03 - 03
"And there you go," the Chimecho says with a soft smile.
The Eevee sighs as he gently rubs the newly-applied bandages on him. "Thanks."
"It's no problem, but do be more careful next time." She chuckles. "You're starting to become a regular here."
"Yeah, I noticed," he says as he slides off of the bed.
The Chimecho frowns as she floats in front of him, stopping him. "You need to get more rest."
"I'm going to the library."
"Do you swear it?"
He frowns at her.
She sighs. "Alright. I honestly can't stop you anyway." She then floats toward another bed where an unconscious Keldeo is lying on.
The Eevee walks out of the room—
"Oh, hey! Look who it is!" Shino suddenly exclaims as soon as he gets on the second floor, smiling a wide smile at the frowning Eevee. He looks over his shoulder. "It's mister grumpy!"
"Really?" Cindy asks as she and Vixie reaches the second floor. She frowns at him. "It really is him."
He ignores them and heads toward the library.
"Aw, don't be like that!" Shino says as he catches up to him. "I feel like it's about time we introduce ourselves, don't you think?"
"We already know his name anyway," Cindy says as the four are a few paces outside the library's open door.
The Eevee stops and looks at them with an arched non-existent eyebrow, but then recalls how rescue mission requests work. "Fuck," he grumbles under his breath. "Leave me alone."
"I'm Shino," the yellow Shinx suddenly says, smirking at him. He then introduces his two companions. "This is Cindy and this is Vixie."
"And I don't care," the Eevee says as he walks and enters the library.
Vixie sighs. "He really doesn't like us."
"Yeah, and water is wet," Cindy says, 'rolling' her eyes.
"He'll turn around eventually," Shino says, winking at them, and then smiling slyly at the ice-type. "And who knows? Maybe he'll end up with you."
"I'd have better luck asking Lithe if he's into polygamy."
Cindy erupts into laughter.
The Mew suddenly floats outside the library's door and glares at the trio. "Sshhh...!"
"Sorry," the fire-type mumbles her apology.
Nodding, the Mew floats back inside and settles on her desk.
Shino looks back at his two friends. "Well anyway, let's go do some research on this new dungeon we're about to head into."
Receiving their nods, the trio enter the library and start looking for the proper books they need. As they go to search from separate shelves, the Eevee pulls out a book and settles on his usual spot by the window.
The blue-ringed Umbreon looks up from his book to look at the Eevee settling on the chair opposite of him. He nods and returns to his reading.
The Eevee nods back before opening the book. "Right," he mumbles to himself as he scans the table of contents. "Let's see what this Eevee can do." He blinks as he realizes something. He looks up at the calm Umbreon. He shakes his head and returns to his book. "Nevermind."
"Do you need something?" the Umbreon calmly asks as he flips to the next page.
The Eevee says nothing as he finds the page number of what he's looking for. He flips through the pages until he reaches the correct page number, and starts reading.
The seconds turn to a minute.
The chair beside him moves.
"Hope you don't mind," Shino quietly says as he settles on the chair beside the Eevee, the Cyndaquil sitting beside the Shinx and the Vulpix sitting opposite of the fire-type, an empty seat between her and the dark-type.
The Eevee grunts as he flips to the next page.
Chuckling quietly, Shino shakes his head and smiles at his two companions. "Right. Let's begin our research."
"You two can do that," Cindy says as she opens her book.
Shino frowns at her. "What are you even reading anyway?"
"The Adventures of The Unlucky Snivy," Cindy says with an excited smile as she flips through the pages. "I'm on chapter seventeen already."
Shino and Vixie share an amused look before they each open their books to do research.
"The sequel just arrive," the Umbreon suddenly says without breaking his gaze from his book.
"For real?" Cindy asks, her smile widening. "Shit! His misadventures continue!"
"Didn't think you were into reading," Shino says, smiling at her.
"Oh, hush," Cindy says, waving a paw at him. "I'm gonna read now. Don't interrupt me unless it's something important."
"Can I get a nuzzle first before I lose you in that book?"
"No. Maybe later."
Vixie rolls her eyes in amusement as Shino frowns in disappointment.
The Eevee closes his eyes and quietly sighs. He reopens them and shifts his gaze to the outside world through the window.
"Something wrong?" Shino suddenly asks.
Looking up from her book, Vixie blinks at the Eevee, looking melancholic.
The Eevee closes his eyes again and shakes his head. "It's..." He reopens his eyes, frowns, and returns his focus on his book. "...none of your business."
Shino and Vixie share a look of concern.
"Obie," Mew suddenly calls as she floats near them. "Someone's here to see you."
"Tell them I'm on break," the Umbreon calmly replies as he readjusts his glasses.
The Mew sighs as she floats back.
Seconds become a minute.
The Umbreon closes his eyes, closes his book, and sighs. He grabs the book and quietly walks toward the desk.
Cindy snickers quietly, shakes her head, and continues reading.
Shino looks at her with a soft smile.
"I found something," Vixie suddenly says, turning the book towards the electric-type.
"Oh?" the yellow Shinx says as he pulls her book closer to him. "Let's see here..."
"Hm... This sounds like Swift..." the Eevee mumbles to himself.
Vixie blinks and looks at him.
The Eevee leans back on his chair and puts a paw on his chin, deep in thought. "That could work." He leans back towards his book and continues reading. "And this one seems to describe Shadow Ball... Now how can I do those...?"
"Hey," Vixie suddenly calls, and sees the Eevee's ears twitch. "Are you maybe trying to learn attacks?"
He looks up and frowns at her. "Mind your own business."
Vixie rolls her eyes. "Gee, sorry for trying to help."
"I never asked for it."
"You don't need to," she says, frowning at him.
Shino looks up at her, blinking. He turns to the Eevee, and then back to his friend. "Uh, what's going on?"
The Eevee slams his book shut, startling the fire-type.
"Sshhh!" Cindy shushes him before returning to her book.
Vixie sighs as the Eevee grabs his book, jumps off of his chair, and leaves.
"Sorry," the ice-type mumbles to the curious electric-type. "He kinda ticked me off."
Shino frowns. "Not surprising."
She sighs. "Let's just go back to our research."
He nods his head and returns his attention back to the book.
The Eevee glares at the trunk of a tree a few paces in front of him.
"Focus," he whispers to himself. "Focus..."
A cool breeze brushes against the treetop, rustling the fresh green leaves on the tree's many branches.
"...how the fuck am I suppose to know if I'm focused?"
"What exactly are you doing anyway?" the Pangoro asks as he steps out of the kitchen's back door.
"I'm focusing," the Eevee mumbles.
The large Pokemon scratches his head. "Uh, doesn't look like you are."
The Eevee sighs as the Nickit pushes the door open and walks out to the backyard.
"Dad, mom wants you back," the little dark-type calls.
"Right, right. Be right there," the Pangoro says as he walks back inside.
The Nickit approaches the Eevee, who's glaring at the tree once again. "Are you doing this training thing you and dad were talking about last night?"
The Eevee says as he sits down on the grassy lawn. "Yeah."
"Wow, really?" she asks, eyes sparkling. "Cool! So what are you training about?" She blinks. "Or what are you trying to train? Is that right?"
The Eevee chuckles and smiles at the confused dark-type. He approaches her and ruffles her furry head. "Stop being cute, damn it."
She bats his paw away and gives him a pouty look.
He chuckles, looks back at the tree, and sighs. "...I keep getting my a—er, my butt kicked in dungeons."
She frowns at him.
He continues: "I'm...trying to learn how to use some new moves that an Eevee, I mean that I can do."
"Being a rescuer is tough?"
He shrugs. "I mean, I only became one so I can have that," he says, gesturing at his rescuer bag by the tarped wagon. "But I need to rank up to explore a certain dungeon."
The Nickit blinks blankly, but nods anyway. "Um, so what moves are you trying to know?"
"Eevees can only know a small number of ranged moves."
"Ranged moves?"
"I mean, attack enemies from far away."
"Oh," the Nickit says, nodding. "So like a big beam of light that goes kaBOOM!"
The Eevee blinks at her. "Er, yeah." He shivers violently, hoping against all hope that he won't be facing a Hyper Beam anytime soon. He quickly approaches the wagon and taps its wooden surface three times.
"So what kind of attack are you training for?" she asks, absentmindedly sweeping the ground behind her with her long tail.
"Swift," the Eevee immediately replies. "Its shaped like a star that, according to the book, you summon by focusing your energy outside your body."
"Stars?" the Nickit asks, tilting her head. She then clenches her eyes shut, and suddenly, a white and star-shaped energy formed in front of her. She reopens her eyes and looks at the shocked Eevee. "You mean like this?" she asks as she taps the hovering star in front of her.
"Holy shit," the Eevee mumbles to himself as he approaches and taps the star, feeling the star-shaped energy's warmth as he slowly slides his paw on its solid and smooth surface. "How'd you do it?"
The Nickit shakes her head as the star slowly fades. "I dunno. I just know, you know?"
"Can you, um..." His ears droop as he looks away. "Uh, can you teach me?"
She blinks, and frowns. "I dunno if I can..." She sits down and scratches her head. "I mean, all I did was call it."
He blinks. "I...don't know what you're talking about."
"Plu, dear," the Miltank calls as she opens the door. "Would you mind coming back to help us, dear?"
The Nickit smiles at her. "I'm coming, ma!" She shifts her smile at the Eevee as the Miltank closes the door. "I'm sure you can do it, too! I mean," her smile falters as she looks away. "I-if I can do it, so can you, right?"
"At least give me a hint."
She frowns at him. "I don't really know what to tell you. Well... Maybe it has something to do with this energy thing you said earlier?" She shakes her head. "I just, well, force something out of me, and like, I tell it to come out." She blushes and looks away. "Does... Does that make sense?"
He mentally kicks the lewd thoughts out of his mind as he smiles and pats her head. "I think I can work with that."
"Really?" she asks, eyes twinkling like stars.
He chuckles as he playfully shoves her towards the door. "Now shoo. Go be a cute waitress."
With a pout, she sticks her tongue out at him as she runs back inside the building.
He sighs and looks back at the tree. "...fuck."
He closes his eyes and mentally forms a star in his mind.
"Okay..." He takes a deep breath, and exhales through his nostrils. "Okay... Feel the flow, or whatever that fire-guy's uncle said in that one episode."
Breath in, and out. In and out.
He's starting to feel light-headed.
Sighing in disappointment, he reopens his eyes and blinks at the tiny white dot floating in front of him. He carefully touches it with his paw, and feels its soft warmth slowly fading as it fades away.
"...huh." He smiles. "I'm not so useless after all."
He sits down, closes his eyes, and starts breathing in and out.
A random thought pops into his head, breaking his breathing exercise.
He reopens his eyes and frowns. "...I automatically know how to read, understand and talk their language, but I manually have to know any proper attacks?" He glares up at the afternoon sky. "What kind of bullshit is this?"