Pokemon Daycare (UNDER EDITING)

by CGMayra

A new twist on Daycares! Inspiring Adventures where children and pokemon learn to get along and be better friends! But chaos threaten the kindergarten-like Daycare as many adventures take dangerous turns! Do the future trainers have what it takes to tackle these problems and create lasting friendships? Candy will make sure of it! (SERIES) CONTAINS: Cute feels!

2. Gengar Gang Up! & Vaporeon Aquarium

Pokemon Daycare

Gengar Gang Up!

By: Cutegirlmayra (enjoy! We finally learn more about our characters, pokemon, and get some redemption for Octillery! From what? Stay tuned to find out in this combined, two chapter edit! Edited: In the past, there were problems to be answered and solved for YOU to get your pokemon choice in for the next chapter! Sadly, this was brought to my attention as 'against fanfiction rules' so now, I simply ask for a pokemon that would fit what I need for the next chapter. Check the bottom or top of each chapter to be the first one to submit your idea for the next pokemon to appear in the fic! I really do enjoy writing these! It's a blast! Chapters have been edited to fit together, so enjoy the 2-epsiode chapters :)b -creates more room, you understand- Also, stay tuned for the newest chapter to be able to sumbit your pokemon idea first! ;D )

Candy yawned, getting up and smacking her lips as she looked outside her skyscraper apartment down upon the city's bulletin board. It was there that most would find notes on job listings or wanted services. Mentally, she counted the daycare's 'Sign-Up' listings, seeing if any had been pulled off. Her head would nod with each number rising, and as she stretched, she reached for her toothbrush on a counter next to her. Without looking away from the window, she flapped her hand until her fingers gripped the edge of the cup it was in. Tilting it in a rotation, she was able to grab her toothbrush and with her foot, lift it up to the counter to snag her toothpaste.

With her nimble toes, she pulled it over to her and used her other hand to start spreading it over as she scrubbed her teeth, continuing her count unperturbed.

The Daycare was all ready to support children now that they had at least one—basically test-running the pokemon daycare's capacity. With his rambunctious nature, it was clear that the daycare could accommodate more children easily.

Miss—or should it be Mrs.? Was she married before..?—Well, Pearl had also mentioned she felt it best for the pokemon and Jake to meet other human children to play and get along with. "Learning about many personalities," she had stated, "Would greatly enhance how they learn befriend and adapt to various others. In preparation for learning to form proper bonds with not only pokemon, but us too. It would enrich their development towards pokemon trainers and their strong pokemon companions."

It... was a lot for Candy to think about, but it was also exciting nonetheless.

Her schooling had often talked about pokemon bonds with their trainers, but she never thought other pokemon to pokemon friendships and—consequently—human to human relationships. Is that so vitally crucial in being a pokemon trainer as well? Or even more so, a possible champion?!

It seemed that pokemon really did unite humans together... or so, Pearl may have suggested. However, Candy had always found it easier to bond with pokemon than be accepted by other trainers...

Then again, even Zippity had a weird biased against—and for—her. It was like, on one hand, Zippity would take care to keep her safe, but on the other, she hated how Candy was and acted towards things.

Maybe she was too childish for Zippity's gung-ho attitude about getting stronger, and maybe she was the reason Zippity felt she couldn't get stronger anymore...

So... maybe that's just another step in relationships with pokemon and humans?

It occurred to Candy that maybe she should learn a thing or two from the daycare, instead of just babysitting and taking care of cleaning up each day.

More kids could mean more revenue too, and that wouldn't hurt much.

In that moment, having hopped out of bed, brushed her teeth, and starting to change to get ready for the day, she really felt a spark of hope. Maybe... she could learn what Miss Pearl meant... about pokemon, human, and the mixture of them all forming unique but wonderful friendships that could make someone an excellent trainer!

"Are their human trainers?" she thought that funny, someone to train a human to be a pokemon trainer. "Wait! Isn't that like Miss Pearl's job at the daycare then? She's like a... pokemon and human trainer!" She spoke with the toothbrush wagging around with each word she would chomp down on so it wouldn't wiggle too far out of her mouth.

Getting back to the window, she remarkably didn't lose count, and scrutinized every detail of every note across the billboard. Not able to see clearly enough as she'd like, the glare from the morning sun too prominent for her deep azure eyes, she decided she'd continue the count once reaching the street on her usual route to the daycare.

With each note she read, still intact just like the days before, her frown deepened. Every time she saw another note was able to be counted, her heart sank.

Did no one trust the daycare or something?

But it's message was so unique! So true! Who wouldn't want their kids learning about pokemon in a safe environment like a daycare!?

Until… something caught her attention.

Her bed hair she had combed down suddenly fluffed out on the sides in her surprise, and she blazed off towards the daycare. Racing through the woods, she darted and leaped over logs as other wild pokemon got spooked from her actions. They were eating naturally growing berries that were common in this typical landscape that they grew up in, but each berry dropped from a cheek or slipped out a tooth's grip when Candy practically lunged head-on over them or through the bush. Which their hair on end, they wondered if this would be their usual life now, trying to avoid the crazy human who kept sprinting through the woods instead of taking the normal, human-trailed path. They dashed out of her way, narrowing their eyes in a glare at how energetic she could be in a bit of spite, almost as though saying with their eyes how their perfectly good morning was ruined by some rude human girl tearing up nature in her wake. Perhaps she did lack respect, but she never caused that much damage to the nature she was traversing in. Just a ruckus, that's all.

Pearl was smiling with Octavius, the Octillery, while rocking on a chair back and forth on the porch of the daycare center. He sat happily upon her head, the usual spot, looking almost like a oddly tilted hat or hair-decoration. He jangled his tentacles interchangeably up and down in a small shimmy-like dance when they both noticed two more sign-up sheet submissions in their mailbox.

"Miss Pearl! Miss Pearl!" Candy, having ruined her morning get-up, was now covered in leaves, scraped up by the twigs her knees had bashed through, and dirty from bulldozing through the forest's natural cover. She flung her arms out in front of her, trying to move as fast as she could through the melting snow, but finding that some things can't be proved false, like gravity. "W-woah!" she tripped on some little puddle of ice and face planted, skidding across the icy dirt to the front of the Daycare Center. "…Ouch…" she said with her head still firmly in the dust below her.

"Oh my," Pearl looked down, and then giggled like the cute elderly woman she was. "My dear child, you must learn to watch where you're going, but never lose that jumpy spirit." She grinned, still being a bit of a parent, but also supporting her youthful energy.

Octavius on the other hand let his head shake, lowering his eyes as he saw the roughed up path of her forest-trailing exit... the bush was parted and the twigs were snapped at her exploding pace, but even still, there was some charm to her enthusiastic run to the daycare center.

"But Pearl, There's-!" she lifted her head quickly from the ground, her face now tan from the results. Her hair's proper-placement unfortunately didn't survive the crash, and she messed up her hat as it hung from her head's side. Nothing seemed to phase her though, as she still seemed excited to tell Miss Pearl the good news. It had been maybe a few weeks after the daycare opened, and they've only had Jake to teach and the four pokemon to handle.

Finally, Her and Will had thought up a plan to post on the bulletin board outside her apartment, where there was always some traffic in the afternoon of busy walkers passing by.

Zippity had grown to be somewhat of a figure head among the little pokemon, acting as their mentor and teaching them how to fight. It was only fitting to have her pose as the daycare flyer's mascot for the sign-up forms. Being a baby pokemon herself, she was just asked to look 'soft' and 'non-threatening'. Zippity didn't like the direction for her 'image' but conceded and simply ran with an open smile on her face while Will took the picture.

Today was planned to be a special day… now, for once, with more kids finally signing on so the daycare could host more future trainers; they could have a real, full-on battle!

"Yes, I noticed." Pearl picked up the mail and looked over the two submission forms. "Hmm? Well, now, hehe. This is quite interesting…" she seemed intrigued by something she read, letting the winkles on her face bend with her more gentle and subtle excitement.

"W-what is it..?" Candy got up, not even bothering to dust herself off, and looked over the old woman's shoulder as she was quite small. She opened her eyes wider at the sight, "They're girls!"

"Two of them, yes. But look at their names, dear…" Pearl moved her head back and gestured to their last names with her thumb.

"…Kepple… wait, they're both Kepple!" Candy exclaimed.

"Exactly, they seem to be sisters." Miss Pearl looked back at the paper and then shifted her head just barely to speak directly to her Octillery stationed firmly upon the side of her head, almost like a side-messy bun would be upon the top. "What do you think? Are you ready to take on two little girls with me, Octavius?" The Pokemon nodded and she returned his spunky vigor with her own sharp nod.

It was a miracle he never fell off, what with those sticky suction cups gripping her all the time, didn't it hurt? Leave a mark? Candy figured that was because he wasn't too top-heavy for the older, stout and smaller woman.

"Nevermore had all the fun last time. Let's see if you can help train these little ones up to be big and strong, yes?" Miss Pearl continued before withdrawing back to the daycare center as Candy was about to join her but Pearl turned back, smirking towards her. "Oh, Candy. There seems to be a letter for you as well. I'd open it and read it if I were you." she then walked on, "But remember, the Daycare opens in a few minutes!"

"Y-yes, ma'am… a letter for me?" Candy looked inside the submission box, which just so happened to be the mail box too. A big letter was there, along with a smaller one, both addressed to her.

"…Uhh." She noticed one was more professional than the other. "Well, I'll never know till I find out." She took a deep breath, a bit excited, and opened the letters up. "Please be Dad, please be Dad!" she whispered and repeated a few times, closing her eyes.

She felt the thin, but clearly packed with something in it letter... but what? The bigger one was definitely more appealing, but she decided to open the smaller one first. She blindly opened it up and pulled out the paper... then shot both eyes open as wide as she could.

It was opened backwards...

She grumbled and did the process again by closing her eyes and turning it over, then opened her eyes dramatically again.

It was from Will.

She sighed, but thought it was cute he was sending her letters.

Dear Candy,

Hey! I noticed you don't get a lot of mail… Wait, that's rude isn't it? Well, I am the Mailman, but I haven't seen you in a while! I wanted to make sure you're alright and having fun at the Daycare.

Is the new playground holding up alright? Cause Phil can come back if you need him too! He really doesn't mind, he calls it his 'charity' since he loves the old stories about the place. How it used to raise up top trainers that would fight in the big leagues. He hopes to contribute to it's rebirth and help it rise in fame again, if he can.

I do too,... honestly.

Anyway, just wanted to write and tell you that I can't wait to see how everything's going! (:D)

I heard Pearl say that a new shipment of PokeSupplies is coming soon… so, I suppose I'll see you then, maybe?

Also… umm… Maybe if you're not too busy,… we can go to like a PokéStar movie or something. Ah! If you're available or anything like that!

Anyway… This is Will ( :) )

Signed, Will.

P.S You don't have to go to the movies if you don't want too!

She rolled her eyes, he wrote as if he was speaking directly to her, which was kinda funny.

Did he picture having a normal conversation with her while he was writing this? He did sound nervous, but she never understood why. Did she come off as someone hard to talk to? Goodness, she hoped not!

She shook her head and opened the other note, seeing it was stamped by a familiar symbol but couldn't quite place how she knew it.

Ripping the top open sharply, she gasped as she recognized the names, "Hey! This is from my Pokemon School! Ah! It's Shade and Tai! Huh? They're…" She squinted at the farmer's handwriting, then at the Shakespearean monologue of his brother's writing underneath it. "They're gonna come here sometime? Sweet!" she really wanted a decent battle with her pokemon again, and this could be a good time to test her skills and meet her old friends again. They were both students who often defended her when 'dumb blonde' jokes were had, and they always were a delight to be around.

She excitedly remembered the fond memories of the two boys, and after finishing their combined letter to her, she tucked the letter back inside the large envelop and hugged both letters to her heart, glad she had such wonderful friends in her life.

"Well… it wasn't Dad... or Mom, surprisingly." She thought of all the times her mother sent mail, before discovering Email. Sadly, Candy doesn't really have time to go online much anymore… What, with her job at the daycare taking up most of her day and all. Not to mention Jake was a handful... and her mother literally swarms her inbox!

Still, what a blessing, she often told herself as she looked towards the sky to see the beginning of the day just starting to get into the normal swing of things.

She smiled, her life was just starting to brighten up. Graduated, by chance, and still working hard to be a tough but kind pokemon trainer... her dream of mastering pokemon and perhaps finding her passion in a career with them was just beginning.

She then looked to the treetops and saw some Spearow, Beedrill, and other pokemon glaring menacingly at her from a distance. She had a few drops of sweat slide down her face as she puckered her lips together in a straight line, not liking how they were eyeing her... She gulped at their eyes suddenly shining and sparkling with wicked intent and she dashed back to the safety of the daycare.

What she didn't know... was the next time she stepped foot in that forest, the woodland animals were going to revolt against her stampeding, whimsical trampling of their home with a widespread chase...

The daycare finally opens! As it begins the day with Jake arriving, swaggering up like he owned the place with his hands in his pockets and looking for the first baby pokemon in sight, his father shook Miss Pearl's hand and took off with a gentlemen's wave goodbye... or was it good luck?

"Hello, Pearl! Ugly Lady!" Once his father was out of earshot, looking over his shoulder and tilting his young boy's blue hat he was wearing today over his black hair, he smirked and gave his greetings, entering further into the playroom.

"…Hello, Pipsqueak…" Candy was sweeping at first, but slowly raised her head up to look back at him with a restrained annoyance to the boy's 'nickname' for her.

"Good day, Jake." Miss Pearl didn't acknowledge him with a look, but simply gave him no mind as though that was his punishment for being rude. She had returned the rocking chair back inside and was knitting adorable winter clothes for the baby pokemon.

As she rocked back and forth, she had a very focused but relaxed expression, as though relying on everyone to make peace and get along accordingly before the lessons were to be taught. "Schedules were important to developing children," she had once told Candy. "You'd do best to remember it. Let them get all their energy out first, then teach them while they're not so squirmy."

Candy didn't realize she was giving her motherly advice, and instead, just wondered why she'd need to remember it unless Miss Pearl was training her to take over the daycare in her will or something, which frightened her at the thought of being without Miss Pearl.

She had teared up, thinking Miss Pearl was about to drop an unknown illness on her and her timely death to arrive, but confused, Miss Pearl just thought she was touched by her faith in her and patted her head.

Jake came bursting in, quickly throwing his backpack down as Candy had to pick it up and put it in its proper place upon the coat hooks and other cubbies for lunchboxes and the like. Sighing, she was just glad he greeted the pokemon and Miss Pearl with better respects...

"Hey guys!" He chimed out, jumping to the floor and sprawling out to the let the pokemon rush to him and climb over him if they wanted too. The pokemon all leapt towards him with glee, no more fear or hesitation in them, but just happy to see their friend had come back.

"PokePile!" he laughed, getting tackled as he turned over and patted his belly, encouraging them to jump on him which they all did. "Wow, you're all growing so big!" he kindly complimented, making Igglybuff stop a moment and blush.

She wiggled into his arms with her legs flailing out before turning around and popping her head out, "Buff!" she cheered, glad her friend had returned to play and pet her round little body and soft hair tuffs again.

Riolu remained at his side for a moment, acting aloof with his arms folded before sitting a little ways away from the frenzy, waiting for it all to quiet down. Wanting to probably play tag or something, he didn't seem to like all the excessive hugging and cuddling. However, he clearly was attempting to fight an impulse, but ran over anyway and jabbed Jake in the stomach. Jake winced as his arms covered his stomach and his legs went straight up before Riolu retreated back to his previous position, unable to stay away from the wrestling and play-fighting atmosphere...

Eevee waited, a little awkwardly, trying to jump in on the fun of pouncing on his squishy belly but having Torchic and Igglybuff block him at every chance. At last, he was fed up with the other two and just went for it, landing hard on his chest as Jake 'Offph!'d and laughed.

It didn't hurt as much as Riolu's attack did, and even then, he grew excited to roughhouse sometime with him.

Torchic was just running around his chest, being very loud and noisy, but thrilled to see Jake back. She jumped and skipped high into the air at different times while chanting her name in her usual manner and kept her eyes bent and closed in over-stimulated excitement at having the small human back to play.

"Now, now, children. There is something I must tell you, something very exciting." Pearl stated, getting up as it seemed to help that she waited for their play to commence before interrupting. She put the knitted clothes to the side and didn't notice Riolu jump up and snatch them quickly in his mischief. Candy quickly walked up next to her, happy to announce the new company too, but also to grab Riolu and gently try to pull the clothes out of his mouth as he growled. Clearly, he wanted to play tug-o-war with them.

Delicately, Candy tried to strain the string through his teeth to get them out before he ruined them any further, and placed the clothes higher up so he couldn't reach them as easily. He looked disappointed by her action, knowing he couldn't be stealthy trying to retrieve them again, but Candy just let him chew lightly on her fingers and hand while holding him like a baby in her arms while Jake sat up and spoke.

"Huh? What is it, Pearl? Some new pokemon?" he blinked his eyes as he held Eevee between the gaps of his arms, having them down on the ground as the little pokemon wagged its tail and scooted its head through them.

"Eevee! Vee!" he seemed to ask the same question as well.

Igglybuff wanted to also be in his arms, so she jumped to dangle on the one closest to her, which was on his right. Still trying to climb up and be hugged, Jake quickly lifted his arm so she slid down to scrunch up his sleeve and snuggle against his cheek while holding onto his neck from behind. Torchic was now on his legs, but quickly moved and sat like a chicken on a nest when he folded his legs into a typical Indian-style position, and rested on his lap. She blinked her eyes to Miss Pearl, curious if the boy was right or even to what was going on.

She looked up with her mouth open, excited to hear the news too, but mostly curious as to what was happening. Did she... even understand much of the human language or even their emotions at this point? Or maybe she was just happy to finally be close to the boy for pets.

Riolu looked to Miss Pearl then, seeming upset that something was still prolonging the waiting period before he got to start playing a game, but remained relatively content in Candy's arms.

"We have new children here to play." Pearl stepped out of the way as two little girls were standing behind her with their hands together, looking exactly alike. Candy walked over and squatted down beside them, shaking Riolu's paw in a greeting.

"It's nice to meet you~" Candy mimicked whatever 'human' voice she thought the Riolu would have, which made him confused as he looked up to her and then his captured paw. The girls giggled and clung to Candy's dress, "Nice to-" one of them started, as the other continued the sentence, "-Meet you."

"…Girls?" Jake made a face as though disgusted to see the two.

"Now, now, Jake. Your manners." Pearl warned him, but kindly, wagging a finger towards him before returning the hand on top of her other one which was resting on her cane.

"Oh... umm..." he looked away and bit his lip, but quickly got up and bowed, only holding Eevee as Torchic rolled off in a startled cry and Igglybuff fearfully had to drop down from behind his shoulder. Eevee, now held like a puppy dangling from his crossed arms, freaked out when he went up so quickly, and jolted with a shriek at his attention turning solely to it. "I'm Jake. Pleasure to meet you." He didn't want to introduce the other pokemon, perhaps wanting them all to himself, but held Eevee a bit closer and tighter, making Eevee slightly spaz in a reflex and kick a leg out in a flinch.

Candy got up and looked over her shoulder at Jake, "Go on, then, you two. Introduce yourselves too."

"…I'm Tia." One of the girls whispered out, and hid more behind Candy's right leg.

"…I'm Mia." The other twin hid behind Candy's left leg, speaking directly after her sister.

"We're the Kepple sisters." The girls spoke together, before Tia peeked out from Candy's right leg, "Twins," she stated, as Mia continued, "And inseparable." poking out her head from behind Candy's left leg.

"They're so cute~" Candy beamed, having hearts all around her frame as she couldn't handle how adorable these two twins were. She clapped her hands tightly together and swayed back and forth at how adorable they were.

However... Jake found them kinda creepy.

"Now girls, have you ever played with Pokemon before?" asked Pearl, bending down slightly to speak with the young girls, only maybe 4 or 5.

"Uh-huh." Tia spoke first, and then pointed to her head. "Our Mommy is a Pah-sychic. She had pah-sychic pokmeon."

"…I think you mean Psychic. As in, 'Sy-kick'." Candy tried to correct the two, but they only looked up at her and blinked their eyes.

"…Are you an idiot?" Mia asked, genuinely, and with the sweetest and cutest voice. She blinked her eyes as though truly waiting for an answer.

Candy felt a sharp arrow strike her head through as she figuratively felt the pain of being judged by these two—once adorable—children. "Annnnnnd there goes your extra cookies…" she let her head slide down a little in disappointment and sighed. "Will any kid like me?" she muttered to the side.

"Hmm, hmm. Then I'd like to introduce you to our lovely pokemon. We have Torchic,-" Pearl gestured out to the little rolling pokemon who sat up once having tumbled its flapping body towards them and then squawked as it ruffled its feathers up to look big and poofy.

"Tor, tor!" Torchic flapped her wings, as if saying hello.

"Riolu,-" Pearl then watched Candy place Riolu down, giving him time to introduce himself too.

"Rio!" he stood up, and struck a cool pose by swishing his arm out, trying to impress them. It was as though he was moving an invisible cape, but he must have thought he looked pretty stellar in his mind... The little girls eyes shined with admiration as though seeing his inner-mind's eye, and he felt pleased by his performance as they must have seen his coolness by their adoring expressions.

"Eevee,-" Pearl raised her arm to turn everyone's attention to Jake's arms, where Eevee was.

Eevee shyly looked to the side, pressing his face into Jake's chest, and let out a faint, "Vee.".

"He's kinda shy." Jake tugged Eevee away from everyone's peering eyes, pouting as Eevee seemed to be his favorite...

Pearl giggled at his reluctance to show them the little pokemon any further, and moved quickly on as Igglybuff bounced on the ground beside her, wanting her turn. "And lastly, little Igglybuff."

"Igglybuff!" she wiggled her body left and right cutely, shaking twice with each turn and having an extremely charming open-smile on her face.

"Ohh~" the girls looked entranced by the four pokemon, but still clung to Candy's sides.

"They are all," Tia began, as Mia finished, "So cute and precious!"

The pokemon seemed to chime back in unison different things, but they all seemed to be complimenting the girls as well. Torchic jumped and kicked its legs out in excitement with each jump, as Riolu once again put his paw to his hip and flicked his appendage-like hair to look relaxed and mature at the praise, while Eevee remained wagging its tail lightly with some concern but hopeful joy at having new company too. Igglypuff simply ran around Pearl as Candy helped her up from leaning down so much, and the girls followed to make sure their hands never left Candy's dress.

"Have you girls ever battled?" Candy looked down, jumping right to the point after leading Miss Pearl to her chair.

"Oct?" Octavius looked up with a slight glare of shame to Candy, which made her look curiously to him, not sure what she had done to receive his disapproving scold."

"Now, Candy. I know you're excited to have them battle, now that we have enough children too and all, but you can't expect them to know-" Miss Pearl began, lifting a gentle teaching hand to her shoulder and kindly explaining before Mia lifted her head up.

"We've battled several times with Daddy's pokemon." She seemed a bit haughty with that statement, like a know-it-all. It was as though she was showing off because she was insulted a moment before at Miss Pearl thinking they didn't know what a pokemon battle was or how to do one.

Jake was impressed at least, this was the most silent he had been since arriving at the daycare. He looked a little hurt that these girls knew how to battle and he was still learning...

"Daddy liked Electric pokemon, because Daddy is a Sy-en-tiss." She stated proudly, now putting her hands to her hips as though superior, turning her raised head to the side.

'Great, more snooty kids...' Candy's enthusiasm at their cuteness was rapidly decreasing... Her shoulders slugged forward a little, "…Scientist." she corrected again, as the girls looked back up at her. Before they could even ask again, she just sighed and looked a bit drained now, "And no, I'm not an idiot." She quickly said it and tried not to cry as she took an annoyed and defeated hand to her face and dragged it down. when it snapped back, it was a happy 'customer-service' like expression. "I think a battle could be a fun way to get you kids outside and bonding with the pokemon and each other, how about it!?" She spread her arms out wide to be inviting, and the girls looked to one another and let her dress go, keeping their hands together though.

"I'd like to," Tia said, smiling refined and with a neutral tone to her. "It sounds fun."

"…Oh? Then maybe we should have a trial battle." Pearl put her hand up to her chin, thinking it over first... "Jake? Would you like to battle Candy and show the girls what we do to learn how to battle with pokemon here?" Pearl looked to Jake, who nodded excitedly.

"Sure! I'll whip your butt, Ugly!" he glared up at Candy with a determined look to win.

"Once you see the rules of how we train in mock-battles here, you may be more prepared to practice with us." Pearl smiled kindly to the two, not wanting to embarrass them in case it was all talk and no evidence.

"Ha! Yeah right, you snot nose-" Candy ignored Pearl and stomped right up to Jake, leering down at him as she was fired up to kick his-!

"Eh-hem-hem…" Miss Pearl coughed into her bundled hand, reminding Candy in a indirect manner to remember her etiquette as a teacher and caregiver.

"…Sure, kid." Candy stopped her insult, and then looked back to Pearl, feeling more sad about having to be the 'responsible adult' around these kids. "Hey! Why is it he can call me whatever he wants, but I can't call him-"

"Because he's a young child, and I've already told him he can't have cookies at the end of the day if he keeps it up." Miss Pearl spoke quickly and directly this time, not amused with Candy talking back. She got up calmly enough and walked out the door to the training field, using her cane to round up the pokemon into shepherding them out first. "Now then, let's get to it!" she gave some vigor to her voice, showing all was well, and smiled warmly.

The two girls immediately ran over to Pearl, clinging to her dress now, as if completely uninterested in Candy anymore.

"W-…why." Candy fell to the ground and let out some small, comical tears. "Why am I-"

"An ugly idiot? Haha!" Jake ran by, spinning to point a finger at her and then laughing away, charging out the door.

"GRRRRR…! No cookies for you!" she countered right back, shaking a pointer finger at him as though to say 'en garde!'.

"That's okay! I hated your cookies, anyway!" Jake stuck a finger in his nose and then turned with a mischievous and cheeky wink towards her.

"Why you-! It had to be a rambunctious little boy, didn't it!?" She had met her match, and charged towards the Battlefield.

-The Practice Match-

"Each will play with one pokemon by their side. Which will you choose?"

Pearl had laid out the rules and situated Jake and Candy on opposite sides. Candy already knew all of her Pokémon weren't allowed to fight, since they were clearly tougher opponents for the baby daycare Pokémon, and quickly pointed to Riolu. "I'll take my champion, thank you!" she really loved how he was able to take a hit, and loved the thrill of battle.

Riolu trusted Candy as well, nodding to the challenge and taking on the role as 'the best of the best'. He raced out with his arms behind him before jumping to Candy's side and punching the air a few times, showing he really did want to brawl anyway.

"And you, Jake?" Miss Pearl turned herself to him, smiling at the prospect of seeing him so amped to impress the on-watching, new little twins.

"I choose Eevee!" He pointed to Eevee, who jolted in fright with his hair straight up. He arched his back like a scared cat before looking about ready to run away again.

"Woah! Wait, wait, wait!" Jake quickly dashed to him, abandoning his side of the field, and scooped him up to hold him in his arms again, "Don't be afraid… Hey! I promise we'll win! We just have to work together, I know we can do it!" he smiled with each word of encouragement, as Eevee looked up into his well-meaning eyes. It suddenly wanted to fight beside him, to prove him right, and began to grow a bit courageous in wanting to trust his words.

But it still hated the idea of fighting...

Jake paced back to his spot, having set Eevee down with a light pat of further comfort on his side of the battlefield. Eevee's four little legs began to tremble while he moved away, and it's momentary courage turned wishy-washy again when faced with Riolu... a fighting type pokemon... and it being a normal type made it flinch in panic.

"Very well." Pearl stated, not pointing out the type difference, but letting lessons be learned. Besides... sometimes, it wasn't about the match-up, but what the trainer did with the pokemon and the moves allotted to them. Octavius raised his tentacles that curled around two flags, looking serious in his job as his face showed how ready he was to start the match—with honor!

"Begin!", "Octi!", "Fight!", "Oct!" the two cried out after the other.

"Alright, Riolu! Let's do this!" Candy got all excited, her fists coming up as she was getting riled up. The energy seemed to pour into Riolu as the aura surged him with a continuous fighting spirit, gaining some pumped up enthusiasm to fight from her. "Let's show that little punk he can't call a pretty young girl like me Ugly ever again!"

"Rio!" Riolu got ready for a command, almost mimicking her stance.

Pearl watched with precision at the impact Candy was having on Riolu, and at the corner of her eye, it seemed like this match was more than just teaching the children something...

She then turned to glance behind her at the twins, "Now Mia, Tia, watch carefully." she instructed, "See how each trainer connects with their pokemon, and how their pokemon—likewise—return with the same vigor."

"Yes, Miss Pearl." the two were dangling their feet over the benches that were stacked back to look like game bleachers.

"Alright, let's use Quick Attack!" Candy swiped her hand out and Riolu burst forward with waves of power spraying out like gusts of wind. Eevee freaked out and got hit pretty easily when Riolu swerved with incredible speed, creating a few fading images of himself before whamming a straight, heavy-fisted paw into Eevee's cheek.

"Eevee! Let's go!" Jake wanted to snap Eevee out of the hit, as Eevee staggered back and shook its head, a bit wobbly. It then pounded the ground with a paw to steady itself, and with a growing resolve, looked like it was ready for a command, but still uneasy about this whole 'fighting' thing. "Use Baby-Doll Eyes!"

"Quick Attack!" Candy cried out again.

"H-huh?!" Jake was amazed that Candy called out another move, "B-but it's my tu-!"

"Riolu!" Riolu dashed once more in a zig-zag and slammed another fist into Eevee's unexpecting side, causing him to fall to the ground and skid a bit. Regaining his balance, Eevee quickly shut his eyes, before opening them to show adorable beams of sparkles and light, almost as though batting his eyes to look like a puppy-dog.

Riolu awkwardly stepped back, feeling a little guilty about hitting him so hard, and gritted his teeth with some apologetic sweat at doing what he was supposed to but having injured his friend. "R...Riolu..."

"Hmm? No damage was done." Tia commented, seeming confused.

"Eevee didn't even move." Mia sat, puzzled on the watcher's bleachers, as Pearl nodded next to her.

"Yes, that attack lowers Riolu's attack stat. This causes his remaining blows to be less powerful, you see." She also turned to Candy, "And Quick Attack is an extremely fast move. In a real battle, your opponent may take any hesitation from you and use it against you. You must be creative with the moves your pokemon knows, and not expect them to learn something new right off the top of their hat." She looked back to Jake, "Pokemon have around four distinct moves they can remember. You don't like memorizing math equations or scientific formulas, right? Pokemon also learn moves and forget them as well, and only can memorize so much."

"But why use an attack that doesn't cause damage?" Tia titled her head, trying to piece things together. "Isn't the point of battling to faint your opponent's pokemon? Why lower stats?" Tia's brow furrowed, as though she hadn't heard this concept before. "Moves mean attack, don't they?"

"Well, it makes it easier to faint your opponent's pokemon if you attack, yes." Pearl began, holding a neutral look and blinking softly as the battle commenced during her discussion with the inquisitive toddler. "If their attacks don't do much to you, then it's easier to take them out." Pearl explained, "So, with every battle, you must figure out your own strategic tactic, and of course, your opponent's motives as well." She looked back to the field. "Now, let's see what Candy does to counter this, hmm?"

"Grr… I'll show you!" Candy was really getting into character, but after seeing Eevee make a comeback with Covet, she knew she had to keep the pace of the battle engaging, "Riolu, use Feint!"

Riolu dashed forward, being quick as Eevee shook in fear again.

"Eevee, dodge!" Jake called but Eevee was too afraid to move, seeing Riolu coming at him with no fear and got hit yet again.

"Ah! Eevee didn't listen…" Mia stated, watching as Eevee skid back and then tumbled back to be directly in front of Jake now.

"But didn't Jake give a command?" Tia continued for her sister, seeing Jake shaken up by Eevee's lack of direction.

"…Hmm.. that little one needs a strong trainer who can assure him that he has what it takes to win. Let's see if Jake can provide that for him, shall we?" Pearl didn't take her eyes off the battlefield... she watched carefully as Eevee's confidence began to diminish from before. It didn't know it, but it was waiting for Jake to give it strength again...

"Huh? A pokemon who needs encouragement?" Tia looked almost flabbergasted. "Hmph, Mommy and Daddy's pokemon are way better than these pokemon!"

"Yeah! Hmph!" Mia simply mimicked her sister, and the two folded their arms and stuck up their heads as Pearl looked back to them with disappointed and awkward drops of sweat on the side of her face, not amused by their attitudes.

"Dears… your parents pokemon have grown used to battling and listening to their trainers. These pokemon are much like you, still learning how to cope with trainers and battling." She gently stated, but her eyes were furrowed with thinking how to reason with what appeared to be balant disregard and a lack of understanding... or even wanting to, for that matter.

The two girls lowered there snotty gestures and seemed to break out of it. Mia was first to look compassionate, seeing Eevee struggling to get back up and have the motivation to continue. Tia held firm a moment... trying to tighten her folded arms and pout more but her stubbornness gave way and she dropped the whole 'tough survive' act. They looked back to Miss Pearl, before looking at each other and feeling bad about what they said. "Oh." They responded together. "We didn't think of that…"

"Torchic! Tor!" Torchic jumped up on the benches, seeing as she could hop from one level to the other, and was being chased around by Igglybuff. Igglybuff jumped and lightly floated down to the next level, clearly taking a more 'delicate' approach to her beautiful hops and glided decents before seeing the two girls moods. Not sure what to make of it, she looked between the two girls before cheerfully stopping her play and rubbing up against Tia's side.

She giggled, petting her round body before picturing her sweet friend also having to go to battle for the first time. Would she... be able to pick it up naturally and be strong without having battled with a trainer's commands before? "I'm sorry." Tia stated, "You both are adorable!" she looked behind her at Torchic, "I want to grow stronger too! So we can be like Daddy and Mommy, and their pokemon too!"

Mia nodded to her sister's words, "Yeah! Adorable!" she took Torchic, who was racing around in a little bit of a frenzy, not realizing she wasn't being chased anymore. She placed her in her lap, but Torchic just wanted to keep running, and so she wiggled and struggled in her arms to get out. "One day, we'll all grow strong together! Right, Miss Pearl?"

Pearl smiled sweetly at the two, there was hope for the two of them yet. "Indeed." She seemed very pleased how quickly they could soften their hearts and be willing to learn.

"Eevee! Come on! Swift!" Jake commanded, not entirely sure what he should do and acting very much like a rookie, just calling out moves and hoping one worked.

"A long ranged attacked, since Riolu keeps pushing Eevee back, he's naturally using a move that will keep Eevee out of direct, melee combat." Pearl instructed, nodding to that reasoning.

However, it was clear after a few seconds that Pearl realized he was just randomly trying out different moves, and smiled at the hope she had that he'd figure out strategies during their lessons soon.

Eevee shivered before swinging his head, still looking scared as Riolu paused with a hard slam of his foot to the ground and a dynamic mid-skid pose from his last dashing about. It spooked Eevee, his strong look and aggressive eyes that held no sense of holding back, and as a result the stars streaked weakly out from around Eevee. They did hit Riolu back, pumpeling him lightly as he held his arms in a cross by his head and took the pounding with a defensive stride that Candy didn't command. Once the stars were thrown and their numbers burst from impact, he threw his arms into their stardust and parted a way for him to step mightly through their clouded rubble.

He smirked, and Pearl could see great potential in his natural fighting ability. "That one will grow very strong." She predicted, "I'm excited to wait and see..."

"Come on, Jake! Motivate him!" Candy called from across the battlefield, not realizing she was lacking in giving greater guidance to Riolu. "Otherwise, this battle is going no where!" she looked worried about Eevee, who really didn't have much self-esteem in itself.

Not just that, but Candy could inately tell that Eevee needed a bit more energy from Jake, some confidence that it could do great. Pearl smiled at that too, though she should be focusing on Riolu, she was taking the role as co-teacher seriously. "I see so much potential in all of you." Pearl relaxed her wrinkles over her eyes to show her joy in the future prospects for the next generation of pokemon trainers.

But then...

"GENGAR!"

"H-huh?!" Jake saw Eevee and Riolu's shadows suddenly morph and combine, spinning in an odd vortex on the ground before a head emerged, snickering it seemed.

"Ee-vee!" Scared out of his mind, Eevee's fur once again stood straight up like static, before he wobbled and fell to the ground in shock.

"Riolu!" gritting his teeth, Riolu lerched towards whatever the creature was, ghost or pokemon? Both? and looked ready to fight and defend if necessary.

"Ah! That's-!" Pearl quickly moved forward, "Children, stay back!" she moved her cane sharply out to keep the twins and baby pokemon from getting too close to the wild Gengar. It's eyes gleamed as it gave a meancing look to the side, and then fully lunged out of the shadow on the ground to grab the two baby pokemon.

Eevee was white in the face, it's eyes seeming to be void, but Riolu struggled in it's arms, trying to break free. "Eevvvv...", "Ri-Ri-Riolu!"

"Gengar! Put those children down!" Pearl cried out, bringing out a pokeball.

"Keh, keh, keh~" it chuckled out, looking back at the old lady as it turned around in a perfect pivot in the air, sticking it's tongue out, and then jumping up to the roof.

"Ah! What's it doing!?" Candy cried out, "What does it want with the baby pokemon!?" she grew firece in her face and dashed after it, full-on sprinting towards the daycare. "Heeeeyy!"

"Oh no… I promised Eevee we'd do it together… I-I can't leave Eevee!" Jake quickly ran after Candy, following her as she went straight to jumping up on a pillar and starting to climb to the daycare's roof.

"Oh no!" Mia leaned to the side, looking around her sister to see what was happening as Torchic quickly moved the side of its face into Mia's body, as though wanting protection and being afraid a bit too.

"Tor... Tor!" it looked scared at first before shocked that Candy was climbing the roof. "Tor, tor, tor!" it started panicking and once again kicking it's legs out and flapping it's tiny chicken wings out from the side.

"Looks like trouble!" Tia stated, letting Igglybuff down by Mia's side. They both looked at each other, and nodded as though a link made them know what the other was thinking, and a mental communication occurred without any words. Mia scooped up Igglybuff so she could hold both pokemon and the two twins hopped off the bench at the same time.

"Ah! Girls, no!" Pearl didn't know what they were doing, but the twins raced together to see what was happening.

"Don't worry, we'll stay back from the fighting!" Mia and Tia both looked over their shoulders to reassure Pearl, moving quite a distance away from the roof, but having a clear view of what was going on. "We'll protect you!" They shouted as one, as Tia moved slightly in front of Mia and held her arms out, and Mia securely held the pokemon in her arms, who looked amazed and worried at the girls display of love for them.

Pearl at least could see that they were keeping a safe distance, and turned her attention back to the roof, "Very well... Gengar!" She called out, seeing him slightly turn from his getaway to see her. "I'm only going to warn you once!" Pearl called out, "Drop those sweet pokemon or there will be consequences!"

Gengar wiggled it's butt at her, mockingly.

"What does it want, though? I don't understand..!" Candy was extremely worried, but more so confused as she took one foot to a gutter drain and saw it chip off slightly. "Ah!" she readjusted her balance and then looked down at Jake, holding out a hand as though telling him to stay back. He paused, but looked saddened that he couldn't join in the rescue. She continued to try and twist her weight up and finally was on the roof, "Honestly, we were just minding our own business!"

Eevee finally woke up with blurry vision, feeling itself dangling from Gengar's arm and suddenly let out a yelp. It tried to push itself up with it's front paws as it was draped under one of his arms like Riolu. Riolu tried using Feint, but his hand moved right through the ghost-type pokmeon, leaving his moves useless, along with Eevee's…

"Ri… Ri, Ri!" Riolu glared up at the Gengar, looking into it's soul with a growl. Gengar formed an 'o' with it's mouth as though surprised by the bravery of this little tike, before suddenly diving it's eyes down to completely cover Riolu's vision in a Mean Look, scaring him into not moving out of fear. Riolu twitched, looking more afraid now. Gengar laughed with a wild swing of his head back up to gloat to the skies, liking the dominating takeover his intimidation had on the little baby pokemon.

Though Riolu couldn't try and flee now, it still didn't want to just give up and let this intruder win. Feeling patethic, it closed it's eyes as though not being able to accept defeat.

"That big bully!" Candy clenched her fist, having seen Gengar scare Riolu back into submission. "Don't worry you two! Just hold on!" She continued to climb the roof as Gengar went on laughing. He looked over his shoulder though, and a nervous bead of sweat seemed to form as he noticed the human girl trying to make it up to him.

"Octavius! This has gone on far too long!" Pearl lifted up her head as her Octillery jumped off it, flying up into the air. "It's time to act! Signal Beam!" she cried out.

Gengar looked afraid as randomly a flying octopus pokemon came up from beneath the roof and spread it's legs out to look as angry and large as possible. "Octiiii!" it fired out an array of lights, shocking Gengar for a split second. He was fast enough to avoid the beams as Octavius kept firing them out, jumping from panel to panel and kicking some of the loose ones back at the falling pokemon. He had successfully dodged, but Octavius stopped firing to whack the small roofing tiles away from itself and fell back to Pearl's head, who struggled a moment to not topple over but was grateful he didn't weigh too much.

She was able to hold her head up steadily, being a strong elder woman, as she looked up to notice that Gengar's speed was enough to throw in a Confuse Ray. "Oh, Octavius, no..!" she worriedly noticed the swirls in his eyes as his head swung a bit in a circle. "Oh dear,… you must snap out of it, Octavius! For the Children's sake! Signal Beam!"

Octillery seemed to be able to obey, his eyes momentarily blinking alright as a serious expression took over. He jumped to a beam and used his suction cups to scale up it, having his his eyes swirl a moment before shaking himself free of the confusion and scaling up. He grabbed Candy's foot which spooked her, but used it to push himself up and jump, shooting another Signal Beam out as Gengar was momentarily distracted by a victory snicker.

"Geng!" he tried to dodge but was hit this time around, letting Riolu slip out of his grasp.

"Alright!" Candy called out, carefully moving swiftly through the loosened tiles to dive and catch Riolu.

"R-.., Rio..." he looked up at her, unable to flee the battle still and twitching her arms.

"It's alright, you're safe now." Her eyes were gentle as she pulled up, having some grim on her face from climbing the gutter and also the filth naturally found on a rooftop. "You were very brave…" she praised, and petted his head as she held him securely like a baby in her arms, not willing to let him go as she glared again back at Gengar. "One more to go, Octavius!"

"He's still got Eevee!" Jake cried out, trying to run around the day care to get a better view of the fight. "Hold on, Eevee!" he called out.

"Octavius!" Pearl swung an arm forward.

"Oct!" Her Octillery hit itself on the head.

"Oh, it's no good." She had thought he broke out of confusion by now, but she had mistaken Gengar's speed yet again as he resolved himself to firing off another Confuse Ray. Now, her precious Octillery was under yet another confusion effect, unable to hear her commands and snap out of it! "He's stuck in confusion by Gengar's Confuse Ray..! Fight it, dear Octavius!" she pleaded.

"Gengar!" Gengar was cowering slightly, holding his now free hand over his head. However, seeing the Octillery confused again by his panicked action, he snickered as though regaining his confidence and used Night Shade, pushing Octavius back.

Everyone gasped as Octillery was shoved off the roof by the powerful hit, and Gengar stuck out his tongue and pulled down an eyelid to mock their feeble efforts at stopping him.

"…Tia." Mia looked to her sister, placing Torchic and Igglybuff down gently, and coming back with a calm but powerful aura about her. She extended her hand, furrowing her brow in a look that proved a statement, not a question.

"Ah! Mia…" Tia was surprised she was letting the pokemon down, but after realizing what she was thinking, she nodded, "Em." Tia looked her sister dead in the eye, their auras forming into one. In understanding, she took her hand.

The two sisters closed their eyes as a weird psychic energy began to flow around them, gently moving their hair. They lifted their heads as only Igglybuff seemed to turn around and notice it, tilting her head at their strong bond and strong ability activating.

Riolu also twitched his eyes to look beyond Candy's arms and see their massive aura, shocked by the presence, he closed his eyes and could physically now see their twining power rising like misty fire.

"…This Gengar has been released by it's trainer.." Mia spoke out, her aura flying towards Gengar as he flinched at her revealing his truth.

"Huh?" Pearl, Candy, and Jake turned around to look at the two girls, not able to see the power like the other pokemon could, but being able to tell they've somewhat changed in their presence.

"H-how can you possibly know that!?" Candy exclaimed, blinking her eyes as Riolu chimed in agreement, looking to Candy as though trying to convince her they were right.

"Our Mommy taught us to feel a pokemon's essence… we can sense it." Tia responded, her chin lifting higher as Gengar gripped his head, not liking them seeing his memories and sensing his troubled heart.

"… it never was a good fighter…" Mia told as her sister continued for her.

"So now it's trying to beat the only pokemon it thinks it can... Proving it's worth to itself." Tia and Mia's power was making Gengar tense up, hunkering down in fury as he slammed a foot down on the roof, angling his free arm in a crooked way up, looking like he was going to attack them.

"And seeing how weak Eevee and Riolu were…" Mia began, as Tia then spoke out.

"It decided to gain a few levels by fighting them, but refused to believe the real reason it attacked was-"

The sisters opened their eyes in unsion, looking equally angry at Gengar, "Jealousy!"

Gengar flinched back at their powerful glare towards him, shaking his head as though he didn't want to admit it.

"Seeing how Candy and Jake were happily fighting, seeing Eevee's fear... reminded him of his own weakness and his trainer's disappointment in him!" Mia called out, as her words made Gengar shutter and bend a knee to the roof, turning away from the girls as Eevee looked with concern up to him.

"Candy believed in both Riolu and Eevee, and it made him upset that he wasn't given the same treatment. He wanted the other pokemon to feel as miserable as he was, and punish the humans for loving their pokemon!" Tia finished the recounting of the story.

"What!? That's horrible! That little-!" before Candy could finish, Gengar reeled himself up from his pity-party and seemed to be gathering the strength to continue his wicked and envious plot. Seeing as the twins had nailed his past, he quickly tightened his grip on Eevee and raced off into the forest, jumping left and right before floating as fast as he could into the darkness of the shaded trees...

"Oh no! He's taking Eevee!" Jake, without thinking, immediately bolted after Gengar in the same direction. "I won't let you hurt Eevee just to make yourself feel stronger!"

"Jake!" Pearl called after, but she was bent down trying to take care of her confused Octillery, who kept hitting himself in confusion and walking further back to the edge of the rooftop. "Ah, Candy, quick-!" she cried out as Candy rushed over and grabbed one of his tentacles, keeping him from falling off the roof.

She sighed in relief, "I don't think I could have taken another hit to the head..." Miss Pearl admitted, but turned quickly to see Jake disappearing into the woods. "Oh dear..."

"I've got him, Pearl! Just take care of the twins!" Candy called back, jumping down from the roof placing Octavius and Riolu down.

"Riolu, Riolu!" He tugged on one of her poofy white cotton balls attached to a string from her dress. He seemed eager to want to go with her.

"No, Riolu. You stay here and protect Miss Pearl and the others." Candy was already still squatting from her roof jump, ready to dart after the boy and the Gengar, but waiting to make sure Riolu didn't follow. "One day, you'll be strong enough to take down a hundred Gengars! Just wait for me, okay?" She then dashed off with lightning speed into the greenery, as Riolu reluctantly let go of her... his eyes trembled as he looked to the ground...

The world became dark and black to Riolu... feeling so alone and useless... unable to stand beside her.

"….Be careful." Pearl was too old to chase after a pokemon, but it was getting dark… sunset was almost upon them as Pearl grew more worried. She turned to Riolu, seeing his defeated spirit, "Hmm... it's not wise to raise a fighting type without much fighting training. I know you want to go after her, but it's safer to start at square one then take on a fully evolved pokemon all by yourself." She tried to comfort, but understood his plight. "I've got to help Octavius, please look after the others and get them safely inside."

Riolu covered his eyes with his arm, not wanting her to see his tears, and shaking to remain strong. He bit down on his teeth hard, not wanting to show such weakness ever again.

"...Can you do that for me? Riolu?" she asked again, bending down to pick up her still confused Octillery.

He lowered his head sharply, giving a quick, stern nod before darting over to the twins and wiping his eyes. When he lowered his arm, he was a different, new pokemon.

"Rio! Riolu!" he gestured for the twins to come with him, and lightly pushed the backs of Torchic and Igglybuff to keep them walking in a straight enough line to get them inside as well.

Torchic kept freaking out, her feathers spraying everywhere and in every direction, but Igglybuff just kept making sure the twins were coming, not wanting to budge until they'd step a few feet ahead of her and then would allow Riolu to move her onward.

The twins 'powered down' to say the least, and quickly helped Riolu. "We have you, don't worry." They both said in unison as the three pokemon gathered around them and Pearl. Riolu kept urging the twins to go inside, but watched as Octavius finally snapped out of confusion.

It looked sorrowfully up to it's trainer, "Octi…" as though apologizing.

"Don't worry, old sport." She rubbed its head. "It's not your fault. Let's pray that Candy will be able to stop Gengar. I believe in her and Jake." Pearl comforted him, but was mostly talking to the group, as the twins instinctively rushed to huddled everyone together into a group hug. Pearl embraced them, and turned her attention toward the fence, hoping the two were alright. "We should head inside... and believe in them."

-The Forest-

"Jake! Do you see them!?" Candy had caught up to Jake, not surprising since she would bulldoze through these forests all the time, and knew the fastest way to parkour through it.

"It's… It's almost too dark!" Jake was trying to bat the low-hanging branches out of his way, getting scraped up while he did so, but didn't let that phase him. He squinted through the shadowed trees with only thin beams of light to reveal to them anything in their path.

"Stay on their tails! I'm right behind you!" Candy would shove larger branches and move shrubbery that would threaten to swing back and hit him as he took the lead. Before too long, Candy took out her pokeball and knew that multiple eyes were better than four. "Go! Zippity!" she threw the pokeball up and let her Pichu land on a branch from a nearby tree, then caught it expertly again and waved to her. "Over here!" she tried to get her attention as the little summoned pokemon flicked her ears and stood on all fours, getting up from laying on the branch and looking around. When spotting her, it wondered why it was up so high and away from her.

"Pi?" she seemed confused.

"Try finding a Gengar with Eevee! He's stolen him!" Candy quickly explained as other forest-dwelling pokemon looked to each other as they were eavesdropping and watching the two.

They had originally been wanting to teach Candy a lesson, but hearing the situation had changed and a baby pokemon from the daycare was taken, they looked worried for its sake.

"PI!?" Zippity looked enraged. "Pichu, pi, pichu!" she seemed to lower her head down below the branch to scold Candy's irresponsibility vigorously, really tearing her apart but Candy just withdrew a bit and looked apologetically embarrassed by her loud shouting.

"Yeah, I know." Candy whimpered, "Can you help me?" Candy was almost out of breath, "Whoo! I've got to start running more long distances!" she really pushed herself, but felt her power fading. "You can do it, Zippity!" She wasn't stupid enough to know when she had overworked herself, first with sprinting through the forest, helping around the daycare with cleaning and the kids, climbing the roof, diving for Riolu, jumping off the roof, the girl had a full day of exercise!

This was bound to be her limit, and Zippity let out a powerful cry of further chewing her out, "Pi-CHU!" before quickly dashing from branch to branch.

"She hates me, I get it, but it comes from love, honestly." Candy felt so defeated by how her pokemon was talking to her, but Jake just seemed a bit angry at the hold-up and confused by their relationship.

"Does every pokemon hate you?"

"No, sometimes humans too." She gave him a bit of a stink-eye before laughing it lightly off. She rubbed his hat further into his hair, "At least you're only kidding."

He didn't respond and she felt her heart sink as she removed her hand and he kept treading through the forest floor.

"You're all so mean..!" she shed some tears and continued after him. "What'd I do to you..!? I mean, at least with Zippity, I know why!"

Jake just brushed her off, he wasn't in the mood and as he finally pushed a large, leaf-filled branch away, he gasped at seeing Gengar throwing Eevee down to the ground against a tree. It looked badly hurt, trying to get back up and wincing in pain.

"Gengar…" It loomed over him, ready to do another attack in hopes of getting stronger by continually beating down on Eevee, but Jake threw himself over Eevee.

"Noo!" he cried out, grabbing Eevee and keeping him safe under him. "I won't let you hurt Eevee anymore! You want experience?! You're gonna have to hit me now! Grahh!" Jake got up quickly, keeping Eevee on the ground near his foot as he launched a fist toward Gengar.

The fist went right through Gengar as he stared amazed, touched by this human's want to protect the weakling. Memories of his old trainer came back to him, seeing how Jake was the complete opposite, and felt himself pitying his life even more.

In that upsetting rage, he disappeared into the shadows of the forest, gritting his teeth and shaking his fists by his sides.

"H-huh?" Jake was surprised by the hasty retreat, blinking his eyes a moment, "Did... Did I scare him away?"

Hearing a large cry, Pichu tried following it, but Gengar's eyes glowed and a Ghost-type pokemon had the illusion of Gengar placed on it. It blinked a second, but Zippity charged at it, sparking as it tried to ram into him. The Ghost-type pokemon freaked out and fled, leading Zippity to follow the false illusion.

Gengar snickered at her faulty vision and mistake, but then noticed Candy and also had his eyes glow towards her. Candy was about to race after Jake, "Hold on-!" but another Jake seemed to be traveling in another direction. "O-oh, there you are. I thought you dashed off on me for a second." she thought she was traveling closely behind him... but it was all false...

"I can't believe I fell behind this much! The little tike can move!" She the false Jake maneuvered quickly through the forest's obstacles, and she supposed it was due to his size and child-like energy, but didn't realize the illusions that Ghost-type pokemon can create. She had thought she was right behind him, but Gengar had sent them on a wild-goose chase to give them a never-ending maze to shift through. It would keep them back as part of his schemes, so he could continue to get his experience...

Eevee weakly looked up, wondering what was happening too. Jake didn't turn back to look at it, and it knew that the instinct to keep your eye on your opponent was important to surviving, so it shook off some of it's fear and shock and looked around as well. Then, Gengar's ghostly shadow emerge slightly at another angle where Jake wasn't looking, and Eevee gasped at it's trickery. "E-... Eev... vee!" he tried to warn, struggling to get up as Gengar's laughter echoed and Jake staggered a bit as he searched the treetops for where the sound was coming from.

"W-where is he..?" Jake's voice shook with some worry, the pain he saw from Eevee had given him strength, but he had no idea how to take on a fully evolved pokemon as a human kid...

Gengar solidified from his ghost-form, mockingly snickering with a 'Keh, keh, keh' before throwing a Shadow Punch out, hitting Jake on the side of his face as he turned to where the sound was now very clearly coming from. "Augh!" Jake flew back it seemed, landing with a hard hit down as Eevee limped weakly over to him, crying out as he watched him get attacked.

Candy heard something and so did Pichu, "What the-!?" Candy turned away from the fake jake's back, but upon looking back, it had disappeared... Her mouth hung down and her face turned white as she shook and lifted a leg up at the fearful realizing that he was never there to begin with... rippling away from existence as Gengar's illusions faded.

"Duskull?" The ghost pokemon had looked back at the Pichu with it's one eye in each socket, the illusion of Gengar dropping from it and spooking Zippity. An awkward tear drop dripped from the side of her face, "Pi... chu?" Realizing she was deceived, she growled and quickly rushed back to find Candy and Jake, upset she had been mislead.

Jake rubbed his cheek, not willing to show Eevee his fear. "I-It's okay, Eevee… better me than you." he smiled to show he was alright, as Eevee's eyes circled in the gloss of it's newly forming tears.

"Eevee, Eevee..." It seemed to be calling out in love to him, as though realizing he was willing to take the damage for him as many times as it took to get Gengar off his back. "Eevee!" he shook his head, then lunged forward and seemed to cry out as though pleading for Jake to stay back and get away.

Just then, seeing Jake's unwillingness to abandon Eevee and keep taking hits for it, Gengar's jealousy and rage grew. Then his eyes shined as he shifted them back to hear Zippity and Candy start moving in the right direction, his illusions no longer affecting them. Reacting fast and fueled by his fury, he swung his arm back. Black, lightning-like effect shot out from his eyes as he released a powerful Night Shade that surrounded the field in a large dome. Swinging his arm up, the dome finished forming as a purple-encasing mist, strange and alarming, that kept Zippity and Candy at bay while also causing Jake to see mirages of his nightmares.

Jake gripped his head, "Ahh!" getting tormented by his dreams. "This isn't real! It isn't real!" he was shoved back against the tree that Eevee was at by the attack's force, but was careful to make sure he didn't land on Eevee.

"Jake!" Candy cried out, not sure where he was. Trying to run towards where she thought she heard his voice, Candy was suddenly hit back and blocked by a strange purple forcefield. "Urrk..." She struggled to get up, pushing on her arms as she had landed on her back. "What is this? Some kind of pokemon move?" she got up and immediately banged on the swirling purple and black sploched mist but it sprang her back again, "Ya'ahh!"

Zippity paused on her running along the tree branches to stand up on her two back legs and twitch her ears around like sonar. Picking up on Candy's voice, she dove headfirst towards the top of the purple forcefield dome, "Pichuuu..!" it was hit back and began to fall down, "Pi-chu!"

"Zippity! I got ya, buddy!" Candy quickly got back on her feet, having her leg slip from under her due to the impact she last took from the Night Shade half-sphere but caught her from falling.

"Pichu, pi... pichu..." Zippity weakly seemed to be commenting on how useless it was to get through the strange ghost-like dome surrounding the area in front of them.

"Grr... Where's Jake? A moment ago, he was right in front of me!" Candy spoke through clamped teeth, her eyebrows twitching further down in her worry and concern. "Is this all part of Gengar's tricks!? I never knew Ghost-types could be so powerful and manipulative!" she looked back at the purple, misty dome. "So he's heartbroken, he could have asked to train with us! He didn't have to lash out like this! I can't say I don't see his point of view but..." she lowered her head, still enraged. "Grrr..! If he hurts Jake, I'll never forgive him!" she took off with Zippity in her arms, shoving her shoulder squarely into the Night Shade forcefield, causing black sparks to fly out in powerful, thick lightning bolts before shoving her back again. "AHHH!" she slammed hard against the ground and skidded on her back, being flung away again. "...I... I can't give up..." her eyes twitched in her pain, and Zippity looked worriedly up to her.

"Pichu..." she seemed to gently speak Candy's syllables out through her own name. Determined then, she jumped out of Candy's arms, seeming to have a plan to not give up either. "Pi-Pichu!" she pumepd her arms in the air, upward as though powering up with a dual flex.

"H-huh?" Candy got up slowly, straining to sit up. "You got a plan, Zip?"

"Pichu!" she cheered out.

Jake's head was ringing and his eyes watered as he hunched over Eevee and gripped the tree he was bashed into by the attack, "Ghost types moves... don't affect normal types, yeah?" He tried to speak while not crying, seeing Eevee's scared expression below him. He felt himself slipping, but tried to adjust his knee so he wouldn't fall... not yet. "I... guess I'm not a Normal-type... but I'm glad he can't hurt you like this... at least... I can protect you... a little bit longer." He smiled as a tear fell to Eevee's fur.

Eevee looked so afraid... so broken down and beaten... he didn't want to see his friend without any hope. "H-how long... did he keep pounding in on you..?" He kept his eyes down on Eevee, his body giving out on him but he wouldn't quit till he properly gave Eevee the comfort it desperately needed.

"D-don't... Don't worry, Eevee... You don't... have to f-fight... if you don't want to. I'm... s-...sorry." he gripped the tree just a bit more, trying to stay upright. Eevee's eyes continued to threaten with tears, listening and hanging from every word he uttered. "From now on... I'll fight for you... o-okay?" he closed his eyes, "You never... have to be scared... again..." Still trying to smile heroically, Jake lost all his strength and swaggered, collapsing to the side as Candy and Zippity kept trying to break through the Night Shade dome.

"Jake!", "Pichu!" the two called out, knowing he must be inside with Eevee.

"I'm supposed to protect you!" Candy cried out, "I will protect you!"

His head hung as he leaned against the tree, knocked out...

Gengar kicked out his feet and laughed at the human's useless struggle to help it's pokemon friend. It felt that, at last, he was a powerful pokemon.

"…Eevee?" Eevee called out to Jake, who didn't respond, his hat covering his eyes.., "…Eevee?" he called out again, having tears falling in blobs from his eyes as he scooted closer, letting the dirt scrape against his cheek as he dragged it to reach a paw closer to Jake's slightly leaned up body. He pressed his paw lightly against Jake's blue shorts, but nothing...

He closed his eyes as the tears sprayed dramatically to the sides of him, and then stomped a paw down to push himself up off the ground, thrusting his head back and letting the tears fly about him in a sparkling declaration of his sorrows, "EEVVEEEE!" he jumped to his feet, turning to Gengar with his fur spiked and growled defiantly, as though that was the last time Gengar was going to hurt his friend again!

"G-Gengar?!" Gengar looked shocked by how completely ticked off this once scared to faint/death Eevee was now looking, it took him off guard.

It's fur was ruffled upwards, it's fangs born, it's growl vibrated the very core of Gengar's being and it's glare caught him in a frozen but trembling state. Eevee stepped and then pounced in front of Jake to protect him. He had hurt his friend, and to Eevee, that was the last straw!

Jake sacrificed his health to protect him, at least, that's how Eevee was viewing it, and so he was going to do the same! Because he loved Jake, and Jake loved him! He remembered the promise they made to each other.

"Don't be afraid… Hey! I promise we'll win! We just have to work together, I know we can do it!"

"Eevee…Vee, vee!" Eevee charged Gengar, it's fear and self-perservation not nearly as important as protecting Jake. Gengar suddenly grew frightened by this Eevee's new found courage, as Eevee's mouth opened with a brand new move!

Eevee used bite, as it's jaws created a light that pushed forward from it's mouth to reveal an exact replica of it's teeth, and bit down on Gengar's ghostly body. The powerful Dark-type move was was super-effective!

The Gengar was barely hurt by the Signal Beam, a Buy-type move that could cause confusion but didn't in this case; however, this Bite really packed a wallop as Eevee kept using it, over and over again, causing Gengar to flinch and keep stumbling back. When it didn't flinch, it tried Shadow Punch, but it had no effect on Eevee and would phase through him. Realizing the attacks were unending, Gengar tried to go for a simple attack, just struggling to whack him back but failed as the teeth kept crunching into him. Realizing this was his fate, Gengar finally succumbed to his defeat and let Eevee take the final blow for victory, fainting unwillingly to it's impressive comeback.

Gengar fell back as it tripped over itself, swirls in it's eyes with a open frown that showed it's wincing teeth.

Eevee's head swung left and right, the lighted teeth suddenly flashing out of existence as he finally stopped, and breathed heavily. It's fangs stopped glowing... and he felt himself gaining the strength to never back down from a fight again...

"Uhh…ehmmm." Jake slowly stirred, which broke Eevee from being lost in its rage.

"Eev-veh?" it called his name's syllables as it's tail flicked up, giving itself a better perceptive of it's friend. Turning to look over it's back, glad to see he was going to be alright, it worriedly raced to his side, "Eevee, Eev! ...Vee?" it quickly ran up to him, placing two front paws on his chest, trying to stir him more into waking up. Looking him over, it was as if Eevee was asking if he was alright, "Eevee, Eevee?" it's voice continued to pull Jake out of the black and into the dusky yellow of the setting sky.

"Huh..? Eevee? Uhh..," he rolled his eye sight up before down to Eevee's thankful expression, then to the side towards Gengar, who was out cold. "…Ah! Gengar! Wait.., he looks asleep… No! Knocked out! Ah-ha! Eevee! Eevee, you did it! You beat Gengar, didn't you?!" He looked excited, getting up slightly and glancing down to Eevee, who smiled with the remaining tears in his eyes, and nodded his head.

"Oh Eevee.. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help…" Eevee shook it's head, showing him that he did help him in overcoming his fear of battling.

Once he had something to fight for, he was actually quite powerful and good at battling!

He owed it all to Jake…

"Jake! Eevee! Are you two alright?" Candy finally caught up to the two, huffing and puffing as Zippity raced to her side, looking around as if wanting to battle but clearly exhausted from trying to break through the Night Shade dome. It had faded once Gengar was defeated, and seeing he had blacked out, Zippity hunched down and kicked the dirt, throwing a huge hissy fit at missing all the fun and not being able to break through the Night Shade dome.

"Ah, Ugly face!" Jake smiled, happy to see Candy as he picked Eevee up, who happily would have jumped into his arms regardless. He situated himself slowly into sitting on the ground, his back aching and face puffed up red on the side that Gengar had smacked with a Shadow Punch, but overall, he looked like he'd be alright. "I'm okay..! And more importantly, Eevee didn't faint and is gonna make it through!" He held Eevee up triumphantly, "I wish I could of seen it! But I think he fought all on his own!"

"Eevee, vee!" Eevee also chimed in, as if further stating that Jake was right.

"R-really? Huh… well, good for you two." Candy stopped her rush to get to them, seeing as they both looked relatively without broken bones... "Eevee seems... different somehow." She was surprised the usually timid little pokemon was now confidently wagging it's tail and not fearfully hiding or trying to wiggle out. "I'm glad you're both safe." Candy smiled with an added sigh, relaxing a moment. She then rubbed her arm over her eyes, "I was just... worried I might have failed you both..." she sniffled, clearly trying to hold it together. When she pulled the arm away, she examined him more closely, and saw how Jake's clothes were dirty and the red bruising on his cheek, "Uhh… how are we gonna explain this to your father though…" she scratched the back of her head, "And Miss Pearl's gonna faint me too..."

Gengar quickly snapped out of it, blinking his eyes and getting up, lickety-split. Seeing Eevee and Jake hugging one another and celebrating their victory, he growled and 'tsk'd as he looked away, still fuming in jealousy, and flew off, seeming to hold back tears.

Candy watched it go... saddened by the way it was choosing to handle it's heartbreak, but unable to help it if it refused to change its ways.

-End of the Day-

"Was Mr. Johnson understanding?" Candy pressed her two index fingers' tips together, shying back as Miss Pearl softly closed the door with a prolonged sigh.

"Yes… he thought of Jake's actions as very heroic. He just hoped his wife thinks the same thing..." Miss Pearl went to scratch her head but instead, accidentally scratched Octavius, who took the petting happily. "Oh, beg your pardon, old friend." she smiled and laughed as Candy did the same, just glad she wasn't getting in trouble.

Candy and Pearl went to close for the night as Octavius and Zippity sat outside on the porch of the Daycare Center, just trying to calm down together.

Octavius was upset he couldn't defend anyone, recounting his wonderful battling in his youth, and Zippity was upset at missing out on a good battle. She also mentioned her fear of never being strong enough because she couldn't evolve, due to the Everstone sitting somewhere in the pit of her stomach, but Octavius just wrapped a tentacle around her and smiled with his eyes closed and curling show that she was strong no matter what. She did try and go after Gengar, and that was enough for both of them to feel somewhat content in their strengths.

"Oh, come on you two, dearies. It's alright. Come, have something to eat and drink." Pearl invited them in after seeing their pity-party comforting. Octillery and Pichu sighed, but turned around and following her in for the night.

Eevee stood outside near the fence, looking out where Jake had left too…

"…Hmm?" Pearl let Octavius and Zippity walk in but went back out to stand with him. Staring at the night sky setting in, she lovingly smiled to the road that Eevee was so patiently staring at. "…You miss him, don't you, Eevee?"

"Vee…" Eevee nodded, solemnly.

"Hmm… I bet you'd like to travel with that young man someday. Wouldn't you, Eevee?" She looked down quietly to him.

Eevee raised his head slightly, before looking up to Pearl with a big happy open grin on his face. "Eevee! Eevee, vee!"

Pearl chuckled. "Haha! I see… I completely understand, Eevee. Well, he's only got two or so more years. How about you two grow closer and then I'm sure he'd just love to take you on his journey with him. Sound good?"

Eevee jumped around, thrilled that Pearl would let him go with Jake on an adventure, when the time came, that is. His tail wagged more vigorously, and dust flew up everywhere.

"Ho, ho. Very good. Now come inside, Eevee. We have dinner all ready for you. Everyone's waiting now, chop chop!" Pearl lightly nudged Eevee with her walking stick as Eevee dived and pawed at it, grabbing it successfully and nibbling on it's end playfully for a moment before running around Pearl and racing to the Daycare.

"Hmm-Hmm… Yes,.. that's another thing I was hoping for… Pokemon growing up and becoming stronger.., not just in levels, but with their bonds towards the children we take care of as well. Together, they can decide to go off and adventure together. When they're both ready, that is." Pearl made her way back to the daycare center, walking in reflection as Eevee went off without her.

However, she was pulled from her thoughts once hearing a ruckus inside, and sighed. "What now..?" she smiled, as though understanding the youthful naive natures of those she was taking care of.

"N-no! Hey! Everyone sit down and then I'll let you eat-HEY! GIVE ME THAT BACK! No! Bad, Igglybuff! You have to share-TORCHIC! Come back here with the plates! Ah! Riolu! Don't play with your food-ACK! Did you just throw that at me!? Okay, that's it! Food fight!"

"…Oh dear." Pearl could see the windows being splattered upon with food... "Sometimes I fear the pokemon and children aren't the only things that need to grow around here…"

Vaporeon Aquarium

"Step lively now, children." Pearl was leading the way into the entrance of the daycare's first ever field trip, to the famous aquarium stationed in the usually snowy city. However, with summer hot on it's tail, the snow was mostly gone now and so was the muddy parts of the roads, leading to new wild Pokémon and attractions re-opening for the season. In pairs of two, the children gleefully waddled in awe as they stopped in front of the entrance to the large aquarium. "Do we all have our permission slips?"

"Yes, Miss Pearl." The children answered in unison, obeying rather well compared to their usual rambunctiousness. The aquarium had the design of entering a whirlpool with a stretched oval shape mouth of a Wailord, as though he was gushing the spiraling water out from his mouth. In the wake of the blue and light blue waves and splashes of white, many water Pokémon were displayed happily surfing along it. At intervals, the 'spout' of the Wailord entrance would spray up and out, just a neat little feature to spook and surprise the guest.

"Yep!" Candy ruffled through her bag, and then gestured to Zippity to stick close by her. The other baby Pokémon were about the twins and Jake's feet, sniffing and watching the spout as Torchic would flail it's tiny little chicken wings about in shock each time the entrance let loose another puff of water up into the air.

"Candy, you don't need a permission slip." Pearl lowered her eyes, realizing Candy was attempting to find her own...

"O-oh… right, hehe." Candy scratched behind her head. It was only recently that she had graduated from her private Pokémon school, of course she still asked her mom to sign the paper... which, her mother was surprisingly not taken aback by either. It was childish, but that just came with Candy's personality. "Just gonna… p-put that in my bag, then…Ehem." Embarrassed, Candy slipped the signed piece of paper, looking like a golden ticket, back into her yellowish, sandy beige bag. Zippity snickered at her, putting her two paws over her mouth before rushing to 'shepherd' the other baby Pokémon from not leaving the group.

"Ugly and dumb." Jake muttered out from the side of his mouth, looking away from her.

"PEARL!" Ruffled with her hair spiking up at the middle, making it look like her anger transferred into sentient life within it, Candy childishly pointed back to Jake as though to accuse him of such bullying.

"Jake,… mind your manners." Pearl figured Candy had a long way to go, but was still encouraging the thoughts of one day improving Candy's Pokémon training and helping her to become whatever dream with Pokémon she could imagine. Mostly, of course, to be a Pokémon Master was almost every trainer's dream. So she was likely to start there when it came to Candy and the little ones... or rather, other little ones.

Candy stuck out her tongue to the little brat she had grown fond of over the summer he had stayed with them. The four baby Pokémon had grown along with the children as well, even being close to evolution as deduced by Pearl's trained eye.

"Now then, this is a very important day." Pearl watched as everyone was corralled around her by Zippity, seeing her spark out a little to keep Igglypuff from wandering too far away, but didn't actually zap her. She was slightly dizzy from the release of her electricity, but snapped out of it and smiled up to Pearl, seeming to have respect for someone she saw as a 'commander' of sorts. With a nod to acknowledge Zippity's faithful efforts to help keep everyone together and attentive, Pearl continued, "It's the day I caught my Remoraid, and do you know what Remoraid evolves into?" Pearl had on a very summer 'in Hawaii' like attire on, showing this was partially her vacation idea, which was equipped with a straw visor and a floral pattern on her long dress.

The snow had finally melted and the whole of the area was living in spring, but in this kind of weather, it was hot enough to feel the sweating and humidity like summer.

The sun was bright, and the shore of the sea close by, meaning fire and water pokemon were likely to start migrating back along with some exotic bird pokemon. For the most part, Pearl's hopes were to celebrate her pokemon's anniversary, meaning the day she met, befriended, and caught him. However, it was also an excellent time to educate the young premature trainers in more unique pokemon, and teach them also of loving ones very own captured friends. "Catching a pokemon is a celebratory event. You should show them you care deeply about the bond you have created with them, and this is an excellent way to do so." Pearl had once told Candy and the children back at the Daycare, while they were applying sunscreen and helping the children get into the bus that would take them to the aquarium by the shoreline.

Just a while down from the city, pass a few cliffs was this great ocean, but the seaside attraction was considered still apart of the city's tourism, and therefore, considered to still be apart of it.

To celebrate both the first season's passage through time and her pokemon's friendiversary, Pearl wanted to take the kids somewhere fun but interesting, and suggested the good old Aquarium that had been built as a water pokemon rescue facility by Pokémon Rangers sometime after her capture of her beloved pokemon. The Pokemon Rangers still, at times, come from their cliffside base and still do water pokemon rehabilitation and training for their young recruits. Now, it was finally time to have her true plans finally coming to surface for the children's understanding of why she wouldn't be attending their fun fieldtrip exclusively…

"Um…uh…" Jake seemed stumped by Pearl's earlier question as the twin sisters looked to each other.

They held their hands together and closed their eyes, looking away from one another as though to channel their powers as one. Mia placed her other, unburdened hand on the side temple of her forehead, seeming to read something in the psychic atmosphere she was communing with…

"Hmm…, I see orange… No, red! Is it red?" Mia asked then, as Tia opened her eyes, and looked to her sister before turning to Pearl to see if she was correct.

"Haha! It's my good old friend, Octavius." Pearl wasn't carrying him on her head as she usually did. He did love leaning off the side of her head and just sticking around for the ride with his trusty suctions cups curling around her, but to give him a surprise, she had put him away for most of the trip. So, she summoned him out at Mia's prediction of his color, and he once again appeared in a flash of white, taking form and materializing on his favorite spot: The side of her head. Happily bouncing his tentacles around, he cheered at his awakening, so to speak, and felt like a fearsome kraken as the children giggled at his performance.

"Octi, Octi!" He looked to the entrance and knew exactly what today was. Happily, he knew it was his day with his trainer, and seemed to not be too surprised, as though his old trainer had brought him many times, every year in fact, to the spot where they had first met.

"Oh! Octavius!" Tia looked to her sister, "You were right!"

Mia smiled gleefully, and then took on a prideful stance, taking her hand off her forehead and placing it with confidence by her hip. "I know. You doubted our abilities, sister?" She turned her head up and to the side, stating quite smugly.

"Eh, don't do that." Jake grumbled out, "You're weird as is with your freaky powers, but don't act all snobbish about it." he didn't care for her attitude, and flinched back as though he was creeped out by her proudness.

"What did you say?!" Mia stomped her foot down, moving her arms in the same motion too and letting her sister's hand go, which seemed to trouble Tia momentarily. Mia tried to look threateningly upset, but sadly… it's hard to be really threatened with a cute little girl's voice like hers and her sisters.

Tia, seeing Mia was triggered by what Jake had said, decided to also mimic her a bit and act bolder. She wanted to protect her sister too... Which was only minutes older than her, anyway.

"Mia and I are naturally talented." Huffed out Tia, seeming to portray herself as too high in social ranking to argue with riff-raff like Jake. She was still defending her sister though, but due to Mia's influence, she often shared the thought that her and her sister were better than most 'normal' people because of their unique 6th sense. This was something their father often praised their mother about, making their mother grow a bit prideful in it as well through his dotting. "Those who are jealous can stay behind!" she spat out, pushing him behind her to the back of the 'line' near Candy.

"H-hey!" Jake was tossed back, surprised it was Tia who was doing this. He adjusted his cap and pouted profoundly her way after stumbling down to his butt.

"Eevee!" Eevee immediately ran to his side, seeming worried.

Tia took her sister's hand again, as though insecure without it, and they walked away together with their heads held high.

Mia turned back and pulled down an eyelid and stuck out her tongue in a 'taunting' fashion towards Jake while they walked on, and the two carried on their way.

"Hmph. Girls!" Jake folded his arms, upset by how quickly he was thrown aside and his opinion disregarded. "No one likes a stuck-up brat!" he hollered out, getting up to really project his voice towards them with his arms angled back and down, elbows up, and his chest puffing out his words as hard as his lungs could expel them.

"Vee… Vee!" Eevee tugged his paw on Jake's shorts, and nuzzled his leg by leaning up on it like a cat would do, rubbing cutely. "Eevee!" He seemed to want to give some reassurance that he wouldn't leave Jake's side like they did.

Riolu rolled his eyes at the spectacle and stayed close to Candy's side, he moved inches closer to her leg when other people walked by—strangers.

"…Haha, you're right, Eevee! Who needs them!" He flopped his hand out at the direction the girls had taken off on and bent down to pick Eevee up, turning his back literally to them. "Come on, I carried you on the bus cause I know how you don't like new experiences… so I'll make sure the aquarium isn't so bumpy for ya, either." He kindly stated as Eevee stayed in his arms as Pearl remembered loading the kids into the public bus. They each sat eagerly for the exciting journey, and everyone was worried about Riolu chasing Torchic up and down the bus while it was driving.

Candy, especially, worried about the powerful fighting-type pokemon accidentally ramming the side of the bus and having them all topple over the cliff... But thankfully, Riolu remained mostly undestructive, his playful nature keeping him content with playing tag rather than mischief on the actual bus driver. Who, again, was a stranger...

"Octavius, you don't mind Nevermore seeing around while we have our time, do you?" Pearl could see the twins stop just inside the entrance as though not wanting to go further and get in trouble, so she let the children play out their minor disputes, hoping they would figure out how to makeup with each other shortly. "I want to make sure the kids are well looked after. Oh! And Candy too." Pearl looked up to her Octillery, who happily nodded in approval of her mature thinking. "Quite right, then. Nevermore, come on out, deary."

Her Murkrow emerged from it's pokeball and flapped it's wings outside where the bus had loaded them off. "Murkrow?" The fake wailord's spout burst into a stream of water and spooked Murkrow, but instead of getting startled for long, turned with gritted teeth towards it, as though ready for battle.

"Now, now." Pearl comforted him, as he turned back to take instruction from her. "Go ahead and tag along outside if you'd like to stretch your wings. But remember to watch the others while me and Octrillery walk around the beach, just there." Pearl really wanted the 'alone time' with her pokemon before joining the others, to go over memories of her younger years with him, together.

Murkrow understood, he also had a very nice day with Pearl when his anniversary of first being captured was had. She was a sentimental woman, who loved to remember her grand youth and adventures with her pokemon. After her husband died, it was all she could really do besides fulfilling her mother's dream of carrying on her grandmother's legacy of the famous Daycare Center that raised both pokemon and children to become professional and highly skilled trainers.

With everyone loaded out, the bus began to move away, as Jake saw Candy looking deep in thought, hitting her head lightly with her knuckle as she tried to remember something…

"Woah, I don't think I've ever seen a human being think that hard." Jake stated, making Candy snap out of her squinted and closed-eyed thought process and look to the kid. "You must be really stupid."

"Excuse me, isn't it rude to stare at people?" she tried to reprehend him, but just sighed and gave up, confusing him. Losing her former position and stooping herself down to the ground to sit rather lazily, "Oh, what would you care, anyway? You already have your punishment of 'no extra snacks' to fill over 2 years… Which isn't even as long as we carry you for, is it?" she had honestly forgotten how old he was. To her, he was just a snot-nosed kid she didn't want to see get hurt.

"Hey! Answer me! What were you thinking about?" Jake seemed to ignored her, still holding Eevee as he tilted his head too, curiously.

"You never asked me what I was thinking about… only that I was stupid and thinking about it too hard." She stated factly and with a bit of smack in her tone, looking bummed out already. She was actually really excited to go to the aquarium, but with these kids to look after…

She sighed again.

She'll never have any real fun being a 'mature adult' now… Would she?

"Responsibility sucks~" she groaned out, almost inaudible by the way she moped about it, even her voice was groggily trying to form the sound in her disappointed exhaustion.

It was a long bus ride with tension at every kid making a ruckus and moving around so much. Kinda terrifying to think that each bump the bus had could mean certain doom, at least, in her mind it did.

In all actuality, the cliffside roads that trailed at angles down the steep slopes to the beach and aquarium weren't that bad... And that bus had been on that route for a long, long time.

"Fine, have it your way. Ehem," Jake cleared his throat as Eevee nodded his head with each motion Jake made as he spoke again. "My dear Candy. What, prey tell, are you thinking?" he sounded so Shakespearian, but it was only to mock her really. "Were thou displeased by my fart jokes on yonder bus ride?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Since when has Shakespeare ever been proper manners to you, kid?" Then again, he was a rich person's son... Candy didn't consider his upbringing could have been well-educated.

"…I don't know." Jake shrugged, and Eevee mimicked again. "I thought it was proper English."

"If you only knew what that legendary man actually wrote..." she held her head and shook it, "…Aye, aye, aye… I wouldn't have even known, probably thought the same as you, if I didn't have a friend in the theatre world." She sat back up, being honest with him, leaning forward and arching her back a bit to check on the twins at the corner of her eye. They were still waiting, so she didn't need to act right away on that supervision, either. Also, Miss Pearl hadn't given her an instruction about it, and Murkrow wasn't pecking at her head to pay attention, so she figured it was all good. They were in eye-sight, anyway, just whispering to each other.

She held her hands in front of her and spoke her thoughts out loud, "I thought it was really something… you know, that Pearl sets a day aside and remembers her pokemon's first meeting with her." She admitted her original thoughts, and looked over to Zippity, still struggling to keep the baby pokemon from wandering off after the twins. "All the adventures they've had together and stuff." She looked down, realizing she hadn't done that stuff with her own pokemon... one being rather new, and the other... a long-time partner. "I was just thinking… Gee, I wish I was that kind of a trainer… but I guess that's silly, right?" Candy looked back up at Jake, ready for the mocking.

"…It does sound a little stupid…" he stated at first, before continuing. "But I see what you mean. I want to remember the first day I met Eevee, too!" he took Eevee's paws and moved them up and down, squishing them a bit too, as Eevee seemed to laugh at him playing with his paws in his arms.

"…Really? So then,… are you a little stupid in agreeing with me?" She honestly asked, considering he did just say it was stupid in the beginning. But... it made her realize something. Maybe... Candy wasn't the only one who admired and wanted to emulate Pearl's Pokémon trainer qualities.

"I said it sounded stupid at first. Geez, you have terrible hearing, Ugly." He moved away from her and continued to favor Eevee, who loved his attention, no longer seeming so skittish and afraid when Jake was nearby.

"Hmph, little rascal." Candy pouted as she turned away, but smiled, knowing he didn't really mean half the mean things he said to her anyway.

He was just a kid, after all.

"Hey! I want to hold TorTor!"

"B-but you're holding IgglyWiggly!"

"Then give me Riolulu!"

The twins had returned, too eager to be with the baby pokemon that were still trying to make their way to them. They squated down and seemed to bicker lightly about which pokemon to handle.

Candy was surprised they had snatched Riolu from behind her so sneakily, but smiled warmly at how much he struggled to not be held. 'Guess he's a one-woman kinda pokemon.' she thought that charming.

"I thought we agreed he'd sit in the middle! Between us two! On the bus?" They were struggling to decide who to hold and kept passing wiggling baby pokemon between them, but also keeping a hold on them so they didn't get away. "Now I wanna hold him too!", "Nuh-uh, it's my turn!", "No, that's not fair!", "I'm the oldest.", "By a second of minutes more, flat out discrimination against younger siblings!", "You're gonna hurt the pokemon!".

All the while, Riolu lifted his chin up and tried to push their arms away with his powerful legs, using his arms to try and make a gap for him to escape, but the little girls proved a tough challenge when Torchic's wild, tiny wings flapped onto him and caused him another uncomfortable moment. He sneezed and tried to move his face away from the batting feathers, but then Torchic got a foot on one of the twin's arms and launched herself right into him, pushing him back down into the twin's hold.

"Ah, great… The twins are fighting." Candy looked over her and remembered how they did the same thing while on the bus, arguing who would sit next to who. "Again..." She lowered her head down to the side in defeat. On the bus, she had looked over her seat, still anxious about getting back to flat land, to see them way in the back and causing a commotion. Torchic jumped and kicked its legs in the air, similar to now, but still looking ecstatic to be out of the Daycare center and out and about. "Tor, tor, tor, tor!" she landed on the ground and took off down the isle, just wanting to run around... Which caused more panic that Candy quickly shook her head, sighing away the memory as she didn't want to think about when Riolu jumped in and the bus was even more of a racket. Just a punch away from destruction and tumbling off the cliff, she used to think.

Riolu was squished between the two girls, and hated every second of it, but tried to practice patience as Pearl had once asked him too. He almost used Feint on one of them to get them to stop tugging on his ears… but was grateful when they're attentions turned to grabbing Igglypuff out of their hands like yanking a ball back and forth between them, sticking their tongues out and crying out in a shriek when it was stolen back.

As they continued to keep fighting over whose lap she'd sit on, he began to have little anger marks appear on his head, feeling like a stuffed animal rather than a living, strong pokemon.

Finally, he snapped, like the tension strings on a boxing glove giving way and a few rings of the bell sounding off. His patience had limits... he let out a huge cry, "RIOOOOLUUUU!" and punched the twin's arm that was holding him away, jumping down and holding his head, "Rio, Rio, Riolu!" he seemed to be shouting about how annoying they were and how he couldn't take much more of it. Tia rubbed her arm, not that hurt, but Miss Pearl seemed a bit displeased.

"I'm sorry..." Tia started, placing Torchic down as well.

"Yeah, we were only trying to cuddle you..." Tia secured the Igglypuff in her arms.

They didn't point fingers at each other though, which was a sign they were both willing to take the blame.

Riolu shook his head, as though not wanting excuses, and rushed back to Candy's side, crying out in frustrated grunts, "Riolu, Riolu, Riolu..!" Candy was touched but surprised by his want of her, and opened her arms only to have him leap and slam across her lap, his head ramming into her gut.

"Aww, what a poor, cute baby-OFFPH!" She felt her insides twist before he adjusted himself and kept pounding her stomach as though it was her fault for not saving him and forcing his hand like that.

"Ri…Ri…Riolu." He huffed and puffed, before collapsing and letting his head fall down, completely exhausted by the two girls.

"I'm sorry too... ah..." Candy's face twitched as though holding in the pain, but patted his back in comfort.

Zippity just sighed, looking like she understood the feeling.

"Eh…heheheh. Little girls can be a handful, huh?" Candy teased then, closing her eyes with an animated bead of sweat on the side of her forehead. Zippity folded her arms and nodded, seeming to remember a time when Candy was like that, just after Zippity—herself—had hatched. Riolu just looked up at her and let a cloud of air off to the side, agreeing sarcastically it seemed with a 'hmph'.

"IgglyWiggly should decide!" Tia finally hollered out as half the adults were disappointed they didn't spend more time apologizing. Not only were the girls loud, but on-lookers would clearly see how obnoxious the two girls were being right now...

"Quietly… solve your differences, girls." Pearl was one of those adults… "And Riolu, I understand your dilemma of trying to not stay in a situation you don't prefer, but violence can never be the answer." she could tell he had held back his strength, but the hit could lead to a bruise, causing parents to be concerned. "Do try and restrain yourself more fully, dear. I'll have a word with the girls on your behalf." She turned to the girls, placing her hands behind her back, "Even on the bus, I specifically told you two girls to mind yourselves when handling pokemon. Some pokemon adore affection, just like Igglypuff there."

It was clear Igglypuff loved being tossed around, and happily kept it's arms in and it's legs up as it was being rocked back and forth by the squabbling sisters. When the continual exchange stopped, she blinked open her eyes and her smile faded, tilting her head and creating a small, innocent 'o' with her mouth to show she didn't understand why the 'fun' stopped, "Iggly?"

"And some need it in small amounts." She gestured to Eevee, who yipped and wagged his tail in Jake's arms. "Others... less than that." she smiled kindly to Riolu, but with some awkwardness.

"Hmm." Mia looked to Pearl and nodded, "And I guess Torchic just doesn't want to be held back." She looked over and saw Torchic free from their restraining embraces, dancing and moving around swiftly, liking to run in circles.

"Precisely." Pearl wasn't sure about Torchic, but nodded politely to her as she watched the energetic pokemon run by her feet, shouting out in joy and song as it ran about. "It may be wise to ask Igglypuff what she prefers, don't you agree?"

Mia thought a moment, and the twins both agreed to with a nod of their heads to one another and set Igglypuff down. They then moved away from her and went in two different directions just at an angle from the other. Igglypuff shot open it's eyes and hopped up, looking around when it noticed it wasn't being held and turned to see the two girls behind her, across from the other.

"Go on, Wiggly-Miggly-Siggly! Pick me!" Mia rubbed her hands up against the air as if miming petting Igglypuff's cheeks. She giggled, having been tossed around like a beach ball was apparently fun to her, and she didn't want to be set down. She started to open her small arms out to walk lovingly towards Mia when Tia's voice stopped her from advancing.

"No, no! Iggly-poo! I'm the one that slips you cookies under the table, remember?!" Tia piped in, not wanting to lose to her sister. "Plus, I'm cute! See?" She squished her own cheeks in, making her sister laugh and point at her.

"You're just as cute as me!" Mia commented, stating the obvious as they looked exactly alike. Even the bun on their heads being pretty identical. They had asked Pearl to help them do their hair like her, and she thought it sweet and did so for the adventure today.

"Oh… right." Tia put one hand behind her head and the other, embarrassingly scratching her cheek as though shy to admit her mistake.

"Hahaha!" the girls laughed together suddenly at the folly as Igglypuff just looked innocently up at them, turning her head between the two, being very gullible and thinking that if she was to squish her face, she too, could be cute.

"Iggly-Iggly-IgglyPUFF!"

Igglypuff grabbed their attentions by cheering and looking to each of them, then slamming her strong, pudgy arms into her cheeks to create a dynamic 'cute' as her eyes narrowed to show her intensity.

As she did so, the girls looked down and 'aw'ed at her cuteness, resulting in them not fighting anymore. "Let's just enjoy rubbing her cheeks together and squishing her face?" Tia admitted, gesturing to her sister.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's bring a bow next time and put it on her cute little puffy hair!" Mia mentioned, and the two went over to Igglypuff, making her plum little body look funny and cute by manipulating her face around, which Igglypuff enjoyed very much.

Jake huffed, "They make weird nicknames for Pokémon." He stated, and looked to Candy, "Why didn't you break them up, Ugly?"

"…All winter you called me Ugly… How about you call me Pretty, and I'll answer you." Candy slowly turned to glare at him, before making a cute smile and completely changing her mood, "Don't you think I can be? Even a little bit?" she posed and tried to create sparkles and pastel lights around her, but Jake's expression never changed.

"…Pretty ugly." He stated, and started laughing, kicking his legs up. "Come on! Aren't we supposed to go into the Aquarium, already!?"

Candy flinched and felt an arrow dive down to swoop up and spin itself into her soul, before darting out and away. However… she pretty much set herself up for that one.

"I believe I can answer that, Jake." Pearl turned to the two behind her and placed her hands on her cane. "I want the girls to learn to solve their own problems before we step in. You can't always rely on adults to solve every problem you have. The girls are old enough that they can learn to rely on their own intuition. We step in only if the conflict gets worse or is still unresolved. Look,-" she moved her gaze to the girls, giggling and laughing as if the fight never happened between them. "They are sisters, after all. I'm sure they've already learned how to cope with each other and their slight differences. Although, being twins, they still have many things in common." She stated, and looked back to Jake. "Don't you have anything in common with your sister? Do you fight with her too?"

"…Mom's always hogging her… I just kinda stare and keep my distance." He looked down solemnly as Pearl and Candy looked to each other, seeming worried. Eevee looked up too, wondering why her friend suddenly grew so melancholy all of a sudden.

His grip on Eevee tightened a bit, "This daycare was papa's idea... but Mom agreed without even looking sad about me not being home with her anymore. I-I mean, I did go to school and all, but..." he didn't seem to want to open up any more after that.

Suddenly, an announcer over a speaker called out, "Vaporeon Aquarium is hosting it's show soon, everyone!" He seemed to be as thrilled as the rest of the passerbys who were cheering when he mentioned it.

"The famous one?" Candy asked, finally getting up off the ground. To be honest, she was just glad she was back on the solid earth.

"A line everyone, quickly." Pearl began, as the twins took the rear with Candy and Riolu, Jake and Eevee in the middle with Torchic by their sides, marching in excitement, since staying still wasn't really an option for the little one...

Pearl began leading everyone in with their tickets getting stamped and a glow-in-the-dark print on their hands that showed the face of a Vaporeon smiling up in a circle filled with splashes.

"…I fear he may not come back for us…" Candy looked back to see the bus was clear out of sight, knowing how rowdy they all must have been, even with Miss Pearl apologizing for their behavior with a bow afterwards. Still, it's not like she was scared of the aquarium, just wondered if they could get back through the cliffs as safely as getting down them.

"Oh, that'll be alright. There are plenty of buses." Pearl fanned her hand back to Candy from the front of the line, seeming to think positively as they heard a familiar voice call to them.

"Miss Pearl! Candy!" They looked onward to see a casually dressed Will waving to them, having his brother next to him with his arms around two cute blondes as he noticed his little brother greeting Candy in particular.

"Heh, typical he would go for that blonde…" he muttered, and turned around to start walking into the Aquarium. "Alright ladies~ Now, let me show you the part of the aquarium I, almost singlehandedly, rebuilt for the upcoming premier showing of the Aqua Circle Showcase!"

The girl's 'ooh'd in awe and excitement, giggling as they stuck closely to him, following him in. Will just looked back and shook his head, not hearing what his brother had said but dashing over to Candy, 'He always makes me look bad...' he thought to himself, thinking his brother a bit of a flirt.

"Hey, Candy! I heard you may be busy with your friends from that Pokemon School, so I… well, I heard Pearl was coming for Octavius and I had to join along!" He grinned, scratching his head nervously as he spoke. It was probably the first time she saw him out of his light blue mail attire.

He was wearing a white t-shirt with a strange logo on it, probably a band or movie he liked, that had orange and blue print on it. His sleeves and the end of his shirt had blue streaks and his pants were blue shorts, but he was wearing sandals and a old orange and blue baseball cap that looked like it came from the same logo or brand. Around his wrist was a turquoise wristband that held his pokeballs in their small and portable size tightly attached by mechanical clips of sorts. It also seemed to function as a watch, having something that flipped open like a pocket-watch would when clicked, but on the wrist. The clock appeared to be digital, and although she didn't know it, it also had the capabilities to be linked with a Pokedex and other Pokegear functions.

But the signature of it all was a leather grey jacket that had buttons of various interest and colors he must carry, giving him a nice look to the ensemble.

"O-oh, that sounds fun. I'd be happy to go to the aquarium with you, but we'd have to watch the kids and all." She closed her eyes and smiled, not seeing any harm in that, as she had taken a moment to look him over in his new clothes. "Yeah, Shade and Tai will be here in a few weeks time. They're brothers living on a farm together up where I studied in the pokemon school. They were always really kind to me, and I got the pick of the crop! They also were students with me, so… Hey, nice jacket." She commented, as Will 'huh?'d and looked over his attire, before blushing and adjusting it.

"O-o-oh! Thank you! Um.. Phil told me to wear it.." he looked to be getting nervous as Pearl began to see what may be happening here…

"'Cuse me." She bummed Candy more toward him, having Candy leap in fright and fall into his arms as Pearl walked away, waving back at them. "Do take care of the kids, dearies~ I've waited long enough to head towards the shoreline. Octavius shouldn't be kept waiting on his special day."

"Octi, Octi!" Octillery cheered back too, before making a face and snickering at the two, forming a heart with his tentacles.

"Uh…uhhhh…" Candy and Will were stuck just hanging there in the moment for a second, Candy's head squished against his chest and looking up at him with her arms straight out behind him, his own up and crooked as his face was white as snow. Rising to a blush on both their hot faces, processing what had just happened, they immediately freaked out and moved back to an appropriate distance from each other.

Zippity mimicked their jump, showing their terrified faces to explain something to the baby pokemon, who didn't seem to understand the exchange. She then snickered into her paws as though finding it funny enough to mock, but the baby pokemon still seemed confused on the subject.

Mia tapped her foot on the ground, "Excuse me! We're not gonna have time to see all the water pokemon before the show starts if you two are goo-goo eyeing each other!"

"…Ew." Jake looked away, as Tia looked to him and blushed slightly too.

"W-what… you don't like goo-goo eyes?" she seemed very concerned.

"Romance is for dummies!" he shouted out, "Especially when the guy only has eyes for uglies." and raced in with Eevee on his shoulders, draped happily there as he was able to now run with his arms free. "I'm gonna go and try and smell a Magikarp!"

"Eh!? And you f-find that okay, but not romance?!" Tia's face turned to one of confusion and disappointment as she grabbed her sister's hand and raced in after him, not wanting to lose him. "Come on, Mia!"

"H-hey! Why are we following the rude boy?" Mia was dragged along as Candy and Will looked to the ground.

"Uh… um, Will… there's something I should tell you…" Candy shivered in fright before Will quickly took some courage and ran up to the entrance.

"C-come on! It's okay, it was an a-a-accident anyway! Besides,.. the kids are getting away!" his hand spazzed as he tried to wave it out, moving up and down vigorously as to avoid the awkward moment but also to point towards where the kids were headed. "You're not really gonna let that kid smell a Magikarp, are you!?" Was his cover-up.

"N-n-no!" Candy took the bait, seeing the logic in that. "Good point!" she winced as she knew Jake could get into loads of trouble if he dived into an exhibit... which he was totally capable of attempting. She ran straight passed Will at that thought, charging to stop Jake at her full speed, while Will relaxed somewhat at distracting her. Swiftly, he followed suit, closing the gap left behind her. "Jake! Put the Magikarp down!"

-Within the doors of the Aquarium-

"Laaaapppp~!" A strange new pokemon emerged far off into the sea, but a viewing area allowed them to peer off into said distance with a few paid-for binocular stations by the edge. The area was almost resembling a Wailord size mouth, gaping open to allow the humans inside to see out into the see as you would a pier, but more like a theater build for them to sit in the stands and watch as many unique and diverse pokemon swam by the ginormous pavilion. The viewing platform curved so the sun wouldn't affect their sight, and many different stadium callers with merchandized toys, snacks, and other commodities went up and down the many seating stands to try and sell their goods.

"Woahh…~" Leaning over the safety railing, the kids looked to see the new sight, as well as notice there were stairs leading down to a below sea-level viewing area that was a diner, reservation only. The kids had seen a lot of typical water pokemon, but this was the first time they saw a Lapras emerge from under the water.

"This here is Bessie, with her little girl, Jezebel!" A woman in an Aquarium jumpsuit, situated on a ride pokemon, announced from her microphone back to the viewing audience. "We rescued this mother and baby from a herd of vicious and territorial pokemon! As you can see, Jezebel's left fin has been torn up a bit, since she was just a tiny thing when she first hatched and was attacked." The announcer rose her arm up, as a baby Lapras emerged from the water, diving out and jumping as it landed back in the water, before coming up and swimming to nuzzle it's mother. "Until Jezebel's fin is fully restored, we're letting them rest and recuperate under the protection of the Vaporeon Aquarium's tight security over both this seashore and the pokemon living within it's humble care!"

The crowd aw'd at the sweetness of the two and their story. As though aware they were being admired, Bessie looked over to the Announcer, and splashed lightly with a few calls to show she was pleased they were adoring her baby girl.

The two Laprases then continued to entertain willingly, without being told to do so, and danced both above and under the water. They jumped out a moment, within the huge, curved viewing station, and then waved happily to the crowd. The mother using one fin as the baby using both and kicking it's lower feet to stay upright in the water for their applause.

"Aren't they the cutest? Please give a round of applause for their willingness to let us watch their water fun!" The woman encouraged, and the crowd clapped. "Now, we're going to enclose this viewing area for the mother and baby, and all the other free roaming pokemon, to safely rest and recuperate for next viewing sessions." It seemed the Aquarium had specific viewing times, then arched, steel walls began to slide out and enclose the area. This was a protection for any pokemon that wanted the safety from the outside wild area, but a few pokemon did scurry back to be freely able to swim the ocean while others rushed to come in before the steel 'doors' shut.

One such was a Goldeen, who's two friends were trying to coax it into the safe area, but the little Goldeen was hurt and clearly badly injured. As the steel gates were shutting, it tried with all it's might to make it in with it's friends, and the audience gasped out in horror at it possibly not making it inside.

"No need to fear! Ha!" Using her ride pokemon, the employee woman took off on her Sharpedo and was able to speed up and fly over the huge, dark grey arching gates. Everyone cheered as she looked like a skilled jet skier, "In you go, little one." She pulled out next to it and let the Sharpedo pull out an inflatable next to it. The Goldeen happily, but with much struggle, got onto the inflatable raft with the help of the woman pulling it's body in. "Now hang on tight! No pokemon wanting sanctuary gets left behind!" She then whirled around, but the steel gates had already started to rise, creating an even bigger gap to scale over. The audience could barely see her and the little Goldeen now, However, she called out, "Aqua Jet to build momentum! Then use Surf to create a large enough wave to get us closer to the top, and lastly, Waterfall!"

The audience heard the water crashing before finally seeing it spray up and the Sharpedo, the Employee woman, and the yellowish orange inflatable with the shocked Goldeen scale and fall to the other side of the gate. Everyone cheered, eager as the woman cried out for another Surf and safely descended down to let the Goldeen go over board. As she was released within the safe area, her friends came to greet her. "Don't worry, folks. Are skilled and trained staff are more than just Keepers of the free and safe, we're also a friend to all pokemon. We make sure any pokemon seeking our services are welcomed, that's why all our staff are from all over the world!" she waved at her informational message, then wiped her brow with a 'phew' as though having to make up the whole thing as part of the show. This was probably a common occurrence, but by her reaction, she seemed to smile and be pleased that no one was hurt or injured, and that she was able to get the little pokemon to safety. Clearly, it wasn't staged and her lines, unscripted.

The two Laprases greeted the Goldeen, making sure to check if she was okay in friendliness, before going over to gently nudge and thank the Employee in earnest for the Goldeen.

They all seemed to love the woman, and the kids with Candy and Will had stars in their eyes at her bravery, talent, and compassion.

Now the entire outside enclosure was closing, the upper-half starting to curve in and the light fading to stadium lights, only the diner was now available, and everyone began to move off the big veranda and back down into the rest of the Aquarium.

"Wow, I have never seen a Lapras before! Have you, Candy?" Will asked, turning excitedly to her as they were about to departure, but Candy still seemed slightly nervous.

"Em… hmm." She shook her head, having some sweat drip down her face as she kept trying to find a good moment to tell him…, "L-look… Will, I think there's something I should-"

"Alright! A Magikarp!"

At the sound of Jake's voice, she immediately lost her nerves and turned dramatically to the sound, her lower lip up almost to her nose in a deep, cemented frown.

"…Don't you dare."

She turned her full attention to him and stomped off after where she had heard his exclamation, leaving Will looking puzzled. However, he smiled tenderly at her kind heart, seeing as she really did care for the kids.

Now back in the building's Aquarium, the fish and other Water-Type Pokemon swam in their tanks and showed off to guests who read their plaques about them. Listed were descriptions of each region's pokemon that was being housed in the same place, some nifty facts about the different species and where to catch them, and finally a 'Try and find the Shiny!' challenge which was also a game that could win rewards at some of the vending locations.

While Will was distracted by these sights, walking and looking around as he made his way over to where Candy had ran off too, he didn't noticed the two twin girls trailing behind him.

"…She's afraid of love, you know."

"Huh?" Will was a little surprised to see Mia behind him, who was holding a Marill in her arms, one of the Pokémon entertainers that the kids were allowed to hold. It was called an 'Ambassador Marill' to teach children about it's species, and happily and calmly remained still in her arms with a smile on it's face."Wh-… what did you say?" He twisted his torso to get a better look at the little girl behind him, then squatting down and smiling, trying to be kind. "Aw, is this Marill afraid of-" he lightly took the Marill's paw and shook it's hand, but Mia's voice never lost it's cold edge.

"She's afraid of being in a romantic relationship. She likes men, but she fears what they may do if she was to fall for one." Mia continued, as the Marill took her two little arms and played gently with Will's fingers he used to shake them, also shaking them in a light and cheery greeting. "She's scared of getting too close, and getting her heart-"

"JAAKEEE!"

"I almost got it!"

Jake had his waist on the line of the low glass barrier, with Candy literally reaching over to wrap her arms around him in an attempt to keep him out of the enclosure. "Get out of the water!" Candy demanded, trying to keep the boy safe as he kept reaching for a Magikarp that blinked it's left and right eyes alternatively and slowly, frozen in spot as though not fully aware of what was going on in his environment.

To an outside eye, he may look kinda dumb, but he was actually forever in the care of the Aquarium due to suffering from brain damage. His plaque explained he was a hero, splashing valiantly against predator pokemon to save his school of friends from a feeding-frenzy, and when they all got away safely to the aquarium, floated him to the care of the Keepers. He's been a beloved advocate for the true strength and valor of one of the most highly considered 'weakest pokemon' in existence. Even being weak, you can still jump mountains... or hit back deadly foes... even if you don't cause any damage, you can at least give them an irritable, salty eye and distract them from your family!

Candy pushed her leg back on the low glass of which Jake was trying to jump over, straining to heave him back over to her side and away from the pokemon in the low-water tank. He kept inching closer with his fingers stretching out as far as he could go, trying to catch the unaware Magikarp who was staring at him, but clearly not perceiving him. His right eye blinking, and a second later, his left eye doing the same.

"Don't you DARE hurt that Magikarp!" Candy warned.

"He's a hero, a legend!" Another tiny kid pointed out, having read the plaque.

"And I wanna sniff him!" Jake tried to elbow Candy but when he noticed she was leaning to far back, pulled his other arm back and pushed it up against her face, trying to get her to let go. "I just... grr... wanna... hurrr... smell hiimmm!"

"Eevee! Eevee!" Eevee frantically paced on the side lines, it's paws doing a quick shuffle, agreeing with Candy for him to get back down and to safety.

"I'm not gonna hurt it! I want to smell it! Gosh, do all Uglies not have ears, too!?"

"What's with you boys and doing nasty things like smelling odd scents?!"

Will couldn't help but laugh a little at their predicament, "Hold on, Candy, I'm-!" he was about to go help her before Mia tugged on his arm, having let go of the Marill and sat it down while it waddled up to more adoring children that wanted to interact with it. He looked back at Mia, but she just looked sad she couldn't reach him with her words of warning. Finally, she retreated without a word and ran off to rejoin her sister, as the two could never be apart for long. Tia was looking in on some Corsolas from two varying regions, separated slightly in the tanks due to their environments, but placed next to each other to show the differences and teach about pollution.

Reefs were dying and some were thriving, and warned about climate changes on both the environment, pokemon, and people. This was the message of the linking enclosures, and Tia watched as one of the Corsolas seemed to turn and suck health from another one, engaged in battle as the other one hardened and then was tackled. The two pokemon stopped when an evolved Galarian Corsola used Curse and they seemed to ghostly drift back into the water, away from the land portion of their exhibit.

"Afraid?" Will repeated her words, watching as the unevolved Galarian Corsola drifted back into the water from the fear of the other one, and on the opposite side, two Johtonian Corsola watched in worry and curiosity. "…Of love?" he thought a moment in a bit of surprise at what the little girl said, not realizing the twins had psychic abilities.

Before he could shake off the eerie feeling, which may have just been from seeing the Corsolas, Candy came over with her hair messed up from Jake gripping it and him up in her arms. He was trying to break free, but grinned like a crazy mad man to Will when he saw him, deviousness in every glint of his eyes.

"I smelled it." He declared, triumphantly.

"He leaned his face in and the Magikarp splashed…" Candy was soaking wet along with him, dripping as her hair had a bit of seaweed in it. Apparently, when Jake had approached, the Magikarp instinctually splashed in spot, as it's body was naturally able to still react to stress or fear. Jake was scolded by a Keeper who had to clean up and check to make sure the Magikarp hero didn't receive any bruises, but he was alright.

"We're both wet!" Jake cheered, kicking his legs up in delight. "Hahaha! Now you're even more ugly! It's a miracle!"

"…You little twerp…" She glared down at him, as he twitched in fright a bit. "I got embarrassed by you today! Who cares about looks!?" She lifted a fist up, as though threatening to bonk him on the head or noogie his head in with her fist acting as an industrial drill.

"Uh-oh… Eep!" He wiggled out of her arms as swiftly as he could, his foot smacking her face as he pushed off and landed. Eevee by his side as he raced off, almost looking cool, before sticking a tongue out behind him to Candy and dipping a lower-eyelid to mock her as he ran off, "Come on, Eevee! It's a monster!" Then laughed and continued to run through the crowd, causing many mothers to exclaim at his rudeness and look around for a parent to blame.

Candy's body flinched with anger... rioting against her violence though, she protested but her eyes showed the fury of a beast. "Get back here... or I swear to you... Your father's gonna hear of this!" but before she could charge after him, Will held her back, trying to soothe her anger over.

"C-calm down, Candy! Remember! You're his care taker!" Will's words and holding her back did calm her down enough to take harsh breaths in and out, lowering her aggressive, twitching hands down and then looking around wildly. Gruffing like a wild Primeape, She bent her arms down and curled them just like one.

She seemed to be looking around for Jake, but then also something else, and Will grew exhausted trying to wrangle both her and a little boy into place...

"Where is Miss Pearl when you need her?" She whiningly grumbled out, showing she was growing tired of this frustrating chase too. Will leaned his head back with a goofy, almost dizzy smile while Candy dragged him with powerful stomps over to where she last saw Jake run off too, the twins holding Igglypluff and Torchic, but using their hands to hold Riolu's so that they all stayed together and through Riolu, were still technically beside the other twin. Once again, they were trying to respect Riolu's space while also showing their endearment towards him, which he seemed to reluctantly accept enough.

Remembering Miss Pearl's advice, Candy was a bit calmer now, but still dashed off after the boy, thinking of giving him a good talking too. When she realized that Will hadn't loosened his grip around her, she froze and her face looked as though painted white. She carefully pulled him off of her like unclicking a seatbelt with his arms and then raced away, calling back to Will as though embarrassed or nervous about their closeness, "Hey! Watch the twins, alright!?" She didn't want to address it, though she knew she probably should... Sometime... for sure.

"U-uh-!" Once sliding to the ground, he pushed himself up like a Dewgong. He looked behind him left and right before seeing the twins watch three Marills jump on spinning balls, and hold there position. "G-got it!" he hollered back to her, realizing he was now taking on a supporting role as another care taker while Candy had to deal with the wayward rogue. He threw a thumbs up in her direction and sighed, "Well, this isn't how I planned the day in my head at all..." he laughed the line out a little bit, "Oh well, can't be helped." He concluded, and fully got up to walk back to the two twins. Some kids noticed him and seeing as a Sealeo mimicked him, all clapped at the pokemon, who apparently was just miming Will's actions.

A good distance away from the Aquarium, deciding to take it one mile at a time along the seashore but remain somewhat close on the off chance that Candy needed to call her speedily back, Pearl walked down the lapping receding and reaching lines of the gently crashing waves. It was close to the outside enclosure where the Laprases were, and breathed in the fresh air of the calming but wild sea air, mingled with sprinkles of free-roaming droplets that were carried in it.

They splashed against her face and gave her a wonderous smile, "Ah, yes… this was where it happened… before this Aquarium even started up, it was just a humble fishing spot, and lovely quiet beach to relax on." She looked over to a rocky area that was somewhat shallow, having slippery moss and many Staryu peeking their heads up and jumping off the rocks to spin and spiral back into the safety of the sea.

"It was almost like it was yesterday... if my old back wouldn't spoil the memory." She joked, gazing upon a memory in the distance and putting her hands behind her back, her Alolan-like, stout dress lightly curling around her legs from the wind. She beheld, in her mind's eye, her younger self fishing along the rocks, the rod secured into the crevice of two larger ones she pushed against with her spritely feet. Pearl was careful to not go to the same spot, walking over and seeing it would be a terrible tumble should her strength give out, and with her age, she was contented to sit beside the spot, and not go further into the rocks. She looked back up to see her younger self feeling something tug on her line, and in all youthful excitement, stumbled along the rocks she was lounging on to make sure the pokemon didn't wiggle free. In her enthusiasm, she scrapped her knee while slamming it into a mossy rock to create a secure position for herself to reel up her line, only to find that the pokemon that should have been at the end of the line... was already gone in her scrambling squander of time.

Her head fell to the side in disappointment, groaning out a bit of a defeated puff of air, before she seemed to hear something and looked down. Peeking over a smaller bolder from the ones she was upon, her eyes caught sight of a little Remoraid, sticking it's head out of the water and grinning up at her. She smiled back, seeing that this pokemon must have noticed her excitement at catching something, but maybe feeling bad for her that it was lost. Then, it seemed to looked worried as it swam slightly to the side, seeing and possibly smelling the wound on her knee.

"Oh? This? It's just a scratch. Haha!" she responded to it's concerned look. Pearl remembered even the very lines she spoke...

It looked back at her for a moment with twinkling eyes of concern, before resting back to a smiling assurance when Pearl began to get up. "I'm sure it's fine, I'll prove it-Ah!" As she attempted to get back up, her weakened knee slid and her tailbone jammed itself between the rocks, causing her to have bruises everywhere and remained stuck as her back and knee drummed in wild thumps at their pain. She rested back down but wouldn't open her eyes till the ringing in her head softened, holding her leg and twitching silently as she hissed out the hurting.

The Remoraid flailed in the current, looking very worried for the human girl as he couldn't see her anymore.

"I…I really am fine…" she forced herself to say, not wanting the little and sweet pokemon to be frantic. Through one squinted eye, she tried to look up at the sky, only to see the waves leap over the rocks and crash onto her. She coughed, seeing the rocky bay area begin to swarm with water, and realizing she couldn't move, would mean... she'd get buried in the hightide that was quickly approaching.

She now felt foolish to think that this hightide would have been a great time to fish, especially upon these slippery, death trap rocks! "I… I just need some rest is all." The water kept flinging itself more into the space between the rocks, and she kept spitting out the nasty tasting water.

Splashing vigorously, the Remoraid had a caring heart, and with the next wave, rode it over the large rocks to crash onto her stomach.

Flopping, it turned itself over, not bothered with being out of water—which was like affixed safety for a Water-Type Pokemon that never would willingly go on land—and lightly smacked its little fins onto her stomach, as though to arouse her to move and get out from under the danger.

The waves kept flying up high and crashing below them, and the little Remoraid attempted to shield her with it's small body over her head, turning sideways to hopefully keep the water from choking her, but it was already up to her armpits.

"I-...It's okay." Pearl's younger self stated, smiling warmly to the little pokemon. "If you stay here, little guy, you'll be trapped here too."

Miss Pearl could hear the roaring of the merciless sea, she could recall the bitter taste of salt, and the look of tears in the little Remoraid's eyes as it felt helpless in the situation to rescue the young girl. She even recollected how with each build-up of tears, the water would drench the two of them as though combining their tears with their watery graves... Or at least, with the Remoraid being stuck in a small encasement of rock, and with the poor girl drowning from not being able to get up and move. The slippery rocks only grew in their surfaces slime, and even the past Pearl's nails couldn't get a good enough grip, and the pain wouldn't allow her to try further, regardless of their plight to live.

Seeing the girl needed help, and her courage in trying to keep him calm, but try and ask for his escape to safety... regardless of her own life, it filled Remoraid with a deep compassion he hadn't felt for humans before. He was always curious of them playing along the seashore, but never actually interacted much with them besides squirting light water guns and having them fire back with their toy squirt guns. Remoraid slapped her stomach to create a suction that was upon his fins to her clothes, as though stating he was not going to leave her, and stuck himself firm to her. He then flung his head up as the water reached her chin, sending out a Signal Beam into the sky with dazzling lights.

Miss Pearl's eyes could still see the vivid twirling of colors, the beams making odd shapes and mixing in their hues... no eye could have not noticed Remoraid's cry for help, shredding the clear blue sky and awakening everyone's urgency to investigate it.

Some local men walking along the beach, carrying pails and shovels, wooden collapsible beach-chairs, and an umbrella saw the brilliant stream of light carry high into the air. Unbeknownst to Remoraid, who with every new wave, pushed his beam further into the sky and broke through the water's swift fall. His beam's width doubled and his little body shook upon her stomach as he gave all his energy out in an attempt to call for help for her. The beach goers quickly dropped their assortment of items and things, running quickly as the signal wiggled and wobbled, before blasting an even bigger and more powerful radiance that traveled further and farther up into the air than before. Like a north star, the men followed until finally finding where it was coming from, seeing the girl's head under water and the Remoraid trying to hoist her up as it wagged it's tail and kept its own head above water, eyes closed in determination to not quit or stop. Seeing she was hurt and needing help, they reached in and grabbed her, and immediately she let out a gasp for much needed air and from the continual pain on her back and knee.

Carrying her back to the shore, she turned to look back at the little Remoraid who was left in the small, enclosed water.

"W-wait..." she reached a hand up to the man carrying her, "I can't... leave... without my... pokemon..."

The men asked if it really was her pokemon, and once placing the pokemon back on her stomach, let her lay by the shoreline to recover while they called for further help. They were midway into calling an ambulance, but she waved it off, saying she just needed to lie down for a bit.

Once on the sand, she grinned happily as the Remoraid splashed and jumped out of the rolling water, staying close by her in the shallowest part of the shoreline as to get a better view of what was happening.

"Heh, I would have been gone without you." She giggled, stroking his little teal body with her fingers delicately. "Do you want to keep saving me, little guy?" she had recovered her bag and fishing rod, and from within, took out a drenched pokeball. "Here!" she tossed it out, letting it be his choice. "Let's be a team, and protect each other forever! I still need to pay you back, and I promise—somehow—I will!" The Remoraid was surprised a bit to see a pokeball, as it sparkled and danced in its slow spin in the air. As it landed near him and floated in the water, he watched it before quickly making up his mind.

It wasn't enough to watch curiously and play lightly with humans, he wanted to join them. Gazing at the shiny pokeball as it floated along the surface of his home, the sun's glare catching his eye, he knew that a kind hearted human like her would make a great trainer someday.

And be an ideal trainer for him.

With all of his heart put into it, he wiggled back a bit and then charged swiftly toward the ball, happily ramming its head into the circular button part of it that immediately opened to swallow water. He was caught up in light that swarmed into it, and with a few wiggles as the pokeball sank... he was caught.

The pokeball washed up against the shore, and the young Pearl, finding some strength, dived her hand down to retrieve it.

As her hand came out, Pearl was older, the elder we knew and loved. She held the pokeball out in her hand, the same as she had as a young girl, and smiled through her lines for eyes. "Yes… I remember my promise to you those many years ago, and you've helped me ever sense." She tossed the pokeball up as her Octillery, who seemed to be shedding tears and remembering too, burst out and embraced her with all eight legs.

He nodded, "Octi, Octi!" as he nuzzled his beloved trainer of many, many years. They had gone through evolution together, an entire adventure and more perils that they couldn't even count now.

Pearl bent her head down a bit to wipe his tears away, lightly pressing her head on top and to the side of his own bulbous one. "Oh, stop that. You know that when you cry, I start to want to cry too. We'll have none of that on this happy day, now will we?" she chimed out as her Octillery sucked up his tears and held a powerful look on his face. "Atta boy." She praised before looking back to the Aquarium, seeing the spectacular lights on the outside for the 'nighttime show' light up as it was about to start.

"Oh? Seems the famous Vaporeon is about to perform." She smiled, putting her hands behind her back as Octillery climbed back up to his usual position on her head. He looked back at the rocks they were near and wiped one last straying tear from his eye, then gripped her head with love once more, nuzzling her and kissing her with his nozzle mouth. "Oh my, you are making me weak with all this affection, now, Octavius." She had tears in her own eyes too, reaching up to pat his head as both were emotional in their sentimental memories. Walking back across the lonely beach, the two knew that fate had intertwined them... much like the intertwining colors and shapes of his life-saving Signal Beam. "I'll always keep that promise, we'll never be apart, you and me. My little guy~"

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

The Announcer's voice sprang to life the show-lights of the water theatre ring, "I present to you the most beautiful, breath-taking, and gorgeous sea pokemon of all! Thhheeeeee Majestic Vaporeon!" The spotlights swiveled across the stage and water as though keeping the audience guessing where the pokemon was. Even the other Aquarium pokemon, getting brushed and taken care of now that their time to entertain was over, watched the screens in their enclosure with their own caretakers.

"Vaayy!"

A shimmer in the water, a ripple here and there, then an invisible tail turning solid in form as it teased with a flick before the light could turn back and rest upon it. Finally, at the showman's introduction, a beautiful head arose from the water's surface, crying out before the pokemon leaped up and did a spin in the air, showing off it's form and tail's curl as cameras flashed all around.

"It was invisible!" Jake hollered out, holding a handful of popcorn that he paused from his mouth to exclaim his surprise.

Candy's arms were folded, a bead of sweat by the side of her forehead, as she wished she knew that if she had just told the kids they couldn't see the show unless they stuck together and behaved themselves, she could have saved herself a whole lot of trouble.

"This wonderful pokemon is going to star in it's own PokeStudio's production! The Vaporizing Vaporeon!" The audience 'Oooh~'d at his words but also the magnificent feats of the Vaporeon dashing out at top-speeds from the water and dancing so lightly and beautifully in the air. Mimicking a twirling torpedo, the audience would lose sight of her under the water, only seeing the bubbles and white foam of her entry back into the water, before seeing her spiral out and take form again above the water stage, flicking her tail, spinning her body, and holding perfect poses while gliding back down to dive into the water again.

It was perfectly staged and executed with a level of trained poise that anyone watching would be in wonder at the spectacle.

"As you can see folks, our Vaporeon can simply disappear in the water's tumbling waves, breaking the tension with her swift tail motion, succeeding the sparkling azure with an even more fascinating and beautiful allure! And just before-!" The voice was soon followed with all the spotlights coordinating onto one central spot on the water, when Vaporeon leapt out with another powerful jump and did another pose in mid-air, showing off its radiant beauty and elegance. "It comes to completely take any onlooker near the water's edge by surprise with it's glittering magnificence!"

"Woah, cool!" an audience member near the group stated, "I want a Vaporeon, Mommy!"

Another little girl blurted out by Candy's ear, "It's like a mermaid!"

And a boy's voice by Will's, "Vaporeon is my favorite pokemon!". The clamor continued on and on through the water stage's ring of spectators, "Yeah! Vapereon is the best Eevee evolution EVER!", "Eh, it's okay. For a family night, it's a good watch.", "I want an Eevee just to give it a water stone and have my very own Vaporeon, Papa!", "Vaporeon rules!" The voices rang out around them and Candy couldn't help but look down at Eevee.

Eevee was mesmerized, gazing upon Vaporeon, but upon hearing what the others were saying around it, bent his ears down…

"Huh?" Jake looked down to see the frail state of Eevee and smiled empathically, "Hey, don't worry, buddy… I think you're cool just the way you are!" he stated as Eevee's head shot up and it jumped to it's feet, wagging it's tail in cheer while it beamed up to him.

"Vee?" It seemed to be wondering if being an Eevee was unfavorable, but Jake's words lightened it's heart.

"Really, really." He winked, and Candy's anger at him dissipated in seconds.

She grinned warmly to the little boy cheering up his pokemon friend, and then looked to see her fingers fiddling with a button of Vaporeon that they were passing around. She gently turned it around a few times, examine it and thinking about the meaning of his words... then looked to Zippity, "Same here, kid." she patted her head, but Zippity looked up as though confused, maybe not having heard the discussion with all the other noise and music of the performance.

"Pi?" she tilted her head, wondering why she was given this sudden act of affection.

"N-nevermind." Removing her hand nervously, Candy worried that Zippity might take the statement as an insult, knowing... that her pokemon longed to evolve and get stronger.

Riolu was sitting down, stuck between the twins, Torchic, and Igglypuff the whole time. He folded his arms and watched the Vaporeon do its tricks, and secretly… being amazed by them. However, he wasn't about to show it. Folding his arms, he looked to see Candy patting Zippity's head, and the intenseness in his eyes softened. Perhaps... there was a part of him that wanted that closeness with a human, and looked to see Igglypuff snuggled by Lia and Mia clapping to Torchic's energetic cries of amazement for the Vaporeon. Also, Jake and Eevee, as Eevee had jumped up to nuzzle its cheek with Jake's.

Riolu took a quick breath in and out, letting the frustration go and keeping his arms folded tighter, moving them up to cover some of his own nose as he didn't want to focus on the group anymore... feeling forlorn by the match-ups and not knowing how to create those same bonds.

Torchic, as before mentioned, was enjoying the spectacle so much that she didn't want to stay still. She rushed up to the tank's edge, jumping down from where she perched by the twins and excitedly scampering down to the other small children and pokemon clamoring in awe. While she was running down, Candy stood up to in shock and made sure to keep her eyes on her, not wanting a Fire-Type Pokemon to be where the splash zone was. Though a smaller pokemon size, Vaporeon's theatre tank was filled to the brim, and with each torpedo like boost out of the water, the overflow would burst like a ripple effect and shower the on-looking children and pokemon who excited shrieked at the enrichment. When Vaporeon dived back down after beautifully holding poses and doing acrobatic tricks in the air accompanied by flashes of camera lights sparkling the arena, another equally sizable wave leaped off the clear glasses edge and sprayed down on them once more. Torchic did freak out over the water's splash pouring over the top of it, but was quick to react just in time to open it's horrified beak and make a break for it, just narrowly dodging the onslaught of water. However, once the water settled and rested against the wet ground and flowed downward into a premeditated drain, she happily skittered back over and jumped in joy, revealing she loved the thrill of running away from it before it could hit her.

Candy sighed in relief, "Well, if she's having fun... no harm in that." deciding to the let the little pokemon have their fun, so long as she was in sight, Candy sat back down and relaxed a moment. She wondered to herself, could she now relate to first-time mothers? She wasn't sure, but taking care of both kids and baby pokemon was turning out more trying than she had initially thought.

Making their way up and walking like a slightly hunched, shorter old woman would, Pearl picked her dress up and lifted her legs to slowly make her way towards where she and Octavius had seen Candy and the youngsters.

She looked back every now and then, making comments like, "Oh, well, gee. Look at that." As though surprised to see Vaporeon's talents and showmanship, before finally sitting down after scooting through some other on-lookers. "Pardon me, that's my group there. Don't mind the Octillery, I came with it you see. Hoho." she joked, and rested herself near the kids as Candy looked exhausted from trying to convince the kids they couldn't all have her buy Vaporeon smoothie cups for them that a seller was showing off. Pearl gave the man a kind smile and he knew he wasn't getting a sale, tipped his hat politely to apologize, and kept on his way. Sitting next to Candy was Will, who couldn't help but feel a little bad for her.

"Candy, I can watch Torchic while you and Miss Pearl catch up." Will promised, already being given Igglypuff, who had miraculously fallen fast asleep on the twin's lap, as they wanted to stand up a bit and try and get a better view. Will also placed Igglypuff down as she only opened her eyes when the crowd cheered, then blinked them wearily, showing it was getting close to nap time.

"She's already back?!" Amazed she didn't notice, she obliviously looked around, "Shouldn't we help her up the stairs-Miss Pearl!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're back." she then started to animatedly cry, showing that these new stress levels were not something she wanted to get used to so soon.

Miss Pearl laughed, "I'm not that old." she chuckled to herself, and waved her down, talking behind Jake to get her attention as the twins were already up off their seats, admiring Vaporeon's show more as the Announcer kept listing off Vaporeon facts and statistics. "How was everything? I hope I didn't miss too much. We've come here every year, but I think they've added new features since last time. Did you all have fun?"

As Candy related through her sobbing complaints about what had happened, her running around everywhere and having to enlist Will to help her keep an eye on each kid, Will was heartbroken to realize something startling about Igglypuff. She was oblivious to why everyone was cheering! He felt so awful that this poor little pokemon would only open her eyes after the Vaporeon would already disappear under the water, becoming invisible. She was missing the entire show, and didn't understand why everyone was cheering and making so much noise. He felt his heart clenching back against the sweet, innocent moments when Igglypuff heard the cheering, opened it's eyes, saw nothing but rippling water, and went back to sleep to miss Vaporeon jumping out of the water again with it's amazing performance.

"The poor thing is missing it." Candy had just finished talking to Miss Pearl when she pointed to Will's absolutely broken face as he didn't know how to gently shake Igglypuff awake at the right moments for her to see the show, making Miss Pearl also touch her heart and whisper, 'Bless her heart.'. "I'm missing it…" Candy continued, feeling her eyes droop as she then used her fingers to pull her eyelids up. "I never want to be a single parent." She concluded, and let her eyelids drop again from the pain of keeping them open. Even if the Vaporeon was cool, she was just to tried to care anymore…

"You'll get the hang of it, Sweetie. And Besides, you've done a great job raising your one little pokemon there." Miss Pearl encouraged as she gestured to Zippity, miming for Candy to rub her back and respond to her. Candy did so, and Zippity flinched again at the sudden touch, but just looked strangely up to Candy, then proceeded to watch when it didn't look like she needed her. "Or rather... maybe she feels she is the parent." Miss Pearl pulled herself back and coughed into her hand, finding that dynamic odd but charming.

"She does race around after me, sometimes... all the time... every time." Candy smiled gently to Zippity, realizing she had taken care of her in very similar ways, and suddenly found she didn't need to empathize with parents... but with her ever-protecting pokemon. "She may be ornery sometimes, but I think it's because anyone would be annoyed with a trainer as klutzy as me."

Miss Pearl watched as Candy's shoulders dropped and leaned back to combat that negativity, "Now you listen here, Child. You may be learning just as much as the rest of us, but that doesn't mean you don't amount to much. I'm sure she sees you the very same way you see these kids. There's potential in them. Nurtured towards the right path, each of you have what it takes to be an amazing Pokemon Trainer, or rather, to understand one another and be more complete with each other's help in your lives."

Candy looked back over and smiled with a warmth of hope that Pearl gave her, "You really do just spout out pearls of wisdom." Candy joked, but Miss Pearl just laughed and pulled back up.

"I've had my time in the oyster, I'll share all I can that I've learned." she beamed, smiling widely as the wrinkles on her face became more prominent.

It was a beauty only age and experience could bring, and Candy was grateful to have her guidance in her life now.

"I hope your Catch Anniversary went well. Where'd you go? Along the beach?" But before Pearl could answer Candy's questions, the announcer's voice started to speak.

"Thanks folks, now let's see Vaporeon's signature move! Vaporeon, please use-" The electricity suddenly shut down, the lights went out, and everyone immediately started freaking out. There were gasps and shrieks from the crowd, not like their usual awestruck or excited cheers. No, this was very different... something wasn't right.

The attention quickly led to the impending chaos, as Candy leaned up from her chair, trying to squint through the absolute darkness. "W-... what's happening…?"

After a bit of static and a long, held drum beat sound, the speakers suddenly came back on in the dark. "S-sorry folks! We seem to be having a malfun-EMMPHH! EMM!" The microphone seemed to drop as someone grabbed it, the announcer was being gagged and his mouth covered by the sounds of it.

A deep voice was heard throughout the stadium, "Everyone," It's voice demanded absolute obedience, it's presence menacing but influential in tone. "Please remain in your seats, a group of my associates will be coming along to take your pokemon, along with the Aquarium. The star, of course, will also no longer perform for your needs... but ours."

Now Candy stood up, "Zippity?!" And immediately tried to see if she could feel or hear her in the dark.

"She's right here!" Will sounded, and the little Pichu called out to calm her trainer and friend.

"Zippity!" Candy felt something jump to her and grabbed her, holding her close and ducking her head down into the soft, pudgy head. She wouldn't let anything happen to Zippity... or any of the other pokemon! But... how?

"Wait... Will!" She turned to face his direction in the darkness, raising her head up to ask, "Where's Torchic!?"

"If you cooperate, no one will be harmed. If you refuse…"

The crowd was in an uproar of fear as the lights dimly came back on, and in the low-light, men with 'R's on their shirts could be seen starting to force people to hand over their pokemon, their R's—the brightest color in the stadium now—glowed in the dark light and created a very intimidating effect on the younger children.

Getting the pokmeon ripped from their arms, both children and adults, made a huge riot of cries as people began to command attacks from their pokemon, to no avail, since any attack may hurt an innocent audience member or was negated by a stronger pokemon from the thieves. Pokemon that were resisting were being fainted left and right...

Vaporeon, having her paws on the edge of the tank, looked around at the terrible scene and suddenly narrowed her eyes in vengeance. It was almost as if it wanted justice for someone ruining the fun, and came out of the water. But as it did so, it realized that there were many unattended children and frightened pokemon by the bottom of her tank where she now was. Confused on her next plan of action, she realized there were too many glowing 'R's roaming up and down the benchers... Then, a child reached out and wrapped their arms around her, crying and falling to their knees. Having compassion, Vaporeon knew she couldn't leave them defenseless... so she rose her paw and lifted the child's head to lightly kiss it's chin with licks that cleaned up the tears from their face.

"Torchic! Tor-tor-tor-tor-tor!" Torchic seemed to be trying to tell it to help, but a glowing R wandered over after hearing her loud encouragement for Vaporeon to fight and scooped her up. Stuffing the little Torchic into a bag, the bad man then continued to grab and bag the other pokemon that were playing with the kids down by the bottom of the tank's edge moment's before.

"In you go!" he snickered as Vaporeon's eyes widened before it took on a serious look. Jumping up into the air, Vaporeon reeled itself head back and circled it back to let out a powerful Ice Beam.

The man's lower half was frozen solid, planting him squarely in one place as Vaporeon's body turned and she whacked his hand and head with her incredibly strong tail. The bad man blinked his eyes a moment after the impressive hit, but not feeling the bag in his hands, and too dark to actually see where it had dropped, he started flailing his arms around and shouting out, "W-what!? I'm stuck! The Vaporeon's fighting back!"

In the shadowy darkness, Vaporeon's eyes shined with the same glow of the red reflective surface of the man's 'R', landing like a monster creeping through the black. It scared the man who tried to break his legs free of the ice, before advancing scarily towards him and finally swinging another powerful tail hit into the man's face to knock him out.

The dropped bag flopped down, having not been tied up at the top yet, meaning that the pokemon trapped inside could now easily crawl out and escaped. Vaporeon moved it's head into the bag, lifting the material up to give them a better clearing. They were all relatively small pokemon, so they moved quickly from her and out of the bag. She then seemed to see one pokemon not leaving, and reaching in gently with it's mouth, probed around and brought Torchic out like a cat would it's kitten. Torchic panicked with the flapping of it's wings and loud, continual noise as it finally calmed down enough to see that it was Vaporeon who was taking her out and handling her.

"Torchic!" Pearl had heard Torchic's energetic cries and brought out her pokeball, "Nevermore! See through the dark!" Miss Pearl silently wished someone in the crowd knew the TM move Flash, but since that wasn't quite a possibility, decided that Murkrow was used to being naturally nocturnal, and was going to have to rely on him and his experience to fight off any of the criminals that tried to get near the baby pokemon and children. Murkrow did exactly that, using his high-level to take down any bad guy that came too close to their seats, pushing them back with the beats of his wings and powerful force of his beak. His winds also were lined with powerful Night Shades intertwined to knock them further down the stairs. The gang was alright thanks to Murkrow, so Pearl quickly turned to her next plan, "Octillery! Help us get Torchic and everyone else to safety!"

"Octi!" Octillery was determined to succeed in saving his friends this time, especially after his failure against Gangar. He jumped from Pearl's head and gripped the railing, spinning slickly down around like an acrobat after using his own Ice Beam on it, so his body could become slippery enough to skate and slide down to the bottom of the many layers of stadium seats. After reaching the bottom, he then used a Gunk Shot at another Grunt that was trying to reach down to grab a running Vaporeon with Torchic in her mouth.

The powerful move sent the man flying backwards, slamming his twisted body against the tank's edge and having him slide off it slowly as he slunk back to the ground. The drainage took care of the Poison-Type attack from huritng the small children and pokemon around the glass. Octillery swam through the poison and explained to a cautious Vaporeon that had pivoted to him, thinking he may be a bad pokemon, that Torchic was his friend and he was responsible for her safety.

Vaporeon nodded, and looked up to try and peer through the darkness, before seeing a shadowy figure flying near the dimmed spotlights. She put Torchic down softly and then looked to the other children, then spoke back to the Octillery, "Vay! Vay!" as though asking him to not abandon the young ones for her, but that she had a plan too.

Octavius, hearing her idea, suddenly remembered his first encounter with Pearl, and looked down with a deep resolution.

Many people's happiness were in danger, their pokemon being stripped from their beloved trainers... he wanted to save them all too... but first, he needed to shine light on what was really going on... he needed to warn people... he needed a distress call.

"Occcccccttt...!" stretching his bulbous head back and sticking his pipe-like mouth skyward, the stadium was suddenly filled with a heavenly light of multi-colored beams. It blasted through the stadiums theatre ceiling, the debris falling into the water of the tank and splashing water out on more of the glowing R's and giving people and pokemon a way to get away for a moment. However, a grunt reached out and grabbed a person from running, glaring up at the bright pokemon move.

Octillery's Signal Beam shot into the sky above, and the water pokemon outside the Aquarium suddenly noticed the alarming sight, and immediately began to race around the beach to get more humans and pokemon alike to help. Trainers within the large auditorium were able to finally have a fighting chance, seeing where to direct their pokemon moves and make sure they weren't accidentally hurting innocent victims.

More powerful and larger pokemon emerged from pokeballs, taking up the space of the stairs or the skies, even a Charizard blasted fire at a the flying Golbats that the bad guys seemed to have littered the air with, each having two legs to swoop down and pick up pokemon from the middle-seats and fly them over to bags that other Golbats were carrying on two sides. The bags began to, one by one, each fall from the sky and get caught by other, more powerful pokemon come to rescue. Among these, Vaporeon used her Hydro Pump to keep the bags that weren't being caught quick enough from impacting too harshly with the ground, saving them the terrible fall.

One pokemon Trainer threatened to use a Surf and flood the bad guys out, but another Trainer advised quickly against it, that it would hurt the younger children that couldn't swim or that were too close to the tank's edge.

During the struggle, Murkrow dived down and was able to retrieve Torchic, seeing where Octillery was firing the Signal Beam from. Octavius's beam brought light to everyone, and he strained to keep it going, not letting it waver like he did in his youth. Nodding to the Vaporeon for her assistance in keeping the baby pokemon safe, Murkrow flew and dodged the battles in the space of the huge theatre, diving through and barrel-rolling out from a charge from a Flygon and a Salamence that were targeting more Golbats. It flapped lower towards the audience's stands to find Pearl and the others, as Octillery kept up light for them all. A hope that they could save them. A desperate attempt to not leave them defenseless against such cruel thieves.

Vaporeon went on with her plan, alerting the Staff to release the other Aquarium Pokmeon to help in the cause, and then went off to take down more glowing R's.

The Aquarium staff let the Aquarium pokemon out and also led their own forces through the halls to take on the intruders, as wild water pokemon were air-dropped in by helpful Pelippers and Wingulls to land within the large tank and try and help too. They quickly distinguished friend from foe, and with Water Guns they shot at the Golbats and swam to save some of the bags and pokemon that had fallen into the water, being lifeguards that let the scared pokemon hold onto them while they floated them to safety on the water ring's edge.

The police swarmed the outside of the Aqurium, as other beach goers had phoned them, and were still marveling at how long the Signal Beam had remained, but also how the Police had seen it all the way back in the city. It had stretched far into the sky... to where even forest pokemon were coming to see what was going on.

Octillery began to feel the PP of his move draining, using it continuously was going to cause fatigue in that particular move but also to his body. However, as the Signal Beam began to wane, he heard a call from a familiar voice. "Keep pushing, Octavius! We're on the cuffs of victory!" Immediately, more strength came to Octillery, and his wiggling beam held stronger and grew in width. It blinded the skies and rivaled the glow of the sun, twirling higher than before, and scaring a poor, passing Braviary. Having quite a heart attack, it gasped a few times as it hovered in the air before diving down to also find out who dared to shoot him. Seeing the plight of the obvious struggle through the hole in the ceiling though, he charged down and went to protect the baby pokemon.

The Police had just busted through the backstage right as Candy and Will were about to join the battle after having made sure the kids and pokemon were safe, the strange culprits had already gave the call to flee and escaped.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, This is Officer Jenny, please settle down. The notorious criminals, Team Rocket, have fled the scene and we're trying to catch up to them. You're safe now, please retrieve your lost pokemon and children and try and stay together. If there is a missing child or pokemon, alert us immediately. Our men and women are standing by the exits in case you can't find someone, any lost children or pokemon you may find that aren't yours should be escorted to the doors right away. Our people would like any volunteers who could report on the happenings done today to please be willing to stay after. I know this has been traumatic on both families and staff, but we implore you to please locate your loved ones and leave in an orderly manner."

The Police successfully identified the criminal team and were announcing the beginning of their investigation, but then one lone voice from the crowd cried out, "We won!" and the entire stadium blew up with cheers and hurrays. The wild ocean pokemon splashed their tails and fins into the water to cheer, as people clapped, and other pokemon looked to new allies they had made in the fighting with thanks and gratitude, glad that it was all over now. The Aquarium pokemon and their staff all jumped for joy, one Dugong slapping it's flippers as a Magickarp blinked its eyes before splashing vigorously as though gaining some understanding that applause was in order.

The Police were checking both roads and skies, all the while... Octavius's signal slowly thinned until nothing came out... and the pokemon fell over on his side in exhaustion.

"How many pokemon did they get away with?!" Candy was still filled with the intensity of the situation, "Quick, Will! We have to-" Ready to take off after them, she grabbed the back of a chair, ready to jump over the rows before Pearl held up a hand to stop her, leaning off a row in case she needed to get closer to Candy to stop her.

"Wait, Candy! Stop!" she commanded.

"W-what..." Startled by her telling her to stay put, Candy formed a fist and held it close to herself, pumped and ready for more action. "Pearl, you can't be-!" She was clearly misinterpreting why Pearl was stopping her, and Pearl was quick to correct it.

"The children's lives are in our care, Candy… we must remember that their families know we have them here… and this will surely come on the news." Pearl was thinking logically in her reasonable explaination to Candy, even though she desperately wanted Candy and Will to rush off and take them down, which is what she would have done in her youth as well. However, she also worried they weren't quite ready for that yet, and continued with her word of caution and wisdom. "There will come a time… when you will stand up to injustice and face this world with no fear in your eyes, due to the complete trust you have in yourself and in your pokemon…" she looked out to where the police had gathered most of the criminals that weren't able to get away in time, handcuffing and tying them up in groups, then saw other people reuniting with their pokemon that were about to be stolen moments beforehand. Even the wild pokemon helped other pokemon in their care find their families and trainers again, it was quite touching as a Bulbasaur reunited with his child in a long embrace full of tears. "When that day comes… I'll have no right to stop you." she turned back to the two as they slowly put their pokeballs away, heeding her words.

"They almost got Eevee," Jake was telling the twins, "We were right, smack-dap in the middle of where those guys were coming from up down, to down up for people's pokemon, and so I decided I was gonna punch or trip over anyone who came near me! But then, one guy grabbed Eevee and then Eevee bit'em! Then I used my hat to bat the guy away but his werido googles scratched me." He was showing the small injury, making his story believable as the girls hugged one another and gripped the other baby pokemon closer to them.

"No!", "You really fought them!?" the girls clearly were impressed but also afraid, "You're so brave!" they cried out together.

Jake just nodded in the praise, putting his hands to his hips. "Wasn't scared at all, just angry. I think those guys had night-vision googles on!" he deduced, then picked up Eevee and held him close. "I won't let anything scare me from helping Eevee! Nothing's worst than that Gangar, anyway!" he definitely seemed to have grown in his short time attending the Daycare... "I would have protected you guys too, ya know. Just stick with ol'Jakey!" he pointed a thumb to himself a let out a big boast as the girls puffed up and filled his ego.

They held their hands together admiringly and had stars in their eyes, "Jake's so cool!" but Pearl knew who the real, triumphing hero of the whole show was. She looked around for her Octillery, and was devastated to find him barely breathing at the bottom of the arena.

"Oh, my dear, Octavius." She tried to move pass the people swiftly shuffling down the lines of people from the stairs, but couldn't even a get a foot out from the benches. "Please, excuse me, may I pass?" she was blocked by fathers holding their daughters or mother's rushing down with their hands clasping their son's. She watched as peopled passed the pokemon, and some Aquarium Keepers beginning to notice him and getting supplies to treat him. "Oh dear, oh... oh, my friend..." tears and worry filled her eyes before she turned to Candy again, "Come, Candy! Will! You must ensure that for the survival of the Pokemon Daycare and these little ones, that they are brought home safely and out of harms way."

"Yes ma'am." Candy and Will nodded and seriously took on their roles at guiding the children safely out as Pearl finally held her cane out to stop people in their tracks, getting shocked expression from the woman who's path she had blocked.

"Pardon, my pokemon's down there, you see." She asserted herself and leapt into line, hurrying down the stairs and then falling to her knees with her hands out towards Octillery. "Oh, Octavius, Oh... Oh-oh-oh, there, there. I'm here now. You've done so well, my old friend, so well." She pulled him up to her as he opened his eyes and cooed lightly his name to her. She had tears poke out of her wrinkles at seeing the staff had treated him, and he would be alright.

The staff smiled to her, "Your pokemon is a real hero, miss."

"I've always known that. I'm so grateful. Everyone truly is, Octavius, you've done it again. You've ensured both my safety and the children's. Torchic and the other baby pokemon are unharmed as well. Not just that-" She then pulled him slightly away from the embrace to look at him, opening the lines of her eyes to show the sparkling jewels of her uncovered eyes. "Many pokemon and human bonds were saved today. Remind me to give you plenty of treats when we get home and rest up, hmm?"

Octillery weakly formed arches with his eyes to show his joy at that, and wiggled his two little legs to show he was happy he could help.

"You never gave up, you did your upmost best, and you are truly... my hero, Octavius." she lightly put her forehead to his and the two shared a deep moment of thankfulness and love in that moment, with your typical anime freeze frame that created bright bubbles of light and sparkles with a 'sheeeeen' sound effect to show their enduring friendship.

The dive home was a silent one.

Igglypuff had slept through most of excitement, and Torchic was actually sitting still for once, going all googley and sparkling eyes over a limited edition Vaporeon necklace that Vaporeon insisted on giving her as they departed the Aquarium. After all, it was Torchic who encouraged Vaporeon not to just sit by the children and her, but to actually take action further than just defending. As they were about to leave the aquarium, she had walked out and called to her, tossing it by the entrance as the Wailord design fired off another spout of water from it's top. Torchic's bravery in sticking by the pool to ask her for her help and not just stick around was well awarded in Torchic's eyes, as she now admired Vaporeon as her hero, and kept the necklace close to her always. With her two little, three-taloned chicken legs, she held the necklace against the fluff of her chest and ruffled her feathers up with joy and pride.

Riolu had actually fought some Rocket Grunt in the dark, and won nonetheless, saving a boy and his Lugia plushie which the man mistakenly thought was an actual pokemon. The beaten up grunt was hauled away with the others and Riolu wiped under his nose to his own glory, not expecting anyone, even the little boy who he returned the plushie too, to ever know it was him who did it. He was now weak from the battle, though, and seemed to kick the back of the chair in frustration at his fatigue...

After all, he hated feeling weak.

He longed for the day he could defend himself without any signs of weakness, but straight-on fighting with no falters of strength, persevering like the giant pokemon he saw taking on the sky battles.

He may have won, but he was hurt, and wished he could have continued battling alongside the other fighting pokemon... He wanted to fight without taking so much damage… Guess he'll have to train harder than he was before.

He couldn't beat Gangar, but a human wasn't much of a tussle for his Fighting-type moves... so then, how could he get so strong, that he could battle hundreds to thousands of battles without fatigue!?

Eevee had stayed close to Jake's side, but also had growled at a Rocket Grunt, showing no fear since the Gengar incident; Although, that led to the little skirmish Jake mentioned to the twins earlier.

Eevee seemed to only be able to summon courage with Jake around, and so it used its Bite attack to chomp down on the Rocket Grunt's hand that had grabbed him away from Jake. Jake didn't mention he had rammed his head into the man's gut and that the man's pokemon Ratatta had actually caused the scratch, though. It was actually Candy, who once the man and Miss Pearl's heads were low, Miss Pearl trying to grab Jake to safety, had round-house kicked the man and his googles off.

He faintly remembers her saying, "Not my Kid!" which then made him think that maybe she was cooler than he gave her credit for. Miss Pearl felt Eevee wiggle between her arms and Jake's stomach, and sighed in relief that everyone was alright. Zippity had also zapped any Golbat that tried to snatch away a sleeping Igglypuff but couldn't find Riolu, due to him being occupied saving the kid's Lugia Plushie.

The twins had stuck together with Pearl and Will as he kept an eye on Candy as she got Jake and Eevee away from the grunt.

Pearl thanked the heavens that everyone was alright, making silent prayers in the bus ride up about how thankful she was that other pokemon and people jumped in to help rescue everyone. It also showed the love they had for the Aquarium and all it stood for.

Murkrow returned to his pokeball with a peck on the cheek from Torchic as a thank you for flying her home and the kids went back home to very worried parents, who thanked Candy and Pearl for keeping them safe, and asked them to send their regards to Will as well. However, it wasn't long before questions started to arise and Miss Pearl had to combat them all on her own...

Will had to leave to find Phil and make sure he was alright, while Candy made sure the baby Pokemon were well-fed and looked over for any signs of injuries, which they all were alright.

Walking Pearl back to the Daycare Center where she lived, Candy still felt a longing to chase after Team Rocket… to really show'em! But... 'I know in my heart that Pearl was right...' She looked over to Pearl, as the forest pokemon eyed her from the dirt path that most humans and their cars took normally, as though warning her to not come through the forest again. "...Pearl?" She sounded full of humility, maybe even a bit of self-doubt as she got her mentor's and employer's attention.

"Yes, my dear." Pearl was holding Octavius in her arms, lightly petting him as he swayed with joy in his eyes at her continual affections. She had had a long day, but she would never neglect a single second of giving Octavius all the reward and love he deserved.

"…I've always kind of… put off my trainer journey for when I saved up enough money to go on it... or got stronger with my pokemon, b-but-!" she looked away, a little worried, and maybe getting a bit amped at not being enough. "…Do you ever think I'll be as great… as well..," She stopped down the path and rose her head to Pearl, a genuine look of uncertainty. "You? I mean, you knew exactly how to trust and use your pokemon for the greater good. I didn't even give Zippity a command I was so worried! And when Jake and Eevee were in danger... I just... acted. Without really thinking, I didn't even bring out my other pokemon." she pulled out her pokeball containing her graduation pokemon that she was awarded for narrowly getting through the final exam battles... "All throughout school I just winged it... having my friends always there to back me up and help out... today... I really didn't feel like a Pokemon Trainer at all." She sighed, looking forlorn. "Do you really think I have what it takes? To even... start... on my adventure?"

Pearl stopped, hearing the compliment and the insecurities as she thought carefully about what Candy was conveying during this personal address. She turned around, having withdrew Octavius to let him get some deserved rest, and 'hmm'd to herself as she rose her head up in contemplation. "You may have just been worried about your pokemon, and maybe your bonds with them are still a bit of a mystery to you. I don't blame you for what you did, in fact, I'm very proud of how you handled everything that happened at the Aquarium. Even before The Rocket Gang appeared." she pivoted slightly to show she was speaking directly to Candy, as she listened carefully to her words of comfort. "You kept Jake safe, you delegated responsibility to Will, someone you trusted, to watch after the twins, and you did all this because of a favor I asked of you. Though, I knew it would be wrought with challenges, throwing you into something you weren't used to, at first... but I knew in my heart you'd find your way." She smiled and nodded, "I believe everyone has the makings of a fine trainer." She stated, encouraging her through her words. "However…" she raised her finger, and pointed it to Candy. "I see in you a potential to be far greater than any trainer I've ever faced. I await the day you mature into a fine young woman, and take on the Pokemon League." She kindly smirked, showing that she had a lot of faith in Candy's growth towards that conclusion. "The more experience a pokemon gains, the stronger and more able he is at learning new tactics to complete the harsh obstacles he may face in the future. But, the more he adapts, the more he feels able. It's that confidence I hope to nurture in you and the other children and pokemon in the Daycare, Candy. Won't you trust an old woman in providing such care to you, and your aspirations, in the future?"

Candy's face lit up with tears of joy, "Absolutely!" She tried to hold it all in, but the gravity of having someone believe that one day... she could actually fulfill her dreams?! It was an amazing feeling to have... this... hope. "T-thank you, Miss Pearl!" she wiped her eyes, trying to collect herself. "I've always been naïve and looked at as a class clown. Even my own parents were worried about sending me away to live independently at the Trainer's School, but I just know I have something special with pokemon... I just... I can read them better than people, I think? I'm not sure... but I want to hone that if it's the only actually good skill I know!" she seemed energized again, her usual self.

"Hmhm, yes, well… you need to learn and grow a little first." Pearl did see a special gift in her, but didn't want to give her too much praise too soon. She still needed guidance, and Pearl knew exactly how to whip her into shape. "But you will be a fine trainer one day. I can see it." She turned around and continued to head home, "I can head back on my own from here, deary. Go on and tidy up yourself back at your apartment."

"…Thank you…" Candy spoke quietly, her eyes glittering in admiration at her newfound teacher. "Uh, again!" Candy knew the road was about to end anyway, and so, she waved to a fading image of Miss Pearl going down the path before taking off back to the city.

"Sweet girl." Pearl stated, and looked up at the moon, "Yes… I sense great things in her."

Suicune was peeking through the forest's cover of trees and bushes, having heard of the disturber of the peaceful woods being a young human girl who also seemed to race about with the energy of a wild pokemon. Suicune heard this human girl had risked the dangers of a powerful Ghost-type pokemon to rescue a small, newly hatched pokemon and human child previously, before also being in the mist of wicked humans and defending the same two yet again. Wishing to see this anomaly of a human with a reckless but compassionate heart that fueled it's pure soul, Suicune snuck towards the land and peeked through the brush to watch and listen to all the old lady and young girl spoke about. The north wind beckoned behind it as the conversation ended and it dashed away, jumping onto a pond and racing across it, causing ripple effects as it raced to catch up with Candy while she had moved swiftly back to the city's path.

The water was instantly purified clean and sparkled as though see-through by Suicune's immense and legendary influence.

Candy continued to dart about, being careful to see the forest pokemon eyeing her with glares and smiling sheepishly to them as she bolted by in the dark. She held a hand up as though to apologize and show she was taking the 'human route' as her kind normally would go to make their way home before something leapt out from the sides, stopping her in her tracks. "Uwa-ahh!" She skidded to a halt and stretched her leg out, almost twisting herself completely to the side with her abrupt halt. Shocked that maybe the forest pokemon were still angry with her for some reason, she looked rightly afraid and got up, bowing to show some respects. "I-I wasn't going through the forest area! I stayed on the road! No need to be upset anymore!" she was about to scream a little, but held back and just simply whisked her hands about in the air, as though trying to appease the entity before her and plead some mercy. "Don't attack! I'm friendly!" she covered her face with her arms and waited as she leaned back, before stopping her antics and peeking through her arms, and the true beauty and elegance of the legendary pokemon.

It hadn't moved from where it had landed right in front of her, an omen to most that Candy was destined to be one of the great trainers of the world, as Suicune turned it's head to her, it's ribbon-like appendages warbling behind it as though the movement of rough waves and low-riding winds along the land and natural springs... it nodded to her in a gentle and slow manner, as though knowing it's power and size, and remaining somewhat docile.

Seems there's more than one person who believes in Candy's abilities… and making that known, Suicune appeared in all it's glory.

"Uhh…"

Candy, not sure what any of this meant, slowly reached for her pokeball, thinking this strange pokemon she had never seen before maybe wanted a battle to make the air clear between her and the ruffled wild forest pokemon, but suddenly felt a strange feeling in her chest. Rubbing her heart, she looked a little confused but instantly wasn't afraid anymore. "You... You came here to see me?" she didn't know why she could feel such a strong connection to that thought, but the feeling in her interpreted the pokemon's actions as such. It never moved from it's spot, but stood as though frozen, with it's eyes locked on hers.

It's gorgeous hair rippled behind it more fiercely, causing a strong north wind as it rotated it's head in a circle skyward. Gracefully, it let out a chilling but ethereal cry. The soundwaves mixed with the crashing winds made Candy cover herself with her arms again, planting her feet promptly and sternly down to fight against the steady lashing of winds.

Then, Suicune lowered it's head and dashed towards her.

"Ahhh! I'm sorry!" She freaked out and ducked, "I won't disturb the forests again!" as the Suicune trotted powerful towards her, kicking up the dirt on the path behind it before jumping to glide in the wind be carried across and over Candy's head. Amazed, Candy blinked her eyes and lowered her arms, turning around as Suicune landed and did the same, pivoting a strong leg forcefully down and towards Candy again, looking over it's shoulder.

It was as though saying that she wasn't ready for something yet, a battle? A calling? And briskly kept it's look neutral and expectant. It had seen all it needed too, and with the flash of something it had sensed in her bag lighting up, it turned back the way it was going and raced off into the forest again, disappearing into the darkness.

Candy tried to scan around the dark for a glimmer of a sign of Suicune again, but couldn't see anything as miraculous as it's form anywhere from where she was. The forest was too thick and her panic to frosty on her lungs for her to try and dart after it. She didn't even know if it wanted her too... she could just sense that it was there for her, but not sure why. "…Aw man…" she felt bad for her display of cowardice in front of it, but wondered if Suicune really didn't care about her and was going to jump over her anyway to flee the sight of a trainer.

Was it a legendary? She didn't know, she didn't recognize it.

In the moonlight, Candy fell to her knees, exhausted and overwhelmed with adrenaline pulsing through her veins. If she had to fight the strange spirit of the forest, she would have lost, and badly at that too. Wiping out this late at night would have been disastrous too... so she was glad she narrowly escaped that one. She was finally calming down somewhat after that reassurance, leaning her head back and remembering what all the Legendaries in her book at school looked like, trying to figure it out since most of the common pokemon around her home city weren't nearly as fully evolved or massive as that pokemon appeared to be. She recalled that there were so many pokemon that professors, and other smart people, still didn't know about to this day! So maybe, she saw a rare occurrence of a new and strange forest protecting pokemon?

Yanking her head forward, she let out a groan at how eventfully tiring this whole day was, but how special it was too. She knew she wanted to be a Pokemon Trainer among other hopeful dreams, but she told herself she should never be so cowardly again when faced with something so extraordinary. She wanted to be a Trainer that was worthy enough to have seen whatever this unique pokemon was, and maybe even catch it someday!

Du-ling!

She hadn't even noticed the light that had flashed on in her bag, but it seemed to have completed whatever task it was calculating and had successfully uploaded what it wanted.

Suicune Registered.

Location confirmed.

"…HHHMMMMMM?!" Candy's eyes widened and her face turned pale as her whole body quaked from the voice of her pokedex chiming off as monotoned as possible to this incredible discovery. 'SUICUNE!? IT SAID WHAT NOW!?' she twitched her hand towards her bag, twisting the bag under her arm and opening it upside to let the Pokedex fall out into her hand. The other contents she just used her other hand and squeezed with her arm to keep from dropping, closing and pulling the bag back upright on her back and then flipping the device open as it flopped up. Sure enough, Suicune's being was on the screen, along with it's information and with a tap of her thumb, it's location and whereabouts, riding along the wind, showed how fast it was moving on to other locations on her digital map. It's face blinked several times before darting somewhere else, as though teleporting, or speedily racing along the given paths to new areas.

"…WHELP," She smacked her lips, creating a humorous 'puff' as she did, indeed, just witness a rare legendary sighting. "Smell me a Magikarp..!"