Skyview Express - Basil

For something called Skyview "Express", the shaymin-operated train sure took its time to take off. In the time between us boarding and the toot of its funny little horn, Aloe had broken out her assortment of fur care supplies and had set to work prettying herself up. Not that she didn't need it. The girl had such a soft pelt, and the subtle, rosy hue she was known for wasn't doing her any favors. Heck, she looked downright beautiful! If she weren't so damn standoffish, we might've even dated!

"Using the train as a spa?" I nudged the teal-eyed eevee. "Come on. It's not gonna be that long of a ride!"

Aloe shrugged. "It pays to look your best, Basil." She cast an appraising glance. "You could use a makeover with those split ends of yours." She ruffled my fur with a paw. "If you'd let me brush it out, you'd feel much better."

"As if." I scoffed. "It'd just be wasted on me. An explorer needs to be willing to get down and dirty!" I stamped a forepaw into the train's wooden bench. "Besides, you'd try to pretty me up. I'm not built for all of that cutesy stuff." I plucked a berry from her supplies. "What's this anyway?"

"Woah, don't eat that!" Ozone reached an amber paw down from his perch atop the bench and snatched the cloud-shaped berry from my grasp. "Unless you want to become the world's fluffiest zorua, keep this away from your mouth at all costs." He chuckled. "There's a reason this is called the fluff fruit."

"Fluff fruit?" I frowned. "What do you mean fluffiest zorua?"

Aloe set her brush aside and packed everything up nicely before stuffing it hastily into our supply bag. "It's just as he said. That fruit was produced with fur care in mind. In other words, it was chemically engineered to grow fur. It's edible, but you don't want to know what will happen if you eat one." She explained. "When used skillfully, its extract works wonders on fur damage, or for folk who love their pelts thick. It's a fantastic tool for treating burn victims as well!" She plucked the curious fruit from Ozone's grasp and smirked. "Let's not turn this train into a maze of zorua fur, hmm?"

"I'm surprised you could afford one." Ozone chirped. "Aside from the lab-grown ones, those are rare finds!" He shook his head. Sometime between our boarding and departure, the sunset-eyed shaymin had found the time to clean his beige newsboy cap and bright blue aviator goggles, which he wore loosely around his neck. A brown, plaid overcoat clung loosely to his form. It was many sizes too large for the guy, yet his goofy disposition somehow made up the difference.

Before Aloe could pocket the berry, a new idea tickled at the back of my skull. "Hold onto that berry for just a sec. I wanna see it work!"

The cherry-tinted eevee raised a brow. She hadn't quite stored the berry, but her bag was dangerously close. "On who?" She cast a curious glance at the rest of Sky's group, none of whom seemed willing. "We're not wasting this on a prank."

"Who says it's gotta be a prank?" I sat up on my haunches and guided the eevee's gaze toward the sleeping sprigatito. "Ok, I guess it's a prank, but I'm sure he'd like a little extra fluff."

Ruby seemed to catch my drift right away. Her scarlet orbs glistened with mischief as she snuck a look at the former snivy. "You know. Sky did mention he transforms to avoid the cold. So she's not wrong."

"That so?" Aloe brought the back of a paw to her chin. And like that, she folded. The girl wasn't the easiest to convince, but with the right logic? "I suppose we could use just a little." She clasped the berry with both paws. "But, just to be fair, he's not the only one we're using it on. There's enough juice in this berry for multiple pokemon. Any takers?"

"Not it!" I snapped to the eevee's dismay. Had she expected the others to beat me to the punch? "What?" I groaned. "Alright, fine. You can fluff up my tail a bit."

Aloe's smile returned. "Great! On top of you and Sky, I think we'll have just enough if we group in the Fermata gals and ozone."

"Excuse me?" Ozone choked out, nearly dropping his lint roller in the process. "Why me? If I don't line up with dress code at the next stop–"

"–What dress code?" Aloe glanced at the rest of the train. Ozone was hardly an exception with his getup, it seemed. Not all of the shaymin workers sported clothing; however, not one of Ozone's crewmates looked the same. Long fur, short fur? Natural fur, dyed fur? If these guys had a dress code, it couldn't have been anything more than just "be clean". "You're looking pretty fancy for a guy with a dress code."

The shaymin hung his head low. "Well… If you can find a way to make this jacket fit, be my guest."

Aloe suppressed a laugh. "It won't be that effective if we're sharing, but I'll figure something out." She leaned over to glance out a window. "I'll handle the rest of you once we reach my house." The teal-eyed vixen dug out a small cup and a pair of paw-shaped mittens. Donning the pair, she squeezed a bit of berry juice into the cup and padded for the opposing bench, being careful to avoid touching her own pelt. Then, before the unsuspecting sprigatito could awaken, she dabbed a mittened paw into the sweet-smelling berry juice and got to work, starting with Sky's tail and working her way up around his neck, then around his ankles. Undeterred by the grass type's restful purrs, she dabbed a bit across his cheeks before pouring the remaining dribbles out atop his forehead.

I couldn't help but be skeptical. Chemically engineered? What did that even mean? If there really was a berry that could spontaneously grow your fur, then great! But this? "Thought it was supposed to go quickly, Aloe. What gives?"

"Give it a bit." Aloe carefully wrapped her gloves up with a towel and shoved them into her bag alongside the berry, which now sat comfortably inside her equipment case. "It's quick, but not instant. Just watch." Sure enough, after a minute or so spent soaked into the sprigatito's grassy tufts, the affected areas began to puff outward. Soon enough, Sky's white-tipped cotton-ball of a tail had blossomed outward, thickening in volume until it almost matched that of Aloe's. His neck scruff soon grew to match, coupled with an increased plushness around his ankles.

"How do you even make something like that?" I clung to the bench's pawrest. I'd expected some trick, but this was almost like magic! "Good thing I didn't eat that thing." I deflated in my seat as Sky's cheeks filled out, followed by the appearance of a zorua-like tuft which drooped down from the feline's forehead.

"Cute." Serena giggled as she poked at her friend's thickened pelt. "Kinda makes me wonder how my tails will fare." The cherry-blossom vulpix hugged her tails to her chest and quietly peered over them, curiosity nipping at the corners of her muzzle. "So, aside from the fluffy makeovers. Any plans for our first stop? We'll have a few days to prepare."

"Actually, the first stop is my hometown." Aloe replied. "I visit every so often. It's why I'm so familiar with the train, but, well. Ever since I met Basil, I haven't been home. I figured I should see my family before leaving for a while." She explained. I'd always known the eevee came from a fancier background than I had, but she rarely divulged her past. Not that I was one to do the same. We were content out in our little forest hut and that's all that mattered, up until the dream snake came to visit, that is. Or rather, former snake. Sky had taken to his sprigatito form rather well it seemed, and had yet to wake even as the train began its departure.

"That and, well…" The eevee's expression turned troubled. "I'm pretty sure we'll need an ID for Basil first and foremost. If my folks can help us meet with the mayor, then all the better!"

"So that's why…" Ozone nodded. "Solstice is a nice place. Larger than Timbre for sure. Some might call it a city." He shrugged. "To think it would be your home, though." The shaymin cast a curious glance my way. "What about you, Basil? No ID, and you've been living out in the woods all this time. Are you a native of Timbre Pass?"

Curious eyes turned on me from the rest of Sky's group. "I'm curious about that too," said Ruby. The fennekin seemed more concerned than curious. "Aloe said you two lived out in the forest, but I didn't think you were off the record."

I glanced out a nearby window, exhaling loudly as the passing landscape became a blur. "I'm not from Timbre or Solstice. To be honest, I'm not sure where I'm from." I shrugged. "Don't get me wrong, I couldn't care less!" I prefaced. "Living with Aloe's a blast, but I couldn't tell you where I'm from even if I tried."

"You don't remember?" asked Serena, six tails perched curiously atop a head full of curls. "Isn't that…bad?"

"Depends on your definition of bad." I chuckled. So things were a little foggy now. What did it matter when Aloe and I were living it up great in Timbre? "Look, I'm fine, alright?" I let off a soft growl. That remark only seemed to trouble Serena further; however, as I crossed my forelegs with a huff. You'd think a girl would catch a hint. "But if you have to know, the last thing I can remember before waking up in that forest was a rough encounter with Jirachi…"

"Define rough encounter." Ruby raised a brow. The fennekin was more curious than concerned. Sheesh. City folk.

I turned away. "W-well uhh…" I stammered. "I don't remember all that well. Just that I wasn't a zorua back then."

"She wished to be cooler." Aloe explained. "Supposedly she used to be a cottonee, though the debate's still out on that one." She giggled.

I whirled on the prettied fox. "Aloe! C-come on!" My cheeks burned. "That's private."

"It's Jirachi." The eevee nudged me playfully. The gesture didn't leave me feeling any less betrayed, but I knew what the girl was getting at. "I'm sorry, but I think they could infer."

"So that old legend is true?" Ryan's eyes widened in surprise. You'd think with a friend like Sky, nothing would surprise the riolu, but it seems old bedtime stories won out. "So she really does steal memories?"

I slapped a paw over my muzzle. "No, I'm pretty sure that had to do with my wish too…" I groaned. "Then again, I have hit my head once or twice since then. Legs were a new thing to me." I paused. "Come to think of it, so were bones."

"She's not wrong." Aloe giggled. "I had a hard time keeping her upright the day I found her." She flashed me a smirk. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you ask me to remove your skeleton?"

"Excuse me. I believe I said: please remove my skeleton." I corrected her. "Can't a girl fall off a cliff without being treated like she's crazy." I snickered. "It beats being at the mercy of the breeze, but I wish you mammals were a bit more durable."

Serena nodded slowly. "Right…" She shook her head. Their disbelief was almost comical, given what their friend was capable of. My stomach filled with fuzz at the thought of confusing them even further. "On the way, perhaps we can look into that past of yours." The vulpix offered.

"We'd be better off focusing on the task at paw." Aloe slung her bag over her shoulder and slunk back in her seat. "First things first. We need funds for the next stop. Since we're visiting my folks, we'll hold off on taking any jobs. Knowing them, they'll send me off with something." She chuckled. "If not, there's always the request board for day two."

"Man, not those stuck up rich folk." I groaned. "I know they're your family, Aloe, but I don't think they like me."

Aloe raised a brow. "Of course they like you!" She looked offended. "Your coat might be a little off-putting to them. They were concerned you were homeless."

"Aloe!" Ozone exclaimed. The ticketer clambered down from his perch and settled atop the sleeping Sky, who simply purred in response. "You're a member of the Vera family?" The shaymin pressed his forepaw against his chest and tilted his head skyward. "If that's the case, allow me to be your guide!"

"Don't you have a job?" Aloe asked. Ozone shook his head. "Tag along if you want. Just don't be surprised if they ask for free tickets."

Just then, a loud, monotone chime echoed out from the overhanging plants. It was a speaker! "Attention passengers, this is your captain speaking! We will be arriving in Solstice soon. Please make sure to clear your surroundings of trash and collect your things." They warned. "Overhead storage compartments have been supplied for those wishing to continue their voyage with us in the coming days, but please note that you won't have access to your belongings until the train resumes service. Thank you and have a lovely afternoon!"

"Huh?!" Sky jolted awake, only to come face to face with the belly of our shaymin companion. "Uhh… Ozone?" The grass type asked sheepishly. "You're warm and all, but I'd like to see."

"Goodness!" Ozone fluttered into the air with his wings, if you could call them that. A rosy blush accommodated his white-furred cheeks. His only saving grace was the slight orange hue his tufts possessed. They hadn't saved him the embarrassment, but at least he looked more professional. "My apologies, Sky!" He tucked his forepaws inward and pressed them together as pleasantly as he could. "I'm afraid I didn't see you."

Sky rolled forward into a long stretch, new fur wafting in the breeze behind him. "Don't worry about it." He yawned. The former snake's mannerisms were so inherently cat-like, it was hard to imagine him ever being a snivy. "So. What did I miss?"

"Nothing much." I snickered. "Only, you've got a little something on your tail."

Groggily, the grass type sat down to give his tail a check, only to get whacked in the muzzle by a large bush of fluff and fur. "What?" The feline spat, attempting to stumble away, only to find that the source of his assault was his own tail. "I could've sworn I had all the right proportions when I changed last." He lifted a paw in confusion, only to encounter a similar conundrum as a ring of fur had sprouted around each of his ankles. All the while, a chorus of giggles rocked our portion of the train.

"Like your new look, my guy?" Ruby bumped her shoulder against his playfully. "Be sure to thank Aloe for sparing her fluff fruit on ya!"

Sky's eyes widened at the reveal, and soon the eevee found herself with another pair of curious eyes. "You have a fluff fruit? Can I see?"

Aloe threw me a look of exasperation. Something told me I wasn't getting away with just the extra tail fluff. "I'll show you later." She flicked her gaze at Ozone. "Well?"

I threw a glance at Ozone myself, only to find him thoroughly preoccupied. The poor guy had been too distracted by his close encounter with Sky to hear. "Whoa. What's up with you?" I glanced over at Sky, then back at the shaymin. "Got a crush or something?"

"'Scuse me?" Ozone shook his head tiredly and pushed past me with a soft chuckle. His tail kicked into high gear, and soon he was at the front of the pack, beaming with his former enthusiasm. "Alright, you lot. Stick close!"

"Aww, boo!" I spat back, only to be hushed by a forepaw from Aloe. "Fine, fine!" I sighed. Not even an answer. Sheesh!

Skyview Station - Solstice

Solstice may have been city-sized, but Aloe left out the part of it being like a giant park! The first thing of notice as we stepped off the train and out onto glossy brick pavement were the trees! Not enough to fill a forest, or a small wood for the matter, but man were they bushy! So too was the grass, which stretched onward in plush patches between the red-brick paths, glowing warmly in the afternoon sunlight. "I thought this would be more of a boring city! Look at all the grass!" I hopped in place, gleefully swinging my tail to the annoyance of any passersby.

Aloe did her best to still my tail as we padded the rest of the way out of the mist-infested train station, beyond a set of iron gates, and out onto a patch of dampened clover. "Solstice isn't all like this, but the folks here really like their fresh air." She fluffed out her pink-tinted scruff and sniffed at the pleasant midday air. "Out beyond the pond is where all of the buildings are. This is just the perimeter park."

"Pond?" I followed the eevee's gaze. Sure enough, crystal clear waters glimmered in the distance, marked by a raised brick ledge meant for keeping kits from a splashy fall. Simple wooden benches had been spaced along the brick-laden pathways meant for viewing as water and flying types alike dove up from the pond's surface. Each path twisted and curled around the pond's irregular form, encompassing it completely, while a large island surfaced in the distance, atop which one could see the beginnings of modern construction. "Man." I sighed. "If we didn't have to visit your parents, that pond would be mine!"

"I feel the same." Serena flipped around, walking backwards in an effort to peer back at me. "Don't worry. We've got a few days. I'm sure we can fit in some time to swim while we wait on that ID of yours!"

Aloe slowed down to match our pace. "If you do, read the signs." The prettied vixen flicked a tail at one of many wooden signs as we padded along the embankment marked "water types only." A reasonable ask, but did they really need a sign for three words? There were even multiples of the same sign! What kind of budget were these city folk working with?

"So there's a section for non-water types as well?" Ruby concluded with a gleeful cheer. "After missing out on the ocean in the last remscape, I could do with a nice dip!"

Ryan seemed less than enthusiastic about the news; however. The guy almost deflated, like one of those wobbly streamer things with its fan turned off. "Man! And I thought I could get a look at a milotic." The riolu groaned. "Or, like. At least a primarina or brionne!"

"I don't think the place is that exotic, my guy." Ruby jabbed her friend with a paw, then encircled him, taking note of his every move. Her muzzle harbored curiosity, but my gut told me the guy was in for it! "Either way…" She raised a brow, seemingly amused. "Why the sudden interest, eh?"

"No reason!" The riolu stammered and shoved his scarf up over his cheeks. "Not a lot of water types in Fermata is all," came his muffled reply. So lame! At least come up with a clever excuse!

Ruby shot the canine a playful wink and backed off. "Fair enough. Just make sure you ask for permission before you get caught staring." The fennekin snickered and skipped along the path ahead. "I won't save you if you deserve it!"

"What the heck does that mean?" Ryan stumbled, nearly plowing into Sky in an effort to keep up with his friend. "It's not like that! Ruby!" Sure could've fooled me.

"You faring ok with that extra fluff, pal?" I called to Sky as I padded up alongside him. The poor sprigatito was in poor form, holding his tail with a paw as he waddled along on three legs. I know sprigatito were usually short-haired, but did he have to be so dramatic? "Just let it go. It's fine to let it touch the ground."

Rather than argue, the grass type complied. "Guess I'm trying to keep clean is all." He pressed a paw to his fluffed up scruff. No longer leaf-shaped, the fuss puffed outward at the slightest touch. It was shiny, healthy even. All of these guys had such prettied pelts! What's up with that? "Normally I'd have turned back into a snivy by now, but I don't want to ruin the fun."

"Was about to ask." I chuckled. "Do you do this often? With how many pokemon? Are you always male?" I raised my chin to stare at the clouds above, all the while my mind raced with questions to ask the poor grass type. As a zorua, I could, supposedly, shapeshift. I couldn't figure out how, but it was cool either way! Being able to be whatever whenever. It was probably a pain keeping track of which form was which, but the time it saved on fur upkeep was surely worth it! "Oh! You could become a water type and survey the area! Maybe save your friend the headache."

Sky shook his head. "Yes, plenty, no, and not gonna happen." His blue eyes glittered humorously as he dutifully satisfied my growing curiosity. "Shapeshifting is one of my hobbies. There's nothing I haven't tried out at this point short of different species. The sheer volume of pokemon in the world makes it difficult to cover them all." He shrugged. "And becoming larger takes a lot more effort than staying the same size."

I raised a brow. "Bold to admit you're not always male. Figured you'd dodge that one." I snickered.

Sky shook his head. "Is it really that bold? I feel myself either way."

Ok. Not the response I expected. "Fair enough." I giggled. "I suppose bold isn't really appropriate. Legendaries do it all the time." I paused. "Don't they? Mew has to, don't you think?"

"Last I heard, there were several mews." Ruby called back, tail waving about excitedly. "My mom says there's at least five. No proof, of course."

"No proof needed." As if on cue, the espeon from earlier infiltrated our ranks and cut a path straight to Ozone's side. "All guildmasters worth their weight have met with a legendary or two in the past, and there are many more of each species who don't make their presence known to the public." She cast an apologetic glance at her daughter, then at the rest of the group. "Be that as it may, I apologize for the holdup. Seems the shaymin were gracious enough to give me a few extra minutes of shuteye."

Ozone let out a hearty cackle at the statement. Dude was young, but he sounded like a 'mon twice his age at times, I swear. "Yep, they're a generous lot." He cheered, clapping his wing… ear things with glee. "The old man tells us to wait on sleeping passengers. Asks us to let him wake them himself." He suppressed a giggle. "He's just being nice, but some of the crew think he's looking for a date. All in good fun, of course." The hedgehog adjusted his cap. "I hope your trip was up to your standards, Ma'am."

Evelyn flicked her tail dismissively. "Oh, it was perfectly fine. Don't worry your little head over such a thing." She chuckled warmly. "That train of yours was certainly more accommodating of these old joints than the carriages back home."

"Speaking of home." Aloe kicked it into high gear, passing up both Ozone and Evelyn in her race to the nearest building, and man was it fancy! Larger than the courthouse back in Timbre, the brick-laden structure featured white-structural columns out front. Rather than the whole building, it seems the things supported a balcony, offering an elevated view of the pond ahead. Vibrant gardens coalesced into bushes of various berries and flowers, while fresh prairie-grass welcomed us forth, until we stood before a polished, oak door. Out atop a patio where my friend supposedly played when she was young.

"Hey. This it?" I supplied the eevee with a playful jab. "Come on~. Tell me your mom has baby pictures."

"Oh quit it, ya dork!" Aloe stuck out her tongue, playful for the first time in a while. Then, before I could retaliate, she gave the door a knock.

Red-orange fluff met us at the door in a heartbeat, and soon she was gone! No. Not just her. The darn vee had gotten us both trapped within the warm embrace of a flareon's scruff! "Aloe, Sweetie!" A feeling of vertigo soon followed, and then I was free.

"Gross!" I gagged and spat, feeling an unwelcome warmth on my tongue. Nonetheless, I was free, and on some comfy-ass wood to boot! "Fur in my mouth!"

"Is that you, Basil?" A warm voice called out from where we once stood, and soon I found myself face-to-face with peach-colored eyes and the creamy-orange muzzle of a flareon. "My, you've gotten big!" Her smile widened adoringly. "The last time I saw you, you were a mere cub!"

"We weren't that young, Mom." Aloe snickered and stepped aside to allow the others entry. "We were eight. That's young, but we weren't newborns!"

Unfortunately for the not-so-cub, Aloe's mother was soon preoccupied by the presence of multiple new faces at her doorstep. "Later, Dear. You should've told me you were coming." The fire type dashed about, seemingly searching for a satisfactory welcome gift. Finding none, she came to a rest at the center of the entry and slouched. "My apologies. I wasn't aware my daughter knew so many!"

Evelyn was the first to approach, followed shortly by Ozone. The few who lingered spent their time trying to figure out the fancy door latch. Not that I could blame them. It didn't even have a proper handle! "There's no need to apologize, Miss Vera." Evelyn offered a paw. "My daughter and her team are new acquaintances of your daughter, it seems. There's nothing you could've done."

Seemingly moved by this approach, the flareon accepted the fellow eeveelution's paw and rose. "Is that so?" She eyed the growing crowd with interest, shifting her neck scruff aside as a silver necklace made itself known. "Well, no matter!" She nodded appreciatively at Evelyn. "Evelyn, I presume? Off to your home kingdom so soon?"

Evelyn returned a knowing nod. "My contract with Fermata is at its end, and so my daughter and her friends are accompanying me to the capital. They have their own business, of course."

"Naturally." The flareon returned a nod. "We can discuss the details over dinner." She turned her gaze on me. "The capital, is it?" Somehow, without even being asked, it seemed the fire type knew what we were planning. "I'll have my husband meet with the mayor. Sort out that little complication of yours. In the meantime, my name is Striata," she introduced herself. "Feel free to get comfy while I'm away!" With that, the flareon gave a slight bow and retreated down a nearby corridor.

"In a hurry, much?" I glanced around. The living room was surprisingly empty, with glossy, wooden floors and a quilted rug at its center. All of the furniture was spaced out along the walls somewhat… disorderly, while light trickled down from an overhead chandelier. "It's a bit of a mess in here, don't you think?"

Aloe shrugged. "Mom keeps all of the furniture stacked against the walls most of the time. This is a glorified meeting room, if anything." The eevee padded ahead and dropped off her back atop a cottony sofa. "She's not kidding about the time, though. We might as well check out the pond while she works."

Ruby eagerly glanced at her mother. "Mind staying here just in case?"

Evelyn patted her daughter on the head and moved to rest atop one of the many prettied couches. "Of course, Dear. Be careful and obey the signs, alright?"

"Heck yeah!" The fennekin pumped both forelegs into the air. Then, without asking permission, she gripped Aloe's forepaw and led her out of the house in a hurry, deaf to her pleas to slow down.

"Hey! That's my gurl, ya cheery fox!" I scampered after the two, leaving the others to fend for themselves. Who did she think she was, grabbing Aloe's paw like that? That vixen was just begging to be pushed into the pond. In fact… "Ruby, wait! It's against the rules to jump in!" I called out, hoping she'd actually stop. If not, well. I could always challenge her to a splash fight!