New Yevon, and the first Calm Lands pokemon battle:

By the time Rikku woke up, I was just laying awake in bed, in a half-sleep state. "Mmm…"

I said sleepily, "Morning, Rikku. I don't think Paine and Yuna are up yet, so take it easy."

I heard her yawn, roll over, then fall back asleep. I slipped out of bed, threw on a shirt and a pair of shorts, and slipped out the door - I wanted to make sure Yuna wasn't up.

&&&&&

"Looked like my trick worked, Yuna. I don't see any mobs forming, do you?"

Yuna smiled. "Odd, I would have thought that you would get some people stopping to see the great Icewind…"

I grinned darkly. "Yeah, right. Most people don't even realize I'm from a different world, or that I don't have Aeons. Besides, I still scare the living crap out of some people."

Yuna nodded, a faint smile crossing her features. Paine had disappeared, the two of us were sitting in her room. Rikku was loud enough that we'd know when she really woke up. "It's strange, though. It was easy for me to accept that you were from a different world…"

I snorted quietly. "Yuna, you knew me somewhat. You'd seen my pokemon. I certainly didn't act like someone from Spira… so it seemed somewhat logical that I wasn't from around here." I snorted quietly, and added, "Besides, my whole vanishing act at Macalania should have convinced anyone that I wasn't normal."

Yuna frowned for a moment, then giggled loudly. "Not to mention the way you were so clueless about everything."

I arched an eyebrow at her, and she giggled again.

&&&&&

Rikku walked in, and arched an eyebrow at us. I was stretched out on one bed, Yuna was sitting on the other, scratching Arsnakra idly. She called, "Morning Rikku."

Rikku looked over at me again, and I grinned slightly. Suicune was resting next to me (not on the bed, she was a bit too big, she was stretched out between them), and Balrog was lazily sitting about a foot away from the door. "Looks cozy in here."

Yuna giggled, and scratched at a spot between Arsnakra's ears, making the Arcanine go cross-eyed.

I smiled at her, scratching at a point on Suicune's back, underneath her ribbon / mane. "Yup. And they're getting scratches."

Suicune sighed, and asked, Should we be going now?

I looked over at Rikku. She looked a bit rushed in her preparations, but whatever. "Paine's disappeared somewhere, I guess we should find her before we go onwards."

Rikku shrugged, and walked out the door. Yuna gave Arsnakra one final scratch, then got up, the Arcanine following her. I looked over at Suicune, but before I said a word, she slipped through the door somehow, Balrog trailing her.

In the empty room, I sighed, dug up my key, and headed for the desk.

&&&&&

Yuna whispered to us, "It's even worse here!"

I said in a quiet voice, "They know someone stopped Sin, slowed it down from running over their city. Guess who they think did it? Not some lame-o guardian."

Yuna stared at me, as I grinned openly at her. "Luin, tell me you're joking. They still think…"

Rikku smiled at her. "Yup! They even think that the two Mewtwos were your doing, despite the fact that they look like pokemon."

Yuna sighed helplessly. I smiled for a moment, then dug into my pack, tossing her a cloak. "You want to be unknown, put that on when we're free of stares." I whistled, and the three pokemon stopped following Paine's scent, instead walking back to us. Something wrong?

I looked over at Yuna, and Suicune sighed. I should have known. Even when we change your look Yuna, you stand out.

Yuna flushed. "I don't know if that's a compliment, or an insult."

I shrugged, as Suicune enveloped her in a sapphire light. The light faded, but I caught sight of a cloaked individual standing dazedly nearby. Yuna shook herself, and walked back up to us, her face effectively shadowed by the hood. "I guess this works."

Rikku stared at me, then asked, "Hey, if you had that at Gagazet, why didn't I see it?"

I grinned at her, as the pokemon continued to follow Paine's trail. "Trade secret. Pokemon masters only."

Rikku muttered, "oui sayhea…" (you meanie)

I grinned, caught her by the waist with one arm, and said lightly, "It was in the bottom of my pack, until I dug it out recently. I'd forgotten it existed, until I needed to become someone else."

&&&&&

We slipped into the temple, Yuna's nervousness broadcasting itself to anyone paying attention. "I really don't know about this…"

Rikku curiously gazed at her, cloaked face and all. "Yu…" she caught herself, and just asked, "what's wrong?"

She said nervously, "Well, you see, there was this arrangement...with the son of the chairman of New Yevon. I turned the offer down, but I thought it'd be kind of awkward…"

Rikku said curiously, "What was the offer?"

Enough light glimmered into the cloak to show Yuna looking uncomfortable. I caught the hint, and elbowed Rikku gently, whispering, "You can find out later."

She pouted, but remained silent. I had an idea of what had happened, but really… I wasn't there when the offer was made, and Yuna could take care of herself then, so it wasn't my business to know, unless she told me.

&&&&&

I caught a lot of stares, as I followed the three pokemon leading the way. After all, some Yevonites can't seem to get it through their thick skulls that my pokemon aren't Aeons.

Well, or it could have been Suicune literally walking up a wall like it was nothing, carrying Rikku, myself, and Yuna. One of the two.

&&&&&

Balrog tilted his head towards a figure in black gazing out at the Bevelle cityscape. I nodded to him, as Suicune walked beside us. When we neared, Paine said to us, "Time to go?"

Yuna asked curiously, "Where were you?"

Paine turned, and I guess she was taken aback for a moment by the cloak. "I just needed some air."

Rikku asked in surprise, "At the roof of the temple? You could have…" Paine just looked at her, and Rikku trailed off. "Eh… right, never mind. I didn't want to know."

Paine turned to Yuna, and asked, "Trying to hide from someone?"

Yuna lowered the hood, and looked nervously at us. "Uhm… well… it was… involving marriage…"

I arched an eyebrow, and said darkly, "Glad you said no. Or I'd have to slap some sense into you, if Rikku didn't first."

Rikku whistled, trying to seem innocent. Of course, Yuna giggled at our antics. "Well, I think the two of you would beat off anyone…"
I interrupted her, adding on, "I'd beat anyone off, so long as it involved a big stick, or blunt object, and me hitting them over the head repeatedly with it until they came to their senses."

Yuna looked at me strangely, while Rikku sighed heavily, tiredly running a hand across her face. Paine, however, had a faint smile on her face. "Sounds like fun."

Yuna and Rikku rounded on her, their expressions comical. I grinned, and took the cloak off Yuna, putting it back in my pack.

&&&&&

"Lady Yuna?"

Yuna sighed, turning. I remained silent as the man introduced himself (he was dressed in formal robes of Yevon, so he obviously was important…). "A pleasure, Lady Yuna. I am Baralai, Praetor of New Yevon."

Rikku asked in a mildly curious voice, "So you're the chairman's son?"

He seemed to realize why Yuna looked so tired, and worried. "Ah… as it happens, the chairman has recently resigned. As did his son, the praetor. They were trying to take too much power. We had to ask them to leave. Now the younger members run the party… by mutual consensus, of course."

Yuna's eyes brightened, and she suddenly looked a lot better. She said in a fake regretful tone, "I'm sorry to hear that."

I added darkly, "I'm not."

Yuna hushed me, but Baralai seemed to have a sense of humor, he didn't remark about my commentary, unlike some priests of Yevon. He continued, "So you see, Lady Yuna... It is not I that was meant to marry the high summoner."

Rikku looked shocked, while I merely was resigned. I'd figured on something like that happening. "It wouldn't have happened anyway, Baralai."

Rikku frowned, and then laughed. "Yup. He would have stormed in, maybe even kidnapped you, Yunie… I doubt even I could stop him."

Baralai frowned slightly, and then bowed to us. "Excuse me, but I have business to attend to."

He walked away, and I said softly, "This is why I don't like being famous. I kinda felt sorry for her…"

Yuna asked, "Who?"

I shrugged. "My cousin was a singer, rather good. She traveled, and was a trainer at the same time." I looked over at Arsnakra, who was hanging her head. "Arsnakra was her bodyguard. We haven't been able to get a word out of her about… her status."

Paine asked, "Are you worried if she's still alive?"

I nodded. "That. I'm wondering if she even can be."

Paine stared at me for a moment, and then looked away. Her lips moved, mouthing something, but I couldn't 'read' them.

Yuna looked over at Arsnakra. She hung her head, and issued a few barks.

Suicune, who, like Balrog, had remained silent most of the time (Balrog was blending in the shadows anyway…), translated, She says that she managed to make it… barely. She changed her name, even though people only knew her stage name, and had to denounce you a… lot. The pressure got to her, she had to send Arsnakra back… she couldn't stand the guilt. Arsnakra… it isn't your fault, she lived. You succeeded.

The Arcanine whined once, and looked mournfully at Yuna. Yuna rubbed her head reassuringly, and said, "It's alright, I'm not going to leave you."

Rikku tilted her head, and said, "Aww… makes you want to have a pokemon, doesn't it Paine?"

Paine scowled at Rikku, but then paused. "How… many of them are there?"

I shrugged. "Over 400, including evolutions. About… 250... if you count evolutions as being one species."

Rikku grinned. "And we've been looking for one that you'd like!"

I think that a vein in Paine's forehead nearly stuck out, but it must have been a trick of the eye. Wordlessly, I pulled out my pokedex, and tossed it to her, set on the few pokemon that we'd agreed she might like.

We walked on, Paine somehow looking up the data and walking at the same time. Miraculous, I know, I did that all the time in the city without running into anyone.

&&&&&

As we walked out of the city, and towards the forest / Gagazet again, Paine looked over at me. "Why are you doing this?"

I shrugged, and then jerked my head towards Rikku and Yuna, who had released their own pokemon. Arsnakra was carrying Yuna on her back, while Rikku was joyriding on Vib's back, flying around. "They're great companions, if you haven't noticed. They're the only ones that kept me sane sometimes, and Suicune… kept me alive, actually."

Paine paused to consider that, then wordlessly handed me the dex. I looked at the last entry accessed, and blinked. Absol. When I looked up at her, she asked, "Is it true, that the… thing can detect disasters?"

I nodded, and said sadly, "It's the disaster pokemon, it has a heightened sense of nature… and the future. How else would there be two of them chasing me at all times?"

Paine asked quietly, "Related to your past?"

I nodded, and she remained silent, watching the other two playing. "Each one is different, right? That…" "Absol" Paine nodded, and continued, "Wouldn't be like… Vib, would it?"

I shook my head. "No, more like Balrog, but a lot more reserved, usually. Absols tend to be quiet, bound by a sense of loyalty to those they deem worthy of their trust… and rather mysterious, to be honest. We don't know a whole lot about the species, they keep to themselves a lot."

Paine nodded. "I haven't been able to access the pokemon trainer dressphere."

I paused for a moment to think, then nodded. "Makes sense, Yuna and Rikku both had a pokemon before they even tried. I guess you need an actual pokemon to utilize the dressphere."

Paine said softly, watching as Rikku swooped low again, "Whenever you get a chance."

I nodded mutely.

&&&&&

Rikku smiled, looking down at the Calm Lands. "Ooh! I wanted to try some of their new games!"

Paine crossed her arms, and smiled faintly. "I have 100 Argent credits."

Rikku grinned. "Well I have 150 Open Air credits!"

I sighed, and looked upwards. "Don't mind her, I won the extra 50 betting on the lupines."

Rikku whacked me on the arm. "You weren't supposed to say that!"

Paine smiled, walking down to the attractions. The fiends really were weak here, anyway.

Yuna went off towards another attraction, leaving Rikku and me alone. "Well, now what? I guess I could give Paine her Absol…"

Rikku laughed. "She picked that out, didn't she?"

I looked at her, and that's all Rikku needed. She spherechanged into her pokemon trainer outfit, and said, "Wanna have a practice battle somewhere? I got my next pokemon."

I shrugged. "Bikanel island would be the best place for most of your pokemon… it's Cacturne, right?"

At her nod, I shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She released Vib, and we rode her to a clearing away from the games, but not too far away either.

&&&&&

We stepped back a fair amount of space, giving plenty of room for a battle. "Who you want to face? Sunseeker?"

Rikku nodded. "They're both the same type, right?"

At my nod, she released her Cacturne, while I reached for Sunseeker's pokeball. The Cacturne looked fairly typical, hat, dark smile, and spiky body that made it look like a human-shaped cactus (it actually was). "Well, let's see who wins."

I released Sunseeker, who looked around, before smiling faintly. Suicune released herself again, standing by my side. This might be interesting…

Rikku took out her pokedex, and tapped a few keys. I think she was looking up data on the two pokemon before we started the battle, so she knew what attacks her pokemon could use, as well as what she might expect out of Sunseeker.

After she finished scanning whatever it was, she called out, "Ready?"

I nodded, and said, "Go."

Sunseeker took the initiative, firing Razor Leafs at Cacturne. It shielded itself with its arms, the leaves getting caught on the spines. Rikku called out, "Fight back with Pin Missile!"

The Cacturne pointed (his) arms at Sunseeker, and fired the Bug-type attack. I quickly called out, "Evasive with Vine Whip!"

Sunseeker shot about a dozen vines to the left and right of her, and used them to throw herself out of the way of the attack. The needles kept on following her, though. "Use a Protect to cancel the attack!" She did so, and I called out, "Let's see how good they are at hitting a moving target that hits back."

She (Sunseeker) grinned, dodging another Pin Missile just with her vines, sending some Razor Leafs in retaliation.

&&&&&

The sphere of green energy appeared around her, and the Cacturne bounced off the sphere, his Faint Attack failing miserably. I smiled, and said, "Use Sweet Scent."

Sunseeker's Protect shield faded, and she shot out streams of sweet-smelling powder. I breathed in the scent, sighed lightly, and watched the Cacturne. It was looking a lot more relaxed. Rikku looked curiously at the powder, until she caught a whiff of it. "Wow, this stuff does smell good!"

I grinned, and Sunseeker's second part of the attack kicked in. Well, actually, she used another attack - Attract. She shot a heart-shaped bubble at the Cacturne, who looked at it curiously, almost lazily. Rikku arched an eyebrow, until it hit her pokemon, and he remained still, before bowing to Sunseeker.

"Huh?"

I smiled. "Attract. Makes the opposite gender fall in love with the pokemon that used it." Suicune added, It doesn't work on those of us without a gender, like Psymachine or myself… but the effect is rather amusing.

Sunseeker asked something of the Cacturne, and he turned away, and returned into his pokeball.

I breathed in the scent deeply, before grinning at Rikku's expression. "Wonderful thing, the power of infatuation. In five minutes, he'll forget that he ever liked Sunseeker like that, but during the time Attract works, they're little love-slaves to whoever uses it, unless they're tightly bonded to their trainer." I'd never used that combo on Rikku, so she hadn't expected it. Vib could fly, and he was smart enough to want to evade whatever came after Sweet Scent, he knew about my combo attacks.

Rikku sighed. "Meanie, I should go challenge Yuna, not you."

I shrugged, turned, and laughed. Some of the people at the Calm Lands had been watching the battle, and I saw gil changing hands. Rikku walked over, and whispered, "You could probably sell that scent, you know."

I nodded, and whispered back, "Looks like we could turn pokemon battling here into an attraction, with bets and all."

Rikku flinched. "Sounds like gladiator sports… ew."

I shrugged. "My world has bets on pokemon battles, it's part of their… and our nature to fight. Besides, even Sunseeker likes an occasional fight." As I said that, Sunseeker walked up to Rikku, her usual scent replacing the Sweet Scent. Rikku breathed deeply, and sighed. "Well, let's go have some fun."

&&&&&

Yuna and Paine walked up to us. Paine asked directly, "Did you two have a battle with your pokemon?"

Rikku laughed nervously, while I shrugged. "Yeah, Sunseeker verses her newest pokemon. Why?"

Yuna said lightly, "Because we were asked to speak to you about possibly having a few more battles."

I arched an eyebrow and said in mock-Gippal, "The High Summoner, a messenger?" Yuna blinked once, and laughed.

&&&&&

I called out, "Rikku, you ready?"

Vib nodded. I turned to Yuna, who had a Milotic out. The Milotic was a typical example of the species - elegant tail fan, locks, serpentine body, and a elegance that made most people stare. "You ready?"

Yuna nodded.

I walked to the edge of the box that had been laid out, and said lightly, "Last chance for bets, people!"

A few last bets were taken, and then the collectors nodded to me. I turned to the battlefield, and said, "I'll be judging this match. Let this battle commence!"

There was an instant silence, as Vib launched himself into the air. The Milotic watched him with wary eyes. Yuna and Rikku remained silent, then ordered at the same time, "Dragonbreath!" "Twister!"

The two dragon attacks pushed against each other (a gold-colored breath attack vs. a literal twister), then the stronger Dragonbreath hit the Milotic, though I could tell it wasn't paralyzed by the hit.

Yuna blinked, then called out, "Try a Water Pulse!"

A watery light appeared in front of the Milotic, and it jetted towards the circling Vib. He twisted in the air, dodging the watery attack. He retaliated by rushing down to the ground… ho boy.

I looked around for a moment, then sat down. Vib crashed into the ground, slamming into it with his tail and legs… a Flygon's way of triggering an Earthquake (one of them, anyway).

The field rumbled, as the Milotic looked around worriedly. It was shaken severely by the attack, and even before the move was over, Vib was back in the air.

I looked around, scanning to see how the spectators had faired, as well as Yuna and Rikku. The two of them had fallen over, as had almost all the audience. Rikku asked aloud, "Was that an Earthquake?"

I nodded, but remained silent. Yuna paused, then smiled slightly. "Milotic, do you know an ice attack?"

The Milotic nodded, a frozen light gathering around it. I winced, as did Rikku after a moment. This was going to be a slaughter. That was a Ice Beam. Yuna said, "Use it."

The frozen beam fired, aimed at Vib. He must have noticed it, because he dove to avoid it.

Rikku called out, "Li, can he survive one of those?"

I thought about it, then nodded. "Yeah. But he'd be tired as hell afterwards."

Rikku nodded. "Let's end this quick! Vib, Hyper Beam!"

Vib responded by gathering energy for a moment, then firing the attack straight at Yuna's Milotic. The elegant pokemon tried to move away, but it was too slow, and got nailed directly by the attack… which also caused an explosion of dirt from the attack.

Vib nearly crash-landed, breathing heavily. The smoke cleared, and a severely damaged Milotic lay on the ground, panting. It tried to get up, but passed out. I said calmly, "Milotic is unable to battle. Winner, Rikku and Vib."

There was murmuring among the crowd, as I walked up to the pokemon, producing a Sprian made Hi-Potion. I opened it, and poured it carefully into the unconscious pokemon's mouth. After a few moments, it stirred, and awoke. I said softly, "Recover yourself, these aren't Full Restores."

The elegant pokemon nodded, and glowed, wounds closing. I straightened, and Yuna gasped (I'd been blocking the sight of her, and the crowd). Looking hardly worse for wear, the Milotic blinked tiredly. Yuna blinked, and asked, "Was that a potion?"

I nodded. "Yup. Hi-potions work on pokemon too, you know." I shrugged, then walked over to the collectors. Since both companies had wanted 'in' on the gambling, we'd agreed to let BOTH of them collect bets (credits only). I said to both the representatives, "Now, about that fee…" This was only the first battle, there was one more to go.

&&&&&

After the second battle was over (Rikku's Cacturne was defeated easily), I walked over to Paine, and tossed her a pokeball. "Catch."

Paine caught it two handed, and looked at it. "What's this?"

I grinned, and said, "Toss it."

She did so, and the pokeball opened. The white and black (mostly white) pokemon yawned, stretched, and turned to his new trainer, and me. Its eyes narrowed, and I crossed my arms. "I'm no longer a disaster, Absol."

Suicune stepped beside me, meeting Absol's Leer with one of her own. Eventually, the Absol looked away from me and her, and to Paine. It studied her, and then his eyes widened, and he looked over at me, saying, "Ab… sol, absol, ab."

He says that Paine's a… I can't translate the term. Something that some pokemon will like, others won't… close enough.

Paine blinked, and looked at me, as the Absol cautiously approached her. "What's that about?"

I shrugged. "Some people are… good with certain pokemon." I shrugged, then pointed to myself. "It depends on the trainer… I'm a general-skills trainer, with an emphasis on TM moves. In other words, most pokemon will get along with me. You… well, some pokemon that would never obey me, would listen to you."

Paine's eyes became distant, then she nodded. "I guess that makes sense. Sort of like an inborn ability?"

I nodded, as did Suicune. The Absol had walked up to her, and was sniffing her carefully, before rubbing against her. Paine, on reflex, rubbed it on the head-scythe.

&&&&&

As we walked out of the Calm Lands, Paine and Rikku were counting their winnings. "We got a good haul. Not to mention those pokemon battles we staged."

Paine smirked, her Absol walking freely besides her. Her outfit wasn't that big of a variation of her normal look – a black top, and baggy black pants, with a bag that was easily slung over her shoulder (silver, interestingly enough). No hat or anything, but she seemed to be content with how it looked.

It seemed a bit odd… dark types seemed to like her a lot, that Absol had despised me when I'd last seen it… now he was walking calmly beside her. Well, that, and I wasn't a living disaster, but it was still a bit disconcerting.

Yuna was lost in her thoughts, thinking about something. After a few moments, she said, "Are our worlds really that different?" I looked over at her, then shook my head. "Not really, when you look at them from a certain view."