Here's the next chapter, I hope you'll enjoy it.
By the way, I've been thinking of writing an original story on Webnovel, so if you used it before or if you know somebody who has used it before, please can you send me a PM and tell me all about it and whether it is worth it. Thanks!
pokemonking0924 - Thanks so much, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. It was fun to write original chapters away from the original anime. The 'you and what army' gag was inspired by a YouTube video where there's a compilation of clips from shows who use that line. Now we're onto what Flo was doing while Charles was away. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Djinn - Thanks so much, I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter just as much.
SkullGreymonX - Oh I definitely agree, especially with Cleo at the helm. I'm glad that you enjoyed it, it was fun to write more interactions between the Pokemon and see their relationships develop without Charles' help. And of course Marina easily escaped; she's very clever despite her age. I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter and see what Flo was doing at the same time.
Guest2 - You're too kind, thank you. It was fun to write and come up with some of the gags. Alice likes to keep herself busy; if she's not planning the team's next route, she's either writing in her journal, knitting or trying to find a nice restaurant for them to eat at. What's she knitting, however… will be revealed in the next chapter. Hope you'll enjoy the next chapter.
Kunoichi69 - That's great to hear and thank you for pointing it out. It's really fun to mix up the teams and see their relationships grown and develop throughout the story as well as seeing the new characters interact with older ones. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you'll enjoy the next one.
Sonic07 - Thank you so much, I'm happy to hear that you liked it. That YouTube is what I based that joke on actually, but I decided to give my own twist to it. I interpret Onix as proud and quite headstrong Pokemon who don't really realise how big and intimidating they could be; it was still quite a surprise for him to act that way. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
nexusplayer - I see what I can do, thanks so much for reading.
wellingtonlucas282 - No problem, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
Demon Shadow5000 - I understand. A lot of people seemed to feel that way. However, looking back on the episode, I personally think that Ash was being rude to Erika. The episode teaches that, no matter what your opinion on something, you should always treat people with respect; especially if it's something you don't like. Erika worked hard on her perfumes and Ash unnecessarily disrespected her work and, as a gym leader, she is well within her right to deny any challenger a battle. All Ash had to do is apologise and she'll allow him to battle…which, strangely enough, didn't really happen in the original episode. Thanks for reading anyway.
Thank you all for reviewing :)
Chapter 38: The Doctor Is Out
Camp, Safari Zone
It was another beautiful morning in the Safari Zone and the team were having breakfast at their usual camping site. The humans were sat on camping stools around a camping table while the rest of the Pokemon were eating from their own bowls in the clearing nearby. Charles was feeding Marina who was sat on his lap while Alice was busy knitting something as she already finished eating. Flo munched on her apple whilst staring down at the book resting on the table in front of her whilst Alette sat on her lap and busily eating an Oran berry. It was a new book that she found back at the Safari Zone HQ and her aunt allowed her to take it with her; it was a book on medicine that could be found naturally in the wild; while the book explained firmly that these natural remedies shouldn't replace modern medicine, it was important to know just in case they run into an emergency in the wild and they've run out of proper medicine.
"This is really cool," she said to her Pokemon, "I can't believe how many naturally growing remedies you can find here. With this we can create medicine for burns, bruisers and even to wake Pokemon from unconsciousness."
("It's definitely useful for our journey,") Alette remarked, wanting to contribute whilst knowing that she couldn't understand her, ("We'll save a lot on buying medicine at Pokemarkets.")
She hummed thoughtfully as she read through her book before she gently petted the clefairy's head, "You know, Alette. Maybe we should try to find some these today," she suggested, earning a look of interest from the Pokemon, "It sounds like fun; scavenging for these remedies. We can also see if we can make some these ourselves."
Before Alette could respond in anyway, they heard a commotion from the Pokemon nearby. They turned and saw Wildfire using a hoof to hold an irate Tomoe back while Tommy held the newly added Halcyon back. The farfetch'd squawked and yelled as she swung her leek at him while the eevee yipped and barked back at her. Not only that, but Azure and Ichigo seemed to have entered some sort of glare off while her nidoran looked on nervously. She also noticed the heated look Benny was giving Hoss the tauros Charles captured a while ago.
She raised an eyebrow at everyone's behaviour before she heard Charles sigh in despair.
"We really need to do something about this. The Pokemon are at each other's throats."
"I know what you mean," Alice agreed as she looked up from her knitting, "I think it's because we've had so many new members join in such a short space of time. They haven't got used to their habits and differences yet."
"It was never like this before," Flo pointed out, "We had a lot of new members join at the same time back then; what's so different now."
Charles rubbed his face tiredly, "It's because Cleo would keep them in line. I can't exactly return her every time a new member join. She's already got her paws full at the Corral."
"Well, whatever you need to do, you need to do it quick. Otherwise, things will get a lot worse," Alice hummed, frowning in concern before she went back to her knitting.
Suddenly, Flo had an idea, "I think the problem is that the newbies are being introduced to too many others without much connection beforehand. Why don't you take your team somewhere for a day. Go on a hike, do some training, maybe some team building exercises. If you can build a bond between all of them then things will improved," she suggested before thinking to herself, 'Good thing I remember some things from the Pokemon psychology book."
Charles seemed to brighten up by this "That sounds great and I know exactly where we can go," he happily said before standing to his feet, "Everyone can I have you attention please-"
While Charles was addressing his Pokemon, Manitari the paras hummed happily to herself as she ate her pokefood; however, in the corner of her eye, she spotted Dorothy climbing out of her mother's pouch and jump onto the ground and began to wonder off to who knows where. The paras watched the baby kangaskhan leave before looking up to see that her mother hadn't noticed her departure. She scuttled over to her and tapped her foot with her claw.
("Excuse me, dearie,") she said softly, ("But your daughter is...") she trailed off as soon as she noticed that Ruth was not hearing her; she cleared her throat and tried again a little bit louder, ("Excuse me, dearie. Dearie, you daughter has gone...again. I just thought you would want to know...") she trailed off again when she noticed that the Pokemon was still not hearing her, causing the paras to sigh and turn to everybody, ("Hello anybody. Can somebody grab Ruth's attention...hello...anybody,") she said, sweat dropping when she noticed that nobody was listening to her.
Meanwhile, Flo turned to Alice who had now gone back her knitting.
"Looks like we're doing our own thing today. My Pokemon and I are going scavenging; what about you?" she asked.
"I might do some exploring eastwards after I finish this last part," she answered happily, hinting at her knitting, "I'll leave Apollo behind to look after the camp."
Flo raised a curious eyebrow, "What are you knitting anyway?"
Alice grinned, "It's a secret. You'll see soon enough."
"Alright, fair enough," Flo sighed before she finished her apple and looked over her Pokemon, "I think I'll bring Manitari and Tommy as well. She's really good at identify plants and he can help us with any roots we need to dig up," she muttered to herself before she noticed Ruth. The mother kangaskhan was looking around frantically, her eyes widened in worry; Flo sighed at the sight, "She's lost Dorothy again, hasn't she."
Alette nodded in agreement with a sweat drop.
"What the?"
They turned at Alice's cry and saw her looking down at her knitting; the reason for her surprise was that it was moving and wiggling in her lap. Suddenly, a cute baby kangaskhan head popped out one of the sleeves of the knitting and blinked up at Alice.
("Yay! This is fun!") she squeaked happily as Alice giggled and petted her head.
Somewhere In The Forest
A while later, as soon as Charles and his Pokemon left for the mountain range, Flo, Alette, Manitari and Tommy headed out into the wilds of the Safari Zone. After looking through all the possible remedies they could make, Flo found one that was easy enough for an amateur like her can do; it was a simple remedy for sore throats which involves a few strips of bark from a specific tree, several herbs and a red and yellow spotted mushroom with a white stem. After explaining the recipe to her Pokemon, they all set out in finding the ingredients.
Flo was on kneeling beside a bush and clipped away at some of the leaves with a pair of scissors before depositing the leaves in a small bag. She looked over her shoulder and called out to her Pokemon, "How are you guys doing?"
The Pokemon squeaked and chirped back in reply, making her smile happily and turn back to collecting herbs.
Alette hummed to herself as she picked a mushroom off the ground, ("Look, I found a tiny mushroom,") she said, ("What about you Mani?")
The paras came out from behind a tree a presented a larger version of her mushroom, ("I found this big mushroom,") she quietly said.
Tommy popped his head out of the ground with a large orb of gold that gleamed prettily in the sun perched on top of his head, ("I foun' this big nugget, 'ere. You think the guv'nor woul' want this?")
Manitari hummed thoughtfully, ("I don't think that's one of the ingredients, dearie, so possibly not.")
("Alright, no problem, lass. I just put it back,") he said before he popped back into the ground once more.
The paras began to scuttle further into the forest when she suddenly spotted another of the same mushroom growing at the foot of an oak tree. She made her way over to it when suddenly a giant foot landed in her path, making her yelp in surprise. She moved back and saw that an exeggutor was blocking her path to the mushroom; she raised her claw and tapped the Pokemon's foot.
("Excuse me, dearie, can you please let me through,") she softly called up to it.
One of the heads of the exeggutor frowned and looked around before turning its eyes to the head next to him, ("Hey, you say something?")
("No, nothing,") the second head reply.
Manitari cleared her throat and tried again, ("Excuse me, dearie. Can you please let me-")
("There it is again,") the first head said, ("Are you sure it's not you?")
("I'm sure.")
("What's he going on about?") the third head asked.
("He's hearing things.")
("What things?")
("That's why I asked?") the first head sighed.
The paras sighed, took a deep breath and cried out in her loudest voice, ("I'm sorry, but can you plea-")
("Anyway, what are we going to have for lunch,") the second head asked his other heads, unintentionally cutting Manitari off.
("I fancy pecha berries, today,") the third head answered.
("You had that yesterday.")
("No I didn't, it was him.")
("Oh, yeah. That was me,") the first head said with a nod.
Manitari sighed miserably as she was ignored once again. She was about to leave when suddenly Tommy popped out of the ground next to her.
("Oi! You lot! Sling yer 'ooks,") he cried out to them, making the exeggutor jump in surprise, ("You're in me mate's path!")
The large Pokemon looked down at the two others and moved away, ("Oh sorry. We didn't notice you two,") the second head said before the stomped further into the forest.
Manitari sighed and scuttled over to the mushroom and picked it up in her claw, ("Thank you dearie. That was quite troublesome.")
("No problem, mate,") Tommy told her as they headed back to where Flo was. He looked over to her and frowned when he noticed the sad expression in her eyes, ("Yer feelin' alright, lass? You lookin' like you're in a right proper two and eight. That exeggutor didn't bother yer too much, did they?")
("Oh no,") Manitari said with small frown, ("It's honestly nothing to worry about. It's just that...well, I'm rather softly spoken, you see. The other Pokemon don't usually hear me at all and I often get left out of conversations. It's not their fault, of course, I'm quite a small Pokemon and everybody else is quite large. It's...just I wish I could speak louder and more urgently. What happens if somethings happens and I need to tell the others.")
Tommy frowned, ("Ah...I see. Well, yer can always rely on me to be yer megaphone. Next time yer want to say something, come to me and I'll sort it out. Don't worry yerself, mate.")
The paras nodded gratefully, ("Thank you, dearie. That's very kind of you,") she told him before she thought, ('It's not exactly a solution. He can't always be there to help me.')
The two Pokemon scuttled and burrowed their way back towards Flo and Alette. When they were gone, Flo had already began setting things up; she had borrowed a fold-up table from camp and had a hot plate with a pot of boiling water on it. Flo chopped up the herbs, placed them in the pot before looking at the book that Alette was holding up for her; she frowned thoughtfully as she read the next instructions before she began preparing the tree bark. She looked up and smiled when she saw Manitari and Tommy carrying the next part of the recipe.
"Ah, thanks guys," she said gratefully before she picked up Manitari and placed her on the table, "Do you mind putting the mushrooms in, Mani. I just need to grind up the bark."
The paras nodded and scuttled over to the boiling pot. She looked up and saw that the water was starting to turn into a brown-coloured strew with subtle hints of herb wafting gently from it. She made a happy noise as she smelled the almost finished remedy before she reached up and placed the big mushrooms into the pot. However, the mushroom, that had been resting on her back previously, had accidently dislodged one of her own mushrooms that grew out of her back and clung onto it; Manitari had unknowingly and accidently threw in one of her mushrooms into the remedy and the consequences were almost immediate. The strew turned from brown into a hypnotic rainbow of colours; swirling around and forming air bubbles on the surface.
Manitari immediately recognised the change and frowned slightly before she noticed one of her mushrooms grow back on her. Her eyes widened in realisation and immediately she waved her claws to attempt to catch Flo's attention, ("Dearie, stop I think one of my mushrooms fell in,") however, Flo was too engrossed in her book to hear her, muttering to herself as she read the next instruction; the paras gulped and turned towards Alette, ("Alette, dearie, you need to tell-")
("I'm sorry Mani. Can you wait for a moment,") the clefairy grunted as she held up the book, ("This thing's really heavy.")
Manitari gave a worried noise and looked down off the side of the table down at Tommy, ("Tommy, dearie, you have to get Flo's attention. I need to-")
("Wot?") the diglett called up to her, ("I can't 'ear ye. Yer too high up!")
("You need to get Flo's attention!") she cried out the best she could, however Tommy shook his head.
("Sorry, can't 'ear yer over the racket,") he replied, ("Wot's that noise anyway?")
Manitari turned around and saw what he was referring to; the pot was spluttering and bubbling fiercely as smoke began to waft from it. Flo had just put in the ground up tree bark when she finally noticed what was going on. She frowned, glanced at her book before leaning over it to inspect it.
"Huh? That's weird. The recipe says it should be-"
BOOM!
The remedy exploded in Flo's face, coating it in the rainbow-coloured mixture and dripping down on the table. The Pokemon jumped in shock and rushed to her to check in on her.
("Flo! Are you alright!") Alette cried out as her trainer seemed to sway back and forth, ("F-Flo?")
Suddenly, Flo fell backwards onto the ground, causing them to gasp in horror. Alette jumped down and ran up to her face and wiped away some of the mixture.
("Flo! Speak to me, Flo! Are you alright!?")
("Wot happened to her?") Tommy uttered as she burrowed his way to next to her face, ("She fell over like a ton o' bricks.")
("I-It's my fault,") Alette and Tommy turned to look at the paras looking down in despair, ("One of my mushrooms fell in accidently. I tried to warn you but...I was not loud enough.")
The two other Pokemon looked at her to the unconscious Flo, ("This is bad,") Alette muttered, ("She could be seriously hurt. We need to find a way to wake her-")
Suddenly, Flo shot up straight, scaring her Pokemon to death. The human's eyes were wide, her face was red and her mouth was slightly agape; she stared ahead, not moving at all for a few seconds. Eventually, her mouth opened slightly and they waited in anticipation for her to say something or anything to signify that she was fine.
"Frangipane," she plainly said.
...
...
...
...
The Pokemon sweat dropped, ("Huh?")
Instead of answering, Flo giggled madly and fell back onto the ground once again; a big grin stretched across her face as swirls appeared in her eyes, "Yippee! Frangipane! I love frangipane! I can eat it and say it all day! Hehe!" she lifted her hand in front of her face and giggled madly, "My fingers...my fingers look like ekans! Hehe!" she laughed deliriously as she waggled her fingers, "Ekans...ekans...has anybody noticed that 'ekans' is 'snake' backwards... but I don't know what a snake is! Hehe! Snake eating frangipane; frangipane eating snake! Hehe!"
The Pokemon blinked in sheer confusion, not knowing to what make of it.
("This...") Alette said after a few seconds, ("...this...is bad.")
("She's speakin' a load of cobblers,") Tommy muttered before he turned to the paras, ("What sort of mushroom was it?")
Manitari hummed in concern and watched as Flo continued to giddily talk nonsense, ("I-I don't know. My mushrooms are pretty poisonous to anybody. That's why we plant them around our territory so we can keep others away from them. But they differ in effect sometimes depending on the dosage. We're lucky that Flo hadn't consume any of it. I'm really sorry, guys.")
("Don't worry, Mani. I'm sure we can find a way to cure her,") Alette sighed before she leapt back onto the table and flicked through the book, ("There has to be something in here.")
("Can't we get Charles or Alice to 'elp out?") the diglett questioned.
("They're both away and it could be troublesome finding them. We need to do it by ourselves,") she stopped at one page and hummed thoughtfully, ("This could work. But the ingredients are complex, we need a proper expert on the area. Do you think Tyrian is still at camp?")
("Not sure, but I doubt he's moved an inch since we left him. Even the guv'nor wasn't able to get him to move.")
("Well, then I'll have to drag him here,") the clefairy muttered as she leapt down and headed towards the camp, ("You two stay here and look after Flo. I'll be as quick as I can.")
Manitari and Tommy watched her leave for a few seconds before looking over to Flo, who was mumbling something about cheese-flavoured currency for the ratatta.
Manitari sighed, ("This is all my fault. I poisoned our friend.")
("Nah, don't be like that, mate,") Tommy reassured her, ("It was an accident, that's all.")
("I should have said something earlier as well. All of this could be avoided if I wasn't so...quiet.")
Tommy burrowed over to her and nudged her in a friendly manner, ("Oi, enough of that, eh? We'll sort it out. Don't you worry. Once Alette brings back Tyrian, we'll whip her up a cure and Bob's your uncle.")
Manitari frowned in confusion, ("I don't have an uncle called Bob.")
("Y-yeah, I know,") he said with a sweat drop, ("It's just a saying you know. A-anyway, let's make sure the guv'nor's comfortable and all. That's exactly what she expects from us.")
The paras nodded in determination, ("Of course, dearie.")
They both turned around, ready to aid their human friend and give her the best care they can...when they suddenly saw that she was gone; completely and utterly vanished from where she had been; leaving only her belt that she kept her pokeballs on.
...
...
...
...
The Pokemon blinked absently at the empty space before Tommy sighed and lowered his head, ("Gordon Bennet. We really should 'ave seen that comin'.")
("Oh no!") Manitari gasped in panic ("This is bad. This is really bad.")
Tommy immediately got in front of her, ("Hey, hey. No need for that. I'm sure she'll be fine.")
("But she's in a delirious state in a forest with so many potentially dangerous Pokemon,") the paras uttered in distress, ("Who knows what sort of life-threatening situation she could be in.")
Somewhere Else In The Forest
"Do you ever feel like your life is just a simulation?" Flo questioned as she laid down the grassy hill and stared up at the blue sky above her, "You know, as if you're in a video game of some sort higher being controlled by somebody else. Or you are just an NPC, that's a 'No Particular Character' for you guys, in that game and you only exist when the main character only interacts with you. I mean, look at my family. I know that I say the woman in my family don't look the same…but, yeah we really do. Except for my bratty cousin Cindy, she's starting to look like a dewgong. Anyway, what I was saying?" she suddenly sat up, "Oh, right, it's almost ten o'clock. I have plans to have tea with the queen of politoad and discuss the matter of whether jelly beans are a type of vegetable," she stood to her feet and waved to the two vileplume she was sat in between, "Good day, gentlemen. Call me on my tea pot if you have any quibbles."
The vileplume watched bewilderedly as the pink haired girl stumbled and twirled all the way down the hill before she waltzed right into the tree line and then out of sight. They blinked blankly at her before they turned to each other.
("What was she talking about?")
("I don't know, she kind of just sat down and started talking to us,") his friend replied, ("Anyway, who's turn is it?")
("I think it might be yours?")
("Oh right,") he cleared his throat, ("I spy with my little eye…")
Back With Flo's Pokemon
("You lost her,") Alette sighed, rubbing her head tiredly, ("I thought she was unable to move.")
Manitari and Tommy had their heads bowed in despair, a rainy storm cloud appearing over their heads.
("It would turn out...that we were wrong,") the diglett sighed, ("Yeah, she gave us the slip.")
("But not before she left behind her pokeball belt,") Manitari added, pointing miserably at the belt left on the ground.
Tyrian frowned, not because he was dragged all the way here, but out of concern for his trainer; he trotted over to the patch of grass where Flo had been previously been lying on and noticed her footprints leading into the forest, ("Well, she definitely went this way. However, the grass stops after a few meters into hard ground; since he hasn't rained in a while, it'll be hard to follow any further.")
("That's good enough,") Alette said as she hopped to the pokeballs.
She released Ruth and her daughter as well as Epione. After explaining to them the situation, the two Pokemon were shocked and worried.
("Oh dear, this is bad,") Ruth muttered as she caught Dorothy escaping from her pouch and shoved her back in, ("People can get lost easily in these parts. That's what the Zone Rangers are for.")
Epione giggled, ("Oh, I heard it's not that bad of a place. All she has to do is follow the path through the Viridian Forest and she'll get to the city.")
("...Epione...we're in the Safari Zone, not the Viridian Forest.")
("We're in the Safari Zone!?") the chansey cried out in surprise
("How did you forget that!?") the other Pokemon shouted at her.
Alette shook her head, ("We're wasting time. We need to find Flo, bring her back...probably restrain her, and then give her the cure that we prepared,") she pointed at the chansey and then the paras, ("Epione, Mari; you check the area left of the tracks,") she then pointed at the kangaskhan and the diglett, (Ruth, Tommy; you check the area right of the tracks. Tyrian and I will stay here and try and prepare the cure. Does everybody understand?") the other Pokemon nodded in agreement, ("Good luck everybody. Come on Tyrian,") she said, ushering the male nidoran towards the forest to collect supplies.
("Got it,") he said, following her, ("Do you think Azure would be proud of me that I get to save my trainer?")
("Yeah...sure.")
("OH AZURE, MY LOVE! I MISS YOU SO~")
("Stop shouting!")
Tommy frowned in determination and began to burrow his way in the direction Alette told him to go, followed closely by Ruth and Dorothy, ("Right, let's go. We'll find the guv'nor faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Ain't that right, Ruth.")
("Yes,") Ruth said before she pushed Dorothy back into her pouch again, ("Dorothy, you have to stay with mommy. I don't want you get lost right now, okay?")
("But I want to explore!") the baby kangaskhan whined childishly.
Epione gave a determined look and waddled towards the forest, (Let's go, Mani. We haven't got a moment to lose.")
The paras nodded before she looked back at where Flo had been lying down with a sad sigh, ('All of this could have been avoided if it wasn't for me,') she thought sadly to herself, ('Everybody is so proactive and confident...and I can barely speak up for myself,') she sighed once again before she looked up towards Epione; only to sweat drop when she saw the chansey looking around in confusion, ("The dearie has already forgotten which way we're supposed to be going, hasn't she?") she told herself.
Somewhere In The Forest
Not too far away, a raticate was hurled against the side of a tree and slid down to the ground, making him hiss in pain. He was immediately surrounded by a group of ratatta who looked up in concern for the leader and nuzzled their cheeks against him encouragingly. The Pokemon turned back to the primeape who had hurt their leader and squeaked furiously at him.
("Hahaha! You're all just a bunch of weaklings, ain't ya!?") the primeape cackled boastfully, waving his paws over his head in triumph, ("Go on! If you want us to leave then you have to defeat me. Ain't that right boys!?") he asked as his gang on mankey whooped and hollered joyfully.
("You got that right, big bro!")
("Kick their butts!")
("You're the man, big bro!")
The ratatta snarled at them while one turned to their leader and nudge his injured face.
("Come on, boss. You can take these losers down. You just need to get up and keep on fighting.")
The raticate coughed and shook his head in defeat, (I can't. I'm sorry guys…but they defeated us,") he muttered, as the rest of his group gasped in shock.
The primeape reared back his head and cackled triumphantly, ("Haha! See! Your leader has surrendered himself to us. This is our territory now,") he turned back to his fellow mankey and waved his paws above his head, ("Brothers-")
("HEY!")
("-a-and sister.")
("That's better!") grumbled one of the mankey in the crowd.
("Ahem- Our territory has expanded and our dominance over the forest has grown stronger. With the defeat of the rattata, we will continue to conquer and expand until the reaches of the Safari Zone. Come on boys…and girl…we have more places to take over and more battles to win!")
("YEAH!")
"Oh, you poor thing. What happened to you?" a feminine voice cooed, cutting the celebration off.
Primeape and his group turned around in confusion to see Flo holding the injured raticate in her arms and rocking him gently; the rattata seemed just as confused and could only stare up at the strange girl in bewilderment. There were sticks and twigs in her messy pink hair, her clothing was dirty in places and she sway left and right in a daze. She stroked the puzzled raticate on his head and smiled giddily.
"Don't worry now. I'm a well-trained nurse," Flo said with a crazed giggle before turning to a nearby tree, "Chansey, I need 20 cc of bubblegum flavoured loafers and the key to the lost city of Mawahlah, stat!"
The Pokemon stared at her as if she was insane, which was understandable in all honesty, and could only back away from her.
("Is she alright?") one of the rattata muttered.
("She kinda looks…crazy,") a mankey uttered.
("She's probably got poisoned by a Grass type.")
("Damn, that sucks.")
The primeape growled in anger and went over to her, ("Hey, human! Get lost! You're ruining our victory celebration!")
The dazed Flo focused her attention on the primeape and frowned in confusion, "Huh? Why is that onigiri with arms and legs talking to me?"
("ONIGIRI!?") the primeape roared, ("NOBODY CALLS ME AN ONIGIRI! YOU…YOU…YOU ONIGIRI LOOKING HUMAN ONIGIRI!")
One of the mankey leaned over to the other, ("I don't think he knows what an onigiri is.")
("What is it?") the other mankey inquired.
("I think it's some sort of jelly-filled doughnut.")
("Shut it, you two!") the primeape commanded, making the mankey flinch, ("Looks like I have to teach this human a lesson,") the primeape cracked his knuckles and charged at Flo, his paw raised up above his head, ("Take this!") he cried out as he leapt at Flo and slammed his fist into her shoulder.
The confused Flo was forced to let go of the raticate as she was thrown of her feet and hit the ground hard. The rattata cried out in shock while the primeape turned around and raised his paws in triumph.
("Haha! See! Even the humans must bow down to my strength!") he declared before he sneered down at the rattata and raticate, their eyes widened in fear, ("Nobody's not going to save you now, pipsqueaks! Hahaha!")
("Err...big bro...")
The primeape stopped his laughing and looked around to his group curiously; their eyes were wide in fear as they stared at him...no, they were looking behind him. The vicious Pokemon frowned in confusion before he yelped as he felt two very strong arms wrap around him underneath his raised arms and squeeze tightly around him. He turned around and gulped nervously when he saw the human, that he thought was knocked over, glaring down at him with a dark, menacing look. There was a shadow cast over her face, her eyes were narrowed and blood-thirsty and she seemed to radiate a fearful aura that made the primeape shiver.
"You little fluffy onigiri," she snarled as she raised him off his feet, "Do not disturb my MEDICAL EXAMINATION!" she roared as she bent her back backwards and slammed his head down on the ground, making dust and debris fly in the air.
BOOOM!
("EHH!?") the rattata and raticate cried out in shock.
("BIG BRO!") the mankey shouted.
Once the dust had settled, the Pokemon, with mouths agape, stared as Flo held the primeape in a German Suplex hold; her bent backwards with her arms around his body and the Pokemon head smashed into the ground. There were swirls in the primeape's eyes and a red bump forming on his head; the only thing the once feared Pokemon could do was give a pained groan. Flo let him drop onto the ground, picked herself up and dusted herself off before she turned to the rattata with a crazed grin, her mood changing drastically.
"Sorry you had to see that. We only reserve that treatment for the most extreme cases," she told them.
("THAT'S TOO EXTREME!")
("Big bro!") the mankey cried out in worry as they surrounded their boss.
One of the mankey got on their knees and shook him gently, ("Big bro, are you okay?")
("Ehhhhhhhhhhh,") the primeape groaned painfully, his eyes still swirling in his head.
The mankey turned their eyes up to Flo furiously, ("You're going to pay for what you did to big bro. Get her-")
But before the Pokemon could make a move, Flo gave them a deadly glare that made them freeze in their tracks, ("Huh? You want the same treatment?") she raised her fist and cracked her knuckles, ("I'm a nurse. I know where exactly it hurts.")
The mankey gulped and, decided to do the right thing, pick the primeape up and carry him away as fast as they can. Flo watched them leave before she turned back to the raticate.
"They were an angry bunch of onigiri weren't they?" she said as she reached into her pocket and pull something out of it, "Here, have some medicine for your injuries," she chirped as she held the contents of her hand up to him.
The Pokemon sweat dropped when they saw that the only thing in her hands were a few pebbles and a leaf.
('This is a weird day,') they all thought.
With Manitari and Epione
Meanwhile, the chansey waddled through the thick forest while the paras perched atop of her head to scout out for any traces of their missing trainer. They had been wondering around for ages (mostly because Epione kept getting lost) and they still have not found any sign of Flo. They have, however, talked to plenty of Pokemon who claim that they have seen her stumbling by, speaking incoherently and, at one point, try and follow a diglett into its hole; this was helpful and asked them which way she headed, but no matter how many Pokemon they asked, they always gave them a completely different direction. First it was westwards, but then eastwards, and them southwards; it was as if Flo was going in a completely random direction.
It's a wonder how they haven't happened to run into her by now.
Manitari sighed as she slouched on top of the chansey's head, ("This is getting us nowhere. I feel as if we're going around in circles.")
("Oh sorry, that might be my fault. This forest is very confusing.")
("I meant figuratively, dearie,") she softly said, ("I wish I could do more to help and play a bigger part in the team.")
Epione hummed, ("My peers always said that if you wish to be something, then all you have to do is work your hardest. I always wished I could be better at nursing and so I made practised and practised until my head hurt. I'm still…rusty and my memory is terrible, but as long as I work hard and keep to what I know, I know I can do better. You can't be blamed for doing your best to improve, but you can if you do nothing to help yourself. After all, that's why I joined Flo's team,") she said with a gentle smile.
Manitari perked up at sound of that, ('Hmm, working hard to improve,') she thought to herself, ("That's very interesting, dearie. Who was it that told you that?")
("…I can't remember,") Epione admitted sheepishly.
("Oh…") the paras uttered; she had a feeling that she would say that.
("...for the last time. That's not how you play it. Your cheating,") an annoyed voice said from somewhere.
("I'm not cheating. I can picture it in my mind. That's good enough,") replied an equally annoyed voice.
The two Pokemon looked around to see where the voices were coming from and spotted two vileplume sitting on a grassy hill nearby; the two seemed to be in a heated argument with neither of them backing down.
("You have to say something that you see around you,") said the first vilepume crossly said, ("That's the point of the game.")
("I can picture the ocean in my mind. Look,") the second vileplume told him before closing his eyes and humming, ("See, I'm doing it right now.")
("You've never seen the ocean before.")
("I've seen lakes before. Oceans are just larger lakes.")
("No, they're...okay, they are kind of. But it still goes against the rules of the game.")
Manitari and Epione shared a look before they decided to head up the small hill towards the two vilepume, ("Excuse me, dearies. You wouldn't happen to have seen a human come by these parts, have you?")
The first vileplume hummed, ("Does she have pink hair, by any chance?")
("Yes, that's her.")
("Oh yeah, she took off in that direction,") the second vileplume told them, ("Heading towards the river and past the rattata territory. Careful though, I heard those guys are at war with the mankey.")
The two Pokemon perked up at the sound of that; this was the first time they have heard of a definite location. They actually might be getting close to finding their trainer.
("Towards the river,") Manitari hummed, ("Thank you. Dearie, head on that way,") the paras ordered, earning a nod from the chansey before she waddled off.
The vileplume watched them go before they turned back to each other, ("Alright fine. It's your go again,") the first vileplume said, ("But this time, no cheating.")
("Alright, I spy with my little eye, something beginning with...'D'.")
("...For arceus' sake,") the first vileplume muttered, ("It better not be desert.")
...
...
...
...
("It's just a lot of sand, isn't it?")
("THAT'S IT! WE'RE PLAYING ANOTHER GAME!")
Somewhere In The Forest
A trainer with short black hair and tanned skin trekked through the thick forest of the Safari Zone with a squirtle at his side. While the Pokemon was happily trotting along and enjoying the sights and sounds of the wilderness, the trainer was reading a book on legends and myths; being mindful not to trip on any stones or sticks in his path. He hummed to himself as he read one account and called out to his partner.
"Hey, Shell, listen to this one," he said, catching the squirtle's attention, "there's a really weird legend about these parts."
("Oh really?") the Pokemon asked.
"Apparently, there was a young girl who was abandoned by her baker parents in these these woods who has grown feral. She's reported to have pastel pink hair filled with twigs and leaves, a muddy, dirty face and swings on a tree vine whilst shouting the name of type of cake," he lowered the book down and saw Shell giving him an odd look, "Yeah, I know. Have you ever heard anything so stupi-"
"MILLEFEUILLE!" Flo madly screamed as she swung on a tree vine across their paths before disappearing into the forest once again.
….
….
….
….
The trainer and the Pokemon shared a look, not quiet believing what just happened. Eventually, the trainer shrugged and gave an indifferent expression.
"Eh, her hair was more cherry blossom pink than pastel. Also millefeuille is more of a type of pastry," he said before he carried on walking, "Another legend debunked, Shell," he declared.
The squirtle sweat dropped at his trainer; he gave a strange look at where Flo had disappeared to before he trotted after him.
With Ruth and Tommy
("…yeah, she came out of nowhere and beat up that primeape,") the raticate explained to Ruth and Tommy while the other rattata nodded in agreement, ("It was quite impressive. We've been battling over territory for months and she just came and ended it like that. Do you mind thanking her for her aid?")
("Yeah, I doubt she'll remember this, mate,") Tommy pointed out.
("That's good and all, but can you please tell us which way she went?") Ruth asked while Dorothy sulked in her pouch.
The raticate hummed before he pointed into the forest behind him, ("She headed that way. Towards the river. She was skipping and singing a song about a psyduck.")
("Thanks, we really appreci-")
("Oi! You lot!") they turned and saw the primeape from earlier and his pack emerge from the tree line. The red bump on the top of his head was still present, but his ferocity was relentless; he pointed at Ruth and Tommy with his paw and growled threateningly, ("You two are not with that pink-haired human, are you? I've got a score to settle with her.")
("Huh? She really did wallop you, didn't she?") Tommy muttered, earning a giggle from Dorothy.
("Mommy, mommy. Look at the funny Pokemon,") the baby kanagskhan chanted happily, making a tick mark appear on the primeape's head.
Ruth patted her head with a gentle smile, ("Yes, dear. He does looks funny, doesn't he?")
The primeape growled in anger and leapt at her; his fists raised and ready to start attacking.
("That's it! I'm gonna crush you like a-")
THWACK!
The primeape screamed in pain as the mother kangaskhan upper-cut him under his jaw; the Pokemon was sent flying over the tree tops and into the sky until eventually disappearing into the horizon.
("BIG BRO! NO!") the mankey pack cried out in shock before they ran into the forest after him.
("Cor blimey, nice shot,") Tommy said, admiring Ruth's handiwork.
The mother kangaskhan smiled and nodded, ("Thank you, Tommy,") she said before turning to the rattata, ("And thank you for your help.")
The rattata and raticate watched the two leave with eyes wide and mouths agape; they were completely blown away that they're main rival was, not only once, but twice beaten easily on the same day.
('There are scary things out there,') they all collectively thought.
However, none of the Pokemon were away of the baby kangaskhan who had slipped out of her mother's pouch when she was punching the primeape. She giggled playfully before she hopped into the forest, searching for adventure.
River Side
Ruth and Tommy studied the river in front of them critically, it wasn't very wide, about twenty meters, but it was fast flowing. The source of it pours over a rocky, small waterfall upstream from where they were; the top of the waterfall was cluttered with old hollow tree logs from further up the river that were washed up and got stuck. It flowed past them, snaked through trees and bushes until meandering out of their line of sight; they assumed that it ended in another waterfall since they were currently up in high terrain. Ruth scratched her head with her claw as she looked left and right along the river; she eventually looked down at the diglett.
("So, what do you think?")
("Hmm, don't know. I reckon a simple wooden bridge would do. The ground 'round 'ere is too soft so anything 'eavier won't do.")
("I meant finding Flo,") she snapped at him.
("Oh right,") Tommy said sheepishly, ("Err...well, she ain't 'ere. Maybe we should retrace our steps.")
Before the kangaskhan could reply, they spotted two Pokemon across the river, coming out of the tree line. They immediately recognised the chansey and the paras atop of her head and called out to them.
("Epione! Mani!") she cried out, catching the two's attention, ("How's the search going?")
Manitari shook her head, ("Not well, I'm afraid. We're...")
("I'm sorry. Can you speak up. The sound of the river is too loud,") Ruth called out to her.
The paras flinched slightly before trying again, this time a bit louder, ("I said, that we have had no luck-")
However, both Pokemon across the river shook their heads at her; neither of them could hear her. She sighed sadly and tried again before she stopped suddenly and gasped in shock; waltzing giddily from out of the forest on the other side over near the waterfall was Flo. She still seemed to be in her deranged state; she still had the insane look on her face, her eyes were still swirling in her head and she her clothes, hair and face were dirty and muddy; she looked like some sort of odd creature than the human that she and the others had joined.
Manitari waved her claws at the other two and pointed eagerly at Flo, ("Dearies, she's right there. Turn around.")
In response, Ruth and Tommy frowned in confusion.
("Wot is she sayin'?")
("I don't know. She's too soft spoken.")
("Oh for Arceus' sake,") the paras grumbled before she tapped Epione on the head, ("Can you please tell them that Flo is there?")
The chansey looked around to where she was pointing and gasped when she spotted Flo, ("You guys, she's over there!")
That time, Ruth and Tommy heard them, much to Manitari's despair. They turned around and saw Flo starting to climb up the waterfall and knew that they had to immediately take action. The kangaskhan hopped towards her quickly, but by the time she got to her, their trainer had already reached the top and was starting to climb on top of the log piles.
("Flo! Flo! Don't go there,") she called out to her, ("The logs could break underneath your weight and you could fall.")
Flo seemed to stop in her tracks and turn back to her Pokemon in slight confusion. After a few seconds, she raised a single eyebrow, "That sounds like…a kangaskhan call."
("Yes, it's me,") Ruth told her, beckoning her towards herself, ("come this way. Come to me.")
Despite her dazed and confused state, Flo seemed to subconsciously understand her. She turned on her heel and headed awkwardly towards her, kicking pebbles and stones off the side of the waterfall. Ruth smiled happily when she saw her about to climb down; when suddenly, she heard a voice that filled her with dread.
("Mommy look!") Dorothy giggled suddenly appearing on top of the pile of logs, ("I can see everything from here!")
Ruth's jaw dropped as she saw her daughter; she glanced down at her empty pouch and then up at her, ("How does she keep doing this?") she muttered to herself, ("Dorothy, dear. Get down from there! It's dangerous!")
However, the baby kangaskhan didn't hear her and continue to jump up and down on the hollow logs, making them creak and grown under her pressure. Things turned from bad to worse as soon as Flo noticed Dorothy; she gasped in delight and began to skip towards her and climb up the log pile.
"Aww, a baby kangaskhan!"
("No Flo! Don't!") Ruth cried out.
But it was too late.
As soon as Flo stepped on the log pile and scooped Dorothy in her arms, the log pile shifted beneath their weight.
Creeeeaaaaakkkkkk! Crack!
The Pokemon gasped as the logs groaned and cracked underneath the two before shifting again.
Creeeeaaaakkkkk! Crack! Crack! CRACK!
Suddenly, the entire log pile collapsed and fell over the waterfall, taking Flo and Dorothy with them much to the Pokemon's horror. They yelled and ran to the river bank as the logs scattered and floated down the river.
("AH! FLO!")
("AH! MY BABY!)
Just as they thought all was lost, they heard two voices that made them stop.
"Woohoo! That was fun!"
("Yay! Again! Again!")
They turned around and saw, to their relief, Flo and Dorothy sitting on a large log as they drifted down the quick moving river. They seemed completely unharmed by the fall and acted as if they were having the times of their lives. Flo straddled the log and dipped her legs into the water on either side before picking up the baby kangaskhan and hugging her to her chest happily.
"Yeah, I love this ride!" she said gleefully as Dorothy wiggled happily in her arms.
("Blimey! That weren't 'alf close,") Tommy gulped.
("Yes, but they're not out of danger yet,") Ruth said as she began to hop alongside the river after them, ("We need to hurry. We can't let them out of our sight.")
Ruth bounded and hopped; Tommy burrowed his way; and Epione waddled as quickly as she could after them; but they were slowed down by the trees and other foliage in their way. The mother kangaskhan growled furiously before she charged forwards with all her strength, knocking and flattening every obstacle in her path; nothing was going to prevent her from saving her child. Up ahead, she spotted a large oak tree and her eyes narrowed on it; she sprinted towards it, raised her fist up until it glowed with power and slammed it into the trunk. The oak tree splintered and cracked at the Pokemon's powerful punch; it leaned over to one side before it toppled over across the river, slightly submerged in the water.
Epione saw Ruth use Sucker Punch against the tree and frowned in concentration; she found a similar tall, oak tree directly on the other side of the river where the kangaskhan was standing and charged ahead. She took a deep breath, reared back her stubby arm to her side and used Copycat; a move that allowed her to copy the last move made by another Pokemon; since Ruth used Sucker Punch, the chansey's arm began to glow before she slammed it against the oak tree. Just like the one before, the tree toppled over and fell across the other tree in the middle of the river; creating a rudimentary bridge between the two banks.
Flo and Dorothy continued to ride the tree log until they stopped when they hit right in the middle of the tree bridge; they stumbled slightly as soon as they hit it, but they caught their balance and held onto the oak's leaves to keep themselves steady. Ruth and Epione sighed in relief, but there is still another problem.
("How are we going to get to them?") Ruth muttered, ("I doubt the tree is sturdy enough to take our combined weights.")
Tommy, from beside her, hummed thoughtfully before his small eyes lit up in joy, ("Don't worry. I'll sort it out in a jiffy,") he said before popping under the ground and getting to work, ("Alright, so all I need to do is this...and then this...a little bit of that...") he emerged from the ground once again with a proud look, ("...there you are. Not bad, eh?")
Ruth, Epione and Manitari gaped in shock. They had only looked away for a second and the diglett had already built an entire dam across the river, made out of the clumps of earth in the river bed. Not only that, but he also dug up an entire canal leading from in front of the dam to just behind the tree bridge so the river wouldn't flood over.
("You built an entire dam!") they shouted in disbelief.
Tommy hummed as he inspected the dam with a critical eye, ("Could use some improvements 'ere and there. Could 'ave done a better uncle if I 'ad more bird lime, mind you,") he muttered to himself.
("We didn't even see you move,") Epione mumbled, ("How did you do that?")
("Oh, this ain't anything. If my old man saw this shoddy work he'll be right brassed off of me,") Tommy said, seeing the water beginning to drain away from under Flo and Dorothy, ("Now we don't need to worry about crossin' them trees now. Should be shallow enough in a few secs.")
A wave of relief overcame the Pokemon knowing that everyone was safe; they can now take Flo back and Alette and Tyrian can give her the cure. However, Manitari couldn't help but feel a little sad; she hadn't done a thing to help except to watch her more capable friends save the day once again.
('Do I really do anything good for Flo's team?') she thought drearily, ('I'm just a burden to them. I don't deserve to be part of them,') she frowned and looked up to where Flo and Dorothy were; she needed to do something; she had to contribute, ('I have to do something. Like Epione said, if I wish to be something than I need to seize any opportunity to do it. I will prove that I deserved to on the team,') with determination filling her heart, Manitari leapt off of the chansey's head and scuttled towards the tree bridge.
("Huh?") Tommy uttered as he saw the paras climb onto the closest tree and head towards where Flo and Dorothy were, ("Oi, what'cha doin', lass!? That ain't safe!")
Ruth turned around and noticed as well, ("Mani, wait! You might dislodge the tree bridge.")
("It's fine, dearies. I'll be careful.")
Epione frowned in concern, ("Perhaps, you should wait for the water to become shallow enough!") she called out to her.
Manitari ignored their pleas and scuttled over to Flo and the baby kangaskhan, who both still thought they were on some sort of amusement ride; she steadies herself on the edge of the fallen trunk and reached out as far as she could with her claw; the rapids were making it difficult for her to hang on, but she narrowed her eyes in determination and held on.
She reached…
…and reached…
…and reached…
…and just when she was about to nip the hem of Flo's shirt, the branch that one of her legs were perched on suddenly snapped…
CRACK! BOOM!
That single branch had a knock on effect and jutted the entire tree she was on; it shook loosened the tree's grip on each other and gave way, releasing the river rapids and making Manitari fly through the air.
("MANI!") the other Pokemon cried out in fear as the paras plunged towards the rapid waters…
…before she was caught mid-air.
"Hey, Mani," Flo chirped as she held the paras in her hands and hugged her alongside Dorothy, "Did you come here to ride the ride as well. Why didn't you say?" she said with a delusional giggle as the log they were on continued to zoom down the river rapids.
The paras was surprised at first, but sighed miserably as she sank into her arms, ('I…failed again and made everything worse.')
("Damn it,") Ruth uttered as she, Tommy and Epione ran after them, ("Tommy, do you think you can build another dam like before.")
("Sure, but yer need to stop them before I can build one again. Why don't yer try the tree bridge again?")
The mother kangaskhan looked ahead and shook her head, ("We can't. The river is getting wider.")
("What are we going to do?") Epione asked in worry.
Suddenly, a pack of mankey jumped in front of Ruth and Tommy stopping them in their tracks, much to their annoyance. They heard a menacing cackle from the forest before, once again, the primeape from before leapt out from the trees, did a somersault in the air and landed before them; the somersault wasn't necessary at all, but he thought it was impressive. The primeape had seen better days; not only did he have a bump on his head, but his jaw was slightly swollen from where Ruth and punched him as well as sporting a black eye.
("Oi! We found you lot!") he bellowed manically, ("Don't think you've escaped us just yet. We still have a fight to finish.")
("You tell them big bro!")
("You the man, big bro!")
Tommy tilted his head to the side, ("Didn't Ruth already beat yer? I thought that was the finish.")
("That was a warm-up! I wasn't ready!")
Ruth growled in anger and glanced towards where the tree log was floating away quickly, ("We don't have time for this. Either you help us or get out of our way.")
The primeape snorted and crossed his arms over in front of him, ("Huh? Help you? Like we'll ever do that")
THWACK!
The next thing everyone knew, the primeape was on the floor with his body slightly buried into the ground; another red bump formed next to the other one on his head and he released a pained filled groan. Ruth moved her fist back and put her arms on her hips and glared scoldingly down at the pack.
The primeape raised a shaky fist in the air, ("O-okay…we'll…help,") he uttered in agony.
Flo, Dorothy and now Manitari continued to ride upon the fast moving log; the rapids had grown fiercer, faster as they steadily headed downhill. The paras was concerned that they were heading towards another waterfall and knew that they needed to get off if they have any chance of coming off this in one piece. Her mind was blank of ideas and it wasn't as if she could ask the baby kangaskhan or Flo for help. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and waited for a miracle to happen…
…and that miracle came in the form of a pack of mankey.
Strong paws grabbed hold of the human's shoulders and hoisted Flo off the log as if she weighed nothing; bringing Dorothy and Manitari with her. The paras opened her eyes and was astonished to see that they were held up by a chain of mankey stretched across the river from two strong trees on either bank; the Pokemon had the arms linked around the mankey on either side of them, creating a living bridge that would take them all to safety. Manitari spotted her friends rush up to them and sigh in relief when they saw they were all safe and sound.
("Oh thank goodness,") Ruth said, ("They're fine now.")
("Absolutely pukka. Now all we 'ave to do is bring them back to Alette and Tyrian.")
In Flo's arms, Dorothy scowled in disappointment, ("Aww, I don't want it to be over,") she pouted.
Manitari sighed sadly and cast her eyes down, ('Yet again…I did nothing to help. I really don't deserve to be part of this team,') she thought to herself.
Flo blinked in bewilderment; she looked left and then right at the mankey chain before frowning, "Wow! A whole chain of mankey holding us in the air…I must be seeing things."
("No dearie, this, for once, is actually real,") Manitari said.
Alette and Tyrian
Not too long later, all of them were making the return trip to where Alette and Tyrian were preparing the cure; with Dorothy firmly placed in her mother's pouch and Flo slung over Ruth's shoulder, they made sure that there was no way of losing them once again. Tommy and Epione heard a depressed sigh and looked around to see Manitari slowly following behind them all; her eyes were narrowed in deep thought and the mushrooms on her back seemed to droop sadly to reflect her mood; her friends shared a concerned look for her, but before they could do anything, they heard a ferocious argument up ahead.
("How can you be so thick headed!")
("I'm thick headed!? You're the one getting it wrong!")
The Pokemon looked up to see the clefairy and the nidoran snarling at each other over the pot that they were supposed to prepare the remedy in; all around them on the ground were a range of different ingredients in neat piles; none of them looked like they were even touched by the two.
Alette glared at male nidoran angrily, ("I am not getting it wrong. That what it says in the book. Are you saying your better than a book on medicine.")
("No, I'm saying that I'm better than you,") Tyrian growled back.
Tommy frowned at the both of them, ("Wot's goin' on?") he questioned, catching both of their attention.
("Oh, you're back with Flo,") Alette said with a sigh in relief, ("Thank goodness.")
Ruth raised an eyebrow at the both of them and then at the empty pot, ("Have you two not started with the medicine? We thought it'll be ready by now.")
("It would have been, if somebody wasn't being so stubborn,") Tyrian muttered, earning a glare from the clefairy, ("She's been questioning my foraging skills after I've spent agrees trying to find everything she needs.")
("And he's been telling me that I'm doing everything wrong. How would you know what to do, you idiot?")
("Who you calling an idiot, moron?") Tyrian snarled before the two Pokemon began growling at each other.
In the background, Manitari was brought out of her depression by their arguing and frowned in concern; putting her emotions to the side for the moment, she scuttled over to them and stood between them.
("Now, now, dearies. There's no need for name calling,") she gently said, stopping the two Pokemon from growling and turning to each her, ("We are all friends here and friends do not argue with each other. We'll discuss what's wrong and see what we can do.")
Alette, who felt much calmer as soon as she heard the paras' voice, frowned slightly, ("But Mani. He's been-")
("Alette, dear, I know your stressed about Flo being unwell, but there's no need to take your anger out on others,") Manitari told her, making her sigh sadly as she hit the nail on the head. She then turned to the male nidoran, ("Tyrian, dear, I'm sure there is some mistake. Nobody is questioning your foraging skills. After all, you and Ruth have been here much longer than we have,") she gently said, making him nod in agreement, ("Now Alette dear, let's start with you. What has made you upset?")
Alette casted her eyes down on the ground, ("The book says that you need to cut up the tree bark before putting it in the pot, but Tyrian says you need to ground it up.")
("Grinding is much more effective than cutting when it comes to tree bark. It releases its healing properties more efficiently,") the nidoran explained.
("But that's not what it says to do in the book.")
The paras hummed thoughtfully, ("Then what does it say in the book?")
Alette turned around and hopped to the book that was left open on the ground and read the page once again, ("Let's see...step seven: slice up the valerian roots and add it to the pot before adding the...") she stopped suddenly in surprise before she continued, ("...the ground up willow tree bark. I-I must have misread it.")
Tyrian huffed proudly, ("See. I told you.")
Alette blinked in disbelief before turning towards the nidoran, ("Tyrian, I'm really sorry. You were right.")
("Exactly.")
("Now, now Tyrian dear,") Manitari calmly said to him, making him flinch, ("There's no need for that.")
The clefairy sighed and glared at him, ("That doesn't mean you were right about the herbs,") she said, walking towards a pile of roots, ("This is not what I asked for.")
("They are,") Tyrian insisted, but calmed down as soon as Manitari patted his paw, ("I'm sure they are. I've been tending to the plants of the Safari Zone and I'm telling you that this is genseng.")
("Genseng?") Alette questioned in confusion, ("I didn't tell you to get genseng. I told you to get gingko.")
Tyrian's eyes widened in surpirse, ("Y-you did?") he uttered as Alette nodded her head. He looked down at the pile of roots and his ears flopped down to the sides of his head bashfully, ("Oh...I guess. I did get the wrong thing. I'm sorry, Alette.")
("It's fine...I'm sorry as well.")
("I forgive you.")
Manitari chuckled happily as she patted the two gently with her claws, ("Now then, should we get started on making the remedy. Our trainer is ill and we our nurses working under her. Let's make her proud, dearies.")
("Right!") the Pokemon team agreed in determination.
An hour later, the remedy had been made and was given to the sick patient.
With everyone lending a hand and helping each other, they were able to do it quickly and efficiently. Ruth had held down Flo whilst Alette had dipped a spoon into the pot and fed the remedy to the human. The moment the recipe touched her tongue, Flo's eyes had become heavy and she soon had drifted off to sleep. The Pokemon waited in anticipation as they waited for her to wake up; every second that ticked by was painful for them all. Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime, Flo's eyes fluttered open and she gave a soft groan.
"Ow…my head," she muttered as she leaned up and smiled at her Pokemon, "Hey guys. What happened?"
("Flo!") the Pokemon cried out happily as they crowded around her and hugged her tightly, overjoyed that she was back to normal.
The young Nurse Joy seemed confused at first, but accepted the hug nonetheless, "Alright, alright. I miss you guys as well," she said with a giggle before she looked down at herself and raised an eyebrow, "Why do I look like I've been dragged through a bush?"
The Pokemon shared a look as they decided the best way to tell her what happened when Manitari crawled up to her guiltily. The paras pointed at the mushrooms on her back before pointing at the pot not too far away. Flo frowned in confusion before her eyebrows shot up in realisation.
"Oh, I see. One of your mushrooms fell into the pot…thinking back on it, I do remember it exploding in my face before I was knocked out. That must have been scary for all of you, I'm really sorry," she said, making them shake their heads as if stopping her from apologising. She smiled at them and she observed the pot once again, "Oh and you created a remedy for me. Aww, you guys, thanks so much. I'm so proud of you all," she told them, making them smile happily. However, she noticed Manitari still looking away guiltily, "Oh Mani, don't worry. I'm fine now. I'm sure you tried your best to warn me once you realised. I must have been so busy that I didn't notice you," she said with smile; however it soon disappeared as soon as she saw the paras look down sadly, "Huh? What's wrong? Are you upset that I didn't notice you?"
("No, dearie,") Manitari sighed as she shook her head, ("I'm upset about my quiet demeanour. Everybody is so outgoing and confident…while, I'm completely useless. Maybe I shouldn't be part of the team…I play no part in it at all.")
While Flo wasn't sure what she said, the other Pokemon did; they frowned in confusion and shared a look between them before Alette stepped forwards.
("Mani, what are you talking about? You're a vital part in this team,") she told her, much to her surprise.
Tyrian nodded in agreement, ("Yeah, I haven't been part of this team for long, but even I know we can't go on without you.")
("B-but I'm so quiet and small and weak. I'm not like you guys at all.")
("Well, of course you're ain't like us. None of us are like each other. No point of being a team if we're all the good at the same thing,") Tommy told her.
("Quite right,") Ruth added, ("We're all have our strengths, dear. Alette is the leader after Flo, Tyrian has his knowledge of plants and herbs, Epione is a trained nurse Pokemon, Tommy has his tenacity and his ingenious mindset for construction…")
("While Ruth has a physical strength and bravery,") Epione finished sweetly, ("Oh and Dorothy's job is being a cutie pie.")
Manitari blinked in astonishment, ("T-then what about me?")
("First of all, your gentle personality is soothing. You always put me in a good mood whenever I'm stressed.")
("You're kind and friendly to all of us.")
("Your the guv'nor at garden arrangements and all that.")
("Don't forget being an expert of fungi.")
("You're our friend!") Dorothy chirped from her mother's pouch, earning a pat on the head from Ruth.
Alette hopped down and stood before her with a bright smile, ("And most of all, you're glue that holds us all together. A teammate we can always depend upon for support. Mani, you are more than worthy to be on our team.")
Manitari stepped away in surprise; completely caught off-guard by her friends praise. Their words resonated within her, making her feel that she belonged somewhere. Her eyes lit up happily; she had never felt so appreciated before; so loved….
…and that's when she began to glow.
Flo and the Pokemon gasped in shock as Manitari grew larger, the mushrooms on her back grew bigger and began to cover the top of her body like a tortoise's shell, her orange legs became longer and sharper, here claws rounder and stronger. Once the glowing had stopped, Manitari was no longer a paras; she had become a larger crab-like Pokemon with a large red and yellow-spotted mushroom over her back with circular white eyes on a round head.
Flo blinked in surprise before she grabbed her Pokemon book she always kept with her and flicked through it for the right entry; eventually she found the right page and read it aloud.
"Parasect: a host-parasite pair in which the parasite mushroom has taken over the host bug. Prefers damp places," she said before she reached out and patted her head, "Mani, well done. You evolved."
The newly evolved Pokemon inspected herself in wonder, her mouth open in disbelief. She looked up at her friends and smiled happily.
("This is quite wonderful. Thank you all, dearies,") she said in calm and quiet voice.
The other Pokemon sweat dropped, ('Somethings don't change, huh?") they thought collectively.
Flo giggled and stood to her feet shakily, ("I say we should celebrate. Let's pack up and head back to camp and we can tell everybody," she suggested, earning cheers of agreement form her team.
They quickly packed up all their stuff and began to slowly make their way back to the campsite. Although, they had faced some challenges, the nurse team had pulled through and worked together. They mood was joyful; their spirits were high and they all walked away feeling closer than ever.
….
….
….
…..
"RED VELVET CAKE!" yelled the legendary pastel pink-haired, wild girl of the Safari Zone, swinging by on a vine on the path they had walked on before disappearing from sight.
"Huh?" they all cried out as they turned to see who had just shouted only to find that nobody was there.
They blinked in confusion before they shrugged and continued walking.
They all had enough madness for one day.
And that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Writing six stories at once is tough, but I really appreciate everyone's patience.
There were a few funny moments in this chapter; my favourite one is Tommy digging the dam. It was inspired by an episode of One Piece where Franky builds an entire bridge in only a few seconds. I quite like the idea of the Tommy constructing things as if it was nothing, I might carry it on as a running gag.
Next chapter, we will learn what Alice was doing while all of this was going on. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Thanks for reading :)
Potential Pokemon List:
Charles
Gastley
Drowzee
Goldeen
Aerodactyl
Onix
Grimer
Hoothoot (Johto)
Octillery (Orange Islands)
Pinsir
Salamance (Hoenn)
Metagross (Hoenn)
Dewgong
Elekid (Johto)
Poochyena (Hoenn)
Chikorita (Johto)
Flo
Psyduck
Cubone
Jolteon
Shellder
Weedle
Igglybuff (Johto)
Exeggcute (Orange Islands)
Qwilfish (Orange Islands)
Slugma (Hoenn)
Snubbull (Johto)
Miltank (Johto)
Beautifly (Hoenn)
Alice
Rattata
Poliwag
Spearow
Lickitung
Mr Mime
Spinarak (Johto)
Umbreon (Johto)
Rhyhorn (Johto)
Wobbuffet (Johto)
Nosepass (Hoenn)
Swinub (Sinnoh)
Smeargle (Johto)
Omake - Daily Life of Victor's OCs
Charles looked up from the latest script and gave Victor and annoyed glare, "wild girl with pink hair crying out the name of a cake? What on earth is that about?"
The author folded his arms over his chest and huffed, "It's called surreal humour," he muttered; making Charles' roll his eyes, "It's a real thing! And some people enjoy it! Look at Monty Python!"
"Are you saying that your humour is similar to that of a comedy group from half a century ago!" Charles cried out before he sighed, "Fine. At least you're not doing your meta comedy omakes that you usually do."
"…Wouldn't dream of it."