"Come on Ash." Cass begged.
"No, and it's still Ark." Ark sighed.
"Why not, I'm the only one in class without one." Cass complained.
"And most of us have been at this for years, this isn't something you just pick up at random." Ark argued.
"That's not what Lillie said." Cass rebuked.
"Lillie got Snowy as an egg from the Principal." Ark countered.
"Not the point she made. She said you brought home a stray that became Pikachu." Cass teased.
At the sound of his name Pikachu perked up only to realize it was the two of them bickering.
"Tapu Koko brought Pichu to me to train, I never just… okay I did take him home at first but I did let him back into the wild." Ark said.
"Well how about a practice one, like Wimpod!" Cass offered.
"Wimpod?" Ark asked.
"Yeah, you rarely use him anyways, so how about this. If I can prove I'm responsible enough to take care of Wimpod for a day, then will you help me get my first Pokemon?" Cass pled.
"Alright. IF you can manage to keep track of and keep him safe all day, then we can ask dad if it's alright with you getting your own Pokemon." Ark relented.
"YES!" Cass said, reaching for Wimpod's Pokeball.
"But, no Pokeball, you have to spend the day with him, just like I would with Pikachu." Ark said, sending Wimpod out. "Alright Wimpod, you remember Cass, right?"
Wimpod looked to the younger girl before nodding.
"Okay, she's going to be taking care of you today, and you're also going to be taking care of her, so don't go running off on her, okay?" Ark said slowly.
Wimpod nodded in understanding and scuttled onto Cass's back.
"So, now what?" Cass asked.
"Go, explore, you're in a new town, if you get lost head to Main Street and ask for Anela, tell her you're my sister and she'll know what to do." Ark said. "I've got battle training."
"Again?" Cass asked.
"Can't be the very best by being lazy! Come on Pikachu we're off to Bewear's!" Ark said, as Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder.
Up in the air
"Sorry Toucannon, I know you aren't used to this, but I want to keep an eye on Cass without letting her know I'm keeping an eye on Cass." Ark said, he had borrowed a ride harness to try out with Toucannon and while this wasn't their plan, it would be for today. Ark watched as Cass and Wimpod left a few minutes later, saying goodbye to Hobbes as they left for town.
A bit later down on the ground in town
"Alright Wimpod, Ark said we had to spend the day together, so how about some snacks? Lillie told me about Malasadas and Pokebeans, how about we try there?" Cass asked.
"Pod." Wimpod said, still on Cass's back.
"Young lady, if no one can see your Pokemon, they might think you're crazy." An older woman said, setting down a basket.
"Oh, sorry. I'm watching over my brother's Wimpod, and he's a little shy." Cass apologized.
"Well that's Wimpod for you, not a spine to be had, until food comes out that is, here try this." The woman said, setting down some fresh cut Oran Berries.
Cass felt Wimpod move around for a moment before scuttling back down her back and leg towards the ground, and then the berries.
"Oh, how much do I owe you for those?" Cass asked.
"Nonsense, I'm happy to share my crops with all of Alola, it's only fair. We take from the island, and then we give back to the island." The woman said, petting Wimpod.
"Wow, he's acting like you know him." Cass said in astonishment.
"Maybe I do, you said he's your brother's Pokemon, I might know him." The woman said. "I'm Anela by the way."
"YOU'RE ANELA!" Cass said in shock.
"Why yes, oh let me guess you're Ark's little sister from Kanto." Anela said. "I recognize the resemblance now."
"Wow, I thought Anela might be a secret girlfriend or something, but this… wow." Cass said in astonishment.
"Oh no, my days of being some boys secret girlfriend are long gone." Anela said with a smile. "But your brother is still something special, always willing to help out at my stand whenever I need it, and never asks for anything in return either."
"Pik Pik"
A few Pikipek flew down next to Anela's stand grabbing a few berries before taking off again.
"Strange, I don't usually see Toucannon come out with the flock." Anela said, looking into the sky.
"Maybe I really had Ark all wrong this whole time." Cass said as the Pikipek and Trumbeak flew off.
Up in the air
"Do you think they saw us?" Ark asked Pikachu and Toucannon.
"Pipipi." Pikachu said in confusion.
"Cannon." Toucannon responded calmly as she said goodbye to the Pikipek.
"Right, we just need to stay calm, though it might be time for a more subtle approach." Ark said, bringing Toucannon in for a landing.
Back with Cass
"Alright, glad that you're a lot more open now, though you definitely feel weird when holding you from below." Cass said, holding Wimpod.
Ark was across the street in a trench coat with Passimian beside him in an identical trench coat, looking into the display case, but really the reflection they could see across the street.
"Hey look, it's a little Pokemon like what big bro has." A short Team Skull member said, walking up with two other members.
"Umm, I don't want any trouble, so how about you just forget I was here and we can call it all good?" Cass asked.
"How about this instead, we'll hold onto that Wimpod of yours and then you can skedaddle.
"Go Passimian." Ark said, holding the trench coat as he walked off.
Passimian ran across the street, getting between Cass and the three Team Skull grunts letting out a scream.
"Wimpod, run!" Cass shouted, as she ran off, still holding the bug close.
Passimian took this opportunity to grab his Iron Ball before launching it at the Team Skull Pokemon back and forth, knocking them out quickly.
"Hey what's the big idea, a sole Passimian attacking us like that?" One of the grunts said in confusion as Passimian leapt onto a light pole before disappearing.
A few corners around
"Great work Passimian, come on back." Ark said, returning the fighting type to it's Pokeball only to turn around to see Cass right behind him. "Cass, hey, what a coincidence." Ark lied.
"Save it, you don't trust me!" Cass said angrily. "You said this was a way to see if I was ready to have a Pokemon, and instead of giving me a fair chance, you've been spying on me!"
"Look, it's just that I'm worried about you, you're my little sister and I want to protect you." Ark sighed. "If anything were to happen to you, what would I tell our parents?"
"Then why aren't you like this with Lillie?" Cass countered.
"Because she had that for years, even after she got Snowy, but I've seen her in battle and she's grown a lot in these few months." Ark admitted thinking back.
"So did I at least do well?" Cass asked with a smirk.
"You opened up to Wimpod, you knew when to run, and trust me if you encounter Team Skull, at least for now your best chance is to run, and he seems to be happy." Ark said. "So yeah, I guess when you find that special Pokemon that gives you a true feeling of 'this is the one', then I'll help you catch it." Ark said, giving her a quick hug.
"Ack Ash get off of me, this is embarrassing!" Cass yelled, trying to push him away.
"Nope, you officially have a big brother, get used to it." Ark said, hugging her even tighter.
In the shadows
"Sir, a new problem has arisen, there is another one related to the dark haired boy." A woman clad in all white said.
"She is of no concern, I err we only need the three to bring back our gods full power." The figure on the other end of the line said.
"Understood, once we can, we will bring the blonde girl to you." The woman said.
"And with her, the boys will bring the sun and the moon to us." The voice said.
Quick note before you go, head on over to my main profile page, there's a new poll posted there.