Review response: Dear Alice-Chan123, hello! I hope you enjoyed the cliffhanger, because there will most likely be more of them to come. As always, I am extremely pleased that you enjoy my story and even more so when you review! Review's always seem to help me get past my writer's block and push on to the next adventure.

I do not own the world of Pokemon or anything it contains. The only things I own are the characters and plot.

Chapter Seven:

Strangers

Castor ran as fast as he could, trying to reach his friends in time to help them somehow, "Cora! Dale! Hang on!" Castor saw the tree that his friends were trapped on break loose and get tossed to the middle of the river. No! The tree has broken free! How are we going to catch it now?

Dale clung grimly to the tree, his muscles sore and his ears ringing from the roar of the water. He was utterly soaked and quite frankly, terrified. Even Cora, a Water-type was scared of the rushing current. She was too small to swim to safety, especially not with passengers. So, the three Pokemon, Dale, Cora, and a Pokemon that he had never seen before, all clung for their lives on the tree as it bucked and swayed on the swollen waters.

He squeezed his eyes shut as another wave crested their makeshift boat and splashed them. Though he couldn't be sure, he thought he heard a whimper from the stranger lying next to him. She's probably a Ground-Type, they hate water. If Dale was completely honest with himself, he was beginning to agree with them.

Airmd Town had already disappeared and the landscape was practically a blur of color on either side. We must be going at an impressive speed, pity I can't enjoy it from the dry safety of somewhere else! Cora's voice shouted to him, "The ocean! We're headed towards the ocean and a waterfall!"

Dale looked up ahead of them, the tree had rotated in the water so that the remnants of the roots were pointed downstream. This now gave him a clear view of the ocean on the not-so-distant horizon ... and the waterfall that was even closer. Oh, man! It would be a waterfall wouldn't it! Even though he knew it was obvious, Dale shouted, "Hang on for all you're worth!"

With a chorus of terrified screams, they flew out of the water and into thin air. This is like a stupid story kits are told at night! He yelled the end of his thought, "And I don't want any part of it!"

Dale's paws slipped and he flew almost eerily away from the tree. He flailed in midair, screaming for all of his worth. Dale squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for gravity to claim him and smash him mercilessly against the beach below. An eternity seemed to pass, and he still wasn't falling to his death. He cracked an eye open fearfully and then quickly widened both eyes fully open in shock.

He was floating weightlessly in the air, surrounded by a strange red energy that kept him hovering in the air. What? Looking over to his right, he saw that both Cora and the stranger were hovering next to him, surrounded by the same energy. Looking down, he saw that the tree had fallen to its doom.

Dale looked up at the hovering stranger, "Um, are you doing this?" She shook her head so hard it made her long black tipped ears flap. He frowned, "Then who is?"

The three began floating gently towards a cave opening set in the cliff side. Dale concentrated hard and suddenly spotted the telltale gleam of a Pokemon's eyes when they used a psychic levitation. Cora piped up, "I get the feeling we're about to find out."

As the three floated into the cave, Dale felt his heart rate begin to slow to normal speeds. Without waiting to see who their rescuer was, he spoke up humbly, "Thank you for saving us. I thought-"

A deep voice growled over the rest of his words, "You thought you were going to die, I know. Your screaming disturbed my meditation." The figure who had saved them came into view and Dale wiggled his ears in surprise. It was a member of the Gengar clan. A Ghost-type, wow. No wonder he's angry, they say that Ghost-types get their name from being able to disappear into other worlds when they meditate...

Cora gasped quietly, forcing Dale to look past the Gengar into the dark end of the cave. His jaw dropped when he spotted a silent member of the Greninja clan, highly secretive Water/Dark-types capable of fierce high-speed attacks. What is a Dark-type doing with a Ghost-type?

The Greninja was a large, bipedal, frog-like Pokémon. Its body and legs were purple, with single large white spots on its legs, arms, and over its eyes. Its back feet had two toes, while its front hands had three fingers. Like all Greninja, its hands and feet were webbed. It had a yellow chest and a yellow-and-purple face. Its eyes were an intimidating combination of white sclera, red irises, and white pupils. A large, projecting purple stripe ran down the middle of its head, with projecting blue stripes in between its large, yellow ears. Its mouth was hidden behind a large, pink tongue that wrapped around its neck and extended outward behind its head like a scarf.

The Gengar, except for a similar color, was almost completely opposite of his companion. A dark purple, bipedal Pokémon with a roundish body. He had red eyes and a wide frowning mouth. Multiple spikes covered his back, and Dale noted that his large pointed ears were flat with irritation. His arms and legs were short with three digits on both his hands and feet. Even though he couldn't see clearly in the shadows that persisted in the cave despite the afternoon light, Dale was fairly certain that the Gengar also had a stubby tail.

The Gengar interrupted his observation by growling out, "Well? Don't you have anything to say for yourselves? What were you doing out there? Taking a nice little float on a swollen river for the fun of it?"

Dale bowed politely as much as his sore muscles would allow, "I'm sorry for disturbing you. This Squirtle and I were on the ferry to Airmd Town when some flotsam crashed into it and I got knocked off. She dived in to save me but the current was too strong."

He nodded his head in the direction of the tense yellow Pokemon, "This Pokemon tried to help us by knocking a tree into the river for us to grab onto and walk back to shore on. Unfortunately, the tree roots broke and we were left stranded on the tree without any means to get to shore."

The Gengar stared oddly at the stranger for a long time. The yellow Pokemon straightened and growled at him, "What are you looking at chubby?"

Cora looked just as shocked as Dale was, such disrespect to someone who had just saved one's life was almost unheard of. The Gengar didn't seem to notice, "You're a member of the Raichu clan aren't you? A Pikachu correct?"

The Pikachu looked surprised, "Yes, I am. My name is Mira. How did you know? Everyone else on this island seems to have no clue about my clan."

The Gengar shrugged slightly, "Not surprising, there hasn't been a Pikachu on this island for many years. I am Hermit Delano Gengar and this," he motioned to the Greninja, "is my sole companion, Tynan Greninja. So, you tried to help the Eevee and the Squirtle and ended up caught in their predicament?"

Mira nodded curtly, not seeming to see the need to speak. Dale inspected the Pikachu, she was different from any kind of Pokemon he had even seen before. Now that he was no longer clinging for his life on a waterlogged tree, he had to revise his guess about her type and assume she was among the Electric-type clans. Those red cheek pouches are a fairly obvious give away, I wonder were she got that scar. Fighting maybe? It's a wonder she can still see out of that eye...

Delano recaptured Dale's attention, "Well? Are you going to introduce yourselves or what? At least the Pikachu knew to give her first name."

Dale dipped his head in apology, "Sorry, I am Dale Eevee of the Eeveelution clan and this is my friend Cora Squirtle of clan Blastoise." A bit of wind blew across his sopping fur and Dale couldn't suppress the shudder that shook his body.

Delano's red eyes softened at their pitiful condition and he motioned them to come further inside the cave, "Come on, you three are soaked and probably injured. Another storm is coming up so you'll just have to stay with Tynan and me."

Dale nodded his head gratefully and limped after the Gengar. Cora followed him and after a moment's hesitation, so did Mira Pikachu. Cora lightly touched his shoulder, "Hey, are you okay? I thought you were a goner for a second back there."

Dale shook his head, "No, I'll be fine once I dry off ... thank you for jumping in after me like that. I really would have been a goner if it hadn't been for you and Pikachu."

From behind him, the Pikachu spoke up, "Call me Mira. Sorry I couldn't help more." Dale looked over his shoulder as they proceeded deeper into the cave, following the scent of the Gengar and his Greninja companion.

He smiled tentatively, "You tried and that's what mattered. By the way, call me Dale." Mira nodded and slowly caught up with them.

Cora looked around briefly, even though none of them could see more then a few feet in front of them now, "I wonder how Delano knew that a storm was coming up. I didn't even see any clouds."

Mira snorted, "Don't be fooled, storms blow up at a seconds notice around here. If Delano lives around here, then he'd know how to tell if one was about to hit."

Dale inwardly wondered how Mira knew about the frequency of storms on the coast. Does she live on the coast? That would certainly explain why no one has seen a Pikachu before. But Delano said that there hasn't been a Pikachu on the island for many years. If that's true, then how did she get here?

The three Pokemon followed Hermit Delano and his silent ninja friend through the dark tunnel for what seemed like ages. Finally, Dale sensed the tunnel widen into a large cave and there was the sound of someone snapping their fingers. Light flooded the cave, making the newcomers blink and try to adjust their eyes to the sudden illumination.

When Dale's eyes had recovered, he saw that the cave they were standing in was well furnished and clean. To his left, a long table stood, it's glazed surface glinting softly. To his right was a pair nests next to a small pool of clear water. Straight ahead, Dale saw a door that he guessed lead to the kitchen and probably an alternate exit for Tynan. On the whole, the cave was spartan but scrupulously clean, just about what he would expect from a hermit or a ninja.

Or in this case, both. Dale looked up and saw that the source of the light was a bright orange flame hanging from a metal dish of some kind. The dish was suspended from the ceiling by three cords made of a material Dale couldn't identify. Delano motioned his guests to follow him through the other door.

Dale was correct in his assumption that the doorway led to the kitchen. He watched in curiosity as Delano reached inside the mouth of the oven and snapped his stubby fingers. Instantly, a fire leapt into being inside the oven. The three soaked Pokemon huddled around the fire. Cora spoke up timidly, "I didn't know that Gengars could learn Fire-type moves."

Delano chuckled, the deep graveling sound made Dale inwardly squirm. A scary laugh, no Ghost-type would be complete without it. The Gengar answered Cora's statement, "I had a good teacher when I was a Ghastly. Now, wait here and warm up while I scrounge up some poffins ... and take off those satchels, they're ruined anyway."

Dale craned his neck to look at the satchel strapped to his back, yep, it's ruined all right. It wasn't meant for river surfing. Cora kindly helped him out of his satchel straps, she had left hers behind when she dived in to save him. Dale watched Mira out of the corner of his eye, she looked exhausted and was having trouble with her satchel straps.

Dale caught Cora's eye and subtly signaled her to help Mira. Cora nodded, set down Dale's lump of grass that used to be a satchel, and ambled over to Mira, "Need some help?"

The Pikachu tensed, her green eyes suddenly wary. After a long moment, she nodded curtly and allowed Cora to help her out of the satchel strap. Dale watched curiously, she's afraid of something. I wonder what it is? If she's an Electric-type, then she has almost nothing to fear from Cora. Maybe it has something to do with that scar.

Dale's thoughts were interrupted by a faint rumbling in the ground. Now it was his turn to tense, an earthquake? Uh oh, we're underground, we'll be buried alive! Mira spoke up, her gaze hooded, "The storm has started. Sounds like a bad one."

Dale relaxed, right, from down here, all we would hear of the thunder is the vibrations in the ground. Dale sighed and adjusted his position by the fire. Its warmth was almost ridiculously comforting. He closed his eyes in contentment, at this point he could even forgo food if it meant staying by the heat.

He heard a faint noise of surprise and cracked open an eye, Mira was stared at his right hind leg. Dale sighed, again with the leg. Mira realized that he had noticed her gaze and quickly averted her eyes. Dale smiled softly, "It's all right to look, I don't mind. That happened a long time ago so I'm used to it by now."

Mira raised her gaze back to him slowly. This time their eyes met and Dale found himself oddly breathless. Her eyes were the color of jade and reminded him strongly of the deep green leaves of his forest home. She suddenly broke eye contact and looked slightly uncomfortable, "You have my apologies for your leg." Before Dale could reply, Mira curled up tightly and tucked her head underneath her lightning shaped tail.

Cora looked from one to the other, rolled her eyes, and curled up between them. Retracting fully into her shell with the murmur of, "Let me know if Delano finds any of those poffins." Dale sighed again, this time out of exhaustion. That is if I'm still awake when he shows up. Swimming with three legs is normally easy, but that river was anything but.

Dale closed his eyes and was asleep within seconds. Had he stayed awake, he might have heard Delano reappear from the pantry with several poffins. He also might have seen Tynan motion to them silently with a webbed hand in question and heard Delano's whispered reply of, "Don't worry, they don't suspect a thing. Once this storm ends, they'll be on their way back to Airmd Town and that will be that."

Tynan made several symbols in the air with its hands, the Greninja's expression still worried. Delano sighed, "Yes, I suppose that is a concern. I will contact the council, they will know what to do." Delano stared thoughtfully at the sleeping Pikachu, his gaze far away, "I wonder if her appearance means something..."

It truly is a pity that Dale had not stayed awake a bit longer. He might have been very interested in what he could have heard.

Castor paced angrily around Airmd Town Square, ignoring the heat of the hot sun and looks he was receiving from town citizens. He wanted so desperately to be out there searching for his friends, but a Fire-type like himself would just be in the way of the rescue party that had headed down river to find Dale and Cora. Even Sekani got to go! I feel so useless! "Excuse me, sir Charmander. Have you seen a female Pikachu around here by any chance?"

Castor snapped out of his internal rant and looked up. A Riolu was looking all around in a worried manner. Castor blinked, "I'm not sure, what does a Pikachu look like?"

The Riolu fidgeted nervously, "Well, she is about my size, yellow, with red cheek pouches and long black tipped ears. She has a lightning bolt shaped tail and a long scar across her face."

Castor frowned impatiently, "Sorry, but no. I-" wait ... a yellow Pokemon with a lightning bolt shaped tail? Castor felt his blue eyes widen in realization, that sounds like the Pokemon who tried to help Cora and Dale! "Actually, I think I did! I think that was the Pokemon who tried to help my friends when they fell out of the ferry!"

The Riolu ears pricked, "Really? Where is she?"

Castor sighed anxiously, "She knocked down a tree to try to help them ashore but the tree broke away from the bank and went downriver. I've been here ever since waiting for news from the rescue party."

The Riolu looked horrified, "What? But there's a waterfall about ten miles down the river right before it goes into the ocean! They might drown!"

Castor froze, the rescue party sure didn't tell me that! He locked eyes with the Riolu, "We've got to do something! I can't just wait here knowing that!" Castor took off for the river again.

The Riolu caught up with him, "Wait! I have a companion to fetch!"

Castor glared at the Riolu, "Then go fetch him if you want, but I'm not stopping!" He heard the Riolu sigh and was surprised when his impromptu ally threw back his head and howled loudly. Castor nearly jumped out of skin, "What was that?"

The Riolu shrugged, "I have fetched him, let us go. I am called Leal by the way." Castor blinked again, I heard that the lucario clan was weird sometimes...

Castor and Leal ran out of Airmd Town to the river and began following it. What Castor planned to do when they reached the waterfall, he had no idea. He knew that there was probably nothing he could do that the search party couldn't, but his loyalty to Cora and his newer friend Dale refused to let him wait in Airmd Town.

As the two Pokemon ran along the river bank, their fast pace eating up the miles, Castor suddenly spotted the Skarmory who had ferried them over. I thought he was part of the search and rescue party. What is he doing just standing there? As they crested the hill, Castor realized that the Skarmory wasn't alone, the entire party was standing there looking dejected.

Castor came within earshot and heard Sekani yelling, "What do you mean there's no point in going on! My friends are out there waiting for help! You can't just give up!"

Castor skidded to a stop, "Sekani, what's going on? Why aren't you all further downriver searching for Cora and Dale?"

Sekani whirled on Castor, his eyes brimming with tears, "We aren't going anywhere because these cowards say that there's no point in going on! They say that if the tree didn't catch on something by now then it must have gone over the waterfall and that there's no chance Cora and Dale could have survived!"

Castor felt like he'd been punched in the stomach, he stared desperately at the assembled searchers, "You can't honestly believe that! Cora is a Water-type! If anyone could keep Dale safe it's her!"

Leal also piped up, his voice tinged with righteous rage, "Cowards! How dare you simply give up! Until I see the dead body of my friend Mira, I will never stop searching!" He looked contemptuous, "And you dare to call yourselves Pokemon."

The would-be searchers hung their heads in shame but refused to continue the search. They slowly headed home, muttering apologies the whole way.

Sekani looked like he was about to cry, "Cora..." he whispered.

Castor grabbed his friend's shoulder and did his best to hide his own fear, "Don't listen to them. Cora and Dale will be fine, we just have to find them."

Leal looked impatient, "Then what are we waiting for? We need to get going! I would be forever dishonored if I did not do my utmost to find Mira!"

Sekani blinked tearily as if he had just noticed Leal, "Who? Who are you? Who is Mira?"

Castor turned and began trotting down the river again, "This is Leal, that Pokemon who tried to help Cora and Dale was Mira. She got washed away as well."

Just as the three began to run towards the waterfall, they heard a strangled cry come from behind, "Wait ... for ... me!" All three looked over their shoulders. A Wobbuffet was running towards them as fast as its stubby legs could go. They reluctantly stopped and let him catch up.

Leal looked impatient, "Ahanu, we do not have time to waste, we must find Mira!" The Wobbuffet, apparently named Ahanu, whined wordlessly, his squinted eyes begging for a rest. Leal sighed, "Rest here if you want, but we are going to continue to the waterfall."

Ahanu nodded breathlessly and the other three Pokemon continued on towards the waterfall. Castor kept his eyes focused in front of him and tried not to think about what he would do if Cora hadn't made it. If they're ... if they're ... no don't think about that! Cora and Dale will be fine, we just have to find them!

Leal tapped him on the shoulder, "Listen, can you hear that?" Castor tilted his head to one side, a distant thundering sound rumbled in his hearing. Looking up, he saw black clouds looming overhead. Uh-oh ... a storm? It was clear just a minute ago!

Sekani looked nervous, "Castor! We're almost to the coast! Really bad storms blow in all the time ... we might want to head back!"

Castor glared at the clouds and picked up his pace, "No! We need to find Cora and Dale! I'm not letting a little storm stop me!"

Leal's voice called from behind, "But what about your tail flame? It will be in danger!"

Castor shouted back, "If I worried only about myself all the time then I wouldn't have friends and I wouldn't be out here! I'm going!"

With a frantic burst of speed, Castor pulled even farther ahead of Sekani and Leal, his eyes focused on the waterfall that was drawing ever closer. Around him, the air began to grow thick and heavy in anticipation of the storm. Castor ground to a stop and looked down the cliff to where the waterfall joined the roiling ocean.

For a moment, his reason for being out there vanished from his mind and he stared numbly at the ocean. Castor had only ever faintly seen the ocean from a distance, now it rolled and crashed just below his feet like a frothing monster. It's so ... big. How can that much water exist? His eyes lifted to the horizon, instinctively searching for something. He scanned the distant waves expectantly, though what he was searching for he didn't know. Nothing but the ever more violent waves greeted his vision.

Sekani and Leal caught up and froze in awe as well. The three Pokemon stood there for a long enough time that even Ahanu managed to waddle up and stand beside them. Eventually, nature seemed fed up with their silent staring and clapped its invisible hands together, making a rumble loud enough to make all four jump in terror. Rain began to pour down from the clouds, causing steam to rise from Castor's tail flame.

Castor gasped in horror, We've just been standing here when we should have been searching! Trying to ignore the pain creeping through his tail and up his body, Castor turned and began calling at the top of his lungs, "Cora! Dale! Mira! Can you hear me? Answer us!" The others joined in as well, shouting for all their worth in hope that their missing companions would hear.

After half an hour of calling and searching in the pouring rain and rolling thunder, Castor was feeling numb and woozy. He panted out another pleading call for Cora, but it sounded more like a high pitched whimper than a word. The world suddenly tilted under his feet and Castor dimly felt his body crash to the ground. So cold... He weakly curled up and stared blankly at his tail flame. It was tiny, much tinier then it should have been and instead of its normal orange-yellow, it was a sickly deep red.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Castor knew that he had been out in the rain far too long and that he was now suffering the consequences. Feebly, he tried to lift his head and call for help, but any sound he might have made was snatched away even from him by the storm stirred winds. The sky was totally dark, rain surged downward unmercifully as lightning split the sky like a Grass-type's Vine Whip Attack.

Castor's eyes began to close against his will, No! I must stay awake! Through his half-lidded eyes, Castor could make out the fuzzy shapes of what looked like legs and webbed feet. He felt strong slender arms pick up his limp body. He didn't protest, he didn't have the strength to.

Through the strange cotton feeling in his ears, he thought he heard shouting. Sekani? Leal? So tired... Castor's eyes closed completely and he began to drift away into a warm darkness, ignoring the desperate shouts that floated to him to stay awake at all costs.

Sekani pushed his way through the wet scrub yelling for his friends that he was becoming more certain were gone with each passing minute. They had moved farther and farther away from the waterfall during their search and he and Leal were now pushing their way through the bushes lining the cliff.

Wait ... were's Castor? He looked around in time to see a strange Pokemon holding Castor's limp form. "Hey! What are you doing with Castor?" He ran towards the strange Pokemon, "Leave him alone!" The Pokemon looked up at him, its eery red eyes expressionless. As Sekani ran closer, he realized that the stranger was a Greninja and that Castor's tail flame was almost gone. "What did you do to him?"

Leal appeared beside the Greninja, "Wait Sekani! This Greninja is trying to help! We need to get Castor out of the rain and to someplace warm, now."

Sekani stared at Castor, his heart fluttering in panic, No! I can't lose all of my friends in one day! Please no! He and Leal followed the Greninja as it led them somewhere at a blindly fast pace, "Castor! Wake up! Stay with us, buddy!" Leal and Ahanu joined him in calling to the weakened Charmander, trying to keep him awake.

Sekani quickly realized that it was a losing battle, if they didn't get Castor to shelter and a healer within the next few minutes, he would probably die. The Greninja stopped and tapped a rock with its flexible tongue. Instantly, the rock swung open, revealing a long tunnel. The Greninja immediately entered and hurried into the dark passageway. As soon as the three Pokemon had entered the tunnel, the rock swung shut, leaving them in total darkness.

Sekani groped his way down the passage, his heart racing, Where is this Greninja taking us? Eventually, warmth and the sound of a crackling fire filtered to his senses. Leal made a frustrated noise about something, but Sekani was too busy hurrying towards the orange light he had just spotted to notice.

The three Pokemon burst into the cave on the other end of the tunnel in time to see the Greninja gingerly laying Castor's limp form in front of an open stone oven and arrange his tail so that the tip was lying inside. Sekani spotted the worried form of a certain Squirtle and his heart leaped for joy, "Cora! Dale! You're alive!"

Leal and Ahanu barreled past the Aipom to happily crowd around a yellow Pokemon he didn't recognize, "Mira! You are all right!"

Mira lightly shoved them away and hurried over to were Sekani and his friends had gathered around Castor. She studied the Charmander for several silent moments before speaking, "What was a Charmander doing in the rain? Trying to get himself killed?"

Cora looked outraged, "How can you be so heartless? He was looking for me and Dale!" Cora's brow furrowed and she became subdued, "Castor never did know when to quit."

Sekani gently grabbed Castor's limp paw, "Come on buddy, you're going to be okay."

A deep voice spoke from behind Sekani, "Your friend needs rest and medicine, stand back and let me work." Sekani jumped in surprise and hastily made way for the Gengar. The Gengar bent over Castor and gently coaxed his mouth open, pouring a strange liquid down Castor's throat.

The response was almost instantaneous, Castor's tail flame immediately began growing in size and heat and his eyes fluttered sleepily. Sekani jumped happily in the air, "He's alive!"

The Gengar shot him a harsh look and shushed him, "Be quiet!" he shout whispered, "Your friend needs rest, not you jigging and screaming!"

Sekani quieted hastily and pouted in a corner, Yikes, what a grouch! Can't a guy be happy that his friend is alive? That all of his friends are alive? Speaking of which... He turned to Cora and tapped her shell, "Cora, how are you and Dale alive? The search party gave up and said you'd never survive the falls."

Dale answered, "Luckily, we didn't get the chance to prove that theory. Hermit Delano Gengar used Confusion to lift us to safety."

Sekani used his tail hand to scratch his ear, "Really? That grouch?"

Cora sighed, "He isn't a grouch, Sekani. Any healer would have chastised you like that for yelling near their patient." The Squirtle yawned, "Maybe we should follow Castor's example and go to sleep, I'm still wiped out from swimming in the river."

Sekani protested, "Wait, without introductions or explanations? Who's the yellow mouse Pokemon? Who's the Greninja? Why would anyone want to live on the ocean coast? It's crazy dangerous up there!"

The 'yellow mouse' growled at Sekani, "My name is Mira Pikachu of clan Raichu and your questions can wait until tomorrow. I'm going back to sleep."

Even though she threatened to go back to sleep, Sekani's begging coaxed everyone to stay up a little bit longer, introduce themselves, and explain what they had all been doing in Airmd Town. Their conversation lasted until the Greninja silently entered the kitchen, set down a tray of poffins, and gave them a glare that clearly said, 'eat and then go to sleep'.

As Sekani curled up against Dale's furry brown body and used Cora's shell as a pillow, he wondered what the odds where that seven very different Pokemon would meet like this. Maybe it's supposed to mean something...