"I'm fine! Really!" Ash kept saying.
Pikachu gave his trainer a worried look. The Riolu still looked beat up and he limped as he stepped forward, but he made an effort to hide his suffering. Poorly, but he made an effort, nonetheless.
It was now midday and everyone had managed to make the walk back to town; Zorua provided everyone with the medication to make the return trip as painless as she could, but there was only so much that she could do. Her potions, as amazing as they were, could not heal everything. So, they opted to go to professionals.
Nearly everyone who fought in last night's battle had opted to come, with the only exception being a certain lizard who was best ignored. At least he made himself useful and went to inform the others who stayed out of the fight.
"Pikachu…" his trainer said, calling him out with a word.
Pikachu let out a sigh. "Sorry, it's just… you're hurt, because you fought last night." He sincerely hoped that this was not a case of regretting what he wished for, when he desired a chance to fight side by side with the Riolu. A real fight was not what he had in mind.
Ash raised a paw, silencing the electric mouse. "Pikachu, I didn't like seeing you get hurt either and being able to do little about it. It was unfair to you."
"... I don't mind it being a little unfair," Pikachu looked down. His trainer had always been the powerless one in their circle; it was only natural. Ash had been human and not one of those weird humans that had powers, he couldn't breathe fire or crush stones. He was not weak, but he was not going to destroy a Team Rocket robot by himself…not that that stopped him from trying. And now, as a Pokémon, he could fight back on even terms, where before he had a disadvantage.
Pikachu felt a paw over his shoulders. He could feel a subtle warmth coming from it; there was… joy, delight in there, but also a hint of worry. He lifted his gaze to meet his trainer's eyes. Those emotions he felt, they belonged to Ash. How?
"Pikachu, this isn't anything we haven't done before. How many times a week did we run into Team Rocket?" Ash said. "And how many times does it ended up with someone being kidnapped."
You were likely to run into Team Rocket at least two times per week. Dexter sounded near Ash's hip. "Most of these situations involved at least one Pokémon being captured and needing to be rescued, often this was Pikachu."
Pikachu glared at the talking device. The Pokédex was oddly talkative as of late, though at least it was useful, unlike a certain somebody.
"See! Nothing we haven't been doing already!" Ash laughed. "The only thing different is that I could fight, too."
"I wish we could have sent that Sneasel Blasting Off…" Pikachu's expression darkened, yet he knew his trainer's words held true. How many dozens of times had Team Rocket captured someone in their small group, only to be foiled at the last moment? Sometimes, someone needed medical help. Really, the only change was that Ash was not human.
His trainer flashed him a silly grin. "Hey, maybe I should have given that a go? How hard can it be?"
Pikachu crossed his arms, a small swell of pride in his heart. "You'll need plenty of practice to do that."
"Hey, you sent Team Rocket flying the first time we met them!"
"I'm just that good."
"Funny, you should mention Team Rocket," Squirtle interjected himself, still clutching his shell. "Silver seemed to really dislike Team Rocket. No idea why, but he got really angry when I talked about them."
Pikachu frowned, deflating the little bit of pride he had at the mention of Silver. Squirtle had more or less explained what happened during his capture. Silver was the name of that Sneasel who seemed to go out of his way to target Ash and he had been human. Pikachu glossed over it because they had been fighting, but maybe that served as the reason why the Sneasel repeatedly jeered at Ash, yet said nothing to the Electric-type at all. So why was he so mad about Team Rocket?
Ash let out a shrug. "Either way, I think we're due for a checkup." He grabbed onto one of Pikachu's paws. "Come on, you can tell me how treatment here is different from a Pokémon Center compared to back home."
Pikachu tried to think of this as being a potential upside. Sure, Ash might need actual medical treatment more often than before, but at least now the two of them could do that together instead of being separated for hours.
The group walked under a sign with the words "Hyacinth Healer's Hut" written in shaped metal. A symbol that looked like an egg in a pouch hung under the words.
The building didn't stand out much compared to the rest of the village, looking more like a house than a hospital.
They walked through the front door to find three Pokémon, a Chansey who was currently tending to the needs of a bandaged Heliolisk, a Happiny who was sitting at a desk and writing into a piece of parchment, and lastly, was the elderly Blissey who stood over a cauldron, mixing something that filled the air with a pungent aroma.
The Blissey was the first to notice them, raising her head to meet them. She set her paddle aside and walked over to them. "Oh, customers!" she raised her gaze and turned her head up. "Plenty of customers… and some of them look like they're in need of immediate treatment."
Chansey, having done her business with the Heliolisk, moved toward the group. "How may we help you, Dearies?" she said in a bright tone.
Brock, as the most responsible one, stepped forward to meet Chansey. Though as he did so, he suddenly froze, eyes focused on the Chansey.
"Is something wrong, Rockruff?" she asked.
"Brock?" Pikachu squinted an eye.
The Rockruff suddenly jerked his head and blinked his eyes. "So, I… I got distracted. We are in need of medical attention. We've been caught up in a fight."
Pikachu squinted his eyes. Why did Brock stare at Chansey like that?
Chansey nodded her head and did a quick once over. "You don't look like you were in a fight against the Dojo. And that place has been closed since the Festival started."
"Blessing and a curse that," Blissey muttered in a bitter tone.
"Either way…" Chansey continued. "Just for posterity's sake, who did this to you?"
"Bandits," Zorua interjected quickly. "It was just bandits. We've driven them off."
"Hm, you don't see many bandits around here these days. I wonder if Sensei Zoroark might be interested," Chansey nodded her head and wrote something in parchment.
Zorua's expression darkened visibly. "He… would be interested?"
"Oh yes, Dearie! This island has been safer ever since he became leader of the Tanzanite Dojo…" said Chansey. "Say, have you ever considered joining his Dojo? You'd fit right in, same species and all, though the wrong aspect."
"Uh…"
"Of course, our pocket books have been lighter ever since, too," Blissey spat bitterly, drawing the attention of Chansey.
Zorua used that opportunity to quietly back away and turn into a potted plant rather than answer the question.
Pikachu wondered if he should intervene and talk to the fox, but decided against it. No doubt it had to do with her father being brought up.
Happiny sauntered forward on her tiny legs, her voice high and full of excitement. "Alright, everyone please get into an orderly fashion of order of most injured to least!"
Ash gestured to Squirtle. "That means you."
"With all due respect, Boss," Squirtle rolled his eyes. "You have to take care of yourself more."
Pikachu walked behind his trainer and gave him a light tap on the back.
"Ow," Ash grunted.
"See what we mean," Pikachu replied.
"Fine, but we're all going together!" Ash gave out his compromise.
"No complaints here!" Pikachu accepted. Brock, Bulbasaur, and Vulpix didn't get hurt that much during the fight itself and Zorua was perfectly fine… if currently in hiding.
"We're mostly fine," Brock agreed.
"I feel fine, but I don't know if that's just because I used Synthesis or ate some of that Black Sludge we got," Bulbasaur answered.
With that, Ash went to the top of the line, with Pikachu himself coming close after. Squirtle came next. Brock, Vulpix, and Bulbasaur were in the rear half, with only minor bruises and scrapes.
And as soon as the line had formed, Ash had been called by Happy. "Alright, Mister Riolu, please go to Miss Chansey! And you Mister Pikachu, Lady Blissey will want you!"
Pikachu gave a mild chuckle at being called a Mister. He wasn't that old, was he?
Both the Riolu and the Pikachu complied, as they stepped over to their respective healer.
This was not at all like how things were done back in Kanto or probably elsewhere. Instead of a reception desk in front with medical equipment in a separate room in the back where Pokémon were treated, this healer's hut mostly operated from a single room. There were even beds here, perhaps for patients to stay overnight.
"What seems to be the trouble here, Dearie?" Blissey questioned, her eyes probing at Pikachu for any hint of weakness. It almost felt like she was planning on eating him with a gaze like that.
Pikachu shook one of his arms and then looked down at his belly. "One arm of my aches a little and my chest feels sore, but I think I'm fine otherwise."
"Now open your mouth and show me your tongue, Dearie," she requested, not blinking.
Pikachu did so, having gotten used to checkups like this back home. He expected a popsicle stick to be put in his mouth, but instead Blissey just bent down and looked inside.
"Hm, nothing unusual for a Pikachu, though you may need something to chew on to sharpen your teeth," the Blissey said, as she went over him. She then placed a paw over his chest and then parts of his arms. "Your humors seem fine as well, though you show signs of being easily agitated?"
"... What's that supposed to mean?" Pikachu said. He had no idea what his sense of humor meant for his health. "And I'm not easily agitated!"
Ash snorted nearby.
Pikachu glared, and deliberately chose to not shock his trainer, just to prove a point.
The elderly Blissey rolled her eyes. "Either way, it's clear that you've been taking potions to heal your body; you're not suffering any deleterious effects, nor does it look like you're healing improperly."
"Healing improperly?" Pikachu asked. "How does that happen?"
Blissey's smile unnerved him. "It's always the gamble when you take potions. You're using magic to mend flesh and bone in a flash. But if your injuries are not properly set or you're suffering a truly damaging wound, sometimes drinking potions can cause… deformities. A misaligned hip there, a twisted arm there."
Pikachu winced.
"When that happens, it's very difficult to treat and can sometimes be worse than the original injury itself," Blissey said, her tone even and flat. Which made her words all the more unsettling. "And often, the best method for undoing these errors is to forcibly correct them. Usually painfully."
Pikachu gulped.
"All ways remember to listen to your healer," Blissey said in a firm tone.
Pikachu nodded vigorously, not eager to learn first hand what improper healing was like.
Blissey brought one of her arms over to Pikachu's chest. A pinkish light emanated from her paw for a few seconds. She flashed him a smile after that.
Pikachu blinked. He shifted his arm and… felt a strange dullness. There was an echo of the pain he felt earlier, but it was muted, there but not intense. He went over to his belly and felt that there was the familiar dull ache. Bruises that he had taken were still there, but they were far smaller than before.
Blissey laughed. "Your injuries were not that severe, Dearie. So, I took care of the bruising and pain with a Heal Pulse. The rest, you'll have to recover the natural way. Though, I would advise you not to do anything too exciting today, otherwise, well, I already told you the results."
"I understand!" Pikachu flashed Blissey an awkward smile. "... Thank you…" he managed to say.
"Off you go then, I see some of your other companions also need my attention." Blissey's smile did not waver.
Pikachu was all too happy to move away that scary Blissey. She was Squirtle's problem now.
The Electric-type found a spot in the corner of the building to wait for everyone to get treated. In less time than he thought, Ash came by him.
"Hey, Pikachu!" he shouted, his tail wagging behind him. His arms were covered in cotton bandages.
"Hey, Riolu!" Pikachu responded, smiling back. It might have been an odd thing to say, given he had known Ash's name for most of their time together, but it felt good to refer to his trainer as being a Pokémon.
Ash smiled as he sat on the ground next to the Electric-type. "Chansey was really nice," he said. "Is that what it's like for you back home in the Centers?"
"Chansey do tend have a good bedside manner," Pikachu said, leaving out the fact that Blissey scared him; he did not want to ruin Ash's good mood, after everything they had just gone through the previous night.
"I never really put much thought into Pokémon healing before," Ash said as he looked at his injuries. "I mean, I know potions work, and I know Centers heal Pokémon, but I didn't really know how."
"I don't know if it's that different for humans, but it's mostly using a machine to take your photo and then bandaging you up and letting you rest." Pikachu shrugged. "Sometimes the Chansey nurses use moves, but that's rare. Blissey gave me a Heal Pulse."
"Huh, Chansey used a Heal Pulse on me, too," Ash brought a paw to his lip. "I wonder if that's normal here."
"Maiju," Pikachu emphasized. "do tend to do things in a Pokémon-like way when they can." After all, humans did not seem to have many abilities to call upon; while as even in Citrine, Maiju were still physically Pokémon. At best human trainers could call upon their Pokémon to do things for them, but they generally did plenty of work themselves.
Ash laughed as he accepted that. "Did you know that it's apparently a stereotype for Riolu to go charging into danger?"
"It fits you so well," Pikachu said back, remembering all of the times where Ash would put himself in harm's way.
"Yeah, Chansey said that's the norm for Riolu. They get themselves hurt all of the time," Ash smirked. "Especially if friends are involved."
Perhaps that's why you turned into one. It's almost too perfect for you. Pikachu scoffed.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Ash then asked.
Pikachu turned his head. That was not a question that he had been asked from his trainer much, as the usual answer was to keep walking or to do some practice. And well, it usually came down to what Ash wanted to do and Pikachu really only could answer yes or no.
"Chansey, told me that I can't do anything too rough, so I wanted to know if you had a good idea."
"Maybe go back to the Hall of Memories again? Or maybe we could help Brock with cooking fried rice again," Pikachu leaned back against the wall. He liked the idea of just spending time with his friend; it did not matter what happened or what they did, as long as they had fun…. Though as he thought of it, the Electric-type did realize that he was something he wanted to do that did not involve Ash.
"Okay, that sounds like a plan!" Ash declared.
Pikachu nodded back as he continued to stew in his thoughts. Ash had been hurt last night and while Silver the Sneasel was the one who did the deed, there was another Pokémon who was just as responsible for getting Ash hurt.
Now, how was he going to meet Charizard without his trainer noticing?
Vulpix tried very hard to avoid where Brock was staring, yet she couldn't look away from.
They were on their way back to camp, with most everyone having been showered in Heal Pulses from Chansey or Blissey to speed their recovery. Other than a recommendation to not perform any strenuous exercise for the day, everyone had come out fine.
Vulpix, on the other hand, left the small hut with a touch of worry; Brock spent an uncomfortable amount of time staring at Chansey. The others may have brushed it off, but Vulpix knew it was a troubling sign.
Now, that brought her here, watching her secondary trainer silently observing the Pokémon, the female Pokémon, they ran into on the street.
Brock's wide eyes zoned in on a Mightyena as she practiced with her sisters, whilst then turning his attention onto an Espeon. The Rockruff even wagged his tail while staring at a Houndoom as he went. She did not know what went through his head, but Vulpix worried what it might have been.
It bothered Vulpix and she… couldn't really admit to herself why. He was paying attention to females all of a sudden. Had this been a recent development or was this something that she only noticed now? Was Brock even conscious of it?
"Is something wrong?" Brock questioned.
"Nothing," Vulpix lied, though it hurt to lie to her trainer. She opted to add little truth. "I'll just be glad to meet the others again."
The Rockruff nodded his head. "I don't think we're going to be selling much food today, but having a day off isn't a bad idea, is it?"
"No," she agreed. Though that led to the question of what they were going to do for the rest of the day instead.
At the edge of town, they walked past several camps from other travelers and found themselves at their camp.
Misty and Onix were quick to greet them, with the others not far behind.
"Brock! Vulpix!" Onix said in his usual louder than necessary tone.
Still, Vulpix smiled up at the giant, for he was very respectable.
"Hey, Onix!" Brock said. "Misty!"
"Hey guys-" Misty cut herself off. "I know Charizard said it was bad, but Ash you look awful."
"It's not that bad!" Ash whined.
"Don't blame Ash. It's like that Sneasel singled him out," Brock stepped in to intervene, stating between them both. "We think he's human."
Misty crossed her arms and made a pout.
Vulpix's tails wagged, seeing how mature Brock could be if he wanted to. She hadn't really noticed it before Brock became a Rockruff, but she supposed he was the eldest brother among his family.
Still, Vulpix backed away the ensuing conversation out of habit. While in theory, the trainers and their Pokémon had been closer than ever, it was very obvious to her that the former humans were more used to talking to their peers rather than other Pokémon. That attitude had been shifting, but Ash, Misty, and Brock still tended to prioritize one another for serious topics. That was fine with her, she had her own she wanted to talk to her peers as well.
Vulpix shifted her head towards Onix and swiped a paw, a wordless gesture she made to communicate to the snake.
Onix nodded, understanding her intentions as he slithered away from the former humans as much as a gigantic rock snake could.
Geodude hopped over and Zubat flew overhead, both wanting to meet their trainer, but stopping when they saw Vulpix and Onix heading their way.
"The usual?" Geodude said as he hopped beside the fox.
Vulpix nodded. This was an old habit, one that they had formed back when their trainers were human. They were rarely invited to their serious conversations, simply because humans couldn't understand Pokémon directly. So, to pass the time, the Pokémon often used this to form their own group talks, away from their trainers.
"Wow, they're talking up a storm!" Zubat cried. "It must be important."
"The previous battle has left them to think of many things," Vulpix admitted to them, noticing that the others were out of earshot. "As have I."
"Our battle with our opponents was rough, but we defeated them." she reported. "There is a troubling development in that it appears that Sneasel may be a trainer, but I do not know the details on that. I hope this is not being introduced to a new stalker."
A wave of nods formed around her.
"And Brock?" Geodude squinted an eye.
"Brock makes a very good Rockruff, He is very capable." Vulpix said, thinking to the last battle, how one Rockruff was a capable battler in his own right. If it wasn't for him risking an underground attack, they might not have gotten close enough to stop that Voltorb. It showed both cleverness and strength.
"Fond of Brock?" Onix said, his tone… off. Was that him being playful?
"I- What do you mean?" Vulpix stuttered out.
"Prefer as Rockruff?" Onix continued, his tone… suggesting something.
Vulpix turned towards Zubat with pleading eyes…. Before she remembered that Zubat couldn't see her face. "Zubat," she managed to say. "Did you… tell Onix?"
"Uh… no…" Zubat's wings beat rapidly as it was clear she began to panic. "Okay, maybe a little gossip here and there… but not really about…. You."
"Save it, Fly Girl," Geodude to the Poison-type. "We already know about Vulpix"
"You do?" Vulpix's tails shivered. It was one thing to talk about this with other girls, but… had the rest of Brock's team caught on already?
"Obvious," Onix said directly. "Expressions range many emotions. Nervousness, curiosity, jealousy."
"Jealousy?" What was Onix talking about. She wasn't jealous; honestly!
"The Clefairy," Geodude answered. "You got really nervous when you saw her try using Attract… and you were very relieved that it failed to work."
Vulpix raised her head, asserting herself. She … couldn't afford weakness, nor did she want to concede. Her companions were being ridiculous. "I am not jealous!"
Geodude rolled his eyes, looking unimpressed. "Either way, you have an interest in him."
Vulpix let out a sigh. There was no point arguing it now. She just was not jealous, because that would have been undignified. "Yes, yes, I do. I just… I don't know what to do about it." She frowned, remembering what she had seen on the way over. "I think Brock would fall to an Attract now. I saw him staring at females."
"I think I saw some of that the other day, too. It wasn't for long, but when taking orders, sometimes Brockruff kept looking at the ladies," Geodude nodded. He brought a rocky hand to his chin. "I wonder if that means he'll start doing his cheesy pick up lines on Pokémon now. It's been a while since we've seen any of that."
Vulpix felt a tension in her. She imagined what her secondary trainer would say to older and more mature Pokémon.
"Gah! You're the most lovely Mightyena I have ever seen. Look at your coat, how lucious it is! And those eyes!"
"Such beauty! Such poise! I am yours now and forever Sylveon!"
"I have ever seen a white Ninetales before! You have this wonderful air about you, like the fresh mountain snow! You're so much better than those rusty brown volcanic Vulpix!"
"Vulpix. Earth to Vulpix. Are you there!?" Zubat fluttered over her head, her voice reaching the stunned fox.
Vulpix shook herself from her daze and turned her head away. "I'm sure that it's nothing. He'll probably get rejected like usual!"
"But if not?" Onix posed.
Vulpix's head lowered. It… hurt to imagine what it would be like if that happened, if some Pokémon somewhere here allowed him to be her mate. It likely meant that he would stay here even if they managed to find a way to return home; she might even go back to Suzie in this instance. She supposed it meant that she should be happy. Her secondary trainer's quest to find romance had come to an end and bore fruit. And yet, it bothered her at the same time. Stupid, irrational… feelings. "Why does he have to make things so difficult?"
"Hormones," Onix answered simply. "Adolescence," he continued.
"Maybe you should finally tell him?" Zubat posed. "Like, really tell him about this?"
Vulpix kicked the dirt. Everyone kept telling her to tell him, but this was… ludicrous. She raised her eyes and pleaded to her teammates. "Brock is human. He shouldn't care for Pokémon in this way. He wants to care for us, but… he isn't one of us."
Onix's head shook. "Walk like Rockruff. Dig like Rockruff. Bite like Rockruff. Howl like Rockruff. Scents like Rockruff. Now. Has interests like Rockruff, " he iterated, the point clear. That was the progression of how Brock came to where he was now. "Once human. Thought human. Changed to Rockruff."
"And we encouraged him to change, didn't we?" Vulpix frowned.
"Mostly me, just because I'm hanging out with him the most, especially on that ship." Geodude responded. "Besides, it's better he coped with the reality than be upset about what isn't anymore."
Vulpix nodded her head. Brock did seem happier lately; mostly that just came from the fact he was not in that awful boat anymore, but there was obviously more to it than that.
"Is this the right time?" she asked once more.
"Vulpix, don't hesitate. Either you or someone else will approach him one of these days," Geodude pointed out.
That… ate at her.
"Just tell him. And he's still your friend no matter what happens."
"May be no time left," Onix strung together. "Upcoming free day?"
"Today, Brock wants to take a break because we're injured," Vulpix stared back, digging her feet in. She couldn't show vulnerability, not to them. "Why, what do you want me to do?"
"Spend time with Brock. All day. You and him," Onix suggested.
"You want me to take him out on a date?" Vulpix stuttered. "Is that a bit soon?"
"Not all dates. Romance optional. Friendship first," Onix said, his tone heavy.
Vulpix just stared. There was such a thing as dating without… romance? How did that even work? And what was that about friendship first? "I thought we were already friends?"
"As a trainer and his Pokémon are friends, but not as two people who are friends," Geodude explained. "Sure, you talk to him, but Onix wants you to spend time, hang out. The works." The moving geode flashed a grin. "I'm glad to be Brock's friend, not just his Pokémon."
Vulpix nodded his head, understanding the point he was trying to make. It almost sounded simple, childish. "Be his friend," she repeated.
"Hey, guys!" Brock's voice echoed out. The Rockruff came running at them, his tongue lolling out.
"Uh oh!" Zubat sounded.
The Rockruff came to a direct halt right in front of them. "Sorry I took so long, but Misty's upset she didn't go. We told her that it was better since Togepi did not need to be anywhere near the fighting." He shook his head. "Either way, I think we have a free day today. There's no chance I am going back to that Blissey if I can help it."
He then leaned back into a canine stretch.
Vulpix turned and saw Geodude and Onix glancing at each other.
"Hey, Brock, Onix and I have to do something," said the smaller Rock-type.
The Rockruff raised an eyebrow. "You need me to come with you?"
"We fine! Appreciate offer!" Onix roared. "Just us two."
Brock frowned. "Oh, uh okay. I was wondering if we could just hang out, but if it's important, I trust you."
Vulpix blinked, wondering just what that was about.
"If you want, I can hang out with you!" Zubat declared.
"Zubat. Your bed rest," Geodude snapped.
"What…. I am not tired!"
"Zubat!" Geodude repeated once more.
"I mean I'm… Oh! Uh yeah! I guess I do need to go to bed! Yeah, I can use that nice tree I found to hang from!" Zubat shrieked.
What was going on? Why was everyone making up excuses to be away from Brock? And then it hit her.
Brock visibly deflated. He stopped wagging his tail, clearly upset.
Vulpix's companions were setting her up, making up excuses for her and Brock to have time alone together. None of them were honest about their motives, but this was all about ensuring privacy. She did not know how to take it, other than to be bothered that they essentially were forcing her into this position. "I can stay with you Brock."
The Rockruff did not look at her, but he nodded his head. "Uh, that's great, Vulpix," he didn't sound quite thrilled.
Vulpix wondered if everything was alright with her second trainer, but deemed it to take a lower priority.
She turned a glance towards the other Pokémon, Geodude and Onix giving her unreadable expressions.
"We'll see you around, okay?" Geodude said.
"See later," Onix promised.
"We'll be fine!" Brock said in a brighter tone.
"Same," Vulpix responded simply.
"I can't see anyone!" Zubat chortled, joking about her lack of developed eyes. "But I'll be here!"
The five of them scattered. Zubat flying to a nearby tree, Geodude and Onix heading into town, leaving Vulpix and Brock where they were.
"Uh how about a walk?" Brock offered, he sounded uncertain. He clearly did not plan for things to be this way.
"I'd… like that," Vulpix accepted. She had walks with Brock before, walks when he had been exercising her and keeping her fit for Suzie. This was nothing different to that; they were just Pokémon now… And besides, they needed to get to know each other first.
Brock walked forward into the woods, with Vulpix standing right by his side.
They walked in silence for an unknown amount of time. Vulpix's paws crunched discarded twigs as they ventured past the town's clearing and into the wilderness surrounding it.
While it seemed like that they could have easily gone into town, Brock seemed more willing to walk where there were few Pokémon. Perhaps, it was a desire for privacy?
Eventually, the silence got to her. She had to speak. "So, you're a Rock-type specialist?" It was the only safe topic she could think about.
Brock stopped, caught off guard by the question.
Vulpix continued. "Do you have any other er… Rock-types?"
"I've trained other Rock-types, but they're Dads Pokémon that he left behind while I was at the Gym and… my brothers and sisters spent more time with them," Brock's face twisted as he thought. "There was an Omanyte and an Aron, for instance."
He frowned. "Come to think of it, before becoming a Rockruff, I had just as many Rock-types as had I had other Pokémon."
"I'm… not really yours, I mean… I'm registered as a loaner to you, but my real trainer is Suzie!" Vulpix offered. "That and well, you're a Rockruff, so…. That has to count for something!"
The Rockruff made a canine shrug.
"So, can you tell me about your trainer?" Brock said. "You know I've always admired Suzie, but I never really met anyone close to her before."
"Well, I wouldn't say we were that close," Vulpix admitted. "But she did hatch me, she fed me, and taught me what I know. I even got to go with her to some of her meetings and listen in. I have always wanted to follow her example. I always thought of her as my mother... Okay maybe, we're closer than I thought, but still. I… never really spoke to her, though she knows I love her."
"Like Togepi?" Brock questioned. "Togepi wants to grow up to be like Misty, and you value fashion and your looks because of Suzie raising you."
Vulpix chuckled. "I suppose I wouldn't care so much about my appearance so much if my mother was something other than a fashionista."
"You do look cute."
Vulpix blinked, startled by the words. Brock had complimented her appearance multiple times before now, especially after a grooming session. Yet, as he said those words, there was a different subtext about them; all just because he was now a Rockruff.
"I look… cute?" she repeated.
"Yes." Brock did not meet her eyes, instead looking away and up into the Sun.
Vulpix looked back at the former human, eying how he appeared. He hadn't been groomed since the fight, so his fur was a ragged patch with uneven thin areas, yet it also denoted the strength and capability that he bore despite his evolutionary stage. His eyes especially shone with an attentiveness and awareness that was rare to find. And despite having been unsure of himself since his transformation, Brock moved with purpose. Cute did not quite fit him, but it suited well enough. "So, do you…"
Brock's tail wagged before he stilled himself.
The Rockruff's head shifted as he lowered himself to meet her gaze. He stared into her eyes, unblinking.
Vulpix panicked. She contemplated running or making an excuse that this was polite enough. What did she do?
Then Brock's expression soured. He broke his gaze, turning his entire body around. "Uh, sorry. I uh… shouldn't look. That was rude and uh…"
Vulpix froze as she came to a realization. Brock looked at her the same way he did those other female Pokémon. She was not the only one having problems. "Brock."
The Rockruff's head knelt down. "Sorry, Vulpix. I just… noticed earlier today. I had this… urge to talk to those complete strangers, to talk about how they looked. I… stopped myself because I realized I was going to hit on… Pokémon." He let out a whine. "And now, I was about to do the same to you."
"It bothers you?" Vulpix asked.
Brock nodded his head. "I'm supposed to be human, and now Pokémon are starting to look attractive to me. If I go home and return to being human, will I even want human girls anymore?" He fell onto his belly. "It must sound so stupid to you."
Vulpix frowned. Her trainer presented him with an out, a way to make this conversation end and perhaps become something much easier to discuss. Yet… she couldn't do that, not to someone who was so nice to her. "I… don't. It's not stupid."
The Rockruff's ears twitched as if checking if he misheard.
"Brock… I…" Vulpix began. Ever since the Rockruff started to understand her words, it became difficult to speak to him; it felt awkward to understand that Brock could scrutinize her. Yet there, she wanted to convey her intentions. "I know how you feel, because I'm not supposed to find humans attractive, either."
Brock turned his head slowly, looking at her up and down. Then suddenly, his jaws went slack. "Oh… Oh!" It sounded like he understood.
Vulpix nodded her head and began to explain. "I always thought of you as kind and caring. Knowledgeable, yet also a bit goofy. I have grown to care for you, yet I never considered you attractive."
"Until I got hairy and on all fours," Brock deadpanned.
"... I did not want to say anything, because it was impolite, embarrassing." Vulpix lamented, body sagging. "I don't know what my mother would say. She told me that it was a possibility that I might be given a suitor or find an attractive Pokémon to bond with, yet I don't think this is what she had in mind."
"Suzie might think I went crazy. Especially if I can't provide proof I turned into a Rockruff," Brock groaned as he rolled onto his side. "I don't know what to do."
"Geodude says that we should be friends first, regardless of everything else." Vulpix knelt down near the Rockruff. "Then he set us on this… date, because everyone insisted I try to talk to you about this."
"Suddenly, that explains why all of my other friends wanted to stay away from me." Brock's let out a small laugh. "I'm the comic relief, aren't I?"
Vulpix said nothing.
"I get rejected by every girl I meet, and suddenly, I change species and every girl I meet looks at me differently, but I didn't see the appeal. Now, I'm on a date with fox whose mother trusted me because we were different species," Brock shook his head as he rose.
"It's not romantic!" Vulpix insisted. "That's… optional."
Brock smiled. "I don't know how to make sense of this, but I'm fine with that, just spending time with you. Anyone really."
Vulpix felt strangely light headed, but not dizzy. It was more like… relief, relief that she did not have to beat around the bush to her trainer. He knew and it was not a big deal.
The rust colored fox moved towards her trainer's side. "We can probably continue our walk, maybe talk about something else?"
"I would appreciate that," Brock thought. "So, hang on, do you have Flash Fire? Because, if so, can you tell me what it's like to swim in lava? Or magma depending on where it is."
Vulpix flashed a smile. "I do think of it like swimming in taffy… don't ask how I know what that's like."
Then, the two of them began to discuss all manner of inane topics as they continued their walk, both of them relieved that the other understood the situation.
Hopefully, nothing would come of their date. They were just friends. That did not need to change.
No matter how tired and weary he felt, Charizard could not sleep. Not last night, nor right now in the afternoon.
He twisted and turned on the large rock he used for a bed, trying to find the perfect position to rest his head. It did not seem to work. The rock may have been a bit cold, come to think of it.
The dragon grunted in annoyance. He lifted his body off of his stone and scorched his fire onto it. With licks of fire on the stone, Charizard lay himself back and closed his eyes and went to sleep.
No, it was too good to be true.
Maybe it was too hard? He liked stones, but maybe he wanted something soft.
Sighing, Charizard lifted himself off of his stone, gathered some tree branches full of leaves and used them as improvised pillows. The dragon laid his skull against the softer parts of the branches and went to rest his eyes.
Charizard threw the branches away. No, that was a stupid idea!
Lifting his head, Charizard sat upright and…let his mind wander.
He knew what the problem really was, as much as he was loath to admit it. He couldn't get last night's battle out of his head.
The large Fire-type had terrorized and by his own reckoning nearly defeated all of his potential enemies. And they had to resort to cheating, some stupid teleportation item to send him away! It proved his strength and power that they had no other option to defeat him other than force to be somewhere else!
And yet it still ate at him, because Charizard felt like he had lost.
Maybe if he had defeated all of his opponents, he wouldn't feel this way, but the dragon felt that he had been defeated.
Was it because he failed to knock anyone out? Was it because he wanted more fighting? What was bothering him?
"Excuse me, uh Charizard… Mister, Sir…" a voice muttered nearby.
The dragon raised an annoyed eyebrow, noticing it was that scared little Zorua. That young girl who was not originally part of their group, but had joined up because of that strange Decidueye's insistence.
"What do you want?" Charizard asked directly. The sooner that Zorua spoke to him, the sooner Zorua could go elsewhere and could go back to trying to fall asleep.
Zorua quaked, shivering despite her Ghost-typing. She rarely spoke to Charizard as she was clearly afraid of the big Fire-type. "I… uh…. Good work last night!" she said, forcing enthusiasm into her tone.
Charizard scoffed. The fox clearly wanted something if she was bothering to set up an act. And she was complimenting him over that… miserable defeat! "Is that all?" He raised an eyelid.
Zorua shrunk back, her eyes moved all over the place. She was contemplating running and hiding, as she always did. She then dug her feet into the floor. "I… I want to get strong!"
Charizard got off his rock and looked Zorua closely in the eye. Why was she going to him of all things? His nostrils flared, covering the fox in a Smokescreen.
The spirit fox stared right at him, unable to look away. Her lips quaked as her expression grew all the more frightened.
She was so pathetic, cowardly, yet why did it bother him to continue staring?
"Why do you want my help?" Charizard asked.
"Because you evolved while being so young and…" Zorua winced. "I… I'm so useless… and you have to be really strong to get where you are now!" she rambled, jumping from one thing to another.
Though, Charizard understood enough to make a statement. "Do you want to evolve?"
Zorua sniffled. "... If I have to. Maybe then I wouldn't be so weak that I try to escape at even the most inane of topics… I'm tired of being so weak!"
Charizard felt a shiver go up his spine. He checked his tail, his flame still burning bright. Zorua saw him as strong, yet it felt wrong. "... Do you want to evolve?" he managed to say.
Zorua nodded. "Zoroark are much stronger than Zorua on average, so maybe?" She trembled. "If evolving would give me the strength to not be at the mercy of another ever again…"
An uncomfortable feeling mixed with an odd kinshin washed over the Fire-type. Zorua's words reminded him of his own failing, of his desire to never again be held hostage at a stupid rock, all because of a stupid kid, to be nothing more than a hungry little Charmander waiting for mercy. For Charizard, evolution was strength; Zorua likely felt the same way.
"I-" Charizard was about to speak but instead closed his mouth as he heard the footsteps of a certain Electric rat bounding his way.
"Charizard!" Pikachu shouted.
He raised his head and turned to the source of the offending noise. "What do you want?" the Fire-type hissed. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"No!" Pikachu spat back. "Because there's nothing more than giving you a piece of my mind!"
Charizard glared.
Zorua, who was uninvolved, took a step back, away from the rest of the fighting. That was fine, as far as Charizard was concerned; more of his focus could go against that annoying rat.
"I've had it with you!" Pikachu's cheeks lightly sparked. "It's your fault that Ash got beat up!"
"It's my fault!?" Charizard scoffed, throwing smoke from his nostrils over Pikachu.
Yes!" That rat wasn't scared. He stood up and prepared to charge up. "It's because of you and your stupid decision to fly over and attack without waiting for us that Ash got beat up as badly as he did! You're lucky we have potions!"
"Meep!" Zorua hollered as she became a rock.
Charizard rolled his eyes; Zorua was so cowardly that he knew that changing that would take a while. The Fire-type turned his attention back to Pikachu, putting the fox out of his mind. "I had everything taken care of! And I would have won!"
Pikachu laughed. "You lost to a seed."
"I had them on the ropes!"
"You lost!" Pikachu emphasized.
Charizard considered pounding the rat into the ground. A Seismic Toss would be enough. All he had to do was avoid Pikachu's Static from paralyzing him. But he decided that as fun as it would be to wipe off that rat's stupid face, he'd rather get the rat to leave him alone and go back to failing to sleep. "What's your point?"
"My point is that I don't know why you're even here!" Pikachu shouted to the heavens ."Ever since you evolved you've been impossible to work with!
"I'm my own lizard!" Charizard yelled back. "I don't need to work with you!"
"Then why are you here!?" Pikachu snapped. He let loose a discharge of electricity, missing entirely. A warning shot.
Charizard laughed, unintimidated. He let out a Flamethrower, singing the ground next to the rat. Two could play that game. "Why not?" Charizard roared. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes!" Pikachu's Thunderbolt connected, singing Charizard at the belly.
Charizard rolled from the blast and glared at the fat rat, planning his next move.
"Why don't you go and bother someone else!?" Pikachu shouted.
"Funny you should mention that…" Charizard growled. After all, the dragon only wanted to go to sleep!
"I'm serious! Ash offered to release you, to let you go wherever you wanted!" The rat raised his voice. "But no, you decided to stick around! You are supposed to at least listen to him if you're going to do that!" Pikachu panted, having said all of that in a single breath. "WHY. ARE. YOU. HERE!?"
Charizard narrowed his eyes, unwilling to look away. The rat looked vulnerable now…All it would take is a good swing with one of his clawed talons. That would shut him up for a good few hours… yet Pikachu's words stung.
The Fire-type could have found a good place by now. Sure, Citrine was not his homeland and Pokémon lived like humans, but he could adapt. He could find a cave or a forest somewhere and he'd have done fine. Yet, Charizard did not leave when Ash offered the choice, not when the now-Riolu could finally listen to what he had to say. So, why was he here?
…Did he even know the answer?
…Did he want to know the answer?
Frustration boiled in Charizard's being let out a roar. Pikachu's questions ate at him. "Go away!" He threw another Flamethrower at the rat.
Pikachu burst from the fire, rolling and tumbling. "Is that it? Is that all you have to say?" He rose to his feet. "I bet if it wasn't for Ash, you'd still be on that rock, if not under it!"
A flash of memory brought Charizard back to that pathetic existence. He saw himself as nothing more than a weakling, desperately clinging on to life all because of his vow of loyalty to a child who saw him as nothing but a burden. He would never be that way again.
The dragon broke himself free of those memories and stared down at the annoying rat. "I am not a weak Charmander, I don't need you to remind me of that."
"Of course, you're not!" Pikachu's venom dripped from his tongue. "Because Charmander was actually useful!"
"You just want to boss me around!" Charizard snapped.
"Maybe!" The rat finally admitted. Before once again letting his tongue ramble. "But at least Charmander actually knew what he was doing! You don't! I can't believe you're the same person! If we had Charmander instead, Ash wouldn't be hurt! Because he actually listened to what others said!"
"And maybe Ash would have actually gotten somewhere if he had a Raichu!" Charizard spat. He went there, to the one topic Pikachu hated the most.
"That's not-" the rat began.
"You heard me. You should have gotten a Thunder Stone and evolved already!" Charizard put every ounce of frustration he had into those words. "Face it Pikachu, as much as you want to prove a point, we both know that evolving would have given you the power you needed!"
Pikachu's expression contorted. He tried to shrug it off, but Charizard knew he was getting through.
"Would Ash be hurt if he had a Raichu? Or what about the League? How much further you could have gone if you stopped holding back!"
Pikachu shook himself, gritting his teeth and letting sparks fly from his cheeks. "Hey! We lost because of you! And it's your mistake that made last night's fight into a mess!"
"Not! My! Fault!" Charizard hissed, he prepared to throw one more fire, just as Pikachu's cheeks sparked.
"Because it's my fault!"
Pikachu and Charizard turned their attention as Squirtle and Bulbasaur walked between them.
Squirtle stepped over, cotton cloths covered cheek and chest. "If I hadn't got captured or better, we had more people, no one needed to rescue me."
"But it's not-"
"It's my fault," Squirtle insisted, raising his eyes to meet both the dragon and the rat. "So stop attacking each other and hit me if you want someone to blame.
The Fire-type let the smothered his next attack, smoke discharging in his nostrils. Charizard narrowed his eyes.
"But you…" Pikachu stammered and shook his head. "This… there is no way that last night was your fault!"
"Ash got beat up to rescue me and Zorua. What more is there to know?" Squirtle sighed. "Look, Pikachu, Charizard, I'm taking the blame, so please don't get us sent back to that Blissey."
Charizard rolls his eyes, uninterested. What was that gesture supposed to accomplish? Squirtle may be taking the blame, but that rat would be a nuisance later. Whatever, this would at least get him back to sleep. "Whatever. Just go away."
Bulbasaur walked over to Charizard and gave him a disappointed look. He said nothing.
Pikachu turned one last look at the Fire-type before turning back to the others. "Do you know where Ash is?"
"He's done with his chat with Misty," Bulbasaur answered. "So, probably bored of his mind and about to get himself hurt."
"Sounds just like him, lead the way!" Pikachu said, he turned a side eye to Charizard. "Because I have nothing better to do."
Bulbasaur turned his back and led Pikachu away.
Squirtle turned to Charizard and shook his head. "Hey, Big Guy?"
Charizard raised an eyelid.
"You got your wish, but did you get what you wanted?" he asked.
Then before Charizard could ask what he meant by that, Squirtle turned his back and walked away.
The big Fire-type mulled that last question, joining that ever frustrating mass of ideas and thoughts that kept him from collapsing into sleep.
What did Squirtle mean by 'getting what he wanted'? That would first mean getting an idea of what he actually wanted in the first place.
Given Squirtle's words about Charizard's wish, he most likely meant his becoming a Charizard. Yet, that's exactly what he wanted. So why did Squirtle ask that? Was what he wanted different for what he wished for?
Charizard scoffed, how ridiculous. Was this a backhanded way about how he was better off as a meek, cowardly Charmander? He didn't need them! He was just fine without any of them!
… And yet he still refused to leave…
"Excuse me…Charizard," Zorua said, as she stopped being part of the scenery and moved close to him. She still shivered as she looked up at the dragon. "Are you…. Can you help me?"
Charizard was awfully tempted to send the fox away, to let himself go back to sleep. Yet, he did not have the heart to tell her, not when he could see himself, his own weakness, in that meek expression.
"...Why do you want my advice? Why don't you ask Ash?" he asked.
Zorua winced, clearly ashamed.
"Well?" Charizard said, losing his patience.
"You are the strongest, physically, that is…" she said.
"And?" Charizard did not feel… strong, not when he had been suffering defeat after defeat ever since he had come here.
"You're the only one who has evolved, other than Pikachu, but Pichu don't count," Zorua said.
"I honestly forgot about that," Charizard snorted. For someone who wanted to make a big deal about evolution being unnecessary, Pikachu was already evolved himself.
"So, what advice can you give me?"
Charizard frowned, not knowing what to say. No one really asked him about… anything, not since he had evolved. They had all kept their distance, both physically and emotionally since he had become a Charmeleon. There were some words here and there, but no one had willingly come to him for advice; Psyduck did not count.
"...Are you sure this is what you want?" Charizard asked the first thing that came to his mind.
"Not really," Zorua admitted. "It's just… I want to not be a burden anymore. I mean, everyone relies on my potions and elixirs, but that's only useful after the fight."
That made her more useful than Charizard had been as a Charmander. "Listen, maybe there are potions that can be useful in a fight? Other than healing, that is." he thought aloud. He really had no idea. He wasn't a trainer and it wasn't like he had really relied on anyone being his trainer for the past few months. "And maybe try using your illusions more, you know for more than just hiding. Like… pretending to be something else?"
Zorua contemplated that. "... And evolving?"
"It doesn't help on its own," Charizard admitted. His thoughts went back to his latest defeats. Sparky did not count, but Fire-type was sure that he had fought another Charizard and lost… even if he was not sure when that happened. Gallade had beat him quite handily and it was obvious he had been holding back from his strongest moves. And then there was last night's fiasco. "So, get your fundamentals down. Talk to one of the trainers if you have to. Work on that."
Zorua nodded. "Uh… Okay." She gulped. "Thank you."
Charizard blinked.
"Er… Charizard?"
"Sorry. You're welcome," he huffed and raised his head. "Now go!"
Zorua promptly ran.
Charizard let out a sigh. When was the last time someone, anyone, thanked him for anything? Ash did, come to think of it. Ash who was injured but recovering. Ash who was… not Damian.
The questions everyone had been asking him all day rang in his head. Why did he remain Ash's Pokémon? What did he want?
Charizard fumed, turning to the boulder he had used as a bed.
He asked himself a new question, one Pikachu hinted at. Would Ash be better off if he had a Charmander? At the very least, Ash and that rat would have outnumbered the Sneasel and Totodile, but beyond that, Charizard did not want to ponder.
What Charizard did know was that he did not want to stay on a rock all day.
He slept on the ground and felt about himself for doing that.
Misty pushed herself through the barrage of Water Guns as Staryu and Goldeen lobbed attack and attack after her.
Forming an Aqua Jet, Misty threw herself in the line of fire, her short legs gliding over the water soaked earth. She leapt over a stone and rocketed upwards before crashing down onto one of her opponents.
Goldeen narrowly avoided attack and threw herself at her trainer, horn leading the way.
Misty saw this coming, but too little too late. The Horn Attack struck true, poking a hole in the Buizel's fur.
Misty fell back and onto the ground.
Staryu spun in the air over her, his body spinning more and more rapidly.
Misty did not need to be told twice to leave. She conjured another Aqua Jet, but not as an attack. She darted behind the nearest stone she could find.
"Hiyah!" Staryu shouted. A cascade of stars formed around him and scattered like a wave.
Several stars hit Misty, too fast to avoid. The Buizel then leapt over her cover and made a lunge at her starter.
Staryu was too slow to react. His trainer's belly was suddenly over his entire body and they both crashed to the ground in a heap.
Misty did not know if this counted as a Body Slam, but it sure did paralyze him. The starfish did not move for a good minute.
"Ow…" Staryu's light flashed dimly as he spoke. "... I yield…"
"Sorry, Staryu," Misty said as she got off her Pokémon. "But that's this round over."
"Indeed, Mistress, indeed," Staryu flexed his appendages before rising.
"And with Staryu conceding, I am also defeated," Goldeen floated over. "Tis a shame, as I had a Horn Attack aimed right at you."
"And I'm glad for that!" Misty commented. As she patted at the spot where Goldeen had struck her. A small trickle of blood spilled from the cut, nothing major. It was only a light spar anyways; and her Pokémon went easy on her because she was outnumbered.
"Yay! Mommy won!" Togepi cheered and jumped in place. "That means Mister Staryu is going to learn bunches! Because he lost."
Misty waved and gave a warm smile towards her little Togepi. It was funny how she chose to interpret the idea of losing being something to learn from. But she supposed that there were less healthy concepts to learn at a young age.
"So, Misty, are you feeling better?" Staryu asked, using her real name. It was a developing habit of his now, to use that whenever he wanted his trainer's attention.
"I am," Misty sighed. She had kept her mind off of the topic during the practice session, but now that it was over, her thoughts drifted back towards last night's events. There was just so much to unpack there, between Ash getting beaten up, the fact that Squirtle and Zorua were captured, but the most troubling news of all was that another human was involved. "... I know that staying behind was the right idea, but I still can't shake the feeling I could have made a difference if I went along last night."
"We cannot know the future, Misty," Staryu said.
"You might be right," the Buizel admitted. She hated not being able to contribute, but that was simply the way this situation played out. Though, she did like to imagine that she could have kicked butt if she had gone instead of Ash.
"So, on that note, please do not take out your pent up frustrations on us!" Staryu said.
"Hey!" Though Misty had to stifle a laugh. "It's a good workout! And it isn't like any of this really hurts."
Goldeen levitated over closely. "If I may, Mistress, I would like to make a critique."
"Go ahead!" The Buizel responded.
"I notice you prefer to use melee attacks more often than your Water Gun," Goldeen noted. "Now, granted, you only really know a few moves, but you are very fond of that Aqua Jet above everything else."
"I suppose that's true." Misty put her paws over her lip. "I love the fact that it lets me move so fast, enough that I can almost fly using enough water. Though, it is very tiring if I use it too much."
"It makes Mommy look pretty!" Togepi cheered. "It's like she has wings. I want wings, too, when I grow up!"
Misty smiled. "I don't know if you'll get wings, but I really hope that you do." Maybe Dexter knew what Togepi would evolve into? That strange Pokédex was surprisingly useful lately.
Goldeen smiled at her trainer and Togepi. "One cannot fault you for the desire to move more swiftly and adeptly. There are few sensations as liberating as the power to move when you otherwise cannot, especially in the air."
Misty smiled, remembering how it was not too long ago where Goldeen was helpless on land. Giving her the ability to float over the land had definitely changed her for the better.
"Okay, enough break time," the Buizel called. "Let's get back to practice. Goldeen, since you're the freshest of us, you'll be one the solo side, whilst Staryu and I-"
"Mistress, I must object to this!" Staryu called out. "Surely, things would be better if we had more than just three people to simulate an actual Double Battle."
"Apparently, some Blissey scared Squirtle and Bulbasaur to take it easy, so we won't have them until at least tomorrow," Misty defended her actions. Besides, having these mock battles with one person being outnumbered was surprisingly fun. "And I'm trying to develop the skills of everyone we want fighting in the upcoming Dojo so that means-."
"Hey, Misty?" Psyduck's voice cut off Msity. The yellow duck had mostly kept quiet, nursing his headache.
"Not now, Psyduck!" Misty chided. "Unless you finally want to make yourself useful and join in, I'm in the middle of discussing how we're training to beat the Dojo!"
"...but the Dojo's Sensei is here…" Psyduck commented.
Misty turned her head, coming face to face with not only her Psyduck, but also a very familiar looking Cubone. "Sensei… Clay, was it?" she said, remembering his name. "To what do I owe your visit to?"
"I am simply here to volunteer my resources to assist you in locating your friends." The Cubone stepped forward and nodded his head. "I had heard from my brother you were looking for a Zorua and a Squirtle."
"Thank you, but we've already found them!" Misty replied in as polite a tone as she could muster. "But we appreciate the thought."
"I see," the Cubone nodded his head, adjusting his clay mask as he did. "Then I do not know what more I could offer you. I suppose then, I should ask some questions that I feel that you might have the answer to. May I?"
"You may," Misty answered back.
"Then, are you outsiders?" said Clay. "I recall the strange hat the Riolu wore and it did not look like it came from anywhere nearby."
Misty rolled her eyes. Really, Ash might as well be wearing a gigantic sign that said he was human.
"Indeed, we are!" Staryu volunteered.
"We were all owned by the same human," Misty said, relying on the cover story that they fell back upon. Which was technically true, she did basically own herself.
"Mommy owned us!" Togepi cheered.
A wave of panic flooded everyone as they were afraid their cover had been blown.
Sensei Clay laughed. "That's… an interesting way to interpret events!"
Misty took a deep breath; it sounded like Togepi's outburst hadn't alerted the Cubone. That could have been worse. "But yes, we're all outsiders, owned by the same human tamer."
Clay the Cubone nodded his head. "So, have any of you experienced any memory loss after your arrival?
Misty blinked. She was sure she didn't forget anything, assuming she didn't also forget about forgetting. "Uh, why do you ask that?"
"It's a known fact that some of the visitors who wash up into Citrine suffer from amnesia," the Cubone explained.
"... I forget things all of the time…" Psyduck volunteered.
"Psyduck don't count!" Misty scolded.
"While I appreciate the thought, that is not what I mean," Clay shook his head. "In the oldest records of the family, many of the souls that arrived in our lands came bereft of all memories, save their own names and their knowledge. In recent ages, new arrivals have been noted to remember more and more of the outside world and of themselves. I simply wish to make a record of this."
That was a lot of information to take in. So, did that mean there was a chance that Misty and everyone else would have been afflicted with amnesia when they entered Citrine? How would that work? And why did that happen? That might have been something they needed to look into.
"I do not believe I am forgetting anything," Staryu said.
"I am similarly sure I am not suffering from Amnesia," said Goldeen.
"If I'm forgetting anything, I don't remember it," Misty said.
"And the only one suffering from amnesia is a Psyduck, who often employ it as a way to dull the pain they endure continually until they evolve," Clay sighed. "So, there are no gaps in your memory?"
Everyone shook their heads, or really just Misty.
"Disappointing," said Clay. "This means that since two hundred moons ago, no arrival has suffered from memory loss."
"What does that mean anyways?" Misty asked, fishing for information. Assuming one moon was a month, and assuming her knowledge of math was better, that was just over fifteen years ago.
"I do not know, but I felt it was important enough to make note of," Clay replied. "With my curiosity sated, I will take my leave. Thank you for your time."
"Happy to help," Misty told him.
The Cubone then bowed his head. "Also, I would like to thank you for stopping my brother from expanding his collection at the expense of our family's reputation. I do not feel I can stop him forever."
"I am happy to help," Misty sighed, though she did not feel like she had contributed much. She was just so angry at that Marowak for… being almost like her sisters.
"As I recall, you have your own older siblings to complain about, so I wish you luck with them." It was as if he was reading her mind.
If I ever see them again. She hadn't spoken to her sisters in ages, not even by phone. Now, that wasn't even an option. Oh, was she going to get to the point where she'd love to talk about their latest water show? Maybe if it meant talking to them at all. "I appreciate it," Misty said.
Cubone nodded his head. "Good. You will be facing us, as one, in five days' time."
Misty stared. That was how much time they had left before their scheduled challenge? Suddenly, she really wanted to train until arms fell off. "... Thanks for letting us know."
The Cubone turned his head and then walked away.
"That is troubling," Staryu intoned. "That's less time than I would hope.
Misty frowned. "Bulbasaur's injuries didn't look too bad, so he might be ready to start training again tomorrow.. Squirtle, on the other hand, might not be fully recovered by tomorrow. And each day we wait, is one less day of training for him."
"...What will you do?" Psyduck muttered, tilting his head.
Staryu turned a glance toward his trainer and slowly bent one of his limbs towards Psyduck's direction.
Misty understood. They might have been desperate enough to resort to that.
Psyduck had plenty of power, all held in check by his constant headaches. So, theoretically, all they needed to do was know how to direct that.
Oh, Misty knew she was going to regret this. Hopefully, they had other options or Squrtle had recovered enough they did not need to resort to using that annoying duck. Maybe if she was lucky, Psyduck might finally evolve.
She used Water Gun.
This chapter was nearly entirely from Pokémon perspectives, but I decided to throw Misty at the end since I felt she had been sidelined by the latest chapters.
I thought it would have been a great time to introduce the evolving relationships, along with the idea of physically evolving.
Ash and Pikachu meet a witchy themed Chansey-line.
Vulpix finally musters the courage to speak to Brock, especially as the latter was starting to look at Pokémon differently.
Charizard and Pikachu are practically enemies.
And lastly, Misty lets off some steam.
11toby: Charizard might have made it too easy, yeah. Maybe not win on his own, but have made Silver's team were at a disadvantage from raw power.
Iancotterill: We'll see some information about Dexter soon. Not here, because it wasn't the right time for it, but soon. I actually spent a while thinking it over.
the one who reads and writes: A clarification. The winner of the challenge sees the gods. Most competitors ask for favors or boons that are to do with their current wealth and standing. Ash and co want to use their boon to go home. What Silver wants, I have not revealed yet.