Blistering Shore Outskirts
Gen
"How much farther is the town?" I asked, carrying Flapple's tail.
"Not too far. We should be there before sunset," Burhalla answered, carrying Flapple's head.
The three of us walked down the path to the village, carrying Flapple together.
"We really did it! We found Flapple!" Saltriv exclaimed, with a vine wrapped around Flapple's midsection.
"Once we...purify him, he'll be ok," Burhalla said, with a shudder at the word "purify".
"Purify?" I asked, now that I had time to do so. What exactly did that entail, and why was it apparently so terrifying?
"Purifying shadowy Pokemon returns them to normal. There used to be four ways of purifying shadowy Pokemon, but two of them have disappeared. There's only two left now," Burhalla answered with another shudder. "Neither are pleasant, but they're the only ways."
I was filled with questions. Why was purification unpleasant? Why had two of the methods disappeared? Wha-
Suddenly, I heard a voice in my head. You shouldn't think of prying into our affairs, hehehe. I know where you are.
I froze up.
Nope, not continuing that line of thought. Not after whatever the hell that was.
Instead, I decided to ask a question that's been on my mind ever since Burhalla first mentioned "going shadowy" back in Twig Woodland.
"What exactly are shadowy Pokemon?"
"Shadowy Pokemon are Pokemon that can't feel any positive emotions. They can only feel fear, anger, frustration, guilt, and other negative emotions. Nobody knows how it happens, but usually Pokemon go missing, not even showing up with connection orbs for a while, then turn up shadowy in strange places," Burhalla answered.
They can't feel any positive emotions, only negative ones? That explained why Flapple was so afraid back there. Still, that must be awful. What could be causing all this?
Eventually, a large, ornate blue building came into view, covered in ornate designs and patterns. I could see one pattern that looked vaguely like a Kingdra. In front of its entrance were the wispy-tailed Pokemon I saw yesterday.
"Halt!" the larger one yelled. "Why are you here?"
"Nobody enters the shrine without our permission while we're on duty!" the smaller one on the larger one's head exclaimed. "Hey, is that Flapple? And Burhalla! Saltriv, too!"
"Hello, Drakloak and Dreepy!" Burhalla said, looking at the larger one, then the smaller one as he spoke. Those must be the names of those Pokemon.
"We found Flapple!" Saltriv announced with a smile. "They were at Blistering Shore!"
"It was difficult, but we brought them out of there," I added.
"You really found him! That's amazing! You're heroes!" Dreepy cheered. His eyes were filled with sparkles. "Are you all a search party?"
"Yes! Team Searchlights!" Burhalla confirmed, before muttering just quietly enough for me to barely hear him, "Not an official one yet, though."
"Wow!" Dreepy said. "That's so cool!"
"It's really great that you found him. It was getting tiring guarding the shrine all the time, and I missed his company," Drakloak said, before turning towards me. "I haven't seen you in town before. Who are you?"
"Gen," I hastily answered.
"I see. Thank you, Burhalla, Saltriv, and Gen for finding Flapple." Drakloak said with something akin to a smile. "You're here to purify him?"
We all nodded.
"You all know the rules?" Drakloak asked.
I saw Saltriv and Burhalla both nod, but I stayed still. "What ar-?"
Burhalla clamped a hand over my mouth. What was that about?!
"I'll tell him," Burhalla said, removing his hand from my face.
"Good. Be careful in there," Drakloak said, before she and Dreepy moved out of the way.
"I need to be the one to bring Flapple in," Burhalla said. "You can both let go."
Odd, but I lowered my arms away from Flapple's tail. Saltriv's vine retracted, and Burhalla took hold of Flapple's midsection, before turning to face me.
"Before we go in, I need to tell you something," he said.
"What is it?" I asked. Was he going to tell me about what those rules were?
"Whatever you do, BE POLITE AT ALL COSTS," he told me. "Stay calm, don't make many unneeded movements. And don't ask about or touch the statues."
"Wait, what do you mean? Why?" I asked, startled by the sudden demands.
"I can't tell you until after we leave. They'll know. Just follow my lead, and you should be alright," Burhalla said. He hesitated, before continuing. "If anything happens to me, don't react. Calmly exit the shrine."
What might happen to him? Who'd know? Did it have to do with that voice? The more I heard about this, the more fearful I grew of going into the shrine?
"Why do we have to go in? Why can't Drakloak do it, since she knows this stuff better?" I asked.
Drakloak turned to look at me. "You three all found Flapple, so you all have to go in. It's part of the rules of purification here. If I could, I'd take your place, but sadly that's not possible."
"You can do it! You're heroes!" Dreepy encouraged.
"We'll be in there with you," Saltriv comforted. "You won't be alone."
"Just remember what I said, and you'll be ok. We can do this, together," Burhalla said, before turning towards the temple. "Ready to go in?"
Saltriv nodded after a moment.
Could I really do this? I had no idea what would happen if I made a mistake.
At the same time, though, I knew what not to do. And my teammates would be with me. I wouldn't be alone.
And if I didn't go with my teammates, and we broke the rules, who knows what would happen to them?
It'll be ok. I can do this.
I nodded.
"Let's go, then," Burhalla said, as he carried Flapple into the shrine. Me and Saltriv followed.
Water Purification Shrine
I walked into the shrine, and was amazed by what I saw.
The four crystal walls of the temple were a vibrant blue, and coated in several intricate patterns. A sparkling pool of water laid in the center of the room, perfectly still. Two marble pillars were at the back of the room, reaching from the lavender floor to the violet ceiling. On the left and right sides of the room, waterfalls rained down into pits I couldn't see the bottoms of. The entire place was shrouded in light fog.
Scattered throughout the room, I noticed many Pokemon scattered about, unmoving. I saw a Hoothoot, a Gastly, even a Lucario. It didn't even look like they were alive. Were these the statues Burhalla was talking about?
I saw one of them, a Misdreavus, blink.
Oh.
Oh no.
Were they ALIVE?! What had happened to them?!
I felt Burhalla poke me. Right, right. Remain polite, at all costs. Don't draw attention to myself.
What could have happened to those Pokemon, though?
Suddenly, the pool of water began to ripple. Something began to emerge out of it. Something large.
A purple, patterned shell floated out of the water. A fin was on the top of it, and a long, sharp point on the front. Was this a Pokemon? I'd never seen a Pokemon like this before.
Soon, the shell opened, revealing a figure inside. I tried to figure out the thoughts to describe what they looked like, but for some reason they just wouldn't come.
"Greetings, Tapu Fini," Burhalla said with a bow. I followed his lead, and me and Saltriv bowed as well.
That Pokemon must be called Tapu Fini, then.
"Greetings, Burhalla," Tapu Fini responded in an indescribable tone. "Who are your companions? It is rude to not introduce oneselves."
"My name is Gen," I said, trying to keep myself from shaking under the pressure. Stay calm, like Burhalla said. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Saltriv," Saltriv introduced themself, echoing my words. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both," Tapu Fini greeted. "What are your opinions of my shrine?"
"The shrine is rather nice. The waterfalls compliment the designs on the walls," Saltriv said, tone neutral.
"It's pr-quite fantastic, if I do say so myself," I began, trying to imitate Saltriv's tone. "I enjoy the colors of the walls, ceiling, and floor."
Several wordless seconds passed. I began to grow fearful. Had I been too impolite? What was going to happen if I had been?
After what felt like an eternity, Tapu Fini made a gesture I didn't recognize. "For what reason did you come to my shrine?" they asked.
"We seek to purify the Pokemon I am carrying," Burhalla answered. "Flapple. May we please request that of you?"
"Is that so?" Tapu Fini responded. "Burhalla, place him in the pool of water. I will purify him."
Burhalla took a step towards the water, tightly carrying Flapple with both hands. I could see him shaking a bit. Was it because of the water, Tapu Fini, or both? I couldn't blame him.
Gently, he laid Flapple down in the water. He floated on the surface, above the deep depths that Tapu Fini emerged from.
Once Flapple was in place, Burhalla backed away from the pool, and returned to my side. I wondered just what purification entailed. What was going to happen to Flapple?
Suddenly, the fog began to thicken drastically. Within seconds, Flapple and Tapu Fini were completely obscured. Was this part of the process?
A faint light appeared where I last saw Tapu Fini. It quickly grew brighter and brighter, soon becoming unbearably bright. It flashed even greater in intensity.
I flinched, and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, I heard a large SPLASH, and I felt myself get drenched.
I opened my eyes, and saw that the light was gone. The fog was dissipating as well. Every surface of the temple was doused thoroughly, droplets of water, dripping down.
I glanced over at Burhalla, worried that the water had put his tail out. He was shaking slightly, and his tail flame was wavering, but it still burnt bright. I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but stopped myself.
I turned back towards the pool of water. Tapu Fini and Flapple were visible again. The latter's eyes were still closed, but the shadowy aura had completely disappeared, and his skin had changed from a purple-stained green to a leafy green. Did that mean he was purified now?
"I have purified Flapple," Tapu Fini said. "You may now take him, and take your leave."
Burhalla walked over and picked Flapple back up, then returned to me and Saltriv. Before he left, he turned around, and bowed once more. "Au revoir, Tapu Fini."
"Au revoir, Tapu Fini," Saltriv echoed, bowing as well.
"Au revoir, Tapu Fini," I said as I bowed, following my teammates' lead.
Tapu Fini made another gesture I didn't recognize, before closing their shell.
The three of us turned around, and exited the temple, with a now-purified Flapple in tow.
Outside Water Purification Shrine
We walked a short distance from the shrine, until Burhalla stepped off the path a bit and sat down, setting down Flapple beside him. Saltriv went and stood next to him. I walked over to them, and sat down with my teammates.
"Even after the first time, purification is still terrifying," Burhalla said. "Being so close to water, even getting splashed by it, and the statues, and Tapu Fini themself… Is everyone alright after that?"
"I am! Good thing I had memorized what I was going to say if I ever met Tapu Fini!" Saltriv exclaimed. "I think I'd still be in there if I hadn't!"
That was absolutely terrifying. The strict rules, the moments of suspense when I worried I did something wrong, and the "statues"...it was horrible.
Even so, I made it through it all, somehow.
"I'm fine," I told Burhalla. I tried not to think too hard about what Saltriv had said.
"Great. Let's take a break before we go back to the village. I think we all need one," he said.
I definitely did.
As we sat in the grass and looked up at the clouds, I thought back to what Burhalla had said earlier. Burhalla had mentioned that there was one other method of purification left. What was it? Was it more pleasant than having Tapu Fini do it, even slightly?
Would asking about the other method incur that voice's wrath, though?
Then again, it wasn't interrupting my thinking of this, so hopefully it would be safe to ask?
"What's the other purification method?" I asked Burhalla.
"I don't actually know," he said. "I just know that it's near Moonlight Town."
"Careful speaking about them. You could incur their wrath. Especially her's," Drakloak spoke up, floating towards us.
Hehehehehe.
I shuddered. Maybe it was best if I didn't ask any more questions about purification.
I decided to ask about Drakloak and Dreepy instead. Maybe I could learn a few things about the village from them.
"What do you both do here?" I asked. Presumably, they guard the shrine, but was there anything else?
"We protect the shrine, of course! Us, Flapple, and Drampa guard the shrine in shifts," Drakloak explained.
Who's Drampa? I'd never heard of that Pokemon.
Before I could ask, Saltriv spoke up. "What happened to the third method? I remember there still being three before I…"
"You went missing, right?" Drakloak said. "Strange, I don't remember seeing you get purified here. Or perhaps you never went shadowy at all. I don't know what happened when you were found, after all."
I saw Saltriv wince. Was this about what happened in Blistering Shore? Weren't they ok now?
"Back to your question, Mossy Town became a mystery dungeon while you were gone, and the method there disappeared," Drakloak continued.
"W-what?! Did everyone make it out? Where are they?" Saltriv asked, eyes widening.
"As far as I know, almost everyone," Drakloak answered. "I heard most of them are staying in Capim Town for now."
My mind raced with questions. Entire towns could become mystery dungeons? How did something even become a mystery dungeon? Could it happen to Overcast Village?
I was so caught up in these questions, that I missed what Saltriv had to say next, only hearing Drakloak's response.
"First the method in Coulomb City, then the one in Mossy Town. If Tapu Fini disappears too, we're in far more trouble than before," Drakloak said. "That's why we guard the shrine."
A few seconds of silence passed. I watched the sun begin to set.
"We should wake Flapple up soon. It's getting late, and it'll be a while before he wakes up otherwise," Burhalla said as he stood back up. Saltriv and I did so as well.
"Indeed. I should get back to guarding the shrine," Drakloak said, turning around, before stopping. They floated over to the grass, then with both arms reached down and pulled out some sort of goggle-like thing, before handing it to Burhalla.
The lenses were tinted red, and two arrow-like protrusions pointed diagonally from the center. It resembled the eyes of a Hoothoot. Were these some sort of glasses for Pokemon?
"An Insomniscope?" Burhalla asked. "Why-"
"Here, as thanks for bringing my friend back. I don't need these anymore," Drakloak spoke.
"I...thanks," Burhalla said, taking the Insomniscope and putting it in his bag. Drakloak turned, and started heading back towards the shrine entrance.
I was about to ask him what that was, then I heard Flapple's voice. "Whuh?"
I turned around to where we had set down Flapple, to see Saltriv shaking him with a vine. His eyes were starting to open, now yellow instead of the red they were before.
Suddenly, his eyes opened all the way, and he flew up into the air. "What're you kids doing to me?!" he shouted.
I took a step back, noticing Burhalla flinch, before he spoke up. "We just purified you, sir."
"Whaddya mean? Are you sayin' I went shadowy?!" Flapple demanded. I pulled my Reunion Cape over my face.
"You did. We found you at the edge of Blistering Shore, and...hyper mode happened, and we had to battle you," Burhalla confirmed.
A few seconds of silence passed, before Flapple spoke back up.
"...I'm gonna need some time to process this, but...thanks, lads, and...I'm sorry," Flapple said. "I'll be heading home until my shift. Come with me. I have something to give you."
Flapple started flying down the path, not waiting for a response. "Wait up!" I yelled, as me, Saltriv, and Burhalla ran after him.
Overcast Village
Soon, the four of us arrived at the entrance to the village. I could see Meganium under the Kecleon-shaped tent, talking to the Tyrogue I saw earlier. The Porygon-Z we ran into on the way out of Twig Woodland yesterday was near the bulletin board, talking to a strange, floating pink Tentacool-like Pokemon, with a large head and a crown-like horn on top.
The moment we entered the Top Plaza, the Porygon-Z began to rush towards Flapple, with a cry of "MANZA-ZA-ZAGGLE!"
Before I knew what was happening, Flapple and Porygon-Z had collided in midair, and were now both lying on the ground. "PNS-NT, I'm glad to see ya, but could ya not do that so often? You know I'm not comfortable with people knowing my primary name," Flapple admonished.
I had heard that teapot Pokemon mention PNS-NT earlier, and Burhalla had mentioned it before Flapple went berserk. Was that the name of this Porygon-Z? And what was that about primary names?
"My apolo-olo-ologies, but I've missed you greatly!" PNS-NT exclaimed. "Were you jus-jus-just lost, or were you…?"
"I was. We can talk more in a bit, I need to get something for these three who found and purified me," Flapple explained, before I heard another familiar voice.
"Saltriv!" Meganium shouted as she exited the Kecleon tent. With a worried expression on her face, she headed towards us, before stopping next to Saltriv. "You didn't tell me you were going on a search mission! Are you ok?"
"I'm ok, mo-," Saltriv began, before the Tyrogue spoke up.
"New to this town, and you're already going out to search for missing Pokemon?" he said, looking at me. "Color me impressed! Next thing you know, you'll come back with Treecko!"
"Uh, thanks," I responded, not sure what else to say.
"Seems like two of our missing residents have returned," an unfamiliar voice spoke. I looked for the source, and saw that it was the pink Pokemon by the bulletin board. "And one new resident as well. Pardon me, Oshawott, but what is your primary name? If you're not comfortable saying it in public, I ca-"
"My name is Gen," I answered before she finished, hoping that primary name meant what I thought it did.
The Pokemon seemed taken aback. Oh no. Was I wrong?
"Wonderful. I am Jellicent, the mayor of this village. Do you need a residence?" she responded after a few seconds. This must be who Burhalla was talking about back in Twig Woodland.
Before I could say anything, Meganium spoke up.
"Gen's staying with my family for the time being," Meganium answered for me.
"Wonderful. Speaking of your family," Jellicent began, turning to Saltriv and Flapple. "Welcome back to the village, you two."
Saltriv smiled, and Flapple seemed too busy talking to PNS-NT to respond.
Jellicent turned to Burhalla next. "I heard from your father that you decided to start a search party. Thank you for taking this step to protect our village, and congratulations on your first successful mission!" she congratulated warmly, before her tone grew stern. "Although it was unwise of you to leave before SaRO approved you."
Meganium gave Saltriv a stern look, and Burhalla frowned. "Sorry," he said.
"Regardless, completing your first mission is not something that should be punished. It's something that should be celebrated!" Jellicent continued. I saw Saltriv perk up. "I must take my leave now. Welcome to Overcast Village, Gen!" she said, before heading deeper into the fog.
"I should go, too. Congratulations, Gen! We should spar sometime! Let me know when you can. See ya!" Tyrogue said, then walked down one of the roads.
"Now that that's over with, let me get you what I said I would," Flapple said, flying over to the mechanism-covered box. "Give me a minute with the deposit box, and I'll have it." As soon as he was next to it, it opened, and he stuck both of his wings inside. Was that thing called a deposit box, then?
As Flapple did his thing, Saltriv turned to their mom, smiling. "Can we-"
"No," Meganium said, before Saltriv could get a chance to finish. "You know what happened last time you had a sleepover, and I need to have a talk with you after you went out underprepared."
"We had an escape orb, and we found Flapple anyways! Besides, last time was months ago, and Gen's first night with us went well! Please?" Saltriv pleaded.
"...with who?" Meganium asked after a few seconds.
"Burhalla! I want us all to celebrate our first successful mission together!" Saltriv answered, and Burhalla smiled.
"If Burhalla's father agrees, then tomorrow night," Meganium answered, to Saltriv's and Burhalla's cheers. "I was planning on letting you do something like this in a few days anyways to celebrate you returning, but to celebrate your first accomplishment on a search party, you can have it tomorrow." Meganium smiled after that.
A sleepover? I haven't had one of those in years. This might be fun.
"Think this should be it," Flapple spoke up, before taking out one of his wings from the box. 9 large yellow coins were stacked on top of the wing, and some sort of symbol was emblazoned on the top of the coins, though I couldn't quite see what it was. Was that what money was here?
"900 Poké? Great! Tha-" Burhalla began, stopping as Flapple moved again.
Flapple took out his other wing, on which laid the biggest apple I've ever seen. It was almost as large as I was! It was a shiny, glimmering red, and even seemed to be sparkling. A single leaf as large as my tail was attached to the grass-green stem. The most mouth-watering smell I've ever experienced reached my nose. Just what was this piece of heaven in the shape of an apple?
Saltriv, Burhalla, and even Meganium gasped. "A perfect apple?! Real-" Saltriv began. It did seem perfect alright.
"I insist. To thank you for purifying me, and to make up for whatever I did while I was...like that," Flapple said.
Burhalla hesitated, before taking the coins and the perfect apple. "T-thank you, Flapple," he replied, eyes wide. Flapple smiled in response.
"Now le-le-let's go home," PNS-NT said, beginning to float out of the plaza. "You would not believe what happen-pen-pened to me last night!"
Flapple flew after them, leaving the four of us alone in the plaza.
"I'll...go store these for now," Burhalla said, taking shaky steps towards the deposit box.
He opened the box and dumped what he was carrying inside.
What?
Why was he just putting it all right back where Flapple had gotten it from? Moreover, why were Flapple's belongings apparently in this box right out in the open of this plaza?
"Why are you putting that back?" I asked.
Meganium looked at me weirdly, before her expression shifted to one of care. "Right, you don't remember anything. That's a deposit box. Anything one Pokemon puts in can be taken out by only that Pokemon. For everyone else, only their things are inside."
Weird. They seemed to be like PCs, then. I still had one more question about them, though.
"Who made them?" I asked.
"The Kangaskhan clan manages them," Meganium answered. "They created them after-oh, you wouldn't know about that."
Know about what?
Before I could ask, Burhalla said, "I should go home. See ya both tomorrow!" He walked down one of the foggy roads, and out of sight.
"We should get going, too," Meganium told us. "Come with me." She said, walking down the road to Saltriv's house.
Me and Saltriv followed her into the fog.
Saltriv's Home
Soon, we arrived in Saltriv's home. Torterra was in the first room, and smiled as he saw us arrive.
"Welcome back, you three!" he greeted. "How went the adventure, Saltriv?"
"It went great! We found Flapple!" Saltriv exclaimed.
"You didn't tell us you were going on a search mission," Torterra said, frowning. "I thought you three were just going to play in the forest, like your past adventures with Burhalla were."
"You went underprepared, too," Meganium admonished. "You should have waited until your supplies had arrived."
Saltriv's expression fell. Maybe I should try to comfort them? How, though? Would a hug work?
Before I could do so, though, a vine sprouted from Torterra's tree, and laid on Saltriv's back.
"Still, I'm proud of you," Torterra said. "Search missions are no easy feat."
"We're both proud of you for finding Flapple," Meganium comforted. "I just wish you had told us you were, and had been better prepared."
Saltriv's frown started to disappear. "Thanks, mom and dad."
"You're welcome, my child," Torterra responded.
"Can we still do the celebration sleepover?" Saltriv asked, beginning to smile.
"Of course!" Torterra answered. "You deserve a reward after your first search mission!"
"You're not allowed to go on any adventures tomorrow, though," Meganium added. "We might be getting a visit then, anyways."
"Aww, ok," Saltriv replied with a frown, before their expression changed to one of curiousity. "From who?"
"This morning I mailed a letter to Acacia that you'd been found," Meganium said. "We might get a visit from his rescue team soon."
Was a rescue team like a search party? And who was this Acacia?
"What's a rescue team?" I decided to ask first.
"Rescue teams go around and rescue people, like search parties, except without most of the searching," Saltriv explained. "Acacia, my uncle, is part of the best one! Team Seedlings! They even saved the world once!"
They saved the world?! That...that's an amazing accomplishment! From what, though? And I might be meeting them tomorrow...
"Why don't you two go to bed?" Meganium told us. "It's getting late, and you should rest well for tomorrow."
"Ok! See you tomorrow, mom and dad!" Saltriv yelled, before running towards the room we slept in last night. I followed behind.
The room was almost just like how it was last night, aside from the items in the box having been moved around. Saltriv laid down on their mat, as I walked over to the one I had slept in.
"I can hardly believe what happened today! You, me, and Burhalla are a search party now! And we even found someone already!" they said.
"Yeah. There was...a lot that happened," I said, as I laid down. That search mission was terrifying at times, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about being alone.
"I can't wait until tomorrow! I get to see my uncle again, and we have the celebration sleepover!" they continued, tucking themselves in with a vine. "See you then, Gen!"
I pulled a blanket over me, and was about to close my eyes, when I noticed Saltriv shaking under the covers. What was that about? Were they still sad about that conversation with their parents?
I'll have to ask them about that tomorrow.
As I closed my eyes, I thought about Saltriv.
They've done a lot for me, haven't they?
They defended me when Burhalla's father was suspicious of me, convinced their parents to let me stay in their home, taught me about some of the things we found in Blistering Shore, including my Reunion Cape, helped save me from that Krokorok, tried to help me with my made-up memory problem, and offered to try to help me with my anxiety if Burhalla's idea with the village therapist didn't work out.
Speaking of Burhalla, he also helped me a lot.
He offered for me to go with him when he found me in Twig Woodland, taught me about mystery dungeons and more, let me join the team, guided me through mystery dungeons, saved me multiple times, tried to prepare me for Tapu Fini, and comforted me even after I had nearly killed him.
We've already been through a lot together. If not for them, I'd be completely lost in this world. I might never have gotten out of Twig Woodland.
I never did thank them, did I? I should tomorrow. I'm grateful for what they've done for me.
I'm happy to be teammates with them, even if I wouldn't call them friends yet. I haven't even known them for two days.
My friends are back home, in Johto. Most of them, at least.
How were they? Did they learn yet that I was gone? Were they freaking out over my disappearance, or did they think I'd return soon?
And what about my family? How were they taking my disappearance? Were they ok?
I miss them all. Hopefully I could find a way home soon.
Hopefully.
Overcast Village Outskirts, Hours Earlier
?
You idiot! We needed to move in sync! Now you scared that Porygon-Z off, and it alerted that whole village! I thought.
It's not my fault you jumped the bloody gun! If you hadn't been so impatient, and actually waited for it to get close enough, we could have had it! You thought.
If I had waited any longer, it could have gotten away!
And if you had waited any longer, we could have actually gotten some help! Just because you're the only one of us who can speak like this doesn't mean you can yell at me to do whatever!
You began to walk me further away from the village, through the forest.
Just because I can't walk anywhere like this without your cooperation doesn't mean you get to decide everything we do!
Yes it does, actually! You thought.
I clenched my yellow hands. They barely poked out of your snow. I shivered from your cold.
I heard your insulting thoughts of me. Why did I have to be stuck with the most insufferable Galarian imaginable?!
Why do I have to be stuck with the most aggravating Unovan imaginable?! You thought, continuing to walk me away from the village.
Both of us flung insults at each other mentally, until I stopped.
We need to cooperate. You know this. Neither of us like this situation, but we'll have to deal with it until we find a way to fix it, if there even is one.
We could have already found help if you had been more patient, but I agree. You thought.
We need to find someone who will listen to us. We need to find them while they're alone, and where they can't call for help.
How about that Charmander we saw yesterday?
If we can find it again. You already know we haven't seen it since you pressured me to throw that orb. If I hadn't listened to you, we might have been able to catch up to the Charmander.
If you hadn't listened to me, we might have died from that horde of Pokemon. Unless you got any other ideas, that Charmander is our best shot. And I know you don't have any other ideas.
Fine. We'll look for that Charmander-
As we came to a dirt path in the forest, you stopped walking, derailing my train of thought. I could see a glimpse of something blue down the path. I craned my neck, trying to get a better look without leaving the bushes. You didn't protest.
There was a blue building, decorated with several ornate Alolan patterns. In front of it was a floating Pokemon with short, handless arms, a V-shaped head, fin-like legs, and a wispy tail. On top of its head was a similar, but smaller Pokemon. That's a Drakloak and a Dreepy.
They were talking to an Oshawott with a red hood, a Chikorita with a red leaf, and the Charmander we saw yesterday. They were carrying an oddly-colored Flapple. We were too far away to hear what they were all saying.
There it is! Too bad it's not alone. You thought.
Before too long, the Oshawott, Chikorita, and Charmander entered the building, leaving the Drakloak and Dreepy alone, and vulnerable. This could work.
Now's our chance! Let's get them!
If those three starters exit and see us, they could overtake us. We're waiting.
It's the perfect opportunity! They're all alone!
If they're still there once the starters are gone, we'll do it. Until then, we should plan ahead.
You're wasting this opportunity!
You'd get us killed!
Fine. Let's start planning, then.