Chapter IX

Entry #42:

I have been in Hoenn for only a week now, and already, I have learnt two things:

1. The old men here are very strange.

2. The rich men here are very irritating.

August sat upon the primrose sand, feeling each grain along the palm of her hand. It was dark now, but the stars seemed to have pocketed the earlier sunlight, as they shot down silver light onto the ocean. For a moment, she just waited, surrounded by a Mudkip, Silcoon, Poochyena, and Zigzagoon – all of them listening to the percussion of the waves, the chime of the wind.

Now that Brandon and Birch had parted ways with her, it was somewhat lonely. There wasn't another person to talk to.

Still, the Pokémon were entertaining. Solace the Silcoon had pinned Magnus the Mudkip with a long, threaded silk. Now that he was stuck on the sand, Dare the Zigzagoon was pumping at Magnus' stomach with little paws, desperately trying to get the Mudkip to vomit out the Splash Plate.

Percy the Zigzagoon watched from the distance, rolling his eyes. His gaze met August's.

At least his eye is now healed, she thought. At least—

At that moment, a Wingull decided to swoop in, hurtling towards Percy, squawking demonically.

Just like that, its beak pierced into Percy's other eye.

Then, the Wingull was off, leaving a stunned August, a bleeding Poochyena, and three bewildered Pokémon.

"Alright," August finally said with a sigh. "We're using up the bandages Norman gave us."

He had set her up nicely, she had to admit. Firm boots, a silken tunic and britches, and a dark leather jacket over it all. He had even packed her enough bread and berries to last her a few days, as well as bandages to last her—

Well. Enough bandages to cover Percy's eye whenever something happened to it.

Still, it was enough. Percy, after all, was the only Pokémon that caused her any issues – and that was simply not even his fault. Meanwhile, the other three were behaved, gentle, and—

And missing.

August glanced up from Percy, bandages rolled up clumsily around her hand, his blood leaking onto her pants.

The Silcoon was still there, sure. The little thing couldn't even move.

But her Mudkip and Zigzagoon were gone.

August felt her heart clench.

She could only hope they weren't getting into trouble.

Magnus the Mudkip was out for revenge.

He didn't really know why Dare the Zigzagoon was following him, but she was like a loyal solider – shadowing each step, nose twitching about, smelling out for that Wingull.

How dare it just barge in, out of nowhere, spoil his Vomit-The-Splash-Plate Operation, and also bury its beak into Percy's eye.

And get away with it?

Nah.

That wasn't a thing.

Magnus stomped across the sands, Dare panting to keep up. He slowed down just a bit so that she could reach him.

Something about the Splash Plate in him made him faster. Stronger, even. It felt good – except for it feeling like a heavy bulge in his gut.

Dare stopped suddenly. Jerked her nose up, towards the tree.

Magnus thanked her with a nod. Then, he glared up to the thinning branches, where the moonlight left silver shadows across the leaves. Sure enough, the Wingull was there. Glaring out towards the ocean.

Magnus called to it with a hiss. The Wingull yawned. Unbothered.

Oh, two could play that game.

With a deep breath, water formed in his mouth – bubbling, angry, hot. And, with a shriek, he shot it towards the bird.

Three things happened then:

First, the water slammed into the Wingull.

Second, the Wingull fell onto the sand, wing twitching, staring blankly at the sky.

Third… well.

From the distance, echoing through the waves, Mudkip heard the cackling caw of another Wingull.

Third of all, Magnus realised that he probably got the wrong Wingull.

August stared as Magnus slowly crawled towards her, guilt in his eye. Behind him, Dare the Zigzagoon was dragging a… a Wingull?

August felt her jaw drop.

Its wing was broken. It had two eyes that were blank and squinted. And it was flinching at the sound of Magnus' little grumble.

"You… you attacked it for revenge?" August said dumbly.

Magnus and Dare nodded. The Wingull made a desperate caw.

"And now you want me to… keep it with us?"

Another two nods. Another desperate caw.

August sighed.

"Welcome to the team, Sword."

And that's how Sword the Wingull became one with their team.

That night, she couldn't sleep.

She just wasn't used to it – the outdoors, the bugs, her bare skin being battered by the wind. No blankets, no mattress, no bedtime stories. It was all so primal – with Pokémon snoring beside her, with literal sand flying up her nose as she lay on the beach.

So, in the middle of the night, with the waves rising and falling, singing and wailing, she trailed her way across the shore. There was a house she could see, with laughter and lights flooding out its windows.

Surely someone there could offer her a bed. A blanket. Something comfortable to sleep in. Something that would remind her of home.

Instead, as she peeked through the window, she saw an old man running around a table. Like most people in Hoenn, his skin was tanned enough to blend into the warm browns of the house, and his leather sandals and belt were all torn and scuffed.

August watched as he and the Wingull ran laps around the table, his white beard bouncing.

"Hello, sir," she called out.

He didn't even stop running. He just called out, "Hello, lass!"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes! Peeko and I are just playing a game of tiggy touch!"

"Right. I was just wondering if—"

He cut her off suddenly, yelping as the Wingull poked into his buttocks. "Oh, Peeko! You got me there!" Then, he was chasing the Wingull instead, his arm reaching out for the bird's wings. "What was that, lass?"

It took a moment for August to realise he was addressing her again. She winced.

"I was just wondering—"

His triumphant clap cut her off. "I got ye, Peeko!"

"I was just wondering if—"

"Now it's yer turn to chase me, Peeko!"

August sighed.

"You know what?" she said quietly. "It's alright. I think I'm good."

Things were simply getting a bit too weird in some households in Hoenn.

Somehow, she did manage to get sleep. Two hours. But still – enough for her to be walking towards Petalburg Woods, bleary-eyed, without landing on her chin after each step. She was so close to the jungle; she could hear the icy streams, could see the green crescendo of trees and sunshine.

The only issue was that there were people.

Lots of people.

They were all fighting. Zigzagoon and Poochyenas smashing their heads into one another, people grabbing other people by their collars and slamming their big heads into trees. The sickening crunch of anger and the mashing of blood and bones.

"What's the deal?" August found herself saying aloud.

To her side, she heard a voice. Wally's voice.

"There's a Shroomish in Petalburg Woods," he said. "Apparently, it's the strongest Pokémon in the whole jungle. People are fighting over who gets to slay it and keep it."

August considered asking how long he had been standing there. Instead, she just shrugged.

"Why don't they just rush in and see who can capture it first?" she asked. "That's how gladiators in Sinnoh do it. Our Legionary battles are brutal."

"Legionaries?" Wally repeated softly. "This land is full of Diplomats for a reason, August. Are you going to try going for the Shroomish?"

"No. I have a map to get."

He didn't even smile at that. He just nodded thoughtfully. "Fair. Also, I'm sorry about the fight you had with your friend."

The memory flooded into August then – sniping Brandon with her clipped words, watching him storm away.

"You were listening?" she asked with a wince.

Wally's look was so serious that she could have flinched. "Of course I was."

"You're a strange fellow."

"I know."

"And he wasn't my friend, by the way. Brandon. He wasn't my… friend."

"Alright."

"I don't really have many friends."

"Neither do I."

They glanced at each other. The howling of the morning winds and the hiss of the fighting people around them.

"I suppose this is where I say that we can be friends or something," August said awkwardly, her lip tugging in a small, desperate smile.

Wally's frown only deepened. "I suppose it is. I'd rather you didn't, though. It's a bit childish."

August felt the words like a small stab to her gut.

"Yeah," she said weekly. "I suppose it is."

Wally regarded her carefully. Then, finally, he raised his hand in a wave.

"I'll see you later," he told her. "Have fun in Rustboro."

And, as he left, August tried not to scowl in his direction.

It was unladylike, her mother had always said.

Even if it was warranted.

"You! Do you dare challenge I, The Royal Winston, descendant of Hoenn Royalty, the richest man in all of Petalburg, and the ex-boyfriend of Lisia the Lovely?"

August glanced up.

She had been so close – just a few steps away from the jungle, her five Pokémon trailing behind her. If she had just kept her head low, stayed down for a few more moments, before racing into Petalburg Woods—

"Well?" the boy repeated.

August stared at his glossy blonde hair and his dark, silken suit. "No?"

"Alright, then. The Shroomish is all mine." He gave her a glance – his eyes lingering over her arm. "I wouldn't want to fight a crip anyways."

She felt her whole face turn hot. Felt the ice run through her veins.

Still, she kept walking. Away from the boy. Towards the jungle.

It was her Poochyena that had turned, though. He snarled at the boy.

Just like that, Percy the Poochyena was locked into battle with Winston's Zigzagoon. Despite all his bark, the rich boy truly was no bite – his Zigzagoon raced to bite Percy, but with a quick step to the side, the Zigzagoon was left burying its teeth into the wood of a tree. And, as it released the tree and ran towards Percy yet again, August's Poochyena smashed it aside with a single bump of their heads.

The Zigzagoon stumbled back, wailing. There were bruises across its whole face, and blood smeared by the corner of its lip.

Then, the boy pulled something from his bag – a purple vial. He ran to his Zigzagoon and tipped the liquid into its mouth.

August watched in disbelief as the Zigzagoon's bruises cleared up. As it jumped back onto its feet.

"That's cheating!" she cried out. "Your Zigzagoon was just about to pass out!"

He snorted at her. "It's called a potion. Only I, Royalty of Hoenn, ex-boyfriend of Lovely Lisia, have been giving the privilege of trialling it."

Then, his Zigzagoon was racing for Percy again.

Within a minute, Percy's paw was pinning the Zigzagoon to the ground. Her Poochyena even had the wit to yawn.

And before the rich boy could roll out another one of those potions, Percy bit the Zigzagoon by the tail and sent it flying into the woods.

Winston made a muffled whimper. August rolled her eyes.

"You're not actually Hoenn Royalty, are you?" she asked him.

"Shut up."

Entry #43:

3. The rich men may be irritating, but they are also very, very stupid.

I needed to complain abouT THE RICH GUY ON THIS ROUTE HAVING A POTION? WHAT?