"This is the restaurant, correct?"
Quinn surveyed the large building. "Yep."
Rachel made a noise of acknowledgement. Soon enough, the two spotted Lauren walking with Puck trailing after her. She waved to get their attention. "Hey!"
Lauren grinned. "Hi." She opened the door of the restaurant and motioned for the three to enter. She stopped by a worker at a podium. "S'up, Jeremiah?"
"Nice to see you again, Lauren. Your dad mentioned you were stopping by with some people." The worker turned to Puck. "Is this the one that won?"
"That would be Quinn." Rachel pointed to the blonde. "I hope your presumptuous attitude will not be on the menu this evening." She crossed her arms and glared.
Jeremiah winced and glanced at the daughter of his boss. She didn't seem to be mad; she was actually laughing. He sighed in relief. He really couldn't afford to get fired again; not after the debacle where gym leader Blaine serenaded him at his old workplace.
"We'll be taking my usual table."
Jeremiah was shaken from his reverie when Lauren spoke. He quickly nodded and motioned for them to walk through.
Quinn smirked at Puck as they followed their host. "So, how was heaven?"
He gave her a goofy smile. "It was—"
"Three minutes of disappointment." Lauren laughed as she stood in front of a table in the corner of the restaurant. "We'll be sitting here. Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm not waiting around."
Puck blushed in embarrassment and followed Lauren to the buffet.
Quinn and Rachel exchanged looks before trailing after them as well.
"I'll probably regret asking this," Rachel started as she picked up a plate and surveyed the food, "but why three minutes?"
"I got bored," Lauren nonchalantly responded.
"The Puckasaurus does not bore the ladies!"
She stopped in front of him. "You just didn't do anything for me." She sighed as she grabbed a fork. "Then again, what can I expect from someone who gave in so easily?"
"What? You were the one to pursue me!"
"It wasn't much of a challenge," Lauren remarked as she balanced multiple plates and made her way back to the table.
Puck grabbed more food and followed after her.
Rachel and Quinn exchanged glances once more before the former's eyes lit up. "Oh, Quinn, look! They have vegan options!"
Quinn gazed wistfully at the assortment of meats a few tables over. She looked at Rachel and saw she was too busy putting vegan lasagna on her plate. The blonde grinned and snuck away to grab some bacon.
The two made their way back to Lauren and Puck to find them in a heated discussion.
"I'm sick of being the pursuer; I want to be the one that's pursued," the gym leader told him before taking a gulp of her milk.
"So… Are you saying you want to be wooed?" Puck set his fork down to turn to the side and gaze earnestly at Lauren.
Quinn and Rachel watched in amusement as they sat down opposite of them at the table.
Lauren nodded with a blush.
"Well then," Puck slammed his hands on the table as he stood up, "prepare yourself to be wooed like never before!"
"Wait, where are you going?" Quinn asked.
He sheepishly rubbed his head. "To get more food."
"That was anti-climactic," Rachel mumbled.
The blonde's eyes widened. "We just sat down. There's no way you could've finished your…" She trailed off when she saw his empty plates.
"That's why I stock up on the first round so I don't have to make a lot of trips." Lauren laughed at the incredulous look Rachel gave her. "What? I need the energy. I'd like to see you train my Pokémon, pipsqueak."
"Hey now," Quinn placated.
The gym leader rolled her eyes good naturedly and returned to her meal.
Light conversation took place before Puck ran back to the table, trying to balance multiple plates in his hands. Rachel winced at the copious amounts of meat while Lauren quirked an eyebrow up. He set the food down and sat next to her. "I got you a hamburger. I figured being a gym leader must take a lot out of you and all."
Lauren smirked. "Oh, I drank all of my milk."
"Don't worry! I got it," Puck jumped up to get her some more.
Quinn laughed before her eyes landed on a bottle of hot sauce. Rachel and Lauren were off in their own discussion so Quinn made her decision. She grabbed the bottle with a devious chuckle and quickly poured the contents on Puck's food.
"Here you go, babe," Puck proudly stated as he slid into his seat.
Quinn made a whipping motion and he glared at her before picking up his fork. She just smirked.
"Thanks, Puckerman," the gym leader replied offhandedly. She turned back to the brunette and took the last bite of the hamburger Puck brought her earlier.
Rachel grimaced. "Do you have any idea what that's made out of?"
Quinn paused with her fork inches away from her lips. She studied the food curiously before her eyes lit up in realization. She scrunched up her face and slowly moved the plate away from her.
Lauren shrugged with a chuckle. She schooled her features and turned back to Puck. "This hamburger sucked."
His eyes widened. "But you ate all of it!"
"I had to make sure all of it sucked."
"It's your dad's food…" Puck grumbled as he finally reached for his fork.
Rachel looked at Quinn in confusion when she heard her giggle.
"Have you three heard about that circus?" the gym leader asked conversationally.
Puck excitedly nodded as he took a bite of his food. "Yeah! I really want to—SHIT!"
Rachel blinked. "…you really want to shit?"
Puck stuck his tongue out and fanned it with his hands. "Holy shit. Holy shit. Water! For the love of Ho-Oh! Someone give me some water!" He grabbed Rachel's drink and chugged it down.
Rachel gaped at the boy while he slammed the glass down and sighed.
Quinn covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter.
Puck glared at her. "Fine, okay! You got me back! We're even!"
Quinn's hand fell away as she let out her laugh.
Lauren turned to Rachel. "You're quite the interesting group." But it went unheard as Rachel pouted at her empty glass. Lauren shook her head in amusement. "As I was saying… The circus. Are you guys going to it?"
Puck gave one last glare in Quinn's direction before responding, "I'd like to go."
"No!" Everyone turned to Rachel. "Pokémon shouldn't be held in captivity and trained for some sick spectacle for humans." She crossed her arms.
"What do you call Pokémon trainers then?"
Rachel spluttered at what the gym leader asked. "We—we're not…. We don't…"
"Don't put Pokémon in pokéballs and train them for the Elite Four? Which it in itself is a big spectacle for humans?" Rachel fell silent. "So I don't see why you guys shouldn't go," Lauren continued. "Besides, it leaves tomorrow; you don't wanna miss it. I hear this performer named Dazzling David or something has kickass fire Pokémon. And there's this Machoke that can apparently lift anything."
"That does it! We're going!"Puck turned to his two friends with pleading eyes.
Quinn jokingly sighed. "Fine. I do want to see this Lovely Lady Lopez everyone keeps talking about..."
"So after dinner, we'll go get ready and then meet up in front of the circus tent?" the gym leader questioned.
"Sure," Quinn responded while Puck nodded excitedly.
Rachel set her fork down and ducked her head.
"I think it's going to be fun," Quinn called out as she put the finishing touches to her hair. She frowned when she was met with silence. She gave herself one last once-over before making her way out of the bathroom. Rachel sat on one of the beds with her eyes downcast as she wrung her hands together. Quinn slowly approached her. "Rach? Did you hear me?"
"What? Oh, yes. Fun…"
"Hey," Quinn sat down next to her on the bed, "we don't have to go if it's only going to upset you."
Rachel shook her. "It's nothing."
Quinn put her hand on Rachel's shoulder. "Talk to me, Rach," she pleaded.
Rachel sucked in a breath as she tried to gather her wits. "I just… What Lauren said earlier…" Quinn nodded slowly as she tried to remember what the gym leader could've said to distress her friend. "How—" A tear slid down her cheek. "How am I any better than the people at the circus?"
"Rachel, what—"
"I'm pretty much using my Pokémon for my own sick amusement!" Rachel brokenly referenced her earlier discussion with the gym leader.
"Damn it, Lauren," Quinn muttered to herself with narrowed eyes. Her gaze softened when Rachel fell forward to cling to her. "Hey, no, listen," she ran her hands through Rachel's hair, "you're doing no such thing."
"I'm doing nothing but taking advantage of my Pokémon and using them for my own personal gain!" Rachel wept into Quinn's shoulder. "They must hate me!"
Quinn sat back to stare earnestly into her friend's eyes. "No. Your Pokémon love you."
"How can they? I'm horrible—"
"Do you love them?"
"Wha—Of course!"
"Then that's all that matters."
"But, Quinn…" She trailed off when Quinn reached over and took a pokéball off the brunette's belt.
"Espeon!" The psychic type Pokémon appeared at the foot of the bed. She looked around the room in confusion before her eyes landed on the two girls. She mewed in concern at the look of anguish on her trainer's face.
Rachel watched with watery eyes as her Elphaba nuzzled into her. She lowered her head in shame and brought a hand up to wipe a stray tear. She felt as if she didn't deserve the sign of affection from Espeon.
"Espeon…" Espeon sat back on her hind legs as the orb in the middle of her forehead began to glow.
Rachel closed her eyes tight when she felt the Pokémon move away. She was right; she didn't deserve them and they knew it.
The other pokéballs on Rachel's belt began to glow in a similar light before floating into the air and releasing their inhabitants.
A gasp from Quinn snapped Rachel back to attention. "Wha—"
"Leef! Bayleef!"
"Hoot!"
The two Pokémon didn't know what was going on; however, one look at their trainer had them scrambling in her lap to try and console her.
Rachel stumbled back on the bed as her Pokémon cuddled into her. A fresh set of tears appeared as she tried to hug the three to her.
Quinn stood up from the bed and addressed her best friend. "See? They love you." Rachel hiccupped and clung closer to her Pokémon. Quinn bit her lip at the scene before reinforcing her statement, "They do. They all love you. How could they not? I mean, Rachel, even I—"
Rachel tentatively raised her head when Quinn abruptly stopped talking. Coffee brown eyes locked with hesitant hazel and Quinn's throat became dry at the hopeful expression on Rachel's face.
"I…I, uh…"
"Hoot!"
The little owl Pokémon broke Quinn's gaze away and Rachel's expression turned crestfallen.
Quinn missed the transition as she walked up to Hoothoot to pet her feathers. "You're a phenomenal trainer, but most importantly," she turned her eyes once again on Rachel and said seriously, "you're an amazing human being. You care so much."
Rachel shook her head with a sniff.
"No, you do. You're the most caring person I know," Quinn said with conviction.
"Leef!"
"Look, Mr. Arnstein agrees with me!"
Rachel chuckled softly as Bayleef licked her cheek. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and look up at Quinn bashfully. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me for speaking the truth."
Rachel ducked her head and sighed.
Quinn furrowed her brows. "What?"
"It's just that… what about the circus Pokémon? What if they're unhappy?" She nervously stroked Espeon's fur.
Quinn rubbed her elbow in uncertainty as she thought about the question. She clasped her hands together as she addressed the issue, "This circus has garnered a lot of attention. I bet hundreds—if not thousands—of people have seen it already. If a Pokémon was being mistreated, I'm sure someone would've said something or gone to an Officer Carl."
Rachel still looked hesitant; however, she nodded along to Quinn's words because the blonde would never steer her wrong. "Right. Well, I guess…" she took a deep breath and stood up from the bed, "I guess I should go wash up so we can go to the circus." She called back her Pokémon in their pokéballs and straightened out her clothes before turning to walk.
Quinn softly grabbed Rachel's arm and reiterated what she said earlier. "You are an amazing person, Rachel. And I know you would do anything to help a Pokémon in need. Even if it meant facing Team Sylvester," she gave a dry chuckle as she patted Dratini's ball, "or… I don't know… sneaking around back after the show and releasing them with your own hands." Quinn closed her eyes as she laughed at her joke, thus missing the glint that appeared in Rachel's own.
"Yeah… Sneaking around back." She bumped Quinn's shoulder with her own as she made her way into the bathroom to freshen up, ideas quickly forming in her head.
"Here ya go, Lauren," Puck stated as he handed popcorn to the gym leader.
Quinn shook her head and whispered to Rachel, "Whipped." Rachel nodded distractedly as she took in her surroundings. Quinn frowned. "Hey," she put her hand on top of Rachel's that was on the armrest, "look at me."
Rachel glanced down at their interlocked hands before snapping her attention to Quinn. "Y-yes?"
"I know it may seem like I dragged you here, but if you don't want to be here, we can leave."
Rachel took a deep breath. "No… No, I'll be fine."
Quinn squeezed her hand. "If you at all start to feel uncomfortable, we can always ditch Pizes and leave."
Rachel nodded before quirking an eyebrow up. "Wait, Pizes?"
"Me and Lauren!" Puck spoke up from his spot next to Quinn.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Pokémon of all types! We are proud to welcome you to the show of the century…"
"Quiet! It's starting!" Lauren shushed the friends as the lights dimmed and music surrounded the tent.
Quinn rolled her eyes but turned her attention to the show.
"…and here is the person responsible for your enjoyment for the next two hours. The man, the legend…" A drum roll filled the tent as the lights focused in on red velvet curtains. "Ringmaster Ghoul!"
Cheers erupted throughout the audience as a man in a suit and half a white mask rode in on a horse type Pokémon.
"Who does he think he is with that mask? The Phantom of the Opera?" Rachel scoffed.
"Ponyta: The Fire Horse Pokémon. Ponyta is capable of jumping incredibly high. Its hooves are ten times harder than diamond. Its sturdy legs will absorb the impact of the landing caused from its extraordinary jumps."
"Shhh!" Lauren narrowed her eyes at Puck. He sheepishly put his pokédex away and paid attention to the ringmaster.
Quinn scrutinized the man as he jumped off from Ponyta and pulled a microphone seemingly out of nowhere. She leaned over to Rachel and whispered in her ear, "I feel like I know him from somewhere."
"How are you all doing tonight?" The audience roared and the ringmaster smirked.
Rachel shrugged before turning her attention back to the show.
Quinn sighed and tried to ignore the funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Let's have a round of applause for that Abra! Truly an Abra-solutely amazing performance!" The announcer chuckled at his play on words. "Now, for this next act, we have the Magnificent Matty!"
Matt Rutherford sighed before putting on his show face and bursting through the curtain.
"Matty here needs a volunteer from the audience for this bit!" The lights shown throughout the crowd as cheers and screams erupted in excitement. "Now, now, now… who will it be? How about this dapper young man?" The light focused on a teenager. He looked around in confusion before pointing to himself. "Yes, you! Come on down!"
Matt picked up a microphone and addressed the boy when he came down to the stage. "What's your name?"
"Rory," the boy nervously replied.
"That's an awesome accent you have there, Rory. I bet you get all the ladies with it."
Cat-calls were heard in the crowd and Rory's face turned a deep shade of red. "We-well, I, uh..."
"So what's your favorite Pokémon, Rory?" Matt asked to spare him the embarrassment.
"Oh, um, Politoed, sir."
"Ah, Politoed. The Frog Pokémon. They expand their throats to croak out a tune that sounds like bellowing." Matt recited. "So, why is that your favorite Pokémon?"
"Well, they're green and remind me of home."
The crowed aaawed and Rory's face turned even darker.
"That's lovely that it reminds you of home. You'll feel even closer to home with this next act. Does that sound cool with you, Rory?" The boy hesitantly nodded. "Don't worry, man, no harm has ever come to anyone who participated in this. Well, not much at least…" Matt joked as he released a pokéball.
"Hypno!"
"Hypno, use Hypnosis!" The psychic type Pokémon swung his pendulum in front of the volunteer. "You are getting very sleepy…" Rory's wide eyes glazed over as he watched the pendulum start to glow. His head lolled forward as he dozed off. "Now, Rory, listen to the sound of my voice." The boy snored and Matt chuckled along with the crowd before continuing, "When I say… oh, I don't know… the word 'Celebi,' I want you to imagine you're a Politoed. No, not imagine; you are a Politoed. Do you hear me, Rory?"
"…I… am… a Politoed…" Rory mumbled.
"This seems highly unorthodox," Rachel whispered to Quinn as the rest of the crowd watched in anticipation.
"You're green. You bellow out tunes and you jump to get around. Now, when I say the word 'Ho-Oh,'" Matt circled around the sleeping boy, "I want you to snap out of it and return to your old self. Am I clear?"
Rory snored an affirmative.
"Okay, now when I clap my hands, you're going to wake up. One, two, three!" Matt clapped his hands and Rory startled awake.
"Um, so when are we going to do the act?"
Matt smirked. "Celebi."
Rory's eyes glazed over and he crouched down on the floor. "Politoed! Politoed!" He chanted as he leapt around the stage.
The audience roared in laughter as the boy continued to act like a Pokémon.
"Ho-Oh!"
Rory stood up and looked around in confusion.
"Celebi!"
"Politoed!"
Santana shook her head at the antics going on outside the curtain. She finished the final touches of her costume before putting on the mask. She reached for the pokéball on her dresser before a voice startled her.
"Good luck out there."
"Holy Ho-Oh!" She clutched at her chest and glared at Dave.
He held his hands up in surrender. "You ready for this?"
She squared her shoulders and released the Pokémon from the ball.
"Gastly!"
Dave watched in amazement as Gastly turned invisible and levitated Santana off the ground. She smirked.
"I got this."
Quinn watched in awe as the Lovely Lady Lopez back flipped and flip-flopped on a tightrope fifty feet in the air. Rachel grasped her hand when the woman jumped up and off the rope.
The crowd stood up on their feet when Santana didn't come down, but instead flew around the tent and over the audience.
"Holy shit!" Puck hollered before whistling when Santana flew in front of him.
Santana's eyes widened behind the mask as she spotted the group of friends. She quickly nodded her head back to the stage and Gastly levitated her towards her it. Once close enough, he released his hold and she flipped through the air and gracefully onto her feet. She bowed to the roaring crowd before subtly glancing at Quinn and Rachel. She blew kisses to the crowd and exited behind the curtains.
"Shit," she muttered.
"That was Dazzling David, the human torch and his fire type Pokémon!" The announcer called out as Dave ran backstage and tore his fire-proof suit off. He gasped out a breath and welcomed the water bottle Santana gave him.
"Thanks, S." He chugged some of it before pouring the rest on his head. He knelt down next to his Houndoom and scratched behind her ears. "You were great, Doomie!"
"Magmar!"
He stood up and patted his other Pokémon on the shoulder. "You too, Magmar!"
Santana shook her head in amusement before turning serious. "Listen, Dave, you remember those three from—"
"Dazzling David! What are you doing out of costume?"
"Oh, come on, Goolsby—"
"I said to call me Ringmaster Ghoul!"
"—it's like an oven in that thing. Literally!"
Dustin Goolsby scowled and narrowed his eyes. "Whatever. Get back there and bring me the Pokémon for the next act," he ordered before marching through the curtains with a fake smile on his face.
"I'll talk to you after the show, S. I gotta get Machoke ready."
"But…" Santana trailed off as Dave walked away.
"Can you believe this, folks?" Goolsby called out to the audience atop the Ponyta. "This Machoke has lifted things no human being can ever think of lifting. But…" He trailed off as he jumped off the fire horse, "can it lift, oh, this Ponyta?"
Rachel's breath hitched and she tightly grasped Quinn's hand.
Quinn frowned as the Ponyta anxiously cried out while being lifted into the air by the bulky Pokémon.
The crowd clapped excitedly at the scene before Machoke put the fire horse down.
Rachel sighed in relief but didn't remove her death grip from the blonde's hand until Dazzling David coaxed the Ponyta away from Ringmaster Ghoul and off the stage.
"That was awesome!" Puck yelled once the show was over and the crowd started to disperse.
"Yeah…" Rachel trailed off as she watched the members of the circus walk backstage. "Hey, um, I'm going to the little girl's room!"
"Do you want me to go with you—"
"No!"
Quinn's eyes widened in confusion and slight hurt at Rachel's outburst.
Rachel sputtered for a bit before taking a deep breath. She released it and put her hand on the blonde's arm. "I'll meet you out front, okay?"
Quinn nodded slowly as she watched Rachel bolt in the other direction.
"You guys are so weird." Lauren shook her head as she grabbed Puck by the hand and dragged him through the crowd.
Quinn went to follow the duo, but turned the other way when something shiny caught her eye.
Dave fidgeted in his sequin costume. He'd take the fire-proof suit over sequins any day.
"Hello."
He looked up into familiar hazel eyes. Oh, shit, so this is what Santana was trying to say… He touched his face to ensure his mask was secured before clearing his throat and addressing the blonde. "Why, hello there! Did you enjoy the show?"
"It sure was something. Especially that Machoke act."
"Machoke is quite the powerful Pokémon."
"Yes, he is. But listen, I was a little bit concerned about the Ponyta…"
Dave lifted an eyebrow. "If you have a complaint about the show, I suggest formally writing it in a letter and I will deliver it to Ringmaster Ghoul himself."
"No, it's not that. I was just…" Brown eyes flashed in Quinn's mind and she cleared her throat. "Are your Pokémon happy?"
Dave quirked his head to the side. "Happy?"
"Yeah. Happy. I mean, you treat them well, right?"
Dave scrunched up his face behind the mask.
Rachel's eyes widened in horror as one of the workers threw a chain around Ponyta's neck to secure her to a post. She scowled as she took in the sight of various other Pokémon being locked or tied up. Her gaze narrowed at the Lovely Lady Lopez and she reached for a pokéball.
"Bayleef!"
"We take the utmost care of our Pokémon performers, ma'am."
Quinn cocked her head to the side as she studied the man in front of her. A few seconds went by before she nodded. "Thank you."
"No problem, miss. I hope you enjoyed your experience here at—holy shit!" Dave's mask slid off his face as he stumbled forward when the ground began to shake. He whipped around and his eyes widened to saucers.
"R-Rachel?" Quinn yelled in disbelief.
"Get back here you dwarf! Do you know where I'm from? I'm from Lima Heights Adjacent! Bad things happen in Lima Heights Adjacent!"
"Santana?" Dave sputtered.
"Be free, Pokémon! Be free!" Rachel shouted as she led a stampede out of the tent. "Faster, noble steed!" She thrust her fist in the air to make the Ponyta she was riding gallop quicker.
"Gastly, stop her!" Santana yelled.
The gas ghost Pokémon slowly started to glow and change form.
"Haunter!" The newly evolved Pokémon cackled as he swept down and lifted Santana off her feet.
"Gast—Haunter!" Santana kicked her feet as the purple ghost Pokémon flew after the stampede.
Quinn's eyebrows rose and she spun back to the boy. "Wait… It's you!" Dave ignored her as he ran after the chaos. Quinn looked towards the sky. "Ho-Oh help me," she muttered before bolting after them.
"We were gone for literally ten minutes."
"I know."
"Ten minutes, Q. Ten minutes."
"I know!" Quinn pinched the bridge of her nose to ward off her oncoming headache.
"How the fuck did you manage to cause a riot and police raid within ten minutes?"
Quinn ignored Puck as she walked over to the police officer.
"Unhand me this instant! You have no right to arrest me! My dads are gay and unless you want the—"
Quinn put her hand over Rachel's mouth before addressing Officer Carl. "It's not her fault."
The officer ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Miss, she caused mass panic amongst civilians with her little stunt."
Rachel mumbled against Quinn's hand, but the blonde shushed her. "But you don't understand! It was Team Sylvester that was behind all of this!"
"You're saying infamous worldwide criminals Team Sylvester was behind all this?"
"That's exactly what she said!" Rachel shouted after removing Quinn's hand.
Officer Carl glared pointedly at her. "Well, then where exactly are they?"
Quinn narrowed her eyes. "They escaped!"
"Likely story."
"No, really, listen—Hey! That's one of them right there!"
Officer Carl's eyes widened. "Dustin Goolsby!"
The Team Sylvester member cursed under his breath before bolting into a run.
"Freeze! Stop!"
The man came to an abrupt halt when he became surrounded by officers. He turned around and raised an eyebrow as Carl slowly walked towards him.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do will be held against you—"
Dustin smirked. "Anything I say or do? Well, how about this?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out two pokéballs.
"Weezing, SmokeScreen!"
"Weezing!"
The officers started to hack and wheeze amongst the smog and smoke.
"Weezing, return! Go, Fearow!"
A screech was heard throughout the chaos and a giant bird Pokémon burst through the smoke and into the air with Dustin on its back.
"Shit, you're letting him get away!" Carl coughed. He punched the air. "Damn it!"
"Don't worry; you'll get them next time."
Carl's eyes widened at the voice. "Emma."
Nurse Pillsbury smiled sweetly at him.
Quinn watched the scene with mild disgust before turning her attention back to what was going on around her. Various human workers and Chansey were rounding up the escaped Pokémon to bring to the Pokémon center.
"We'll be sure to find good homes for these Pokémon," Nurse Pillsbury said as she walked up to the group. "Oh…" She watched in concern as Ponyta caused a ruckus.
The Pokémon stomped and shook her head desperately at the Chansey. She managed to break away before galloping over to Rachel.
The brunette gasped as the fire horse Pokémon nuzzled her cheek. "Awe, it's okay girl. You're going to be fine now."
Nurse Pillsbury watched the scene before speaking up, "I think this Ponyta has taken a liking to you."
Lauren snorted. "Well, she did lead it on a Pokémon rebellion."
Rachel ignored her. "Is that so, girl? Do you want to travel with us?"
Ponyta neighed happily and the flames in her mane brightened.
Quinn fondly shook her head before noticing Puck staring off into the distance. She followed his gaze and landed on the Machoke. She quirked her head but then looked back at Rachel when she heard her squeal excitedly.
"I think I'll name you after Patti LuPone!"
"Where's Puck?" Rachel asked after securing her new pokéball to her belt. It was the next day and the gang was set to head out to their next destination.
"I have no idea," Quinn replied as she slid her backpack over her shoulders. They walked out of their room and into the Pokémon center lobby.
"Thanks again, Nurse Pillsbury," Puck said. He saw his friends out of the corner of his eye and turned around excitedly. "Hey guys!"
Quinn laughed when he ran up to them. "Whoa, hey. Where have you been?"
"I'll show ya!" He threw out a pokéball and a giant red light shot out.
"Is that…?"
"Machoke!"
"The Machoke from the circus? You bet your sweet ass it is!"
"Noah!" Rachel reprimanded him, but the boy was oblivious in his happy state. She rolled her eyes and giggled when he and Machoke started doing muscle poses together.
"Awe yeah, check out our guns!"
"Machoke!"
"Talk about a little pistol."
The trio turned towards the entrance of the Pokémon Center to see Lauren walking towards them.
"Oh, whatever. You know I have a machine gun."
Rachel scrunched her face in disgust. "I don't think they're talking about arm muscles anymore."
Quinn's face turned bright red.
Lauren chucked. "Come on, Puckerman, let's go."
"Wait, go where?" Rachel glanced from side to side in confusion.
"He didn't tell you?"
Quinn narrowed her eyes. "Tell us what?"
Puck cleared his throat, "Well, ya see... Lauren and I were talking and…" He nervously ran his hand over his mohawk. "I'm going to stay and train here for the rest of the summer."
Rachel's mouth dropped open. "What?"