FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Luna and Thief Chapter 23: Onward to Cerulean City!

It was early in the morning when Griffin managed out a phone call. Very early, but he expressed to the transit employee the situation and they permitted him to take the bus from Vermillion to Cerulean. It felt like he got a lucky break and he'd let out a little sigh, they mentioned he could take it at any given time. Griffin just checked his badge case, the one for Kanto. Boulder... Cascade... Thunder... Marsh... Well, I guess I need to retake the Cascade badge... But we'll all go for the Rainbow Badge at Celadon City after. Griffin double checked his phone He had Brad's number, Natasha's number... Even Melody's number. He'd look around the room... just for tonight they got an actual motel room. Well, two rooms more accurately. Brad casually slept through and through the phone call and Griffin took a moment to look outside. It was overcast - but sporadic. It looked like it could rain again throughout the day and that made Griffin feel a little glad he was talking the bus instead. He'd give a little scan around the room again and then checked his Pokeball belt. The sterling gold button... wasn't blinking anymore? He'd give a little glance again, first at Luna - the Vulpix had slept on the bed that night... She looked to peaceful to wake up and move her. In fact... She slept all the time he had carried her. From the gym, to the Pokemon Center and back to this little cheap motel they found nearby. Griffin looked at his bag; where Bandit and Shadow slept around it. It was like he stared at two guard dogs that surrounded a gate. Then there was Marill and Scarf that slept on Absol, or against her - but she did have thicker fur then all of them... it was a cold room. Cold enough now that Griffin could nearly see his breath. No wonder the motel was so cheap... But he'd then catch eyes with Moonlight, the Espeon just curled up with that scarf over his nose, a faint little aura covered it. Even in his sleep that Espeon was using protect... Yet he used Griff's black and green jacket as a blanket and he just let him. The Espeon was exhausted, oddly enough... but he was right under the window where the morning sunlight pierced through the curtains. It illuminated his fur and left it to glow tenderly. In the silence Griffin could hear his phone buzz obnoxiously in his pocket. He just got off the phone... This had already turned into an oddly chaotic morning and Griffin answered it with a weird yawn. "Hello?" He'd say "Sorry, sorry it's still early." There was a touch of static... a hushed voice... It woke Griffin right up as he took the phone away from his ear.

The number, the caller ID told him it was Akiyama. "Hey Griffin..." He'd mention with this weird sound. "What's wrong? Wait... let me leave the room." Griffin went for the door quietly, opened it and closed it as silently as he could. It clicked as he made his way down the hallway. Akiyama didn't say a word. "Hello?" Griffin asked as Akiyama slowly replied. "Yeah, yeah... I'm right here. So, the servers are back up but... we have a problem." Griffin nodded "I noticed that the Pokeballs stopped blinking like they were before." Ayumu nodded "Yeah... Griffin. We... can't find Thief." He'd freeze in spot. Just pointlessly in the middle of the hallway... "On top of that... he got injured down here, a Pokemon attacked the daycare. We have some territory issues with wild types sometimes. We set his paw..." "Wait, what? Set it? He broke it!? What the hell?" Ayumu stuttered for a moment "L - Look, we have everyone looking for him and another Pokemon we think he left with." Akiyama mentioned as Griffin swallowed... already his throat was dry like the night before. "Hey, I'll go down there myself! You guys are like what? Between Kanto and Johto right? I'll just take the bus to Route one and have a look." Ayumu made a noise "No, no! It's fine, we have plenty of Pokemon searching already. They both couldn't have gone far at all." "How did he leave!?" Akiyama swallowed "There's a number of ways, we're thinking they just went out to explore. Some of the Pokemon love doing that. We're still in the middle of looking." Griffin tapped his foot against the ground. "This isn't making sense, he was only down there for like what? Four hours? Five hours? The whole night!? When did he leave!?" "Late last night. There's nothing to worry about Griff, we have everyone having a look." He'd mention. "Oh... right. I got a hold of a friend down in Hoenn, he just went to check up on Logan. Said he'd call me back the very second, he sees him. He's fine, I know they both are." Ayumu mentioned but it didn't sound as confident as Griffin had hoped. "I'll continue to work on all of it, but your Pokeballs are completely ready to go. The moment Shadow and Marill go back, it'll send them to Logan." He'd comment "I'm sorry for the bad news, Griffin, I'll head back to helping out the search. Try not to worry too much about it, any chance I get, I'll fill you in." The phone clicked. It clicked in a way that felt as though Griffin's heart dropped to the floor. Fractured in a way that he just stared aimlessly at the minute-long phone call... He just stared at his phone log. What...? Thief what the hell did you do? What the hell is going on? Griffin nearly stumbled back into the room and he couldn't find himself feeling any better from the anxiety that wracked through his body. His whole spine crawled... his body felt pale and white - he just went into the washroom and raggedly breathed. _I feel... all the wrong drunk now... I'm going to hurl... I know I am. Don't worry about it!? How the hell can't I?_Griffin felt his stomach churn and he just shut his eyes. He let the darkness slither over them for a second. _Where did you go? Why did you go? Thief?_Griffin stared down himself in the mirror as though to size up the average height and slightly bulky young man in front of him. As though to challenge a stranger that stood in his way. Griffin just had a look at him, just studied his face... He was unshaven, messy... He'd sigh and climbed into the shower there after undressing. His hand fumbled against the tap... and then he'd turn over the water. It started out cold, frigid - he just climbed in regardless and let the frosted water pelt down his back and hair. The frost took his breath away and eventually settled into a pleasantly warm rain which soothed the hairs all over his back. The way how he'd run his hand along the back of his neck... through his hair like he always did. He'd exhale as though weight was taken from his chest... as though he could breathe clearly for a minute.

He'd take a few deep breaths to calm down. Grabbed a bottle of shampoo that Brad had out. Or at least he though he grabbed the right one. It took him a second to read the label. For thick and tangled fur. Non-scented. This is!? Right... We unpacked a bunch of stuff, I grabbed that bottle Luna took from the shelf at the market. Just a pointless bottle of Pokemon Shampoo... One that left him to stare curiously at the bottle, look over the label... before he'd put it down and grab a normal bottle. He'd lather it in his hair, run his fingers through it... Feel the suds run through his hair and down his back - the water dropped his thick hair, straightened it out from it's coiled and tangled mess. Then soap, body wash. Conditioner and drying himself all while tapping on the fan. Brad and himself had set themselves up last night - even with clothes set up on the counter. He'd just stared at the fogged-up mirror. A hazy image that reminded him of... everyone. Then he'd go into a small bag, take out a razor... just another sign, he wasn't that kid... He wasn't that kid that hung around the video phone every day. Waiting for Logan to call after he was done school. The kid that would be roped into long conversations with the rest of his family overseas. The kid that pointlessly watched shows on TV or played games and was eventually dragged outside by his cousin every single day he was there. He'd sloppily run over shaving cream. A little too much? Way too much? He couldn't tell... He didn't know. Griffin gently turned on the tap, ran the razor over the hairs on his face. Got rid of some shadow that clung along the sides of his chin - his cheeks, under his nose. He might be able to grow something out one day that didn't look as scruffy as it did. A gentle sigh... and the door opened. "H - Hey Brad I'm in here!?" Griffin commented, and he tossed out a laugh. "Oh my god... Griffin! That's way too much shaving cream dude." Griffin had the towel wrapped around his waist "G - Get out of here! Why are you up!?" He'd retort, and Brad rolled his eyes "Water woke me up..." Griffin seemed to shrug, and Brad chuckled a little more. "Did you just... spray it on your face or...?" Brad went wide eyed and shut the door as Griffin tossed the small bag that used to have his razor in it. "G - Get out of the bathroom!" He'd say, embarrassed and looked at his face in the mirror. It... was pretty funny. Like a cloud that got stuck on his entire jaw. He had already run the razor under his chin which made the fuzzy cloud of suds split apart. Griffin found himself stifling a chuckle. He heard a sigh on the other side of the door that led to a little laugh. It was cut short as Griffin gently ran the blades through his wiry weird light facial hair. Something tapped it - like the back of his head. "You know... Griff." Brad started to say. "I don't mean to pry... or anything... but." He sounded uncomfortable and Griffin looked at the door now. "Sorry... I'm guess I'm bad with serious conversations. I tend to avoid them... or at least try to." Brad mentioned, and Griffin ran the razor under the tap again. It was just a cheap little razor with disposable heads. There was some brand name, but it didn't matter much to him. "I... guess I got a little worried when you walked off yesterday. A little more then I should maybe? No... that feels wrong to say." Brad spoke through the door and Griffin just silently listened to him... before... "No no, I was being a bit of a jerk I guess." He'd mention, stoic... straight forward. Another façade? It seemed that way. "Something is... bothering you. I watched you talk to that gym hand earlier. During the whole thing and... Well..." Griffin shrugged and held his breath for just a second. "My mother got in an accident. A long time ago." Griffin mentioned. "Just dumb things that happen in a small town I guess." "You... want to talk? It seems to be bugging you a whole lot." Griffin crossed the razor against his cheek. Held it with the other finger tips on his free hand. "... Not, really. Personally... no." Griffin replied and listened to the water run. He'd just listen as Brad leaned against the wall beside the door. He knew that's what Brad was doing because the wall creaked with the weight. "I know... we haven't been friends for a long time now. We barely really know much about each other. Other then I guess video games. The whole adventure... Some favorite movies. A few comics, books..." Brad mentioned. "I guess what I'm trying to say, man... you're not... a loner." Griffin went a little quiet. "I'm sorry if I'm being too blunt. But you're not. You have friends, with you here. So, if you ever want to talk, I'll listen. Just like we all did with Melody... I'll listen too, Griffin." He'd feel a gulp touch his throat as he tried the razor across it again... He just fell silent... like a statue that just stared down a stranger in a mirror. Griffin heard the wall creak and said.

"Thanks... Brad. I just got to figure this shaving thing out." Brad seemed to nod, or Griffin assumed he did - he usually did things like that when they talked. "Go against the grain, it gives you a closer shave. And next time lather the shaving cream in your hands bud, then put it on your face. You've seen a barber do it in movies right? It's really no different. Try not to knick yourself either, that always happens to me." Brad chuckled. "You'll look less like a mall Santa that way." Griffin coughed and laughed a little "That's exactly what I looked like right?" Brad laughed quietly "Yeah it was! Imagine if Natasha or Melody saw that! They'd never let you live THAT down." They both shared another laugh and Brad gave a little tap on the door. "You know... I may have been that big sporty jock guy I guess... I know I was that guy. But I've never had a problem with any of the quiet guys. The ones that just get left out... A lot of them have too much going on and no one to turn to. It's always made me feel like crap really, just... ignoring them. Deciding to talk to someone... That was the best... thing... I've ever done with my life..." Brad trailed off and Griffin glanced at the doorway again as he heard his footsteps fade off. Griffin didn't even get a response in... and just stared at the door. Stared and waited silently before he'd try what Brad said. It went fine until Griffin finally knicked himself with the razor at the end. A little cut in the grove of his chin. He felt all around better and looked at the change of clothes he left out for himself. He was just thankful he didn't get any water on the counter. He'd change into a new pair. Cargo's this time. Cargo pants, this plain beige kind and a black T-shirt with this simple jacket over top. He'd have to wash his normal outfit... dark blue jeans with his black light-weight jacket that had these wonderful streaks of neon green that ran down the arms and those specks of green dots that made a pattern. It was this nylon jacket that he bought when they went down to Mexico years ago. One that his family purposely got him... an adult medium size. It never fit him when he was a kid, but it certainly did now. The only other jacket he had was the one he tossed on now. White and black with grey. It was fluffy in the hood... perfect for colder than average weather. For frozen... he'd just bundle up with plenty. But he only had the two outfits and a muscle shirt. Griffin got out of the washroom after he took a paper towel to dap at the cut. "Your turn Brad" He'd mention as Brad aimlessly skimmed through his phone and looked at him "Sure thing! Hopefully we don't take ALL the hot water." He'd say "But... I've been looking forward to a nice shower..." He'd mention nod and walk to the washroom. Griffin nodded back at him and went to sit down on the bed. Brads phone... The screen was still on. The light plastered on the dark corner of the room where his bed was. Aura was surprisingly still asleep - he honestly let her... sleep on the bed with him? He did that back at Maiden's peak too. But there was plenty of room here. Griffin curiously walked over to the blue hum of the screen that aimlessly stared at the roof. Brad... had spent his time... looking at pictures. Pictures of himself when he was younger... and a boy his age. Where they both had tossed their arms over each other's shoulders while they wore a jersey on a sports field. Griffin took a close look at the picture as his back slumped gently. He'd just curiously stare at it. This picture... was taken years ago... in America. The billboard behind them, in the background... it's in English - it must be. Griffin just stared at the run down and broken in fence behind them. The tatter of graffiti, the mess of the billboard. Everything. Griffin just stared at everything. Just two kids... that lived in a bad neighborhood... Just two kids that spent most of the school year away from one another and only met during the summer.

The water had already turned on a while ago as Griffin felt his curiosity get the better of him. He felt something crawl on his back and turned the screen forward. Another picture of them at a mall. Another at a school yard. Another at some early school graduation... Another at a birthday party... The water had kept on strong. Griffin flipped the screen and his face went red. Nope... that's not... safe for work. Where'd you get THAT picture!? Jesus... Well he's straight... Griffin swallowed to himself I'm going to go back... and act like I never just saw all that. He'd think to himself and blink a few times. Then Griffin skimmed through his own gallery. Why keep porn on your phone? I don't do that! I don't even really... look... at it. Was that a model? It looked like one... He'd think to himself, shook his head and went to sit down on his bed. Griffin just stared pointlessly at the ceiling from there and glanced at his phone. Someone texted him back. It was someone Griffin knew back home. They were just sending him the best of luck and Griffin replied to them about how close the gym battle was. Griffin tapped the screen... and found himself sending a long text, asking about how things were, how they were... if the Pokemon there were still rowdy as ever. Griffin knew of this one that hunted like a Mightyena. They were like thin-furred kind. Smaller... faster. They resembled a Lycanroc but had larger ears and knew some rock-type moves too. Then there was one that directly resembled a Lycanroc more than a Mightyena. Tall and thin... able to see over the tall grass and stalks of farmland. Like a weird fox on stilts. They knew all sorts of fire type moves and thunder type moves. Terrible against ground Pokemon and Ice types though, which was always a little weird. He never really knew if they were regional variants or not. He was just too young to know. Griffin asked all sorts of questions and they got back to him quickly. Mentioned about how they still tore up the farms - pestered livestock and did plenty of other things. Then they talked about soccer, the Pokemon League expanding further down there... and how they'd watch the international event battles on TV. They just replied with endless answers to pointless questions... until they asked if they'd be down there this year. Griffin replied... that he didn't think they would. He apologized after sending that text and express that he still missed them all... Then they'd send one more text that Griffin read over. He read over it a few times. He could only agree with it... But that was something for another time, as the water turned off in the bathroom and Brad stepped out after a while. Griffin looked at his phone. It was untouched, he put it back to the same picture and the screen was off. Brad never suspected a thing about it. He'd just stretch and yawn.

"So... you're headed back to Cerulean right? Think you'll get to Celadon before us?" Griffin nodded "Yeah, I should. The transit committee said I could take the bus there too." Brad nodded "Nice... that's hard to get permission for. Trainers are supposed to travel by foot most of the time. To you know... train?" He smiled to his own joke. "I guess it does make sense though, especially when people need to get to work, sometimes on opposite sides of the region." Griffin replied with a nod. "Yeah it definitely does, imagine all the traffic with trainers.... You know it sucks that the head in that shower isn't a diverted one... you know, a handheld. I would've given Luna a cleaning too." Griffin mentioned and looked at her. The Vulpix was still fast asleep. Everyone was, or it seemed that way. "If you're not too tired, we should grab breakfast before I leave. Just a quick one even. Coffee maybe?" Griffin laughed a little. A hushed and kind laugh. Brad grinned in reply and stretched his arms out with a yawn. "Yeah..." He'd say and covered his mouth "I'm still exhausted too... so coffee will help for sure! Let's just give it a bit, everyone is still asleep." Griffin nodded and checked his phone into the charger he plugged into the wall. It was this solar charge type - one that can be charged using sunlight or in the wall. He could connect his phone either way. It was perfect for hiking in the right conditions. Griffin then turned his head to his bag... Luckily I didn't leave my charger there. My phone is charged already... but he went to look at Brad for a moment, he already went back to his own phone. Just randomly and aimlessly looked at the screen. Clicked it, tapped it. Whatever people did with a smartphone now. Griffin just took his headphones. This cheap wired kind and plugged it into his phone. The silence left him to think about his Growlithe that was lost... god knows where. _I'll drown out my thoughts with music... or try to... instead of worrying about it when I can't do anything at all... Again... I can't do anything at all. _ It just got stuck in his head as he went through his music library and eventually landed on something that just helped him empty it all from his mind. He'd partially lie down on the bed horizontally and closed his eyes. He just let the music envelop him for a little while. Just to wash out all the negative thoughts... exactly how that shower did for just a bit. He knew every song loaded up on his phone. There was nothing else he did at school... except drown out all the bad things around him with songs that held unrealistic and empty promises about life... love... pain... and... friendship.

• Thief

Kept his nose buried against the grass as he followed a faint scent through the woods. Wuffles had talked all night last night about how she'd sing... and how she sang. About how she desired to leave towards Mount Lanakila. This felt much too sudden however. Thief fell asleep shortly after he talked to Dragonair... Fell asleep in a little foxhole dug on the beachside. When he woke up he couldn't find the Rockruff anywhere. Just her scent. His nose buried back into the grass as he'd sniff around pointlessly into the forest. Chitters and sounds fluttered all over him. Where did you go? Thief swallowed to himself as something flew overtop him. The bell around his neck chimed in the air as he went silent. His ears twitched to what he thought was a sound... and then it was all paws against the ground again. The Dragonair... somehow, she completely fixed his paw last night. It was completely healed... for no reason at all. Like... it never happened. Thief just pointlessly stared at his paw now. He gnawed the cast off the moment he had a chance. The fabric and whatever else would have been strewn somewhere around the beachside. Yet here... he felt as though his nose led him closer to the water and deeper into a forest he knew nothing of. A bright cheery forest that was filled with tall out-reached branches. Little sporadic shrubs... and Pokemon that aimlessly chittered about him. He'd just watch the tall outworldly trees and cross his eyes over at another bird that flicked from the tips, it solely enveloped itself within the tangle. Thief lost sight of it and went back to sniffing around the ground. I know you went this way... It makes no sense... Thief kept his nose buried in the grass as the wind swirled around in all different directions. He was never much of a tracker... he'd lose the scent repeatedly... all he knew was that he headed further and further into the forest around Route One and Three in Alola. It's like sniffing around for a berry right? Thief sneezed against a blade of grass and huffed with his ears pinned down. Where am I going!? Am I going in circles or what? Thief swallowed and stuck his nose to the ground again once the wind died down. There must be something more I can follow. I'll just find her and bring her home... The Growlithe dug his nose closer to the soil and desperately continued to sniff at the earth. The dirt tickled his nostrils as he'd huff against the earth and continue to follow the scent of a ghost that used to walk through there. The wind got caught in his ears and he'd flick his head up from the grass. There was a human in the field... with a Pikipek and a belt... A human!? No... a trainer? Thief ducked his head into the grass. "Hey... where'd it go?" He heard the young trainer say. "I was trying to use this thing..." "It was a Growlithe!" Was... that a robot? Thief couldn't tell... A pokedex? It had to be. This weird scratchy voice touched his ears... Something flapped against the air. "It'll be my third Pokemon! Let's catch it! Pikipek! Can you find it?" Thief just snuck back against the grass as something jingled.

He still wore that silly collar with a cute tiny bell on it. In some way... that would help him out in more ways with humans then he thought. The Pikipek landed on top of him and chirped. Her wings outspread. "Hey you found it! Right Pikipek! This is totally awesome!" The trainer said and ran over to see... A collared Growlithe. Thief just watched all the excitement disappear in an instant. The Growlithe tilted his head and gave off this mix between a curious whine and a growl. "It has a collar... Wait can I still catch it then?" The Pokedex chimed at the young boy. "Of course not! It'zt someone'zzt pet!" Thief just tilted his head at the weird Pokedex he stared at. It flew directly up to him... It FLEW!? Thief back pedaled his paws and landed on his rear. "W - What the?" It giggled? Wait... Thief gave it a curious sniff. "Y - You're... a..." "Rotom!" It finished his sentence for him as the young trainer glanced at the Growlithe. "Yeah, it's all cool and all that you're still a Pokemon in there... But do you have to say that to EVERY Pokemon we see?" Thief just coughed a little as the Pokedex glanced at him curiously. "It has tagzzt on the collar!" The Rotom expressed. "Tags?" The young trainer squatted down now to look at Thief's collar. "Like... Oh... It's like engraved. Or scratched in or something..." "It sayzzt call if lost..." The Rotom read out Griffin's number and the trainer looked at Thief closely. "I've entered the number into my memory!" "You can do that?" "And the Professor chose you..." It replied, in this near monotone sassy voice. It droned and hovered as the trainer still crouched down like... Makani did. Thief huffed. What's with the trainers out here? What does he mean by chose? Don't all trainers have a Pokedex? Griffin does... Brad does I think... Natasha definitely does... I don't think Melody has one. I mean... isn't that part of being a Pokemon trainer? "Well, what can I say! I'm the best trainer on any island!" He'd reply to the Pokedex! "I bet if he's lost we can help him find his owner! In fact, I'll call the number!" The young boy replied and went for his phone. Thief furrowed his eyes and gave a little look around. For a moment I thought it would SAVE me the trouble around people... Rotom is a Pokemon... right? So... Thief swallowed nervously and gave the Rotom a look. Thief used ember! And unexpectedly it crackled, just like he practiced! In the smoke, the yelp the confusion he bolted out from the grass and into the woods as the boy coughed. "W - what? Wait! That's the city!" He'd reply... "Or... the outskirts... at least." Thief kept running as the young trainer dialed the number... only to be met with a long-distance notification over the receiver. Who would call Japan from Alola anyways? Thief just bolted over small shrubs and bushes, turned and ran through any little spot that was clear for him. The forest got increasingly dense the further he went in... Soon he found himself in the center of the thicket, surrounded by alien plants and sounds that made him jump and jolt. For a moment the Growlithe caught his breath. He couldn't go back without Wuffles... not when she just ran off. Not the way she did. It felt wrong... Thief just had that creepy crawling feeling that shook throughout his lower back and his hips... the kind that told him, this wasn't something she would do. He started to sniff again, sniff the ground... sniff the air. Other then the sea and the mildew... Thief couldn't catch onto her scent again. He'd start to wander... aimlessly towards the ocean. He had to get out of the woods. "O - Ow? What was that?" Thief planted his rear and looked at his hind paw. "I stepped on something..." He'd mutter to himself and shook his head. It must've been a branch or a splinter... but he didn't feel anything after it. He just began to walk normally down the trail. Just... wandered to the ocean as the day slowly got hotter.

Thief pressed through the last clearing of the bushes that layered all around a glorious beachside. By now the wind swirled around him hotly and he'd give a dry little swallow. His nose sniffed all over the earth once more as he desperately tried to catch onto her scent again. There wasn't anything here either and that left him to pout. There's no way she made it across... the water, right? She even mentioned how there was a forest of Rockruffs nearby that mountain... Thief squinted against the sun that reflected from the sea. It was like a sterling beacon against the water, this rich glimmer of white silver and gold that touched his eyes. This beautiful trail of sandy ice that rested ahead of him. But it's impossible to swim that far! Did she... she must've run off to the city? There has to be a ferry... A boat. Why go that far though? Why... leave so suddenly? I don't understand..._Thief pushed his little paws into the earth and huffed as he'd stare out in the blistering heat. In moments he'd open his maw and let a current of icy-blue fire extinguish itself out. That cooled him down plenty and the Growlithe continued to wander against the beach side as something... peculiar stirred. He froze and turned around. There was nothing but sand. The earth was flat all around save for where it collected sporadically. As though the wind shaped the gold sands in all sorts of directions. They'd appear like tiny mounds that made Thief furrow his eyes. Then he'd turn away and continue to wander alongside the beach. His paws left plenty of tracks here... Something stirred again, and he'd snap his head back. _There's nothing...? I'm all alone out here but what keeps moving? Thief planted his rear end against the hot ground and sneezed gently to himself. Absolutely nothing moved or jolted, his tail pointlessly tapped the sands. Thief swallowed and started to make his way down the beach again. He heard it stir once more... so he picked up the pace. The noise got gradually louder and he felt his fur crawl as that Growlithe pushed his hind legs against the sand and began to bolt down the beach - he'd kick sand up everywhere as he did. It just stirred and crashed through the sands, as though to give chase. Thief made a quick half turn and spewed out a move on the ground. Fireblast crackled against the sand and sent large thick embers all around which exploded the area. His muzzle set out a trek of steam and smoke. There was... nothing behind him. Except... Is... that a... shovel? I'm being chased... by a shovel? It jolted at him and Thief took a bounce back... a stance. He'd let out a little plume of smoke that followed up with a cough. Did... I burn up too much earlier? The sand came alive and that made his paws go up. It was this pointless mound of hot sand that seemed to dig itself into the beachside. That's what followed him? Thief tilted his head, flicked his ears - and that's when a current of sand blinded him. Sandygast used Sand Attack! A direct hit! The sand struck Thief right in the face and eyes. He'd cough and try to blink painfully and snarled back at it. "Who are you?" It didn't say a word back and the Growlithe felt the ground below him tremor. Instinctively he glared at the Sandygast in his blurry eye state. It... jumped? That's what it looked like! And it stomped down on the sand firmly. Sandygast used Bulldoze! But the Growlithe was a little smarter than that, his hind legs pushed him into the air - the attack missed! And Thief followed up with a Fireblast! It crackled and popped all around the strange Pokemon. Did that have any affect? Did I even hit it? Thief forced himself to blink after he landed and rubbed his eyes with his paws. The moment he took them away... More sand got hurled against his eyes and he let out a yelp. "S- Stop that! That hurts!" He'd remark but the Sandygast made a weird sand and Thief only felt a blow. It sent him back, but he dug his paws into the beach and tackled against the Sandygast with his side. In seconds he just reacted in a way that felt odd for him. He bit down on the Pokemon, harshly. He half expected it to be Bandit - and how she always got out of the head on tackle. Ducked to a side and put him to the ground.

But here he just bit the Sandygast right down on the shovel and that made it use a weird noise that left Thief to wince painfully and flinch. Thief used Bite! A Critical Hit! It's Super Affective! Sandygast used Astonish and followed up with a point blank Rockslide. The sand curled and flicked at him as though the stones underneath pulled themselves from under the ground and just slammed against him. It took Thief's breath away as it launched him back. His paws slammed and dug into the sand... it flicked the gold grainy earth all around him. A wince and a huff of smoke later Thief stared down the Sandygast in front of him. It... knows more ground and rock moves then I thought... This is going to be way harder... What is that thing anyways? Why... is it so eerie? Thief felt himself swallow and huffed It hated when I bit it... I need to close in the gap between us._Thief growled again as it moved "I - I'm just passing through!" He'd call out to it, and it made some eerie sound "So I'm sorry if I pass through your territory, I can leave right away" He'd mention, and it just replied with it's weird sounds and said... "No... Hungry..." Thief tilted his head as his heart jolted a little bit. His muzzle flicked, and his eyes narrowed a little. "W - Well I'm the best at finding berries" He'd comment with a smile. "Can't... eat..." Thief felt his paw back up a little. _S - so it's like that thing? That Cheshira? It... eats.... Other? It made an eerie sound again and Thief had this chill run through his back... He could feel something wrong come at him and he just dodged. Eyes shut - ears folded. It knows Hypnosis!? What kind of... thing is this!? Thief felt himself growl bitterly... it was only because he had been around Moonlight for months... he started to learn how to sense psychic type moves just a little bit. It felt so alien to him that somehow everything they had done was helping him now... Thief felt the earth shook and he jumped as soon as he felt it. The Sandygast used Earth Power! But it missed... Thief had the creepy feeling that he had to stay on his toes... but the moment he hit the sand his paws dug in and he bolted at the Sandygast. He had to close in the distance... fire wasn't working as well as he hoped. Thief went as fast as he could... towards it. There was this familiar swell in his chest. The heat... the wind that criss crossed along his back... He... Why am I... angry? That's... what this is right? He'd snarl and swing back. The Sandy Gast used Sand Attack! But the attack missed. Is... this adrenaline? This... rush is... Thief felt his rear paw dig against the earth as he jolted to the right. He got around the Sandygast and swung his jaws down against the shovel. He'd crunch down bitterly. Thief used Crunch. It's Super Effective. His jaws dug against the handle and he'd use his rear legs to kick off. He'd rip the shovel out of the mound of sand. It made this horrid screeching sound and the mound just sunk against the sands... It was... unconscious? Thief huffed and panted... but his tail froze when the sand around him shifted again. He'd turn his head and stare at this... conspicuously large sand castle almost right behind him. He just stared at it with the shovel in his muzzle. That... wasn't... His pumpkin eyes flicked as he just pointlessly looked at the door in the center. It was like a void... Thief bounced back and took a stance, but all it did was stay still. It was a sand castle after all... That's when he noticed the two yellow beady eyes and his whole pelt went cold. It was a Pokemon. Thief jumped back and gave a loud and vicious snarl, then roared. Roared loudly as though to take it on... but the mound was larger then he was. Much, much larger. The two towers twitched and pounded against the sand. Thief was already in the air with his frantic jump. Palossand used Bulldoze... the attack missed! Barely. Thief hit the ground and scorched the sand with a flamethrower. It brushed the move off. At least the Sandygast seemed remotely affected... Thief lowered is head with a snarl and that's when he saw it... just a hint... of bones that were collected inside of the castle... Pokemon bones.

The Growlithe felt his pelt crawl and his back spike horribly. Just the sight of them turned him cold blooded... and cold pawed. He'd gulp and take a little step backward as it let out a massive Rockslide. The move curved at him... Thief jolted to the left and then again... He was losing the advantage. After all... Every dark type move he knew was up close and personal. His jaws opened, and he snarled... like that would do anything, but he'd let out a fireblast that just exploded and sizzled against the sandcastle that struck the earth again. Another Bulldoze? Thief jumped again to dodge it. This... Pokemon was surprisingly slow. Unlike that Cheshira... which was fast... nearly silent... and knew an array of ground, poison and dark type moves it seemed. His whole back trembled as it shifted closer to him. I know Aerial Ace right? Sort of... I'm not that fast... But if I use it... and follow up with FireBlast? Just like Frenzy? Like how Bandit does it? Can I even pull that off? Something struck him head on and that left him to yelp and flinch. Another... Sandygast? Thief felt his back crawl... Another one? The one that cried out dragged three Pokemon to it. Thief swallowed and felt his rear paw quiver... A small tremble ran through his entire spine. Y - You're kidding? I need to get out of here now. Thief turned his head. Why... was there a fourth one? There was no way out of here. He didn't have an escape route. In a moment he bit down on his tongue hard enough that he yelped. Then he'd curl up the fire in his chest and let out a fire blast at the Palossand. It sparkled and cracked against the sand, sending wild ball of fire all around the front of him as something kicked sand into his eyes again. Sandygast used Sand attack, and Palossand followed up with Bulldoze once more. It's towers pounded the earth in one huge blow that sent Thief off of his feet. He'd hit the sand and slid against his back. The blow took the air from him, stole it away as the pain shocked through his back. He'd yelp loudly and forced the air into his lungs with a vicious cough. Then he'd stumble to his feet as another blow of Sand tried to blind him, but he turned his body away to block that. I need help... No one's here, I need help... Thief swallowed and moved his paw forward. It trembled as he stared pointlessly at it. I've been taking blow after blow... I can't feel the earth well, it could hit me again and I won't even know. He'd stare the three in front of him down Wuffles... now would be a good time for you to show up. Anybody, even the Pikipek... Anyone? Thief let out a massive howl first and then sniffed the ground viciously. I need to focus... Somehow. Thief used Odor Sleuth! It negates all evasive checks... and makes ghost types affected by normal moves! He'd panic as the Palossand suddenly charged at him and Thief jolted rearward and just let out a move. Thief... Thief...?

Thief used Ember... but it plumed and crackled into a short blast of smoke that left him to cough viciously. It felt like all the smoke rebounded and flooded into his lungs as the Palossand crashed into him. The Palossand used Giga Impact and it sent Thief through the air where he'd hit the sand, see the world spin around him... vertically... before his body hit the ground again. He'd slide against the rough sand and coughed bitterly, a gentle gaze upward and the SandyGasts around him had began to circle him with these eerie sounds. Like air being sucked into the center of them.... A true void of life. Thief felt himself bite his tongue. It made him wince and he pushed himself to his feet, trembling more in his fore and hind legs. For just a moment he began to breathe in panic. I can't get my head straight... The blood is running all over... I want to vomit... Heat sickly churned in his stomach as he let out a weaker cough and hiked his tail up high. He tried to call on another fire type move... but it plumed and left him in a fit of coughs. His back started to stilt - the furs hung high into the air. It's... like... No way... He took a moment to look behind him, a sound made his ear twitch and he half-hazardly dodged a move. The wild way he tossed himself left his front paws to give in from his weight and he'd slip against the sand. The Sandygast behind him went for a tackle... the only advantage he had was speed. The Palossand had recovered from the recoil... and then slammed the earth with his arms? The two towers struck the sand in a way that it waved and cracked but Thief made a high jump and nearly struck a dune that attempted to collide with him. I used too much... Even before the fight I wasted plenty... Thief was beginning to wish that he listened to Bandit at least once or twice. Now would be a good time for them to show up... His heart pounded against his chest hard enough that he couldn't even hear a Sandygast shuffle around him and abruptly spray more sand in his face. He snarled viciously at it... the torment was slowly beginning to piss him off. In fact, he straight up cursed at it and snarled. There was this sudden rush of adrenaline that struck Thief again... A second wind? Was that normal? He thought it was just one huge surge and then it never came back... but now it felt like he had enough strength to plainly stand on the sandy beach... and face down four different opponents... Pokémon that he'd never seen before. His paws slowly stretched into the beach as he'd pass another sharp snarl at a Sandygast behind him... Why do I feel... less sick now? Thief felt the rush of heat flush to his face - his fangs bared pointlessly at the Sandygasts which made a bit of a weird movement. As though they didn't want to deal with an opponent with so much fight in them. But the Palossand went for another ranged attack... this time, Thief was ready for it. He charged his opponent before making a risky jump at them. Thief got in close and jolted to crunch down on anything he could get his paws on. But a Sandygast blindsided him with a tackle that struck him mid-air. He timed it all wrong. Timed it so wrong, that the Sandygast had this perfect hit to his floating ribs and that sent a shock of pain through him. One that made him yelp and wince as he pushed to his feet again. Great... now it's really like it... Thief felt his legs tremble again; the surge was gone? But some of his pain was too. That was bad... right? The pain being gone? Or at least some of them... Another flick of sand and that sent Thief into this flurry of rage... One that sent his whole body to highlight with sickly red... Enough that he snarled viciously... ravenously and roared loudly. Loud enough that all kinds of birds flicked up their heads from the treetops in the distance. Loud enough that plenty of Pokemon heard... but just watched Thief from a far. The bell on his collar jingled as he lowered his head and began to go rampant. The first thing he did was jump on the Sandygast behind him... And tore it a part. He bit down on anything and pointlessly shredded sand from its mound in any direction - his claws dug in and ripped down... across. His hind legs involved too. The weird sound it began to make left him to simply crunch down on the shovel and rip it out. His thoughts were... bare. As Thief turned his head to the next one that tried to tackle him... Thief used Outrage... turn two of three. The second one was just as slow, and that left him to creepily tear apart anything he could get. Whatever he did... the heat... the anger... it left a Sandygast to retreat so he was just left with the Palossand that struck him with a move that made his head sting. Palossand used Psychic... and that made Thief even more angry. Enough that he roared to the point that something... _new_tackled him to the ground. It pinned him down to the sand as he'd bitterly snarl back at a paw. A massive paw that covered his whole head. One with sunlit fur that was as pure and golden as the sun above him.

There was a weird sound between the Palossand and the Pokemon above him... but in moment he was met with these dark purple eyes that glared at him from the sand. "Learned a new move I see!" She'd say... A Rattata. Thief tried to move his jaw but all he could do was snarl at her. She'd flinch and roll her eyes in reply. "He can't control it! I guess when you Growlithe types use THAT move you really can't." The Arcanine hushed her. Made a challenged look at the Palossand which glanced and retreated in moment. Thief tried to roll his body and squirm underneath the Arcanine's weight. "Calm down" That just made him angrier. And the Arcanine shoved his face into the sand, which made him pissed. Thief found himself squirming until he got a hold of something and clamped down on his paw. His hind legs kicked along with his forelegs. They didn't connect... All he had was his teeth that sunk into the mysterious golden Arcanine, enough that it made the larger Pokemon bleed... but not enough to make him even react. He just held the Growlithe in place until Thief finally calmed down and it felt like everything was drained from him... and that the whole world spun and spun in this twisty and ill-tempered manner. Thief got confused from using Outrage. Something sprayed fire at him... as though curiously and Thief let out a flash of flames himself in response. "Flashfire..." The Arcanine said. Just that... nothing more. Thief curiously glanced at the Arcanine and tilted his head. "I'm going to throw up..." It nodded for a moment and then spoke to Rattata. After a very hushed conversation she'd look at the Growlithe. "You're looking for that Rockruff pet, right?" She'd ask, and Thief pushed his paws against the ground. He couldn't shove the Arcanine off. "She ran off, she could get hurt! Especially with that thing around." He'd reply and the Rattata nodded once more. "That answers my second question... but not my third. Where do you come from?" Thief huffed. "Kanto... Well Hoenn I guess. Across the sea, it's... hard to explain." Thief mentioned and the Rattata tilted her head. "You have a trainer, you must with that collar around your neck." Thief nodded again. "So what... Moonlight says that wild types hate trainers Pokemon... Are you just here to hurt me too?" He'd remark "Those things kept using Sand attack! Do you know how much that hurts!?" She'd seem to stand on her hind legs and remotely give him this sassy pose. "I'm a fraction your size... Growlithe, obviously I do! I'm nearly buried whenever a Pokemon uses that on me!" She'd mention, and it left Thief to slowly snicker... then chuckle and then he was left in this dangerous fit of giggles. Stupid pointless giggles...

"Sorry... I guess so..." He'd say and look at the Arcanine. The Pokemon wasn't that old, Thief could tell. In fact, he was around his age. It made him look at the Arcanine closely. "I've never seen fur like that! It's really cool!" Thief expressed "Is it like paint?" The Arcanine just gave him this... weird, uncomfortable and cold glance. He didn't reply and just nudged the Rattata. "Don't mind him, he doesn't talk often... Always has his mind on something, like these weird tubes he got from the city... They have pictures of food on them." "Tubes? Like... steel cans?" Thief snickered a little "The food is inside them!" It made the Arcanine tilt his head a little. "Yeah, the food is INSIDE the cans, that's what they are. They're made of a funny metal... it's a tough word - I can't say it." He mentioned Thief really couldn't say the word Aluminum properly. It came out all garbled whenever he tried to say it... especially with how quick he was talking. "Well... since we're done talking, I need to find my friend." The Rattata giggled "Good luck with the boat..." She'd mention, and Thief scrunched up his nose. "What?" His ears dropped as the Rattata sighed a little. "The boat, the big boat in the city - she took it like super early this morning. We saw her on our way from there, with food. We thought you and that human would be with her..." Rattata mentioned and Thief replied with a little fold of his ears. "Well... she did this weird thing last night, wanted me to listen to her sing. She just spent her time howling at the moon for... an hour maybe? Longer? We went to this weird pond of water... I guess it's safe to call it a small pond? Maybe?" Thief didn't know how to explain it, he couldn't just call it a hot tub... "She wanted me to heat up the water, so she could sit in it. She's all sorts of weird I guess" Thief giggled "Makes me think of a friend of mine..." "She's probably just evolving." The Rattata mentioned and Thief made a little whine of a sound "A - Already? Well... I mean I don't really.... Well I met her yesterday anyways so... I just didn't know that she'd already be evolving?" The Rattata nodded once more. It was this weird small nod - like some sort of trademark of hers "All Rockruffs travel somewhere... some are persistent enough to go back home for it too. Where is she headed?" Thief tapped his paws together. He was still lying down on the beach, confused of everything around him. "Mount Lanikila... at least I think that's the name. She told me that there's a forest at the base of the mountain. It can't be that far, away right?" The Rattata gave a little laugh "Not far away..." She'd say and huff. Compared to Arcanine, the Rattata looked older then he did. She had these wonderfully long whiskers which made her give this playful nod. "It's across the ocean! What were you going to swim there?" Thief sort of shrugged "I mean... maybe driftwood at best? I've done that before for a night and a half..." Thief huffed and swallowed. That did suck. "Maybe paddle?" The Rattata seemed to giggle and laugh and just plainly make fun of his idea's. "Well why don't you come up with a better one!" "Sneak on the boat when it's busy!" She'd mention, in all seriousness "Tonight... but for now, why don't you come back to the den... maybe you can help us with those... can things?" Thief frowned in reply and huffed before he pushed himself onto his shaken feet.

"T - Thanks for the help I guess... but I should try to find her myself. I don't want to spend more time then I have to here" Thief expressed "I need to make it home too, you know..." The Rattata sighed gently "You won't make it home if you try to paddle your way across the sea..." Thief just responded with a huff as the Arcanine plumed smoke at him. It made him blink and flick his paw around. "Hey!" Thief stated and stared down the Arcanine that just wouldn't meet his eyes with his own. "You should head back now. That Rockruff isn't just going to come home with you, all because you ask her to." Thief puffed out the fur in his cheeks. "Well I can't let her run off on her own! I'm easily a year older! I also have a little more experience with fights too." He'd remark and huff "Although I wasn't expecting that thing to call for help..." The Rattata gave a little nod and mentioned "Those are Sandygasts. Well the big one was a Palossand... everyone knows about them?" A furrow of her eyebrow made Thief's tail flicker nervously for a moment. "Well I've never seen them. Or that weird thing from yesterday." The Arcanine made a huff. Thief felt his breath against the back of his scalp and a hot blow of wind that touched his fur. "H - Hey! Why are you sniffing me?" He'd step back a little and take a stance at the Arcanine. Which then put a paw on him and pushed him to the ground. "You're a quarter my size." He'd mention "Also you don't smell like you're from around here... At all. Across the sea? More like half the world away in the least." The Rattata fluffed out the small hairs on her pelt. "Wait... you're not even from Alola? I thought... at least a different island at best... Isn't Hoenn a smaller island?" Thief shook his head no. "N - No... It's a whole different region." The dusky-purple Rattata sighed "Then clearly you'll need help." The Arcanine sent a snort her way - a small plume of smoke. "No we don't. That Rockruff isn't coming back. You should head home anyways. Mount Lanikila will get you killed." The Arcanine expressed and that left Thief's pelt rigid and frozen. His paws scratched pointlessly against the sand as the Arcanine just held his paw over his head. Thief just let out a curious cough and stared up at him with this glare in his eyes. The Arcanine wouldn't even meet him eye to eye. "Like(Just) you(kill) can(yourself) protect(`little) her(Freak)? What(Such``) a(a) freak(waste)... I(bite) hope(that loser) the(already) first REAL Pokemon you run into rips you apart."_A mix of voices eerily slithered his way into Thief's head as he just stared up at the larger Arcanine. There wasn't anything particularly familiar about him, nothing that Thief could put his paw on but there was something familiar about the way he held him down. Something he didn't like at all... something that left the Growlithe to plume of a crackle of smoke around his paws. "Let me up." The Growlithe snarled at him and the Arcanine just held his paw against him and then eventually let it slide off. That... That felt familiar too. In the weirdest and faintest of ways - enough that Thief furred his brow, tilted his head and then shook the sand from him. A wild toss of grains went all over - his legs tapped and shook out which made the Rattata cough and laugh. "What?" The Rattata shut herself out from her own laughter by clamping her muzzle together with both of her paws. "Nothing, nothing. None of the other Growlithes shake off the same way. It's just funny." The Rattata mentioned as the Arcanine began to walk down the beach towards the forest beyond them. "Follow, or don't. I don't care what you chose..." He'd say and push further down the beach as the Rattata ran off to catch up. "You should come with! You could get a little rest! I doubt a battle like that will be the first one you have! If you go running after one Rockruff out of the thousands in Alola, I mean." The Rattata called out to him as the Arcanine just continued to wander down the beach. He'd barely give Thief a look back. Not to check if he followed the Arcanine. Not to see if the Growlithe parted ways there. Nothing... But Thief felt stupidly inclined to follow, as though he didn't have a choice. He had to stare at the Arcanine wander into the woods before he finally scampered to catch up. _This... is a place that I know nothing about... I guess the wild is something that I have no clue of. I was lucky that Beedrill pointed me in the direction of those berries... I could sniff them out, but it would've taken me much longer if it wasn't out there. Maybe... just... maybe they really are willing to help out. His paws stepped over a root that was dug along the ground. The gnarled collection of tender sticks showed off these proud little thorns that made Thief stare at his paw for a moment. I stepped on that? I didn't even know there were roots like that... It looks weird. Like it's out of place. Like it's from a plant that doesn't naturally grow here... Is that what I'm like? Thief seemed to giggle in his own mind. He wanted to stay as quiet as he could, now that the Arcanine was slowly starting to put him on edge. It felt as though he had done something wrong by him, just... existing. The Growlithe tossed and turned his head silently. I'm reading too much into it... Doesn't Griffin do that too? Is... that who I am? Or did I teach him that?_His tail flicked for a moment _What I'd do for his cooking right about now... I'd even fight that thing from yesterday... I mean... at least everyone would be there, then right? I wouldn't have to feel that terrified... _ Thief swallowed to himself as the heat obnoxiously gathered around the plumes of fluff which nearly surrounded his neck. It had already begun to swelter out here, surrounded by trees that just insulated and trapped the heat. He felt inclined to lower his head and turn on that little blue flame just to burn fuel again. _What did that Arcanine mean by Flashfire? I haven't heard that before... Is that a move? Thief rubbed his head a little Maybe I should've looked for a book about Pokemon battles... I wish I had a pokedex! Thief touched his collar. He realized just then that the blasted thing had rung and chimed with every step he took. It was as though the look on his face when the back of his paw touched it left the Rattata on the Arcanine's back left her to laugh and yip in this weird little way. Thief found it weird that the Rattata dug her nose into the back of the Arcanine's pelt as she laughed and giggled at him. He found it even more odd that the Arcanine didn't even worry about it. Or cared it seemed. It just left him to stare at them as... though he stared at two lovers that could never be with one another. Yet found every moment together a humble, simple and honest one. Thief shook his head in this little furious way. Why am I thinking of her now? Great... Now I can't get her out of my head. He just shoved his nose into the dirt as the bell on his neck made its special sound. Why can't I get her out of my head now... Thief gave a little huff. It was pointless right? Just pointless to be lost in those thoughts, those that made him laugh and smile. Those that left him flustered and red. Those thoughts and feelings which left him too confused for his own good. A wash of different emotions ran through him as he slowly followed them... and walked head first into something as tough as a tree. It landed him on his rear end. "Ow...." He'd rub his forehead as something hushed him. Thief looked out at the path - a clearing or an opening. His blood went rigid.

That... was the pathway from yesterday, but now some curious man in a suit and tie had crouched down onto the path. There were these two others that stood around him - one waited by a black truck and the other just aimlessly chatted with him. He'd pick up a glimmer of gold from the ground. A casing. "No, it's just a simple thirty-eight. I don't get what you're so worried about." The Arcanine had begun to move away but Thief held in place and stared from the bushes. He'd listen curiously. "Seriously, a thirty-eight revolver." "Serial key isn't on it. It's completely unbranded. Nothing scratched off. It's like it came out of the factory without any form of identification. Hell... it's clean. No fingerprints." The man said and gave a curious look. He wore these gloves - brown leather. A cream tan suit and a black tie. Overall, he looked like quite the business man. "Are you sure this is the gun?" Thief felt his blood stop. His breath went still as he'd duck his head under the bushes in an instant.

The suited man had taken out a Pokeball... and that Cheshira came out. It made a chitter and nodded. Then it closed its eyes - Thief could see it - and as it did it's ears flattened. "I can't believe you can talk to that thing." The guy from the truck idly commented and the suited man grinned. It was this odd grin - one that made Thief feel paralyzed from his head down. "Is it... like Psychic?" The man shrugged a little. "Let's say a chosen secret." He'd reply, "One found only in the depths of the underworld." The man mentioned again with a nod. "So, Cheshira. A Paraplegic... a Rockruff and a Growlithe? I'm confused. What kind of Paraplegic has an unmarked gun... let alone no fingerprints to put on it... and you say it knows you?" The man put a finger under his jaw with a laugh. "So... the old man is here in Alola. He could be anywhere... Here I thought that lab in-between Kanto and Johto... I mean. The one in Sinnoh became a wreck, now didn't it? A little beachside home nearly. It was cute." He'd give a small huff, took out some weird carton and in seconds a foul stench touched Thief's nose. He held his breath again after slowly breathing in. He was thankful he was far, far away from the trail and that the wind blew his way then towards them. "Honestly... and that Espeon of his... It was worth it." He'd mention "After all, it brought back the first one of you, now didn't it?" The Cheshira chittered and chirped in some weird way. It seemed like a feline that played with sounds like a bird. The man shrugged. "Now, we just need that other investor to stay in. We gave him the tech he needed for those legendary birds. The entrapment technology anyways." "Sir... you're going on a rant again..." A voice from behind him mentioned. "I don't have any foot prints out here. It's weird. Plenty of scraping, it looks like everything was covered up by Pokemon... almost." "Impossible. No Pokemon is smart enough to cover tracks like that, what would do it? Wild Pokemon?" He gave out a laugh. "They also go everywhere. They could've even cut through the woods at this rate... Plenty of trails to look at. Even then there's the chance of a car out here too. And that main highway? No doubt they could've parked one... Especially with a wheelchair." The suited man huffed and then petted the Cheshira - that made the Growlithe wince... but its fur didn't do anything like before. It was this calm black-purple color. One that seemed to alternate... as though in some reality there would be more than just those colors together. "You did a great job bringing us out here. The other would've stalked them... Too bad for him. He did make a nice meal for you, didn't he?" The Cheshira made a happy chirp-like sound and flicked its ears as the suited man petted it. The odd purr made Thief try to swallow but he stopped himself. Since it listened and heard everything so well. He didn't even move his neck, and that was beginning to hurt a lot. "Well, we still have business to attend to... I'll have some of the boys have a look for that damned scientist. He could be useful..." "Sir..." "I know I know, there isn't a soul out here except for those cracked Pikipeks. Anyways, we pay you to kill witnesses...?" He'd say that a little quieter, but Thief picked up on it. "Anyways, talking with my Pokemon is important, for any trainer, right? He loves the stories I tell him." The man expressed "Who would've thought that a few bodies behind you could get you a perfected Pokemon." He'd say to the other man. Thief couldn't get a good look on his face, they all didn't have those... gun things, but he couldn't tell from his angle. He couldn't even see the suited man's face. He could see that Cheshira look up at the weirdly twisted man as though it was a true trainer Pokemon relationship... or maybe it was just curious hunger that made the Cheshira look at him in that bright and wonderful way...

Thief watched the man put out the cigarette... place it in a pill bottle and close shut the lid and hop into the truck. They took the gun with them. Ayumu's gun and Thief just felt his spine crawl. None of it made sense to him... So why did he feel like blaming Moonlight? He could feel that rise through his chest. It had to be his fault then... There's no way. How can a human sneak past a Pokemon? There's... no way... Not Moonlight. Moonlight must've let him somehow. It's Moonlight... He's... stronger then any Pokemon. Even Bandit... Thief just watched the truck in the distance turned and he felt that he was seconds from running back to Ayumu's beach house... He was stuck with this terrible choice... There was no way to warn them, they wouldn't understand him. His claws grazed and dug into the earth while a gentle wisp of air slipped past his muzzle. A collection of lost thoughts frantically entered his mind as his heart began to race. It was just a choice... Find Wuffles... or try to warn Ayumu somehow. Yet, Thief felt worried about the way how the wind churned and slithered against his ears. As though a snake rested within the bushes to watch him. That rigid shock of paranoia crossed into his mind as his paws trembled into the earth while he'd give a dry... confused smile. This is really the choice I'm left with? That thing has a trainer? What's it doing out here? Way out here? And there's more of them? How many more could there be? Thief felt his tails still as something hovered above him... "Come or go." His pelt jolted, and he turned to the Arcanine that looked away from him. Thief felt his entire pelt quiver. "There's a Salazzle that was attacked by it... I saw those humans mobile spraying sections of the woods with some weird... foul smelling air." The Arcanine mentioned once more "Now either follow or leave..." Thief tilted his head a little as the Arcanine turned entirely and began to walk off. "W - wait why did you come back for me?" Thief watched him stall and stop. "In case that thing ripped you apart..." He'd reply quietly and continued to wander into the woods. "I doubt you'll get a chance to fight it easily... with those humans there too... They'd probably just kill you right off the bat." He'd mutter and press onward through the gnarl of trees. Thief... Found himself following reluctantly. This wash of cowardice slipped over him. It felt dirty... unjustified. His paws just wandered into the woods as he'd follow the Arcanine closely. Those pumpkin colored eyes glanced and studied a forest unlike any other. One that was tight with bushes and tall trees which out-reached their palms to the sun. He'd just stare pointlessly into the sunlight. As though... naturally it just beamed down on him and pelted his fur. Pushed him down to the earth... and told him to catch up on his own four paws.

• Luna

It was a sluggish way to wake up. Being poked and prodded with a frigid black nose that barked at her and ordered her to stand. A voice that told her they were leaving. Once she slipped those amber-fiery eyes open all she was met with was the red sharpened eyes and steel muzzle of a Mightyena. She'd twitch and jolt... just this horrifying look in her stature as the large Mightyena nudged her with that nose again. "Let's go, Luna. I've been getting impatient. Griffin's already packed up." She expressed in this sour tone that made Luna's head tilt. "What's wrong? You... seem..." Bandit hushed her immediately and tossed her gaze away. It was a cold gaze that made it appear as though she told Luna 'You're not worth telling it to.' The Mightyena's ear twitched as she'd push over to Shadow and have this sudden and quiet conversation that she couldn't pick up on. Luna gave a glance around the bed... the blankets. The indent from Bandits paws were in the surface... All in all, she'd never felt that warm and comfortable before - not while sleeping... Except... One night on the outskirts of Pewter City.

There was a gentle yawn that slipped out of her muzzle, the world was a blur until she began to blink firmly and cleared it all up. Her sleep was a long one... but restless. She felt terrible all over no matter how she stretched and shook out her legs. Upon looking around the room a near dark-sapphire face - dusky blue glanced her way. Absol looked at her and greeted Luna with this peculiar and warm smile. "Morning." Luna gave her a nervous nod in reply, her eyes traced over to the door where Moonlight just sat and stared as though to wait for it to open. Her paws landed on the carpet from the bed... it looked as though there was this funny indent horizontally on the end... Griffin must've been lying down that way recently. He was just in the middle of re-collecting his inventory as though he had a mental checklist. Scarf and Marill were having some weird friendly chat. Talking mostly about food and that reminded her about it too. I... guess I did sort of skip dinner, if they all got a later one. It smells like Pokemon Food... or is that Griffin's bag? Did he pick some up just in case? She tried to think back to the other day but already she wanted to move on. It was all so confusing and quick. Luna gave another yawn and stretched out her back... I can't stretch it... enough. And it hurts too... did I... sleep on it wrong? She'd try to rotate and stretch out more. There was no satisfying pop from her stretches, just this persistent pain against her back. She passed a gentle and bothered sigh and gave Griffin a look. He just slung his backpack onto his body and adjusted the straps to even it out. His belt made her blink. The Pokeballs weren't blinking like they used to now. That meant they were fixed? Luna fumbled her paws and gave Bandit a quick glance. That's why she's upset? Shadow would need to go back right? Well... maybe not. She'd just stare as Shadow gave her this curious look mutter something back against her ear and Bandit left the conversation with a huff. She looked annoyed... As if some troublesome little thorn just pricked her in the paw. Luna just watched her pass over to Griffin and push his leg. It made him nearly go off balance. "Alright alright!" He'd say with this playful and happy grin, where Bandit just responded with a fiery huff. It was weird to watch a dark type plume fire so effortlessly. Bandit had this intimidating look to her... unlike Shadow that looked light on his feet. There was this odd size difference between them as she stared at the two side by side. Bandit was larger by a whole foot it seemed. Or close enough to it... compared to Shadow. She had bulk but was so unexpectedly fast that Luna couldn't stop marveling over her. It made her tap her paws against the carpet. Why am I getting so fired up? It crossed her mind I want to train now..._She'd give a little grin and plumed a puff of smoke Bandit's way. It made her turn her head. "You better push me hard today!" Luna quipped with this bright smile "I'm feeling great." She'd say as Bandit tossed her this sudden toothy smile. One that showed off her fangs. "Alright... I could use a plaything to chew on." She'd express and snarl. Luna took to her feet in a stance as Griffin made a sound while he turned his head to the two of them. "Please don't act like this on the bus..." He'd commented, and Bandit replied with a huff. It made him laugh "And don't act so cute you Pooch!" It made Bandit reply to him by acting like that left a bad taste in her mouth, all it did was leave Luna in a fit of giggles. Just pointless... stupid giggles. _I feel like all... I don't feel tense? I felt so tense yesterday... Why was everything so blurry when I woke up? Moonlight was asleep last night... right? Is it because he stopped using... Luna took a moment to breathe and then sassily turned her head when Moonlight gave her a glance. Except... she met face to face with Shadow nearly. "U - uhm..." She began to mutter out as the Mightyena rolled his eyes a little and wandered up to Bandit. "You look happier..." He'd say. "I wonder if you took to defending that Growlithe more then you think." It made her freeze for a moment as Griffin opened the door and held it open for the two Mightyena's. Moonlight... then Scarf and Marill. Finally, Absol came out the door to the motel as Luna just stared at Shadow.

Are... what? She shook her head for a moment as a head popped in from the door frame. It was Scarf. "Come on! I don't wanna hang around the city ALL day again..." He'd say and wave his little yellow hand to follow. Luna just trudged out of the room as Griffin checked the room and closed it. Brad and Aura were nearly leaning against the wall together waiting. "Took you long enough Griff. How much did you unpack?" He'd ask as he'd hold his own bag, single handed and against his back. It made Luna think of some of the humans with those clean pressed suits - they'd carry those in a similar fashion. "I just had to make sure I had everything right!" He'd express and smile. That made Brad give a little chuckle of his own. "Oh... by the way... when you crank out music with your headphones... it shouldn't be so corny." Brad quipped as Griffin's face went red and he dug his hands into his pockets. He was wearing a different outfit today along with Brad... who gave him a playful thumbs up. "Ready for coffee? We should get everyone down there and figure out the details for today." Brad mentioned as Griffin gave a shy nod and a laugh. "Yeah... I'm ready to leave the city already. I want to keep moving!" He'd mention as Luna gave a little look back at him. It's like he's all fired up too? He looked... Luna shook her head and gave another stretch of her back. Aura gave her a curious look - the Lucario walked over to her as Luna gave Aura a curious look. "We don't talk much." Aura nodded "Yes. We don't. So, I apologize in advance." Luna tilted her head and flicked her ears. "What are you ta-" It was the snap of the Lucario's paw against her back that made her whole-body jolt and shatter. She felt paralyzed for a moment and froze in place. Luna didn't even see Aura move, Moonlight felt inclined to move at her but... Bandit cut him off. "H - Hey!" Luna hopped back... Her back. The knot in her back was gone. In fact, it felt better than it ever did. "W - what did you... do?" The Lucario giggled a little.

"You'll be surprised how often Brad sleeps in weird positions. Why else do you think I help him with his posture... I swear those beds are always a problem. He never has a problem with the sleeping bag." Aura mentioned, and Luna furrowed her nose and shook her head with a little laugh. "Well... Thanks... I guess?" She'd express with a hint into the word 'guess' Should I even thank her for hitting me? Not really. "Just don't strike me next time..." Aura seemed to playfully wiggle her paws in front of her muzzle. "I wouldn't think of it." She mentioned and her back went suddenly stiff as Brad instantly fixed his posture the second she did. "Talk about training the trainer..." Griffin snickered, and Brad crossed his arms. "Be thankful you always have that rucksack on or she'd turn your back into jelly. I swear it..." Brad commented as the Lucario gave this shrug that made Luna tilt her head curiously. "That's a human pose..." Aura froze for a moment "W - what is?" That one too... are you... you are... mimicking humans. "Just..." Luna shook her head as everyone else just chattered about pointless things. About upcoming battles, what they want to see. Pikachu kept chatting idly about caverns and mountains, while Marill kept saying there's no water up there... Absol quietly waited by Griffin's side as if entirely invisible to him but... he knew and noticed she was there - idly he gave her a pet. "Well, so long as she doesn't know about 'suicide' straps Brad. I'm fine." Griffin quipped, and Aura tilted her head. "Hold that thought... Luna I need to show your trainer that I know EXACTLY what those are." "W - well Griffin, I don't think... you should've said that." Brad mentioned, and that left Griffin frozen in place with a smile "What? Why?" Brad sighed. "Cadets... you... moron." Brad facepalmed. "Every bag issued has those straps... MY BAG has them." Griffin flinched when the Lucario playfully showed off this 'cracking knuckles' stance. "W - wait a second Aura." Griffin held up his hands defensively "M - My posture is completely fine!" Luna just watched Griffin's smile turn to fear. "Uhm... Aura?" She made a little shuffle forward with her leg and Griffin nearly jumped back. "W - wait, B - Brad call her off." Brad just shrugged "She'd intent on it, I got no clue how to stop it." He'd say and laugh a little. "Anyways, it only hurts the first few times..." "H - hey!" Griffin called out, but Brad had already turned around with his hands in his pockets... and his back straightened out. Griffin gave a little grin and closed his eyes as Aura gave a little wander up to him. Luna just watched... It did help her out after all...

"S - so you're not serious right?" Griffin let out a nervous chuckle as Absol hopped out of the way... Aura... just pulled the straps on his backpack and that made him turn around and catch it. Luna flicked her eyes for a moment. He... was fast enough to catch it by the arm strap? Well I guess he does have a lot of things in there... But it was this audible crack that left him rigid. One that left the entire hallway in silence. "Was that Griffin's back?" Bandit asked, and Shadow shrugged his paws into the carpet. "I think so..." "How heavy is that bag?" Scarf swallowed when he asked that and Marill just chirped pointlessly. Moonlight sat with his eyes wide. "Uhm... Griffin? Are... Are you okay?" Griffin let out a wheeze to his voice. "Yep... just... fine Brad. Absolutely fine..." "How heavy is that thing again?" "With the... new field stove... like thirty-five pounds? Forty? When low on supplies... at least..." Griffin mentioned, and half wobbled his feet to look at him. "T - that said... I think I just pulled my back out..." There was this awkward silence. A long. Pointless... Silence. Until Aura began to stifle a giggle, and then Luna did... and it just erupted from there. It felt odd that Luna began to laugh this much, even though their trainer got hurt in the obscenest way - a way that Natasha warned him about! That his bag was too heavy for him. They all just began to laugh as Griffin casually landed his hand on the back of his head and began to laugh too. Until Aura gave him this brutal jab clean in this spot on his back that made him stagger his foothold. He nearly reeled back and dropped his bag to the ground slowly. "O - Ow! Oh my god!" Aura cracked her knuckles again in that pose she made, and Griff swallowed. "Uh... This... isn't going to end well..." He nervously chuckled as Aura rocked her head to the left and the right as though to say 'I don't know, but it helps Brad out plenty.' Griffin nearly wondered if this was some obscure form of payback - Luna read that on his face. Glanced up at Griffin from the ground which made her ears twitch and her brow narrow. It's like he did something... and Aura knows about it... so she's helping him while hurting him? She shook her head I'm thinking WAY too into it, it's just his dumb nervous expression... really. Luna scoffed a little as Aura got behind Griffin and just let out this unexpected fury of attacks. It made Absol's jaw drop... along with Scarf and Marills. Shadow didn't pay attention, but Bandit was gleeful about it. Luna just tossed her this stare that she challenged with her own narrow one. Bandit's Intimidate made her still and breathe. In fact... Luna oddly felt like she slowly began to get used to it.

There was this cough as the Lucario finished with a gentle pose, topped with a simple bow and Griffin began to cough again... "Oh my... god what just happened?" Luna missed most of it. But Griffin stretched his neck a little and then straightened out his back. "That is weird - Brad this feels weird!" "Yeah, like I said... it's like she just knows the points to hit. Abnormal right? Especially for her to know it so well on people." "Where... did you find her?" "Out hiking, she basically found me remember?" Brad mentioned "If she was someone else's, they must've left her... can't see why, you know. She's wonderful" Brad expressed with a laugh, an honest, happy laugh as a door in the hallway opened. "It's like... Nine guys..." Natasha remarked from the door way. Griffin went red. Along with Brad who sheepishly turned his head away from their room. "Uhm... N - Natasha you..." Luna just gave a wide eyed stare. R - really... I don't get it, she doesn't have a shirt on. So, what? I can only see her shoulder... what's the problem with them? I mean... Luna scrunched up her nose and huffed It's not like WE have clothes. "Blow it out your ass! If you men can walk around topless, then it's fine for a woman to. Get with it. God it's Twenty Eighteen." "W - we're waiting for you both... Going to get coffee." Griffin commented as Natasha rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I just finished with the shower, then I heard the noise. There's other people you know!" Natasha commented and shut the door. Brad shuffled silently over to Griffin, he still looked the other way. "Yeah... thanks mom." He whispered and that left Griffin to stifle a laugh. It made him shake his head "I doubt that would be the right thing to call her..." "Eccentric?" Griffin shook his shoulders "Yeah... in some crazy way... Was she... Really?" Brad slapped him on the back of the head. "O - Ow... Jeaz, first Aura now you!" Griffin rubbed the back of his scalp "Well don't bring it up again. Did you even look away? Politely?" Griffin's face went red. "W - w... I... No... I-" Brad hit him again. "Jesus Brad!" "Don't stare next time you... idiot..." "She wasn't out in the hallway you moron!" Griffin retorted. "She just stuck her head out of the room..." Griffin commented and fixed up the straps on his back pack. Aura hung over him when he went to pick it up... "I guess I'll... just bend my knees..." Griffin commented, and Brad nodded "Training the Trainer right? At least you're learning." Griffin gave a wry grin as he bent his legs to pick up his bag from off the ground "Yeah yea..." He'd reply and gave a sigh before gently adjusting the bag on his back. Whatever Aura did - well it was plain what she did... but however she did it, his back felt great - he felt great. They waited in the Hallway, Luna watched Brad and Griffin chat. Chat about all sorts of pointless stuff - mainly regarded towards sneaking them into a movie theater, perhaps in Celadon City. They continued to chat about it until Melody and Natasha finally walked out of their room with their things. "So Coffee, right?" Melody mentioned softly. Soft enough that even the Pokemon appeared to speak over her. Luna just tilted her ears when she spoke and turned to Melody. Houndoom rolled his shoulders and glanced her down as though she were some oncoming threat. "S - Sleep well?" Luna asked the Houndoom and it just plumed this weird white smoke at her. A thin cloud of it that made her eyes water and her nose bundle up. "Don't talk to me." He'd say, and she tilted a brow. "What's your problem!?" She'd yip back at the Houndoom. "I'm just trying to be polite!" "Hey Griff, I think your Vulpix is having a fit." Natasha commented idly. Griffin tossed his palm low. "Hey, it's fine, Luna... It's just Smokey." Luna bitterly tossed her eyes aside. "Seriously... what's got your tail?" She'd express and grin in this challenging way. "Worried you won't be your trainers only Pokemon?" The Houndoom didn't make a word. "Honestly the stoic and cold look is crap, and you know it." "Luna." Bandit said, and she'd huff back at her. The Mightyena tossed her a snarl. "Back down." There was something ominous about the way Bandit snarled at her. It made her ears twitch and jolt. "O - okay..." Luna swallowed her pride in a second, thanks to Bandit. The Houndoom let out another plume... but this time it was completely transparent. "I just don't like groups, kit..." Smokey commented "They end up poorly for Melody. She's been through more than any of you." The Houndoom expressed "That's all you need to know. Me? Fine... I'll humor you. I slept absolutely fine knowing she was safe on the bed when I woke up this morning." Luna swallowed a little "Luna, get over here now." Bandit commented and the little Vulpix tucked her tail low and folded her ears while making her move over to the Mightyena.

"I was just being polite..." Bandit shook her head. "Stop acting like a little Thief." She'd say and began to follow Shadow. It was a cramped hallway with all of their Pokemon out. "I guess... we should take turns at the counter? I mean... you have ALL of your Pokemon out now." Natasha mentioned "Seriously... how cheap are your Pokeballs?" Griffin swallowed "Y - you wouldn't believe it if I told you!" Griffin replied... but Luna remembered the conversation he had with Logan and Ayumu a long time back - or it felt that way now... Each one of those Pokeballs... They were expensive... Very expensive. Griffin gave Natasha a little wry laugh "W - well... the thing is... they're working again." Bandit and Shadow stopped in their tracks and Luna passed by them, following Griffin closely. "It's just..." "What you idiot? Return them!" She'd mention, and Griffin shrugged. "I do that, Shadow goes back to Logan. I mean... Bandits happier with him around right. So, I thought I could let it be like this for a little while - until the bus... that is." Griffin mentioned, and Luna turned her head around. What... is that look? She stopped in place and flicked her ears. It's like this is the first they've heard of this... Almost like... they walked into a conversation mid-way. What were they talking about then? Luna felt something nudge her. "Move kit." Smokey mentioned as he'd stare down at her... it made her pin her ears flat. "A - alr..." She'd swallow "Right... right..." The Vulpix replied to him and put her paws ahead of one another as she followed Griffin and the others to the foyer. Griffin mentioned something in the hallway... "I mean... it's only fair. I can't just separate them the moment things become... simple for me, right? That's part of being a trainer, right?" It was the smile that he gave. Just this... simple smile that was built on empty promises. "Luna..." She turned her head, it was Moonlight. "I hope you slept well... I know I did, for once..." She stayed silent for a second before she found a nod overcome her. "I slept very well, and I know you did! Look at your pelt! It's shining nearly!" She'd mention, and Moonlight passed the smallest smile that she'd seen. A smile she hadn't seen in a while. He was usually stern-faced... cold or held this cocky expression. Like a wry one when dealing with situations. As though to fake an enemy out... but here he smiled. Even though it was just a tiny one. "I like sleeping under windows I guess... the Motel had a clear view of the sunrise. I was in the perfect spot." He'd express and romanticize it as though it were the most beautiful hillside meadow. It left Luna to nod and she felt a smile come to her lips. "That's good to hear. I think we've all just needed some proper rest." She'd express "Now all I need is a bath..." She'd say with a laugh. "Roll your paws." Moonlight mentioned. "What?" Luna said after him and tilted her head. Then Moonlight took one of her tails. Took one paw - the back of it underneath the tail and the other one on top of the tail. "You slick up your paws with your tongue and curl your tail with them. I spent some time last night brainstorming. There had to be a trick... right?" Moonlight mentioned with a warm smile. "It just makes sense to me..." The Espeon mentioned and pushed to his feet. Luna just stared at her tail and then at her own forward paws. "B - but how do I do that? I mean my tails are BEHIND me." Moonlight laughed a little "I mean for someone else to help you..." Moonlight mentioned "Maybe Absol can." He'd mention without turning around as... as though he was holding onto a little secret. Luna just stared at her paws... I guess I could lick the whole thing? And then use the front and back of my whole leg... Luna shook her head and went to catch up... and left Shadow and Bandit in the back. They slowed their pace right down and just spent their time to somberly chat with one another. Luna pushed down the stairs to catch up and ended up nearly at the rear end of a certain larger Pokemon. She went head first into it. "Ow... Sorry..." She'd glance up at a peculiar looking man. One with a trench coat... a suit and tie and a briefcase. There was a Zoroark that looked at her. It nearly picked her up but she jolted back. "Oh... I thought you were a cub." It said. "I was going to help you with the stairs... It's okay! My trainer is an International Police Officer." It said and that just made her tilt her head. "I'm just catching up with my trainer..." She'd say back to it and scampered past the peculiar Pokemon. It was the first time she'd seen one. It nearly stood at Aura's height, maybe taller then the Lucarion. Black fur with red accents and a curious looks on its face. An absurdly friendly kind for a dark type Pokemon. It's trainer just sat while he read a newspaper. There was a headline that caught Luna's eye... but she couldn't make out the words of the newspaper. It looked important however! So, she went over to find another one... picked up a bundle of paper from the stand and bolted over to Griffin - he was already at the counter. She'd hop up on her hind legs and push against him. "What? Luna?" Griffin gave the Vulpix a look, she held the bundle in her jaws and handed it to him. "Weird... okay. I'll look at the paper." Griffin mentioned and checked out the headline...

Griffin went pale. "Sir?" A man at the counter began to say "S - sorry. Yes, how much? Right..." Griffin started to go so quickly that he just paid, probably more then he should have and left. The man at the counter didn't yell at him that it wasn't enough... but Griffin turned over the newspaper again and again. Luna hopped up again and pushed on his legs. It looked important to her... but she didn't get what was happening. "Team Magma and... Aqua." Griffin read over the report again. "Th - that doesn't make sense... what? They stole..." Griffin gave a dry swallow and shook his head before putting the newspaper down. Luna just stared at the paper confused. "How are they back? Logan... took down their research? Their plans... everything. I guess... the leaders got away but... they had nothing to..." Griffin just pointlessly muttered to himself and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He'd huff and swallow. "I guess it was important!" Griffin expressed as the color came back to his face. "You know... after everything with them was done, the region became so easy, I finished it within a few months, maybe even less time. I guess..." Griffin told her and knelt down to pet her. That's when someone tapped his shoulder "Sorry, sir... You paid us way too much..." He said "I'll refund you most of it, I believe there was a mistake with the numbers...

Rather then paying fifty for the night, Griffin accidently handed him five hundred. Either way he cut it to four and left it at that. Thanked the receptionist for the help and went to catch up with everyone else. During all the confusion... Luna took a moment to stare at the chair where that man was with his Zoroark. They were gone already as they left... Luna didn't even see the man leave. It made her fur crawl as she followed Griffin out of the little motel and across the street at a crosswalk. After a little walk, Brad, Natasha and Melody gave them a wave from down the road. It was that same Café those peculiar trio were at when they first walked into the city yesterday. Jezzle? Luna remembered that name in the least. In fact, they sat at the same table. Shadow and Bandit just stared and chatted to one another... Griffin took his time. In fact... he took more time then he should have. He laid out his plans for them... how right after re-challenging Cerulean, he'd make his way to Celadon right away. They enjoyed their coffee for at least an hour... ate. Talked. And eventually parted ways at the Coffee shop - where Griffin gave them a wave and yelled good luck. They'd have to double back to Saffron to reach Celadon City, but at least they all had the same badges. It was insane luck, Griffin knew that... Even Melody had the same ones. So they were just waiting on him to succeed. From there it was a walk, closer to the transit station where Luna followed him closely. She left Bandit and Shadow to talk alone... she felt like they needed the alone time. Moonlight and Leafeon were even able to say goodbye at the Café. Everyone was... As Griffin left on his own for now and she'd follow him very closely. Something touched her back - her fur on stilts as she'd turn to look around. The wind? That's what it seemed like... but her mind went back to that weird Zoroark and the man in the trench coat, distracted with the morning paper. The transit station was like a hub of buses that followed off to main highway routes - Luna was astonished there was a highway like this... there was even, from here, a route from one side of Japan to the other. Crossing every Region... from Kanto to Sinnoh. The airport specifically. Griffin had to talk to a man, who scanned his badge there and then immediately asked him to return his Pokemon to their capsules. He did so, one by one. Luna was the last of the three... "Ready?" Griffin asked her, and Luna seemed to nod cautiously as Griffin pressed the button. It returned her back to a swirling green field. An endless meadow where this wonderful tree overlooked a glade of emerald grass. As though it were a spanned sea. She'd give a little breath... held it and released. "THIEF!" She called out, if he were to be anywhere... here was the place. But she had no call back. "THIEF!" She called his name out again and huffed before she decided to go on a walk through the biomes...

At least... she was about to... when a peculiar pink-purple tail stopped her. "He's with Ayumu. So, he should be absolutely fine." Moonlight mentioned. "So... Are... you are going back to the Volcano biome?" Luna huffed in reply. "No... not yet at least. This sucks though..." The Espeon tilted his head "What does?" "Well, I mean being cooped up in here again. I mean we got LAUNCHED out last time..." She'd bring that up and Moonlight just nodded. "Well... be thankful we did. Who knows what could've happened if we didn't..." Moonlight mentioned, and Luna gave a nod. It took longer then she expected for Bandit and Shadow to show up. Luna went to talk to one of them... but she couldn't find a word to say, they both just went on to talking more... even though they were now an entire region away when they left their Pokeballs. "You... know there's a biome you might like... better then the Volcano." Moonlight brought up. "You see the desert Biome?" Luna looked over as Moonlights forked tail pointed that way. "Yes, I see it." "The forest behind it... it opens up into a wonderful beach. Bandit and Shadow are heading off to the mountain Biome. Marill, I saw him scamper off for the water... don't tell him about the beach... I have no clue where Absol went." Moonlight brought up "If... you'd like it would be a good spot to rest up more. I'll be here I guess. I like the tree." "Are you okay?" Moonlight tilted his head. "I should be, I mean I feel fine." "You... you're talking differently. You're... standing even differently. Like before... when I met you in Pewter." Luna mentioned and smiled "I just... think it's nice. I feel like that's you. That's a good thing too." Luna mentioned. "That was the Espeon who stayed up all night in the ocean with me... that was the Espeon who fought at the Magnet Train... After that... it just felt..." "Distant." "Yes." Luna mentioned and sighed a little "I guess... well I don't know. It was wrong for me to get... angry at you. I don't even know why I did." Moonlight gave her a smirk. "Shadow told me it's because you were defending Thief." Moonlight expressed "Without you even knowing it. You just jump into the fray. It's not good... You have an amazing ability with fire. I've never seen a Vulpix with so much." Moonlight mentioned with a smile. It was that smile that made her fur tinge... as though he had. As though Moonlight said, 'That I knew of one more even greater.' With just his smile it told Luna that... but she felt wrong to pry. "I'll have a look at the biome." Luna mentioned and left Moonlight on his own in the field. It felt odd... leaving him there. Alone... but it seemed like everyone just went their separate ways. Scarf... Luna wondered where that Pikachu went... She even wondered where Absol went to. She wondered if they both went to a biome together to talk... all Luna did was cross the field and reach that weird wall which showed the tree's in the distance. A liquid she could walk through and suddenly she was in this forest filled with life. Where every detail was in pure blissful view. The sunlight rained down through the leaves - it littered the roof above her with gold and white sparkles where emeralds twinkled gently above her. Where the earth below her spasmodically swapped from shade to sun... Where the heat felt real on her pelt... Her heart began to race - even the air smelled different here. She'd find herself aimlessly wandering through the woods. Through a thicket of digital tree's that looked no different then a real one... smelled no different then a real one. Even the wind, the sounds. Everything here was beyond real, it's as if a photograph came to life in perfect... stunning groups of creativity. Her paws trudged onward in silence... taken back by the views. She wandered further and further... Until she heard a laugh.

It made her spin and blast a tree with her Flamethrower. One that malformed, crackled... burned to the ground like it was some cheap animation and regrow back to its perfected creation. Where the bark was real and the smell was so true to the earth. "Thief!?" She'd call out and partially turn around. "Boo!" Luna hopped back and scampered re-ward. Her paws gave way, pelt on stilts... as this peculiar Vulpix with bright sunny eyes stared at her. It hit the ground in a fit of wonderful giggles. "I scared ya! I scared you good!" He'd say and kick his hind legs out in this delightfully playful way. "T - that's not that funny... who are you?" Luna tilted her head at the Vulpix. Just like the woods... he looked every bit as real as everything around her. "Hm? Oh... I'm an automated safety program designed by the creator. I monitor Pokemon's wellbeing here." It replied to her "I've recently been updated! The software ran into an error..." It tilted its head blankly. "I don't remember the error. That must've been a scary fault!" Luna rolled her eyes "I don't get it... you're weird!" "No you are!" It replied back with a giggle "You're looking for that Growlithe! I have no reading he's here." Luna flinched "You know Thief?" It nodded "Yes.... His last report was that his body temperature reached hazardous levels. I had to regulate the snowy Biome because of it." Luna tilted her head. "What are you talking about?" The golden-eyed vulpix flattened his ears "He was really upset... dug himself a hole in the snow and decided to sleep there. For maybe an hour almost!" the program commented "So I changed the temperature. I can do that, you know." It smiled warmly at her. "I was in the middle of checking over this Biome when you walked in. The new update added something unique!" "I have no clue what you're talking about. I can change temperature." Luna let out her Flamethrower for a moment. "See." She'd say as the Vulpix went wide eye'd "That's so COOL! It looks really REALLY powerful!" Luna gave a cheeky grin "I bet it's more powerful than yours!" It hummed and hawed. "I can't use moves." It would say. "I have no way of learning them." He spoke, and Luna gave him a giggle "Not with that attitude, obviously" She'd comment and smirk "How about I teach you one!" He flattened his ears. "I can't learn moves. I'm a program." Luna tilted her head "I've never heard of a Pokemon like that. Anyways! You're a Vulpix." She'd comment and gave him a little huff of smoke. "Try that." All it did was mimic her stance and movements to a tee. Yet nothing happened. "See... try hitting me with Ember." She'd giggle in response to that. The other Vulpix said and she'd giggle in reply. "You surrre? I don't want to hurt you..." He'd smile in return and give her a positive nod "I appreciate your consideration. But I was here when the software crashed." Luna tilted her head with curiosity and huffed a plume of crackling smoke and embers. The gentle flicks of red swirled against the artificial air... one that seemed - only for a moment, stuffy and filled with this recycled air until a wonderful push of air slithered through. One that was cold... clean. As though a window had just opened beyond the capsule. A vibration slipped through the ground below her. This tender lull, much like a purr from a larger beast clung around her paws as the Vulpix in front of her gave her this wonderfully friendly smile. "Why take so much interest in using your moves against me? I know! We can play tag!" He'd take up a stance with his six tails perked and a playful grin on his face. The fur along his nose rustled against the wind and shimmered in this abnormal way. A way that made Luna curious sniff him now. There wasn't any scent... Or... there was? She couldn't tell - as though she were to expect a scent from him. Is my mind playing tricks on me? What's a program? He's a Vulpix... "Where do you come from?" The Vulpix laughed in reply, this small yet hearty laugh that made him tap his paw against the ground twice. She had never seen a Vulpix laugh like that. This... weird unique way to purpose his laughter. A friendly, kind... caring laugh that made her fur shrill up and left her to blush from the embarrassment. "I - It was just a question..." "Well I told you already, I'm a program... I come from the creator?" It tilted its head as though to question itself puzzled. "So... I guess I come from here!" He'd fan out his tail as though to proudly show off the forest. Luna coughed and chuckled nervously "You can't come from the Pokeball, Griffin never caught you!" The Vulpix smiled "There's two programs now! I, which regulates the environment and the battle program." Luna gave him a drop of his tails. "You're a Vulpix.... Like me?" She'd say and shake her head. "You're weird." She'd say and the Vulpix held his happy expression. "And you're not weird!" He'd say happily "There's no other Pokémon in this Biome. I'm surprised you hadn't gone to the Volcano biome." The program expressed, and she tilted her head. "Well I-" "You appeared angry and defensive before and showed it through territory control." It explained "If you're that pent up with energy, then look around the tree in the meadow. There should be all sorts of BIG buttons that come up on a screen!" "A screen? Like... the mirror in the gym?" It tilted its head as though to show a question mark. "I have no record of a gym as of late." He'd say, and Luna huffed out a sigh. "Well, the battle program should help you prepare! Its notes on it are peculiar..." She tilted her head "Why do you say that?" It gave her a playful grin. "Apparently it's a program based from a Pokémon the creator saw once. An abnormal Pokémon. Aberrant I'd say!" It mentioned, and Luna just rolled her shoulders.

"I'm going to the beachside I guess..." She started to say "It's a cove, actually. It's located nearby Littleroot." He'd express confidently "I have the location marked in Griffin's Pokenav and Pokedex!" Luna huffed and gave him a look. "I don't know... what? Whatever, it was nice meeting you..." She'd say and pause. "Wait I never got your name." It was gone. There was just her in the middle of those beautiful trees. A glade of wonderful bushes that glimmered in this endless sunshine glow which pierced through the leaves above her. The silence suddenly got to her until the wind slithered through in this perfectly calm and soothing way. A way that made Luna think intently to herself, even that strange Vulpix... She passed a pointless plume of embers towards the air and just wondered if it was worth pointlessly wasting fuel. Well... for her, at least her fire couldn't go out. She was a Vulpix after all. Her paws dug against the false earth as she'd silently wander to the beachside where water which glimmered with golden scales studied her as intensely as she stared upon it. The mountains in the distance; how they searched endlessly towards the sea as though they were a massive ancient ship with sails that touched the skies... the view was breath taking. This... is a real place? Luna gave a playful giggle to herself "There's no way..." She muttered to herself silently... alone. Those amber eyes traced out a sky that was nothing more then a collected mirror of clouds where a wonderful sunny ray punctured through them to leave all sorts of cracks in the sky. They all scattered and let out streams of gold against the blue waves that collected them. Caressed them out to the sea with each gentle stroke and from time to time they would touch the beachside that glimmered like white diamonds... The sand made her sit to stare... stare at her paws, the fur collected along every strand of hair... the way how she pointlessly glanced at her paws with a tender little sigh and stared out to the sea. Stared out to a land beyond the waters before her.

• Thief.

There was the ocean he glanced out towards underneath a stunning Alolan sky. One which pelted against the water mercilessly no different then the way it pelted down on his fur. His Pumpkin-orange eyes just glanced outward to the empty, cloudless sky with a sigh. The entire den was like a large dug out pit that hung in the sunlight... it was against a cove of rocks nearby the water but elevated that it would take a storm to flood it. The moment they got back, it was as though he were dropped into a pile of Growlithes. From cubs to ones even older then himself... There was one female around his age with these wonderfully pink eyes. One that kept bothering him and expressing that she liked his eyes. It slowly became creepy how much she marveled over them. She would never stop taking about them and in moments, a bag was nearly dropped on top of the Growlithe as he recollected his thoughts. He heard this peculiar tin like ptang sound slip from this rugged plastic bag. In fact, one fell out and he almost went off the cliff to catch it. He could read the can easily. It was a can of pineapples, chunks specifically. "You said you can open them..." The Arcanine mentioned and sat down. He looked the entirely opposite way. "Heating them up doesn't work... in fact they melt." He'd say, "And I don't want to ruin my fangs chewing them apart." "W - well you need a can opener!" He'd say, "Even then you need hands, not paws!" Arcanine huffed "Like Rattata?" Thief felt his fur rustle and he'd turn his head around. "You kept the shell! You like it?" Thief shrugged at the little black Rattata. He swore that its fur was like a very, very dark purple but he figured it was from him being used to those kinds. It just left him to think about home, to think about everyone there. Are they worried? Is Griffin worried?_Thief anxiously tapped his paws against the ground as the sun burned above him. He wondered... it was after noon, right? It must've still been early in the morning back home... He gave an anxious little yawn. A yawn that only reminded him that he didn't belong in that region... That he should have been more or less asleep back home with everyone. Something tugged at his tail again and he let out a quick, exasperated sigh. "Yeah?" He'd say sluggishly and the Rattata laughed "So what are we looking for?" She'd ask, and Thief gave her a little nod. "Well, it has three handles, a gear and a circular blade. You'd hook the bottom of the can opener onto the top of the can, squeeze it and then twist a handle on the side of it. I mean there's a few hundred types of them out there..." He'd comment to her "D - don't tell me that you're dragging me out there to find one?" Suddenly something much larger bit onto his tail - it sent his body into a fury of quakes. That Arcanine just clamped down on it and lifted him from the ground. Thief used Dead Weight! It's not affective... at all. No matter how he tried to sink back to the ground, that Arcanine lifted him up effortlessly. "Let's go." He'd say as the Rattata climbed onto his back and smirked at the now upside down Growlithe. He'd let his forepaws go limp. "Great..." Thief mentioned and was lost to the thought that the first thing he was doing on this little Alolan adventure would be a pointless sidequest. The Arcanine pushed his hind legs against the ground and bolted through the woods - over a stump that made the Growlithe cling to his chest fur with his claws. How fast!? Thief just curled his head as high as it would go. "H - hey! T - this is insane!" The Arcanine didn't respond and flicked over this meadow from a clearing that closed in on them. It _cleared the meadow in a single leap. A single fantastical leap that left Thief wide eyed and marveled... Is this... what happens when... Am I going to be this fast? Am I going to be able to jump that high? I can't even register what's in front of me... Something caught his eye through another clearing and the world stilled. It was a creature with a black torso and head with white markings. Its eyes were a wonderfully splendid blue and yellow and as Thief glanced, it hardly shot him this tiny look. Only this very subtle and tiny look before it watched away as though curious of the sea through the thicket behind it. The only thing that really caught his eye were these massive large shells. They looked as though they had paint on them and yet they already passed the brush by then. As though it were a peculiar Pokemon that stared at the land, the earth and soil with every intention to protect all around it. A Pokemon that lived to protect the Island. "W - what was that!" Thief called out but the Arcanine stayed quiet. The Rattata just dug her nose into the Arcanine's back with this delightful squeal and yipped "Who knows!? It could be any Pokemon! I didn't see it!" Thief didn't need to guess why, the strange Rattata had her entire face buried into the Arcanine's fur. It left him to tilt his head with all sorts of questions as they suddenly darted out of the tree line, across the trail in a heartbeat - one that left a strange young trainer to fall down on his rear end and stare at the Arcanine. This familiar strange voice chirped at him. "T - T - That's an Arcanine!" Thief couldn't put his tongue on that weird Pokedex. The young trainer just bounced to his feet with excitement, one that left the Pokedex to sigh. His Pikipek just hung on his head while he'd throw his arms back, over his head and hat and talk or argue with the Pokedex smugly. The Arcanine already crossed by, around a wonderful trail - one that inclined higher and higher until they reached some strange pathway. A wooden fence overlooked the city... a strange building behind them that Thief glanced at for a while - upside down and without anything but a few stranger sounds from Pokemon. It made him think of a large daycare... but a sign looked over the front. All he read out was the word Academy... or school? Thief couldn't tell at all, but they had this glorious view of the city.

"Clawmark hill... is..." The Arcanine jumped upward and looked over the city and back towards Ayumu's home. "I believe that mountain. In the distance." He'd comment. "So where would we find this... 'can opener?'" He'd ask with a mouth full of tail and Thief let his paws dangle again while he'd pant. "Any general store... market... anywhere would have one." He'd pass this curious sounding snarl "Do I look like I can just walk into_some home?" Thief shook his head "No - no a market is... you know what, you're right you can't just walk into some humans 'home.'" Thief mentioned as the Arcanine gave him this puzzled look - a look that he gave to the air away from Thief. _This lack of eye contact is making me more and more angry... Thief gave a snub stare and gave a whine. "Fine... just... I don't know find a spot to sit? Rattata should be able to help me I guess..." She'd nod, maybe three or four times "I've been to the city so often, that I know it like the back of my paw!" She'd show it off, complete with fingers. "I'm just lucky all the Raticats and Rattata's hang around the woods! They almost never come close to the city..." She'd comment "Except me..." Thief gave a curious shrug "Well... let's hope you don't influence them somehow..." Thief stated, "I've read about Rattata's eating all sorts of food" She'd giggle a little "With just a few of us we can eat an entire storehouse empty!" Thief gave her a look as the Arcanine lazily dropped him on the ground. He hit the grass, hard. "Ow... Also, that's terrifying to think of..." She laughed "Maybe for you pudgy!" She said with her tongue stuck out as Thief casually bumped and pushed her with his paw "Alright alright, I get it already..." He'd say, "Let's just find that stupid can opener so I can find Wuffles." Thief mentioned and sighed "I guess the open market could be a good idea... The best place would be an actual store..." Thief let out a little groan "What?" The Rattata asked as they walked down the trail to the city. "Nothing... The only markets I go to are trainer markets." He'd sigh "But Griffin likes to go to kitchen supply stores sometimes..." "Kitchen...?" Thief sighed "You prepare and make food in one. A kitchen." The Rattata would nod and stare up at him I almost wish there was something, anything going on rather then this... Thief rolled out his tongue and began to pant. The sun boiled above him as he'd shake out his hind legs and tail. "I feel muggy...?" He gave her a sheepish laugh "If that's even a word?" Thief gave a giggle after "Sorry, I'm insanely... hot... feeling hot?" Thief's face started to get red "W - well I mean the sun is... Like everything here is so much hotter then back home..." The Growlithe mentioned with a little laugh as the Rattata gave a giggle herself "Well it's colder in the city" She'd say and Thief sagged his shoulders and paws into the earth. It had to have been easily five or ten degree's higher up on the mountain... "Hot air rises..." He'd comment and the Rattata stopped and tilted her head "What?" She'd say, and Thief would smile "Hot air rises because it's less dense then cold air, it's also why cold air flows through hotter area's... it can make wind... airflow..." The Rattata would think and tilt her head "So that's how the Wingulls can glide?" The Rattata mentioned as Thief nodded with a nervous smile "That's some of it, I bet there's more too! I mean without air pressure you couldn't hear me talk either!" Thief said with a laugh "I mean... you don't know any of this?" the Rattata shook her head no. It left Thief to go on a pointless spiel about all sorts of different topics. Everything he recollected from a collection of books he once read. Some were text books, others were random things he noticed on television. The fact that he could read didn't seem to surprise the Rattata, in fact it just made her tilt her head and ask him why he needed to learn that. Then she even asked Thief if he could teach her which made him laugh a little.

"Well, it took me months to learn..." Thief mentioned "I doubt I'll be here long enough! A - anyways I can't read English..." He'd comment. "Most of the things here are in English..." Thief mentioned with a huff, that was the truth, regardless of how Thief looked at every sign, every picture - he had to relate them both and try to make sense of the symbols. There were simple ones, such as signs at crosswords... but the word didn't make sense to him. One red sign looked over the road that they walked up to from the mountains. Thief knew what it was - a STOP sign for traffic... but four symbols... for a word that said 'tomete' Thief had to rack his brain for the rare few signs that were written in Japanese with the English translation underneath. Why is it such a big sign too? Like a big hexagon... I recognize those but... what... do they sound like? His paw tapped on the ground as he'd try to read the sign. He could only see the Japanese word in his mind and that left him to sigh. "Growlithe..." the Rattata commented and stood on her hind legs with her paws on her hips. A frantic little tap on the ground left Thief's pelt to rile up. "S - sorry..." He'd say. "Just watch out for cars..." The Growlithe commented and veered his head down the street. It was this little back street - paved but old and on the outskirts of the city. Thief heard varies horns in the distance which left the Rattata to flinch. "Those sounds are from... what?" Thief sighed a little "I thought you came here all the time..." "I do! I just don't know then names for EVERYTHING." She'd express and tap her feet against the sidewalk "Let's get going! We have SO many cans! If they all have food in them then we'll have food for a week!" She'd comment and nervously nod "G - granted... It's loud and... does every city get this loud? We only come down here late at night or later in the afternoon..." "Does the noise bother you?" Thief asked as they crossed by another road, he was so focused on the Rattata that he didn't see a human walk around him. They'd mutter something about a Growlithe - a pet? The human glanced back at Thief from time to time as they'd walk down the sidewalk behind them, it seemed as though it was just someone headed to work... someone who walked the same road every day and never saw anything that different. Thief wiggled his tail a little and felt this colder wind that shot through his fur, against his nose and muzzle with this sweet scent that made him sniff around. It smelled like a berry of some kind. Thief started to follow his nose as something scampered to catch up to him. "What are you doing?" The Rattata tugged at his tail. "I know that smell..." It smells similar? I know it is... it's that season mix that Griffin sometimes cooks. He uses all sorts of different berries. Oran... Pinap, Sitrus? There's plenty of fruits too... Thief glanced over at a building across the street. It was this wonderful little restaurant barely on the outskirts of the town which left him to stare at it from across the road with his rear planted on the ground. There was a peculiar young girl with near raven? Green? Thief couldn't put his paw on the color of her hair. She was busy reading over all sorts of different books, cook books he assumed. She looked determined with whatever she spent her time doing... It left Thief to giggle a little. She's cooking differently then Griffin does... Even the way she holds everything is different? Professional? He just sniffed the air and noticed her take a glance to the window. Even her eyes were the same color as her hair. There was this happy little smile from her that made him tilt his head as a man opened the door - Thief barely saw the middle aged man walk down the opposite side of the street, one that made her smile and wave as he'd make his way behind the counter to overlook what she was doing...

By the time that particular young chef looked back his way, Thief was already gone and following Rattata to a tee. The familiar smell made him clear his head as he'd glance over at the tall buildings and the light-colored buildings. The hum of Air-Conditioning units made his ears twitch as he followed the Rattata closely, there was some random chatter from an alleyway nearby. Thief just walked by as some tacky-dressed trio talked about their 'next move' and the like. They all liked some weird dress-up group, with bandana's over their faces and caps over their head. The only thing he caught onto that seemed remotely worth-while was the name or group they called themselves. Team Skull. It just made Thief brush it off... Great... even here they have those weirdo's... Like back in Cerulean. He'd sigh a little and that just left him to think about Absol, how she was always silent - partially rigid as though proud? Thief just huffed I haven't really talked to her much... or Marill I guess. There's even Scarf too... And... I guess there's the Blaziken and Lycanroc now. Are they okay? How long does that take? Thief just shook his head and tried to empty out his new sudden thoughts as he'd pick up the pace "How much further?" He'd say and look around the city with a tired little yawn "It would be too early in the morning back home for this..." The Rattata gave him a giggle "We'll find the thing, eat and you'll have a nap, I promise!" She'd say with this overly confident smile "I know the market is closer to the sea... but those are all little buildings with food." "They're stands..." Thief mentioned "An open market." Thief stated, nearly annoyed. She really doesn't know any of these things? Even though she comes to the city with that Arcanine? Are all wild types like this? He let out a sigh and watched her scamper ahead... it was and felt like a mirror image of the day before, but now there was easily twice as many people around, maybe even more then that! The city felt oddly crowded for his taste as they talked about all sorts of things. The noise just rang against his ears with incandescent chatter which pushed him further and further away from the city... He knew absolutely nothing, even the language was hard to understand at times. Before it was Ayumu and Makani that talked through most of it... mostly in Japanese. Now... this was all English and Thief was at a loss about everything. It made his tail fold over and his ears pin back as the Growlithe pushed through a collection of feet and across the open street. Some people stared at him and he picked up his little paws that left a banter of clicks against the pavement. He only wondered if they were all talking about a lost Growlithe, with the collar on his neck and his ears folded back, it's what it had to look like. His paws clicked past Rattata as she'd sidestep out of the way. "T - Thief?" She'd say his name and that made him look at her. "I - I guess I'm a little nervous... I mean..." "I know the feeling but stay close to me at least! You're the one with the fancy little collar!" The Rattata squeaked at him as someone widely stepped over her. The human muttered about something to do with all the Pokemon... Thief moved out of the way of his shoes and came close to the Rattata. "I - I get that but isn't there anywhere that's not so" Something bumped him, a Pokemon. It was round, like a ball with a wonderfully snowy white front. Thief tilted his head at it and nodded shyly. "Sorry... it's too crowded here, I didn't see you." It made a little squeak and went off, following a trainer down the way. One that Thief swore was as round as that peculiar and spiked fluffy ball-like rodent. "That's a Togedemaru!" The Rattata mentioned and Thief tilted his head "I've never even heard of that Pokemon..." He stared back to the crowd but the Togedemaru was already gone. "How... many Pokemon out there are different?" Thief muttered to himself "Almost all of them but Growlithes!" The Rattata commented and stuck out her tongue before tugging at his fur "What about there?"

Her paw pointed out at a pointless building in the distance amongst all the other ones... But this one had a wonderfully blue sign - a sign and a symbol which Thief knew in a heartbeat. "Yes! That's perfect! It's a trainer's shop!" He took the Rattata by the tail and bolted towards a nearby crosswalk. She eep'd loudly and flailed around "W - wait a minute! You're going the wrong way!" She squeaked as Thief went towards a corner of an intersection. He just sat and waited for the signal to change. The Rattata gave him a little huff in reply. "There's nothing here... just walk over there!" Thief rolled his shoulders along with his eyes. The sign here said the speed limit was fifty - Thief understood numbers here at least. The sign glimmered from red to white and that's when Thief started to cross the road. The Rattata just flicked her tail in his teeth and squirmed as a vehicle stopped at the intersection - humans passed them as they crossed by the road. They just watched people step around them and stare as they crossed the road. Some laughed a little as they stared at the two which walked beside them and towards the Pokemon mart. It stood in the distance and Thief naturally felt his paws pick up against the pavement, paws which suddenly stopped and veered out of the way of a young Blonde girl that nearly gave him a yelp. Peculiar young lady with an older man in a suit... she seemed or appeared to pointlessly watch trainers at a round-like park where a fountain lay. Thief didn't stop for her, but he did feel a little bad about it. Maybe I gave her a scare? It crossed his mind and left as quickly as his paws which bolted past some larger grey-silver canine... One that made him hilt his paws to a stop. It just stared him down with big, striking blue eyes. The gaze was enough for him to oddly and awkwardly step around it and keep his distance. He just stayed silent and then scampered when it made a sound. It felt like a curious whine, as though it said hi, but he had already bolted off. His heart raced, all against his own power. I feel like I should see Griffin any second... and every time I think of that it... I just know I'm alone with some Rattata? Thief swallowed What do I do... if... If I get caught? What do they do here? I'm just stealing... Thief stalled and planted his rear bluntly on the pavement. I'm... He'd give a hint of a swallow which dryly touched his lips. Stealing. Like... Griffin's food way back then... All the books from the shelf that I read... I'm stealing... It made him stop across the sidewalk to watch two trainers talk to the clerk, comment about whatever it could be. Talk for a while... They seemed disgruntled about prices... Thief just watched them talk and talk... hold up something he couldn't see, and it started out like some argument which the clerk shrugged back at them. Somebody left the market and it left the door to open. "They're out of season, you can't have them every season. Anyways the ship from Japan is late, caught up with some trouble. You could try your luck searching for them yourself" The voice muted as the door to the market slowly closed itself. There's... no way. Are they talking about berries? Thief felt his tail flicker and it thumped against the pavement as he did. I'll find dozens of berries, I can trade them, right? I mean Griffin does that with his phone! If you can buy it... you can give it for something else right? "Rattata" She'd squirm as he talked "Put me down already!" She'd express "All the blood is flowing to my head!" Thief gulped and put her down. "Sorry... but... do you know where we can find berries?" The Rattata tilted her head a little and scoffed. "Well... sure, but there's never a lot. Some Pokemon horde them." She'd comment as Thief's tail would flicker

"We need to find lots and lots of them" Thief mentioned "I know of a better way to get the can opener." He'd say, "A much easier way." That might... be a lie... Thief shook his head. "Well... Alright maybe not easier... per say... but a fair way!" The Rattata gave him this look, one that made her sigh a little. "How many berries?" She'd mention curiously, and Thief tilted his head and walked to the door of the market. He couldn't read the words... But he knew the numbers. The Rattata just hopped onto his back and held onto his fur. "N - not so tight." Thief passed a silent whimper to her It's like she's pulling my fur out... He'd try to resist the urge to shake out his pelt, like he would whenever he was soaked... The Growlithe grit his teeth and watched the doors slide back as he walked up to them. The Rattata just glared at them in amazement? Or maybe fear... If she was only coming down very late with Arcanine... Then... "Hey... how far in the city do you go?" The Rattata gave Thief a look, he turned to try and see it. "What? Are you mad about my asking that?" He'd mention and the Rattata gave a smile "No no," Thief could hear the smile in her voice "I just avoid going inside unless I need to... but... well this building is always here but... It's just..." "You've never been inside?" Thief commented with a hushed sound that made the Clerk look over the counter. All the clerk would see would be his puffy tail. It's as though they figured it was the trainers Pokemon. "Well in the front I mean... I've been in the back loads of times!" She'd mention and give his fur a little tug "So why do you need berries? In this heat they spoil too quickly, even when we hide them in the den." The Rattata commented. "It's never cold enough for them... if we only had snow..." She'd shake her head a little. "You're not a Growlithe... so why worry about heat?" Thief would ask and glance at the products on the shelves... Everything was in English, but... there was several price tags on every shelf. He knew what the Can Opener could look like.... And his eyes looked up at a box. It was one, in fact he knew it would be one that worked perfectly! He'd try to engrave the number in his head. It's...nineteen forty nine. In Poke..._Thief just stared at the number _Those are the only ones I can find... Or that I see... they're like... fancier then Griffins..._Thief thought to himself and nervously walked past them... He could get the Rattata to climb up and drop the box. They could just take it and run... But that felt wrong to him. Completely wrong. Thief couldn't bring himself to the idea of it. **_As though something so plainly easy and obvious to do... was something he couldn't choose. Something that he wanted to move past and away from. Here in Alola... Thief was determined to change anything about himself, and that was the first best thing he could think of.** There was a little flicker of fire that slipped against his pelt, the heat rose... his eyes focused on the shelves... then to a cooler in front of him. He'd partially hop up onto a box - one that was left in the front as though forgotten there and then made his way to the top of the cooler. The glass... Every berry is... almost... eighty cents? No... for a small box? There's not a lot in there at all. No wonder why those two are arguing with him... there's also no Pecha berries here... some Oran... they have a small stock. Thief nodded to himself, most of them were the same price. I'll just get dozens of berries, all kinds! If what Rattata said is true about the boat... then the last one is hours away and I've already missed the one for mid-day. Thief gave himself this happy little smile "I have everything I need to know! Let's go, Rattata! We need to find as many berries as we can!" The Rattata tilted her head, she was busy staring at pointless boxes - holding up the smallest ones and shaking them to her ear.

"W - what? We haven't..." Thief sighed "We need berries to get it!" He'd express and nod at her with this playful grin "It'll be fun too!" The Growlithe expressed by playfully tapping his paws on the ground "If you know a spot I can sniff them out! I know all their smells! I'm the best at finding them! I help my trainer all the time!" Thief stated, and quite confidently at that too. "I know where they can be hiding too!" "Alright alright." The Rattata mentioned "Around the city is tough... but it's not completely impossible... They're just hard to find." Thief shook his head "No, we need wild ones." He'd comment "Like a proper bush!" The Rattata put her paws on her side "Are you crazy!? Berry bushes can be some of the hardest to find!" Thief huffed back at her as he stepped out of the market with the clerk staring at the two of them. "They're not impossible!" Thief mentioned "So we need to find as many as we can! We'll go back to that Arcanine and ask for some help. It's the best way to do it!" "But by far the quickest! Was the thing even in there?" Thief huffed and refused to answer her question. I'm not stealing anything... That isn't fair. Thief just shrugged "It has to be! But we need berries to get it! It's a trade!" The Rattata tilted her head again... "A trade? For berries? Why... what? You can do that?" Thief nodded "You have to be able to do that!" the Growlithe commented and that left the Rattata to twitch her ears nervously. Did it just occur to her that she could do things like that? But when it came to humans... they didn't know, not the wild ones anyways... Thief just curiously clawed at the pavement. "I mean, the humans can do that, so why can't we?" Thief brought up "They trade funny things all the time, right?" It's called money... I know what it is... Sort of. Thief really didn't get it much... but trading something made sense to him, that's all money could be. So the Rattata made a weird little call out to a Wingull, and that Wingull called back at her then swung towards a large hill on the outskirts of the city. Thief just coughed a little and watched the Wingull fly away against the sky. He didn't even know there was a way to mimic a call like that, or if the Wingull knew her but that's what the Rattata did. Thief honestly thought that a Wingull was just a Wingull... just a Pokemon that barely made a noise to any other. "It's because they travel everywhere... they have their own special call. Some Pokemon do and some don't. I just asked it to find my friend. They watch everything - it's astounding." She'd mention with a smile "Now... how about... there's a grove of trees away from the city but if we go to far we'll hit a farm." Thief tilted his head "A farm? Like... for milk?" The Rattata shook her head and giggled "A big farm with Miltanks! It's another type of Pokemon!" Thief swallowed to himself, as though something left a weird taste in his mouth. Fresh... Pokemon milk? That's gross! He made a weird motion with his tongue and shriveled up his pelt. I don't even LIKE milk. Thief just stared back at her... "What?" The Rattata just tilted her ears a little and flicked them back at his look. That sour look. "You've never had Miltank milk before, have you?" Thief somewhat and confusingly shrugged "I mean... Maybe? I don't drink milk... I don't even like cream that much. Griffin gave -" "Griffin?" The Rattata heard the name which made her nose scrunch and her whiskers twitch "Is that a Pokemon?" "No, no..." Thief muttered "It's my trainer, I'm saying that he's even given me whipped cream before... I hate it. I hate almost everything with milk in it." The Rattata chortled "No wonder why you're so slow!" She'd mention with a giggle that made his paws tap the ground and his fur flare out

"I'm not fat! Anyways milk makes me feel sick!" Thief commented and growled at her "It makes me feel bloated..." He'd mention, although... He couldn't bring himself to talk about how his stomach hurt when he ate human food... It was something that only happened recently, and it was depending on what he ate. Griffin was usually very good with avoiding certain foods for everyone, but... now he was starting to hurt from time to time. It didn't irritate him enough, but he did feel tired from time to time. His paws and claws clacked on the pavement as he followed the Rattata down a road, in fact she playfully decided to run and Thief followed her as closely as he could. He followed her with a gaunter of a jog and huffed all the way until the end of the city, where everything connected to a row of forests. He had to catch his breath and sniff at everything. There was a wonderful flush of scents at first before he'd cough and hung his head low... How long did he have to run for? Long enough that he just wanted to lie down in the shade... Something hopped over him in seconds and Thief felt his fur stop. "What's wrong?" The Arcanine was directly above him and huffed down his pelt... Thief felt his fur slither down just from it's breathing. It left him to quake and quiver in fear. "W - w.. Th... um..." He'd cough and swallow silently as the Rattata giggled "Thief says we can give berries!" The Arcanine gave a little tilt of his ears, just like the way the Rattata did. "Berries?" Thief cautiously nodded "T - they spoil quickly... but if we pick fresh... If we find lots of berries you can give them right? Humans are willing to give plenty back for them... I... know!" Thief mentioned nervously, he couldn't think of how to say what he was trying to say. "I - I mean the berries are valuable for humans right? T - they help trainers with their Pokemon..." Thief muttered a little and the Arcanine huffed a little. It's ember was more like a Flamethrower for Thief. He just left his eyes to sink a little bit as the Arcanine tilted his head again. Thief... Still couldn't see his eyes thanks to the Arcanine's stature. It just looked ahead of him. "That... does make some sense. We can't keep berries long where we are. It get's much too hot on the beach and most of the Growlithes dislike the ones we can keep..." Thief nodded "W - well can's need to be cold too... I... mean if there is, Well I just..." The Arcanine gave the Growlithe this pat with his paw. "Just say it..." It would say and Thief nodded "Alright, so the cans are completely sealed. We can't open them without a human tool, at least open them easily. So that means just get some big rocks and block a little ocean water, since it's cold you could keep them there... since they need to be cold often too." Thief muttered "You... just have to make sure you can keep them safely, or... find some way to bring cold sea water into your cave... thing I guess." Thief explained and nodded "In fact there's even human things that can trap water... You find enough berries then I think you can trade them for it." The Arcanine flicked his tail.

"Trading berries to humans... for things we need... That would involve us going into the city, we can't just do that..." The Arcanine brought up "They know we ste-" "Well, stop stealing." Thief commented "People just hate you for it." The Growlithe expressed as the Arcanine gave a laugh. "You sound a little like Marina..." Thief tilted his scalp "Marina?" The Arcanine coughed "Right... she's the Growlithe that wouldn't stop bothering you." Arcanine mentioned and Thief gave a little nod. The one that was giving me a headache? "Her trainer abandoned her over a month ago, she's an odd one... I've seen her use different moves, like Psy-wave. It's not strong, but it's prevalent enough, and for a Growlithe, it's very abnormal." The Arcanine mentioned "She also gets headaches, I had to run all around the woods looking for sick Pokemon ever since that gas came by." Gas? Thief swallowed a little, it reminded him of Leafeon back in Saffron. He talked about something similar... Why would... that makes no sense? Does it change Pokemon types? And headaches? What's with that? "Have you ever seen anything like that before?" Thief shook his head no "Well... does her headaches get bad when she uses psychic?" The Arcanine nodded yes. "So I told her to stop, and that I'd teach her fire moves... she talked a lot about your eyes..." The Arcanine commented "Lets go find some berries, Thief." The Arcanine mentioned "And watch out for Charjabugs!" Thief sighed "Great... another Pokemon I have no clue about..." the Rattata giggled and laughed "Never heard of a Charjabug..." "O - Oh yeah! Have you ever even heard of a ZigZagoon? How about a Linoone?" Thief retorted "Why not a Mightyena or a Poochyena?" Thief commented and huffed "How about a Fire Type Vulpix?" Thief mentioned again as the Arcanine popped it's large paw against his scalp. "Charjabugs like to hide in the ground, stepping on one can give you a nasty shock. It's never fun. Rattata, don't make so much fun of the tourist." She'd huff and nod with a little flick of her tail "And don't cross your tail or fingers again..." She'd let out a little groan and show off her paws and her tail before nodding "Fine, I promise." The Rattata expressed and flicked her tail as Thief just trudged behind them. His nose buried against the dirt while he'd sniff around. Thief just wondered how long they'd be out there for looking for berries that were essentially out of season this time of year...

• Griffin.

He couldn't wait to get off of the bus, but at every major stop it lulled and slowed for other patrons. People shuffled in and out of the bus and that left Griffin to scratch his eyes and yawn. The coffee had long faded by now and only a couple of hours after the bus had left Vermillion. He spent most of his time looking at his badge case... the first one for Kanto... And the second one for Hoenn. He felt, upset... hiding that from everyone until last minute. Until nearly the last day. Griffin gave a little sigh, noticed an elderly woman with kind round glasses, a wonderfully pink shirt and this peculiar red necklace around her shoulders. She'd nod at him and sit down on the bus - Griffin noticed that her map was in English. A Tourist? It seemed that way, she simply had a little bag in her hands and gave him a small smile. "Hello." She'd say, in English and Griffin oddly smiled back. "Hi." He'd reply in English, in fact the conversation began that way and continued that way. She seemed to smile, and her eyes flicked on. "I didn't think I'd meet another English speaker so soon... I thought the big event wasn't going on for a while..." She'd express, and Griffin nodded "I'm a trainer here, in Kanto." He'd say and hold out his hand to greet her. "My name is Griffin." It felt odd, just saying hi and not saying anything further, not only that, but she spoke in English too. She'd graciously meet his hand and say. "I'm Anela, I live in Alola." Griffin looked stunned and gave a little smile "That's a far way away. Alola?" "Alola." She'd say with a smile as her black eyes showed off just as much of one. Griffin nodded and gave a little nervous chuckle. "W - What brings you so far out? And to Kanto of all places? If you don't mind my asking." Griffin asked and Anela nodded rather somberly. "I've been here for at least a year, seeing old friends and traveling." She'd express "To be honest, I came down here for a funeral." Griffin felt his blood run cold. She had this warm little smile, a wonderful nod as though she had already passed by it. "I'm sorry for being so straight forward, young man." Griffin shook his head "No, not at all... I was the one who asked. I'm terribly sorry that's... one of the reasons you've come down here." She nodded "Well, we're not getting any younger. It was an old friend of mine, much like a pen-pal by the end of it." Anela commented "She'd talk about all sorts of things, battling a heart disease in her age, she passed away in her sleep." Griffin swallowed a little, it was frightful to think about. "That's... Well... I don't know how or what to say. I'd feel..." Griffin let out a little nervous sigh. "I'm sorry Ma'am, would it be rude for me to say, that in the least it was peaceful?" Anela didn't nod but gave him a gentle smile. "Not at all, that's exactly how to describe it. She was even depressed for the last few months until she found a Pokemon at her doorstep." Griffin felt his eyes flicker. "A Pokemon?" He'd mention. "A Growlithe. Helena was my friends name." Griffin felt the bus move, finally. It was as though everything had silently rolled and passed by them as he talked to her. It was this somber, yet calm conversation... one that left him to think and a Pokeball of his to crack open. That left all eyes on the bus at him. "L - Luna?" Griffin swallowed and whispered "What are you doing? Go back in your Pokeball, you'll get me tossed off..." Anela giggled and began to laugh. "I doubt they would for such an adorable little Vulpix." Griffin coughed a little, away from Anela "I - It's against the rules to-" Anela just let her hand out to the small Vulpix with straightened hair and curious embers for eyes. That sweet rich orange-red, like beautiful dark sap looked up at her. Griffin sheepishly smiled and apologized towards some of the patrons around him, in Japanese naturally. The elderly woman just put her hand underneath the Vulpix's chin. "I've never seen a type like this before, it is a Vulpix right?" Griffin swallowed a little "W - well yes. It is" "We have this wonderful regional type in Alola. An ice type, fur as white as snow and eyes as blue as pure ice. They have a more isolated temperament, at least from the one's I've seen." Anela mentioned "I'm actually on my way to the airport." She sighed a little "That Growlithe sure left a mess back at her house however, everyone there told me that. Well, they told me a wild Pokemon went through the place, but I know it was the Pokemon she took care of." Luna just let the grey-haired woman pet her. "I'm actually heading my way to the Airport in Saffron City. I've gone through Hoenn for a while... and now I've seen all I needed in Kanto. I believe it's time for me to head home, my fruits and berries won't sell themselves!" She gave a little smile and Griffin chuckled "I see age hasn't stopped you from work." Anela nodded her head "I'd hardly call it that!" She'd express as Griffin smiled and took a short glance out the window, checking the stops.

Luna... his Vulpix on the other hand, just sat in Anela's lap for the whole ride and let the stranger pet her while she glanced at her with curious eyes. Griffin just glanced at his Vulpix curiously... "Lived in Kanto all your life?" She'd ask and Griffin chuckled "No... actually I was born in Hoenn, with my Brother. We... have most of our family down in Mexico." "Mexico? That's fascinating." Griffin chuckled and spoke in fluent Spanish, and to his surprise, she mentioned a few words in Spanish herself. It made him laugh a little "I've been to the day of the dead festivities, a long, long time ago." "My family used to go, almost a... decade ago." Griffin mentioned, honestly. They haven't been down there since his aunt passed away. He was seven at the time, and Bandit was almost year old. "I haven't gone, but since the news about two years ago, I've been worried." She'd mention "Worried? Wait... what happened?" Griffin felt himself swallow "Oh... a terrible, terrible thing, the police there said it was a bombing, a terrorist attack. It hurt a lot of people." She'd express, her face turned sour "It's horrible to think about." Griffin felt his skin crawl... "It's... almost lucky you haven't gone then, there's no telling what would happen if you were there. But... also to not go? I went down there for a friend a long, long time ago. Shortly after his wife passed away and he never went back. He couldn't." She'd express... "Has... something like that... If you don't mind me asking?" Griffin felt his heart race. Just... bit by bit. The bus continued to move as he felt some familiar vertigo wash over him. This... need... washed over him, one of honesty. His mouth opened towards a mutter, one that left Luna's ear to twitch. "My... Father passed away when I was six. Then my aunt did shortly after." Griffin mentioned as this friendly elderly woman nodded "that's terrible... What... happened?" "W - well my aunt had cancer, Kidney..." He'd express and hold his tongue for a moment. "My... dad..." The bus had let out a loud braking sound which left only Anela and Luna to hear what he said. Words that weren't meant to be heard from any ears just yet. Anela simply put her hand on his shoulder as Griffin took a small moment to breathe - it felt like... a weight off his chest even if it were only momentarily. No one else would know what they were talking about... and in some way, sharing it with this elderly woman seemed right, especially considering he asked first about something personal and she was so honest and willing to share it.

Luna just glanced at Griffin as the bus rolled into Saffron city. Anela nodded and collected her things as Luna moved to an empty seat, off of her lap and nearby Griffin whom felt inclined to help her out of the bus. He was used to that... just like Logan was. He'd wave goodbye with a warm smile and wish Anela luck with the trip home. Just a friendly stranger from half the world away... It's not like she'd come back up, or even remember a random bus ride in a different country... but for Griffin it was just this abnormal little step. His Vulpix simply sat over and leaned her jaw on his thigh after he sat back down. The next few stops would be Cerulean... but he was distracted with his Pokenav, he'd go down to the screen - that new menu which stated *Pokemon* underneath the main menu. A notification popped up. According to the Pokenav, and this adorable little Vulpix sprite, like it was some retro video game, it stated with the cutest chat bubble design that two of his Pokemon were getting hungry and one was unaccounted for. Griffin didn't know if that meant Luna, or Thief... He'd stare at it... and then curious clicked the screen. Like before it was a mirror image of the inside of the pokeball. Moonlight was lounging about in a tree... in the center, Marill was at the pond with Pikachu and Absol... Bandit was at the mountain biome with Shadow... one Biome was curiously locked out from view. Griffin had to click on the screen to access it. A moderator passcode was required - he tried Autumn, but that didn't work. It just said error, incorrect passcode. That Biome, was the desert biome. Thief's last known Biome was off charted, labeled *Laboratory connection* And then Thief went to the roster of Pokemon he had... There was eight Pokemon in the roster, the last was unlisted... then listed itself as a Flareon. Griffin never caught a Flareon. Did Logan add a Pokemon? Or catch one? Why a Flareon? He has one already - in his PC box. I remember that conversation with him... This doesn't make any sense... Griffin just stared intently at his Pokenav Maybe it's a glitch? It has to be... there's no capture data on it or anything, not even a timestamp or a location of capture. Griffin just glanced at the information. There was literally nothing listed but a Flareon and the Pokedex entry on a Flareon. Griffin tried to get a view from a Biome camera? Or screen? He didn't know what to call the setting. The bus stopped and hissed at another area, it wasn't Cerulean, but he was already close to the city. He disregarded it and then checked out his phone - the cracked screen looked back at him. He'd bring the phone up to his ear and let it ring. "Hello, Griffin." He called Ayumu "Hey, any luck?" Ayumu sighed a little "Sorry, no luck at all..." Griffin replied with a huff "Alright, well I think the Pokeballs are glitched, I checked that Biome thing on the Pokenav, right." Ayumu made a sound "I'm checking out the software now... huh." He'd say after a while. "That's odd... It's been locked, by Logan - when did this happen?" "I got no clue, I just checked the roster, apparently he got a Flareon?" Ayumu made another sound "I'm sure it's a glitch from the reboot, possibly from the battle program." "Battle Program?" Griffin made a nervous reply "What do you mean?" "It's an all safety training program, it trains Pokemon mentally. Not physically. It essentially just highlights a board like a gym battle... it was something your brother finished up before his trip - I had finished coding it not too long ago. It must have something... odd about it. I'll look into it when I can, I have some of my lab assistants still searching around. We even have Pokemon in the search" Ayumu expressed confidently. "It also needs a passcode to access it? I got no clue what he could use, it's completely locked... I'll try and figure it out. Let me see if I can get in contact with him, thanks Griffin." Ayumu mentioned "Oh, I got a go, a lab worker is waving, they could have found something - I'll call you back." Griffin didn't get the chance to reply before Ayumu hung up on him. Griffin just sighed and stretched as Luna looked up at him from his thigh. His hand cautiously went down to pet her head. "We need to get you that bath... the motel didn't have a diverted shower head, maybe we'll find something after the gym battle!" He'd mention "Plus, it's a water gym... again... So let's give it our all, alright" He'd say to the Vulpix and she just replied with a soft little whine. It stayed like that, in silence until they drove up to his stop and Griffin got out. By then it was only turning to eleven. More then two hours by bus, but it wasn't a problem at all, he had the whole day ahead of him.

It was just an outworldly bus ride for him, one that left him to stare colorlessly out the window as Luna just snugged her jaw against his lap. When the bus stopped again he'd pick her up and step off of the bus at the main transit hub in Cerulean City. As he stepped out after talking to the attendant at the till he was cleared to leave the transit hub although they were curious why his Pokemon had left their Pokeball, he had to explain that she never liked it and even then she was quiet and tame throughout the ride. It didn't look like they enjoyed his excuse but they let him go nonetheless. Griffin took in a breath of air, It wasn't as strongly of sea-salt and cold wind but more tame, from the forest around him. A kind silent blow pushed him ahead as he looked down at Luna, smiled and put his hands in his pockets. The gym wasn't close by from any means and on top of that a number of stores distracted him. At the end of it, Griffin collected extra water, food, and even fed all of his Pokemon. He ensured that he didn't feed them too much and he only ordered a small amount for himself. As he ate Griffin only stared at the empty chairs in front of him. Without much of a word to be spoken everything went by in complete silence, like some fever dream where he walked through a large city, at times asked for directions and continued to wander until he reached a familiar place. The Pokemon Center across from the gym. He was met with this wonderfully familiar sight of a row of trees which clung around the city... where these beautiful flowers licked the oak from their bushes and the ones dug in the earth. It was sporadically cloudy and sunny with a row of green hills and mountains in the background, all from the view of the gym. Griffin took a step when someone noticed him. "Good luck with getting in! The gym is locked..." Griffin coughed at the young woman for a moment and turned his head, his face burned red from embarrassment. "W - what? I was just... Yesterday night." He tried to bring up and mixed his words around before he'd sigh and sag his shoulders. "The leader, one of the sisters called me." The young woman smiled, she looked around ten or twelve, Griffin couldn't plant her age. Just some ginger haired pre-teen with a tired smile on her face. Yet she looked friendly and smug enough that it made him tilt his head. "You mean my dumb sisters? Yeah, they dumped some challenger on me and left for the world tour. I wouldn't be surprised if they called you after they left." She'd say with this near bratty tone that made Griffin remotely smile. Nervously smile. She already reminds me of Natasha, but not as... There's a word for it.... "I'm gone for months, and then they call me up for a favor and then dump all the chores on me..." She'd sigh as Griffin made a little tilt of his head. "W - wait... you're..." Griffin had to make the connection there, standing like a bit of a fool - open jawed and lost for words. It left the trainer to laugh. "The most beautiful of the Sensational sisters and world renown for her looks! I'm Misty" She'd express as Griffin just stood there, confused. It made her put her hands on her sides "What's with the look?" "Well it's just..." Griffin started to say, a little nervously. Misty was similar to Natasha in some ways. "What?" Misty said again as Luna just huffed and sat, she never returned to her Pokeball when Griffin offered. She had been so quiet that it just connected with him that his Vulpix was still out and about.

"I thought you'd be older." There was this little silence... Then she made a sound, clutched a fist and yelled at Griffin "What does that have to do about it!" Griffin put up his hands defensively "N - Now wait a minute, don't go having a temper-tantrum now." Griffin said it, blurted it out and that left the hair on her head to twitch. Luna curiously took a step back, Griffin just painted a nervous smile on his face. "I... d - didn't mean that?" Griffin stated stupidly as she just held her shaken fist... It only ran through his head about how he couldn't completely believe that Misty was supposed to be the current Gym Leader. "You know... You sort of remind me of a dummy I've been traveling with for months..." She'd express and gave Luna a little glance. That... actually made her burning mixture of emotions fade. "Oh my gosh, that's the cutest little Vulpix I've seen!" Griffin just stood there and tilted his head. "R- right.... You've been traveling with..." Griffin tried to make sense of the name, he had already long forgotten it. "I know the name... Just... What the Gym Leader at Pewter told me that." "Brocks dad?" Griffin snapped his thumb "Right! Pewter was the first gym in this region I took on!" Misty tilted her head "This region?" She muttered and crossed her arms "Well I've been traveling from Kanto to Johto so far! But... why are you here again to re-challenge my gym?" Misty asked, and Griffin gave a little shrug. "W - well, you see my Mightyena isn't allowed to compete in the League..." Griffin started to explain as she went a little blank "A Pokemon not allowed to be in the League?" She'd comment, and Griffin nodded "Y - yeah. It's... hard to explain." Griffin began, and Misty gave him a tilt of her head. "Oh? Is it powerful?" Misty asked, and Griffin went to open his mouth when his Pokeball cracked open. Luna just huffed and smiled at her. Who else could it be? Like on cue, whenever Griffin talked about her, his Mightyena bolted into the conversation by appearing. Her massive Statue was enough to make anyone flinch, and Misty did just that "I - It's huge! It's like an Arcanine!" She'd state as Bandit gave the young trainer some coy grin. "You're not helping Bandit..." He'd say, and she just gave him a look and huffed. Luna giggled in reply to that, the way how she gave him such a hard time always made her giggle. Misty just looked at the Mightyena closely, then curiously got in close. Misty looked over Bandit at every angle "I've never seen a Mightyena before..." Griffin coughed and shrugged She did say she traveled from Kanto to Johto... that's not a lot of regions at all "They're common in Hoenn, I come from there." Griffin explained as his hands just followed suite with his tone of voice. A calm one. "They evolve from Poochyena's" Misty just stared at Bandit in awe. "That's amazing." She'd say, and Bandit playfully took a regal and prideful stance. "Do they all become huge?" Griffin nervously chuckled "N - no... if I had my second Mightyena here I'd show you a proper comparison." Griffin nodded as Bandit gave him this dirty look. Shadow was Logan's Mightyena, not his. "Sorry I can't" He'd mention sheepishly and laugh as Misty continued to stare at the Mightyena. "It must be a Dark type." Griffin nodded "You're right." Misty nodded in reply but didn't look away from Bandit. The Mightyena just showed off her pelt. "Well what do you expect from the soon to be Water-type Master!?" Griffin sagged his shoulders. "S - sure..." He'd express and that made Misty huff at him "What's that supposed to mean!?" Griffin shrugged at her. It felt like even the hair on her head puffed out when she was angry. "I mean... if you're going to be a Pokemon Master, why lock yourself to a type?" She'd just give him a look. "Yeah... you remind me of him alright..." Griffin gave her a little look. "... Who? Wait... you mean Brock... right?" Misty laughed a little

"You HARDLY remind me of Brock... Last I heard from them they were going to Crossgate Town." Misty commented and sighed "Thank goodness Brock actually gave me his number by the end of it..." She expressed. "Well, not much I can do other then run the gym." She commented "But I have to finish everything they left behind..." Griffin silently nodded and sighed to himself. Well... I got nothing better to do... and I need to get to Celadon as soon as I'm done here. "You see I... need the battle as soon as I can, some of my friends went ahead of me to Celadon City." Griffin mentioned "How about I help you out?" Misty gave him a look "Do you know anything about gym's though?" Misty asked, "There's a LOT to do, especially with the water and filtration, I need to ensure everything is cleaned." She commented and sagged her shoulders down a little "I doubt they did..." She'd state and then toss her arm behind her head and laugh "Well, I guess I should get started right away! Then I need to pick up some food for all the Pokemon." Griffin nodded and hummed to himself. "I wonder... if any of my Pokemon can help out." Griffin laughed a little and Misty gave him a huff "I doubt it! A Pokemon can't just go to the market and pick up food ya know!" Misty commented "It's not like they'd even know their way around..." Griffin gave her a little laugh "Well, I've been down here before... and I did go for a good walk through the Trainers Village earlier. If what you need is around there, I bet my Espeon can help. He's full of weird surprises..." Griffin mentioned "And with the filter, my Marill might be able to help out with that too. Anything else, I bet I can do." Griffin mentioned, and Misty gave him a weird look. "You'd let your Espeon go out alone?" Griffin gave a confident nod back at her "He's exceptionally smart. Like..." I can't really... say that he... talked to me, right? If that's what that even was... I can barely remember everything he said... it hurt so much... "Well, I mean he's very intelligent. I know he could pick up anything, honestly. If you write a note too..." Misty coughed and laughed more in reply "Write a note..." Griffin gave an awkward smile and laughed himself "W - well I mean, I don't think he could WRITE one... you know?" Griffin mentioned that as if he was unsure... He was unsure of it, Moonlight was too peculiar for him to figure it all out. "That's crazy..." Misty mentioned "But sure, why not... I'll write down a note of what I need for all of the Pokemon..." She commented and pulled out a shopping list. She already had a list, Griffin gave her a nervous smile "You were alre-" "I would've been there if you didn't interrupt me with your gawking around the center!" Misty commented, and Griffin nervously laughed. It took him that long to connect the dots... The bag over her shoulder, her Pokemon on her belt. Griffin just scratched his head like he always did as Bandit and Luna began to giggle. That made Misty flinch, the way Bandit cackled with just a collection of 'yeen' and 'yena' sounds respectively. It was a loud and obnoxious laughter and that was directed at Griffin and then Luna gave his Pokeball a nudge. Griffin had to stare at her as she got up on two legs and reached her paws out - the Vulpix only got to his knee's, barely... Wait a second... I don't even have Marill with me anymore. He's back with Logan? I've already... Griffin put his paw on his forehead and began to laugh "Now you're laughing?" Misty commented and Griffin nodded "My Vulpix just reminded me that my Marill is with my Professor... But still, I'll clean it out, I bet I can figure it all out!" He commented and tossed up a Pokeball. "Alright Moonlight! How about you head out with Misty!" He'd call out as the Espeon cracked out of the Pokeball. "I don't need you" Griffin cut her off "You locked the gym right? Why would I leave my Espeon behind and steal something from it? I'll even give you my badge case if you want..." Griffin said "Just please let me help clean up? I need to challenge you as soon as I can!" The Espeon just gave Griffin a tilt of his head, made a few noises to Bandit and Luna and let out a little huff as his ears flicked left and right. Then the Espeon walked over to Misty and let out a sound. Just a calm and friendly 'Espeon' and sat on his rear end like any other Pokemon would. Misty gave a little weird look and sighed with her shoulders sagged "Fine fine... I'll unlock the gym for you, but you better not break anything!" She remarked and Griffin nodded "We won't, we won't" Griffin mentioned cautiously as Bandit shot him a look and then plumed a little fire. He knew what it was... Fire Fang, but she huffed the fire out simply when she exhaled. It was no different then how Bandit pulled off incinerate... It scared Griffin when he thought about how she was smart enough to waste energy and turn it into pure explosive power, and all that went through his head was Bandit ruining the gym and his chances of getting this all done easily... Although, she hadn't done anything like that in a long while. "Alright, I'm guessing you got everything you need, so My Pokemon and I should be able to help clean here!" Griffin mentioned as Misty unlocked the gym door "Yep! I have all I need." Griffin nodded back at her as she et the door open "Alright, we got this, right Luna?" The Vulpix just tilted her head as Griffin gave her a dumb stare, it left Misty to huff "You're a weird, you know that right?" Misty commented as Griffin gave a nod "Y - yeah I get that a lot..." He'd say and Misty scoffed - it was a happier sound then he expected and as Moonlight followed her down the road closely, she'd give a few looks back at the Espeon behind her and then look over her list. Griffin stepped into the gym and as he did the lights flicked on. The gym was massive... and Griffin gave a little shocked nod now that he was walking through more then just the Foyer. I - I - It's like a public swimming pool!? Griffin thought to himself and let out all of his Pokemon, they all just tilted their heads and then started to make random chatter to one another. "N- Now wait a minute" Griffin said and that only let Absol to stop chittering. Bandit and Luna just looked at one another. "We need to help clean the gym up alright? Before Misty comes back..." Griffin took a moment to look around the huge gym. Aside from the main battlefield, their was easily another section for Pokemon and trainers - the water smelled... as though it lacked cleaning chemicals, or if it did, there HAD to be something special or organic they used... not only that, it looked as though the gym and it's pools hadn't been cleaned properly in a while. Griffin had to swallow about what Misty said, they didn't dump chores on her, they left the young girl with everything to do, even the change rooms were a mess and needed a good sweep and buffed where there was messy tile. Griffin knew it was a large gym when he first walked in, the glass above him clung with a small layer of dust that he couldn't reach no matter what he thought of, the sun shone through the triangular dome aimlessly and showed off the ground below him too. If anything they needed a whole armada of cleaning crews through the gym. It left Griffin to nervously chuckle... Was Misty really planning on taking the whole day off just to clean the gym? She had to be. It was nowhere near this bad when Daisy, Lily and Violet were here, as there were other workers too but it's as though they shut down the gym for their trip and left it all in disarray... Griffin just stood, slack jawed and dumb-founded. Bandit gave him a huff as Luna just glanced around, her face grew a little red as though she was even embarrassed... Misty had to have been and that left Griffin with a single burning question...

"BUT WHERE THE HELL DO WE START!?"