"Why aren't we going further?"

"To not leave you back."

"Why? Just because I'm in pain?"

"That's one reason."

"The other reason being we don't know where to go."

They're still five feet away from the argument, hearing the irate in their voices. Glaceon was still at the edge of the window, and that's all the 3 could see of the argument.

"Screw it, I'm goin' to the bar," Luxray said.

"Alright," said Alex, "You need someone to carry you or what?" Both Luke and Alex chuckle.

"Screw you, I'm leaving." He takes one step, and yells in pain.

"You think he'll be there in five?" Luke asks.

"I don't where five is," answered Alex.

"Bar."

"Oh...not sure where that is."

"Alright then." Luke looks up and says, "He'll be back in a while."

It's been about an hour since Luxray left Alex and Luke from the argument. He was finally at the bar: outside, all wooden with a sign on top that says 'L.1.B.,' Level One Bar. Only one window could be seen, others there are, but covered up with trash, stock, and/or empty boxes. Near the door was a sign that says the opening and closing times: Monday through Thursday- 12 a.m. till 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday- 10 a.m. till 2 a.m.; Sunday- 11 a.m. till 12 p.m.
He walked in, enduring the pain. Inside, is slightly dusty, but clean. Not that many Pokémon there, few on the front, few playing pool, few at tables, alone or in groups, getting drunk. He walked to the front, then jumps up to the seat.

"Why so early?" asked the bartender, cleaning a glass. Electabuzz, a veteran of being a bartender. Despite working at the lowest level of the bar racket, he knows how to keep calm. When his electric power can't stop it, there's always a backup, later ending up in the emergency room. When he's not at work, his brother is there to sub: 'Vire.

"Problems," Luxray said, still dealing with the pain.

"And the bandages?" he asked.

"The 'lessons' they tried to give me."

"Ah."

"Just give me a shot, best-not the strong stuff."

"Got it." He walks off to get a shot glass, and a medium sized bottle. He comes, fills up the glass, and sends it to Luxray. "Want the bottle?"

"Sure." He leaves the bottle and walks away; putting down the glass he was cleaning earlier. Luxray takes grip of the glass, using one paw, and gulps it down. He keeps his head slightly down, his pain easing. He looks at the bottle for a minute, thinking.

"Having another won't hurt," A voice nearby recommended. His voice wasn't something local but distance, as if he were on the other side of the hemisphere.

Luxray looked to see who's talking, not moving his head. The Pokémon on his right; he keeps talking, "Just don't take more than that. Trust me, it won't look pretty." Luxray just stares at him. "Manectric. And you are...?"

"Do I know you?" Luxray asked, not answering his question.

"'Course not," Manectric answered, "new here. But you didn't answer my question."

"Luxray." He answered, "So you're new here..."

"Yes, I suppose that is. New to this town, that is."

"What made you move to this city?"

"Just problems...hand me that bottle..." Luxray handed him the bottle he had Electabuzz fall back on. Manectric takes it and pours some of the liquor in his shot glass. He gulps it down and says, "You had problems? I heard you came in early..."

"Yeah, I've never been in a problem other than bar fights over here. Started with someone I know trying to commit suicide, late at night, things got a little outta hand. He 'survived', now in a straitjacket. One of my friends found out, now she's arguing with him, I think they still are right now."

"She..." Manectric said, "How long have you been together?"

"What do you mean?" Luxray asked. After a while, he's just staring forward. "Sick person, we know each other as a friend."

"Sure you do...you better know more before it's too late."

"Is that what happened to you?"

"I don't...want to talk about it."

"I guess so..." Said Luxray. He grabbed the bottle and poured some liquor on his shot glass. He then drinks it, and says," You ever been to a bar before?"

"Hell, I don't remember," Manectric answered," probably. What's with the bandages?"

"Just something that my 'friends' are doing."

"What is that?"

"They are trying to make me go outside more often."

"Doesn't explain the bandages."

Luxray finally looks over to Manectric. "One of the 'lessons' involves fighting. The only time I actually fight is when I'm in a bar fight."

"How many have you been in?"

"Not sure," Luxray thinks for about a minute, "A lot probably."

"Did you manage to win any?"

"Of course I did, barely over half...I think."

Manectric chuckles and then says, "Sure you did, my friend. Keep on dreaming."

"Well I gotta go...t'check if they're...uh...done."

"Mind if I come?" asked Manectric.

"Sure...uh...yeah, c'mon." He sits there for a while then says, "I think he gave me the strong stuff..."

Both Luke and Alex were still outside, Alex leaning on a tree. Luxray, clumsily, walked over to Luke and asks, "Is it...uh...over?"

He just stares at him, and his friend, and says, "Yes, about fifty minutes ago. And your friend?"

"Uh..." Luxray looks over, then back, and says, "Oh him, he's...uh...Manectric, yeah, there we go."

"Oh really?" Alex said.

"Well, yes," Manectric responded, walking up, "and his wounds are numbing out."

"How did you know about the wounds?" Luke asked.

"There are bandages all over his body. How can anyone not see them?" Luke and Alex look at each other. "I'm not sure about the eye patch..."

"Okay...when he sobers up, and heals up, we can set up for the test."

"Why not now?" asked Manectric. They all look at Luxray, he looked as if he were about to sleep. He closed his eyes, lowering down, then rose up, opening his eyes. He closed his eyes again, lowering down, and rises up again. "Never mind. Can I come in?"

"Sure, c'mon." Luke and Alex show him to the door, leaving Luxray last to come in.

"Absol."

"What?" Absol was sitting on the couch.

"Meet one of Ray's friends: Manectric."

"New friends?" she looks around to see him. "Hey, Manectric."

"You seem to be in a bad mood..."

"Fight, with the guy upstairs."

"Okay...why is he in a straitjacket?"

"How did you know that he was in a...?" asked Alex.

"I was able to grab a quick glance at the fellow when I came in."

"Long story," answered Alex.

"I'm in a bad mood," yelled Glaceon.

"That's Glaceon," Alex said, "as you've heard earlier, he's in a bad mood."

"Alright, seems like a decent group." He jumps on the sofa and sits down. "Why exactly are you helping Luxray on 'going outside'?"

"He's an indoor person," answers Absol, "one with no life but to drink and fight."

"Then why are you teaching him to fight when he knows how to fight?"

"He has basic moves," answered Luke, "he needs to improve his skills, and the bandages have nothing to do with that."

"Alright..." says Manectric.

"Oh, yes, forgot to introduce ourselves. I'm Luke, and that over there," pointing at the human with the red and white striped shirt, "is Alejandro, or Alex."

"Alejandro-" starts Manectric.

"Alex," interrupts Alex.

"Alright...Alejandro. And you are...?" Manectric asks, looking at Absol.

"I'm Absol, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Abbie."

"Absol would be nice."

"Okay, Absol. Tell me more about these...lessons."

"Alright," says Luke, "but first..." He walks over to Luxray, still drunk. "Nap time, go to sleep,"

"I don't wanna…" Luxray says.

"But you have to."

"Okay, teacher." He lies down, trying to sleep. Luke walks back to where he was.

"He'll be back to normal after he wakes up." Manectric looks at Luxray, now sleeping. He looks back to the group.

"How did this all start?" asked Manectric.

"Okay," said Absol, "it started out like this..."