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September 23, 2015 -Finished.
October 1, 2017-Edited.

-Line Break-

It was only two days on Route 3 and Red and I have gotten to know eachother pretty well. Red's team seemed to give me strange looks much to their trainer's confusion after Pidgeotto and Nidorino explained my ability to understand pokémon. Pika especially took the news with the greatest scepticism while the others just accepted it.

"Pika, you like Rayne well enough before, what's wrong?" Red asked puzzledly.

"This human is strange on so many levels! He doesn't feel like a psychic and he's able to understand me!" Pika said pointing at me.

"Pika's just weirded out at what Pidgeotto and Nidorino said." I told him. "They both were talking to eachother the other day before this started."

"And that's not the only thing that's strange, you don't seem to be worried about how your pokémon are always fighting eachother." Red frowned at me.

I blinked and smiled wryly at him. "They've been like that ever since Nidorino trashed the gardens at home." The confusion still lingered at his face. "Nidorino isn't a new pokémon I just met, he actually tracked us down because he still wants to get even with Pidgeotto." I said tiredly. "You'd think that they'd be more complient to work together since they're in the same team but in the end it was just an opportunity for them." I looked at them in a scolding manner.

Pidgeotto shrugged. "Beats being bored."

"The bird is entertaining enough." Nidorino said sparking another set of growlings at eachother.

I sighed. "I just let them be since they won't seriously hurt eachother."

"Wait, wait, wait, this has been going on for years then?"

I turned to Red who was looking at me incredulously. "Yes." I said blandly. "And since Pidgeotto and I work together, I deal with this occasionally and now everyday." I should've thought this through.

Red didn't say anything and just turned to the battling pokémon. He sees his own just spectating in an interested manner before hesitatingly accepting it.

I smiled at him. "Don't worry about it, that's my job."

"Still, I never seen pokémon act like yours before." Red looked at them.

Pika snorted. "I never seen pokémon and a trainer so different from eachother, Rayne looks like he'd have much less rowdy pokémon with him." Poli nodded while Saur just looked slightly confused.

"Like me?"

Trouble seemed reared its head when everybody heard a loud roar nearby. We ran towards the increasing sounds of battle and came upon a fallen girl and her injured Staryu being shadowed by a Gyarados that was readying an attack.

"Go Saur!"

"Ready!" The grass type step forward.

"Kid! Get out of here! Watch out for the Hydro Pump!" The orange haired girl shouted.

The Hydro Pump hit Bulbasaur but he came out fine.

"Nice! Feels nice!"

"Water moves don't really effect grass types." Red informs. "Now Leech Seed!" And a seed spat out from the grass pokémon's bulb and onto the Gyarados restricting it's movement.

"Staryu! Recover!" The girl shouted seizing the chance.

I looked towards Nidorino and he looked excited seeing the Gyarados.

"Now that's an opponent I shall fight!" His horn started crackling with electricity.

"Don't get hurt!" The Bird Pokémon lazily said.

"Attack!" At Red's command, a Bubblebeam, Razor Leaf, and Thunderbolt was unleashed onto the Atrocious Pokémon. I felt bad for it but it was raging through this area.

"And now, go pokéball!" And the Gyarados was easily caught. "Look! I caught it Rayne! Though, what's a Gyarados doing here?"

"It's way too small of an area for it to be here." I said agreeing with him. Plus Magikarp know to go to a larger area because of their instincts, which tells them to go to the sea.

"That's because that Gyarados is mine." The girl stated. We both looked at her in question. "Someone stole it about a week ago while I was raising him and when I found him again, it was already rampaging around." She pointed.

"Then now we just need to find those thieves!" Red announced determinedly.

She looked at him in disbelief. "What?"

"Those thieves did something to Gyarados that made it rampage and not reconize its own trainer! So what stopping them from doing the same to others?"

"Even so, kids like you shouldn't be messing with matters like these!" She yelled.

Red looked peeved. "You don't look any much older than us and we're more than able to take those thieves on seeing we did save you butt."

I sighed at the start of a conflict. "Do you even know where to look for them in the first place?" I watched in exasperation as my companion froze midstep before backtracking towards the girl rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"Do you know where they'll be?"

I could see a tick mark forming slightly on her forehead. "If I knew that then I would've gotten Gyarados back long before now!"

I can see this getting out of hand easily. "How 'bout we ask the Professor? He might know something." Better diffuse it now before a fight breaks out.

"Yeah!"

"What a jovial fellow he is despite him being a little hot-headed." Nidorino said.

I called back everyone and ran after the two.

-Line Break-

Conviently there was a PokéCenter nearby for us to call Professor Oak from, but Red's getting derailed from the reason why we're calling in the first place. I tapped him lightly with my cane.

"Ow!" It's still metal so of course it would hurt a little.

"You're getting distracted." I turned to the monitor. "We actually wanted to ask you something Professor."

"Yeah!" Red pointed towards the girl. "Someone stole her pokémon and when she found it today, it didn't even reconize her. It was even more scarier looking than any other Gyarados I've seen."

"Hmm... That sounds like Team Rocket! They're a secret crime syndicate that use and steal pokémon for their own purposes. From what I've heard, they've been recently experimenting on pokémon." The professor said. "They've been quiet though and only been seen sparsely lately so don't do anything rash yet!"

The growing sense of horror and disgust weld up in my stomach as the conversation continued. Experiment? Like the stories Watcher Umbreon would tell little ones to stay within the territory? Though he could be just using those stories to scare them but Mama Khan disapproves greatly and she shows it with a well place Focus Punch.

That did not help in my welling feelings, I gripped my cane closer trying to keep various thoughts at bay.

Misty as she introduced herself as a water pokémon trainer, decided to come with us through Mt. Moon to both help us and get home to Cerulean City too. Professor Oak suggested that they could be looking for the Moon stone which can enhance a pokémon's power. I didn't understand why he said that seeing it's a stone that can evolve certain species like the Clefairy. Did humans find a way to harness that power? I highly doubt it seeing humans can't evolve like pokémon.

Despite our numbers and distracting thoughts, I can't help but have the growing sense of trepidation increase as the mountain side grew nearer.

"Wow! I never seen a mountain this up close. I wonder what kind of pokémon lives here?" Red said excitedly.

I looked at him. "Well, it depends on which area you're in, if you're hiking up it, you might find some rock, a few grass, and fire types at the top since few species types can really stand the colder and thinner air. The base of the mountain and its caves hold a varity of pokémon like Ponyta and Zubat but that also depends on the terrain you're in too." I said.

"Wow, you're really smart Rayne."

I gave a slight blush. "I live right next to a mountain, I may not have scaled it because it's too dangerous but the pokémon on it do explore and visit." I looked up to the mountain in front of us. "I heard that the Clefairy lives on this mountain from Nurse Joy so I wonder if I could meet one."

"Look! Over there! There's a cave there and it seems that some people are guarding it!" Misty shouted pointing.

"Those look like those people from back in Pallet! Those are Team Rocket?" Red whispered.

We quickly crawled into the tall grass at the sound of a gruff voice talking into a communicator.

And as we hid, the world stopped as fear and utter hate gripped my heart. The familiar black uniforms with that red 'R' painted proudly on their shirts. The cold looks, the same as the ones that flashed through my memory.

I twisted my cane in opposite directions and prepared myself. It was them. I could easily incapitate them seeing that most humans I've seen so far aren't really physically incline, much weaker than everybody home.

I can-

"Rayne!" Red's whisper was harsh and snap me out of my darkening thoughts. "We can sneak in now while they're looking away!"

Right. We scurried in the dark cave and Red sent out the still somewhat defiant Pikachu to light up the place. We were walking a good few minutes as Red tried to lighten up the tension, he made comments and gestures about his to-be triumph over Team Rocket.

I didn't pay attention to him since I was distracted by unpleasant memories. The screams of terror and the roars of battle, the blood that humans wrought as they laughed before being silenced. I remember being afraid with all the other little ones, hiding until the danger passed.

Sometimes I wondered how everyone still greets me with smiles and laughs after that day.

"Ow! Stupid rock!" I snapped out of my thoughts as Red's cry.

"Well, well, well. Three brats and a rat came in the pitch black cave. You all must be brave." We were surround the next moment I looked around but the one who stuck out the most was the one with the scarf and the Rhyhorn. "We're currently occupying this cave so I'll give you three a chance to leave with yourselves intact if you go willingly."

"In your dreams!" Red shouted.

More memories flashed through my head. Flashes of the blood and blazing fire, screeches and blinding lights that cut down both enemy and friend. The memories themselves were hazy from being squandered away but the effects of loss still staked through my mind.

"Rock Throw!"

"Thunderbolt!"

The rain of small rocks pelted me out of my thoughts. Right. Not a time for those kinds of memories. I watched Red make quick work on the Rhyhorn with Pikachu but the Rocket member just smirked.

"Don't think a little rat can take on it on!" The scarfed Rocket member said. "Rhyhorn, Earthquake!" The whole cave rattled and debris fell on top of us, Pika was able to easily dodged the moment he was able to get his footing.

"Pika, aim your Thunderbolt in front of it and blast the ground beneath it!"

"Alright!" Pika channelled everything he could. "Taste a load of this!"

The ground exploded into large chunks that hit Rhyhorn's underbelly. It groaned in pain before falling limp.

The Rocket member didn't seem too concern. "Don't think you've won yet." And pulled out a syringe.

We all watched as he injected something into his pokémon with the needle. It was morbidly fascinating watching the downed pokémon evolve forcibly, and it looked absolutely painful too. I can understand why Gyarados was so uncontrollable with his actions.

Oh God, the pain was making it mindless too.

"You did that to my Gyarados?!" Misty screamed out enraged.

He just shrugged. "How should I know? I don't keep track on how many we experimented on. If they weren't up to our standards, we throw them away and we threw away a lot of sub-par pokémon too."

Misty instantly summoned Staryu with righteous fury. "Attack!"

"Use Rock Blast!"

Rhydon's Rock Blast was much more stronger than Staryu's attack, so it went straight through its Water Gun and knocked Staryu into Misty and to the wall knocking them out. I stared wide eyed and mouth open in shock, that Rhydon is so much more powerful than it was before and evolving shouldn't give it that much of a power boost.

"Damn. Rayne! A little help?"

I sent out Nidorino immediately at Red's prompting, Pidgeotto wouldn't be able to move around well in this cave.

"Use Poison Sting near that Rhyhorn's feet!" It would be too dangerous to get close to it. "Then use Water Pulse!"

"This savage will know some disipline!" Nidorino launched a flurry of poisoned needles cornering it before most were washed away from a blast of water.

The immoble Drill Pokémon was soaked but seemed more enraged than hurt.

"Use Poison Sting to keep it still!"

Red smirked. "Use Thunder!"

The Rhydon couldn't do anything and anytime it tried, it would flinch by stepping on the sharp needles trying to get away or be hit first when it tried to ready a Rock Blast. The added barrage from Pika didn't help either.

"Enough! Rhydon, Hyper Beam above the Nidorino! Get rid of that annoyance first!"

The sudden flash of light made us all flinch and look away but not before I saw Nidorino get buried under heavy rubble. The sound of rubble hitting the ground harshly on top of Nidorino increased the dread from before.

"Nidorino!" It was happening again. My precious friend fell like the others.

"Now take out that Pikachu with a Rock Blast!"

I can feel my tears forming but a sudden shudder knocked me out of balance and fell on my butt. The trembles were weaker than the Earthquake before but it was so unexpected that it took everyone off guard.

"W-what's happening?" I heard Red.

Another shudder trembled again until a Nidoking burst out from under the rubble that Nidorino was in.

"Rejoice!" Relief. "I. Am. KING!" He roared out. "Where's that pea-brain, over sized, rocked headed piece of dirt? I'm gonna show whose king around here!"

"What?!" The surprised cry from Rhyhorn's trainer drew Nidoking's attention.

His form was much more formidable than Rhydon's with his dangerous protruding spikes and his purple colouring gave him a more powerful look than the other's bland gray one.

"There you are! Lets see how you like me now!" He threw and Water Pulse and a Thunderbolt immediately after.

"Whoa." Red shook his head and looked over to me. "We need to get out of here Rayne!"

He's right. I wiped away some tears and looked up seeing the ceiling looked like it'll give away with another hit.

"Nidoking come back here!" I interrupted his fight. "And aim your strongest Thunderbolt to the ceiling!"

"You too Pika!"

A flash of light later, the ceiling collasped completly blocking off the other side along with Team Rocket. The rubble kicked up the dirt making everybody cough and wave away the dust. With the battle over, Nidoking lumbered over to me and seemed extremely happy despite the near death experience.

The shock from before came back in full force as I thought about it and the tears formed again. I'm so relieved. So happy.

"I'm so sorry." I couldn't save you like the others, but I'm so glad you're well and alive. I cried into my hands kneeling in the dirt. I feel so pathetic right now, I probably look pathetic too.

"Rayne?" Oh. I forgot about Red. I wiped my tears but I didn't look up because I didn't want him to see my face.

"A few years ago Team Rocket attacked my home." My mouth started moving on its own. "I didn't know it was Team Rocket at the time, but after meeting them and everything that happened just now." I choked a little. "I thought I lost another friend to them." I felt tears fall again but I was startled out of my grief when Red hugged me.

It was an awkward hug because I was kneeling and I can tell he was trying to maintain balance on his feet not to fall over, but it was nice.

"But you didn't so don't cry." Red said softly. "You also had a scary face eariler too, right before we entered in here. Being sad or angry doesn't really suit you. I like your smiles better." He ended awkwardly.

A light happiness fluttered up. No 'It's going to be okay' or 'It's fine, you'll be alright' like what Old Zam or Mama Khan said back then. But just a simple comfort.

"And now we have even more of a reason to go after Team Rocket! After all, we need to stopped them from anymore people and pokémon right?"

"He's right, and don't be sorry. I'm happy to have come with you on this journey. To fight strong opponents, to become strong, and evolve into a King! I can't honestly say I want to go back to such an idle life from before."

"Thank you." I hugged Red back. Even if Red is a little hot headed, he had his softer moments.

-Line Break-

Misty woke up when we just exited the cave with Nidoking carrying her. She screamed in surprise to see him carrying her and promptly fell out of his arms because of her flailing.

"W-why is that carrying me?" She pointed at the pokémon.

I smiled. "Nidorino evolved after you got knocked out. We managed to escape thanks to him."

"And you can show me how grateful you are by not screaming into my ears." Nidoking said sarcastically. "These things still work like before."

"Oh, sorry."

Red was laughing. "And look! I found the Moon Stone!"

"Eh?" I blinked at him. "When did you find that?"

"It was near the rubble when we caved the ceiling! I found it just before we were about to leave." He grinned.

"This kid is unbelievable sometimes." Nidoking shook his head. "But I guess that's what makes him so unique."

I fell into a comfortable silence as I listen to Red dramatize the events that Misty missed when she was out. I lingered a good few feet behind and just view the scenery. It was very clear and clean with the cloudless sky above and the grassy fields that goes for a few miles with little trees. Much different from home in Viridian Forest.

Which reminds me.

"Finally!" I summoned Pidgeotto out of his ball. "I want out everytime you decide to go in some dark, dinky cave."

"Hmph! The little bird's making demands bigger than it!" Lightning crackled around his horn.

"Hoo? The rabbit got bigger I see. Maybe you'll actually put up a fight now that you can see a little more farther than the dirt in front of you."

I laughed as they both bantered back and forth with attacks being readied in a show of intimidation. No matter what happened, they still stayed the same. When they first met, their constant encounters at home, and now.

"Er, Rayne?" I turned to Red who was now beside me. "Will they be alright?"

"I told you before right?" I nodded towards Nidoking. "They'll be fine, kinda like you and Green." Red gave a small indignant noise at the comparison. "Pidgeotto will be fine if you're worried about him, he's faced bigger and he's still faster than Nidoking. In all honesty it's his speed and dexterity that keeps him above much stronger opponents so as long as Pidgeotto doesn't do anything stupid, he'll be fine."

"They're both so strong!" Red grinned. "Rivals for years with one trying to get stronger than the other. Though I'm more jealous that they can get along better than me and Green." He crinkled his nose.

"It's like you said." I smiled. "They've been rivals for years. They got to know each other in that time so I'm sure you and Green will be like them, though I hope with less destruction." I looked at the displaced piece of ground.

"It'd be awesome if we could."

"There's a reason why humans don't have powers like pokémon." Pika muttered.

Red and I laughed until Misty shouted to us pointing over to Cerulean City. He grabbed my hand, smiled and pulled me along as he ran and I thought to myself how easily he can push away the dark. He's so bright.

I'm glad you're my friend Red.

-Line Break-

I feel like such a child as Red continued to hold my hand through the bustling crowds of the city, but it was the only comfort I had to keep me from panicking. It was busier than the others because it had more tourist spots, whatever that means but I'm guessing it means places that attract peoples attention like that long, yellow bridge.

We continued as I shrank behind Red until we've arrived at a gate with a giant building behind it. It was more grander, cleaner and a little smaller than my home, but the one thing that stands out the most is how imposingly lonely it feels. My home felt old but inviting with the way the little ones were playing and the older ones watch over them fondly.

"Welcome to my home!"

Red gawked at the grandiose building and surrounding area. "I never seen a house this big before." He muttered out and we were both surprised when two lines of female humans in matching dresses filed out into the yard the moment the gates opened.

"Misty! You're covered in dirt!" One fussed. "We have to get you cleaned up immediately!"

"Oh calm down ladies." Misty brushed them off. "I'd like for you my guests. He's Red." She pointed to Red then me. "And that's Rayne."

I waved nervously at the uniformed caretakes as a sense of foreboding crawls up my back. I heard the mischief in voice and saw it in her eyes.

"This is such a tragedy!" One of them wailed. "Such a beautiful gem hidden behind such scruffy attire!" She pointed at me.

"Come with us and let us make you feel beautiful young lady!" Another older maid said passionately. "Even if it's only for your stay here!"

I immediately put my back on the brick wall and Red in front of me as a shield. I gripped my friend's shoulders as a I glared in fear and brandishing my cane if they got close. I could feel Red shudder as he held back a laugh.

Misty rolled her eyes at my reaction. "C'mon Rayne, they're just going to clean you up."

"I don't want to be cleaned up by strangers!" I bristled. "And I'm a boy!" This is ridiculous! Am I going to make it habit to keep my hair up where ever I go? Those little bands always start to pull on my hair painfully when it's in too long, plus it doesn't help that I'm running short from loosing them.

"Rayne, that's stretching it, even your name is feminine." Misty deadpanned not believing me. "And I never seen such a girlish boy like you if you are one anyways."

"Rayne is short for Raynard! Everybody at home calls me that! Everybody I know calls me that!" I refuted. "Why is this a problem?!" Why does it seem like she's taking offense to it!

Misty blushed and I could see her indignation showing but found her composer quickly. "Whatever and nevermind that. Girls, get them ready for dinner."

I blinked once and before I knew it, I was being shoved into a bathroom that had a lake for a bathtub. Like everything else, it was lavishly designed and clean. I can see spots in my eyes the way it's shining.

"We'll take care of your clothes once they're in the laundry basket and a bathrobe will be in your room when you get out." A brown haired maid recited. "Your possessions will also be in your room that's through the door to your left and your pokémon will be healed, fed, and cleaned too. Dinner will be at 6 o'clock so enjoy until then! And it's shampoo first then conditioner."

She left briskly leaving me dumbfounded. I looked back down to the items in my hand, towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and wondering when these things were placed there. I sighed at the fast paced events happening in this place.

If you don't know what to do, just go with the flow! After all, if it's not bad then it must be some what good!

I remembered Madame Ninetales' words as I did as I instructed and relaxed into the hot water. She's so carefree and always going at her own pace and the only pokémon that can keep up with her is Old Zam but he denied that.

My friend is not someone you keep up with. You simply let her drag you along. The more you try to struggle, the more exasperated and tired you'll be. That is my advice to you if you meet anybody, whether it'd be a pokémon or a human like her. And if you truly need to resist them... Good luck.

I slipped further into the water until it was just my face above the surface. The hot water on my scalp felt good and I breathe out in relaxation. For all her eccentricity, she's right because this is good despite being dragged off by the scary caretakers.

Plus I never smelled shampoo like this before and what in the world was conditioner? Doesn't shampoo already clean your hair? So what's conditioner for then? The soap smells like pecha berries!

-Line Break-

My feet were being hugged by the fluffy slippers as I walked down one of the many hallways in the bathrobe that was given to me and with my cane in my hand.

I figured out that the conditioner made my hair softer and easier to brush through than before. It was still damp but I wasn't bothered by it and was just fascinated on how soft and light it feels. Humans may be weird but the things they come up with is amazing.

The slippers I was wearing were also soft to the touch and kept my feet from touching the cold, clean surface of the polished floors. The hallways were also unbearingly clean as the decorations were lavish and shining, the walls were both bare in some parts but nicely gave more substance to the paintings and little designs that were on them.

"Dumb rabbit! Watch where you point that thing!"

"Please! It's not my fault you decided to stand there while I eat!"

"You have claws now! Pick it up and eat it! Then again, you kneeling to me is quite flattering."

"Arrogant bird! You will pay for your insolence! I am a king now!"

"Blah, blah, blah! You're annoying more like."

I ducked my head to contain my laughter and followed the voices to a large empty room with a large pool with various water pokémon in it. Red's pokémon and my own were eating in a dry corner.

"Please don't fight." Saur said. "I don't think the water lady will like it if you make a mess."

"Hpmh. Leave them alone, if they knock each other out, fine by me." Pika said.

"Hi everyone!" I walked over to them. They all perked up at my voice and gave a greeting. "How's it been going so far?"

"The water lady and her followers treat us well." Poli reported.

"Yes. A good pampering once a while is nice but not something I'd like to go through everyday." Pidgeotto said followed by a series of agreeing grunts. "Very uncomfortable but has a refreshing result." He showed off his wing.

"That's good. How 'bout Red? Seen him yet?"

"Nope. But I think he'd get lost first trying to find us." Pika commented and everybody and I laughed.

Poli sighed. "He would especially seeing this would be the first time we've been to a place like this. His excitement would deter him."

"There you are!" A few maids bustled in. "It's almost dinner time, we're here to escort you to the dining hall."

"I'll see you guys soon!" I waved at the pokémon.

"Wait! I'm gonna come to!" Pika ran up and hopped on my shoulders.

The walk towards the dining hall is short but I kept my cane close to me as we passed by the caretakers working around here. I was still wary of them from before and I felt my hair stick at its ends.

Pika snickered at my actions. "I feel bad for you, human females tend to get scary with things like this. I never understood why humans cared for appearance as much as they do but watch yourself, you might get caught with how they're looking at you like prey."

I shuddered at his words.

The caretakers kept pouting and sighing at me and I'm sure I even heard one of them say 'What a terrible waste' before turning back to her cleaning. I, on the other hand, sent a prayer to whatever higher being for the invisible protection that is there.

"Rayne!" Red waved from his seat at the large, wooden, dining table. "And Pika's here too!"

"Don't mind me! I just want to try out the food!"

It was weird seeing Red without his hat. It was his most defining feature physically wise, but he still radiates the same exicement he usually does.

"What do you think of this place Rayne?" Red asked. "I've never been in such a large house before."

I smiled. "It's certainly grander than I would like but my home is a little larger than this." I told him and his eyes widened.

"Really?" Red had a spark of wonder.

"Yeah but it's not as clean or maintained as Misty's." I looked at the food before me. "It has none of the modern luxuries or, well, anything fragile and delicate not to mention expensive Misty has but I can say that it's definately cozy." I took a bite of the food and savoured the dishes exoctic flavours. It was a tangy zesty sauce that coated the main dish that was my favorite.

Red hummed. "My house is much more smaller than this, but in a town like Pallet and with only me and my mom, it's better that way."

"Yeah." I agreed. "I'd be awfully lonely to live in a house that's too big than its residents can fill. I'm glad everybody at home can fill the hallways just by being there."

"Hello everyone!" Misty entered from the same entrance way as me with an extravagant dress fitting to her own lavish home than the outdoorsy outfit when we first met her. She looked at me and frowned. "You have to be lying, cleaning you up just made it worse."

"Why is this such a problem to you?" I frowned at her. "It's not a big deal."

"Don't you even care?" She looked at me exasperatedly.

I shook my head and answered immediately. "No." Gender didn't really matter at home. The way Misty is taking this gender thing is getting silly. I mean, Red dropped it after it was brought up and cleared a few things.

She facepalmed at my response. "I thought boys were supposed to be prideful of their masculinity."

"Humans are so weird sometimes." Pika commented. "Though I guess there are some species that take that into account but that's all power play right? Females are powerful too."

I nodded in agreement and continued eating. Pika jumped onto Red's shoulder chattering for the food. I looked down and silently thank Madame Ninetales and Teacher Espeon in teaching me human dining etiquette and etiquette overall. She always emphasized that being polite and smiling can get through human problems most of the time but these finer skills will take me farther.

Why they need so many forks and spoons is beyond me though.

The food was getting fancier along with the set up as they brought in the desserts too. I looked over to Red who ate like a Snorlax with Pika who was swiping some of it too. He could've ask me to give him some but with how Red was flaunting his glory over our encounter with Team Rocket, I guess Pika would get more from him than me.

I continued to eat tuning out everybody around me. It really was nice and delicious and I felt content, if just a little bit nervous. Red's horrid table manners made me feel better about my hiccuping memories with my own manners. I didn't pay much attention to anything else until Misty and Red started shouting. They were really at eachother's throats and to think it was nice just a few moments ago.

I felt Pika escape into my lap. "What's wrong?" I asked the mouse.

"Red and the water lady are arguing about Team Rocket. Water lady wants to train to fight them but Red think she's weak and want her to not worry about it." Pika informed and we ate as watched the two argue more. "This is getting out of hand."

"What about you! What do you think we should do?!"

I was startled from Misty's out burst and turned to see both she and Red looking at me, eyes screaming to choose their side but I narrowed my own instead. The way they flinched back ensured them how exactly I was feeling.

"If you two think you can drag me into your fight like this, I will hit you both with my cane." I threatened and Red looked down instantly and started to rub his head remembering the light taps I gave him before. "You both are acting like bickering children so I suggest getting your acts straight and not involve others into such a stupid arguement." I picked up Pika as I stood up and turned to Red. "I'll be borrowing Pika for the night." And I promptly left.

"You sure you should leave them like that?"

"It'll be fine. Back at home, fights like those always happen during dinner time, or battling, or in games, or, er, you get the point." I said to him. "The elders just leave them be, but when they start dragging others in and starts hurting pokémon around them, that's when they punish them. They prefer the pride hurting tactics seeing that pokémon do value their intelligence, after all, it's no secret that majority of the powerful pokémon are either legendaries, those so-called psuedo legendaries, and captured pokémon."

"Huh, that sounds... different." Pika mused. "And true, I definately enjoyed out smarting humans."

I laughed a little. "Sometimes fights are meant to happen to solve a problem. Old Zam said that problems, whether big or small, are preferred to be ignore and as sad as it may be, conflict can draw attention to said problem so it can be resolved. I think Red needs a good reality check because he can be a little too full of himself." And Pika nodded in agreement.

We entered my room and Pika jumped out of my arms and onto the bed. I flopped down next to him after turning off the lights.

"Your home sounds so interesting. Do you think that we can go sometime?"

"Of course, I'd like that and I think everyone at home would like to see new faces."

Plus everybody would be estatic to know I made new friends.

-Line Break-

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