Ryan struggled to extract his right foot from the thick mud, slamming it down into the muck infront of him before pulling at the other. Just as he freed his left foot, something strong wrapped itself around his submerged ankle. Letting his left foot fall back into the muck he reached down to grab at whatever had seized him, feeling it constrict around his joint as he did. It was thick and muscular. The tentacle pulled him down as another reached up to grab his other foot. All at once the ground beneath the surface ceased to be, allowing this thing to drag him below the surface. The vagrant's face broke the surface of the water and the world above was gone. It was an endless, murky expanse, water pressing in at him on all sides. A deep red glow in the depths of the water nearby grew larger and brighter. Another three tentacles wrapped around the large man's throat, clenching as the aqua skull with red lights drifted into view, an all encompassing vile red light emanating from beneath its rim. It's brilliant light woke him upon the dingy floor.
He had sat against an old wooden wall, leaning against rotting planks with his head in his hands. His family simply stood around him watching for a moment, Chuey knealing down to place her arms around him silently. After a minute he stood, thanking her for staying with him. The building they were standing at was old and collapsing, just as the sky appeared to be. Gentle droplets landing on the ground around them prompted Ryan to open the door and signal the group inside. Without a thought, the group moved up the stairs inside the small house, taking a rest on the floor above. Where Ryan lurched from a nightmare only a few hours later.
The city of Laverre was more a village. Only a few buildings, the most notable being a large structure bearing both an enourmous tree and a thirteen hour clock. Emblazoned above the door was three letters the Vagrant had grown use to seeing on the most lavish buildings in a town. Not far from the trail into the village sat a quaint little cottage with an awning and shaded tables. A little girl flipped the sign beside the door from closed to open, latching the simple glass door open. The little girl stared at the group a moment before running inside. An older gentleman, complete with cane, came to the door. The man smiled at Ryan and Chuey, waving them over warmly. "You've been through hell haven't you lad?" The man smiled warmly once Ryan's first footstep fell upon the wooden landing. "You all must be hungry. Breakfast is our treat, really" Suspicious, but gracious, Ryan led his small troupe to a table nearby. He pulled a chair out first for Chuey, then for Annwn. Two large talons clicked against the metal of the umbrella from atop it. Fyr happily sat on Ryan's lap, paws on the table as he sniffed intently. Embeee and the Slugma coiling at the large man's feet.
The elderly gentleman and little girl approached shortly after the group had settled at the table. "Most people keep their pokemon locked in pokeballs. Thank you for giving them the freedom to see the world." The old man poured the two small cups of tea as the little girl set out small bowls of food pellets for the many pokemon. The old man gave the vagrant a gentle pat on the upper arm before escorting the child away. Speechless the vagrant looked to Chuey, who quietly sipped her tea before releasing in a flash of red light a small creature about the size of her finger.
"Oh wow! Is that a Flareon?" A boy no older than Shauna rushed over to the table, stopping several meters short once his brain made the connection on how many pokemon were there. Ryan smiled, letting the young boy know it was fine to come over and say hello, only the woman might bite. Chuey's eyes narrowed at the large man as the boy approached. Fyr sniffed the lad's outstretched hand, tilting his head down and yipping happily. The boy intentionally avoided touching Fyr's fluffier fur, their heat scaring him away. "I've always wanted a Flareon" The boy smiled, a flash of red light materialising a fluffy brown canine beside him. "Look Kay? This is a Flareon. If I could find a Fire stone, you could be a Flareon too!" The pup barked excitedly, it's poofy tail swishing excitedly.
"Kay hmm" Ryan responded. "Does Kay want to be a Flareon?" he asked, one eyebrow raised as the strange little critter rolled around in Chuey's hand, simply happy to be out of the pokeball. The boy admitted somewhat embarressed that he didn't know. "Would you be upset if she didn't evolve into a Flareon?" He asked, the hand between Fyr and the pup moving away from supporting the milky eyed canine, simply drooping over the side of the chair. The boy thought a minute before finally stating that he might be a little upset at first, but if Kay was happy, he was happy. "That's a very mature way to think about it." The large vagrant stretched his arm out to scratch the head of the small ball of fluff beside the lad, taking a drink of tea with his other. The boys exclaimation told him everything he needed to know, the vagrant pulled his hand away from the younger Flareon and returned it to petting the very old one.
"Oh" Mr. Cabberin looked to his companion. "I promised Clemont I'd check out the Pokeball factory. I won't be long" He smiled at her "Could you please watch this lot? Leveyr, Embeee. Stay, protect Chuey." He lifted Fyr in his arms as he walked, obviously not intending to let go any time soon. As Chuey sat with Leveyr and Embeee, the two looked at her before going back to gently snoozing. The factory stood on the edge of town, hidden by the trees of the surrounding forest and overshadowed by the large gym in the center of the village. Large stones painted as pokeballs and attached with commemorative plaques. Each plaque detailing an important moment in the development of the modern pokeball. The electronic doors pinged open, sliding apart to reveal a woman in a red suit standing in the foyer.