Lavaridge Town. An excellent place to relax. This small town was built not long after Hoennian settlers discovered local hot springs here. Younger trainers tend to only visit for the gym and not much else.
The air felt refreshingly clear, compared to the clogged up ash of previous paths. The skies had faded black, twinkling stars lighting them up. Several buildings were scattered on one side, many of them designed with zen architecture in mind.
A large orange building glowed in the middle of town. The sign in front read:
"Lavaridge Town Gym.
Leader: Kenneth Phoebe Crossfire:
Starting the fire that's always burning
I'm your phoenix, I'm your fire, sparky!"
A tall red and cyan phoenix stumbled out of one of the buildings. He stumbled around outside, trying to stand up straight but failing miserably. He waltzed over to another house, but ended up falling onto his front.
Kidd looked around the town,
"Yeah, real busy town here"
"That's because it's dark out, dude,"
Tank pointed out. "It'll be way more fun tomorrow, trust me."
Benedict yawned as he stretched his wings.
"Yep, an' I gotta rest up for when I'm takin' on the gym tomorrow!"
The boys walked through the main road, looking around at their surroundings. Several neighborhoods were close together, almost all of them shut off for the night. At least the restaurant district was bustling, with animals going in and out like no tomorrow. They stopped at a small place for dinner; the wooden sign on the door read "Here We Gyoza Again".
Tank pushed the door open, and a small bell rang above the door. The restaurant had a comfortably small aesthetic, similar to the ramen joint of Rustboro City. A calming city pop melody played on the radio, the relaxing instrumentals echoing through the walls.
The boys grabbed a table near the bookshelves. Tank grabbed several copies of manga and set them on the table. He then grabbed the first copy and flipped through the contents; the cover depicted a loudmouthed Clefairy and a green-eyed Pikachu. "A lot cruder than I expected!", Tank thought as he kept reading.
A cream-colored cat walked up to the table, her blue ears and tail twitching in curiosity. She wore a pastel kimono with a bright polka dot pattern. She smiled as she handed the boys some menus.
"Hi there, welcome to Here We Gyoza Again. What can I get you boys to drink?"
Tank set the manga down and looked at the waitress. She looked relaxed, like she had worked here since high school.
"We'll get some green tea, please"
"Certainly."
The cat bowed before walking back to the kitchen and hollering to the kitchen staff. "Three orders of green tea!"
Kidd hummed along to the melody of the song on the radio. He was surprised at how long the song went on for, but the melody was incredibly catchy.
"Dance to the plastic beat, another morning comes."
After the song had finished, the cat returned from the kitchen. She carried a tray with a teapot and three yunomi teacups. The teapot was painted to resemble a bizarre-looking Galarian Pokemon, while the teacups each resembled Litwick.
The boys set their menus down, thanking the waitress as they moved some stuff around to make room for the tea.
"So, did you boys figure out something to eat yet?"
The cat pulled out a small notepad and a pen.
Tank set his cup down first.
"Yep! I'll have the shumai platter please"
"The gyoza spread for me."
Kidd folded the menu shut.
Benedict looked down at the menu.
"An' I'll get the land sea an' sky platter."
The cat scribbled down their orders and tucked her notebook in her belt. She bowed with a gentle smile
"I'll be back with your meals, boys"
The cat walked back to the kitchen, pulling her notebook out and hollering at the top of her lungs. The chefs looked over before starting the next orders, neatly flattening the dough and placing a minced meat mixture into each dumpling. Heavy steam rose from the kitchen, filling the restaurant with the delicious smell of sizzling meat.
Meanwhile, back at the table…
Kidd looked confused as he flipped through the tankobon
"Okay, this makes no sense. So the first part is about these two guys with daddy issues, they're fighting over a mansion, THEN the one guy goes and turns himself into a vampire, and it's all stopped by breathing really hard?"
"Yep an' that's just the first part"
Benedict shrugged as he flipped through a shoujo manga. "But I ain't gonna spoil the rest yet"
"I hope not!"
Kidd closed the tankobon shut. He placed it back on the shelf, then grabbed another book.
The cat walked back to the table. She focused on neatly balancing a whole tray's worth of dumplings. With a smile, she placed each tray in front of her customers, making sure not to spill the dipping sauce.
"Enjoy your meal, boys!"
"Thank you!" Tank said as he helped move some plates around on the table.
The bell rang above the door; another customer walking inside. She was a tall red and yellow ostrich, her messy blonde ponytail brushing up against the doorframe. Judging by her height and fit physique, she looked to be college-aged. The girl wore a tight red and blue crop top, red distressed cutoff shorts, and checkered canvas sneakers.
The cat looked over her shoulder
"I'll be right with you, Miss Crossfire!"
"Thanks,"
the bird yelled back.
The boys dug into their meals, the savory garlicky taste melting in their mouths. Steam rised from the dumplings as the boys ate a little bit off each others' plates.
Meanwhile, the cat walked up to the bird.
"So, what'll it be Phoebe?"
"Eh, just the usual"
the bird shrugged. She ran a hand through her hair, fluffing out her ponytail.
"Hey, check out that girl over there"
Kidd whispered before taking a bite of another steamed dumpling. The thick dough and tender meat, along with scallion and shiitake mushroom, made for an excellent combo. So this is what nikuman was like, he thought to himself.
Tank looked confused.
"Wait, what about her?"
Benedict glanced over his shoulder
"No way. I think that's the new gym leader!"
The boys watched as their waitress sat down at the table. She placed a tray down, joining the other animal for dinner.
"I just don't get it, Mitzi"
Phoebe ranted in between bites of food. She dipped one of her gyoza into the sauce
"I mean, why did my dad have to do something so stupid!"
"Trust me"
Mitzi assured her, taking small bites of her shumai. "Being a gym leader sounds like a lot of fun"
"Ugh, it's not THAT I'm worried about" Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"It's the fact that all the Crossfires got banned from the hot spring!"
"It is a little extreme"
Mitzi shook her head. She sipped from a glass of cold water
"But how are you going to undo the ban?"
Phoebe looked away
"Honestly? I have no idea"
The boys looked over from their table, watching Phoebe continue to rant. She had a spark about her personality, charming everyone around her even at her worst.
The bell rang again; two customers standing under the doorway. The pair of grey animals, one bear and one kangaroo, waved hello to the waitress.
Mitzi stood up
"Well, I hope you come up with a good plan"
She walked over to the customers, then with a smile, she led them to their table.
The Pokemon Center looked similar to Fallarbor Town's own center, save for one key detail: a large gray door was carved into the left side.
Two animals, a pink hippo and a yellow anteater, were whispering to each other.
"Say, Anabelle, did you hear what happened to the Crossfires?"
"No! My goodness, Bitty, what happened?"
"Well, I heard the onsen owners banned every single one of them"
"The entire family?! But Kenneth was the only one peeping!"
"Yes, well, let's just say Kabuki and Shino aren't… taking this lightly"
"Goodness!"
After the boys went to heal their Pokemon…
Tank walked up to a sign near the gray door. He stuck his tongue out as he read the hiragana; oh hey, this was Lavaridge Town's famous onsen!
"Oh, what's this?"
Kidd asked as he walked to his friend.
"It's a hot spring!" Tank explained.
"They're very important in Hoennian culture"
"Sounds nice" Kidd looked over at the wooden sign. He could read a little kanji, sure, but hiragana was much harder for him to understand. "I know Snowbelle City has a couple spas here and there, but this is something I haven't gone to before."
Benedict caught up with his friends shortly after
"The heck are y'all talkin' bout?"
"Just the hot spring in town," Tank explained. "I was thinking we'd go tomorrow when it's sunny out"
"Yeah, that'd be fun!" Benedict perked up. "Y'all can go check that out while I go train for the gym"
"Uh, Benedict?"
Tank tried not to laugh. "When I said we, that includes you!"
Benedict laughed back as he gave the two a deadpan stare
"No freakin' way. The last thing I wanna do is have to use a public shower. It'd be just like gym class again!"
The two boys facepalmed from their friend's…. interesting logic.
Benedict explained, looking away as he blushed angrily.
"An' trust me. Last time I was in a public shower, some idiots got in a fight over a girl, the coach tried to break it up, an' he got slapped in the face with a towel. THEN the two guys got suspended for three weeks!"
Kidd and Tank went quiet, before bursting out in laughter. Really. THAT was why he was being as stubborn as a Mudbray?!
"What kinda animals did you go to school with?!"
Tank choked out before he continued laughing. Tears formed at the corner of his eyes as he continued laughing from the sheer ridiculousness.
Benedict looked away, his cheeks glowing pink in embarrassment.
"Y'know, Castelia guys."
"Wow what a surprise"
Kidd deadpanned. "Next you're going to tell me the gym leader uses Fire types"
Tank facepalmed and shook his head
"Knock it off, you two!"
"Boys!" Nurse Shizue called out.
"Your Pokemon are healed up!"
The boys headed back to the counter. They grabbed their Poke Balls, then went upstairs to grab their room for the night. The hallway was quiet except for their footsteps.
Tank unlocked the door. He pushed it open, watching as the door slowly creaked open.
His friends followed him into their suite; took their shoes off then looked around the room. Yep, it looked just like any other Pokemon Center suite.
"Oh wow, only one bed" Kidd closed the door. "What's next, the heater goes out and we have to share body heat like we're in some low-rate fanfiction. N-not that I know anything about that!"
"Kidd, I've read the doujinshi you sent me, AND the exposed champion magazine we got in Dewford Town!"
Tank rolled his eyes as he set his backpack down near the couch. "I think we all know about the fanfics you read!"
"How bad's the dough-gin-chi?"
Benedict flopped onto the bed. "'Cause one time I read this weird fic online 'bout some whiny goth chick"
"It's pronounced doujinshi, Benedict" Tank corrected his friend.
"And believe me, it's way worse than that!"
"Well, show me then!"
Benedict rolled onto his back, pressing his upper back against the bed frame.
"Okay, okay!"
Tank chuckled a little. He pulled his Rotom Phone out of his pocket, turned it on then opened a webcomic app.
Kidd joined his friends on the bed,
watching as Tank pulled up the perfect manga, "I Don't Care If You're an Impostor!"
The plot was about an enigmatic Zoroark, and the Braixen who fell hard in love.
The boys were quiet as they read the manga together; each chapter building up its twists. They made it to the last chapter; "You're the One That I Want!"
Braixen looked up at the taller Pokemon. He blushed hard as he walked up to the other fox.
"Who… who are you?"
Zoroark looked away from the other Pokemon; pushing his ponytail behind his shoulder
"Sometimes I ask myself the same thing, Braixen"
Braixen put his paws up to his own face
"Wait? What do you mean?"
Zoroark glanced back at the fire type; he gulped and closed his eyes as he shapeshifted into various Pokemon species; Lucario, Lopunny, Gardevoir, Cinderace, Incineroar. He eventually stopped shapeshifting
"Yeah. I'm actually a Zoroark"
Braixen placed his paws on Zoroark's own
"But I don't understand! Why did you change into all those other Pokemon?"
Zoroark looked away and blushed hard
"It's….personal. You wouldn't understand"
The boys had fallen asleep in the middle of the chapter; the Rotom Phone was still glowing brightly in the dark room. Kidd had an arm draped across Tank's body, while Benedict was spread out and about to fall off the bed.
The morning came and went.
Tank woke up first. He yawned loudly and looked down; aw, man, his phone was dead! Climbing off the bed and getting his phone charged, Tank sat down on the couch and began drawing in his sketchbook, relieved that his friends were still asleep.
Graphite smudged all over his hooves as he sketched three Pokemon: a Lopunny, Gardevoir, and a Medicham. The three Pokemon posed like they were on a movie poster.
Kidd looked over Tank's shoulder
"Hey, is that Rotom's Charming Angels?"
Tank jolted up, dropping his pencil on his lap. Aw man, he smudged up Gardevoir's dress!
"Oh, yeah, it is! You watched it too?"
"Just a little bit"
Kidd shrugged. "Usually my mom hogged up the TV to stream her dramas"
"I watched a few episodes with my dad," Tank explained. "We only got to the first season before they replaced one of the voice actors." He flipped to a blank page, then began sketching a white dog with thick eyebrows.
Kidd stayed silent as he watched his friend continue to draw. It was amazing how fast he sketched, and without references!
Tank kept refining the pose, until the graphite snapped in the middle
"Aw man!" He set the pencil down and rummaged through his backpack. Great, no pencil sharpener anywhere.
Kidd hopped off the bed, then headed into the bathroom to grab a shower.
Benedict groaned as he woke up.
His neck felt stiff from the awkward sleeping position.
"Oh, you're awake!"
Tank waved to Benedict. "I'm gonna go get breakfast, you want anything in particular?"
"Nah, just get me whatever. No eggs though!"
Benedict crawled under the blankets, placing his head on the pillows.
"Got it!"
Tank nodded as he headed out the door.
Benedict looked around the room, then fell back asleep.
An hour later, Tank came back with breakfast; white rice, miso soup, natto and Goldeen filet. He tried his best to balance everything, closing the door with his horn.
Kidd walked out of the bathroom, wearing a towel around his head and a fluffy black bathrobe
"Oh, you're back already"
"Yep!"
Tank walked to the table. He set down the trays and chopsticks, before walking over and shaking Benedict awake.
"Wha– hey!"
Benedict jolted up. His hair was a mess, some of the strands falling into his eyes
"Oh, hi Tank!"
"I got breakfast"
Tank pointed at the table.
After the boys got dressed and ate their breakfast...
"So, what time do you guys wanna check out the hot springs?" Tank asked as he looked on the Lavaridge spring's webpage. Hm, these hours are pretty reasonable; seven AM to eleven PM. Oh hey, a section just for Pokemon! Fern and Grevillea would like this…
"Aw come on, do we have to go to one today?"
Benedict groaned. "I mean, what if I miss out on a gym battle?!"
"You didn't even meet the gym leader!"
Tank laughed a little. "How do you know if you're missing out?"
Benedict froze up
"I mean, we saw her yesterday at that dumpling place! And she looked great!"
Kidd adjusted his scarf and blushed hard
"I mean, she does remind me of you. Hotheaded, all about food" he winked.
Benedict tensed up in his spot and gulped. Hey, wait a minute…..was Kidd flirting with him?!
"Hey wait a minute!"
The other two guys went quiet. Two hours later, they headed out of the guest room, down the stairs and into the hot spring lobby. The floor and walls were made of dark wood.
Two animals, a cat and a deer, stood behind a table. Their fur was red and white, and they both wore comfortable yukata.
The deer waved first. She spoke in a thick Hoennian accent
"Hi there, welcome to Hiun Onsen. Is it just you three young men?"
Kidd whispered
"Um, Tank, can you cover us? I can't speak Hoennian"
"Same here"
Benedict nodded and placed his hands in his hoodie pockets.
"Don't worry, guys, I got this"
Tank assured them both.
He looked up and smiled
"Nope, we brought our Pokemon too!"
"Just to let you know," the cat explained, taking a long inhale from his cigar. "We have a third spring open exclusively for Pokemon. Shino will handle them for you"
"Any Pokemon, right?"
Tank asked. "Because my friend just got a Gyarados, and we're worried she'll be too big for the spring"
"No worries, young man," Shino assured him.
"We have separate pools just for larger Pokemon"
"Thank you so much!"
Tank bowed, then handed over his Poke Balls.
The other two boys followed suit, watching as Shino headed to a smaller door. After paying their fees, the guys headed into the mens' locker room.
The entire room was filled with steam, making it hard to see anything. Luckily, nobody else was in the locker room at the time.
The guys got undressed, took quick showers and headed out the door, wearing nothing but towels.
The mens' onsen was a calming haven of masculinity. An orange lion and white tiger arm wrestled near the water, while a black horse and grey kangaroo shared a bottle of sake. A grey bear flirted with a beige wolf, who looked very interested in what he had to say.
The guys removed their towels, stepped into the water and found a spot away from everyone else. The water engulfed their bodies up to the collarbones.
"Pretty nice, isn't it?"
Tank asked his friends.
"I guess" Benedict shrugged, then tied his hair up in a loose low bun. He whispered "I'm just glad most of those guys are minding their own business!"
Kidd rolled his eyes, trying to relax from the calming waters. This felt way better than any Snowbelle City spa. He looked to his right; was that mark always there or was his mind playing tricks on him? The mark in question was a simple five-point star on Benedict's left shoulder.
"Hey, Benedict?" he asked.
"Yeah?" Benedict turned around, a few strands of hair slipping out of his bun. "What's up?"
"Has that star always been there?" Kidd pointed at his shoulder.
Benedict shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, that star? Yeah, it's a birthmark. Pretty cool ain't it?"
"Hey!"
a deep voice shouted near the middle of the pool.
The guys turned to the left. Two older animals approached them; a rugged grey kangaroo with scars across his body, and a towering black horse with piercing red eyes.
"You lads wanna drink?"
the kangaroo held out a tall green bottle.
"It's not an onsen without nice cold sake!"
The horse facepalmed
"Walt, please stop offering alcohol to everyone you meet!" He whispered
"And besides, they look way too young to be drinking!"
"Ah, lay offa me Roscoe!"
Walt argued back. "These guys haven't had the best stuff yet"
"Um, no thank you," Tank shook his head. "Sake's too bitter for me"
"Yeah, an' I ain't ready for it yet"
Benedict nodded.
"What do you mean yet?!"
Tank yelled back. "Benedict, we are NOT getting drunk any time soon!"
"Screw it. I'll have some!" Kidd snatched the bottle from Walt's paw. He took a swig of sake, swallowing a mouthful before handing the bottle back.
The other four animals were stunned. None of them had seen anyone chug down that much sake before!
"So, whaddya think lad?" Walt pressed his back against some of the rocks. He held the bottle up in the air "I got this imported from Olivine City!"
Kidd hiccuped
"It was, hic, it's pretty good!" he felt much more bubblier than usual. "And I thought pinot noir was the best!"
Tank and Benedict looked at each other in worry; why did Kidd have to drink already? At least the rocks were sturdy enough, one slip and anyone could drown in the springs.
"And that's the thing,"
Walt bragged. "Us Johtonians are the best at brewing!"
"Please stop embarrassing yourself, Walt"
Roscoe shook his head and looked away, cringing from his friend's antics.
Kidd leaned over and giggled, his back pressing against Tank's arm.
"He's kinda funny"
Tank groaned. It was one thing for Benedict not wanting to risk anyone looking at his junk, but Kidd getting drunk in an onsen?! This was going to be a long day.
The Pokemon's side of the hot spring was relaxing and much needed for everyone. In the shallow end, a Plusle and Minun splashed each other, while a Meditite and Ralts played patty-cake.
Aries and Grevillea joined the shallow end, watching the other Pokemon play. They chattered with each other, watching as Shroomish floated across the water with a Surskit.
A Roselia started freaking out; having dropped something in the water.
Libra closed her eyes, dunked her head underwater and looked for the missing object; a small purple barb. Once she saw it glean underwater, she used her telekinesis to move it out of the water. Roselia held its hands out, whistling in joy as it got its item back.
In the deepest end of the spring…
Asuka looked down as she slithered through the thicker waters; it took her a while to get used to the rising water.
Three other Pokemon joined the deep end; a Rhydon, a Vileplume and a Magcargo.
"Um, why are your scales red? I mean, aren't Gyarados supposed to be blue?"
Vileplume asked before Rhydon bonked it on the head.
"Vileplume!" Rhydon scolded him.
"You can't just ask a Pokemon why they're a different color!"
"Nah, it's fine"
Asuka explained. "I'm what the trainers call shiny"
"Shiny?" Vileplume tilted his head "Now what's that?"
"It's when Pokemon are a different color than usual," Rhydon explained.
Magcargo stayed quiet. He thought to himself
"Oh great! My trainer and I have come here multiple times, everyone here knows us, but the minute some sparkle fish shows up, I get outshined!"
Asuka waved her tail around as she told her story
"Yeah, I started as a golden Magikarp, but look at me now!"
Magcargo looked around, making sure none of the others were looking. It spewed some flames out of its mouth, watching as the flames hit against Asuka's tail.
The Gyarados stood still, looked down at her fin and roared a blood-curdling scream.
The entire onsen went quiet. That sound...
Benedict sprang out of the water. He wrapped his towel around his waist, ran out of the mens' hot spring and headed straight for the Pokemon side.
He tiptoed to the deeper end, trying not to slip on the rocks.
Asuka looked down and frowned at her trainer. She pointed her tail at her trainer. A nasty burn had formed on her tail fin. Unlike her hide scales, which were a pretty shade of red, the burn mark was nasty and maroon colored.
"Okay, who did this to you?!"
Benedict yelled. "'Cause I'm gonna have a word with 'em!"
The Gyarados pointed her tail to the left. A lone Magcargo was sitting in the shallow end, seemingly minding its own business.
Hm, it made sense. A fire type would do that sort of damage….
Benedict asked, his voice softening up
"But, uh, I meant who the trainer was"
Asuka shrugged with her tail. Magcargo hadn't said much to her, let alone say anything about its trainer….
"Don't ya worry" he assured her.
"When I found out the trainer, I'm gonna chew 'em out"
Benedict waved to his Pokemon before heading back to the mens' onsen. He stood under the hot spring's entrance, took a deep breath in, and yelled at the top of his lungs
"HEY! Which one of y'alls got a Magcargo?!"
Most of the animals stopped talking and went silent. They looked at each other; wait, why would this kid be asking about someone else's Pokemon?
"A Magcargo? Yeah, that'd be mine"
A grey bear stood up, water dripping down his burly arms and legs. He had dark blue stubble on his face and a large bandage across his forehead.
"You got a problem, punk?"
"No, why would I-" Benedict snapped.
"Um, YEAH! Your Magcargo literally burned my Gyarados!"
"Suuuuuuure"
the bear scoffed.
Another animal, the white tiger from earlier, whispered
"Hey. Cool it, Curt"
"Ah, cram it Rolf!"
Curt brushed him off. "I gotta see what this guy's whining about"
He threw his towel on and went to the Pokemon spring. His footsteps echoed with each stomp.
Most of the patrons followed, interested to see how this would play out. Tank stayed behind, making sure Kidd wouldn't pass out if he left the onsen so fast.
"Okay, Asuka?"
Benedict held his wing out. "Could y'all show me the burn again?"
The Gyarados fanned out her tail, showing the black mark.
Curt crossed his arms in disapproval. He scoffed
"You call that a burn? It's barely a bruise."
Both trainer and Pokemon death glared at the arrogant bear.
"I ain't askin for much, but"
Benedict asked. "Could I please have just one Burn Heal?"
"Hmmm"
Curt shrugged.
"Nah"
The other animals groaned in disapproval.
"Alright, alright, jeez!" Curt snapped at the crowd. He turned around to face Benedict
"I'll get one. But on one condition: If you beat me in battle"
Benedict was shocked; geez, this guy's so pushy!
"It's on!"
The other Pokemon cleared out of the hot springs, some sitting near their trainers and others crowded around the rocks.
"Asuka?" Benedict looked up at his Pokemon
"Y'all wanna go?"
The water type nodded in approval. Yes, she could get revenge on that pesky snail for hurting her!
Curt grunted and pointed upwards
"Magcargo, use Yawn!"
The fire type let out a huge yawn, relaxing its lava and seemingly letting its guard down. A large cloud of smoke billowed from its nose, smelling faintly of ash and coal.
"Asuka!" Benedict snapped his fingers. "Don't fall for it! Use Splash!"
"Gyao!"
Asuka roared as she used her tail to splash some water in Magcargo's face. Unfortunately, the wave of water splashed across the other Pokemon, leaving several Fire, Rock and Ground-types upset. A pair of Numel groaned in discontent, while a Sudowoodo crossed its arms and pouted like a child.
Magcargo tensed up and shook the water off its body. Unlike the calming warmness of the springs, this splash was abrupt and lukewarm. The snail Pokemon spat water out and looked up at the giant Pokemon.
"Rock Slide!"
Magcargo summoned a wave of large boulders. It launched them across the springs, three of the rocks landing against Asuka's body. She cringed as the stones pelted her hide, feeling harsh on her skin.
Benedict facepalmed; oh, right, she's weak to Rock-type attacks now! He had an idea, yes!
"Use Bite to catch a rock, then chuck it!"
Asuka darted past the remaining rocks, then caught a boulder with ease. She threw her neck back and hurled the stone across the air. The rock exploded in Magcargo's face, knocking it back several inches and coating its face in dust.
"Oh wow, really impressive," Curt deadpanned. "Lava Plume"
Magcargo's shell glowed yellow. Flames formed from its gooey body, then exploded across the spring.
"Dodge it!"
Asuka's eyes widened as she darted through the air, avoiding as much fire as possible. A large blast was coming closer. She closed her eyes and lifted up her tail. A whirlpool of water lifted off the springs and surrounded her tail.
"GYAOO!"
She roared as she swung her tail forwards, launching the whirlpool at Magcargo's body. The wave of water engulfed Magcargo in its spot, drenching it from head to stomach.
Benedict gasped in surprise; no way, that was Aqua Tail! Yes, this was perfect!
Magcargo shuddered after the water fell back into the spring. Its body tensed up after some of the water seeped into its shell.
"You done?"
Curt asked his Pokemon.
Magcargo closed its eyes and nodded, lowering its head in defeat.
Asuka sighed in relief. She lowered her tail and tried to relax.
Curt walked up to the duo, his Pokemon slithering behind him. He flashed a rare smile and held his paw out
"That was actually fun!"
"Um, thanks?"
Benedict shook his paw. "I hope we weren't too rough on Magcargo"
"Naw, I kinda needed that"
the bear chuckled. "And besides; I should be sorry for how rough I was on you!"
"It's fine!" Benedict assured him. "I mean, she had just evolved an' I wasn't gonna let anyone hurt her"
"Yeah, that'd explain a lot,"
Curt looked back up.
"When my Pokemon evolved, he wasn't used to his new typing"
Kabuki walked to the mens' onsen. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled
"Everyone, out of the spring, now!"
Some of the men groaned in disapproval.
"Come on" Kabuki snapped his fingers.
"This is for Pokemon only!"
The group headed back into the mens' spring. Benedict sat down next to his friends
"So, what happened back there?"
Tank asked.
"Well," Benedict explained. "Some guy's Magcargo got jealous that his friends were talkin' to Asuka, he burned her, an' I had to fight his trainer for a Burn Heal"
Kidd yawned and leaned closer to Tank
"Sounds rough"
"Yeah, but at least she wasn't hurt too bad"
Benedict shrugged. "Otherwise he'd be in a world of hurt right now!"
With that settled out of the way, the boys finally got back to relaxing, this time, without any unneeded interruptions. If only every day could be this easygoing
←—To be continued—