Chapter 15

The More The Merrier

"Katie?! Is that you?!" Mikey exclaimed as the Ekans hugged his head and shoulders with her entire body.

"Of course it is! And I've missed you so much" she said, nuzzling him affectionately. Then her grip tightened and Mikey find it harder to breathe as Kate locked eyes with him. "Now, you'd better explain just what you've done to make me into a full snake like this."

"Hey, he's mine to beat up for this!" Jun interjected.

"Back off!" Kate snapped, her eyes flashing at Jun.

"Yessum…" Jun whimpered, sitting down terrified. Kate turned back to Mikey.

"Now, how about that explanation, darling?"

"Yessum…" Mikey whimpered, remembering just how scared of her he used to be in the past.

After a hasty explanation, Kate was given a bit of time to process it all, and meet the rest of the team.

"So you all got stuck here, too. At least Percy isn't here. He isn't, right?" Kate asked with a hint of dread.

"We haven't found him yet." said Mikey as he rummaged through his backpack. "But if he is here, we'll find him. I got like a spider-sense for finding you guys. Ah, there it is."

He pulled out a Poké Ball, but not the normal kind, but rather the Premier Ball with it's full white body and red trim.

"I know this is just a normal ball that looks a little different that we got as a gift with purchase, but I think it's prettier than the normal one, and I want you to have the prettiest ball I got, Kate."

"Aww, that's so kind of you, hun." Kate cooed. "Now I can be with you all the time."

"Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way."

In no time at all, Kate was 'caught', and added to Mikey's growing roster. With all his team out to meet their friend and newest member, Rotom provided information on her specie.

'Ekans. The Snake Pokémon.

By dislocating its jaw, it can swallow prey larger than itself. After a meal, it curls up and rests.'

"Bet you do that every night." Rattletrap quipped, only to find himself bound tightly by Kate's serpentine body.

"Listen, Rattletrap. Just because Percy isn't here to make my life miserable, doesn't mean that you can fill his shoes. Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. I got it."

Jun watched the exchange and cocked his head.

"Okay, I get that you want to have your girlfriend at your side through this." he said to Mikey. "I would be the same way. In fact, I am that way, even if I really hope that Dahlia isn't trapped here with us, but don't you think Kate's gonna be a problem?"
"Nah, dude. This is how she's like pretty much all the time if people tick her off."

"I know, that's why I'm bringing it up. Even I know that a team won't last long if there's infighting going on."

"We'll be fine." Mikey shrugged as he approached Hacker. "Sorry, man, but I'm gonna need that Black Sludge for Kate."

"No arguments from me." said Hacker as Mikey took the lump of gunk from him. "Even if it is preferential treatment."

"Guilty as charged." Mikey said with a smile, then he gave Kate the sludge as her Held Item.

"Normally, I'd be happy with whatever gift you might give me, hun, but I am not at all happy with getting this sticky mess from you." she groaned.

"Thought you'd be used to-" Rattletrap started, but quickly covered his mouth before he could finish his sentence.

But it was too late. Kate picked up on what the intent was, wrapping around him again and staring into his eyes with murderous intent.

"You watch your mouth, or I will end you." she hissed.

"Ha! Jokes on you, snake girl! We can't die in this game!" Rattletrap countered, but his smirk faltered when he saw that Kate grinned maniacally instead of looking defeated. "Um… what's with the grin…?"

"If you can't die, that means I don't have to hold back!" Kate hissed, tightening her grip on the rat. "I can beat you to death over and over and over and over…"

"You're really sure about this, Mikey?" Jun asked, a shiver going down his spine.

Before any attempted serial murdering could commence, Mikey recalled all except Jun so that they could be on their way again.

Following the route they had started on, they held to the right when it split and climbed somewhat upwards between the mountains, eventually reaching a sign.

'Hau'oli Cemetery

Ahead lies our cemetery. Within lies eternity.'

"Spooky." said Mikey when he read it, instantly wanting to turn around and head back, but he couldn't. He sensed that he was drawn there, so either it was story progression, or one of their friends was there.

"Ugh, I really wish we didn't have to go in there."
"I get what you mean." Jun agreed. "Even if this isn't real, it still feels a bit disrespectful."

"Yeah, and what if there are ghosts?"

"Come on, there are no ghosts."

"Actually…" Rotom piped up. "There are plenty of Ghozzt-types, and they like hanging around the cemetery, bzzt."

"Great, just what we need, video game ghosts." Jun sighed.

Following the path, they found the cemetery nestled in a valley surrounded by jungle and high cliffs. Rows upon rows of headstones with hedges sectioning them up into smaller areas.

There were a few people there, either paying their respects to a departed loved one, or tending to the graves in general.

Hiding among the shadows and the trees, were numerous Pokémon, some resembling crows and bats, and others that were very ghost-like.

"How can a place in a kids game be so unsettling? Even in the middle of the day?" Jun wondered, his ears folded back and his tail low.

"I know, right. It's not even dark and ominous, just unsettling." said Mikey, nervously looking around. "I feel like something's gonna jump scare us at any moment."

"Boo!" a Zubat screeched as it suddenly swooped in in front of them, making both scream as Jun jumped into Mikey's arms.

"Gotcha!" the bat laughed.

"Wait, I know that voice. Devina?"

"The one and only, though a bit less than I used to be, I think."

"What's the big idea scaring us like that?!" Jun asked annoyed.

"Oh, lighten up. You two were setting yourselves up perfectly for that. Besides, I've been stuck here like this for several days. I needed something to lighten my mood. Speaking of which, anyone know what's going on?"

"… I really should write a summary for everyone to read…" Mikey sighed, feeling that this would not be the last time he'd have to explain things.

"So that's it, huh? Magic and a video game. Well, we'd better work together then." Devina said after hearing the explanation. "Still, this will be a unique experience, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it goes."

"See, Jun. That's the right attitude."

"Don't start with me, Mikey."

"Here's the data on your new Pokémon, brzzt!" said Rotom.

'Zubat

The Bat Pokémon

It has no eyeballs, so it can't see. It checks its surroundings via the ultrasonic waves it emits from its mouth.'

"It got that right." said Devina. "Good thing I'm used using echolocation, being part vampire. This form takes the term 'blind as a bat' to a whole new level."

"Yeah, well, you'll get some eyes once you evolve into Golbat."

"That's a relief. Oh, and before I forget. I found something yesterday, a CD, maybe it can be of use to you."

"A CD? Think that's one of those TMs?" Jun wondered.

"No clue what that is, but I can show you where I hid it." Devina flapped her wings and flew towards a group of bushes.

Underneath them, lay indeed a small CD, the label reading TM100 Confide.

"I really need to figure out how to use these things." Mikey said as he collected the disc and put it in his bag.

"How did you manage to get it in there without hands, arms, or even legs?" Jun asked Devina.

"With a lot of effort."

"Well, it's appreciated, little dudette. But let's get out of here now, this place gives me the creeps.

And with that, Mikey's team had grown to the full size his party was allowed to be.

Jun the Litten, Kate the Ekans, Rattletrap the Rattata, Hacker the Spinarak, Chloe the Butterfree, and Devina the Zubat.

But where they the only ones trapped in the game, or were there even more yet to be found?

Only time would tell.

And so, Mikey now has a full team of six. Will they get along, or will they tear each other apart before long?