Hello and welcome to chapter 5! Been a while, huh?

Beta'd by Old Man of the Mountain/Darklord331 and Slothful

Chapter 5 – Onwards To Oreburgh!

I don't own anything except some stuff

The day started off nice. Dawn and I had a nice breakfast and we went shopping for supplies. Since we left quite early, we decided to leave our Moemon in the hotel, mostly to give them more time to sleep, much to Dawn's jealousy over them getting more beauty sleep.

It wasn't until we got back into the hotel that a little problem decided to reel its head… which came in the form of Dawn stuffing as many beauty products in her bag as physically possible.

"Dawn, you need to rela-"

"I can't, Nik!" Dawn cut me off hastily, shaking her head frantically as she went over several bottles of conditioner in her hands. "You don't understand how important this is for me right now! While we're out there camping, my hair needs to stay looking perfect! Especially when I'll be appearing before the crowd! I can't go out there looking like a mess, Nik!"

"Your hair is fine, Dawn. A few days camping in the woods won't hurt you." I assured her patiently, crossing my arms over my chest as I watched her sort through her belongings once again. "Oreburgh City is only a few days away from here. Once we reach the city, we can rest in a proper hotel room for a bit."

Dawn suddenly stood in front of the mirror, her fingers running through her blue locks. Her brows furrowed in frustration as she examined her reflection. "Do you see this, Nik? If I have no makeup and if my skin is dull, I'm going to look like an old lady out there!" She spun around, clutching a bottle of conditioner like her life depended on it. "That's a disaster I will avoid at any costs!"

Sighing through my nose, I turned to Piper. "Any help here?"

Piper blinked, glancing between Dawn and I. "Uh, um...don't girls always carry around a lot of stuff when they go somewhere? Isn't that normal?" She asked, unsure.

"Not when it comes to traveling through the wilderness," I explained patiently, rubbing the bridge of my nose tiredly. "Dawn's worried about the effect the natural elements will have on her body. Camping is a completely different experience compared to staying at a hotel."

"And besides, it's not just about appearances, Nik." Dawn continued, holding up a tube of toothpaste with a fierce expression. "It's about health! If either of us ever gets sick, we'll have no access to proper medical care! That means that even something small like a simple cold could turn into a major issue!"

"That's a good point," Piper agreed immediately.

"That doesn't mean you need every bottle of lotion and conditioner known to man," I pointed out firmly, my patience slowly growing thin. "Besides, we won't be camping forever. Once we reach Oreburgh, we'll be able to rest in an actual bed."

"Also a good point," Piper conceded, tilting her head slightly towards me.

"I won't be able to sleep properly unless I have everything I need." Dawn declared resolutely, staring at me challengingly. Her hand holding onto a tube of cream. "I refuse to compromise on this, Nik. A girl needs her beauty routine, Nik. You wouldn't deny me that, would you?" She frowns as she stares at me right in the eyes.

Staring right into her eyes for a few moments, I sighed, knowing that she wouldn't budge at all. "Just...try to keep the amount you're bringing to a minimum. You don't empty an entire bottle of shampoo on a week-long trip." I stated in a matter of factly.

"That's true, but-"

"If it's just a bottle or two, then it's fine," I cut in before Dawn could continue any further. "After we reach Oreburgh, I promise that we can stay at a hotel for a few days."

Dawn blinked, clearly not expecting my suggestion. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded reluctantly. "Fine...I guess I can compromise with that much." She huffed, folding her arms stubbornly. "But only because you asked nicely." She turned her head away with a harrumph.

"Thank you, Dawn." I sighed, a small smile forming on my lips.

"Ooh!"

Blinking, we both turned to Tiamat looking through a magazine while eating her snacks on the bed. Her tail was wagging excitedly as she stared at a particular page intensely. "Nik, it says here that Orebur...Orebur...Oreburger!"

"Oreburgh."

"That's what I said! Oreburgh is famous for their mine tours!" She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling brightly as she gazed at me hopefully. "Can we go there when we arrive? Please, please, please?!"

I chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm. "Sure. We'll head there as soon as we reach the city itself."

"Mine?" Dawn's voice almost sounds like it was full of dre-oh wait, nevermind. It actually is. "Are you serious? I can't be walking around in a mine filled with dirt and dust! It'll ruin my skin!" She shivered, her hands rubbing against her smooth skin as if she imagined herself covered in dust and dirt.

"Then we take a bath!" Tia declared happily, grinning widely as she continued reading her magazine excitedly. "Besides, it's not just the mines! They've got a museum too!" She stopped and gasped as she looked at a particular section of the magazine. "They also have a rock garden where you can see and touch lots of cool rocks and minerals!" She turned the magazine around, showing a picture of said rock garden.

"It's so pretty! Let's go, Nik! I wanna see that place!" She jumped up and down on the bed repeatedly.

I chuckle, patting her head reassuringly. "We will. I promise."

"Yay!" Tia cheered loudly, pumping her fists up into the air.

"Ugh..." Leona groaned weakly, burying her face into the pillow as she continued lying on the bed. "Shut up, you stupid fish..."

"Ah! You're awake!" Tia gasped excitedly, dropping the magazine and jumping off the sofa immediately. She dashed over towards the groggy Leona and threw her arms around her tightly. "Morning, Leo! Are you feeling better yet?"

"I'd feel better if you didn't jump on me so early in the morning," Leona mumbled irritably, trying unsuccessfully to push Tia off her. "Get off..."

"Nope!" Tia declared confidently, clinging onto Leona firmly. "I'm cuddling you! It'll make you feel better! Trust me, I know this!" Her eyes shined brightly as she said this.

Bless your bubbliness, Tia.

"I'll feel better if you stop bothering me." Leona retorted sharply, glaring half-heartedly at Tia. "Seriously, you're not helping. I couldn't sleep with your tail slapping my face repeatedly throughout the night." Her hand went to rub her cheek, likely still feeling the phantom smacking from Tiamat's tail.

"What?" Tia blinked, surprised by this revelation. "I don't remember doing that..."

"You were mumbling and kicking in your sleep," Leona explained flatly. "If it weren't for Nik keeping his arm over you, I probably would have gotten off the bed a long time ago."

Tia's eyes widened in horror at hearing this. "I… I didn't kick Nik, did I?" She glanced nervously at me, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her skirt. Her ear fins drooped slightly, and her eyes darted away, unable to meet my gaze. "I didn't mean to, honest..."

The guilty, teary-eyed look almost made my heart melt.

I went on one knee and put a hand on Tia's head, gently rubbing it against her golden locks. "You didn't kick me," I reassured her gently, smiling warmly at her. "I made sure to keep my hand on top of you so that you wouldn't move too much," I glanced at Leona briefly. "And so that Leona could sleep more peacefully as well."

"Hmph," Leona scoffed quietly, turning her head away from everyone else in the room. "Like I care..." Leona muttered softly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I only stayed in bed because it was cold." But her tail betrayed her, thumping against the mattress loudly. "I didn't ask for your help, anyway."

"Of course not." I chuckled, walking over and patting Leona's head gently. "But you're one of my Moemon now, and it's my responsibility to make sure that you're healthy and happy."

Leona scowled, averting her gaze away from me as her tail thumped against the mattress loudly. "Whatever..." She mumbled quietly, refusing to look at anyone present. But her tail was still wagging uncontrollably, giving away her true feelings.

"You're so cu-mmph?!" Tia went to coo at Leona, but I decided to stop her before she decides that jumping the grumpy Growlithe was a good idea.

I gently hold a finger over Tiamat's lips. "Shh," I whispered soothingly, smiling reassuringly at her. "This is her way of expressing her gratitude, Tia. Just let her enjoy the moment, okay?"

Tiamat stared up at me silently, her eyes shining brightly as her lips curled upwards into a warm smile. Nodding her head eagerly, she pressed her cheek against Leona's back lovingly and nuzzled against her happily.

Leona blushed heavily and buried her face deeper into the pillow. Her ears twitched occasionally as she listened carefully to our conversation. "Stupid fish," She muttered under her breath, her tail thumping loudly against the mattress repeatedly. "Stupid Nik..."

"You're welcome," I chuckled, amused by her attitude. Turning to Dawn, who was already sorting her things out again, I sighed tiredly. "Do you think you're done yet?" As if answering my question, Dawn put another bottle of moisturizer into her backpack. "Guess not," I sighed again, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

"My mirror!" Dawn gasped suddenly, causing me to flinch involuntarily.

She pulled a small rectangular-shaped object from her bag and stared at it intently. "Oh, thank goodness," She sighed in relief, clutching her chest tightly before checking herself one last time. "Makeup, check. Hair, check. Mirror, check. Lotion, check." She nodded firmly before placing the mirror inside the bag. "All essentials for my beauty regimen are accounted for."

"Great," I smiled sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her. Seriously, the number of things she packed is ridiculous. How is she not exhausted carrying them around all day? "I'm glad you're satisfied with your choices. Now can we finally get going already? The road's waiting for us." I nudged my head to my backpack, beside it is a tent bag.

"One moment," Dawn replied, rummaging through her backpack before pulling out her pink hairbrush. She ran it through her blue locks several times, brushing her hair until it shone brightly. Satisfied, she placed the brush inside the bag. "Alright, ready to go."

"Finally," I mumbled under my breath, taking a deep breath before turning to Tiamat and Leona with their balls in hand. "Ready, girls?"

"Ready!" Tiamat exclaimed excitedly, throwing her arms around Leona's neck tightly and hugging her tightly. The Growlithe, meanwhile, merely grunted and continued lying in bed without responding.

"Come on, let's go." Two lasers shot out from my Moeballs, engulfing Leona and Tiamat. They vanished instantly, returning to the safety of their capsules. With a sigh, I stuffed both balls into my pocket and picked up my backpack.

"So," Dawn held Piper's ball in her hand. "Time to go to Route 203..." She then sighed in dejection as she glanced at her backpack. "Where I can't use my makeup or shower every day...or even wear anything but the same clothes over and over..." She sighed once again, a gloomy aura surrounding her. "If my hair or face becomes damaged, my idol career is ruined."

"At worst, you'll only get bed hair. It's not like we're going to be staying out there for a long time. Just a couple of days. Besides," I added, smiling reassuringly at her. "Messy hair or not, you'll still look cute."

Dawn paused for a moment, her cheeks reddening slightly. "Don't lie to me," She grumbled softly, looking away bashfully. "I can't be cute with messy hair..." If she could, she would hide her face with her hair.

"Wouldn't lie to a girl I kissed," I winked at her playfully.

Dawn blinked twice before blushing heavily. Her face turned crimson as she stammered incoherently. "Don't remind me of that day!" She squeaked in embarrassment, covering her face with her hands. "It was a mistake! I didn't mean it! It was in the heat of the moment! Your face was just so close, and..." She trailed off, burying her face into her palms shamefully.

Rolling my eyes, I pat her shoulder gently. "Come on, don't dwell on it." I took her hand and placed Piper's Moeball onto her palm. "Just focus on getting to Oreburgh safely. I promise we'll take a break once we get there." Sticking my tongue out at her, I winked playfully. "And a date too, if you want."

"A date?!" Dawn gasped, her blush deepening even further. She covered her mouth immediately and cleared her throat loudly. "N-no way," She denied vehemently, shaking her head repeatedly as she averted her gaze away from me. "Absolutely not," She insisted stubbornly, refusing to acknowledge my teasing. "Sure we kissed and all, but we just met, and..." She bit her lower lip anxiously, avoiding eye contact with me entirely.

Staying silent, I merely stared at her wordlessly until she finally relented.

"But if we stay together during our journey...I want to be an idol, you want to earn badges...and we're going to have to deal with each other anyway..." She murmured quietly, glancing downwards with an uncertain look. "...we can learn more about each other while we travel together..." She hesitated, staring into my eyes nervously.

"So I just need to learn more about you, then? I see. No problem." I grinned brightly at her, enjoying her flustered expression.

Man, Buns really rubbed off on me.

Dawn flinched visibly, her cheeks flaring up immediately. She swallowed hard, her heart racing wildly inside her chest. "O-okay..." She agreed timidly, nodding her head slowly. "B-but only after Oreburgh!" She declared firmly, glaring at me challengingly. "And only if I agree with the time and location! You hear me?!"

"Fine, fine." I laughed, amused by her reaction.

"Promise me, Nik!" Dawn demanded heatedly, staring directly into my eyes fiercely. "If you want to know me better, then I have to feel safe with you! You have to respect my privacy, and not do anything inappropriate!"

"Okay, okay." I conceded easily, nodding my head understandingly. "I won't do anything weird."

Dawn blinked, surprised by how quickly I gave in. Her brow furrowed suspiciously, and she frowned at me warily. "You won't? Not even a little bit?" She asked skeptically, staring at me closely. "Nothing embarrassing or weird? You won't tease me? You won't suddenly decide to kiss me just because Tia wants you to? You won't do anything stupid?"

Raising a brow at the last part, I chuckled. "Dawn, I'm a guy, stupid decisions are what we do best." I snicker at her, making her glare at me. "But no, I promise not to do anything strange, inappropriate, or weird. Just trust me."

"...okay." Dawn relented reluctantly, sighing deeply. "Fine, I guess. It's not like I can do anything else."

"But if I do something too stupid, then feel free to smack me," I suggested jokingly, grinning cheekily at her. "I promise I won't get angry or hold a grudge. I deserve it."

"Good," Dawn muttered softly, nodding her head in agreement. "That's good to know."

Pumping a fist in the air, I smile triumphantly. "Well then, shall we be on our way, future idol?" I bow deeply, holding my hand out towards the door. "The sooner we go, the sooner we reach Oreburgh. Then, a nice bath in the hotel."

Rolling her eyes at me, Dawn nevertheless complied. She marched forward without another word, marching past me without stopping. Smirking, I followed behind her dutifully.

It didn't take long for us to reach the road towards Route 203. A large green path stretched before us, disappearing into the horizon. Trees surrounded us on either side, providing shade and shelter for any travelers passing by. It was surprisingly quiet here. Only the faint rustling of leaves filled the air. There wasn't even any wild Moemon wandering around.

"So," Dawn spoke up suddenly, interrupting the silence between us. "Camping...you've done this before?" She glanced at me briefly, raising a brow questioningly. "Is that why you're so confident?"

"Yep," I replied casually, shrugging indifferently. "My dad taught me how to prepare a tent when I was younger. Told me he knew I'd follow his footsteps," I snort, recalling his smug grin. "He said, 'You'll be following in my footsteps soon enough! Be a Trainer, travel the world with your harem of Moemon! Live the life I lived!'" I stated in a dramatic tone, trying my best to replicate my old man.

Dawn blinked twice, staring blankly at me. "Harem of Moemon...?" She repeated slowly before giggling. "That's silly. What's he talking about? That's not what you're planning, right?" She smiled coyly, tilting her head cutely towards me. "Relationships between Moemon and Trainers are common, which means a Trainer having a harem of Moemon isn't unusual. But that's not your goal, is it?"

"Having a harem is secondary to being Champion and traveling the world. And having a harem is something every guy dreams of, not just me." I smirk, chuckling. "Though it does sound nice. But no, my goal is to earn my badges, be the Champion, and see the world." Turning to her, I raised a hand and pointed directly at her. "And it'd be fun to have you along with me on my journey, Dawn."

Blinking, Dawn paused momentarily before smiling confidently. "Well someone's gonna need to keep an eye on you," She declared proudly, tilting her chin upwards confidently. "And as an aspiring idol, a world tour sounds very nice."

"That's right," I nodded affirmatively, grinning broadly. "It'll be a dream come true."

"Hmm," Dawn hummed thoughtfully, tapping her chin lightly. "So...what kind of Moemon are you planning on catching? You need 3 on your team to challenge the Gym, so you'll need to find one more. You and I will be temporarily trading Tiamat and Piper so that you have a type advantage. Leona's doing good with Dig, which helps her with her weakness against rock-types. But you still need one more member."

"Hmm," I pondered, stroking my chin lightly. "I can find someone on the way...probably..." I trailed off uncertainly, frowning as I thought about the possible options available to me.

"You better." Dawn giggled, smiling warmly at me. "You won't be able to challenge the Gym otherwise."

"I know." I nodded, smiling confidently.

"Well, whatever happens, we'll figure it out later," Dawn declared cheerfully, patting my arm reassuringly. "Right now, we should focus on getting through the route."

We started walking, enjoying nature and each other's company. We saw a few Moemon, but none that really caught either of our attention.

And nearly an hour later…

"Ooh! Trainers!" A young girl dressed in a black dress with a yellow ribbon on her neck rushed towards us. Her short blue hair and bright yellow eyes gave her an innocent appearance. Behind her is a long black tail ending in a yellow star-shaped tip. She's also holding a wand, with a star-shaped tip.

"Wait!" A boy called out, rushing after her. He's a young kid wearing a simple blue shirt and shorts. He's panting heavily as he runs, struggling to catch up with her. His brown hair is messy and unkempt, falling over his forehead and ears. "Star..."

"Huh, who are they?" I blink, glancing at Dawn confusedly.

Dawn, meanwhile, shook her head in confusion, looking as bewildered as I am. "No idea." She replied honestly, turning back to the approaching duo.

"Star!" The boy groaned tiredly, collapsing onto the ground breathlessly.

"That's me! Star the Shinx!" The young Shinx declared proudly, waving her wand in front of her face excitedly.

"She's Star..." The boy panted heavily, gasping for breath. "Shinx..." He collapsed onto his knees, resting his elbows on them while leaning forward. "I'm her Trainer, Zac." He introduced himself, smiling weakly at us.

"Hi!" Star greeted cheerfully, waving enthusiastically.

"Um, hello?" I returned awkwardly, waving back. "I'm Dominik and this is Dawn." I introduced ourselves, pointing towards me and Dawn respectively.

"Hi!" Star exclaimed happily, bouncing around energetically. "Do you want to battle?" She asked hopefully, clasping her hands together eagerly.

Ah, a Trainer battle.

"Star..." Zac sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "But yeah, are you up for it? Star won't stop otherwise." His head drooped slightly.

Seeing this, I turned to Dawn and shrugged before turning to Star and Zac with a grin. "Sure, let's go, Leona!" I shouted, tossing Leona's Moeball into the air.

In a flash of light, the ball opened up, releasing a beam of energy onto the ground. The ball bounced off the ground before landing directly onto a patch of grass. Leona materialized in front of us, yawning tiredly. She rubbed her eyes drowsily and stretched her arms over her head.

"What is it?" She grumbled irritably, glaring at us.

"A battle!" Star answered happily, pointing her wand at the Growlithe.

"Eh?" Leona blinked, startled by the sudden announcement before grinning cockily. "Some action after nap time? Sounds good to me. Let's do it!" Embers of fire erupted from her mouth, burning brightly as she growled viciously.

"Woohoo! This'll be fun!" Star squealed, jumping excitedly. She ran over to Zac before handing over her wand to him. "Hold this for me while you cheer for me, Zac!"

Zac stared blankly at her, sweatdropping. "I'm your Trainer, not your cheerleader," he sighed but took the wand nonetheless. "We're fighting together though, aren't we?" He asked her with a soft smile.

"Hehe," Star's tail wagged side-to-side playfully. "We are! We're partners forever!" She exclaimed proudly, standing tall and confidently.

The kid's cheeks turned red from her exclamation. How adorable.

"I'll beat her! Just watch me, Zac!"

"You got it," Zac chuckled, ruffling her fur affectionately.

"Come on, Leona, let's kick some butt," I smirked confidently, raising a fist to the sky. In response, Leona growled threateningly, baring her fangs ferociously.

"Well, guess I'll just watch you both fight." Dawn shrugged nonchalantly, walking away from the two of us and sitting down on the grass. She pulled a bottle of moisturizer from her backpack and began rubbing lotion onto her arms and legs.

Suddenly, I heard another Moeball open, and a second later, Tiamat's form appeared beside me. She jumped excitedly, grinning broadly. "Go Leo! Win for us!" She cheered loudly, waving her hands wildly.

This caught Leona's attention, who grinned in response. "No need to tell me that! I'll win this no problem!" She declared loudly, puffing her chest proudly.

"Go, Leo!" Tiamat cheered enthusiastically, jumping in place repeatedly.

"Alright, calm down, Tia." I chuckle, picking her up and walking over to Dawn. Setting her down, I pat her head gently. "Stay with Dawn and cheer for Leona." I gave a subtle nod to Dawn which she returned.

"Okay! Go, Leo! Do your best, Leo!" Tiamat cheered, jumping happily. "Win and get lots of love from Nik!" At this, Leona's tail stood straight while a furious blush covered her face. She growled angrily and glared at Tiamat, whose smile widened further.

"I don't need Nik's stupid love!" She shouted indignantly, blushing furiously. "Its not like I want his attention or anything!" Her tail wagged furiously, making her look incredibly cute and adorable. "Stupid fish!"

"Hey, it's a fair deal," I teased her, enjoying the way her ears twitched adorably. "I'll give you plenty of headpats if you win, okay?"

"Tch," Leona clicked her tongue irritably, glancing away. But her tail wagged even harder than before, her cheeks flushing a bright red. "Whatever," She scoffed dismissively, refusing to meet my gaze. "As if I care what you think. I'll win anyway, and then you'll have no choice but to give me headpats."

'What a tsundere,' I laughed inwardly, smiling affectionately at the adorable Growlithe.

"Alright," I called out, interrupting the two of them. "You ready?"

"Hmph, of course." Leona snorted, smirking arrogantly. "Ready whenever."

"Yay!" Star cheered happily, jumping up and down enthusiastically. Sparks of electricity gathered at the tip of her tail, charging the air with static electricity.

"Let's do this, Star!" Zac encouraged her, pumping a fist in the air. "You ready?"

"Ready, Zac!" Star replied happily, nodding her head.

"Let's start the battle then." I declared, smiling confidently. Leona glanced at me, her expression determined and focused. "Let's start things off with a bang. Use Ember, Leona."

Leona immediately roared loudly, opening her mouth wide open and unleashing a torrent of fiery embers towards the Shinx. Star responded instantly, leaping backwards and narrowly dodging the incoming attack. However, a few stray sparks managed to graze her fur, causing her to flinch slightly.

"Nice dodge, but keep it up!" Zac called out encouragingly, pumping a fist. "Use Thunder Shock, Star!"

Star nodded and ran forwards, electricity crackling along her tail. She leapt into the air and threw her hands forward, sending out a wave of electricity towards Leona.

"Dig! Get underground!" I yelled quickly, knowing full well how devastating the electric attack would be, especially knowing of the chance that it can paralyze. Leona obeyed without hesitation, digging herself underground quickly.

"Wha-?! Where did she go?!" Star yelped in surprise, scanning the area frantically. She searched everywhere for her opponent but found no trace of her. "Where are you?!" She cried out in frustration, stamping her foot impatiently.

"Keep looking! She's got to come out somewhere!" Zac shouted encouragingly, keeping an eye out for the Growlithe. "She could pop out anywhere!"

"Bite!" I commanded, and Leona emerged from the ground, launching herself at Star. Before the Shinx could react, the Growlithe sank her teeth deep into her arm. The Shinx screamed in pain and tried to break free, but Leona held firm.

"Thunder Shock, Star!" Zac ordered hurriedly, watching anxiously.

"Ember, point blank!" I countered calmly, watching Leona closely. The Growlithe released her hold and immediately shot a barrage of embers directly at the Shinx.

"Kyaaaa!" Star shrieked loudly, crying out as the flames singed her fur. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she stumbled backward, clutching her arm tightly. "You oversized puppy!" She cried angrily, glaring tearfully at the Growlithe.

"Heh," Leona snorted proudly, standing tall and proud. "I'm a Growlithe. And don't call me a puppy!"

"Tackle her, Star! Don't let her beat you!" Zac encouraged the young Shinx, pumping a fist.

"R-right!" Star sniffled, wiping her tears away. She charged forward and leaped at Leona, slamming her head into her side. The Growlithe cried out as the Shinx collided with her, throwing her backwards.

"Keep going, Star! Tackle again!" Zac instructed loudly, his eyes flashing with excitement.

"Grr," Leona growled lowly, glaring at the approaching Shinx.

"Dig again, Leona," I ordered, watching carefully. Leona nodded and dove underground.

"Damn, where'd she go now?!" Zac cursed, searching frantically. The grass swayed slightly, but he couldn't tell if it was due to the wind or because of the Growlithe. "She has to come up sometime."

"I hope so..." Star muttered nervously, looking around warily.

Suddenly, the earth violently shook beneath Star's feet, causing her to stumble. Leona emerged beneath her, striking her from below and sending her flying through the air. She slammed into the ground hard, rolling across the dirt before finally stopping.

"Gah," Star gasped in pain, lying motionless on the ground. "The world's spinniiiiingggg..." She mumbled, dazed. "Owwiee..." Her head then flopped back onto the grass.

"Star! You okay?!" Zac rushed over to her side, kneeling down beside her. "You alright? Are you hurt?"

"Of course, I'm hurt you, dummy!" Star snapped weakly, glaring weakly at her trainer. "You try getting bit and burned, and see if you aren't hurt!"

"Sorry," Zac apologized sheepishly, scratching his cheek guiltily. "But that was a good fight. You did really well, Star." This in turn caused Star to smile happily.

"Really? That was a great fight, right?" She giggled excitedly, her tail wagging happily. "And we totally would've won if not for the ground attacks." She huffed, crossing her arms stubbornly.

"That's true." Zac nodded, chuckling lightly.

"Good job, Leona." I praised her, smiling proudly at the panting Growlithe. "That was awesome."

Leona grinned proudly, puffing her chest out. "It's nothing. I was just following orders." She boasted arrogantly, smirking smugly. This earned her a pat on the head, making her purr contentedly.

"Great job, Leo!" Tiamat cheered from where she sat with Dawn, clapping loudly. "You're the best! The very best!" She beamed brightly, smiling widely.

"You bet I am!" Leona preened, wagging her tail excitedly. She turned to me with expectant eyes, her tail wagging furiously. "Well? What do you think, Nik? Was I awesome?" The obvious puppy dog eyes were impossible to ignore. Add in her tail wagging happily, and the whole package was incredibly adorable.

"Yes, yes. You were great." I chuckled, scratching behind her ear affectionately. She hummed happily and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. "Good job, Leona. I have no idea what I'd do without you."

"Heehee," Leona giggled cutely, blushing lightly. "Well, obviously, I'm amazing." She bragged confidently, grinning widely.

"So," Turning around, I see Zac approach us. He's smiling warmly at us, and the young Shinx is walking beside him. "Here," he handed me some money, smiling apologetically. "I don't have much, but it's the least I can do. Thanks for battling with Star."

"No problem," I replied cheerfully, pocketing the money. "You did great. Just need a little more training."

"Yeah," Zac sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair. "I only started recently, so it's not like I know much. But I'll work hard to become better!" He rubbed the back of his head. "I got a little excited when Star managed to land a hit. But we were still beaten by a mile. Your Growlithe's amazing."

"Thanks," I smirked proudly, petting Leona's head affectionately. She purred softly, enjoying the attention. "She's an amazing fighter. A little stubborn and prideful, but a great fighter."

"A little?" Leona huffed, pouting at me. "I'm amazing! That's all there is to it!"

"Sure," I chuckled, patting her head one last time. "Now you need a bath. All that digging made you dirty. You're covered in dirt and dust."

"Hmph, I know." Leona's tail smacked the ground lightly. "I hate being dirty." She glanced towards Tiamat, who was happily chatting with Dawn. "I don't need Tia rubbing her face on my tail. Honestly, that fish is obsessed with touching my tail. It's not that great, okay?"

"Says the one with the wagging tail," I muttered, smirking amusedly.

"What was that?!" Leona glared at me, growling threateningly.

"Nothing, nothing." I shook my head, waving my hand dismissively before holding out her Moeball. "Now come on, back in the ball. We'll get you cleaned up later." In response, Leona sighed reluctantly and faced the Moeball. With a flash of red light, she was pulled inside.

"I'm not that dirty." I heard her grumble irritably.

'So tsundere.' Shaking my head, I attached her ball to my belt.

"That was a good battle." Dawn approached me, smiling brightly.

"Thanks. How's your moisturizer?" I asked jokingly, chuckling lightly. Dawn simply stuck her tongue out and punched my arm playfully. Tiamat was currently rubbing her cheek against Dawn's arm affectionately.

"So, shall we keep going?" Dawn smiled hopefully, tilting her head slightly. "We still have plenty of time before the sun goes down."

"Yep, just gimme a minute," I replied, turning back to Zac and Star. "We'll be leaving soon. Anything else?"

"Nah, it's fine." Zac waved his hand casually, smiling pleasantly. "I'll take Star back to the Moemon Center and get her healed. Thanks for the battle, though."

"See ya! Let's have a rematch someday!" Star shouted cheerfully, waving enthusiastically. "After I get stronger, tell that fire puppy we're gonna have a rematch!"

Zac chuckled after hearing that statement. "That'll be a wh-OWW!" He was suddenly cut off when Star stuck the tip of her tail against his cheek, zapping him lightly.

"Dummy, don't say that! She'll beat me even harder than last time!" She glared at him, pouting indignantly. "Now carry me! I don't want to go back inside my Moeball. It's boring."

"Geez, you're really troublesome." Zac sighed tiredly, picking her up.

"Yay! Carry me piggyback style!" She cheered, jumping onto his back. "Carry me to the Moemon Center!"

"Yeah, yeah." Zac rolled his eyes and waved goodbye to us.

"Let's get moving, then," Dawn suggested, smiling brightly. "The sooner we finish this route, the better." She pointed to the road ahead. "And the sooner we reach Oreburgh, the sooner I can take a nice hot bath!" She sighed happily. "I already miss the baths at the hotel."

"Baths!" Tia giggled cheerfully, hopping up and down.

"Alright," I nodded, glancing back towards the path. "Let's get moving."

Somewhere in Oreburgh City...

"Hah!" A gloved fist smashed through a tree, splitting the trunk cleanly in half. The tree crashed to the ground, its leaves rustling as they fluttered away. "Phew," The person breathed heavily, wiping the sweat from their brow. "I'm getting stronger..."

The person in question is a young girl with short gray hair with a pair of yellow highlighted strands that stick up in the air and brown eyes. She wears a simple sarashi to cover her budding chest, gray shorts, and training shoes.

"That was a good workout," She sighed happily, stretching her arms above her head. "Hungry..." She muttered as she looked up before her eyes widened in panic. "Oh no! I'm going to be late for work! Crap!" She exclaimed, quickly turning around and running towards the bustling city of Oreburgh.

"Oh, man, I'm going to get in trouble..." She groaned, sprinting as fast as she could, passing by other people, who looked at her strangely. "If I'm late again, I'm getting my pay docked." She huffed, pushing herself to run faster.

After a minute or two, she skidded to a stop outside the city's main source of income: The Oreburgh Mine. She immediately dashed towards the entrance, where she saw her co-workers gathering together.

"Made it!" She gasped out, panting heavily. She placed her hands on her knees, struggling to catch her breath. "Heh, I'm not late!" She cheered, pumping a fist triumphantly.

"Barely." One of her co-workers spoke up, an older gentleman with gray hair and a thick mustache. He crossed his arms and sighed. "Now go get ch-"

"No time for that!" She shouted, cutting him off and making her way towards deeper into the mine. Passing by various working Moemon such as Geodudes and Machops, she eventually stopped near a large group of miners who were currently digging and breaking the ground open.

"Ah, there you are." An elderly man wearing a green jumpsuit, a helmet, and boots greeted her. His eyes twinkled mischievously, and a small grin was spread across his wrinkled face. "Thought you wouldn't make it today. Again."

"I'm not late." She replied instantly, crossing her arms stubbornly.

"Close, though." Her manager chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Anyway, you know what to do. You grab any ore and coal we dig up, you bring it to the conveyor belts, and then it gets loaded up and sent out."

"Yes, sir." She answered respectfully, nodding her head.

"You know," Her manager looked at her closely. "You should find a Trainer soon. Beats working here every day. Especially with that kind of power." He chuckled lightly, smiling gently.

"You find someone with the guts to take a Moemon like me, and let me know." She retorted, frowning slightly.

"Ah don't worry, you'll find a Trainer." Her manager reassured her, patting her shoulder encouragingly. "There's lots of trainers who are willing to take in strong Moemon like you." He gave her a thumbs up. "My bones may be old and creaky, but I can feel it. There's a great Trainer out there just waiting for you to meet."

"If you say so, gramps." She shrugged indifferently, sighing deeply.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Now, go on, get to work." Her manager encouraged her, shooing her away. "I'll sneak you a bit of chocolate if you get a good load." He added, smiling slyly.

"Yes!" She pumped a fist, her eyes gleaming eagerly as she began to work.

"Ah, youth." Her manager laughed merrily, watching her work.

AND CUT!

6k words. As per the usual.

Beta readers' notes:

Sloth: Le doggo is very feisty, very cute. Yes. Also, dawn, hun, please. You'll be out in the middle of nowhere (not really, but you get what I mean) why bring so many extra bottles of weight which means more sweat! Also, tomboy chocoholic yes please.

Old man: Welp, looks like he's gonna have to keep his hips in check or else if not, then the tomboy will break it, just like how the amazonia does, death by snu snu.

Anyway, I have a naughty P word if you want to support me and as well as my new Ko-fi!

Pat /luckyerofu

Ko-fi /lucke18947

Here's my link to my inactive discord.

discord .gg/3Tw93K8anZ

I'll see you in the next chapter!

Ciao! Peace!