"Professor Oak! What's up? …Really? …It's ready!? You mean it! Yeah, we'll… Oh, that makes sense."
The conversation Ash was having over that weird device in his hand didn't make much sense to Rura; he was clearly only hearing half of it. Nor did it really concern him, as Dawn's brush ran gently through his head fluff, again and again, until it was pristine. He was already enamored with the idea of showing off after yesterday's acting catastrophe, and he and Dawn had been tampering with accessories she'd apparently won at the amusement park, the other day.
"Alright. Thanks, Professor! See you soon!" Ash hung up the courtesy landline phone with a click and a chime.
"Ash? What is it? Is everything okay?" Dawn asked, leaving her brush to the side.
"Couldn't be better!" The trainer beamed. "Professor Oak just talked to Professor Willow. He said that the Poké Ball transfer is all set to go! We can come home as soon as possible, and see for ourselves!
"Aha! Ash, that's awesome!" Dawn beamed, standing up once Rura had hopped out of her lap.
"You mean it's done…? I'll be done with that awful thing!?" Pikachu dashed over, scaling up Ash's arm. Rura had no idea what he was talking about, but Pikachu looked awfully happy.
"That's right, Buddy!" Ash laughed, nuzzling his cheek into Pikachu's. "You can kiss it goodbye! They said that once we're back, they can test it with you around to say for sure. Ray and Willow are a couple of real smart guys!"
"That's what's up!" Buneary bounced on a nearby chair, hollering with joy.
"Hallelujah!" Empoleon cheered.
~It's about time,~ Rosa huffed, somewhat less excitable, but decidedly on-board with everyone else.
Rura tilted his head, nose twitching. What in the heck was everyone on about!?
"Oh, I'm so glad…!" Dawn cooed. "Then we can head home, right away! Maybe today?"
"Afraid not," Ash said, with slightly less enthusiasm. "It's too late to catch a flight today; Mom already checked. But we have one booked for tomorrow morning!"
~Head… home?~ Rura asked, head tilting.
~A flight? How far could your home be, that it would require such travel?~ Meema asked.
"Oh… right. I guess we haven't talked you guys through that one yet, have we?" Ash asked, smiling bashfully. "The truth is, we're from totally different regions, outside Unova. My home is in the Kanto region, on the other side of the world."
"And I'm from the Sinnoh region!" Dawn boasted. "Close to Kanto, but a bit up north."
"But, we were traveling through Kanto, before we came here, to Nimbasa. We were just, uh… on vacation. Wanted to get away from home, for a bit."
~So, this was always a brief excursion… I see,~ Meema replied, without much in her tone giving away whether she felt one way or another.
"Is that gonna be a problem for you guys?" Ash asked, frowning.
Meema considered her words for a moment. ~...It won't be a problem, Leader. Perhaps a change of scenery will be good for Rura. We'll follow you wherever you wish.~
~Yeah! I wanna see the world…! Or at least Kanto, hehe!~ Rura hopped on all fours, grinning. His tail wagged into a speeding blur behind him. ~I want to try a contest, already!~
"Hehe, don't you worry! We'll get to that!" Dawn winked. "But, what are we going to do, today…?"
~Oh! Oh! I know!~ Rura hopped on the bed excitedly. ~Meemaaaa. Can we show them my favorite spot? Can we, can we, can we!?~
"Your favorite spot?" Ash echoed. "Well, it's not like we have any plans. Why don't we pack up some snacks and go see it? Make a day of it!"
~I suppose one last visit couldn't hurt,~ Meema replied. ~The Lostlorn Forest; it's to the east of this city. Our dwelling grounds, before Rura was displaced by that hunter, and we met all of you.~
"Lostlorn Forest… I think the brochure I picked up at the airport mentioned that!" Dawn added. "But, it said to stay away from it…"
~Aw, it'll be fine! Don't even sweat it!~ Rura yipped. ~Besides, you have us with you!~
"Well, sounds fine to me," Ash said. "How about you, Pikachu? Everyone? We feeling it?"
"I don't have a problem with it," Pikachu shrugged. "Some good scenery sounds nice!"
"If you ask me, it sounds lovely!"
"I could use a little hike! It's been cramped here, without much room to hop around."
~Fine with me!~
"Alright!" Ash cheered. "Then let's get packing, and get going!" The teen pumped a fist in the air, before quickly recoiling when it aggravated his shoulder. "Ow…! Ow-ow-ow…"
"Ash, you've got to be more careful…!"
"Are you sure you know where we're headed, Rura? It feels like we've been walking for, like, an hour."
~Sure, I'm sure!~ Rura chirped, prancing a fair distance ahead of the group of Ash, Pikachu, Rosa, and Dawn, with Meema following close behind him. Unfortunately, his new second-favorite perch that was Dawn's head wasn't an option; she'd started shouldering the backpack full of snacks and supplies, after Ash had complained about it aggravating his fresh wounds. Shouldering a nearly 30 lb. fox was just too much. ~These forests may LOOK like you're seeing the same thing, over and over. But they could never fool a sharp Zorua!~
~It's common for these woods to be shrouded in illusions, by its native Zoroark,~ Meema explained. ~Humans are often hoodwinked into leaving its boundaries, never to venture deeper.~
"That would explain why it's called the Lostlorn Forest," Dawn said. The incline they were hiking up towards was getting progressively steeper. Unfortunately, her little Dark-type capture was oblivious to her plight.
"So, wait," Ash said. "There're other Zoroark that live here? I've only ever seen one other in person."
Meema, for her part, was silent.
~None I've ever seen!~ Rura answered. ~I pick up their scent, sometimes, but Meema always tells me to stay away from-~
~Rura!~ His mother scolded. ~Our destination is just up ahead.~
Rura rolled his eyes, knowing that the change in topic meant that the conversation was effectively over. Not that he particularly cared, anyway. He was too focused, now, on sprinting towards a gap in the seemingly ever-expanding darkness of Lostlorn Forest's high and dense forestry. Sunlight filtered through the gaps; almost blinding, after being in its absence.
He never did like that contrast. He squinted, but sprinted forth all the same, knowing the location by heart. ~We're here, we're here! I told you, I told you!~
The group collectively followed up with Rura, many gasping at the sight before them.
Breaking out of Lostlorn's dense forests, a steep cliff overlooked a beautiful skyline. All of Nimbasa City could be seen from its cape, from its many office buildings, to its stadiums, to its roller coaster and ferris wheel. Beyond that, even, wooded routes to the west, arid lands to the south, and mountain ranges to the north. A nearby river bank fed into a waterfall that reached far below their current altitude, feeding into a creek down below.
The sun was shining, the air was fresh…! It was the perfect place to play, Rura thought! Get to know everyone! He was already prancing from one stubby foot to the next, ready to engage just about anyone in some horseplay. Especially when the chorus of popping Poké Balls called out nearly a dozen more Pokémon! All sorts of them; big and small! Ones he'd never even seen!
And they were all, just… just… lying down. Splitting into groups and chatting. Sure, Ash and Dawn were putting out the snacks, but they were settled down upon a blanket, too! It was all so… so… so boring!
His Meema was sitting with a few of the others; ones he'd hardly seen up until now. They looked too large to be inside the gang's hotel room, and he couldn't deny being more than a little curious.. A huge bird with brown and cream fur and colorful head and tail feathers, marked with multiple scars. Where did she get those!? Another bird-like creature, but remarkably rounder and kinder-looking, with snow-white feathers decorated with red and blue spots. A gigantic turtle with a tree growing on his back.
"Hey, hey!" Rura pranced out in front of them; a large bird with colorful head feathers, first and foremost. "I dig the pretty feathers. And, WOAH. What's with all those scars!? You been in all sorts of fights? You must be strong as heck! Who are you!?~
A low, motherly chuckle passed the large bird's beak. "Thank you, dear. You can call me Pidgeot, and I DO take pride in my appearance, nicks and all. I was actually-"
"And you!" Rura hopped over to the second in attendance; a large, snow-white avian who was quite rotund, compared to the tough and angular Pidgeot. "Cool colored spots! Did Dawn paint those on ya!?"
The large fae giggled behind her wing. "My name is Togekiss, darling. Charmed. And these are actually the natural feather patterns of my pedigree. Though, Dawn does keep them quite lustrous!"
"...Oh." Losing interest, he moved on to the gigantic turtle sitting beside them, and hopped atop his shell to inspect it for himself. "You've got a WHOLE tree on your back! Isn't this heavy!? Don't you get tired!?"
"...Torterra," the tortoise replied gruffly. Having seen the previous two acts, he clearly knew better than to make long-winded conversation. "You get used to it."
"Rura!" Meema scolded, snatching him up by his scruff to deposit him in her mane. "Mind yourself, please… We shouldn't sour the hospitality of our new pack." Rura could feel his makeshift nest jostle as Meema bowed her head. He rolled his eyes. "Please, excuse us."
"Oh, don't beat yourself up about it. Kids will be kids," Pidgeot replied. "You handled it quickly, at any rate. I used to head a whole flock, myself. I can't tell you how tiring it is to have every little Pidgey in line. Leave them fluttering about, and they'll be left behind when you head south for the winter."
"Oh! You were your pack's leader!?" Rura felt Meema's mane, once again, shake about. Why did she always do this…!? "I wasn't aware… Please excuse the disrespect."
"Disrespect!?" Rura peered out of the crimson fluff. Pidgeot was looking at his Meema like she'd grown two heads, and wasn't a Hydreigon. "Your name is Meema, correct…? Pick your head up; you're going to get a crick in your neck, at this rate. We're all comrades, here."
"But, your status… Surely that must imply some hierarchy-"
"Oho! Dear, dear…" Togekiss cooed, after stifling her laughter. "Whatever hierarchy you or I know is displaced, in this group. I was the royal guard for my Princess Salvia! A product of generations of selective siring and training for the good of the crown. But here, I'm simply Dawn's Togekiss."
"So, this pack's structure supersedes others before it… Oh! You said you were a part of royalty? How interesting."
" Verily! The Hisuian Royal Line isn't so much a true monarchy, anymore… It's become more of a lone city-state, divorced from the rest of the Sinnoh region. A multitude of military conflicts led to the decision to dissolve kingdoms, the world over! Smaller subdivisions and cities governing themselves turned out to be the road to longer-lasting peace, compared to being subject to the whims of egotistical Kings and petty tyrants. For our crown's part, a fracture in the family just two generations ago led to…"
Boring, boring, BORING! Rura felt he would go mad if he listened to this adult talk much longer. Just grown-up talk. But, grown-up talk kept them busy; enough for him to wiggle his way out of the back of Meema's mane and onto the grass. "Oof," he uttered as he rolled into the grass, quickly covering his mouth with his paws. He could get caught!
But, she hadn't noticed. Breathing a sigh of relief, he crept through the tall grass, steering clear of another scolding.
"Cott!" A high voice startled him.
But, it was just a similarly frightened Cottonnee, who opted to float off to safety. Rura shrugged, crawling back towards the group. Most of them seemed happy to lie where they were… Boring. They'd probably shrug him off, too! Just a bunch of boring adults…
"Boo!"
"Ah!" Rura nearly jumped out of his fur! A high, echoing voice had caught him completely off-guard, and he somersaulted to face them.
The culprit was… a ghost! Dark violet, with a huge witch's hat, with bold, red eyes gleaming with mischief and yellow sclera. A jagged smile might have scared him, if he wasn't totally too brave for that sort of thing. Rura huffed. "W-who are you!?"
"I could ask you just the same! I don't think we've conversed, just yet, have we, little one?"
"Before I answer that, you're going to have to tell me what 'converse' means."
The ghost answered with another ghoulish chortle. "Thoust permitted to call me Mismagius. And what shall I, you?"
"...You talk weird," Rura said, scrunching his nose. "The name's Rura! I'm Dawn's Pokémon!"
"Ah! Master Dawn. I'm in the ward of Ash's own troop of colorful fighters. That would make us allies!"
"Agh! You sound like another boring adult." Rura said, frowning. "I'm tired of all these fancy words. I want to play! Do something interesting! Have some fun!"
"Au contraire, Rura! I may be an adult, but one thing I would never dare to be is boring! Very well then, fox. I like your spirit. Let's liven up this lazy retreat!" Mismagius floated about Rura in orbit, beaming with excitement and intrigue. A kindred spirit, it seemed!
"Yeah! Let's do something!"
"...But, what shall we do?"
Rura's eyes narrowed, his ears flicking in thought. He quickly gained a mischievous grin. "Let's playyyy… Tag!"
The fox pounced, pushing down the brim of Mismagius's hat. "You're it!"
"Oho! One of the venerated classics… It's so nice to see that it circulates among the youth. A game as old as time." Mismagius lifted her hat after her nostalgic waxing, blinking. She'd let her playmate get away. But, she wasn't dull. She could see that off-gray puffy tail sticking out of the nearby tall grass!
"You sly fox, you had me monologuing… No matter!" The ghost cooed, and sprung towards the tall grass.
"Pikachu!?"
What emerged from the grass wasn't a sly little fox, but a yellow, beady-eyed rodent with red cheeks and a lightning-bolt tail; Ash's best friend, wearing a carefree smile.
"Rainbows above and seas below… You startled me, Pikachu! It's not like you to veer so far from the group. I'd almost tackled you. Are you quite alright?"
Pikachu was silent, and his gaze blank. Eerily blank. It was getting almost concerning, before he stuck out his tongue and blew a raspberry at Mismagius.
"Pikachu!? I've heard you have a mischievous streak, from the grapevine. But I've never seen it for myself! Ho, well played, my lightning-bearing comrade! Well played!"
"Hehe, gotcha~!" A voice that totally wasn't Pikachu's taunted, before his image was swallowed in a violet swirl. In his place, Rura appeared, giggling!
"My word… What sort of trickery is this? I had no idea our new furry friends were masters of theatrics! Can I ask how you disguise yourself with such finesse? Such art?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to NOT find out!" He pranced past the bushes, hopping onto a low-hanging branch. Once again, his image vanished, replaced by a small, green monkey with what looked like a bush atop his head. "Ehehehe, catch me if you Pan~!"
The pun on Pansage was lost on Mismagius as she gave chase, diving for the disguised fox. "A good magician never leaks their secrets… But a good magician ALSO knows not to use the same trick, twice!"
That didn't stop Rura from hopping atop her head, sprinting past. "Missed me!"
"Oh, you have GOT to be pulling my cloak." Mismagius found herself facing not one, but two Empoleon, with their backs to her. 'He's trying to upend me with one of the classic blunders… But, which one is the real one? How can I tell!? Oh, I can't stand the suspense. I'll just hope for the best!'
Taking a gamble, the ghost very slowly crept up on one of the penguins, leaned close to their ear, and… "Boo!"
Empoleon squawked! Startled by the sudden scare, he spat an accidental Hydro Pump right at the 'mon he'd been talking to. Unfortunately, this was Dawn's Typhlosion, who was doused by it.
"Ack…! What's the big idea!?" Empoleon huffed indignantly, rubbing his neck.
"What's the big idea!? I should be asking you that!" Typhlosion fumed. "I thought we were past this childishness!"
"Not you! You!" Empoleon swerved around, pointing a wing at Mismagius. "You should know better than to sneak up on someone, unprovoked!"
"Dear, dear. I'm a ghost. It's what I do," Mismagius huffed. "Besides! This time, it was an accident."
"Hey, hey! She said it was an accident. She said she…" Rura trailed off, quietly realizing that if he went on, he'd be taking the blame. "...It was just an accident, ya big bully! You don't have to be so mean!"
"Kid, do yourself a favor," Typhlosion huffed. "Stay out of this."
"Hey, hey. What's going on over there?" Ash sat up, squinting at the commotion that had quickly become the center of attention.
Rura shrunk under the gathering crowd. This was becoming a lot more of a fuss than it needed to be.
~Rura!~ Meema scolded, scooping her young up by his scruff. ~Please excuse him… You shouldn't be disturbing our new pack. What did I tell you?~
Rura huffed, folding his paws. ~Well, they shouldn't be so BORING! I just wanted to play a game of tag.~
"Is that all this was!?" Ash laughed, shaking his head. "Poor guy's probably full of energy…"
Dawn looked over from where she was sitting, nearby Ash. "Are you behaving over there, Rura?"
~I am!~
"Guys, guys!" Empoleon raised a wing. "It may be hard to recall, but just take a moment. He's young! Unevolved! We were all Rura, at some point in our lives."
"Yeah, you were. Like, a couple of months ago," Typhlosion quipped.
"As were you!" He squawked in return. "My point is! I'll keep him company. Keep him contained, so to speak. If that's alright with you, Meema?"
~If you'd be so kind… Thank you.~ Rura was released, dropped down onto his feet next to the majestic penguin. ~Mind your superiors, Rura. I don't want to hear anymore grief from you.~
~Fiiiine.~ The fox pouted, wiggling his nose. ~But, he better not be boring.~
"Never in a million years!" Empoleon huffed, gesturing a wing for Rura to follow. "C'mon. I'll regale you with tales of our many adventures and competitions! You won't believe your ears!"
~Oooh, adventures…!~ Rura grinned, trotting after the penguin. Maybe not every adult here was boring, after all.
"Is everything alright, over here…?" Leader (or Ash, as everyone else preferred to call him) had sauntered over, hands on his hips. The body language made Meema flinch, but his smirk and upturned brow lowered her guard. She didn't quite understand him, still.
~Please, Leader. Forgive Rura. He's-~
"He's a kid," the boy said, ruffling her mane. "Really. It's fine. Besides, I know you're new, but a little chaos is normal here. Am I right, guys and gals?"
A chorus of affirmative hums and nods were the unanimous answer.
"I rest my case. But hey, Mismagius. Try not to rile him up and give Meema trouble, huh? She's still settling in." Ash suggested, playfully ruffling the top of the ghost's witch's cap. "C'mon. Why don't you hang with me for a bit? Give 'em a break."
These sounded like disciplinary measures. But, as Mismagius giggled and floated off alongside Ash to sit near the cliff's edge, Meema didn't get the impression that she was taking it particularly seriously.
Nor was her Leader, for that matter.
As much as she respected his rank, he seemed a little too easygoing for his own good. She was curious what kind of scolding he'd have for Mismagius, if any. And, regardless, he needed to know about their other pack member, if she was as troublesome as she seemed.
It was her duty.
With a brief survey of her surroundings, everyone had returned to their devices and social groups. Not a speck of worry for all the trouble. Vexing, but it gave her a window of opportunity. She was quickly swallowed in an illusion, appearing as little more than a small, fuzzy yellow bug, sporting four blue eyes; two big, and two small. A Joltik. A comically small creature, allowing her to crawl through the grass, undetected.
Allowing her to sneak up on her leader and the unruly Mismagius.
"I look away for two minutes and you're already ruffling up Rura and raising hell, huh?"
"It was his idea, believe it or not. I can't say it wasn't fun, though, hehe!"
"You've been like this since we met. Always making a scene. Sneaking up on us."
"Truly, I'm just grateful. That our little troupe accepts me and my habits."
"Yeah, well.. Hey, hold on." Ash paused. His eyes widened, jaw hanging slack, as if there wasn't a thought in his head. The absolutely glowing smile that took over said otherwise. "I can hear you…! Ha, that makes me happy."
Was that not something he could do, before? She knew very little about humans.
Nonetheless, the human breathed a content sigh. "Anyway… I mean, why wouldn't we?"
Mismagius hovered a bit lower; closer to the grass and its remaining morning dew. "You weren't around to see it; not for the most part. But, my games and theatrics and gags… Well, Mt. Silver is known for being cold. Bitter. Unforgiving. But, what you don't hear is how many of its inhabitants are just the same. No one had patience for a playful Misdreavus. I guess I was something of a kid, myself, back then. I saw myself in Rura."
Meema's faux eyes blinked. She hadn't expected that.
"Truly, Ash, you and Glalie changed my life. The moment you embraced my games… I knew you were the trainer for me. And I wasn't gonna letcha leave that mountain without me!" She giggled, headbutting the young man's visor to push it down over his face. He laughed.
"Ha, well I'm real happy to hear that, Mismagius!" Ash set his visor straight, grinning. "But hey, you've done a lot for us, too! You made a really big change to save Pikachu."
"Feh." The ghost floated up and somersaulted, hanging upside-down. "Stepping out of the shadow of solitude has always been my priority. Your fragile, mortal shell couldn't bear Mt. Silver forever. I could say the same for my ever-enduring, but ever-vulnerable heart. Your warmth was an escape. As fun as battling may be — and it is! — I really couldn't care less how I fare, or what stage I do it in. If that metamorphosis helps me to protect a dear friend, I was more than happy to."
Mismagius's confession stunned Ash and Meema alike into contemplative silence. What exactly was going through her leader's head, the Zoroark couldn't say. She was a captive of her own musings.
A member of the pack, completely shunning interest in their entire purpose? Their lot in the group — nay! The whole pack's role!? Preposterous. Vexing. Completely convoluted and confusing. Surely, Leader had hit the limits of his patience with her.
"...Ash? Earth to Sir Ketchum?" Mismagius cooed.
Ash shook his head. "Get out of here, you. Go have a ball." He attempted to lightly shove Mismagius, finding that his hand slipped right through her. He snorted.
"Have it your way, boss!" Mismagius chuckled, and floated off.
Without any repercussions. She was allowed to stay. Not even a scolding. What was happening?
All things Meema would ponder, and occupy herself with, before more rustling in the grass drew her back to reality. The yellow rodent, with rosy cheeks and a lightning bolt tail. He'd been introduced to her as Pikachu, and she was fairly sure that he was Ash's second-in-command.
"Is everything back in order?" Pikachu asked, hopping into Ash's lap. He made himself cozy.
"As close as it gets, with our group!" Ash laughed, followed by a comfortable silence.
"...Y'know, it's weird. We can just… talk to each other, now."
"Right!? Honestly, I just haven't really taken much time to think about it. Y'know, with everything going on… Been too caught up to not take it for granted."
"Well, now that you can hear me, I can tell you something I've held onto for a long time."
"Oh, yeah? What's that, Buddy?"
A mischievous smirk pulled up on Pikachu's muzzle. "Your morning breath reeks."
"H-hey!" Ash sputtered, offended. "As if yours is any better, Ketchup Breath!"
"I know the man who prefers mustard on his hot dogs isn't talking. Traitor."
"I have a very sophisticated plate, thank you very much."
"The word you're looking for is palate."
"Gesundheit."
A back-and-forth exchange that sounded a lot like an argument ended in laughter. Lots of knee-slapping laughter, from man and 'mon alike. Although Meema didn't know it, this was probably the most genuine, carefree moment they'd shared in weeks.
The Zoroark, though, found herself lost in the details.
Ketchup? Mustard? Hot dogs? Palates!? They seemed to be talking about food of some kind, but it was nothing she'd ever heard of. There was so much to learn about humans and the Pokémon that accompanied them…
Ash looked over his shoulder, catching Meema's attention. Had she been spotted!?
"Hey. Peeks. I think someone has their eye on you." Oh dear, she might have…
Pikachu followed Ash's gaze, and Meema turned to do the same. Buneary was sitting a ways away, towards a canopy of trees in the shade. Typhlosion was alongside her, chatting, but the rabbit looked like she was only halfway listening. When she noticed she'd been spotted, she waved.
"Well, what do you know? Haha, she does…" Pikachu fibbed a laugh, shaking his head.
"C'mon." Ash whispered, leaning down to speak covertly with Pikachu. Meema's sharp hearing picked it up, though, and surely Buneary's would, too. "Go spend some time with her, why don'tcha?"
"Should I!?" Pikachu blushed. His voice had cracked. He looked embarrassed. "Agh… why am I acting like a timid schoolboy about this? It's not as if we're keeping any secrets… Not anymore."
"You're having a rough week, pal," Ash replied, scratching the top of Pikachu's head. "Cut yourself some slack, and just go over there. A little quality time will do you some good!"
That was the end of the discussion, as Ash lightly shoved Pikachu in her direction. The mouse muttered something or another, and dashed over towards Buneary and Typhlosion.
The longing stares, and talk of secrets kept… It sounded scandalous. Dangerous, even. It was something she'd better keep an eye on. Especially if their leader was being so careless.
This was enough to convince Meema to change shape yet again. Taking the unassuming form of a Pidove, she 'fluttered' over to stalk near the bushes bordering the cape. Her disguised self pecked idly at berries in the brush, simulated by the real Meema nudging them with her claw.
From here, she could see everything. And, she saw Pikachu waltz on over, awkwardly waving.
"Er, hi! How, uh… What's new, you, uh, girls? Gals?" The overly-toothy grin plastered on Pikachu's face was as much of a farce as Meema's expertly crafted illusion, though not nearly as convincing. "How's the weather? I mean, I guess we've all figured that out by now, but…"
The silence made breadth for even the gentlest of breezes to be heard.
"Aha, oh boy. Okay." Typhlosion snorted, sitting up. "I'm gonna save you two and myself this painful conversation. Break a leg, don't break a heart, or whatever." The fire badger stood, giving Buneary and then Pikachu a fraternal pat on the back before wandering off. "I hope Ash and Dawn brought some sitrus berries. I could really go for one of those…"
That left Buneary and Pikachu alone, as far as they knew. The former tutted, shaking her head. "Not spitting your A-game today, champ?"
Pikachu snorted. His face was flushed enough to match his cheeks. "Clearly."
"Well, c'mon." Buneary patted the grass next to her, motioning for Pikachu to sit. He did. "How're you feeling?"
There was a moment of trepidation. Conflict screwed up Pikachu's expression in a way even Meema could see. He was picking his words carefully. Deciding how much to divulge. "...Honestly? Between you and me? I'm feeling pathetic."
Buneary frowned. Her dominant hearing ear flopped over a bit. "Well, shoot, I bet! Tell me about it?"
"I… I can't battle. Not for sport, when Ash wants to call on me. Worse yet, when someone's in need. Like with Meema, the other day."
Hidden behind her disguise, the fox did a double-take.
"She needed help. Rura needed it. Ash needed it. I was too petrified to do a thing. I felt like… well, like an ass." He fidgeted with his paws. "For lack of a better word."
The rabbit tutted. "An ass is the last thing you should be feeling like. C'mere. Lean on BunBun."
From the little, painfully awkward conversation between the two she'd seen, Meema expected Pikachu to put up a fight. To fumble through it, or hesitate. Instead, he scooted closer, and leaned his weight into her. Her cotton-ended ear wrapped around his own ear closest to her.
"...Oh, you really are out of shape. No fluster, or stuttering, or nothin'?"
Her instincts were right, then.
Pikachu shrugged it off. "After everything we've been through? I'm not too concerned about where we stand, right now."
Even Meema recoiled. Too curious to not snoop further, she shuffled around to get a better look at the duo she was imposing upon. The absolute darkest expression ever conjured by an unassuming little rabbit, perhaps, was born on Buneary.
Pikachu bristled, seeing the same. "S-sorry! That was… I know how that sounded. But it's really-"
"Don't apologize," Buneary said curtly. To Meema's surprise as well as Pikachu's, she pulled him in closer. "I'm angry for you."
Pikachu fidgeted awkwardly, even as the fear in his eyes dimmed. "Sorry."
"Hey. None of that." Buneary pulled away from the embrace, and nudged Pikachu with her ear, much like Ash had. "Go on 'n grab a snack, and try not to think about it, alright?" She smiled. "I think I saw Ash sneak some ketchup from the fridge. I bet you could use that pick-me-up."
"Ehe, he did, did he? That figures." Pikachu laughed nervously, taking her cue. "...Thanks, Buneary." With those parting words, he dashed off to reunite with his trainer, who'd returned to sitting by Dawn after Pikachu's conversation with him.
With Buneary on her own, Meema had to pry. Abandoning her guise, she walked over and sat beside her. "I see you have quite a bit of history with Leader's Pikachu."
"Huh?" Buneary startled. Her head had clearly been in the clouds. She only just now registered her company. "Heh, yeah. I've had my heart set on that fella since the moment I laid eyes on him. It's been upwards of a year now."
Young love. It made her stomach wrench. She felt obligated to speak.
"I'd greatly advise against such… reckless endeavors. The heart is fragile. It often moves too fast for its own good, like a Sawsbuck on a stampede. You never know what it might flatten."
"Oh, trust me," Buneary laughed a snarky sort of laugh. One that made Meema feel like there was some context she was supposed to have. "I'm not taking things fast. Haven't for a while, but especially not right now. Pikachu… needs time. I don't want to push him."
Meema felt a bit more at ease, hearing that. "A rather wise answer, from someone so young."
"Young?" Buneary's pink little nose wrinkled. "How young do you think I am?"
Meema blinked. "I would assume not much longer than that year you've known him. Perhaps two…?"
"Eheheh." Buneary laughed. Was she… mocking her? "A little off the mark. Seven and counting."
Meema balked. She felt like she'd been struck. Suddenly, she was the naive youngster. "Seven… Dragons of Truth and Ideals, I did not expect that. And, Pikachu…?"
"Pikachu? From what I can remember, he's eleven, give or take."
A one-two punch. "But, you act so young…! So much younger than your age." Panicking at her own choice of words — how could she be so rude to her elders!? — she bowed her head for perhaps the tenth time today. "I-I apologize…! Truly. I hadn't meant to call either of you…"
"What? Old?" Buneary blinked. "Pff, I don't care. I'm an adult. Been one as long as I've been with Dawn, and eyeing Pikachu. Not like I'm getting old and brittle, anytime soon!"
"Yes… well…" Meema looked away, still feeling awkward. "I'm glad, then. With experience comes wisdom."
"You said it! Live and learn. But, hey." Buneary stood up. "Not to look like I'm bailing on you, but I might've been on to something when I told Pikachu to go eat. All this heavy talk is making me hungry." She looked back towards Meema. "You want me to get you anything?"
She couldn't possibly ask any more after imposing on her. She shook her head. "No, thank you. Please, make sure you're fed before worrying about me."
"If you say so!" Buneary shrugged, and hopped off, reuniting with her trainer.
~Havin' fun with those illusions?~
Terror locked Meema in place. Icy hues darted to the source of the voice, which was admittedly hard to track. She recognized it as her own preferred method of communication; telepathy. But, the one who'd caught her didn't do much to hide herself.
Rosemary sat on a nearby rock, one leg crossed over the other. She looked more amused than mad, truly, but that only did so much to quell Meema's anxiety.
~I… I-I apologize. I was… Attempting to understand my new pack,~ Meema decided to say. ~If it'll have my protection, then I must be aware of my surroundings, no?~ Then, it hit her. ~How were you able to perceive my illusions?~
~Aura's a nifty little thing!~ Rosa tapped her noggin with her paw, looking smug. ~If I concentrate, I can feel where anyone is, closeby, at any time. Hell, I can read your vibes and your mind, too!~
Was that anxiety she felt? Change that to terror. ~You… would be a terrifying huntress.~
Rosa blinked. ~Hell, probably. But, that's not my scene. I'm an Aura Guardian!~ She grinned, flexing her bicep.
~Aura Guardian…?~
~It's a responsibility of mine and Pa's. He's one of the rare humans who can tune into Aura, like me. We're supposed to use it to protect others, and stuff.~ Though she'd looked chipper a moment ago, Meema noticed the light dulling in Rosa's ruby hues.
It might've been a sore subject, so Meema steered away from it. ~That's right. Leader… Rosemary. May I ask you a question about him?~
~You mean Pa? Yeah! Sure. Shoot.~
~Would you happen to know his opinion of me? He told me, himself, that he wasn't disappointed with my performance in battle. But I'd definitely embarrassed him at that facility, the other day. I'm not sure if he was simply kind enough to spare my feelings…~
~Uh-uh. Gonna stop you right there,~ Rosa interrupted. ~Pa wouldn't let someone go for that. Ever. I caught a lot of who he is when I hatched, Meema. It was like a whole movie reel in a couple of seconds, heh… So, it was a lot to remember, but… He doesn't love us for our strength. He loves us for us.~
~That is… quite reassuring.~ And, it was. ~But, what of who I am? I worry I've caused him discomfort, more than once.~
~You say a lot of weird things,~ Rosa answered matter-of-factly. ~C'mon, cut the crap.~
~Pardon?~
~You're tip-toeing around something you REALLY want to ask. Just come out with it.~
~Your perceptiveness is frightening,~ Meema admitted. ~But, very well. I've had questions that I've feared aren't my business to ask. Repeatedly, I've heard of something troubling. It seems something grave has happened to Pikachu. Something that's understood by everyone but Rura and I.~
~...Oh, yeah. That.~ Rosemary turned to face away from Meema, still seated on her boulder. Meema feared she might've broken rank by breaching the subject. ~Pikachu was poached, recently.~ That was the extent of Rosa's answer, breaking her normally talkative streak.
But, that alone said enough. It explained everyone's dour moods. Pikachu's fragility.
~I see. And were your enemies destroyed?~
Rosa's paw collided with the boulder she sat on, cracking it. ~Trust me. I wish I'd been strong enough to. I mean… We rescued Pa and Uncle Pikachu. But, I wish we could've done it sooner. Seeing them the way they've been lately… I just feel helpless! I should be able to do more.~
Meema thought on Rosa's wishes, briefly. They were quite understandable. Who wouldn't, in her position, want to be fully capable of keeping their loved ones safe?
~Should they appear again,~ Meema spoke, ~I'll be sure to destroy them.~
Rosa looked over, cracking a smile. ~Heh. I'll hold you to that.~
"Now, what's with all the doom and gloom, over here!?" Two hands ruffled the top of Rosa's and Meema's heads. It was Ash, looming over the two of them with an upturned smile and a raised brow. "C'mon. We didn't come all the way out here just to be sad, did we?"
~If that's what you command, Leader,~ Meema replied, predictably.
"It's not about what I command. We're here to have fun! There's nothing gained from just moping around. I'd say it's time we pick the mood up!"
~How're we gonna do that, Pa?~ Rosa asked.
"I…" Ash hummed, scrunching his nose. "I'm not sure."
"Hey, Ash!" Dawn spoke up. "What about the ukulele you brought along?"
"Oh, right! I almost forgot." Ash walked over to his bag and scooped up the contraption. Meema couldn't tell what exactly it was, but her leader seemed to find something wrong with it. "...Crud, I forgot to get a pick. Anyone see anything I could use? I don't wanna cut up my fingers playing."
The other Pokémon muttered and scouted about, but things ultimately came down to Pikachu. "I've got it!" He'd come across a particularly tiny and flat stone, spinning to smack it with the back of his tail to launch it towards Ash.
Ash caught the stone in his palm. "Nice find, Buddy! Alright, everyone. It's time for a sing-along!"
"Oh, this ought to be good."
"Can Ash even play?"
"Sure, he can! You've never heard?"
"Not even once."
~Let's hear it, Pa!~
All of that chatter and more filled the air as a majority of their pack moved in a little closer to gather for… folk music of some kind, it seemed?
"This is an old sea shanty. We used to hear it from some sailors out in Johto and Hoenn."
A strum of the pick began the tune.
"Heave ho! Heave ho! Yeah, yeah!" Ash started to swerve back and forth with the rhythm of rolling waves, humming the tune a bit longer than standard; stalling to recall the lyrics. "Ooooh! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Yes, yes!" Side to side he moved, movements spry and lively. "When we hear the jabbering of the Wingulls on the high sea, we know we can't give up our lives fishing on the ocean!" He grinned, looking over to his now confused team.
A few of the older pokemon who had traveled with him on boats before, such as Pikachu, or those who grew up near humans, like Togekiss, recognized the song and began to sway.
"...Oh! This one!" Dawn giggled, springing to her feet to join. "Put your back into it! Heave ho, heave ho!"
"Heave ho, heave ho!" Ash shouted back, dancing with Dawn.
Soon, Pikachu took the lead as the little fisherman, while Empoleon summoned passing, harmless waves with strokes of his wings to imitate the rumbling seas behind his friend.
~Oh! Oh! Lemme help!~ Rosa hopped over to flank Pikachu, and memorized Empoleon's actions with a clever use of Copycat. Waves of her paws summoned rolling waters and mist.
"Oh, yeah!" Ash sang once more, tossing his head with the energy of the song. "Er…" Seemingly losing his place again, Meema could only guess, he turned his eyes to Togekiss, who was having no trouble with the ballad. "Boss, I'm telling you, the size of this Magikarp was different! And, it's all miiiiiine!"
~All mine! All mine!~ Rura joined the odd festivities with continuous somersaults. It wasn't long before he made himself dizzy. He stumbled, only for Typhlosion to catch his fall, snorting at him.
Mismagius sang, Mamoswine rocked to the tune with all of his mass, and…
Just about everyone was taking part.
Everyone but Meema. That lone fox stood in the midst of the play, standing with an awkward hunch. Lamely blinking at it all.
What sort of ritual was this? A folk song? It had to be. There was no order. No roles. The rhythm was chaotic and juvenile, at best. Why, if she'd acted this way on such an occasion…
Wiggling his eyebrows, Ash looked to Dawn for this line. "Even if I row four and a half meters, I couldn't get that girl's attention."
Snorting at his teasing, Dawn danced away from Ash for now, mimicking the movements of waves with Togekiss.
"Pi-Pika!" Pikachu squealed.
The song seemed to be reaching a crescendo, as Ash rowdily stomped his feet. Inhaling enough to puff out his chest. "A flighty Wingull chatters excitedly as it sees my bare skin, glistening in the surf!"
That seemed to be the end of the 'shanty,' or at least the exciting finale. Some, like Ash and Dawn, fell back in the grass, catching their breaths. Some stayed gathered, chattered, and laughed. No order. No corrections to the lack of attention to detail. Rura hadn't been scolded.
Meema, while she could sense she might've been expected to join in, only felt culture shock.
But, watching her son giggle and attempt to imitate his seniors long after the festivities were over, she couldn't quite complain. Her child was fed, and he was happy.
Furthermore, she could overhear the two humans, now.
"I'm surprised you know how to play," Dawn said. "But I guess you wouldn't've bought the ukulele if you couldn't, huh?"
Ash snorted. "Never underestimate me when it comes to improvising."
Dawn giggled. "You've got me, there!"
"Besides. We were… busy in Sinnoh, you know? I was too zoned-in for stuff like that. But, I picked up on string instruments during recess."
"I would've taken you more for a drum guy."
"Oh, yeah, I mean, the teachers did, too. But, like, they had this kinda big, you know, for a kid, pellet drum. They let me play it once. Once."
What an interesting pack.
Meema wasn't sure just how long she'd been staring off of Lostlorn's cliffside, overlooking Nimbasa City. Lost in her thoughts, she'd only caught that blue skies had turned to orange, and the sun was starting to set over on the western horizon. This was, perhaps, her last night ever spent in her old home. In Unova. Yet, that hadn't occurred to her. Not for more than a passing thought.
"Enjoying the view?"
~Leader!~ She startled, sitting up. The youth sat down beside her, smiling.
"You've been sitting there for, like, hours," he pointed out.
~…So I have. I've lost track of time, I fear.~
"Aren't cha hungry? I haven't seen you eat a single thing since we got here."
~I'm not,~ she replied. ~Has Rura eaten? Have the others?~
So she said. But, a loud, mortifying rumbling of her stomach said otherwise. She ignored it, but Ash did not.
"Uh-huh. Here. I brought something for you." Ash held out a morsel that Meema didn't recognize. A cylindrical, surely artificial food made of god-knows-what, wrapped in a fluffy exterior that Ash used to hold it together.
~...Pardon me, Leader. But, what is this?~
"Oh, it's a hot dog!" Ash grinned. "It's a popular snack, but it's apparently really big here, in Unova. I only put on a little ketchup, since it's probably a new flavor for you."
A hot dog. Ketchup. Those were the subjects of Leader's and Pikachu's argument, earlier.
Meema sniffed at it. Her eyes widened. ~...Meat? Leader, I couldn't….~
Ash snorted. She felt like she'd made some sort of error. "It's fake meat, silly. Pretty good imitation, though, ain't it?"
Fake meat!? What did that even entail…? Meema worried the answer would be yet another confusing bout of information, and ducked her head away from the morsel that he continued to tempt her with. ~You must have hunted tirelessly for this. Respectfully, I beg that you eat it, yourself. If we'll be leaving on an excursion soon, you'll need your strength.~
Although she'd missed it, the teen rolled his eyes. "Oh nooo, but you don't understand, Meema!" He drawled on, clutching his stomach. "I already ate so many of them, I've made myself full! I think if I scarf down anymore, I'll make myself sick!"
Meema squinted. Was he… being coy with her? His acting was completely terrible, and she wasn't new to this earth. He was fibbing on her behalf. Why, she couldn't quite understand, but he'd had her cornered. If she didn't accept this act of charity…
~Very well. You win, Leader.~ That was all she conceded before snapping and devouring the 'hot dog' in just a few bites.
"You weren't supposed to eat the napkin…!" Ash stammered out, and shook his head. "Never mind."
But, she couldn't pay that any mind. Not when the sheer flavor she'd just experienced continued to bewilder her. She blinked. ~I fear I understand Pikachu's fondness for… ketchup, was it?~
"Careful," Ash warned, grinning. "Tell him that, and he'll never stop pushing the stuff at you."
~I see… Leader?~
"Yeah?"
~Thank you.~
Ash smiled, satisfied, and turned his attention to the cityscape. Leaning forward on his knees. "Awfully nice view you've got here."
~I've always disliked it,~ Meema replied. ~Rura would always find his way here, to look over the human settlements. He never kept it a secret that he wanted to venture into it… I worried that, one day, I'd find he followed through.~
"And you didn't want to head out there," Ash filled in. "You said something when we met, didn't you? About how you felt about us humans. You don't trust us."
~I've only heard terrible things,~ she replied. ~Humans aren't to be approached. Their greed will tear all that we know out from under us.~
She saw Ash flinch at her words. She studied him, and saw something of a glassy look in his eyes. Had she offended him~? ~But, I feel that I might have been wrong, after meeting you and the rest of your pack. I wonder…~
Ash seemed to snap out of his trance, tilting his head. "Wonder what?"
~I wonder if there's more to understand and appreciate, about human life.~
"I want to understand Pokémon, myself. I always have," Ash replied.
~I did overhear you saying as much, to Mismagius,~ Meema admitted. ~Apologies for eavesdropping.~
"Talking to her got me thinking," Ash replied. "About what being a Pokémon Master means."
~Pokémon Master?~ She echoed, unfamiliar with the term. ~That would have to be the mightiest among Pokémon Trainers. One who stands over all others?~
"There are some who think of it that way. But it's actually so much more than that. Sure, I want to be strong. Sure, I want to win battles. Who doesn't like winning? But, I've learned something important. All the power in the world doesn't mean a thing, if it's not shared with someone you care about."
Ash sounded as if he had more to say, and Meema dared not interrupt.
"I've been growing alongside my team this week. With you guys. I've been learning more about all of you. We get each other better than before, and that made us stronger!" With conviction in his voice that reminded Meema just why he held his stature, he stood to overlook the horizon.
"I want to be a good enough trainer to understand any of my Pokémon… No, any Pokémon in the world. If I can do that, then I'll be a Master." He reached out towards the sun and closed his palm, as if to grasp it in his very own hand. "The greatest Pokémon Master."
Meema, for a moment, found herself at a loss for words. Somehow, she felt moved. Convinced of a goal that she hadn't known the meaning of, until just now. ~Your definition of 'Pokémon Master' is quite beautiful. Far more poetic than my own.~ To her own surprise, she found herself smiling. Not the faux, painted-on smile that came with any Zoroark's fur markings to coax enemies into a false sense of security. A genuine one. ~With your convictions, I believe that you will reach your goal.~
"My convictions," Ash muttered under his breath. "Aw, shucks…" Sniffling, Ash wiped tears from his eyes, and crouched to throw an arm around the Zoroark. "You're gonna make me cry, here, Meema!"
~My apologies.~ She bowed her head. ~...That song you played earlier. Do you have any more? I didn't take the time to properly appreciate it.~
Ash smiled. "I do! In fact, hold that thought…" He got up, returning to the supplies they'd brought along for the trip. "Alright, everyone. One more song before we go, okay? Let's gather around!"
Dawn was at Ash's other side soon enough after he'd returned, leading her shoulder into his. Pikachu walked over and sat himself down in Ash's lap. Rura sat next to Meema, his fluffy tail wagging behind him.
Before long, their whole pack was gathered near the elevation's edge, crowding around Ash.
"This is a lullaby that I used to play for Pikachu. It was an old one Mom taught me and I tweaked it for him, heh." Pikachu chirped contentedly, and snuggled into his trainer's torso. Ash held a small, rectangular instrument in his hands. He held it to his lips, and played.
Through the device, known as a harmonica unbeknownst to Meema, a shrill, but somehow calming and serene whistle carried a tune.
Ash pulled back after a pause, softly singing to accompany it.
"The Poké Ba—" Ash paused. He rethought the lyrics, and picked up suddenly.
"—My arms are your bed.
Curl up and close your eyes.
In the morning your wounds will heal,
If, if you come into my dreams."
Rustling grass alerted Meema. It was only a couple of Venipede, though, waddling in through the brush. They stopped nearby, antennae wiggling. They were only here to listen.
"To play with me...
It's just something I thought about.
Good night, good night, good night.
A bright star is shining."
Ash started to rock his shoulders back and forth, at a gentle pace to match the slow tune that he breathed into the instrument. Dawn did, as well, not wanting to spare herself the brush of her shoulder against his.
"I have sleepless nights too.
Come here into my arms.
We'll talk, just the two of us.
If, if we don't have a meeting."
Meema didn't wait, this time, to check if the other Pokémon were moving to the tune, too. She only followed the warm feeling that her trainer's song stirred in her, and rocked slowly.
"I want to listen to you, but...
Pikachu? Asleep already?
Good night, good night, good night.
The star has drifted away now."
By now, more Pokémon had gathered to join in her trainer's melody. A trio of Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour sat nearby. An Emolga perched in Torterra's tree. An Audino sang to echo Ash's words. Her trainer, she found, had caught on as well, looking between each new guest.
The belly-laugh that managed to slip by his lips held all the childish mirth of her very own Rura, who now slumbered, curled into a little sable ball of fluff.
Leader… Surely, this is what he meant, when he spoke of harmony with Pokémon. With us.
"Good night, good night, good night.
Soon, I'll sleep too."
Pikachu finally started to give in to the song's tale, uttering a high-pitched yawn.
Looking over Nimbasa's twilight skyline, Meema saw the flashing lights, and heard the distant human chatter, in the backdrop of her surrounding company, and their own sweet melody. Now, perhaps, she looked at it all in a way that she hadn't before.
This human, beside her. So loud, yet so gentle. So thoughtless, yet so thoughtful. So carefree, yet so wildly, wildly ambitious. So human, and yet slightly familiar in the way his dark hair, spiky and unruly, reminded her of a Zorua cub. He was a mess of confusing contradictions.
Those contradictions… They make our differences look far less significant. Maybe there's something to say for his way of life. For ours.
