One of the pair of presumed rangers approaches whilst the other looks towards the car once more.
Nick crouches to scratch Vulpix. A mixture of concern and love radiating from her.
'She's worried. That bodes well.'
The man inquires.
"We just have a couple questions about anything you might know about this, if you have the time."
'Well, I doubt they'll take no for an answer.'
Nick stands up.
"Of course, I'd be happy to help."
He takes a few steps forward.
'Once more unto the breach.'
…
"We're with the uh, Rangers." He almost studders. "What brings you two out here?" The Ranger asks, looking simultaneously impeccably dressed and well equipped, hardly a thread out of place.
"Just out for a morning stroll, great way to start the day, you know? Heard an alarm and we came to investigate." Nick focuses on the conversation, trying not to let his mind wander too far and letting anxiety take hold.
"Mhm, haven't seen this before today, then?" The new man looks back towards the car before returning to the blonde boy, feelings of dread washing over him.
"Can't say I have." He replies, feeling a bead of sweat tracing down his cheek as he feels everything the Ranger is not. His clothes hardly fit in and it's almost uncomfortable how badly he feels he's standing out at the moment.
The uniformed man will nod, "And you can't say you've noticed anything out of the ordinary? Things not where they should be? Looking older or newer or anything?"
'That's an oddly specific question.' He contemplates the nature of his arrival. "Not particularly, no. Nothing like that, at least. Sentrets have been skittish as of late but otherwise, another day in paradise." In matters of grave concern, lying comes as easy as breathing.
"Figured as much, alright, sorry for taking your time." The Ranger turns back towards his companion who shouts "Check his shoes!"
The first sighs, "Can we check one of your shoes, please?" They ask, turning back towards the pair. "Part of this investigation. Shouldn't take more than a minute."
'I'm sorry what?' Nick frowns. "You uh, just like, want a shoe?"
The man nods.
"Alright. Not how I thought I'd spend my morning, but I've done weirder things." He removes his left shoe before handing it to the Ranger. 'This seems off. Can't place why.' His terror is replaced with confusion at the situation he's found himself in.
They return to their compatriot, kneel, and compare it against something on the ground. While they discuss, Nick turns to Vulpix and holding a face of confusion, shrugs.
After a solid thirty seconds of discussion, the first shakes their head, stands up, and returns to the Trainer and their Vulpix. Handing back the shoe, he'll give an exacerbated sigh. "Sorry about that, this is the fifth time this month this has happened and we have as many leads the first time as we do now."
Unable to filter himself as he speaks out of surprise, "Fifth time? Here?!" He's luckily able to keep the rest of his thoughts to himself. "Maybe I'm not the only one who somehow ended up here."
"Oh, nonono." The Ranger will reply with a chuckle. "Arceus above, can you imagine what it'd be like if that were the case? Nah, had a couple up in the Sinnoh region, one in Hoenn, one across Silver in Kanto. Overall, just a mess. We're just down here now because of this. First one here, at least." He turns back to his companion who is struggling with the hood of the vehicle.
Nick stands flabbergasted 'Fifth time? Other people ended up here? How did these guys know about this? And how did they get here so fast?' Mulling over the new-found information, he asks "Wonder how someone got a car out here. Hope they're alright." Grateful his bruises, while fading, are largely hidden.
With another chuckle, "Hey man, your guess is as good as mine. If you have any theories, I'd love to hear 'em."
Replying with a shrug, "Can't say I got anything. Unless Palkia is somehow messing with us, tossing cars where they shouldn't be. But I mean hey, what are the odds of that happening right?" A light, only slightly forced chuckle.
He gives a simple nod, eyes narrowing. "We considered that but haven't had the chance to check up on them. Normally they're very evident when they're upset about something. But aside from these, couldn't tell you what's really happening here."
"Ah, well, you know how it is then. Some mysteries just can't be solved." Eager to leave the conversation, he looks around him to take in his surroundings.
The trees look almost ill with droopy and somewhat curly leaves. 'Yet another question without an answer.'
"Not often a small town Johto boy'll mention a member of the Creation Trio as a reason for something. It's one thing to mention Darkrai as a big boogeyman to kids but Palkia?" With a shaking head, "That ain't normal or expected."
Nick freezes up. 'Really?! Of all things, that's the thing you dwell on? How do I get out of this. What do I say.' As he thinks, Vulpix bumps gently into his leg shaking him of his analysis paralysis. The words flow without so much as a thought to their origin. "Scholar at heart, y'know. Just like to be educated about things."
The tension is almost palpable as the Ranger lets out a long, drawn out "Huh." His former laissez-faire attitude vanishing in the face of intrigue. "You wouldn't happen to have any identification on you, would you? Sorry for the trouble but you know how it is. Ranger things."
'Never have I been more grateful to wear the same pair of pants consecutively.' He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his temporary Trainer ID, handing it to the inquisitive individual before him. "Absolutely, no trouble at all. Sorry it's a temp, haven't gotten the real one in yet."
He accepts it and briefly scans over its information. "Ah, one of Elm's boys." They add, visibly relaxing. "'Splains a lot, that egg wouldn't just take on anyone. You lot competing this year then, I take it?"
With a single sentence, the tension vanishes in mere moments. "That's the plan at least." Nick bends over and picks up Vulpix, receiving a surprised "Vuuuul!" in the process. "My hopes and dreams rest upon this little girl."
With a faint smile, "She's quite the Pokémon. Well, here's this. Sorry about the trouble, we'll let you continue your walk. Stay safe out here though, yeah? Never know what you might find." Turning to the car as he returns the ID. "Case and point."
Nick accepts it, balancing Vulpix in one hand. "It's really not a problem." The words spill out of him with relief. "Good luck with your investigation. C'mon now, Villy. Let's go see about some breakfast. Think this was enough excitement for one morning."
Vulpix conveys with their eyes and flat face "Really." Returning a look of urgency, Nick turns to leave, placing her on their shoulder in the process.
From behind, he'll hear the Ranger mutter something lost to the honking horn of Luna.
"Nerd." Nick will hear an echoing feminine voice around him. Looking around, he sees nothing and no one aside from the two Rangers by the car. "Where is that coming from?" He'll whisper, trying to find a source to the voice. "That's the second time now."
Vulpix will look to him and tilt her head. Giving him a lick on the cheek, she gives of vibrations of positivity. He drinks it in as he desperately tries to let the tension in his shoulders ease. 'Let's not do that again. Phone be damned, I'm happy sitting in my room with a book and a warm fox.'
The pair begin their walk back.
'Note to self: don't mention Legendary Pokémon to anyone, ever.' He runs through a list of the ones he recalls. 'Or mythicals for that matter. Wonder if Celebi is around. Pretty sure they live in that spooky forest here.'
The car alarm, still blaring, grows silent as the pair depart.
While they left empty handed, they still have their freedom and each other. 'Could have been worse.' He contemplates the possibilities. 'Wonder what they'd do to a potentially time travelling, inter-dimensional person who has intimate knowledge with certain aspects of their world, many of which are likely forbidden knowledge.' He and Vulpix both shiver.
Vulpix as it would happen is being worn as though they were a scarf, their body stretching across his neck and shoulders. 'Or a fox skin. Let's not think about that.'
"It'll be easier for you to watch if we're being tailed. No pun intended." He said in an attempt to convince the six tailed vulpine to agree.
In the end, she did.
And though she frequently looked all around them, ever vigilant against potentially unwanted attention and to ensure they were alone, he could feel her contentment at the situation. 'This is just how it's going to be now, isn't it? Is there such thing as spoiling a Pokémon?' They make their way back to town, navigating the thin underbrush in fresh morning light. "You better not get too used to this, you're not exactly the lightest article of clothing."
Vulpix responds with a light nip at his ear.
"Hey!" He responds, gently swatting at her only to be met by a "Mrah!" as she semi-lunges for a nip of his hand. "Okay, okay, if it makes you feel better, you are by far the most fashionable animal I've ever work. And I've had a red-and-green macaw on my shoulder once. Looked like a genuine pirate that day."
With a huff, she gives him a single lick to his cheek before returning to her lookout duty.
It felt quicker getting back than it did leaving. 'Being able to see has its benefits, it would seem. Navigating by fox alone is slightly tenuous.' Though once they were back, the differences in times were evident.
While they left in silent dawn, there was now a light bustle amongst the streets. Hardly comparable to a metropolis, but surprisingly busy none-the-less.
The relaxed Vulpix and her ride navigate the streets as they begin their return to the Lab. 'Place is way more windy than I figured it would be. Truly encapsulates small town energy.'
"For what it's worth," the Trainer says breaking the comfortable silence. "I do think Villy is a nice nickname, even if it was hastily assigned to be more inconspicuous." Vulpix gives a slight purr and nuzzles his cheek. "At least that's sorted for the time being. Villy. Besides, if you want something else, I'm more than happy to accommodate.
They continue their walk, a small happiness radiating from the Vulpix upon Nicks shoulder. 'Villy.' He thinks to himself. 'Maybe not the most original, but it's ours. So I'm happy.'
She briefly purrs before a sign steals Vulpix' attention, and with a quiet "Vul!" Nick turns to see a bright and colourful sign advertising "Johto's Finest Pecha Berry Pies! Get one today for only 1500P!" The sign has a cute drawing of a happy pink pie.
"Oh? Well, looks like I found something sweet and berry-y for my favourite fox. Soon as I have some cash, I'll treat you to one. Which also means I get to make sure you're a healthy Vulpix." Vulpix lets out a low grumble. "Is that your tummy, or are you just upset at a physical?" He does his best to look at her. She maintains her gaze upon the sigh of pie. "Either way, lets get some breakfast and plan out the rest of our day." Recalling why they went out so early, "And tell Elm about our morning adventure. Terrifying stuff."
The duo continues their walk taking in all the sights that were either too dark to see before or they were too unconscious to perceive. Lots of small houses with well maintained yards. The occasional independent small business run out of said house. Hand carved Pokéballs, NBT Computer Repair, a post office which isn't really a house but still is in the middle of them, and a small restaurant amongst the places. Beyond that, the only other business of note is a bare-bones convenience store. 'Wonder how the Lab gets its supplies, do they run to the nearest big city?' With an unknowing shrug, they wind their way through the streets until the lab finally comes into view, partially set back from the town proper.
Whether to keep Elm from being disturbed, or keeping him from disturbing the town, one could only guess. 'Probably a mixture, to be honest. Mutually beneficial transaction.'
As they approached, they heard shouting and what vaguely resembled the sound of a jet engine spinning up, or a sci-fi moving charging laser beam, coming from behind the lab. He briefly met eyes with the fox upon his shoulder before sprinting forward and into the lab.
He bursts through the lab door as a rumble rattles the place and a cold a feeling of dread washes over the blonde boy. He comes out the back door to find a Feraligator and Meganium engaged in heavy combat with a black haired, baseball cap wearing Ethan and his brunette, white capped combatant Lyra guiding them.
The brief feeling of dread fades as he sees the two trainers standing opposed to one another on opposite sides of the clearing. His panicked breathing is swiftly replaced with awe at the display in front of him.
Feraligator seemed to be on the back foot, with several deep bleeding gashes marring his brilliant blue scales with one on face bleeding into an eye. Most of his red spines are broken with pieces scattered about the battlefield and to top it off, part of his tail was severed and is currently sitting several meters away.
Comparing this scene to Meganium. The small sauropod seems almost unharmed, aside from a tattered petal around their neck and a single unbleeding gash in one of their legs. Around them, the ground is blooming with all sorts of flowers and flora resembling that of a lush, primal grassland. The thick ground cover almost hides the evidence of marshy soil, likely the result of Feraligator's unrelenting use of water.
And yet, as Nick takes in the scene, it strikes him the uniqueness of this encounter.
'Feraligator refuses to go down.' Despite the severe injuries including complete dismemberment of part of their tail, still they remain and fight with an unbridled fury.
'If Florida taught me anything, you do not fuck with an American Crocodile.' As he thinks this, almost in response to it, Feraligator lets out an earth rumbling roar. Meganium flinches under the barrage yet holds firm under their trainers orders. Despite being nearly unharmed, the sauropod still fears their adversary.
Speaking in unison, both competing trainers shout orders which are drowned out to the blonde man watching from a safe distance. Before they finish their words, the two Pokémon jump into action.
As Feraligator lowers himself to the ground on all fours and takes in a deep breath, Meganium closes their eyes to focus. The blue crocodilian unleashes a torrent of orange-yellow energy which shoots like a beam through the air centered on the dull green sauropod. Moments before impact, they conjure in front of them a sparkling pane of glass. While it fails to stop the entire attack, much of it is reflected or dispersed before making contact. Instead of a potentially lethal blow, they only look winded despite being pushed back several meters by force.
'Christ on a bike the gator is half dead and still packs a punch. Is this what Pokémon battling is going to be like? Is this what I'm going to subject Villy to?' Professor Elm makes his appearance by Nick's side. "Take it in, this'll probably be one of the best battles you'll see for a while." As Feraligator recovers from his assault, Meganium opens their cold yellow eyes and returns fire with their own beam of energy. Unable to react in time, the blue behemoth simply braces for impact.
The force alone would be enough to topple a building and yet it only pushed him back maybe 5 meters and after several seconds of recovery, Feraligator stands up. As its scales are now charred from the impact and his breathing heavy, its sluggish to move. Yet a single word from his trainer is all he needs to move once more. "Thrash!" echoes as the creature brings itself into motion, quickly leading into a full sprint as it charges its soon-to-be prey.
Lyra quickly shouts "Magic Leaf!" to her combatant. The Meganium barely moves as the grass around them shudders and leaves manifest themselves around him before firing towards the charging crocodilian. Yet even as they make contact, it isn't enough to stop him. Before the last leaf strikes, Feraligator has Meganium by the neck and drops to the ground, throwing his momentum to the side as he begins a death roll.
Visibly overcome with panic, Lyra follows up with a "Body Slam! Use his momentum to crush him!"
Ethan laughs. "Don't stop until they're down, Lucy! You're not getting out of this one Lyra!"
With each sentence, another bloody roll tolls upon the green-scaled Meganium. "Please, Chiko!"
Another roll.
Feraligator is a terrifying display of might.
'Three so far.'
The creature throws its body once more.
Another roll.
Blood is pouring from the sauropods neck.
'How in the hell is his neck not broken?'
They struggle in vain against the titan grip.
Another roll.
This one is different.
As Feraligator rolls, Meganium throws their weight as best they can towards the gator gripping him, using the momentum of Feraligator against him. With a resounding crack the entirety of the sauropods weight comes down upon the chest of its aggressor. Their neck is released.
Slowly, Meganium recovers themselves and stands up, looking towards their fallen foe.
She moves.
Slowly at first, but after maybe ten seconds, Feraligator stands up again.
"Thrash!" shouts one, "Body Slam again!" shouts the second, yet only one order is acted upon.
Once again throwing their weight, Meganium rushes into their battered blood covered opponent.
Feraligator is thrown. After fifteen seconds, as they have every time prior, they stand up.
"Stay down! Again!" Meganium throws themselves into Feraligator.
They're sent flying.
After twenty seconds, they stand up.
"Ethan! Make her stop! Again!"
Flying.
Down for ten seconds.
Twenty.
Struggle to get up.
Thirty.
Everyone watches the battered body of the Feraligator struggle against the sustained injuries.
After a minute of trying, it collapses and lets out a hate-filled gurgle of a roar.
Silently, Ethan makes his way over, producing a Pokéball while gently stroking the maw of his broken companion.
"Shhh, shh, it's okay. You did your best. It's okay. We just need to work on your range. We'll practice, okay?" With a choked gurgle and a click, the Feraligator disappears into the Pokéball. Nick and his Vulpix make their way over to him with the Professor in tow.
Following a moment of whispering, Ethan stands up and faces his opponent. "Well, that went well. Chiko's gotten a lot better with wars of attrition. I'm impressed."
Lyra looks to him holding a brief triumphant smile before sadness washes over her victory and praise. "She still hasn't changed, has she?"
With a shake of his head, and a sigh, "Nope. Couldn't have stopped her if I wanted to. She's still as hardcore as ever. Doesn't know when to quit. Can't half-ass anything, that one." Deep breath. "Still, no need to dwell on that. We're working on it. This is part of that. Is Chiko okay? Hopefully the Thrash didn't do too much."
With a nod, "He'll be alright. Just have to get him some care for the Ice Fang and the worst of the Thrash, but nothing serious that he can't fix himself." The sauropod looks like its about to fall asleep where he stands. "Come on, you. Let's get you treated and resting." The pair slowly walk back towards the lab.
Ethan looks towards the blonde boy. "Well? What'd you think? Pretty solid, eh? Wanted to wait for you to be back but Lyra insisted. Not sure what's up with her, but hey, at least you caught a part of it!"
Still in mild awe, the Vulpix carrier thinks on how to form coherent thoughts. "I've known a bit about the sheer force gators have, but this takes it to a whole new level. A what, Hyper Beam I think to the face and several body slams on top of everything I missed prior and it was still getting up."
A small proud smile etched itself on Ethan's face. "Yeah, she's a resilient one to say the least. Woking on her anger issues though, like I said. And her ranged options. So far, she's only got special attacks to hammer opponents at range which, as you may or may not know, Meganiums are particularly resilient to. Not to mention her Light Screen for insult to injury. Only way to get at them is to get close, which she made particularly difficult." With a shaking head, he makes his past the pair and heads towards the lab. "I ought to get to tending her, though I might have to make a trip to the Pokécenter if it's bad enough which, bet it is. Not how I planned to spend my day, but that's how it'll be spent." With a nod to himself, "I can attest, nothing less than the best for my vest wearing Celeste."
"Let me know if you need any help, Ethan," Elm will shout towards his departing understudy. With a wave of a reply, the Professor faces Nick and motions towards Vulpix. "You're going to have to get some practice battling in with her if you want to succeed. Between other trainers, Gyms if you pursue them, and Pokémon in the wild, it'd be a good idea to get your Vulpix battle hardened."
Nick looks between the shoulder-mounted fox-kin and Elm. "I don't… Know how I feel about that. I mean, look at what happened to Ethan's Pokémon. They got absolutely wrecked fighting. Doesn't that hurt? I would rather not hurt Vulpix if I can avoid it."
Elm with give a solemn nod. "It does hurt, but let me ask you this. You mentioned your prior profession earlier, would you want to take a look at some tropical waters? Get a feel for the reefs down in the Hoenne region?"
"Absolutely." The blonde replies without a beat of hesitation.
"And maybe you go down there, explore, research the migration habits of Magikarp. Maybe you're in the shallows, tagging them when out of nowhere a seven-meter long Gyarodos appears looking to defend their school. What would you do?" His piercing gaze is unrelenting with a sudden seriousness overtaking his normal jovial view.
"What would you do?"
Nick opens his mouth to respond numerous times, before shifting his weight back with a step. "I don't know."
Elm will nod. "And with that, ask yourself. Would you be happy if you got killed by a Gyarodos, leaving your Vulpix alone? What would she feel? If I were a betting man, I'd say you'd keep her with you, how do you think she'd feel watching all that unfold, unable to intervene?"
As his words land, Vulpix gives a quiet whimper. "I know it's not an easy thing to ask, but it's the reality of it in our profession. You have two options. Stay in major cities, only rarely travelling between them, and avoiding most of the riskier areas and research as well as foregoing your path as a trainer,"
He lets the option linger.
"Or," he continues, "you and your Vulpix work together to improve yourselves and each other by training, battling, and going through the gym challenges." With a deep breath, he looks over the field before him. "You're unfamiliar with how things are here, and that's okay. A good way to learn is by doing. What better way to do than The Trainer's Journey?"
His eyes stare off into the distance, quiet for a while.
"From the moment I met you both, it's clear your Vulpix would put down their life for you. That is not something easily found or forged, yet it is something you share."
Totodile splashes in the pond.
"We don't know why Pokémon make the decisions they do. Different way of thinking and all, but from what Oak has told me, it's not often they would throw themselves into the fray to save their trainer out of love. It's usually a companionship of convenience. Mutually beneficial."
Vulpix presses her nose against Nick's cheek.
"But her?" He gestures towards Vulpix. "I have no doubt she would do anything for you, if only you'd ask because somehow, you've forged a bond of love that takes years to make, if ever."
The silent tension grows as they both remain silent until Elm speaks once more. "I won't talk your ear off, it's just something to consider. While you might not want to see them get hurt, neither does Vulpix want to see you hurt. And as evident by your bruises, it takes much longer for us to bounce back than it does them. Though, you're taking a lot longer to recover than expected." A dismissing shrug. "Probably irregularities about your arrival. In any case, I'm off. Science waits for no man!"
As he turns to leave with a jovial step, Nick will recall his earlier encounter. "Oh, uh, Elm. We went on a walk earlier and came across some Rangers. They were asking about the car and if we saw anyone. No, I didn't tell them anything, but figured you'd want to know. Asked for ID, told them I was with the Lab, they saw footprints, probably belonging to Ethan and Lyra."
His brief step of joviality darkens into seriousness. "Mhm. Well don't worry about it too much. Focus on yourself and Vulpix." He makes his retreat into the lab, leaving the blonde and his fox alone in the field once more.
After a few moments of peaceful silence, Nick makes his way over to the nearest shade-providing tree and takes a seat on the damp-from-battle grass. Vulpix unceremoniously rolls off his neck and shoulders down his back and falls with a startled "Piiix!" He'll look behind him and scratch the top of her head. "Sorry bout that, wasn't expecting you to fall." Within a few seconds, she recovers and takes her place in his lap. "Not a fan of the dampness, eh? Don't blame you. Just don't want to head in there…" Motioning vaguely towards the lab "…and disturb them while they tend to their 'mons."
The pair look over the carnage of the battlefield. Several deep gashes of upturned the earth litter the marshy area. Some portions are fully scorched, while others are teeming with life and energy. "Whatever Meganium did, the grass is better for it. Wonder what it was he did in battle though, can't imagine it'd be all that useful in a flash."
Vulpix gives a "Vulpix." in response. "Right? And what about that Feraligator? American Crocodiles are robust but he was absurd!" The expressed shock slowly downgrades itself into a sad quietness. "I still don't know how I feel about you fighting. I don't want you to get hurt." She raises her head straight up to look at her trainer.
'How do you think she'd feel watching all that unfold, unable to intervene?'
"Well, Elms words are going to haunt me even worse than my last traumatic experience. Guess this means we need to get you stronger. Question is where to start." He gently ruffles the fox's fur, feeling for any abnormalities in her coat. "Well it might just be your species, different fur type yes but most canids can have impeccable coats. We'll need to work on that for one." He recalls his years of studies. 'Dietary factors can't be discredited when it comes to this, though I'm sure some good conditioner wouldn't hurt.' His focus shifts as his eyes take her in once more. "Guess that means I'm going to give you a bath too. Hopefully you won't mind that too much." He gives her a gentle nudge.
Vulpix replies with a roll of their eyes and looks to the field before them.
"Should probably get more practice in today." Verbalizing his thoughts to no one in particular. "Wanted to research, maybe talk with Ethan or Lyra but I think its best if I leave them to their Pokémon. No need to intrude. And since books and the internet are inside, that means we get to stay outside."
The two sit, enjoying the lovely morning sunlight.
A few puffy clouds float lazily through the sky, granting brief pockets of shade to the wide-reaching grasslands.
Nick rests his back against the tree, closing his eyes and embracing the feelings around him.
The coolness of the shade and grass mixing with the warmth of the air, the distant sound of Spearows and Pidgeys in the trees, a quiet splashing in the pond, the gentle hum of bugs all comingling together to create a generally pleasant and calming atmosphere. To top it off, a comfort and reassurance emanating Vulpix on his lap. He gently scratches her midsection with both hands, ensuring no part is left unaffected. The vixen leans into it, purring gently in the process.
"Alright Villy." The trainer says, briefly pulling himself away from the environment of total relaxation. "We should probably get to training right about now."
The words linger a moment, Vulpix still enjoying the attention she receives.
"Maybe in a bit." They correct, "This is nice. I like this."
'Me too.' He thinks.
