed at the same time.
Turning, he gave Dixie a look and said rather curtly, "it's about time you got up."
"What time is it?" asked a very tired Dixie as she ended her question with a small yawn. Scout had put his checkered fedora down, scampered over to her and nuzzled against her as soon as she had looked over to where he and Zalaras were.
"Almost late enough that if we don't leave within the hour, we're not getting to Pewter for another two days..."
Hearing that, Dixie had thrown the covers off and jumped out of bed. Scout was held in her arms looked a little surprised by how fast she had reacted. He fidgeted a bit before coming free from her hold and crawling up to hang onto her shoulder.
"Ahh! I need to get dressed!" Dixie exclaimed, marching up to Jaxx and pushing him. "Out, out!"
"Hey, watch it! I'm going, I'm going! Jeeze..." Jaxx replied, a little annoyed by the action that the dark-haired girl had exerted. He went outside of the room and turned to say something before getting the door shut in his face. He scowled slightly and then folded his arms over his chest, very disgruntled with what just happened. There was something that he had wanted to say to her... looked like it was going to have to wait.
Dixie, on the other hand, also sported a rather annoyed look on her face as she backed away from the door and made her way to her bulky messenger bag that was slung upon the back of a chair. She pulled out Scout and Zalaras' PokéBalls and returned them into their capsules. Zalaras gave a small fuss, but ended up going inside anyways. Dixie then pulled out her colourful array of everyday clothes from it and began to get dressed.
Thoughts about what Jaxx had said to her last night were running though her head as she got dressed. The more she thought about it, the more she actually began to grow frustrated and a little more saddened by what it was that he had said to her.
"Didn't have to sound so mean about it..." Dixie muttered to herself as she pulled on her green and purple striped gloves and then clipped on her red barrettes to pin her bangs back. She started for the door and then opened it to find Jaxx still stand outside, patiently waiting for her to be finished.
"... Didn't expect you to be waiting out here..." Dixie said truthfully. She backed up into the room as Jaxx brushed past her and went to retrieve his backpack. Looking to him and folding her arms over her chest, Dixie made her way over to her own messenger bag, picked it up and made her way out of the room without saying anything more to Jaxx.
"Hey, I have something to... say..." Jaxx started a little too late. A scowl made it's way onto his face as he watched her disappear from sight before he had even finished his sentence and then quickly hoisted his backpack up upon his shoulders. Shaking his head a bit, Jaxx walked out of the room, following after Dixie and making his way down the stairs to find Jakkaru packed up and talking with the black-haired girl.
"So you really wouldn't mind me coming along with you guys?" Jaxx heard Jakkaru asked Dixie. At that, he couldn't help but to give an irritated scoff.
"Not at all! Besides, it would be fun to have you to talk with on our journey!" came Dixie's response. Jaxx clenched his jaw as he heard what she had said and then slowly made his way over to the two girls, gave them a look and then made his way over to the front of the house. More than anything, he was just hoping that they would hurry up and get going. He waited by the front door of the house, pulling on his shoes and then looking back to the two girls once again -- this time noticing that Jakkaru was holding an incubator that housed a pale blue egg with white spots.
Tilting his head slightly, Jaxx's interest was piqued by the sight of the egg. He had never seen one of that variety before, and his eldest brother back in Fuschia was a breeder. His attention quickly shied from the two girls as they made their way over, seeming to be all smiles and laughter as they talked with one another.
"So... you two ready to be leaving?" Jaxx asked as the two girls came even closer to being to the front door.
"I am." Jakkaru replied, smiling to him and then looking to Dixie, seeing what it was that her response would be. The brunette's smile faded a bit as soon as she saw Dixie's expression, though. The black-haired girl looked to Jaxx with an upset look upon her face. Turning her attention back to Jaxx for a moment, Jakkaru noted that he averted his gaze from the both of them and started for the door.
"Jakkaru! You and your friends leaving already?" came Tora's voice. All three of the kids looked up to see both Tora and Hinaki in the kitchen passageway. Tora had a large disposable bag in her hands that looked to contain a hefty amount of food that would suffice for the three preteens before making it to Pewter City. Hinaki, on the other hand, had a soft smile on his face and ran and hand though his brown hair while making it over to his daughter and clapping a hand onto her shoulder.
"You'll actually remember to call and check-in with us once in a while this time, won't you?" Hinaki asked, looking down to Jakkaru.
"Of course, dad." Jakkaru handed her incubating egg to Dixie for a moment, walked forwards and hugged her dad and then made her way over to her mother after receiving a swift kiss on top of her head. Tora also sported a smile on her face as Jakkaru walked over to her and walked forwards a bit, herself. The mother embraced her daughter and then handed her the bag to Jakkaru.
"Stay strong and be careful... okay?"
"I will, mom."
"That's my girl..." Tora said, a hint of sadness in her voice as she stroked the back of Jakkaru's head. Before standing up straight, Jakkaru's mother had also placed a kiss on her forehead and then motioned her towards Jaxx and Dixie.
"It was very nice to be meeting you both, and I hope that you two will take care of our daughter." Tora directed at both the preteens that were still in front of the door. She smiled to the both of them and then looked up to her husband. Hinaki merely smiled back to her and then the two of them guided all three of the young trainers out of the house to see them off.
Making their way outside, Dixie and Jakkaru waved to Tora and Hinaki whilst Jaxx stuffed his hands into his pockets and continued forwards.
"All right! This is so exciting! Finally getting to travel around with friends, see new places, catch more Pokémon..." Jakkaru sighed dreamily after she had finished the sentence and then hummed happily as she took her egg back from Dixie and then walked ahead of Dixie and Jaxx.
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Hours had passed and Jakkaru's humming had died down as they had been traveling through Viridian Forest for nearly two hours now. She glanced back to both Dixie and Jaxx several times, making sure that they didn't get lost or hurt. There was one thing that the girl couldn't shrug off, though. It was the fact that Dixie still looked a little irritated and that Jaxx looked a tad more serious than he had when she had met him.
Halting in her tracks and turning to face the two, Jakkaru furrowed her brow.
"All right, you two... what's up? You guys haven't said more than one word since we left my house! Is there something gong on that I don't know about?" the brunette shifted the incubator in her arms a little irritably as she eyed the two preteens.
"Nothing you need to know."
"Don't worry about it."
The two answers were simultaneous and both Dixie and Jaxx gave each other a look shortly after they had given them. They both looked away as quickly as they had turned their attention towards one another and then Jakkaru sighed. She was curious to know what had gone one between the two, but she knew it not right to pry at something that someone didn't want to talk about. She turned and then started ahead through the forest once more, Jaxx and Dixie following after her again.
The silence ensued between the three of them was something that unnerved Jakkaru a bit. She did her best to shrug it off, but she had no such luck. It was the fact that when she had met Dixie that she seemed so full of energy and vigor. Now whatever had happened between the two of them, it seemed to have drained her of both as Jakkaru had witnessed Dixie nearly walking into a few small trees and had quickly gone over to correct her.
"So... what's bugging you, Dixie?" Jakkaru asked as she fell into step beside Dixie and watched as the younger girl kicked at a rock.
"Nothing important..." was Dixie's response as she glanced over to Jaxx and then looked up to Jakkaru. The brown-haired girl gave Dixie a questioning look, though it quickly got shrugged off as they continued forwards. Jakkaru shifted the incubator in her arms once again then turned her attention forwards, trying not to think that something bad happened between Jaxx and Dixie.
"Anyways... do you know what's going to hatch from that egg?" Dixie asked, her question not filled with the normal pep and energy that her voice usually carried. Because of that, Jakkaru frowned and then looked to the incubator in her arms before giving a response.
"Well... I don't really know." It was an honest answer.
"You see... my mentor had given it to me a few weeks back and she said I'd find out soon enough," Jakkaru gave a small, forced smile as she explained that and then had it fade when she turned her attention away from Dixie. Silence had arisen once again and Jakkaru couldn't help but feel a little odd. Since they had all met yesterday, the brunette actually had a pretty good feeling about going with them... and now it seemed that perhaps what she had been thinking was wrong.
Fifteen minutes more of walking and still not a word was uttered. That was until a Caterpie had fallen from its branch and landed on top of Jaxx's shoulder. It was the only thing that had actually sparked a laugh out of Dixie as Jaxx had jumped and brushed the Caterpie onto the ground. The caterpillar Pokémon rolled on the ground a bit before getting back up on its feet and giving a hurt look.
Folding at the sight of the Caterpie, Dixie had gone over and held a hand out to it with a smile. The Caterpie looked to her quizzically and then turned its attention to Jaxx for a moment. As it looked back to Jaxx, the male gave a slight roll of the eyes and then turned his attention away.
"You okay, Caterpie?" Dixie asked, continuing to give the Caterpie a welcoming expression.
"Still going with that 'I'll catch Pokémon by befriending them' type thing, Dixie?" Jaxx asked, folding his arms. He obviously wasn't impressed by her way of trying to get the Caterpie to come to her. However, even though he wasn't necessarily fond of Dixie and her ways, he continued to watch just to see what the outcome of this would be.
"Cut her some slack, at least she's persistent with it, it seems..." Jakkaru interjected, also watching for the outcome of Dixie's way of getting Pokémon to join her team.
"It's never going to work for her in the long run... perhaps for the Sentret and maybe this Caterpie... but what about stronger Pokémon when she comes across them?" Jaxx questioned, giving a shrug of his shoulders and furrowing his brow somewhat. Shaking his head, Jaxx turned away from both girls and the Caterpie and then gave an inaudible scoff.
"I don't see you trying to come up with any other way to catch Pokémon other than battling them!" Dixie retorted, a little flustered and not noticing that the Caterpie had crawled up along her arm. In fact, she had gotten up after it had perched itself on her shoulder and marched over to Jaxx.
He wasn't paying attention. No, instead he was looking up, a slightly surprised expression on his face as Dixie scolded him.
"You could at least be a little more sup... port... ive..." her sentence was turned from angered to questioning that faded out, and both Dixie and Jakkaru had also turned their gaze upwards to look at what it was that Jaxx had his attention focused on. Up above, a bright object was flying through the sky. It almost looked like a plane that had somehow managed to have caught fire.
"No way..." Jakkaru said, her expression that of awe.
"What is that?" asked Dixie, the Caterpie perched upon her shoulder also looking up at what the three preteens were.
"I think... that was a Moltres..." Jakkaru replied, a smile finding a way onto her face. She quickly set down the incubating egg and then turned around to look at Jaxx and Dixie, nearly hopping for joy at what it was that they all had just seen. Quickly nearing both of the dark-haired preteens, Jakkaru slung her arms around their shoulders and then pulled them close.
"Oh wow, oh wooooow! We definitely have to follow it! I have to catch it!" Jakkaru exclaimed, now bouncing on the balls of her feet and letting go of both Dixie and Jaxx. She twirled while clapping her hands together and then beamed in both of her 'companions'' direction again.
"But... how do we even know where it's going?" Dixie asked, standing up straight and finally noticing the Caterpie that seemed to be cowering at Jakkaru's reactions. Dixie held her hand up to it again and then looked back to Jakkaru.
At the question, Jakkaru immediately stopped all her motions and her shoulders slumped. She picked up the incubator and then frowned, "guess you're right.... But still! I will catch a Moltres for my very own one day! I will!"
"And I'll catch a Lugia one day..." Jaxx replied with a smirk, teasing.
As the two bickered about that for a while, Dixie took her opportunity and dug in her messenger bag a bit and then held a PokéBall up to the Caterpie. Obliging itself to the capsule, the Caterpie waited for Dixie to use it and then later became encased within the red and white ball. Smiling to herself, Dixie mentally check-marked two out of however many Pokémon she'd someday come across as being befriended.
"Yeah, well... Dixie's right! You should be at least a little more supportive, Mister 'I-think-I'm-cool'!" Jakkaru heatedly said to Jaxx.
"Pessimist by nature," was all Jaxx said before shoving his hands into his pockets and continuing forwards. Jakkaru growled at his response and then looked back to Dixie, who was drawing a four-point star on a PokéBall. She made her way over, waited till the younger girl was finished drawing on the capsule and then grabbed her by the arm (lightly, of course), and started after Jaxx, still a little upset with him.
"Great... so now they're both mad at me..." Jaxx muttered to himself, giving a slight roll of the eyes and kicking at a rock. He heard it hit something, though merely shrugged it off and continued forwards. There wasn't much that he really cared about at that point and time other than getting back to Fuchsia City as soon as possible. He could have probably done it without being accompanied by two others... but he had to remember that he was the one that had pretty much given the okay to Dixie when she had asked.... Something that he was starting to regret.
"Aahhh! Run!" Jakkaru and Dixie screamed as they rushed past Jaxx. He looked at them quizzically and then glanced back, seeing the reason that the two of them were running. A swarm of Beedrill buzzed behind them. At the sight, Jaxx turned his attention forwards and broke out into a sprint as well, following after both of the girls.
"Why'd you have to go and anger a swarm of Beedrill?" Jaxx asked, looking at Dixie specifically. "Don't tell me you were dumb enough to try and befriend one of those! That's not how things work!"
"Don't yell at me!" Dixie quickly responded, dodging a low hanging branch and then looking to Jaxx for a split second. "I'm not the one that angered them! I didn't even see one until they swarmed! And it's not like I'd actually walk up to one, either!"
"Whatever! Fight later, just keep running!" Jakkaru yelled at the both of them, clutching the incubator close to her as she and the other two ran trough the forest and dodged any natural obstacles that the forest had provided.
The trio had dodged the Beedrill's attacks several times, luckily enough. However, as the three neared a thicket, Dixie had tripped on an upturned root and had fallen to the ground. Jaxx stopped and turned, a little aggravated that that had happened and Jakkaru had paused for a moment to see what was going on. Frowning a bit, though feeling a little glad that Jaxx had run over to help Dixie get back on her feet, Jakkaru had quickly opened her bag and pulled out a PokéBall capsule.
"Looks like you're up... let's see how well you're doing today..." Jakkaru murmured, throwing the ball out. "Whisper! Blow those Beedrill back! Use Gust now!"
The Pidgeotto trilled as he burst from the capsule and then flew up high to face the swarm of Beedrill that were still charging for them. He flapped her wings quickly and whipped up a strong airstream that was directed at all of the Beedrill. The strong winds that Whisper had created stalled the bee Pokémon and Jakkaru turned her attention towards Dixie and Jax, motioning them to get away while she held the Beedrill back.
Nodding to her, Jaxx, got Dixie steady and then motioned her ahead just in case she were to take another spill. After seeing her start forwards once again, he quickly followed after her, glancing back to Jakkaru and hoping that she'd be able to get at those Beedrill by herself.
"What about Jakkaru? Will she be okay?" Dixie asked, also glancing back.
"I'm sure she will be..." Jaxx replied.
-------------------------------------------
"All right, Whisper!" Jakkaru called out, watching as the Pidgeotto whipped up another strong airstream towards the Beedrill. However, it seemed that numbers of the bee Pokémon were slowly wearing out the fowl. Jakkaru gritted her teeth and then clenched a fist.
"Darn it... if this keeps up any longer, Whisper will have to be taken to the Pokémon Center again..." Raising the capsule for Pidgeotto, Jakkaru called back her Pokémon, put the capsule back into her bag and then clutched at the incubator again. Turning around, Jakkaru started to run in the direction that she had seen Dixie and Jaxx run off to, though she wasn't sure about how well she would be able to outrun these Beedrill this time. She had allowed for them to get relatively close to her for the stalling to have commenced.
Finding a ledge, Jakkaru took the jump and quickly rolled onto her back when she landed on the ground to avoid having the incubator break on her. She looked up and saw the Beedrill fly overhead, passing her by. Giving a sigh of relief, Jakkaru staggered back up to her feet and then looked around. The area she was in was a relatively clear area, which would be good for camping, she figured.
Taking a step forwards, Jakkaru looked around again, wondering if maybe Jaxx and Dixie had come this way as well. After walking around for a good few minutes, Jakkaru stopped and looked up once again as she saw a shadow pass over her.
A Spearow.
It circled overhead a couple of times before swooping down and landing on Jakkaru's shoulder for a brief moment. It pecked at her gently and then took to the sky once again, turning and looking at her.
Getting the message, Jakkaru started after it. It must've been Jaxx's Spearow, now that she was thinking about it. As she followed it, she looked down to the egg that was in the incubator and then smiled to herself, just thankful that the incubator was still okay as was the egg within. There's not telling what would have happened if she were to have accidentally cracked the egg... or broken the incubator. Perhaps have Ember tend to it at times when the time was right on that last one.
"Hey! Jakkaru!"
It was Dixie's voice.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, fine!" Jakkaru replied back to them as she looked up and saw Dixie and Jaxx both standing at the top of the ledge.
Both Jaxx and Dixie cautiously made their way down the ledge and over to Jakkaru. She smiled sheepishly to the two of them and then sat down on the ground. Giving a small sigh, the brunette gave a slight sigh and then laughed a bit.
"Ha... that was close..." Jakkaru said, setting the incubator on the ground next to her as Jaxx returned Spearow to its PokéBall.
"Yeah... it was..." Dixie agreed, giving a sheepish laugh and dusting off the dirt that had clung to her shirt from the fall.
"I think we should stay here for a bit... rest up from that..." Jaxx suggested, shrugging and looking away from the two girls. He walked a few paces away from the two and folded his arms over his chest.
"Sounds like a plan..." Jakkaru replied, taking her bag from her shoulder and also placing it on the ground. Jakkaru gave another slight laugh, "besides... thanks to the excitement... I'm sure that if we continue after our break, we'll make it into Pewter tonight or early tomorrow morning."
