Where in the holy hell do I even fucking go…!? I wondered staring at the map of the regian. I was confounded, on one note. I hadn't a damn clue if where was good to start towards. Then dealing with my dislike of big travel, my paranoid mind coming up with things left and right good as well bad. Well, course it leaned heavily on what could go wrong at any given point. Oh how I wish I could shake that kind of thought process off.

As I was pondering my frustrating indecision, Nesi sort of slithered over to my side on the bed, making a momentary gaze at the laptop's screen. She could practically feel her trainer’s frustration, so she decided to just cuddle up to his side, she got the hoped for reaction when she felt the air of frustration lessen. While a hand came over to her head gently and a thump began stroking her smooth scaled head in a manner one would with their pet, she didn’t know the pet part, but she enjoyed it.

“Sni snivy sni snivy?” [where are we going now?] Nesi asked curiously about the map of the region.

“That-” I sighed, “is what I'm trying to figure out.” I said some of my frustration edging my tone.

“Snivy sni snivy?” [Where haven't you gone?]

I side glanced her with a ‘really?’ face. “Other reality?” I noted dryly.

“Sni.” [Right.] Nesia replied remembering that detail. “Sni, snivy sni snivy?” [Well, where do you want to go?]

“That’s the thing, I’ve never been much on traveling. I don’t entirely mind it, since in the realm of technicality. This is the farthest I’ve gone so to speak. I’ve only really been to two other states from the one I lived in.” I added, my frustrated mind still trying to figure something out in the background, though not very successfully.

“Snivy?” [States?] Nesi asked confused on the word. “Several meanings, in this case means really big territories.” I explained.

“Snivy sni sni?” [And the other meanings?]

Since I didn’t really feel like explaining, and didn’t really know how to explain the other meaning into accordance of science and the different versions of certain materials. As I brought up the other tab to help explain. I read it aloud for her, she grasped it quick enough, to which I killed the tab and went back to my travel dilemma with a troubled sigh slash groan.

After staring for another two minutes, Nesia brought up an idea. “Snivy sni sni snivy sni snivy?” [How about we go somewhere close by?] She then added in a reassuring tone with an accompanied smile. “Snivy sni snivy sni snivy.” [It doesn’t have to be really far.]

My burrowing gaze of frustration lessened on my screen upon hearing that. “She does have a point. We’re not pressed to go cross continent for our first true destination.” Vlad said, seconding the grass type snake’s suggestion. Indeed… I thought in a relenting voice. Granted this did eliminate a large destination list, though, I did find it odd seeing to what I could only call ‘new’ cities and towns. At home, I’ve taken a gander at the kalos map for the pokemon games in question and seen only the, what I’d guess to call ‘canon’ locations. But this...seeing the surprising satellite image map on my screen shown more development. Yet, to my disbelief of the civil expansion the vast amount of greenery had withstood. Either the people of this world were extremely environmentalist like or nature here is a shit ton hardier.

“Either way they're doing better than the people of earth.” Vlad said making a minor bash at most of humanity.

“And as far as I know really lacking in some things.” Psycho said, disappointed at the lack of weapon related things besides my video games.

Don’t worry, we have plenty of time to make a weapon collection, won’t be easy. But it’ll happen.

“I hope you're right...heheh, still need to explore some things though.” Psycho then added a few seconds later with a evil chuckle.

Mm-yes. I thought in a deepened posh voice, knowing exactly what he’s going on about.

I looked over what was in a thirty mile radius, taking into account of the most likely speed I’d be going along the trails, I would think it wouldn’t take me maybe longer than fifteen to forty minutes depending where I picked.

As the little grass snake watched the screen, a certain location stood out for her. Thus she pointed a vine at it place. I looked, catching sight of the moving plant appendage and followed were it pointed, raising a curious brow. “Snivyvy.” [Ianatan.] Nesi sounded.

“There?” I asked unsure, whilst slightly confused. I hovered my cursor on the blip, and then clicked. I was presented with the usual things of google maps, and some extras. Kinda seems like the size of west Richland, with some inspiration of the commercial area of the uptown and some of the Kennewick commercial near Pasco.

“You’ll at least have some familiarity.” Vlad proposed.

Yeah, but I’ve never really explored the area’s from the drives around them. I replied to the logic leaning voice.

“Fair point. God you need to get out more…”

Oh, don’t fucking remind me… I thought back, irritated by the reminder of my lack of getting out. I never really had a reason in my honest opinion most of the time, granted I was anti-social as well, which did not help my case. Granted still, I was also stopped in doing a fair many things because of the ever damning need of money, infuriating as it was. But, in this world it seems, I have an account set up with an unknown amount. It maybe finite, it could be practically infinite in which so I had no conceivable way of spending it all in my lifetime. Though further upon that, I need to check the bloody balance. It looked like my Visa, but I had doubts it was the same here. Or...it could be like the Doctor Who ID and it’s whatever it needs to be so to speak. To which I could be over analyzing things again and could be vastly wrong or could actually be close.

I could never know… Speaking of money as an errant thought floating around, I went about finding what the exchange rate was when I paid for my Alto sodas. At which, the little grass type was confused upon the switch of tabs and the sudden numbers. At which her trainer rather quickly placed in a set of numbers and hastily went through the tab thing next to the numbers and began selecting words she hadn’t seen before. A lot of the time the lower box of numbers went way up from the set above it, this was really puzzling for the poor Snivy’s brain. She’d ask, but she was sure she’d get an odd explanation.

Alright, starting off at five fifty, and for some fucking reason the first one is euros on the auto roster. And...no-no-no-no-no-no-...still no, way off, now way the fuck off. Looks too low, close-close-close, not even… These kind of thoughts went on for the next seven minutes as I quickly analyzed the change between the numbers and switched off to the next. However. Finally. I find the currency that made sense...somehow, I wasn’t entirely sure, and I was no accountant, or well...someone that’d actually be in this field of work.

Sol...wat...I...alfuckingrighty then. Never knew that was a currency. Guess we’re running on this shit. Also, about three bucks and twenty cents. I feel like that should’ve been like two bucks more. Welp, got them cheaper than I expected. That’s always nice. I thought looking at the medium of exchange difference.

So it’s not some offshoot knock off of Yen I thought it might of been. Granted it was called Sutrin. Interesting. So now who uses...Sol...the people of Peru. Huh, interesting. So what, hybrid currency? Something different all together? I contemplated this as I switched back to the map. Hm, seems to be some good restaurants, that’s nice. Let’s see… I looked at an odd building with a left tilting head with an accompanied brow. Starter gym...? I thought confoundedly, it had a modern-esque look to it, I’d like to hazard saying. Personally, some of the modeling was...let’s be nice and say...unconventional, no...quirky. Yes. Quirky. I’ve seen my share of ‘modern’ housing design, some of the parts were down right questionable at least, at most, personally, asinine. Who the hell places ridge structuring to the sides for the sake of estetic? Pompous jackasses with too much money is one that comes to mind.

“I sense potencial shits and giggles.” Psycho immediately voiced with anticipation.

...Maybe… We’ll consider it again whence there. I thought with a few seconds musing. The first destination was set, route more or less figured out. Provision restock unneeded for...obvious reasons. Transport was sorted yesterday with no fuel worry, massive money save there alone. Just have to worry about battle whoring twitidiots along the way, possible…’heated contesting of social companions’ with ‘some people’ that intend to do unsavory ‘group’ things.

As I was going through a rough mental checklist, Elora had trotted over and thus hopped onto the bed to see what I was upto. “Found a place yet?” She asked curiously with a note of excitement. In that same moment of asking she saw the place that was currently being examined as the likely destination.

“Well, Nesi might actually have.” I replied making a small gesture to the screen. “Ooo, a gym! I’ve heard of those, trainers go there to get these things called ‘badges’, and the more they get it’s supposed to say how strong the trainer and his pokemon are, or something.” Elora noted with an up to enthusiasm, usually it’s grating for me to hear information to something I already know of with already acquired specifics. Though somehow that was significantly lessened with Elora at this moment.

“Yes, and those badges are honestly glorified pins.” I comment on the mention of badges.

“Pens?” Elora asked mishearing.

“No, pins. Like...this.” I said while taking a moment to reach over and grab my hat, subsequently showing the brim pin keeping the right side up.

“Oooooh…!” Elora responded now getting it. “Okay, there’s more like those right?”

“Badges or what’s on my hat?”

“Option two.”

“Shit tons.” I replied curtly. Now the thought striking me of making a curious look later to see if I can acquire a few more for it, not like what’s keeping the side of my hat up, but more of the accessorizing type.

“How much is that?”

I decided to play with an idea of an answer. “I’d say a lot times thirty.” With a growing smile trying to baffle her little mind. Her head leaned back in shock as her eyes widened so much I was starting to get ever so slightly worried her eyes would pop out as the realization sunk in.

“Woah...that’s so much…” The little fox sat there just astounded by how much that was.

“Snnniiii…” Nesia said unintentionally doing her own little stoner voice having the same reaction as Elora.

I had to keep my laughter down from that bit of amusement, it can be a great feeling when you start rubbing off on your friends. I do remember reading or something of the such that pokemon tend to mimic their trainers to a degree.

Psycho thus produced a cackling kind of giggle. “Oh my god, their going to be fucking amazing and terrible!” Previously mentioned giggles went back into full swing as he knew full well these three are going to gain a good portion of my humor, and a good chunk of my dark humor too. I know for a fact Elora would get the biggest grab on dark humor, I’ll be shocked if not.

I then had an errant thought, I should make another visit to Lindorna Café before I take my leave of Snowbell. An Alterian Delight sounds fantastic right now. I looked at the screen for a few seconds with narrow eyes and flattened lips. ….Fuck it, might even get a freebie. I thought further convincing myself to the idea. “Who’s up for a run to Lindorna Café?” I asked offhandedly to the three. I got varied yeses to the proposition thus which put the outing to motion, so with that in mind I got dressed with today’s shirt being a dark gray colored shirt with the text ‘I’m not arguing with you, I’m just explaining why I’m right!’, midway of getting on my punisher coat I realized I was trying to keep on the downlow and immediately switching to my heavier blue coat. Shortly after I was heading downstairs, as I was making my way down there I saw shiny Joy typing away on her computer. She showed a peeved look, honestly I didn’t want to bother her with whatever she was going over. But...my nice side had more of a hold this time.

“Hey Joy.” I greeted languid but friendly tone. Nurse Joy perked up and turned her attention to me. “Oh, hey Will. Need anything?” She replied then asked, I could kind of feel that edge of annoyance in her tone. I knew it wasn’t intentionally directed at me.

“No, though I’m gonna make a run to Lindorna Café. Figured I’d see if you wanted anything?” I said bringing in a small lazy smile.

“Oh my god, yeeees…!” Said the Nurse with relief as she leaned back in her chair. “An Alterian Delight with two shots of white coffee, and a pecha berry muffin sound awesome right now…!” I took a moment to whip out my phone and type out a note of her request. “Alrighty then...I, should be back shortly.” I notified and then headed on out, I dug my compacted ride from it’s designated pocket and then activated it. “I will never tire of that bit of fucking awesomeness.” I said to myself with a big ol’ smile. Today’s starter song was and with a small note of for the hell of it, Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold, my inner metalhead had a turn today. I quietly sang along to the song as I placed the helmet on and made my merry way to the shop.

Shortly after while I approached an intersection, I heard the distant bellowing of a familiar sound, I looked towards the direction of the sound to see a Charizard with a coat. “Wait a fuck…” I spoke thinking scrunched brows for a few seconds, a memory of my first outing upon my coming to this city, in which resulted me quickly stopping seconds before a torrent of flames bathed the pavement. “These fuckers need to make a caution sign or something for this shit.” I grumbled as I waited a couple seconds before heading out again, which got a resounding agreement. “At least he lets out a warning.” I added bringing up a small silver lining to this quick and rather efficient way of getting rid of snow and ice. I bet places like michigan would kill for something like this for winter.

As I gazed off going into semi-autopilot, I thought about the other shops I was gonna take a gander at, being a little irritated at myself for not making time for them and forgetting about them in the process of it. I pushed the borrating thoughts aside when the shop came into view. “Aaand, we’re here.” I announced then hopped off my ride, I looked at it for a few seconds, then looked up and down the street for shady folk. There was no one to be seen yes, but, that did not do much to ease my paranoia. So to simmer down the thought of theft of my newly acquired ride, pocket travel it goes.

I didn’t see too many people in the café as I approached the door, which surprised me a small bit, I’d think there’d be more people coming in to get something to warm up themselves up, but as it seems I was wrong on that assumption. That or it’s just a slow day. I partially unzipped my coat after I placed down my helm so my pokémon could pop out their heads, and or hop out. On that thought, Elora hopped off and Keldra opted to stay as she was like Nesia, after getting somewhat situated, the two familiar employees came into my sight. As I approached the counter, the Lucario noticed my presence and look up and showed an unexpected smile with a friendly wave.

“Ello ello.” I said with a cordial expression. Then out of nowhere she gestured to me and subsequently made a scooping motion with a paw raised over her shoulder in a beckoning motion twice, then brought that same paw to her chest, said paw then waggled the first and third digit, next the scooping gesture again one time. After, she then pointed to her wrist. I got me and time so far. She then pointed to me again, next she did the double scoop motion from before and finally held out both paws facing up in front of her and near her waist, then after, making small horizontal circles. I stood there with my pokémon confused, I was acutely aware it was sign language, maybe ASL? To my pokemon however she was waving her hands around for some reason, but was trying to communicate. Thankfully the other worker came over. Devin I believe it was.

“She said you were awesome last time you were here.” Devin the café Gallade translated. “Hello again.” He greeted with a genuine smile, “We were pretty glad you brought down that guy a peg, one of us might’ve been shot from trying something.” Devin added trying with a humorous tone, I laughed a little with him. I then looked at the Lucario again with a curious look playing with a thought. “Mute?” I inquired with a raised brow, pointing to her.

Her nodding leaned over to the right whilst glancing that way with flattened lips. She brought up her left paw and placed her index digit of her right to her left paw with a back and forth key motion, then pointing up. After that she-I’m just gonna call them fingers- made a V with two fingers next to her throat then bent the arm forwards, finally she grabbed a couple stray cables holding them up. This time it clicked. “Screwed up vocal cords. Oh, that sucks ass…!” I said genuinely feeling bad for her. Now I was curious. “Was it an accident? Something else?” I asked, trying to be at least a little gentle about it, some people were rather sore on the topic.

Devin took the reins on this answer. “Alvorah-” Oh that’s a nice name. “Told me it was on a trip with some family and friends, and something deserving the term freak accident happened. Some trainers were having a battle a little distance away from some family activities Alvorah and her group were doing, I can’t remember on what that was. But, one of the trainer’s pokémon let out an explosive attack that sent out some nasty shrapnel from a rock and...well, Alvorah here was sadly on the wheel of misfortune that day. Tore up her throat pretty bad.” Devin explained, at the end of it Alvora signed that she was lucky to be alive from that. Devin continued. “Even with the help of the pokecenter and even a run through the heal machine, it just wasn’t enough, as messed up as that is...” Alvorah had a downcast look with drooping ears, my expression was sharing the sentiment for the most part my little trio didn’t really know what to say from that. Though, a moment later. Alvorah looked up at me perking back up, I couldn’t really understand what she signed but I got the gist of it, let’s not dwell on it though, is what I got out of it. The empath in me took up a warming smile, to which Alvorah grabbed up a cup then bringing up a smile of her own in response to mine with dare I say a toasting gesture.

“Yeah, heh-um. Yeah, just give me a sec.” I spoke, the edge of my tone showing I was processing the emotions, in the meantime I brought out my phone with the first order. I always hated the feel of sadness, dreadful and dastardly the damned thing. Moving on we got about our orders, while going on a little more conversation while all the drinks are being made. As antisocial I was, it was nice to have conversations with some people. At times it’s rather refreshing even. When it came time for paying for it all, I noticed I could give a tip with the chip reader. I gave Alvorah a generous forty dollars worth tip out of goodwill. As well, subsequently told the drinks were on the house, I gave a cheer in my mind.

Spread between two cup holder things that would do a much better job then my worlds version, I made way to the door. “You two have a fabulous day!” I said with a heartfelt farewell. Could of been the lingering dose of emotion before but, I felt like being pretty nice. They waved me goodbye with a ‘hope to see you next time’ and such. Nesia and Keldra helped carry the drinks as well grabbed my helm, while I could get our ride started. Alvorah checked the receipt and had to do a double take, she got one of, if not her best tip from working at this place. She watched as the guy from before walked out, with a paw over her chest, he was by far the nicest customer she’s had the pleasure to meet over the year she’s worked here. She even hoped he came by again soon, too bad neither her or Devin asked for his name.

It took me about two minutes to be absolutely sure the drinks weren't going spill or anything before I made my way back over to the Pokécenter. It took me a minute to get back inside me and Nesia being careful with the drinks. Joy regressed to that look from earlier, not even registering that I was here this time. Though she did when the drinks were placed down on the counter. She jumped slightly before she saw I’ve returned, from that minor shock went into full reverse being replaced be an ecstatic continence.

“Will, you are, awesome!” The shiny Nurse said as she then grabbed her drink and baggie with the muffin. “I try.” I reply dismissively with an equal smile, while she showed absolute bliss as she took her first drink of her Alterian Delight. “Oh it’s been too long…!” Joy said as she lovingly pressed the cup to her cheek.

It was then she looked at me with the most appreciative smile I have seen. “You sir, have made my day.” Joy said while pointing at me, hands still clasped to cup. “Out of so many trainers I’ve seen…” Nurse Joy said pausing for a few seconds to recall something. “You're one of, five, who’ve treated me for once. I appreciate you, so much!”

I couldn’t help but smile from the compliment. “Well, you're very much welcome.” I replied in kind. “We all deserve a good day. A real good portion of people I think at least.” To which, I begin making my way to m’room

“Right you are!” Joy said with a smile, taking another joyful drink. “If he stays a little longer, I wonder if I can convince him on making another run tomorrow, if he feels nice enough.” Joy thought as she was ‘nursing’ her drink with a happy little smile. As she thought this I was on my way back upstairs, ceasely debating if I should go about this or not. Every possible bad thing that could happen with varying plausibilities exasperated by the mere fact alone of what pokemon I’d face along the way. From the mundane to the abhorrent, only a few good things were popping up here and there. It continued for a while as I was on the laptop, continuing to look over the area, the path to the would be destination, and a minor existential crysis resurgence to my dimensional transition.

“Come on, Will. You can make the trip.” Vlad spoke with an encouraging voice. “A new place to explore, good food to try, and some fun things to do. And, not having to worry about you're ‘fame’ here.” Vlad continued, consoling my down spiral of confidence and self-esteem.

“Dude, come on! Who’s the badass bitch that took on three pokémon beating the shit out of them back to back!? You, you glorious son of a bitch!” Psycho said with pride in his voice.

“I doubt people actually fighting pokémon themselves, let alone win against three different types. You were badass in your own right in that regard!” Vlad followed up, all the while Nesia was curled up on my shoulders and neck, giving a comforting embrace a snake like species like her with legs could. Sensing the bad feelings seeping out. Elora was lying curled up on lap, more or less trying to subside the familiar sensation she felt coming of her trainer like Nesia. I was acutely aware I couldn’t live here, I’ve stayed what I assume is more than long enough in this Pokécenter, granted a fair portion of that time was a given upon certain circumstances. My psyche, damn it as I do often, is making things difficult in finding small comforts in times like this. Why do I have to over worry like this, when I know it’s unnecessary?

“So when are we going to Ianatan?” Elora asked in that sweet little voice of her’s. I squeezed my eyes closed with a tiny shake of my head, opening them again, my head clearing some to the inquiry. It took me a few seconds to reply, with which I took a quiet deep breath trying to calm myself. Then came a resolute thought that has propagated a many of my decisions like many a man of this day an age. Fuck it-double fuck it-triple-septuple FUCK IT! Though, most guys wouldn’t get to that amount.

“I’m thinking about an hour or so. Sound good?” I reply looking down towards Elora, she sat up to nuzzle my chin, eliciting a warmed smile from me.

“Sounds good to me!” I in return ruffled the fur between her ears in appreciation. She pushed up against my hand with a closed eyed smile, happy with the return of affection. I lean back against the wall while making peace with my decision. I was actually going to do this. God damn, this is going to be like the camping trip again. I wasn’t too thrilled with that endeavor either, which was when I somehow by strange odds, got myself a girlfriend. She was the one asking me if she could be, I was shocked by that sudden turn of event on the last day. Though, then three months later at my buddies house with some other friends, doing one of our game days with Reach. Got a call from mom, and it all went downhill from there. Lied about her age, saying the same lovey things to this one guy that says he’d fly her to his place, to canada of all fucking places.

Oh, and planning a murder of one of the guys of her school later on… There’s a reason I don’t count it. Over that hour, I made god damn sure I had everything. The girls making sure any stray item was found that I didn’t find. God they made my life easier. “Alright! We got everything?” I ask with darting eyes, my voice a little heated from some items pulling a Houdini on me via my combative memory, this was especially irksome since coming here my memory has gotten better. Oooooh this better not be a fucking thing. I complained with a growl internally. I damned my memory on the daily more or less back home, I liked having a good memory, gives me one less thing to hate myself on.

“Sni!”

“”Yep!””

“Fuck yeah.” I replied relief filling my tone as my head lulled back for a short moment. After I stuffed the last few items back into my pack and or respecting pockets, I did a quick glance around, I absolutely did not want that everything is ready then forget the one thing as you're ten or so minutes out suddenly remembering it. This has happened more than I want to admit. I perked up with a narrowed eye glare with tightened lips, suddenly remembering about my hat, my wide eyed gaze snapped to my right to see my hat hanging on the chair near my bed. I snatched it and placed it in the pack, I didn’t need it flying off when I’m driving. “Allllriiiiiiighty fuuucking diiieetyyy...off we go.” I say, as I slung my backpack on. I then saw Elora sitting there on the bed with a wagging tail, I gave her a deadpan look, knowing exactly what she wants. “Really?” I say curtly, I just roll my eyes and lean over to her, she hopped onto her claimed vantage point, casually gripping on it. Now Nesia, then Keldra. “Can I have my scarf?” Keldra asks tilting her head up with a little smile. “Nesi?” I simply say, spurring the grass type to fish out the mentioned face and neck warming cloth. This time she was gonna share it’s use as I wrapped it around my neck and gave her the ends, to which she wrapped up her little blue haired head up.

With everything set, I finally went back down stairs. Joy caught the sight of me when I was at the base step. “Are you leaving?” Joy asked with an almost confused expression.

“Yeah…” I half sighed, I think I’m actually gonna miss being here some.

“Awww, thought you’d stay a day longer.” The shiny nurse said with a rueful expression, she was really hoping this guy stayed just a day or so longer, he didn’t come out much besides to eat. But he was a really neat guy. One of the few she could loosen up around surprisingly.

I gave her a kind of understanding though kind of bemused smile. “Gonna miss me?” I asked with a surprise edged tone when I leaned on her counter.

“Yeah actually. It was really nice having you around…!” Joy admitted. I had a warming simper to her words, actually made me feel...I have a word for this...but I couldn’t remember it right now, but being wanted here, besides my three pokémon felt nice as well.

“That’s, actually really nice to know.” I replied, not really knowing what to say to that.

“Hey, if you meet anybody that’s heading over this way. Send them to 478 Charvar drive pokécenter. It’ll put up some credit if you're going for the league.” Joy said incentivizing something, naturally I was kind of confused by this credit for the league thing. Thankfully, I didn’t need to vocalize my confusion.

“Helps some income here, and, gives you free stuff as a bonus.” Joy explained giving a little eyebrow waggle at the end, I found it odd that the pokécenter would have taxation, but then the thought of the medicine immediately came into mind with a side thought with it about some of the more uncommon medication needed in odd cases, or specialized infections and diseases. Within that thought process, it made sense in regard. Though, still kind of odd, since most media insinuates every center has everything needed at any given time no matter what. Nothing in pharma is truly free to give, however, some exceptions are a given. And to the free things, I had an ‘Oooo!’ expression crossed with a smile to the proposition. “I knew you’d find that interesting.”

“Ooo, I like free.” I said with a grin, my voice raised an excited octave, my expression then turned curious again to another thought, to which I voice out loud. “Though, what kind of things?” I inquire, it was a valid question.

“Stuff like extra and specialty pokéballs, vitamins, potions and other fun stuff! They’ll send some stuff my way even.” Joy explained further, with a smile remembering some of the rather neat items she’s gotten, they’ve even sent her a care package occasionally filled with all sorts of goodies that made a real silver lining to her job.

“Niiiiccee!” I said rather liking the idea, skeptical as I am, It indeed sounded nice. Plus it was was nicer still that the beneficiary is getting some care in the advertising of the...program I want to call it. It’s the league like a sports program of sorts? I suddenly wondered for a short moment. It’d make sense in calling it such, well, to me at least. Granted, I never really liked sports, I had a few I’d play myself. Either by shits and giggles or actual enjoyment. Their not really big one’s, but I enjoy playing pool and bowling, I had a chance to do a tournament for the bowling since I was more than eligible, but. Social anxiety and I didn’t want to deal with the bullshit with it. Just played it to play it, not for the big competition or national shit.

“Right! And you can register at any Pokécenter whenever you're up to it. So no real pressure in joining it right away.”

“Alright,” I said nodding. “That’s nice to know, I’d have to give it some thought, but, I might try it.” I added, actually considering it. “Granted, not really in the spotlight kind of guy. But, if I really it like, you might just see me on screen.” I ended with a smile, admittedly, the appeal was there. But, that condratiction of mine of wanting the fame, yet not wanting to meddle with the things that often times attach themselves to fame. Oh the internal battle…

After a short time a talking, Elora roughly patted at the top of my head. “Master Wwiiilll, let’s go!” Said the impatient little fox.

“Ah-ah-fine, fine! Calm ya tits!” I replied mostly nonchalantly, I was trailing off into the conversation so I understood the impatience. I’ve felt the exact thing with my mom.

“Elora getting a little impatient?” Joy said with a chuckle. “On that, I have to use that one next time a trainer is getting testy with me on time.” She added amusedly, she especially liked the line, ‘Get in your hole!’ from one of her longer staying trainers that is currently getting ready to leave.

“Oh you liked that one?” I respond with a chuckle of my own, delighted in the thought that I was rubbing off on a Nurse Joy. Psycho began giggling to an alternate thought. Shut up, ya dickhead. I say to the voice with a internal laugh.

“Oh yeah. Alright, guess I shouldn’t keep you longer. It was nice having you here while it lasted, hope to see you again!” Joy said with a smile and a little wave.

“Oooh you say that to all the trainers.” I say teasing with a playful eyeroll and dismissive wave of my hand. I wasn’t expecting the next reply though.

“Only the ones I’ll miss.” Joy responses in kind with a mischievous smile and an equal ring.

I in turn have a mental double take, as I look at her kind of funny. “Oh really now?” I say with a delighted tone and expression. Not too often people say that kind of thing to me, it always feels nice to hear it with the sentiment behind it.

“Right, now I’ve kept you for long enough, go get em!” Shiny Joy said trying to usher me away to my journey.

“Alright, have yourself a lovely day darling!” I respond with a flamboyant posh like tone that had a touch of gay guy while walking away with a wave goodbye. This day was a good day so far, hopefully it keeps that way, I love having a good mood.

“You too!” Joy said with a small laugh, she hoped this trainer’s journey was a good and eventful one. And she also hoped he’ll send some people this way, maybe they’ll have a good story surrounding the trainer that liked to play music a lot. She did like a good tale.

Before I could start leaving, an interesting sight came somewhat waddling out of the nursing area. “Gib!” [Hey!] I stopped mid step as I was leaving confused look and held tilt as I heard a familiar voice. So, with a confused furrowed brow expression, I spun on my heel to see who the voice was attached to. My furrowed brows thus raised themselves as I stared at the crimson Gible. Bahumat was it? I questioned as I tried remembering, I wouldn’t forget the color scheme for rather obvious reasons.

“Gib gible gib gible gib?” [Are you the guy who saved me?] The Gible asked almost desperately, he seems fairly stressed.

Ah shit. “Yeah?” I replied, Joy just looked confused for a moment.

The Gible whose name I’m rather sure is was named Bahumat came over to me, grasping my leg. “Gible gible gib! Gib, gible gib gible gible gib gib! Gible gible gib gible gib gib! Gible, gib gible!” [You gotta take me man! Please, I don’t wanna go back to that guy again! He’ll beat me till my scales are falling off! Come on, help a guy out!] Bahumat pleaded, I remembered the whole situation now.

“Dude! We should take him! How the hell are the odds of us having THREE RARE SHINIES! And a variant shiny at that! It’s like finding black opal! Yeah it’s another mouth to feed and take care of, but people would be envying the fuck out of you! People would be doing about anything to get him! Think of the money and other shit we could get!” Psycho proposed. The proposition was rather a abhorrent one.

Okay, yes. Extra money would be nice, but that’s rather fucked off. I’m not going to be an extorting prick. I retorted to Psycho’s idea, didn’t really need a boost to my already none existent status. I couldn’t continue the conversation, so Vlad took over as I knelt down to talk to the Gible a little more level. “Listen...I’m not the guy for you. I helped you, yeah. But...I got enough to handle with these three.” I began, a dejected look was beginning to form on his big face. “I’d bring you with dude, but I can’t handle four pokémon at this time, man. But trust me.” I added then paused while placing my hands on his little arms. “Joy here will make sure to find a good trainer for you. That shit head of a guy that had you before isn’t getting you back. You’ll get a better trainer...It’s just not going to be me, I’m sorry dude.” Through this encounter, my pokémon were thankfully being quiet. As I explained Joy watched with a somber expression.

Bahumat was wiping his eyes as he spoke again with a little trembling in his voice. [Do...do you really think I’ll find a good trainer?]

I gave him a reassuring smile as I rubbed his forehead. “Positive. Hell, we’ll most likely see eachother again.” God damn I’m handling this better than I thought… I thought relieved as the crimson Gible was cheering up. “You really seem to have a connection with pokémon.” Joy noted, seeing as I was actively conversing and understanding with this Gible. I look up at Joy with a half smirk.

“You really think so?”

“Yeah, I think you're going to be a great trainer.” Shiny joy responded with a warmed smile.

“We can hope, right?”

After coming out of the double doors, I had a smile of sorts as I fished out my compacted ride, tossing it out soon after finding it. After it unfolded so to speak, I had Elora hop off for a moment to which she hopped onto the ATV, I thus began strapping in my backpack with some bungee cords, courtesy of Tweak, to the bars beneath the seat and storage combo. I made damn sure it wasn’t going to fly off with multiple test pulls at different angles, while I did this, both Elora and Keldra watched kind of fascinated with how I did it, trying to commit it to memory to help with something like this in the future. And maybe improve if possible, seeing that, yes it will stay, though given how much was wrapped around it, seemed a little excessive to them. Nesia would be doing the same to be more helpful in the future, but all she wants right now is to keep warm underneath the scarf and coat. She didn’t like being outside with the cold and snow. Nor how it made her feel slow in a lot of ways, as well making her just a little miserable.

After the backpack was situated, I hopped onto my ride and quickly set out to find a good song for the start of the trip, gotta have something playing while on a road trip. After quickly searching, with a hankering for something more energetic sounding, I picked out Next To You by BuckCherry while starting my ride.

“Alrighty!!” I began with a enthused chuckling tone and a grin, “Hope you three are situated ‘cause this is gonna get fun and bumpy!” After saying this, I shredded snow. Not long till I was edging the town limits, speeding around when I could. Another neat little thing on my ATV, it had a holder just in front of the handle bar for my p.g. phone hybrid thing that had a sort of shroud to help keep snow and other things off it, that also didn’t hamper screen visibility. Granted, a little redundant considering the helmet I’m still reeling from the kindness to. I set the destination earlier so I had a path ready beforehand, even had a little weather update pop up from under the compus, thankfully weather was calm for the rest of the day, and for the way ahead. Been a little tired of the snow, I liked snow an all. But when it’s trying to be a watered down michigan snow storm, for oh I don’t know...nearly three weeks. One loses interest of the snow and rather lower than used to temperatures by then usually.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the cold. I’d rather put on or take off layers, then lie down dying with an ice pack or two and or an improvised one, while on the cusp of overheating. Back home, I had normally shitty temp regulation. Here, in my new body though. I haven’t been dealing with that problem, granted I haven’t been to a high temp area in my time here. Despite that, I wasn't as bothered as I would have with the cold, so yay to idea of better physical temp resistance. Still using the gloves and scarf though. Riding something like an four wheeler with nothing wind resistant is a bitch on exposed skin. On that note, I found my coat was wind resistant. My gear just keeps more and more awesome the more I find out and experiment.

True to my word to the three pokemon, the path indeed became bumpy. I was enjoying myself, even Keldra was enjoying the experience. Elora...not as much. She however wasn’t liking the sliding around sensation by proxy of the uneven terrain with how fast we were going. I let out one of my war cry’s of fun as I sort of drifted around an edge on the path down, I rounded corners, rocks, even played around with hopping over some of those elisating enthused demented giggling from yours truly. I was really enjoying myself with this thing, handles like the polaris my mom has back home, actually better even. Well, especially with some of the features, and it hauled ass a lot more.

I was immensely glad the path was wide enough for vehicles, kind of reminded me of this one road to the hills in west richland me and my family would go up onto sometimes to see meteor showers among other things. Though, this path was about five or so feet wider, by my guess. In the meantime of my short remembrance of an earlier time, I quickly saw a actually sizable crack in the ground ahead, several main things popped into my mind. Either A: When I come near and or pass it, and with rather vivid imagination, the ground there destabilizes and starts cracking up more than the ice sheets of the movie Ice Age with me being Skrat in this instance having to hurry away in a very nowish fashion. Or B: it happens to make a hole before I get there, I use the jump feature of my atv, have a badass moment and move on with my day. Then after, C: Nothing happens, continuing on my merry way I go to Ianatan.

So to summarize, either a oh shit moment, a badass moment, or nothing remarkable. We’ll see in the next five seconds… Odds?

“One.” Psycho choosing the first option.

“Two or three hopefully.” Vlad voiced, granted for my self esteem, temporary as it was he was leaning on option two.

Moment of truth, option two to a small part of chagrin didn’t pop up. Though, my luck decided to be shit today for this part, always such a delightful thing to happen right? My eyes would of made a slap like snap sound if it was physically possible as they suddenly went wide, courtesy of a certain ‘magical’ sound in the environment as I passed over that crack. Oh how much I despised when my paranoia was right, I had that feeling as I pressed the accelerator further all the while giving a verbally appropriate reaction when the road is hot on your ass breaking away behind you. All the while, my companions were appropriately panicking.

“Fuck-fuck-fuck-fuck-shit oh my-shit oh dear-shit oh fuuuuck!!!” I quickly yelled panicking, doing my damndest to not hit something along the way, cutting turns a lot closer than I would want while doing this, poor Elora was death gripping onto my shirt. All the while, some insult to injury began sprinkling from above, my eyes twitched to these patches of snow fluttering and dropping all around me immediately connecting what is happening next. “OH FUCK RIGHT OFF WITH YOU!!” I yelled out louder with a rather vexed tone with the; hopefully not so large, avalanche intending to tag team with the ground giving out behind me. I went into a tiny rant about my day was going nicely so far and then damning my luck. Though, it seems some of my luck was relenting to an extent as the ground behind me was stopping, however, I could not look behind myself for rather obvious reasons.

Thankfully, Nesia did that for me. Notifying me of the rear situation has stopped being a thing. That’s one bullshit thing gone! I thought gratefully, I then noticed Dirtyphonics remix of play for real was playing, and oh how it helped me for this situation. Though notwithstanding to the fact of a rather large chunk of snow and possibly ice I noticed a little too late. “Ah shit…” I said with a seemingly lax comment, given how fast it’s falling, and how powdery this patch of snow is. I’m not gonna stop in time, and not clear it enough to completely get away from it, to which I knew for a fact if I tried to race ahead and get hit. Hello painful death over the edge, ‘course my damnedable mind vividly played out the slid off, the terror of flying through the air, me and my pokémon screaming. First impact, launched off, three different versions of the first impact playing out, two of them playing my death, then continuing down, the pokémon having their own tumbles down the jagged rocks, bones breaking for all of us. Persistent and exasperated internal bleeding, bodies being mangled and torn the further down we go.. Truly a horrible and painful death for all four of us... However, one thing.

That chunk resulting my most likely sealed fate, impacted air. I suddenly adored the mere fact I had a psychic type with a short hysterically laughing holy F bomb. “Nooot today!” Keldra voiced out, this was not going to be the day she dies in the snow, nor the trainer and other pokémon she’s grown to really like being around. The clump of snow and ice harmlessly broke apart behind us as I continued avoiding the still threatening snow above the cliff face of the path, multiple times I bullshitted a turn or an avoidance of debris with a delugh of panicked profanity.

“HhhhhaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!” I bellowed defiantly as I refused this environmental attempt at my life, twenty seconds later the avalanche began to cease it’s attempt. I didn’t stop for another minute however, just to make sure. I however soon stopped, I stared at the path ahead with a mixed expression of exasperation and irritation, with haggard breathing. My hands slowly released from their death grip of the handles.

“Holy...sweet mother...of...fuck almighty.” I said in between breaths, surprised I made it with nary an injury. I slowly took my helmet off, placing it on the front of my ATV. Nesia and Elora were shaking with their own death grips.

“Sssniiivvyy?” [Is it over?]

“Yes…it’s over...” I breathed out with a higher octave, I gingerly got off and turned to look at the destruction behind me. I gazed at it with my wide wild eyes. I had strong mixed feelings from this experience, and from those mixed feelings I channeled into my next set of actions. “Suuuck it loooong…!!-” I began yelling with a lax fist pump punctuating my phrase in the first of two parts, “And SUUUCH IT HAAAARRRD!! HAHAHAHHAHA-HA-HA-HAAAA!!” I finished with triumphant hysterical laughter with the next shaking fist pump. As I went through my own victory over nature.

The snow clearing Charizard was finally finishing off his eight hour shift, after hearing the commotion on the path out of the east side of Snowbelle, he had to check it out. Soon coming over to the cliff side path, he was gawking at the destroyed path with shock and dismay.

“Oooh COME ON...!!” He groaned with exaggerated outstretched arms, he just got done with another grueling day of deicing and melting snow. And now he was going to be pulled into over time over the fubared path, melting even more snow and ice and now mixed in labor. He’s gonna miss five sutrin tuesday at the Nairchild Cinema with his friends. “I better be paid overtime…” The Charizard grumbled as he lazily headed back to the eastside branch of Fire And Ice, Not So Nice. This day just got a lot longer for the poor guy with a crick in the wing.

“The environment ain’t getting my happy ass today!” I cackled, “Fuck you avalanche and landslide! Ha-ha-ha-haaaa!” I finished with a one finger salute.

“Sni snivy!” [Suck it, environment!] Nesia said popping her head out of the scarf shaking her vine at the mound of snow, as Elora detached, when she landed she stood up on her hind legs waving a forepaw. “Yeah!”

Keldra herself pops her head up, speaking in a tone of caution. “Ralts ral ralts ral ral ralts.” [We probably shouldn’t patronize the landscape now.] I look down at her struggling to simmer down my wild bout of demented giggling. I took a breath. “Yeeeaaaaahhhh…. Let’s go.” A good chunk of me wants to do some more borrating of the cliffside, but I’m siding with my ever imaginative paranoia. Thus, me and Elora hurried back onto the four wheeler and sped off, I mostly didn’t feel like pushing my already thin luck.

“Man, where’s that liquid luck when ya need it, right?” Psycho offhandedly commented, seeing that could of gone just a little better.

I know right? Hopefully, more environmental fuckery entailed to kill me is not set on another round for a long ass time.

“That would be nice.” Vlad agreed, twice the snow tried to kill us. This time around the ground tag teamed in, he was hoping things will smooth out on the rest of the way. Five minutes, along the way the temperature was finally shifting back to what is considered normal temps, though for me, a nice temp for me to be going around in, would be a delightful between seventy and fifty. I don’t work well in heat, back home I tended to overheat easier than most. Makeshift ice packs become my best friends in summer, that or any really cold drink, works really well if you held it next to your carotid artery I found out one day with a really cold soda at Radcon. ‘Corse one shouldn’t hold a cold object against main arteries for long periods for various health reasons.

Back to the driving, the ground smoothed out when I began hitting up a path to Ianatan. It was a really pleasant ride when I was reaching the forest, a contrasting green from the snow not a hundred meters away from the path to Snowbell. And though, very odd as it was, I felt a massive energy shift, for a lack of better explanation. I just felt...happier, more energetic even, it wasn’t unpleasant. Though it was strange, with that, two thoughts floated around, could of been from my empathic nature and or my heritage, hell might even be both. Fact of the matter, I felt good for once, I couldn’t even remember last I felt like this, if ever. With that, I was focusing more than I normally do when I rode the four wheelers back home, I saw many pokemon with curious looks as they witnessed my mode of travel. A Scolipede even watched with interest strangely enough.

A lot of pokemon on this path. I noted offhandedly, since I don’t have that capture compulsion like a great many a trainer, none of them really caught my interest. That, and three is hard enough for me to deal with right now, I’m perfectly fine with the number I have now. Last I need is a new capture with a bitchy personality. Not dealing with that shit currently. Further ahead, I noticed a guy and girl walking together, thinking fifteen, maybe fourteen just guesstimating from looking at their height among several other things. I had a cheeky thought come up with a cheeky little smile following suit. Party Hard by Andrew W. K. began playing, this was too perfect. I began gunning it for the perfect moment with a growing grin.

“So. I had half a pecha pie left, my brother’s Zubat was flying around trying to eat my left shoe, and my leg was caught in the wall, and five minutes before mom came back with her friends.” Cailie said then took a breath, she and Iggy swapped stories to help pass the time while walking. Iggy this time around was laughing pretty hard.

“How does that even happen!?” He asked with exasperated laughter, her story of some of her home life was just strange and hilarious with these kind of stupid things happening.

“I don’t know, you tell me! But I wasn’t sharing that pie!” It was then Iggy perked up at a strange sound soon followed by a song. It took a few seconds for him for the lyrics to sound clear enough.

“What the-” Iggy began as he was looking behind, he had a few seconds to see a vehicle he’s never seen before blaring a song about partying hard with a guy riding on it with a cool helmet and a black jacket with a big skull on the front. “Oh god!!” he yelled panicking just before the guy about to run into him and Cailie. But the guy’s ride jumped over them as they both were being startled, they heard something like a sort of high pitched outback call of some sort as the vehicle sailed over a meter above them. A second after they heard actual cackling as he drove off. “Holy crap did you see that!?” Iggy said obviously shocked by this Cailie level odd happenstance.

Cailie looked over to Iggy with a likewise expression, but hers had a little twinkle to it. “Yeah! And I don’t know what he’s riding but I want one!” She said with a certain awe. Iggy only sighed.

“Of course you do.” He deadpanned. “It looked rather expensive, Cailie.” Iggy noted as whoever it was joyriding was hastily speeding off.

I was giggling like mad from those reactions, little did my pokemon know, I love scaring people. It was always funny as hell when I got people good. “What did you do?” Elora asked with a side smile looking up the collar of my coat.

“I scared the shit out of these two kids just now, oh my god! That was good!” I replied trying to suppress my laughter, failing miserably as I thought back to those priceless faces going into another burst of laughter. I got a hold of myself shortly as Elora crawled out of my coat, glad biting cold wind wasn’t a thing now. She even found she liked the wind rushing through her fur as she propped herself on the middle point of the handlebar.

“Careful there!” I warned in a still joyful tone as I made little turns. Now I was curious. “Hey Nesi, wanna join Elora?” I inquired the grass snake, her head slipped out to suddenly be hit with a blast of wind hitting her face. To which she let out a sort of surprised sound, as she got used to the wind she finally let out her answer as she looked at Elora and then the path ahead.

“Snivy.” [I might.] Nesia replied, she’s never felt the wind wash over her scales like this, it felt kind of odd. But she didn’t not like, after a moment or two of considering she slithered off her trainer’s shoulders onto the seat and crawled up to beside Elora, as she did this she let out her vines to grip the handlebar just to be safe. She found being like this, actually felt fun, as she had a smile adorning her face. I watched this with my peripheral vision, if only I could grab out my p.g. To get a picture of this, granted, a small thought of letting Nesia hold the handlebar for a moment crossed my mind to let me do this. But my common sense dictated that as a bad idea at this time. I’ll just have to stick to remembering this nice little moment, hopefully it sticks for a long time...

“I can’t wait to do this more often!” Elora said happily enjoying the ride, even though we had a near death experience not even ten minutes ago. Soon, we made it to Ianaton intact...thankfully. Mission one: Lodging. Mission two: Find a nice place to eat at. Mission three: Destress. With these objectives in mind, I quickly went to finding the next Pokécenter. All the while, I was gazing at the buildings and shops I intend to potentially visiting. Some places of fast food I want to try, saw what was a sort of chinese food place, kind of reminded me of Golden Palace. (Don’t go to the Hermiston one.) So on and so forth with interesting stores. Not long till I found what I was looking for.

Interestingly enough, it was next to a mongolian and pho shop which certainly peaked my interest. “Sweet.” I said to myself quietly as I looked at the shop for a moment. Before setting off to mission two, I continued mission one as I approached the curb, I was careful not to accidentally whack Nesi or Elora with my boot as I got off, after that I switched my helm for my hat. They got the drill by now as I got my pack and stored our ride, then promptly we went inside. The inside seemed more into the usual design seeming rather bland from the ‘center I stayed at in comparison. I got the usual fair, though this time it was a normal Joy somewhat disappointedly, I did get a compliment for my hat however which made a small goodnote to my day so far. The whole interaction was rather curt as I was set with my room, the room...wasn’t as cozy. Dare I say lacking even. Flat light blue carpeting, grayish white walls with matching curtains, metal computer desk, and oddly, a large bunk bed with a nightstand. There was a sliding door closet as well with a decent bathroom beside it. I just looked at the room with a displeased expression altogether.

Staggering quality change… I thought with a tone matching my expression.

“Talk about bland…” Elora oddly enough voiced, I was actually somewhat pleased with her word choice.

“About the right word for it.” I add in agreement. This room was indeed bland. I wonder if room alteration is frowned upon or not. I thought with a random urge to just, by all means, liven the room up. Though with that thought in mind I went about setting up my area, first putting my pack by the bed and then moving the nightstand over so I could watch something lying down if I chose, with the laptop on said nightstand. Alright, moving you here, you're going in here. Now to grab you out… I thought out as I moved things around, mid process I looked at the other bunk, seeing two extra pillows. Yoink. I think as I grab those cushions, nobody was going to be using them, so why not, more comfortability for me. And my pokemon. Shortly after I was happy with my little set up, not one of my best jobs, but it works.

After setting my things up, I took a random gander out the window, I saw the restaurant from earlier and surprisingly way off in the distance I think I see the gym. I might try it for shits and giggles, just to see how well my little crew can do. But, that was not going to be today. That would hamper mission three. Though mission one was complete, mission two is now up.

“So, who’s hungry?” I ask to the trio currently exploring the limited room. Nesia’s and Elora’s heads poke out of the closet and Keldra’s pokes out of the bathroom.

[[Me!]] Was the rounding reply from the three, that was settled. With that we promptly made our way for a delightful meal, not before I switched my coat however, putting on my Punisher coat on with it unzipped since outside being nowhere near as cold. We walked there since it was quite literally next door which was nice, once we entered Nesia and Keldra looked at the circular thing a little left to us. “Snivy?” [What’s that?] Nesia asked about the curious object.

“That there, is a type of stove they use to cook these long noodles with a bunch of other things in the bowl you bring over with a lot of bits of food you put in said bowl, over there.” I explain then point to the little buffet area. All three looked over, seeing multiple meats and veggies, as well seeing three sizes of bowls. And on the other end they saw, what they thought were pots, filled with strange liquids. One even had off white floaties that’s really off putting them. As I was explaining a few things, one of the staff came out by the stove area. He watched as this trainer explained to his pokemon, this place doesn’t get trainers often, which is why it seemed a little odd. The restaurant had no qualms to having pokémon eat here, hell some of the customers were pokémon.

Then the trainer went about setting himself a bowl, his three pokémon following suit. It was weird seeing a Ralts actively use it’s psychic ability like this and with such dexterity. Schairvin was honestly impressed, and thought it was cool it being a shiny too. He did a double take seeing the Shiny Zorua with the Ralts. A thought just crossed his mind when he saw the Ralts piling in so much meat in it’s bowl. He could of sworn he’s heard Ralts and later evo’s were vegetarian to an extent. As he was lost in thought he heard the trainer talking again.

“You been holdin’ out on me?” I ask amusedly, though truthfully I was amazed as Keldra used some psychic to bring blobs of the sauces into her bowl. Keldra just looked at me with a smile and a little chuckle. Elora, in the typical Zorua fashion was using her illusion, this being the Braixen form I’ve noticed she’s been favoring. It still amazes me that her illusions can actually interact within her surroundings as she casually fills her bowl of noodles and meats. Speaking of, I didn’t peg Keldra being as much of a carnivore as she is, well, it makes it easier for me since she’s not that picky with that in mind. Nesia of course was using her vines, one vine held her bowl and the other managed the tongs, to which. Oddly, those little inner tendrils were manipulating it, I just can’t not get images of aliens with similar appendages I’ve seen. It’s honestly kind of freaky to look at those. Her meal was, strangely enough a sort of balance of meat, veg, and noodles.

Mine, I just grabbed what looked like pork, chicken and diced ham, shrimp and diced mushrooms with some water chestnuts. I did suggest to them that they may want to stack some more noodles from experience. After situating the food prep, we went to the guy that mans the mongolian grill, and bowl after bowl, my pokémon watched the man working the stove masterfully did his craft. At first the three first evolutions questioned why the guy brought out this bound together stick, that question was quickly answered as the man moved about the bowl’s contents. Soon we were set to enjoy our meals. It’s like the shop back home. I thought pleasantly. Shortly after, those two kids I scared the shit out of on the way here, I just looked at them. I had to tense my lips while having to bite down on them just hard enough to keep them from moving as I shook with silent laughter. As I leaned my head back a little, a smile still half managed to get through. I took a deep breath through my nose trying to calm myself, It was just too funny thinking back to it. I thus was asked if something was wrong from Elora.

So I lean over and quietly speak. “No. It’s the two I scared the shit out of on the way here!” I said my with a silently laughing grin. It was such a good thing I could laugh silently when I wanted to. Not as fulfilling though.

“Hey Iggy, you think we’ll see that guy on that four wheel bike thing again?” I heard the ask as she looked over the selections.

“I don’t know Cailie, maybe?” The one named Iggy responded. “If anything he needs to be taught about safety with whatever it is he’s riding around on.” As Iggy was saying this I was rolling my eyes while chuckling in my head with my voices.

“Knowing what you're doing does coincide with safety!” Psycho said with a pleased tone.

Might be right, might be not. I don’t fuckin’ care, I had my fun moment! I thought in a cheeky tone.

“For some reason I’m suddenly remembering that one thing about someone walking by a decent sum of people, being either psychopathic or a murderer and never knowing it.” Vlad said randomly.

Oh my god I’m having a sort of moment like that. Or, no wait, they are actually. I thought, it by no means stopped my humorous state as I ate with a smile. A moment later I noticed the girl named Cailie turn, to which like a switch my face fell neutral, I watched her in my perfieral. She quietly gasped then began patting at what I’m assuming is her friend. “Iggy! That guy has two shinies!” Cailie said in hushed but excited tones.

She’s only heard of Zorua’s let alone shiny one’s! And the guy with the odd hat had a shiny Ralts too, what amazed her even more was he looks like he’s hardly started, seeing the starter. When Iggy looked behind himself, his eyes unabashedly bulged in shock. Please don’t come over asking questions… I thought already feeling impending vexations. I really didn’t feel like dealing with trainers right now, the girl at least seems nice, besides this I really had no want of interacting with them. I wanted to enjoy my meal and relax from the major oh shit moment earlier. Just as she was moving over to me, Iggy’s hand grabbed her arm.

“Cailie, if you go talking about pokémon with him, it’s going to take at least two hours before you decide to shut up and leave. If not longer.” Iggy said with a ‘I’m not dealing with your shit right now’ tone.

Thank you Iggy. I sighed internally, other than this. This little outing was uneventful...surprisingly. Unsurprisingly however, the girls paid little attention. All of said attention was focused on being delighted by the noodles they were delightfully eating up. Soon out of the shop with filled bellies, we head back to the room. I noticed as I got up, that girl with shoulder length auburn hair that had pink tips, looked as if she was almost in pain from wanting to just come up and chat up a storm. I was positive as to where I found my more stand outish duo. Whelp, conversation for another time.

“Another day!” Psycho said using the voice line from a random urak of Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor.

Another day indeed. I thought while leaving. I don’t know why, but I have a sort of wanderlust coming to me seeing some of the surrounding shops. Small as it was, a small side felt inclined to act upon it. Some exploring doesn’t hurt, though, I really had a disinclination.

“Master Will?” Elora called from the blue after I rounded the building corner. I glance to her with a questioning hum.

“Can we go look around? I don’t feel like being in that room right now.” Elora spoke, Nesia and Keldra added their thoughts in too. So, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I sighed letting my shoulders sag a little.

“Alright.” I looked at the fox a second later, “Where to then?” I watched her face as she gazed me for a moment, then cast that gaze to the ground with a frown. All the while I eyed her with a raised brow, waiting for her answer. A moment later she perked up and looked at me with a smile.

“Can we look for a place that has those things called...um...what was that thing,” Elora wondered, struggling to remember the treat’s name, “uh-soft serve! Soft serves!” She continued with an excited tone. “We totally forgot to get those before we left!”

I took a small sharp breath with a shocked look, all the while mentally gasped. “Shit! For several days I felt I was forgetting to do something!” I add with a tone of self directed displeasure. I’ve been meaning to make some stops, but I entirely spaced on the delightful idea. Fucking lovely to see that part of my memory is alive, and with it’s wretched jackassery. I thought with a special hatred riling up, I despised my faulty hippocampus.

Immediately those thoughts were thrown to the background as I whipped out my p.g. and did a quick search. Luckly, there was a little shop about half a mile to my five, guessing kind of southeast-ish judging from the map. I could never keep track of the direction of north and south on my own. Now, I could walk there, it’d take a bit. But I wasn’t in a walking mood, and this was gonna be much faster. So, with a flick of a leg turning on my heel, I pull out my collapsible four wheeler and toss it out with a underhand, it landed back wheels down and with a bounce. This is never going to stop amusing me. I hop on and began to make my way for one of my favorite sweets, hopefully they’ll have a bunch of flavors.

Iggy was lost in his own thoughts, idly eating at his noodles, he was thinking about the guy that almost crashed into them. Though, the way it went seemed planned, he was actually irked by the disregard of safety to be honest. That’s why he almost choked on his food as he saw someone riding that exact same vehicle as before, furthermore it was the same guy that was sitting two booths away from himself and Cailie. This had to be a connection. Cailie however was seeing if he was okay as he stared after the guy wearing the black skull coat riding off. “Iggy what’s wrong?”

He watched for a moment, mouth agape, head turning back and forth. “It’s him!” He blurted as he quickly got up. He didn’t have time to pay for his food as he scrambled for the door to make chase. This quite understandably confused and irritated Cailie as she sat there for a moment trying to figure what’s gotten into Iggy. “Iggy! What’s up-Iggy hey! Wait up!” Before she ran after him, she quickly dug out and slammed the wad of money on the table, she was out the door seconds later chasing after Iggy while all sorts of confused.

Once in view, it reminded me of a little shop next to my school, I frequented that little shop called Bombers. In the younger days of my dad, it went by Tastee-Freeze. And the only place I knew of that had twenty eight soft serve flavors, which was a treat in of itself. And some decent food. As we waited in the small line to the window, we took the time to pick out flavors. I was amazed to see most of the flavors I was familiar with, blueberry and grape in particular being the two flavors I’ve had the most. When we finally came up to the window, a woman in her early thirties with ginger hair came up with a calm smile, before she started gushing over my pokémon. “Oh my god! What cuties you have there!” My girls in turn smiled back from the praise, “Where’d you find such cute little pokémon?”

“Heheh, well, it’s more they found me. Going from her,” I began then pointed to Nesi on my right, “to this cheeky bugger,” I then pointed to Elora who just smiled more, “and then to this little sweetheart.” I finish patting Keldra’s head, eliciting a little hum from her. ”It was a crazy couple of days.”

“Wait, you got them in a couple of days?” The woman asked visibly shocked. “Man you're lucky.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So, moving from that, what can I get’cha?”

“Girls?” I ask my trio with a languid smile glancing between the three.

[Cheesecake!] Voiced Nesia.

[Blackberry.] Spoke Keldra.

[Oooo, maple nut.] Replied Elora.

The woman just blinked kind of unsure if she was to understand what those three said, she didn’t have a translator, or a Pokémon coworker that spoke english.

“A cheesecake, blackberry, maple nut and blueberry soft serves.” I noted off to the woman. She jotted them down be then looked back me again, she looked at me with a curious look leaning over side to side trying to get a better angle of...something.

“Man, those translators get smaller and smaller…” She trailed off as she looked for a few seconds more. I of course was visibly confused by this statement. It also confirmed that floating question, of which I’ve been forgetting to look up.

“Wat.” I replied still perplexed. The gingie caught on to the confusion with her own.

“Are you not using one?”

“Nooo?”

“Wait! I know, you're one of those trainers who’s really intune with their pokémon!” The woman blurted with a sudden epiphany. That’s a thing? I thought, but as soon as I mulled over it for a few seconds. It made some sense, though, my perfect translation between call to speech didn’t add up from that. My expression showed my thinking of this of which coming quickly to a silent agreement nodding.

“I knew it!” She said excitedly doing a little shifting dance then went back to business and headed back deeper in the little shop.

Iiii’mm just gonna run with it. I thought while digging out my wallet. Soon we were at one of the little tables with an umbrella enjoying our delightful treats. All three of the first evo’s utterly adored the soft serves. I noticed movement down the street over to my eleven as I ate my chilled little dessert, it was that Iggy guy from earlier running over here. Multiple thoughts were running through my mind as he ran over to my direction. And oh, he was eyeballing me with a certain ire. I wonder if he figured it out. As I thought this I was starting to tense up a bit.

As he finally reached twenty feet from me, he was hunched over hands on knees trying to catch his breath. Me and my girls were watching him as he breathed raggedly, it was a moment before he pointed a finger at me. “You!” Iggy said loudly before taking a few more lungfuls of air before righting himself. “You irresponsible cretin!” he continued accusingly.

I just stared at him with a surprised expression. “That’s a new one.” I thought outloud, it was a first being called that. I’ve been called multiple things. I’ve never been called irresponsible, I’ve had my moments like everyone. A cretin however, I heard that one rarely let alone called it.

“You could of seriously injured me and my friend on the way here!” Iggy continued vexed. “It was incredibly irresponsible and could of possibly threatened our lives!”

Okay, I’m not dealing with this shit today. I thought with furrowed brows. “Calm your fucking tits!” I replied seeing he was about to get more into it, rather effectively shutting him up. “If I was going to be irresponsible, it would've been muuuuch worse! And I made quite sure I wasn’t going feckin’ hit you!” I added, unconsciously going slightly scottish at the end.

“Irregardless it’s-”

“But did you die!?” I pulling up my inner Chow from The Hangover, with a head tilt and wide eyes. Now waiting for his answer. My trio were looking amongst themselves, unsure how to go about this.

It took him a moment to process as if it was the most stunning thing he’s been retorted with. His friend finally came, though a little worse for wear. “Oh god...oh god...I feel like I’m gonna die…” Cailie said between ragged breaths, hobbling over to a nearby table. “Since when...can you...run like that, Iggy?”

I just looked at her with a sort of judging look. You look more fit them him!

“Someone’s not keeping up on leg day.” Psycho remarked as the poor girl was catching her breath. With amazed timing, she looked over to me, seemingly hearing the jab. “Hey, you're the guy at the noodle shop...”

“You're friend is going a little apeshit here.” I reply to her rather casually.

“Yeah...he gets like that sometimes.” It was now that the agitated Iggy comes back into reality.

“We’re battling. Now.” He said as he held up a Pokéball, just then the lady in the shop popped her head out.

“Ooooh no, you're battling somewhere else. I’m behind on insurance and if you break my shop, it’s your little ass.” She said rightly vexed with a pointing finger. I’d be pissed too if some kids decided to be dickheads and had a battle in front of my shop and damaged it.

“You heard her.” I added nodding to the woman.

“Alright not here, but we are battling!” I just rolled my eyes.

I sat up from leaning my back against the table and turned to look at my pokémon. “You girls want to fight today?” I ask them, I couldn’t see it but Iggy was giving an odd look as I practically ignored him.

They all thought about it. Glanced at the guy behind me, looked at each other and their half eaten soft serves. Then nodded to each other. Nesia, held up her soft serve rather cutely. “Snivy.” [After this.] I gave her the ‘Alright’ nod. I turned around.

“After their soft serves.” I say, in which Iggy gave me a dumb look.

Then I noticed Cailie staring at me. “Oh what, you want after?” I ask sort of irritatedly.

“You're not using a translator.” She said in a sort of disbelieving manner.

I just gave her a deadpan look. “And that’s an issue how? If one had half the mind to pay attention, pokémon tend to get their point across fairly well.” I know I’m being a dick right now, but this is really interfering with mission three. I just want to destress from the major ‘oh shit!’ moment earlier...

“Well...I mean yeah, point taken, but you didn’t need to be snippy about.” Cailie replied a little miffed. Shortly thereafter, once everybody is done I look at Iggy who’s been waiting impatiently.

“Sooo, where the hell do you wanna do this?” I ask sort of casually.

“There’s a park nearby with an area we can battle.” Iggy informed me. I pull up a map on my p.g. and lo and behold, there is one, a couple blocks away. Illiem park. Interesting name, decently sized. I stand up and turn around. “Alright girls, load up.” Nesia of course is the first one on my shoulders. I picked up Keldra and Elora hopped off the table and hurried up onto the ATV.

“Meet ya there cupcake.” I say cheekily as I walk past him, he looks at me flustered, not really knowing how to reply to that while his friend snickered. And before you know it, I was off to the park. Iggy struggled to call after me, all the while I chuckled at the attempt. Now, I could be a real dick and just take an alternate route back to the center, but the girls wanted to have a battle. So, I’m having to somewhat play nice. And I think they’ve been wanting to try their new moves I helped concoct. And to be candid to the fact, I want to see how effective they’ll be for this encounter. And like Vlad has talked about, I want to see those priceless faces.

“Still wanting what he’s riding on.” Cailie said admiringly, she could see how it’d make traveling so much faster, and a lot less leg work. Iggy was just grumbling as he marched his way to the park, Cailie falling in step a moment later. “I wonder what kind of Pokégear that is…” Cailie said to herself, trailing off into thought.

Once at the park, I followed my own protocol with my one and only ride and we began walking to the area intended. Hm, more plant life then I’ve seen of parks normally. I remarked on the larger variation of greenery, walking around I noticed it seemed similar to a forest, kind of like central park in New York. Of course not anywhere as big.

For once I was kind of enjoying a walk, Nesia’s tail was lightly swinging back and forth on my back, bathing in the sun, the sensation was honestly comforting. Elora, who wasn’t on my left shoulder for once, was happily trotting along beside me. Not long after, I found a light smile crossing my face. This is kinda nice. I thought pleasantly as I kept looking for the supposed battle area. As I kept looking on my impromptu stroll through the park, I spot the place past some trees. Once there I look at the ‘battle grounds’ with a placid, bordering indifferent gaze. It unimpressively looked exactly like the ones on the show. I imagined some deviation besides a bench by each side. I did a minor double take as I zeroed in on a small pool of blood soaked dirt. My gazed hardened upon looking at it, it didn’t look old, an hour or two at most. I had my girls wait on the bench, I wanted to take a closer look, and look I did as I came and knelt next to the small patch of bloodied dirt. I could smell the pungent scent of iron from nearing it, it excited a dark side of my mind, Psycho included as I heard his pleasured shudder. What this did elicit however, was anger. My girls coming into mind, what little of the manga I’ve seen. And then multiple...bloodied images, vividly splaying over my mind.

None shall die within my charge… I gazed at the distance, ire displaying on my visage. I stood up, looking back down with narrow eyes, a cross of hate and minor disgust.

“One would think they’d do some cleaning to keep it a little less...unsightly?” Vlad said, not amused by this like I was.

“Pfahahah!” Psycho laughed. “I’m betting you right now! They just sweep some dirt over it and just call it good! Oh I can see the health code violations with disease control!”

Oh don’t even get me started with the diseases that could be. God I hope aids isn’t a thing in this reality...let alone something even more malicious.

“Oh like the one where you bleed from every orifice?” Psycho added.

“Oh god, I just remembered the one with the constantly growing skeletal structure that effectively mummifies you…”

Vlad, you're not helping. I thought irritatedly as I walked back. Neisa and Elora saw my disgruntled expression, and they gave me a wondering gaze as I came and sat at the bench with a quiet sigh. The two wormed their way from under my arms and laid their little upper bodies on my chest with a note of worry in their eyes, whatever feelings I had for the blood melted away as did my expression. My changed expression was almost rueful as I warmly smiled at the two, affectionately rubbing their heads. “I’m good now.” They began smiling at me again as I smiled back at them. I then saw movement in the distance of my upper peripheral vision, my eyes shifted to that movement to see Iggy and his friend Cailie, the girl was pointing at me for a moment as she conversed with the boy.

I watched them as I wondered what they were talking about. I knew for a fact it was about me, but what of me they conversed upon was my curiosity. “Alright you two, time to get off, they're here.” I tell the two little pokémon trying to comfort me. They complied while I got up, the trio in turn followed me to the field, I held a unfriendly look towards Iggy.

“Standard battle alright?” Iggy announced, expecting me to know the implications. Granted, I’ve been preoccupied with many other things to really get a full look through on standards. I saw he glanced red the red patch of dirt, raising a brow.

“Noticed it too?” I call out, he looked back at me. “If unnecessary harm is inflicted on my girls, I will reciprocate it.” I said with a dangerous edge. I can tell he wasn’t expecting the threat as he looked at me somewhat unnerved. Cailie was starting to look from Iggy and me somewhat nervously. I dug out my p.g. and brought up the big speaker option, a few seconds later I tossed out the vibrating device. The two trainers on the other side of the field watched with astonishment as the small device they earlier turned into two big speakers either side of me, one with a controller of some kind that had a skull resembling my coat with the teeth cascading over the controller.

The other speaker had a guy in weird in unfamiliar armor with a device he held in his right hand they had know idea, on the center of his chest was that same skull acting like a insignia. They were unsure as what this trainer is doing and how that device became speakers nearly as tall as the trainer with the hat.

“Who wants to go first?” I ask the trio, Nesia immediately hopped onto the field.

“Ssssniiii-vyyyy!!” [Brrriiiinnng-iiiit!!] Nesia said loudly with a more guttural voice. It made me smile a little sinisterly.

“Rock or bass?” I ask a little more excitedly as Iggy was still processing being kind of amazed by the device.

“Sni!” [Bass!]

“Wait…” Cailie thought aloud as she started to connect what the speakers were for. It was then dawning on her as the speakers flaired with sound. I started up with The Trickaz Hood Bodega. Iggy was then knocked out of his contemplation by the sound of music, though nothing he was familiar with, he then came back to the thought that he was supposed to battle. He scrambled for his pokéball, and tossed out a Sentret. He was starting to get a uneasy feeling, yet he didn’t know why.

“Seeeeentreeet!” [Leeeeet’s do thiiisss!] the male Sentret said excitedly.

“I’ll let you start it off.” Iggy announce, satisfying his own courtesy. Though Cailie was questioning the state of her friend’s mind.

“Heheh, dumbass.” I amusedly chuckled quietly with the music drowning me voice for that moment. Neisa also grinned, having the same Idea. Just as soon as the beat started to hit. I announced about the only move I needed before she took over. “Iron broadside.”

Nesia disappeared and reappeared in front of the Sentret as she was in mid swing, giving the Sentret no time to block or dodge. He was sent flying to the left of the field, tumbling a good six times. We all saw the face of surprise and terror on the poor Sentret’s face as he clutched his side. He wasn’t expecting anything like this, nor was Iggy for that manner. Cailie had a slack jawed look and I had those glorious faces on video.

“Albont, quick attack!” Iggy ordered hastily, Albont got up with substantial difficulty and then darted towards Nesia, she in turn spun over Albont when he got close, as he past, Nesia sent a vine latching onto his tail. Whiplashing the poor thing back to Nesia as she spun in the other direction because of the pull and bringing an iron tail crashing down on his head, he hit the ground so hard he actually bounced. But that little grass snake didn’t give him a chance to land as she launched an energy ball into his back, effectively knocking out Albont. The two trainers stared at the scene in disbelief.

“Can he do that…?” Cailie asked shocked.

“No...he can’t…” Iggy said equally shocked, trying to remember his studies.

I managed to catch this. “What can I say! I don’t like hampering good battle instincts!” I say with a somewhat disturbed smile with arms outstretched to my sides. “And I’m quite sure I’m in the realm of doability!” I added with a notable confidence and vigor. “So if you please, neeext!” Iggy was realizing that uneasiness now.

“Haahahahahaha!! What did I tell you!” Vlad commented, very much enjoying himself while laughing more.

Psycho mock gasped. “Priceless!” He also mock whispered reenacting a moment from the Hot And Fluffy Special. Oh the three of us were very much enjoying ourselves. “Come on, cupcake. Let’s see what else you got.” I call out with a grin of amusement.

Oh, he was getting annoyed now. “Come on Iggy. You go got this!” Cailie said, trying to be encouraging. However, she was just trying to be nice. She knew the guy in the grayish black skull coat was going to wipe the floor with him...just by the first battle. Skull coat guy had a scary Snivy. “Oh god, if that Snivy scary now...what’s it going to be like when it’s a Serperior…” Cailie thought almost fearfully.

Next out was a Chespin, this time Iggy took the Initiative. “Use rollout then bite!” Seriously, this calling out what you're doing kind of murders the surprise of what’s next. I thought amusedly and annoyed at the same time. I just smiled with a sort of dark amusement. “And again.” I said mostly to myself, not caring to talk over the music. This time around, when the Chespin came barreling towards Nesia, she chose to stand where she was. Waiting for a good moment to try something, she deftly swung her metal covered tail upwards, just as the Chespin made the next roll. The Chespin in the next instant, smashed it’s face against the metal flat side of her tail, and with the followthru of Nesia’s swing, the Chespin was flipping head over tea kettle backwards. Nesia had a victorious grin on her face, ecstatic that her idea worked.

Everyone winced at the impact as I did the ‘Oh ouch’ face. That was going to be one hell of a concussion if not some brain damage. And a whole lotta ow with it. After a good five seconds of tumbling, the Chespin laid their in a heap, foot doing a comical twitch. I struggled not to show I was chuckling as I had my lips pressed into a line.

“You got knocked the fuck out man!” Psycho said, pulling up the voice of Chris Tucker.

“Man that’s gonna leave a mark.” Elora commented, kind of feeling sorry for the Chespin.

Nesia turned to me with a smile filled with pride with little arms stretched up high, doing a little victory pose. “Snivy sni!” [I’m a badass!]

I couldn’t help but agree. “Damn right you are!” Miraculously, that Chespin was more tenacious then everyone thought. Which surprised me personally, seeing the poor bugger sort of swaying as it stands back up. Iggy quite understandably looks worried for the Chespin. “Back up and ready to rattle some more brain cells?” I call out, Nesia spun around in a low and ready stance. Iggy’s Chespin however was trying to get the world to stop spinning while vigorously shaking it’s head. It’s been whacked in the face before, but it really felt this one, and it’s nose hurt too.

“You okay Ches?” Iggy called to the Chespin with concern. Chespin waved him off. Chespin was getting mad, then it let out a pin missile without warning to the dismay of Iggy.

Nesia to her credit sort of surprised by the speed of the little glowing projectiles, hopping and diving out of the way, till she had a random Idea. She brought her tail in front of her while using another iron tail, and blocked the shots of pin missile. Moving her tail to and fro blocking the harmful projectiles. This understandably baffled Iggy and Cailie since they never heard anyone coming up with that, let alone a Pokémon on the spot. I however was delightfully surprised as Elora and Keldra were cheering Nesia on.

“Oh fuck yeah!” I said delightedly, this opened a whole new door of combat potencial, introducing an impromptu shield that seemed rather effective. I then wondered how well this’ll work in later evolutions, my excited grin grew more.

As soon as the Chespin was done, Nesia quickly formed an energy ball, and speedily tossed it up into the air and swiftly jumping after it. She wished she could get more what her trainer called momentum while doing this, but she’ll manage as she somersaults with as much speed as she could muster. And whacked that ball of green energy back down, enacting the Air Strike. The energy ball hurdled straight into Chespin’s gut, planting it right into the ground and this time out for the count.

I was standing there with a open delighted mad grin. This was going more than splendidly, and Nesia couldn’t agree more. “Hahahahahahaaa! Yeees!”

“I’d like to see Ash compete with this shit hahahah! Oh his ass will be handed to him on a fucking silver platter!” Psycho added, very much enjoying the show.

Iggy was seeing just how out of his league he was, first this guy was protective of his pokémon for fear of them getting really hurt. But Iggy was the one almost terrified for his pokémon, he’s seen a great many pokémon battles over the years. He thought this guy was still starting out like him and his friend, yeah it seemed he was richer. But he didn’t expect his pokémon to be strong as they were. Hell he didn’t even know how well the other two would do since he was getting his ass handed to him, two in a row he hasn't landed a hit! Cailie however was impressed how strong the Snivy was, and how it fought, it’s nothing like she’s ever seen! She even briefly entertained the Idea of battling after Iggy, she wasn’t too hopeful of beating the guy in the skull coat. She just wanted to see how well she’ll do. And see where she can get that thing he’s riding around on.

“Round three!” I announced in my best mortal kombat announcer voice. A moment later I start up the next song The Prodigy’s Omen. “Wanna continue Nesi?” I ask the grass type, I know she’s on a streak, and I’m all for letting her go on. But I’m sure the other two want in on this too. Nesia thought about it for a moment, as she thought about this, I noticed Iggy threw out a Sliggoo. “Sllligggoooo.” [Ooo baaattllle.] Said the rather laid back sounding female Sliggoo.

“Hold it.” I said flatly without looking, arm held out for the stop gesture. Nesia looked me for confused. “You're good.” I assured looking at her. So, she went back to debating with herself.

“Are you always like this with your pokémon?” I hear Cailie ask curiously. I glance to her with a raised brow.

“Yeah?” I reply almost like this should be common knowledge, she stared at me for a moment. “What? I take my girls thoughts in consideration. Don’t most trainers?” Though, it’s kind of a crock of shit to call myself a trainer in my opinion. For several reasons.

“Not a lot I’ve seen.” Cailie said honestly, though she showed a smile after. It seemed endearing to her the way I treated my pokémon.

“Snivy sni snivy.” [I can be done for now.] Nesia said with a smile, she’s had fun. She then began walking back over to me, as she did so I turned on the spot to the other two. Both Elora and Keldra were eagerly awaiting my decision between them. “Elora, you're up.” Elora gave a big smile to me while Keldra frowned with slumped shoulders. The two looked at eachother, upon doing so. Elora the cheeky thing she was, playfully stuck her tongue out at Keldra before she melted into a puddle of shadow, I turn back around as the puddle zips passed me and on the field, a second later Elora pops up from the small pool of darkness, landing with a playful grin.

“This is gonna be fun.” Elora spoke, she was so eager to get a real fight of another trainer’s pokémon. Then she had a thought. “Oh! Hey master Will! Use something from your killing slash gaming playlist!”

Alright then. I thought, I quickly searched for a song, and one caught my eye. “Are we good now?” Iggy asked a little impatient.

“Calm ya tits, just about done.” I reply almost nonshalontly. I could hear the irritated grunt from here. I hit play for the now current song, Railgun by Blue Stahli. The glorious sounds of metal guitar work really stroking at my inner metalhead. I could see it did the same for Elora as she got lower to the ground, and before Iggy and is dragon slug knew it Elora was in the air, raining hell from above with the smg move we’ve worked on. We got the shadow ball count up to four now, and holy shit does it show. Iggy desperately got his Sliggoo to dodge...to less effect than he’d hoped. By that, Sliggoo was getting pelted by the flurry of shadow balls, what I found interesting that Elora was keeping her distance, even with her ranged attack she liked getting into a melee. With that going on, I decided to take a quick search.

And what I found...disturbed and somewhat terrified me. Mucus acid… That’s nightmare fuel if ever I’ve thought it. My face showed my reaction as I read about Sliggoo. I very quickly understood why Elora wasn’t going near the damn thing. By the time I was done, Elora was done raining death on the Sliggoo. It was barely ‘standing’, but stand it did.

“Sllliiiig…” [Oooowwww…] Was the only thing Sliggoo said before being ordered to use a toxic just seconds later, Sliggoo then reared her head back before she spat out a baneful loogie tinged in purple, hurtling towards Elora who in turn dodged it with her little shadow form. In doing so, it sailed over her and to my way. “Oh fuck!” I panicked as I jumped to the side almost reflexively. Though as it seems...that was unneeded. Courtesy of Keldra with the barrier like earlier today. “And that’s twice you’ve saved my ass like that today.” I said in a grateful tone to the overpowered Ralts, while I watched the sludge slowly ooze down before sloping onto the ground.

“Ral ralts.” [You're welcome.] Keldra said with a calm demeanor, letting her arm drop to her side. She was kind of cutting it close, but her trainer didn’t need to know that. She really needed to work on that move though, it was good now but she felt it could be better.

And with a sort of crazed smile that was crossed with annoyance, I glared back at Iggy while tilting my head to left a little. “I suggest practising you're aim mate!” I said loud and clear, my agitation by this known. With this, Elora herself looked annoyed. Her trainer almost got hit by that caustic crap, and she wasn’t gonna have it, and with that she melted into shadows again and darted over to the Sliggoo, however. Midway, that moving puddle split in two and sped off to both sides of the acid slug.

Iggy called out for a Dragon Breath, since Sliggoo couldn’t see, and in this case hear or smell Elora. She just spat out the move where ever. Good try as it was, it ultimately missed...horribly. And both Elora and her glorified shadow clone lept out of their pools of darkness and slashed at Sliggoo’s sides while sailing over the almost terrible creature and plunged back into the dark form they traveled. And with a cry of pain, Sliggoo’s head leaned to the side and plopped onto the ground.

Iggy, for his part, was shaking. He’s heard stronger than average starting pokémon cropping up occasionally. But this, this was unreal. Insane even, from the beginning he had no chance, and he finally figured that out before his final pokémon was downed. He watched as the guy praised the two of his pokemon that battled, he wondered what he had to do to get those pokémon. Iggy truly wondered how the guy with the skull coat caught them.

“Alright! For kicking ass so well, we’ll have another round of soft serves. How’s that sound?” I asked the trio with a delighted smile while kneeling, the three cheered at the prospect of more of the frozen creamy sweet. I looked over Keldra seeing her cheering a little half heartedly. “I know you didn’t get to have a turn this time, but next fight you’ll be runner up. Sound good?” I reasoned with the Ralts trying to cheer her up. She looked at me smiling then reaching a little fist to me, I gave her a light fist bump with a smile. “Alrighty then!”

As I stood up, I saw Iggy on his knees with a lost look. I take it he’s never had his ass handed to him so hard. I thought amusedly then mentally chuckling. My face of course didn’t portray this thought. I watched a moment as his friend was consoling him, getting a dejected nod here and there. With that, I turned off speaker mode and left back to the direction to the shop I forgot the name of. A minute and a half of walking out, I heard footsteps indicating someone fast walking, I had a feeling it was one of the two. So in the next step, I turned on the balls of my feet and faced who it was. It was Cailie interestingly enough.

“Um...hi.” She greeted sort of sheepishly. I in turn replied with a raised brow on a neutral yet curious expression, my girls were giving her a sort of stink eye however.

“I uh, really wanted to know how you found your pokémon. And if you had any tips on finding any pokémon like them.” Cailie asked slowly getting the energy she had earlier.

“Oh I got one f-” Psycho began before I shot him down.

Shut it. I had an amused look now. “It’s more they found me, and I got none.” I replied sort of bluntly.

“What really? You just happened upon them then?”

“Pretty much.” I answer simply.

“The odds…” She said with a tone of shock and wide eyes. “I’m mean, their insane! And you found two shinies in addition of them being stupidly strong!”

I honestly felt a little pride even though it felt insanely coincidental with how I found them. Before I could say anything she asked me something else. “So um...could I have a chance at battling you?”

I gave her a deadpan look. “I know what I saw with Iggy, but. I just want to experience it, be in the moment of it, you know?” I then contemplated on being nice or not. With that contemplation, I looked to the first evo’s with a raised brow. Silently asking if they wanted to. They in turn looked at me. “Same reply as last time.” Elora said, she really wanted another serving. And this girl was delaying it which irked the little vixen.

“It doesn’t have to be today, tomorrow is good too.” Cailie added, I glanced up at her then back at my girls.

“Thoughts?” I ask casually. The three gave an agreement for tomorrow. I then looked back up at Cailie. “Tomorrow it is.” I gave her a casual two finger salute (not the british V) before turning back around made my merry way back down the path. Shortly I was back at the shop that had the wonderful name of Bangers. I was more pleased by the name than anything, mainly because of my delightfully dirty mind. Once I came up to the window, the woman from earlier came up. With a different smile as she leaned on the small tabletop behind the window.

“So. Did you beat him.” She asked, I just gave her a devilish smile. “Niiice.” She then said approvingly.