They were lost. Again. It was in Mount Moon, at least, so it wasn't too embarrassing, but they were still lost without a map of their location. And even if they could get out in theory, something about this place made Hogoki's skin crawl. It was like wild Pokémon were watching him and Foccai, waiting to jump out at any moment and...

No, he'd rather not think about that, actually. Too disturbing at the moment. Now... he thought he'd heard something about this place having floors, the bottom one having the exit to Cerulean. If he could just find holes or something to go down, they could leave.

Of course, it wouldn't be as easy as that, but it was a start! They had to be out of here fast, and if they didn't get to Cerulean soon enough... No. He wouldn't even let himself consider that outcome to be possible.

Lost in both head and cave, it made sense that with a yelp he'd trip over a Geodude, the Geodude responding in kind by lifting and throwing him in a random direction. The armed rock floated off disgruntled as Foccai hurried over to its trainer on the cavern floor, the boy getting up after the pain faded away. He would've just gotten off of the rock had it not thrown him...

Wait. That was something moving behind those rocks. It seemed about his height, too. Whatever it was, he'd exercise caution. He gestured for Foccai to be ready to fight as both observed the rocks to see if the thing behind them would come out.

Slowly, a figure did emerge, one of yellow and red and... Wait, that wasn't a Pokémon. It was clearly a human, and a familiar one at that!

The two of them paused momentarily in awkward recognition upon noticing each other, and eventually Hogoki spoke to break the silence.

"You're that girl I met in Pallet."

For obvious reasons, given the boy's oddly calm demeanor didn't change, the aforementioned girl became visibly nervous. "That's... That's right. A-Are you the one who told me Oak was out of Pokémon?"

"That'd be me. You're in Mount Moon too?" He at least seemed interested. Foccai seemed more interested, but Foccai was interested in paint drying, at least for a few seconds.

"I've been here for hours trying to catch a Pokémon, and I finally did it earlier!" She suddenly seemed to switch to excitement from nervousness, almost as if she had forgotten about whatever made her nervous. "If I can just get to a Pokémon Center so these two can rest..."

"Two already? Didn't you just catch your first?"

And now it was embarrassment. "Tell you the truth, Brock gave me one of his to help me, and I need to return it once I'm at a Pokémon Center... You've met him, right? That looks like his gym badge on your sleeve."

Hogoki suddenly had a confused look before he seemed to realize something. "...I did keep thinking I'd forgotten to buy something. Guess I'll be shopping for a badge case in Cerulean." Foccai facepalmed as the girl had a look of confusion at his rather disconnected remark. The guy then abruptly changed the topic to something only slightly more relevant. "Now, don't expect this to be regular or anything, but since we're both here anyway... Let's help each other get to Cerulean. I can fight, you can navigate."

"Why the change of heart from last time?"

He suddenly looked away while sweating slightly. "W-well, you see... I'm not the best at directions, and you aren't really able to fight right now, are you?"

"The Pokémon I caught's tired, and Brock's fainted against another Geodude earlier."

"That's why I'm joining ya. We've gotta help each other if we're getting out in one piece, and that means no risk..."

More confusion. "Risk of what? Isn't this place more dangerous than a route normally?"

"...I think I'll just decline to answer that." Concerned seal and extremely confused girl. The boy suddenly changed his stance to a ready one again. "Anyway! You lead the way. Foccai can keep us both safe." A bwark of agreement followed.

She shook her head to get it back in focus, then nodded before heading in what seemed to be a random direction to Hogoki. He at least trusted her enough to follow, signaling for his Popplio to join them.

...

He didn't know how long they'd been walking, but the girl navigating had said they were about halfway through earlier. He had no idea how she knew, but he was fine with believing it.

So little talk in this much time, though... It was causing even him to feel discomfort, much less what he imagined her to be feeling. Discomfort didn't help cooperation, and cooperation was needed right now. Therefore, he decided to finally break the ice again.

"Never got your name. Not sure how I forgot." Yes. Very casual. Perfect way to ask someone to introduce themself.

Oddly, she didn't seem to mind his rather stoic use of speech there. "Oh, my name? It's Tenshou! I would've asked yours earlier, but you seem like... you seem really private. But also not. I dunno... Still, how about you? What's your name?"

"Hogoki. I know, it's kinda strange." He actually showed embarrassment while Tenshou barely held in a fit of laughter and dared not speak until it was contained.

"'Hogoki'? Was that kind of name a trend when you were born?"

"More like my dad couldn't name."

The exaggerated Alolan accent there finally did her in, thanks to the sheer contrast between it and his usual pure Kantonian accent. She burst into a fit of loud laughter which she could only slightly lessen for seconds at a time, trying to gasp apologies out in the middle of it. "S-Sorry, it's just... how you said that... You seem so serious, but that was..." More laughter.

He feared for her sides, but the laughter not only made him die inside a little, its echoes also created sounds that made him fear more than the loss of his pride.

Tenshou noticed his expression change to one of dread, stopped laughing, then turned around to see the swarm of enraged Zubat heading for them all.

The laughter turned to terrified noises, and she wasn't the only one making them now.

They quickly got the distance they could, fighting when they couldn't run until they left the cave.

They soon trudged their way to Cerulean City, booking two rooms and just sleeping the night away after that excitement. Usually they'd stay awake a bit longer.

They didn't get out unscathed, of course.

Foccai had fainted from the swarm's assault at one point and been recalled, leaving the two trainers with little to no defense. In a last-ditch effort, Tenshou had sent out the newly-caught Paras to perhaps negotiate or at least stall, hoping to recall it once they had more distance from the swarm.

Well, it didn't work out.

Zubat are known to be vicious to weak opponents, and in swarms, death is common. The Paras lost its blood fairly quickly and its mushrooms were eaten soon after, all of the bats' doing. This was witnessed by its trainer and her temporary traveling companion, who had to outright pull her back in hopes that the bug's sacrifice wouldn't at least be in vain.

This event would haunt Tenshou for a notable length of time, and she never quite forgot about that horrifying sight.