Savoir-faire – To Know and To Do
X: Vouloir – To Want
Day 13: The visitor and I stayed for one day in Parfum Palace. He liked the jardins, especially the parterre. There was a comparison of Sinnoh and Kalos architecture, that ended when he concluded that despite certain gems, Kalos did have a better overall structure, though his own preference went towards au naturel. It was after that discussion of landscape architecture that came the real problem...
"No, you can't keep him!"
The heart of the trouble seemed to have followed Iris to Kalos from Unova, and from Unova it had come from Sinnoh via Cynthia. Cynthia certainly reacted quickly when faced with him.
A dark claw wrapped around the handle delicately, the cup being lifted and then the hot tea sipped as delicately as any surgeon could manage. How it managed that without a mouth should be discussed with Aegis. Its one beady blue eye glimmered towards the speaker, said Champion of the Sinnoh region, and then it proceeded to turn its head to ignore her.
"It belongs to Newmoon Island!" Cynthia raged. "That Pokémon is bad news!"
"He spent the past night in my room," I commented. "Very restfully, I might add. I like him."
"He?" Cynthia sputtered.
"In the Kalosian tradition, things usually have a gender," I supplied. "In the absence of one, we usually affix a third-person masculine article. For convenience, this Pokémon is now a he."
It sniffed the tea, drank some more, and meditated.
"It- It's a restricted Pokémon!" Cynthia protested.
"By choice," I wanted to smile. "Why don't you try to detain him, Champion Shirona? Perhaps you can. You are the Sinnoh region's protector."
"You can't expect me to believe that you spent a night sleeping with that nightmare in your room!"
"Of course not." I added, "He spent two nights."
I then stood up. "Well, as cross-regional laws indicate, I am supposed to inform the Champion's office of the Pokémon's region of origin of my ownership. With that done, Darkrai is effectively a citizen of Kalos. Good day."
Darkrai floated out behind me. That was... unusual.
Altair stood outside, definitely awaiting me. On his shoulder, Liz perched, floating to inspect Darkrai before extending her flower tentatively. Darkrai responded with a claw that merely touched the flower, before he let go.
You're already feeding three Ghosts, Altair commented. Any more and perhaps that curse might run out.
I envied AZ sometimes. He had a goal to find the bloody Floette that started the whole saga to begin with as a goal, which was somewhat determined and a tearjerker all in one. "I've made arrangements for after-care. You could work for the Looker Bureau, Essentia could use some help. I'm pretty sure I taught you well enough to pass in Lumiose, at least. A Crobat and a Malamar could build something."
That is not the point, Trainer, Altair replied. Darkrai, you followed the Unova Champion's nightmares here?
Yes, Darkrai confirmed. You are unlike any Fighting-type Pokémon.
I am part-Steel, and with it I have the patience to ask, Altair answered. Hanging around with a cynical mistress with a penchant for education also means that I can pass in human society.
"Oi," I grumbled, but without heat.
She called to you with a charm, did she not? Altair asked.
Yes.
That charm's original purpose was to lure nightmarish spirits to the bodies of shamans, who would then exorcise the spirits, Altair snarled. Do you understand? She already knew your true identity. She did that performance to get you to attach to her. I cannot allow my mistress to throw the life my compatriots died for-
"Altair," I cut in. My partner's telepathic speech was petering to an end when I seized the chance. "I don't mind. Vega is on vacation, and we're one member short. That charm isn't permanent, and a Darkrai as old as him can shake off the effects pretty easily. That Bad Dreams ability might be a bit troublesome, but we'll find a way."
You would still accept me, knowing my ability? he, the Pokémon from Sinnoh, questioned.
"You know the nature of this curse?" I extended my hand, allowing that icy blue eye to examine the rather unremarkable flesh.
I do. The horned one?
"And the herald," I tilted my head. "It's rather hard to attack me if I'm already living in a nightmare, is it not?"
So you look to break this curse?
"Is there a point?"
If you plead with the horned one, perhaps he could reverse his work.
"I refuse," I answered severely. "What my team did to him is not something that can be forgiven so easily. Furthermore, I have my studies to do, and my partner would like me to live a little longer, for some reason. If you wish, I leave by noon. If not, then Cynthia would probably see that you return to Sinnoh safely. You can take transportation, right?"
"I flew."
"Just because you can doesn't mean you have to," I answered, running a hand through my newly darkened hair. "I'll be waiting for your answer."
"You are a Trainer?"
"I'm too dependent on my Lucario to do so," I answered self-depreciatingly, allowing Altair to guide me by an arm down the hallway, Darkrai floating behind me.
The mask you present to the rest of the world... is fascinating, Darkrai answered. You want others to know your true self, yet you only show them a false face. How can anyone know you if you don't reveal yourself?
"In most of the world's mythology, you are the god of darkness who induces nightmares, and most of the time as a power-hungry megalomaniac," I blandly answered. "Right now, we are speaking as equals, acquaintances whose threads of fate just happened to be intertwined, and you are a rational creature. Which is the real Darkrai?"
If you hide behind masks, you are afraid that they will find out who you really are.
"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me," I quoted. "Who said that I was hiding a mask, anyway? Altair, let's go."
Understood.
As morning approached to noon, I was obsessed with packing, planning, and I typed a draft message on my Holo Caster to Donar. It was unfortunate, but Daisy Linden would be put away once more, and Dr Marguerite Linden du Bois put back into place. If Altair gave any indication of discomfort, or if somehow the masks I used to deal with the world had different auras, he never showed it. With this research...
"No great rush," I replied, tucking my hair behind my left ear as a passing breeze tossed my hair about, in the shadow of Parfum Palace. "Bonjour, Donar."
"Dr du Bois?" Donar gaped, staring at Altair. He clung onto his bag, his Fletchling clinging to his cap. "Hi, Doctor. Erm... what about Ms Linden?"
"Daisy has entrusted Altair to me," I answered. Technically not a lie; since a Trainer's Pokémon is entrusted to their own Trainer. "Speaking of which. We may have a new member to join us. Shall we set off for Ambrette or Cyllage?"
"What's the difference?" Donar frowned. "Cyllage... that's the next gym, right?"
"Yes," I reflected. "The Cyllage Gym Leader Grant was not present in Parfum Palace during the League conference, if I remember Daisy saying so. Ambrette Town and Cyllage City both lie along the Muraille Coast, and both can be accessed by the Connecting Cave we are headed towards. Whismur have destroyed the local Zubat and Geodude population, so we can expect a change in scenery."
"Whismur?" Donar frowned. "Erm... do you think I can take on Grant, as I am?"
"Grant is a Rock-type specialist."
"And...?"
"He will use two Pokémon," I counted. "You decide yourself. You learned about types in school, right?"
"Yeah..." Donar frowned. "Erm, Rock is super effective against Flying, Fire, Ice and Bug... weak against Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground and Steel. Still, if Grant is stronger than Viola, then Frogadier might not be a good idea. I don't think Bulbasaur can get into a battle now either."
"Use the Whismur as target practice," I suggested as we passed the Battle Château. "If you wish it, we could get Bulbasaur some more practice at the Château."
"That pack of elitists?" Donar wrinkled his nose. "No thanks. I'll take my chance against the Whismur."
"As you wish."
Donar paused as we walked past a school of Spritzee, a swarm of Swirlix, and finally a pack of Smeargle. "About Smeargle... they're very nice Pokémon, aren't they?"
"Their unique move, Sketch, was the inspiration of the modern Technical Machine," I answered. "That, and the Beautifly."
"Huh?"
"We have a case of divergent evolution in the Wurmple," I explained. "From one Wurmple, you can get a Silcoon or a Cascoon, which would then evolve to Beautifly or Dustox respectively. A Meowth could create gold using Pay Day, but there is no Pokémon more associated with alchemists than the Beautifly."
"Why?" he asked.
"Unlike most Pokémon, whose attacks are developed entirely internally, a Beautifly's thorax is so small and fragile," I explained. "Its attacks from Stun Spore to Bug Buzz are thus produced in plain view, on their wings. Many alchemists, especially amongst the forest-dwelling denizens of Fortree City, has spent their life studying Beautifly in the hope of infinite wealth. Although they failed to teach this Pokémon Pay Day, or to turn Silver Wind into solid silver, they discovered a great deal about how Pokémon attacks worked. The first Move Tutors in Hoenn are descended from Beautifly alchemists, and the Technical Machine developed from there when science studied the various methods by which Smeargle Sketched moves."
"I see..." Donar looked doubtful, but accepting as we climbed a flight of steps. "I met Daisy Linden."
"And?"
"Your... your sister-in-law is the Champion of Kalos," Donar waved a hand. "Altair's a Champion's Pokémon, and a close Pokémon at that! Why didn't you say so?"
"How is this relevant?" I asked.
"It is!" Donar shouted. "Shouldn't you be more protective of her? I think... I don't quite know, but I think Daisy's under a lot of stress. Shouldn't Altair be by her side, supporting her?"
"You make it sound like I made her lend Altair to me," I severely narrowed my eyes.
"Sorry..."
"Do you really think I could make Altair do anything he doesn't want to?" I archly questioned.
"You have his Pokéball," he answered slowly.
"And he has Extreme Speed," I rebutted. "He can run out of the Pokéball range and back to Daisy if he wanted. Lucario are famous for their strong sense of justice and their fighting skills as well. I reiterate; I cannot make a Lucario do anything against its will."
I then leaned back and examined the results of my verbal evisceration, before I laid a balm: "Besides, removing the stress of training off for a while would be good for Daisy, as you might observed. She's a bit high-strung."
"Understatement," Donar muttered, but made no mention of it.
I could feel Altair's derision at my self-description. Still weird, describing the same person as two different people.
As long as no one reveals it, Marguerite Linden du Bois can live. That was what I thought as I climbed the steps before I was confronted by my past.
"Pika, Thunder Wave!" Serena was battling, and against her opponent, it looked like she was having a hard time. There was not a dark blue blur, before water missiles collided with the creature, knocking it out.
"Fast!" Donar gasped, staring as the Pokémon slowed down, flipping to land on its feet.
It was a large, bipedal, frog-like Pokémon. Its body and legs were a dark bluish-purple, large white bubbles floating upon its legs and arms. White spots were present over its eyes, upon its triangular head. Its feet were webbed, back feet between two toes and front feet between three toes. Its chest was an off-white, its triangular, flat features on a yellow and purple face. Eyes with white sclera, red irises, and white pupils glimmered, standing out from the large, projecting stripe down the middle of its head and the projecting blue stripes in between its large, yellow ears. Its mouth is hidden behind a large, pink tongue that wraps around its neck, extending outward behind its head.
"That Pikachu requires a bit more training, Serena!" the Trainer called. "Otherwise, Jean is going to keep winning!"
"Papa is too strong!" Serena just shot back. "Oh, Donar? Papa came over with Jean! Erm, Papa, this is Donar Oak, our next-door neighbour. Donar, this is my father-"
"Calem Calme," I spoke the name I had not heard from over the years. "And that is his... Greninja."
Perhaps I should take a moment to explain. Despite the type advantage and Greninja's clearly larger move pool and speed, Delphi always won against Jean, the Greninja. And each time I was faced with it, or its earlier incarnations, the comptine kept running through my head:
Il pleut il mouille,
C'est la fête à la grenouille.
Il pleut il fait beau temps,
C'est la fête au paysan.
Il pleut, il mouille,
C'est la fête à la grenouille.
Quand il ne pleuvra plus,
Ce sera la fête à la tortue!
So each time the Greninja appeared, it had its own mental theme music. Which was still not going to put it as bad as the mental music Darkrai would have.
"Do I know you?" Calem, ten years older and looking barely changed, squinted at me.
"Marguerite Linden du Bois," I quickly introduced myself. "I'm a researcher at the Sycamore Laboratory specialising in Pokémon-human interaction on a sociological basis. I am a Trainer by default, so I would know the only Kalosian Trainer who could match the Kalos Champion."
"It's... nothing," Calem demurred. The egoistical Calem, actually exhibiting humility? What a shock.
"Greninja..." Donar took out his PokéDex. Greninja, the Ninja Pokémon. It appears and vanishes with a ninja's grace. It toys with its enemies using swift movements, while slicing them with throwing stars of sharpest water.
"Greninja is the final evolution of Froakie!" Serena explained to Donar quickly.
"That's fantastic..." Donar gaped towards Jean, which gave Calem a chance to study us, and look at Altair. If Calem did not recognise the Lucario that had beaten him every time at every battle since Shalour City, then I was going to give up on the human race.
"That Lucario..." Calem blinked. "Altair... right?"
You again? Altair muttered via telepathy.
"You're Daisy's Altair... then why are you here?" Calem blinked, looking at it, ignoring even his own daughter. "It's been a long time, Altair!"
"Papa, you know that Lucario?" Serena asked.
"This Lucario was always used to finish our six-on-six battles," Calem explained. "Daisy's Lucario... then, where is Daisy?"
"I am taking guardianship of Altair while Daisy recovers from her tragedy," I replied, the lie already firmly in place. "I have been holding guardianship of Altair for nearly six years."
"Tragedy?" Calem blinked. "What happened to Daisy? I haven't actually kept much contact since we last fought at Kiloude."
I remembered. Kiloude City was where Calem Calme tasted defeat for the last time from the hand of Daisy Linden, Trainer. Before Daisy Linden became the Champion. "You're Daisy's friend?"
"Yeah," Calem nodded firmly. "She's my friend! I want to battle her team once more!"
"Even if half that team is dead?"
Serena paled, Donar reared back. Calem looked like his own judgement was coming. "What do you mean?" he spluttered. "What's going on? Altair?"
"M. Calem..." Altair replied. "On that last strike on Team Flare in Geosenge... we were betrayed. The details are restricted information, but I can tell you; three of us six were killed, and one is missing. Of the original six registered in the Hall of Fame, only Vega and I are left."
"What?" Calem swallowed, and Jean, that grenouille, actually looked physically ill. "Delphi, Deneb, Sealeo and Banette are... dead?"
"On the advice of Dr Entendre, Vega and Daisy have taken a retreat," I explained. "Because a Fighting-type Pokémon demands a greater training schedule, Daisy has arranged for Altair and I to stay together for the time being."
"She loves this Lucario!" Calem snapped. "Even if her legs were broken, she'd find a way to train him! D'you think I'll be fooled?! Dr du Bois, I will only ask once. Where is Daisy?"
"Daisy Linden was in Parfum Palace," Serena told him.
"She's already left with Vega," I rebutted. "To where, only Madame Carnet would know. I wouldn't recommend it, though, since her psyche is rather fragile."
I saw Donar looking towards Altair and then to Calem and Serena, almost trying to comprehend the current turn of events.
"If you are right..." Donar swallowed. "Then Altair is supposed to follow your orders? For six years?"
"Ah," I replied with a drawl.
"Then prove it," Calem challenged. "One-on-one. Altair versus Jean."
"...I got it," I nodded, figuring through his reasoning. If I refused, that would be a suspicious sign. If I lost, Calem could take that as a sign to begin digging into Daisy Linden's activities. "Altair."
"I know." My Lucario stood opposite Jean, who rearranged the folds of his tongue, eyeing Altair as it slowly dug its back feet into the ground.
"Erm... do we need a referee?" Serena volunteered. "Then... Start!"
"Water Shuriken!" Calem immediately shouted.
"Extreme Speed!" I countered.
It was a battle of speed more than anything else; Jean leapt high, the discs of water slicing through trees, earth and rock as Altair dashed forth and planted a glowing fist near him. Both immediately jumped back, aware of each other's reach and speed now.
"Aura Sphere!" I commanded.
"Jean, Mat Block!" Calem called.
Two moves unique to the Froakie line... "Metal Sound!"
I stuffed my fingers into my ears as Altair let out a howl, and the grenouille flipped back, stunned for a brief second with its Trainer. Mat Block did not stop status moves, so...
"Aura Sphere!" I retaliated, and Altair dove into the air, the grenouille preparing to jump up before realising that a sphere of light was falling to it. The resulting explosion sent the grenouille shaking again, but then Altair was already ready, positioned in the air right above it, the glowing bone forming in his paws.
"Bone Rush!" I ordered, Altair bringing the bone down with all of gravity and his weight behind the force.
Jean gave out a bubbly sort of cry as it hit his tongue, and then, as Altair landed, the second swipe made it across, almost a baseball run. Jean was sent flying off of its feet. It landed, and it did not stir until Calem had run over to check.
"Dr du Bois wins..." Serena sounded disgruntled.
"That's the Altair I know," Calem nodded. "Jean?"
"Ja..." the Greninja hissed.
"You did well," Calem smiled sadly, recalling it into the Pokéball. "Altair's skills hasn't faded at all with you, Doctor. I'm sorry."
"It's alright," I dismissed.
"But... like this, Altair can't access his Mega Evolution, right?"
I tried not to finger my Mega Ring, certain that Calem had not noticed it yet. "Do you anticipate that we will need it, M. Calme?"
"Probably not," Calem admitted. "So... both of you are headed to Cyllage, right?"
"We're taking the long way to Ambrette Town," Donar answered.
"Ambrette?" Calem laughed. "Oh, the Glittering Cave. You have a Frogadier, right?"
"Yes," I replied. "But my Bulbasaur also needs training, so I'm taking the long way."
"Turning the long trip into a training journey, eh?" Calem laughed. "Training is good, but remember to have fun. Well, Doctor, Donar, Serena and I must see Elmo. About Serena and Elmo... I understand now. Altair... is Daisy willing to see me?"
I felt the dark presence approach, and I saw the shadow assimilate with mine as Altair slowly and carefully replied. "Her mental state is too fragile to accept anyone. Perhaps this is also an effect of having a Mega Evolution Pokémon die while Trainer and Pokémon are connected."
"I see..." Calem slowly nodded. "Then, d'you think she'll accept letters?"
"I doubt that, but you could try. Professor Sycamore could forward those letters."
"Thank you, Altair," Calem nodded, before he threw a protective arm around Serena's shoulders, and both father and daughter left us to enter the cave.
Nothing that you have said was a lie, Darkrai casually observed.
Instead of a mirror, think of a diamond, cut into many facets that shines like fire. From no matter where you look, you will see a different colour, but you will never see that the diamond itself has no colour.
"Ah, right. Donar, turn back."
"Yes, Dr du-" My breath stopped. My heart was palpitating. There was a single, glowing icy blue eye below a wave of white hair surrounded by teeth-like growths. The rest of the form was shrouded in shadow, but I didn't need any more information to know. "I- It's a Darkrai!"
"This Pitch-Black Pokémon native to Sinnoh actually followed Cynthia to Unova, and from Unova it came via Iris to Parfum Palace," Dr du Bois calmly explained, as if she met a legendary Pokémon everyday. "I decided to take him along. What do you think?"
What do I think of you inviting a Pokémon just a step above eldritch abomination compared to the legendary Giratina to our journey?! "I think you've gone mad, Doctor. Do you intend to sleep at all?"
"Darkrai are convenient scapegoats of most of the world's mythology," Dr du Bois scolded. "It hasn't attacked you. Do you have a problem?"
"That's because you're here!" I pointed towards her. "Why did you have to take that Pokémon in, anyway?"
"It was in Parfum Palace," she answered.
"Isn't the League there?"
"And who else?"
"The League," I waved my hand. "The Champions-"
One of which had seen three of her six Pokémon die in front of her. I felt my stomach clench.
"The Bad Dreams ability of Darkrai cannot be controlled by him," Dr du Bois softly explained. "It has a radius of about four point eight kilometres."
The other side of the Connecting Cave. And where Daisy was. "There's... really no choice, is there?" I muttered, eyeing the inside of the cave. "It's going to be weird..."
Dr du Bois immediately released Liz. The Single Bloom Pokémon looked from the inside of the cave, then towards Dr du Bois, and then towards Darkrai, blinking. It gave me a pleading look, as if I could change her decision.
"Sorry," I muttered to it. "That Connecting Cave... are we really going in?"
"Of course we are," Dr du Bois eyes Liz. "Flash."
The Floette grumbled in bubbly tones, glowing with a soft, controlled light as we entered behind the floating Pokémon. Wet earth clogged at my nose, and with it a rank smell of moss and other stuff associated with the dark and damp. Darkrai levitated, a silent spectre.
"I can't say I'm completely comfortable with this," I told him. It. Whatever. "It's not you, it's Dr du Bois."
I understand.
"Of course you-" I stopped. "You just talked... right?"
There is no other voice, save for the Lucario, that would deign to talk to you.
"That's just rude," I huffed. "A simple yes would suffice."
Humans, I find, tend to regard voices in their head as signs of mental insanity.
I faltered. "There's that... but, you can speak."
Yes.
"You're not a raving demons who distributes nightmares."
I hardly have a choice regarding whether or not I give nightmares.
"Pokémon... can't control their ability," I reflected.
The only viable way is by Gastro Acid, as far as I know.
"Being drenched in stomach acid, yeah, no thanks," I nodded, testing the sandy earth under my shoes. "Dr du Bois, are you sure-"
"Shh," Dr du Bois hushed, leaning down to run her fingers through the earth. The cave seemed to hum from her voice.
"Why?"
"On the walls either side of us are freshly dug earth and remnants of geodes," Dr du Bois murmured. "No sign of Zubat droppings, fresh or otherwise, but plenty with signs with Pecha berries. The low height of this cave means that Exploud and Loudred find it a poor habitat, and the lack of Zubat or others so far..."
Within the sphere of light created by Liz, a pink Pokémon bounced in. A giant rabbit-like Pokémon with yellow ear-tips and toe-tips, and puckered ears. Liz gave a gentle burble, hovering near.
It murmured, a gentle burble of sounds indistinct to my ears.
"Whismur has taken over the Connecting Cave," Dr du Bois suddenly stood up. "Bye bye, Whismur."
I watched Dr du Bois shy away, slowly stepping back from the pink Pokémon. "What's wrong?"
"Shh!"
"Why-"
The Pokémon suddenly screamed, and I clapped a hand over my ears to save them from popping. A dark sphere flew past me, growing to envelop the Whismur, whose voice died down and then it keened and toppled over, and began snoring loudly.
"Dark Void..." Dr du Bois murmured. "I see. Liz's Sing would have no effect on a Pokémon with Soundproof, but Dark Void would have an effect on any Pokémon without abilities like Insomnia. Let's go."
"Dr du Bois, the Whismur?" I asked as she started walking away.
"Lower your tone, or we'll attract more Whismur," she darkly replied. Then, in a more normal tone: "It's in its own habitat, it'll wake up by itself. Our first priority should be to get away before Bad Dreams takes effect, or this might become our grave. Je vous remercie, Darkrai."
"I got it," I nodded, following Dr du Bois and Liz quietly, Darkrai following behind me.
We trekked through a long part of the cave, like a corridor, before we entered a high-ceilinged part of the cave that Dr du Bois identified a colony of Zubat living at the eaves – "The high ceiling must be out of the echoes' way," Dr du Bois murmured as we passed the squawking colony. "Do you notice the incline of our path?"
"Incline?" I asked.
"The slope," Dr du Bois indicated. "So far, we've been on a steady direction up. Seeing as the cliffs are supposed to be a few hundred metres over sea level, I'm not quite surprised that the Zubat chose to nest back there to escape the Whismur."
"So... is there another path through?" I asked.
"There's a very long overland route, but the Connecting Cave route is faster and less rocky," Dr du Bois spread her arms. "These cliffs served as one of the Kalos region's natural defences during the regional Wars. It must have survived millennia of war and wear already."
"It's impressive," I whistled.
I am surprised that an Aggron has not tried to dig through this, Darkrai commented.
"This cave, and the cliffs, are mostly limestone," Dr du Bois supplied. "Limestone is composed of the dead skeletons of marine organisms, and it is vulnerable to water erosion, so Aggron don't use it to build mountains. The Aron line requires a steady diet of haematite, iron ore, which is more often found in the mountains that surround Île-de-l'arc. Thus, the only population of Lairon in Kalos is at Victory Road."
"That's amazing!" I honestly answered. "So... the Whismur?"
"Whismur are usually herbivorous Pokémon, so I imagine that they live off the plants that grow on the cliffs, like other Pokémon," Dr du Bois shrugged as we found an underground creek.
Immediately, I leaned forward, cupping my hands into the pool to sip. "This is..."
"Rainwater or snow from the cliffs gather and melt, forming these constructs..." Tentatively, Dr du Bois knelt, the edge of one knee sock to the ground as she examined the soil around the creek once we stopped. "The surrounding rock is bedrock, but the stalactite formation... an underground spring. We can spend the night here."
"We're camping... in a cave," I echoed.
"We could rush, but there's no point," she shrugged. "Even if we clear the Connecting Cave in a day, we'll still have to camp at the cliffs before we can climb down to Ambrette Town. I'm sure Darkrai is hungry too."
I shall be fine.
"Just because you shall be doesn't mean that you have to put up with it," Dr du Bois archly answered, unpacking her bag to drag out two large canvas sheets, a tent pole, and a small shovel. "Altair. The collapsible bucket. Take the water we need before I let Jelly into it."
Very well.
I unpacked as well, watching Altair and Dr du Bois move in the sort of synchronisation you see in either married couples or long-time partners. "Erm, Doctor... Altair was only with you for six years, right?"
"I am a Pokémon researcher," Dr du Bois answered. "The Sycamore Laboratory in particular sends a team out to the Lavarre Nature Trail for fieldwork at least once a year. Furthermore, the supplies I bade you get on my tab was all planned for this cliff-side trip."
"I... I just got my sleeping bag." I muttered.
"A shovel?"
"Erm..." I pulled out a folded Swiss Army knife. "Will this do?"
"Note, the newbie Trainer is often unprepared to camp out," Dr du Bois muttered as she reached into her own – comparatively smaller – backpack, pulling out a small shovel before unlocking one of the levers upon it. She bent the head until it was perpendicular, locked the spade in place, and handed it to me after she dug a hole in the middle, away from the tarp. "Mark our camp borders. A ditch, starting from the edge of that spring to..." and she made an arc towards the cave wall. "Okay?"
"Right..."
"Darkrai, if you can, I need some help," Dr du Bois waved.
It should be odd, seeing the scene of a Darkrai and a human set up a bivouac off the ground lit by a Floette, while by the side a Lucario set down a bucket of water.
What is this?
Temporary habitation for humans, Altair replied. This can be used to set up a quick camp to hide, and locked down during a storm such that the occupants do not feel the cold. This is part of the reason why human explorers can go into any terrain with their Pokémon, as long as they have food and water, they can construct a shelter. Other humans, working in a team with Pokémon, can also construct more stable structures with metals and special materials such as glass or cement rather than search for a cave or tree to hide in for the night.
...humans are amazing, the Darkrai, bringer of nightmares, sounded odd.
"If we could, I would have bought the frame for it," Dr du Bois reflected. "Unfortunately, we'll have to rough it, Donar, Altair, Liz, Darkrai."
A bit of discomfort is acceptable. I am a Lucario, anyway. Why did you leave such a big space?
"Huh?" Dr du Bois turned around, glancing at the line I had set out. True enough, even with the bivouac by the creek and the pit, there was still a lot of camp space left. "Does it matter? We'll need the space. Everyone!"
Dr du Bois released her Pokémon. The pink Jellicent, Jelly, immediately homed into the creek with a burbling squeal. Crystal the Chandelure hung about, whispering before Dr du Bois ordered it to prepare a Flamethrower while Aegis rearranging a mass of what looked like kindling into the pit. Liz threw out a Vine Whip, and between Darkrai, Dr du Bois and the Floette, the bivouac was constructed between two poles, partially covering the fire that Crystal was starting.
"Portable Fire Pokémon are slightly under Pelipper in terms of usage by explorers," Dr du Bois started, digging out a small iron pot and a pack of rice, as well as a huge packet of Pokémon food from her bag. "In Unova, Tepig are some of the most common. It's small, it makes for a decent attacker to take down small threats, and if you're desperately hungry, you can kill and eat it immediately."
"That's horrifying!" I shouted at her.
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should," Dr du Bois wrinkled her nose as she placed some water into her pot. "Why don't you let out your Pokémon?"
I stared at her as she set the pot onto the fire. "Okay... come, everyone!"
Bulbasaur greeted me with a smile, Frogadier with a croak, and Fletchling chirped until it spotted Jelly, at which it flew to hide in my cap.
"It's fine, Fletchling," I soothed. "The jellyfish ain't going to eat you. Neither is the chandelier."
Bulbasaur mouthed at Darkrai, and Frogadier seemed slightly guarded, but they seemed cheerful enough to accept some kibble from my own stash.
"Where does... all this fit into that bag?" I pointed towards her backpack, which was smaller than mine.
"Fine packing," Dr du Bois answered. "According to the Sycamore Laboratory's survey, the things most Trainers list that they forget is shelter. Food, water and basic hygiene they remember, as well as Pokémon care on the road, but you'd be surprised how many start out without knowing how to camp out or how to care for Pokémon with limited resources. They probably skipped those lessons in Trainer school."
"Kanto's Trainer school never mentioned it..." I mumbled.
"Neither does the Kalos region," Dr du Bois muttered, watching Crystal spin around on her axis. "One failing of the education system. Just because Pokémon Centres exist doesn't mean that we can always stay at one."
Having seen the efficiency at which camp had been managed, I could barely rebut her. It was true, after all.
"Some have it nice, though," Dr du Bois commented. "I didn't set out with this knowledge, you know."
"Eh?" I stared at her. "Dr du Bois, when you started... you didn't know anything?"
"I started out a rookie, like you," Dr du Bois admitted. "At that time, Altair-" he stopped, before shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, this knowledge, how to camp, and where to camp, was not easy to get."
"Right..." I muttered.
"Still..." Dr du Bois frowned at the camp-fire. "Altair, we're going to have to get a portable stove at Ambrette or Cyllage. Kindling is troublesome."
"He's not your Pokémon, Doctor," I sighed. I looked to the pot, which had a long handle, and watched as Dr du Bois set the pot on the fire. "And the pot?"
"I got it in Cyllage during my own journey," Dr du Bois recalled, almost fondly. "If there was a skill I did not lack, it was caring for Pokémon and improvising a recipe. My Pokémon was really picky about food, so I made do with a giant pot that was easy to improvise a recipe with. Pass me that spade."
I handed over her miraculously bending shovel, watched her straighten it, take some water and wash the stuff, and then dig through the seemingly bottomless bag once more. "A bit of chicken, and then we'll see what we can catch later."
"Are you going to use that to cut it?!" I nearly shouted.
"I picked this up from a backpacker salesman from some mysterious region," Dr du Bois shrugged as she used the sharp edges to begin chopping. "I was very impressed by its number of functions. I haven't met that guy anywhere else. A shame."
The chicken was diced very neatly – and cleanly too, I might add. Then Dr du Bois cooked the chicken with rice using water from the pail, and with them she added a bit of salt and sauce, watching the contents bubble. "I'm glad I didn't have to improvise. Otherwise I might have to use Crystal as a stove."
I nearly spat out the chicken and rice stew. "Huh?"
"Crystal," Dr du Bois summoned her, before pointing to the relevant features. "Look. One giant flame. Four small flames. Stove in progress."
"Doctor, your Pokémon aren't your tools," I muttered.
"True... where to put the pot, for one thing," she answered as she scooped out the concoction onto readied plates. "Altair, the rest of the meat."
"Is that alright...?" I muttered as he ate the rest of the raw meat.
"He needs protein," Dr du Bois flippantly answered as she opened the pot, the smell of rice and chicken rising to greet us as she spooned the food onto waiting plates. "Bon appétit... or, as they say in Kanto, itadakimasu."
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