Luna and Thief Chapter Thirty: Where Words Remain Unbroken

Dew.

Rain…

Luna could hear it outside as her head curiously poked and prodded past the covers and sheets that layered this utterly comfy bed she slept on. A simple little yawn came to her as she'd tenderly smack her lips together and the roof of her mouth padded down by her tongue. She just stretched, yawned and kneaded into something warm; fluffy. It left her to lay back down and nudge against it until hitting this rough patch of skin.
“Hm…?" She'd sluggishly opened her eyes more as the room cut into frame. It was a simple room, hardwood floors and this wonderful porch-like bay window which cracked open ever so lightly. She'd take in a scent, something that smelled almost perfect for just a moment before she'd snuffle and snort tenderly.
Did… I fall asleep next to… him again? Her vision blurred for only a second of time as she gave another stretch, one that had every intention of cracking her back in a way that left her to sigh, then she had to look next to her. Thief only rested on his side, the covers bundled up around his muzzle as he'd nearly pant in his sleep, whine. Are you sick? Was it the max restore or… you silly… silly Growlithe. Just… tell me… tell me why you went so far for something so pointless. Luna cleared her throat gently and took a moment to stare at Bandit.
She was already awake and plainly watched the door that stood, closed and locked behind Luna.
“Bandit?" Luna softly whispered, a sound which made a tiny whine in the room.
“I'm awake Fire-stick." Bandit commented back to her. “We had a visitor last night." Luna flicked out her tails for a moment.
“What do you mean?"
“A special friend that enjoyed a little too much of a certain Entei." Bandit commented again afterwards and looked down at her closely. “She had lots of interesting things to say… so I want to talk to you, outside." The Mightyena softly and quietly huffed at her in a way that left Luna's entire pelt to crawl. “Let's say it's about home." Luna only glared at the Mightyena's maw as it formed the word 'home' Then Bandit got up from the bed and went for the bay-like window… the glass sliding door behind the curtains. Luna hesitated as she climbed down from the bed, touched her paws against the hardwood which left her to nervously slide on it as though it were ice.
What does… Whatever Crescent said is wrong. It has to be wrong. Luna held the words in her mind as they played over and over again. It's wrong. It's all wrong.
“You look pale." Luna felt her tails twitch as Bandit's voice interrupted her thoughts. For just this once, or maybe it was always, Luna couldn't find the integrity to look Bandit in the eyes.

She couldn't face that.

All that Vulpix did was stare at the ground which changed from a natural-dark like hardwood to this oak- cedar like wood that pushed against her paws uncomfortably. The entire town was laid out before her; it sat in glorious morning light and rain as Bandit only took a moment to stare Luna even further down.
“It's quite the story." Bandit continued to say as Luna jolted, but just a hint. She couldn't tell what was more frightening.
How tame the view was, compared to Bandit's eyes, or how soft the Mightyena's tone was. Luna only wondered what her words could be, how it would hang over her like an albatross. Some massive winged beast which she could barely understand the reach and extent of its own shadow. “Crescent began to speak of a place where humans do not exist. Where they can't no matter what. A place without humans…" Bandit continued to say “Crescent, that Ninetales only spoke about home the entire time. She spoke like it was something so taboo and forbidden she'd barely let me hear her voice." Luna nervously swallowed and lowered her tails… the Vulpix's ears followed naturally. “And then she said, back at the cavern. That name… Lucius, right?" Bandit continued to say as Luna twitched her ears.
“Thief mumbled the name before, in his sleep… after he came back." Luna continued to say. “I can barely… really remember if he told me outright. It's been all so… hard and difficult…" Bandit lightly parted her jaw as Luna glanced up at her teeth, she went pale from head to tail.
“So… something named Lucius, an Arcanine did that to Thief." Luna nodded
“A – At least I think so."
“And you know him?"
“I… I don't know." Luna mentioned in this odd pleading like whine, one that made Bandit tilt her head and twitch a single ear. “I just don't know. When… When Moonlight was using Dream Eater on everyone these… these things never, ever came up. Now they do all the time." Bandit tossed her eyes to the town.
“…" Luna anxiously twitched and swished her tails to the silence written on Bandit's face. “I have nightmares too. Luna. I have one… one where Griffin just looks at this door back home. He just stares at this one room that I've never seen inside of. In my dream, no matter how much I try to move him or catch his attention, he just stays. Frozen. Then Logan joins in… their mother… their grandparents. And then I'm just alone again." Bandit gently commented and continued to stare out at the city. That small rustic city. “I'm not much for emotional… things. This sap is gross and…"  Bandit just shook her head.
You… don't know what to say? You're not going to just outright… yell at me?
“Crescent talked about Thief's father." Bandit began to say, “Told me this absurd story that he tried to kill everyone in your home."
“Huh?" Bandit nodded.
“It sounds like some crazy fairy tale. A place where humans don't exist, where Pokemon go… rampant and build little cities of their own kind or… things along those lines. It sounds like Pokemon that are trying too hard to be like humans." Bandit mentioned. “But hey, I don't even know my own father. I could be from half the world away or some… bastard cub from two Pokemon that got on the wrong side of Attract." Bandit mentioned “So why would I care about some actions that aren't their own. I told that to her afterwards." Bandit continued “Crescent tried to sell me on some… superstitious nonsense. That worlds will fall apart and that sort of… foolery" Bandit flicked her tail left and right as Luna investigate the splotches on her fur.
“You have spots on your fur…" Bandit tossed her a look.
“I know, I look much too different from a regular Mightyena. I looked much the same as a Poochyena too." Bandit expressed. “A bit of a freak of nature." Luna shook her head after a moment.
“I don't think so. You have broad and large shoulders… strong legs. If anything, I think you look every bit like a Mightyena should." Luna mentioned back to Bandit, something that made her gruffly snort. “That's something I know Shadow see's in you right?" Bandit gave a grin and just somberly stared out to the city.
“He was always trying to show me up, and I always put him in his place. He didn't do it to assert himself… or do it because he thought he was stronger. He did it all just because he cared… because he knew that even though I didn't look like him, he looked like everyone else. Seeing us both together made people calm, made less people look. If there was a place without humans, I'd want to go with him. In many ways, Luna. I'm more terrified of them then you think." Bandit expressed softly, quietly. “Yet I say, and I'm sure that Thief is the opposite. He's terrified of Pokemon. We both have the same reason, but we're focused on two entirely different perspectives. Thief has always been that way, quick to make friends, but he only does because he's unsure and terrified. It's easy to see that."

Bandit only gave a gentle laugh, one which left her tail to flick and swish at the air aimlessly. “So, to what Crescent spoke of, I barely understand it myself. It sounds like something out of an old folktale." Bandit continued to say “Yet what else can I expect from a Ninetales; they're all usually full of themselves. That's what I like about you, unlike them, you're a little more realistic and down to earth." Bandit smirked “Just a little, even though I find that your head likes to float away." Luna only snuffed her nose when Bandit said that and gave a gentle little sigh as she'd give a small gaze towards the thin mist that surrounded the town; listened to the patter of rain which tapped and creaked against the wooden roof above them as they stood underneath that awning over the patio.
“So… you're not mad…?" Luna began to say, more out to the town then anything else. Bandit just flicked an ear.
“I'm furious at the little Growlithe we have." Bandit commented back “But I'm only angry because he's in the state he's in."
“I think he's getting sick… or something." Luna brought up “He looked pale, very pale…" The Vulpix huffed as Bandit gave her a closer look.
“You know, I still can't believe you're that same little Vulpix that was squealing and begging me not to eat her." Bandit gently giggled, something that left Luna to twitch her ear. “You don't have this… entirely lost and scared look in your eyes anymore. I see less of that when you look at Thief." Bandit continued to say, “It's hard not to notice." Luna just folded her ears and looked past the posts before her, a small gate that prevented anyone from just walking off and falling. As she did, the rain gently pelted the back of her head.
“He's… like a little bro I guess." Luna continued to say, “It's like how Moonlight tries to act like a big brother."
“Gah… that Espeon, you just had to bring him up during a little moment. You know, he spent his time pacing back and forth, over and over again while trying to find out what to say to Shadow and I." Luna softly blinked
“I told him that we'd all be okay if he went home… he just gave me this look that… that I don't… I don't know if I really want him to."
“Well, I do understand that home is where the heart is. Many people have said that, for some it may just be true. For me… I could have a home with Shadow wherever we go, but the truth is that 'home' well, it's in a small town in Hoenn for me. As for Moonlight, I have no clue what he thinks it is. As for Thief, sometimes I feel like he barely understood the word to begin with."
“What about… Griffin?" Luna sluggishly brought up and gave a soft look up to her “What about him?" Bandit gently rolled her jaw and gently smiled.
“That is not for my say. I already know him… I already understand him. Lit candles with him…" Bandit continued to speak, “Those are words meant to come from his mouth, not mine. Yet I will say this, no matter how much love and support he had from home. The good memories, he always felt lost and scared throughout it. It'd be like… like carrying a lantern through the night, I guess. Or a candle in a forest, and then the light just… goes out." Bandit mentioned “And now he's just trying to be a high roller…"
“Huh?"
“Dice games." Bandit replied
“I still don't get it…" Luna mentioned and flicked her tail as Bandit giggled, and then razzed Luna's scalp with her massive paw.
“Just do me a favor and try to keep this from growing wings." Bandit continued to say and gently blinked. “And… just try not to give me that look."
“W – what look?" Luna began to say as Bandit softly placed her paw against her ears.
“That one, that one right there; where your ears are constantly folded and your eyes are… wide, shaking. I get that look enough." Bandit continued to say and gently folded her ears in a way that left Luna to perk hers and stiffen her tails. “If someone like you gives me that look… then how are my own… how are they going to see me when they do?" Luna flicked an ear and gently rested her paws against the wood below her while lifting her head. All Luna did was stare at Bandit in return.
“T… That's what you're worried…"
“It's always on my mind, runt." Bandit commented back “How the hell am I going to look at my own young if all they're going to see is something as… violent and cruel as everyone takes me for." Luna twitched her ear again and tried to open her mouth yet there wasn't a word she could say.
How… can I… even explain that that's not true. How do I even begin to think that it isn't? I barely even remember what my own mother looks like, I can hardly remember much of my father… I don't know what to say. Even with her having that look painted on her face.
I understand… why you'd want to be in a place without humans though. That's… That's easy enough to see. The only ones that do are the ones that accepted you. All I…
“If Griffin can accept you… Logan and… If they can then no matter what look they give you, if or when… No matter what they'll know it's you and that's… that's not something bad. That's not… Bandit. The fact that you're worried? Scared…? That just tells me you're already doing better than most."
Bandit didn't change much of her expression, she hardly really made much of a sound in reply.
“That's where you're mind flies away from you." Bandit softly expressed as Luna's fur began to rise gently. “There are some things… some things where reality is more obvious and straight forward." Bandit mentioned and smiled, it was just the slight curve of her lip that made Luna focus on it. “Being hopeful… it really isn't much different from being hopeless. You feel that way, hopeless but you try to be hopeful through it. I could see that when you were stargazing last night. You had reality in your arms, right in front of you and yet you continued to stay hopeful." Bandit continued to say and sighed “Don't let your head fly away from you, because all it takes is one simple look the wrong way to lose someone." Luna swallowed bitterly after Bandit mentioned that and the Mightyena softly blinked in returned and stood to her feet. “Let's get up, get food. It's about time everyone did." Bandit only gave her this gentle little nod in return, one that Luna nervously returned with her own smaller, meeker nod. Then all it rested on was waking up Griffin.
Bandit had that covered this morning, and all she really had to do was jump on the bed; jump on his stomach and chest and knock the wind out of him.

It took Luna a long time to realize that Moonlight and Leafeon fell asleep outside for the night, or if they didn't – they went out there to talk and then fell asleep. She could see them from one of the rooms in the Riddle Inn, a room that opened towards the hotsprings as Griffin ended up in a short conversation with Mr. Clarke – the man from the other day. Mr. Clarke was already awake, making coffee and reading this interesting article in the news. It had something to do with Fuchsia City and Vermillion City respectively. Griffin only stayed silent and made idle comments here and there consisting of 'that's bad…' and 'that sounds terrible…' while he began to wash his hands and prep food. Luna only watched him curiously work; his posture straight and his hands just nimbly working as though something entirely different clasped his whole body. She'd never seen Griffin move like that, save for one or two rare moments.
A time when a bit of passion or pride snuck out of him, something he constantly wanted to hide away from the world as though he knew he'd be degraded, insulted or told wrong for having it.
“Would you like another coffee, Mr. Clarke?"
“Taylor, call me Taylor; and please if you're offering." Griffin nodded and turned on a machine of some sort; refilled the water in it and changed a filter around. Mr. Clarke just watched the young man move, with curious eyes. “You move like you know your way around a kitchen."
“I did all the cooking at home." Griffin mentioned as Mr. Clarke chuckled
“That's why…"
“Huh?"
“Oh, your brother ended up spending more money then I expected for him to on food. It was during one of these open-science meetings; I was there when he unveiled the idea of his Pokeball. Granted all he did was reveal a prototype and talk about what it could do. I didn't spend my time to remember it, much too busy with others asking me about shipping costs and research technology." Mr. Clarke explained “So I see, what I could call, as the one that really took care of him in front of me." Griffin laughed dryly in return.
“We… took care of each other and our mother." He'd explain as Mr. Clarke nodded; Luna only listened in on the conversation.
Why are their voices so clear today… but it felt like it was… ringing yesterday. I feel like things aren't so foggy all of a sudden. My ears don't feel stuffed with idle white noise. Is… Is it that thing from Maidens Peak…? The insect? Luna only focused on Moonlight and Leafeon, they both were curled up on a rock just past the hotspring. Moonlight was half-lazily pinned down by the Leafeon, something which left her to tilt her head. He hates him… right? Moonlight isn't kind to Leafeon, so why would… who are you… Leafeon?
Why are you here? What are you really doing here? Luna blinked as Absol took a curious look at her from nearby Griffin. She naturally gave him plenty of space and during that time there was some mutters here and there.
“I find it funny." Mr. Clarke mentioned and lightly used his shoe to move Scarf from around his legs. The Pikachu was nearly hiding around the chairs and barely made a noise as Mr. Clarke gently prodded him. “Your Pokemon are quite obedient when it comes to food it seems. A shame they aren't like that more often. I noticed that right away with your… peculiar Mightyena." Luna's ear twitched as Bandit lifted her head up from a corner of the room. It looked as though she was staring Mr. Clarke down for reasons unbeknownst to her.
“Bandit has always been special." Griffin mentioned “And in every way it's a good thing."
“It seems your whole family is, Mr. Fletching."
“Griffin, please." Griffin explained back and put a cup on the table for the elderly man in his suit and tie.

“Peculiar indeed… have you ever had her blood tested?" Griffin turned to him for a moment, just turned his head while cutting something. “Have you by chance? It'll be a shame not to."
“No… I don't think we've ever had it tested, for genome's or regional reasons… right?"
“Yes yes, it can be useful, she looks like a regional variant straight out from Sub-Saharan Africa. It's been a while since I've been done in that continent; years in fact." Mr. Clarke continued to say “She looks just like them, perhaps a little… smaller then average." Bandit snorted and huffed at Mr. Clarke's words as he'd gently sip down his coffee. “I would love to be able to test her DNA at one point, who knows what could be there. Yet I find something very curious about her." Griffin just tried to focus on his cooking. “It's some of the patterns around her face, it's vague – the coarser fur and the depth and texture. It makes me think of an Entei or Zerora." Bandit gave off a low snarl in return as Luna gave him a glance.
Griffin just laughed loud enough to cut the room into silence; just as he sliced through a pepper of some sort.
“A Legendary? I highly doubt that. She's no different than any other Pokemon. She certainly isn't some 'hidden rarity' or any other bullshit like that." Griffin seemed to sharply remark, something that left Luna to jolt and Bandit to twitch an ear.
“I didn't mean to offend, I'd understand if some… curious and shameful collectors have and would attempt to take her away." Griffin tsked in reply.
“You tend to use that word… Shameful quite a lot." Griffin brought up as Mr. Clarke rested back in the chair at the table and sipped his coffee. “She's not some hidden legendary, she's no different than any other Mightyena. She's special to… my family and to myself. It has nothing to do with… with anything like that, she's solely herself. So if you're asking me to question that, to believe that she had something so utterly 'fascinating' that I should treat her differently-“
“Your bacon is burning."
“What? Shit…" Griffin was cut off from Mr. Clarke's simple observation, in which the man gave a sigh and went back to his paper. Bandit just twitched an ear as Luna gently huffed in reply and took her gaze back towards Moonlight and Leafeon.
The rain left the rocks to steam and plume, and Leafeon seemed to shield or cover Moonlight from the droplets. His tail was a glimmer of rich green, emerald. It was a sign that he was healthy. The only thing Luna noticed was that the very edge of his tail was a similar… light orange hue – it was the same with his ears.
Luna wondered if it was a sign of age. She hadn't seen it before, yet it was no different then Moonlight's whiskers and his pale fur. Yet no matter how she could view Moonlight, all she could see was someone that was tired… sick.
“You're deeply passionate. Griffin." Mr. Clarke mentioned after Griffin saved the breakfast that he courteously focused on making. “That's something… I didn't expect from you." Mr. Clarke told as Griffin gave the frying pan a little blink. “Family is something so important… and yet according to Blaine, since I stayed with him for a while longer. He said the rumor was you left Hoenn to get away from it. Are you worried that you'll never match up to your brother?" Griffin just continued to look at the pan as Mr. Clarke talked yet Luna could see the tufts of hair on the back of his scalp rise. “I do apologize if that seems frontal." Mr. Clarke continued to say “Yet, if my wife taught me anything, she would say that no matter what you do; as long as you're passionate about it and that it helps those around you, then you'll always be just as good, if not better, then those who do take the extra mile." Mr. Clarke expressed “Because those people, they may never be happy with all they had to sacrifice to get there. Their happiness may be more short-lived then they ever expect it to be. As is with all things in reality."
“I don't think that." Griffin mentioned after a moment, he was busy sorting out plates and silverware. Setting the sink to clean everything. “I believe that taking an extra mile, that's a choice. It doesn't mean that it has to make you happy. Sometimes it's more of a burden then anything, but if that can help those around yourself. Better the world even; then someone has to shoulder things at some point." Griffin continued “I remember, because my brother is into such weird things, he mentioned something to me. 'Courage is like a ball. A person can hold it only so long, and then he's got to toss it to someone else. When it's tossed your way, you've got to catch it and hold it tight—and hope there'll be someone else to toss it to when you get tired of being brave.' At least… I think that's it." Griffin continued to say “I only remember it because he'd mention it when we used to play baseball. I never understood the quote."
“Fritz Leiber. 'A Pail of Air'" Mr. Clarke mentioned back after he sipped his coffee. “I didn't realize your brother was a fan of science fiction." Taylor expressed softly as he placed the cup on the table. “I find it curious that the one quote… he takes from a story about a family whose entire world is put upside down." Griffin stalled suddenly as Taylor read a section of the newspaper in his hand, adjusted his glasses… “You know… I can hear you before I can see you."
“Huh? Is that a quote?" Griffin said bluntly as Luna looked over at them again.
“No, it's your friend. Come on out, I believe Mr. Fletching was kind enough to make breakfast." Taylor mentioned as someone stepped around the corner. Griffin just had a look. It was Natasha, with her dark-brown, reddish hair in a mess. Her nearly light brown eyes with hints of grey simply looked back at him.
“N – Natasha!?" Griffin brought up as she made a 'what the fuck' kind of face.
“What are you looking at?" Griffin went pure red.
“W – W – Well I mean I've never… seen you like… dressed like that." Griffin brought up and noticed that all she had on, instead of the extravagant fashion she so proudly wore; the kind that showed off her sense of color and flair… instead she looked much like an older sister on a lazy spring-break day. Sweats… a lanky T-shirt. Her hair a mess.

It took both Griffin and Luna entirely by surprise.

“Yeah? Well what's it to you how I dress? We aren't running off around town quite yet, I think I can be relaxed for a minute, thank you." Mr. Clarke gave a small laugh. “And yes? What?"
“Oh nothing, nothing at all. It's good to know Griffin has a friend that can keep him in check." Taylor said and gave a little nod. “Expecting some kind of unrealistic standard from her, Griffin?" He went red once more
“T – That's not what… I don't even get… Nevermind, I give up. I was just… shocked is all." He mentioned defensively and had the open palms of his hands facing them.
“I sleep in sweats and a T-shirt." Natasha commented drly. “All I really did was put a bra on before I came downstairs."
“T…" Griffin couldn't articulate a word to say in reply.
“TMI? Your welcome, now drop the damn subject." Taylor gave a scoffed like laugh and sipped his coffee.
“She's certainly independent." Mr. Clarke mentioned and didn't take his eyes away from the newspaper. “If only there were more woman like her." Natasha gave a grin.
“I think wannabe men like Griffin would be in trouble." Natasha commented and chuckled “I mean, he does spend most of his time in the kitchen already." Taylor shook his head.
“A man that cooks is invaluable." Taylor mentioned and laughed light-heartedly.
“It's the only thing going for him." Bandit gave her a growl and Natasha shot her a look. Then there was this thump thump thump of a sound, a patter of paws. Yuny scampered in out of nowhere; slid across the hardwood to the point that she nearly bashed into Bandit. The Mightyena partially rolled a paw out to stop Yuny from hitting the wall. After that… Brad got into the conversation and Griffin only waited on Melody. In fact, after a while it made him stare at her plate in worry.
“Is Melody coming down Natasha?" Natasha looked up, finished eating something and gave a look.
“Isn't she already down here? When I woke up, she was gone. Then I was caught eavesdropping…" Taylor didn't seem to eat much, that made Griffin look at him too.
“Well… I… where is she?" Brad shrugged in reply to Griffin and continued to devour the food in front of him.
“I slept in my own room; I think Aura is still asleep too." Brad mentioned after he swallowed and covered his mouth partially. “Damn… even your…. This is awesome."
“Hm? Oh yeah well I mean, it's really just eggs and bacon." Brad chuckled
“There's a lot more then 'just eggs and bacon' Griffin." Brad expressed “I mean if I tried cooking this the inn would be gone." Natasha laughed lightly
“On the plus side you could live off of Pokepuffs." Natasha expressed as Brad frantically shook his head
“No way… I can barely finish a can of soda. Too much sugar." Griffin found himself chuckling
“You'd hate Mexico, the sweets and chocolate – even the soda has cane sugar. It's the best place for that stuff." Natasha gave a glance to Brad
“You mentioned that you've been there before." Natasha brought up and smiled “That must be really cool, what kind of Pokemon are down there?" Griffin scratched his head
“Well, the locals call them 'Maneyena's' they look like Shadow, but it's like they're on stilts. I mean, long, long legs and they have a thick bush of fur around their necks, like a collar. It's just a common region variant. Then there's few distinct kinds of Pidgeys too, even though Spearow are pretty common."
“Any cool legends?" Brad brought up “Like I heard in Alola they have these crazy island spirits."
“Well, we have one or two like that; but it's more to scare young children…" Griffin mentioned “My aunt… well she knew a lot more of them then I did. Never drafted the stories for us, but she used to talk about them all the time. There was one… it said that it moved mountains and created volcanos. Then there's also a Pokemon created out of the fire which built the sun and moon. Yet… there's never been an actual rendition of it. I've heard that it looks to be something frightening, like a demon of molten rock and flesh… it's said that it even created the volcano's which layer the country side. And this other Pokemon physically moved the mountains to save the region. Apparently, they've always been at war but always loved each other." Griffin expressed “I've heard that when the sun flies over the sky, it leaves feathers that look no different then golden stone arrowheads, and when the moon does; it leaves quills… whenever there is an eclipse, one last mythical Pokemon walks on the surface. It's said to petrify the souls of all that see it. Some believe that the sun looks no different than a molten Falcon, the moon looks no different than a thin quilled bat and the last looks no different then a dog. The last looks over humanity until the moon is reborn and the sun can rise again hence why no one can see it. It keeps humans warm during the coldest nights. According to the legend, the wind is also important as it blows the sun and the moon to keep them always moving when the gods could not."
“Whoa… That's a lot to take in." Brad commented and chuckled “I've never heard of a legend like that."
“Well that was the creation story…" Griffin expressed “At least as how I've been told. There's no telling if they're real or not… I find it entertaining to think about at times."
“Huh? Why?" Natasha asked
“Oh, because our Growlithes are actually really… really small." Griffin mentioned “About Luna's size actually, they used to be used to keep people warm at night. They're short furred, they have bigger ears and not all use fire… I've heard of exceptionally rare types that use lightning." Luna tilted her head “In fact, some have enough fire to light up the night. It's terrifying to watch, I've heard that during the eclipses, many of them run out of the home and try to lift the sun and the moon by igniting the sky. It's said to quell the beast of the eclipse, to let it know that it's not all alone in it's eternal duty." Griffin mentioned and nervously laughed “But… I mean when I say it, it's nothing as exciting as a professor or a researcher saying it." Clarke nodded in reply


“Unfortunately, Mexico is one of my least touched on subjects. In fact, Brazil caught my attention more but solely due to the research on Mew." Taylor expressed gently “As for a Pokemon that leaves golden arrow-heads… and another that leaves quills. The last sounds more like the wind that pushes them." Griffin shrugged
“Nobody knows, it's like they barely exist at all. All I know is that Mexico was… it was a mixture of a time for me." Griffin sighed “Alright… I think I'm going to look for Mel-" A door shut in the house as everyone went quiet.
“Smokey, I'm fine… down." A voice barely touched the suddenly still room. “You'll wake everyone up, it's not even… It's not even ten." Griffin checked his phone, noticed the time on the cracked screen and then looked at Brad. All Brad did was waft silently with his hand as though to show that Griffin's cooking woke him up. “I'm okay, if something were to happen you were right there. I already got it." Griffin looked over to Natasha who only shrugged herself. “So shhh… please. You already know I don't like it." Luna's ear twitched as her tails gently brushed the hardwood.
Griffin and the others can't hear her now… but I can. I know they can't. She's… dead quiet.
“I don't like that they gave me the new stuff either… but this should… help I think…" Luna could hear this huff and then claws which lightly pressed against the hardwood. All she could muster was turning her head to Moonlight and Leafeon, both just curled up in the rain… steam. The flutter of light smoke that rose towards the grey sky where the sunlight tried to fight through.
“There you are!" Griffin commented in a way that left Smokey to snarl at him, and all Luna could hear was Bandit in a full, equal return. “Your food got cold…" Melody went silent before she nervously giggled and shrugged
“I went for a little walk, picked up some things." She commented back as Luna looked over at her.
She has a brown bag… like one from a convenience store. Plastic…? It looks like it has Pokemon stuff in it but… there's this box in it that I haven't seen before. Syn…? Luna tried to focus her eyes on it even closer, but Smokey stepped partially in front of the bag and looked at her.
“Are you… okay?"
“..." Smokey commented back with silence and huffed at her as Mr. Clarke noisily rustled the newspaper he was reading.
“It's going to rain for the rest of the day." Taylor had expressed and flipped through a page “And the first international event is happening in a couple of days too…" That changed the topic quickly, especially since Melody mentioned she was going to pack her things in her bag. All Luna did was look at that bag as she walked by. Trying to read the box.
It looks… like medicine. Luna only stared as Melody crossed the corner, as simple as that… and she was gone. It left her hairs to rise for just a moment as something else made a sound.
“Huh…? Leafeon move…" Moonlight commented from the background in a way that left her ear to twitch. “I told you, I was fine alone." There was a shuffle and a yawn in return.
“I figured it would be nice to have a little rain cover for the night." Leafeon commented back.
“It doesn't help that you weigh… like… twice as much as me."
“You're comfy, you know that."
“…"

It wasn't until a bowl gently clinked on the ground and a Pokeball opened that Luna's attention was focused elsewhere. She only watched him gently look at the bowl and pant as though he was burning hot.
“Hmm…" Griffin made a noise as Taylor turned the page of the newspaper.
“Full Restore." Taylor mentioned and Griffin jolted, Thief only sluggishly turned his head and squinted from the lights in the kitchen. “That's common, no need to worry about that. He'll look sick but I guarantee you that the potion works, and well." Taylor expressed but barely pulled his head away. “The only thing I'm concerned about is his paw." It left Griffin to blink.
“His paw?" Luna took a chance to look at Thief's legs
I see… nothing wrong…? Mr. Clarke looked down too and then his look turned stoic. Stern… Thief gave a closer look to him and pinned down his ears.
“Hm… In my older age, you get confused quite often. I used to look over a neighbor's pet. Its hind legs were injured, my wife helped with that a lot." Taylor mentioned “Jet lag doesn't help much either, going from Alola to Kanto is hell on such short notice."
“You… have a lot of business?"
“I have business all over with the Pokemon League. Like I mentioned, Kalos… Galar. Unova… I work all over with shipping for everything related to the League." Griffin blinked a little as Taylor took a sip of his coffee, and then Griffin jolted and went for the coffee machine, Clarke only nodded in reply.
“You really should work as a chef." Griffin chuckled
“Actually… I want to work in trades. I want to be a Carpenter… like my dad was." Griffin mentioned and lightly, somberly smiled. “Even though… he did more then that, even plumbing. He'd knock down his prices – install things for free especially for older folk." Griffin sighed after a moment and then shook his head and filled the cup of coffee and lightly placed it next to Taylor. All he did was nod and smile.
“It would be curious… if some legends were true. I heard of one… curious legend."
“Hm?"


“Yes… About a Pokemon no different than Xerneas. Yet unlike Xerneas, that guides souls to a tree that only grows every thousand years, it holds onto the bare essence of life and returns it. A Pokemon that was said to bring the dead back to life." Taylor mentioned as Griffin gave him a weird look. “I believe that a Pokemon like that… might just hold a key to finding a cure to Aspen Ward Disease" Taylor expressed and drank out of the coffee cup after adding cream. “Yet the only Pokemon capable of holding onto the souls of the dead… that's Xerneas. Not only that, no one has ever seen a Pokemon like that. The only thing I could imagine… is a Pokemon that decomposes things. Yet that doesn't make sense either." Griffin laughed lightly
“What do you mean? Like a Cloakless Mimikyu." Taylor tilted his head as Griffin chuckled and scratched his hair. “My brother loved this old… creepy story about a Cloakless Mimikyu that endlessly travels the world in search for a new skin or cloak. It wants to hide itself but doesn't know how. He always wondered if the Mimikyu was more scared of itself then the things around it… Or it just didn't understand the world and wanted to." Taylor sipped his coffee as he listened to Griffin. Taylor was clean shaven, appeared fair skinned even though his hair didn't agree with that. It was pale and ragged in the light Luna saw it in now as though it were going white.
“Sounds like a fascinating short story, I'll have to read it." Taylor commented and finished eating – finally. Then he stood up from the table after finishing his coffee, alongside with his phone beeping at him. Griffin just looked.
“That's a PokePilot… and a Pager?"
“Yes, I prefer the older technology; it's easier to work with. Unfortunately, I must go, it was delightful meeting all of you…" Taylor nodded and went to the kitchen as Bandit stared him down and Thief only held his ears pinned to the side of his head. Then he stalled. “Oh…" Taylor stopped, turned and bowed. “Thank you for the meal, Mr. Fletching."

Griffin only let Thief eat after that, noticing that his ears pinned and that he'd be okay… even though Thief couldn't hold down water. It left Moonlight to stare at the Growlithe as he was busy dry heaving. Luna's heartrate only skyrocketed as she stared at him as he did. It left Griffin confused about it as Natasha mentioned it was probably because he just woke up.
Then Melody came back downstairs with her things and Natasha left the kitchen to change – Brad was already packed and good to go. So, Griffin made Melody breakfast and cleaned the kitchen as they waited for Natasha… all while Luna looked at Thief. Looked at him closely and intensely.
He looks sick… terribly sick. That can't be what medicine does, this isn't normal… Moonlight brushed next to her tails.
“I've… seen this before." It came to his muzzle as Luna looked up at him. “I've… Luna, can you cover me? Try to hide my gemstone."
“Huh? Why?"
“I'm going to play with Griffin's phone using Psychic… and call my owner." Moonlight mentioned as Luna tilted her head and whispered back
“I'm not tall enough for t-" Moonlight laid down behind her as Luna froze suddenly… then the Espeon hid his gemstone along the tips of her tails.
“You are, just try not to move your tails…" Moonlight continued to say as his gem began to glow lightly. Luna just froze in place and muttered
“It's still… really creepy." She commented and huffed
“You have the best cover for this, and you know that. The fur hides the glow better than Leafeon's would." Moonlight mentioned as Luna had to fight her tail from twitching.
“D – don't talk or breathe against them…" Luna commented as Moonlight stayed quiet and lightly twitched his own tail for just a moment. Griffin was in the midst of comforting Thief and talking to everyone… they mentioned the times for another ferry that would land them closer to Pallet Town. All Griffin did was chat and lightly move from time to time to face Brad, especially when Aura finally wandered in with this tired and lazy yawn on her lips. The Lucario only brushed her scalp and ran the tips of her spikes through her fur from chest to belly as though to try and brush herself. Natasha finally came in when Aura did and tossed Brad a brush at the sight. Yuny was in the midst of non-stop talking to Bandit, something that Luna glanced at from time to time.
She's asking her all sorts of random questions… and saying why every single time… and Bandit is fine with answering all the questions. Scarf was in the midst of staring at Absol yet the Absol barely looked back at Scarf and more looked at Griffin as he watched Thief studiously and with a concerned gaze. The Growlithe just tried to drink water, waited for a while and then threw up all over again. I knew it was weird… what happened? I don't understand. Was it my fault…? Because of the hotspring? Did he get sick from it? Luna just focused on staying solid until Moonlight made this loud and suddenly scary sound. A distressed like yowl that made everyone stare at him. All he did was stupidly tilt his head and stuck out his tongue while Thief continued to dry heave. Griffin partially gave a confused look in return.
“What's wrong Moonlight? Are you worried ab-" Griffin's phone buzzed as a ringtone suddenly played loudly. It made him sigh as he went for his phone “Hello? Huh? I called… I didn't call y… Thief? Oh well I mean he looks a little sick, can't even eat right now but I mean… Yeah, I used a Full Restore back in Fuchsia yesterday afternoon. What!? Why do you want me to send him ba…" Griffin shook his head wildly “That's crazy Ayumu. I mean he got hurt down there… I know you invented the… So, you're telling me that the seal could be… and that lets bacteria in? So… I better get him back within the hour. Two? Come on I don't want to worry abo… That's… That's true." Griffin calmly huffed and rubbed his eyes as Moonlight innocently tilted his head. “You want Moonlight too?" Griffin began to say as Luna flicked her tails.
“You can go see your friend!" Luna mentioned happily as Moonlight pulled his head back, stunned.
“Y – yeah…" Griffin gave a glance at Moonlight after a minute
“Did you…?" Moonlight innocently looked shock. “I can't believe you could do. I gotta lock my phone… I feel like I'm just being tossed around for everyone. Fine… Fine… do I go to a center then?" There was a little voice on the other side. “Just return them… fine… Fine, I'm not happy about this. I'm not happy at all." Griffin mentioned sternly and returned Thief, and then Moonlight was returned afterwards.
All Luna did was stare at them both, like little flutters of sparkles; red splattered across them as though they just disappeared from the very fabric of reality.
As though, for just a moment, she thought she was looking at ghosts.

Moonlight:

He knew that all of them would make their way to the ferry, and all he did was look down at Thief with curious eyes.
“You're burning up, right?" Thief only sluggishly turned his head to him.
“I wanna throw up…" Thief commented “But… the man there I've seen him… I know I have, when I was in Alola… when the Sandygast had me…" Thief commented “I don't want to go back…" Moonlight only blinked and sighed.
“This time, I'm going with you." The Espeon returned and looked towards a peculiar little meadow beyond them. “This time… I'm here." For once I am… There's too much I want to tell you. Like how… how you had to breathe in that poison. How you needed to have your paw set. All of it.

It terrified me too. It just… reminds me constantly.

“I'm right there with you, Thief. You're only burning up and vomiting because your sick. The Full Restore doesn't make you this bad." Moonlight commented again. Why did I stall…? Why did I let him fight in that damned gym battle? Why do I hesitate? I've…

Why do you remind me of my brothers so… so much? I wasn't there for them… I wasn't there for… For… And then the only way I could protect Luna was all because of Leafeon. Where do I stand…?

“You hate me…" Thief commented idly as Moonlight twitched his forked tail and felt something brush against it. “How… can I trust that you'll stay right… right there?"
“You can't… but trust is a fickle thing."
“Are you scared?" Moonlight only blinked and continued to stare out at the meadow from Thief's reply.
“I always am. I only hate you… for reasons beyond even my own understanding. I only got mad because I felt like I lost something at that Magnet Train… all because I wasn't there."
“You were… right there." Thief commented idly. “Why do you… just shoulder the weight? It's… better to be…" Thief dry heaved as Moonlight only stared at him. “It's better to… be there and try then think there's a choice. It's not that easy. There's not… some simple yes or no… I refuse that." Thief commented after a moment of breath. “Why would I believe that all we have is a simple left or right? I could have backed down during that fight, I should've… would've. It just kills me to… know that all I did was a yes… or no. Now I'm… here. I can't help, and that's the scariest thing."
“…" Moonlight stayed quiet as something appeared to push or drag them towards the edge of the meadow within Griffin's capsules.
“That's the worst, being able to help and choose not to… or wanting to help when you can't… that's the scariest thing… to me. It just happens in… the moment…" Moonlight just watched the entire Pokeball glow white for just a moment.

“We can go outside… or stay inside today… I guess. But I wanna see the snow… it's going to be gone soon. So, can we open the window instead? That way we are inside, and we get to see the snow, maybe even feel it again." A simple voice came to Moonlight's thoughts as he gently, tediously swatted his tail while he felt himself wander closer and closer to a field covered in small red flowers with this willful and wishful guidance. A honey pin of gold glimmered within their centers. A gentle, velvety brush pushed against his pawpads – the kind that took his breath away as all he did was wander forward…
aimlessly.
“Flowers, I know them too well. Some can be in the most beautiful of places and wilt away and… others can grow in the harshest of conditions. It's not about the size or the length of a stock… Moonlight. To me it's just the fact that they do. That they grow and flourish no matter where they are. Even something as pointless as a weed grows flowers, blooms."
It was the second voice that stalled Moonlight for a second, his voice. It even left his tail to freeze and stop. “Some flowers just bloom better with weeds around them, not all of them just suck the life out of things. Some flowers… they grow and flourish in a place where they shouldn't. Even in a place where they seem crowded and fight for water and sunlight. Some even decide to find the sunlight they need. It's not a choice, it's a path… and I think you know a quote or two about them." Moonlight's paw barely touched the grass, his ear twitched for just a moment as he'd hear that voice again. “So… instead of walking back along that pathway, maybe I can help point you ahead. That's all I can try to do, Moonlight. That's… all I want to do for all of you. I've already made my fair share of mistakes, and because of me… well. I'd be even remotely lucky, even a grace from Arceus… if there was another one like you in a situation no different. I… don't even know. That's the worst of it. Not knowing… So, let me point you to that fork in the road, and when you look down those woods, tell me what you see at the end of it."

All… I see Leafeon… is a place where I can be there. Where for once I can be there when I'm both needed and wanted. I wanted to tell you that but… why? Why… Why do you push me this hard?

Why pull at old wounds recurrently just to pour salt in them? Or… is it just sugar? Damnit…
“Mo… Moonlight?" Thief twitched his ear vaguely while he'd sharpen his eyes and released a sharp exhale.
“I only hate you… Thief… because I feel like I'll make the same mistake I've always made." Thief partially coughed in reply, retched and dry heaved once more. “I'm only scared because I know I will… eventually. With you, Luna…" Moonlight stalled his tails and gave him a little tug; pulled the Growlithe over his back. “I don't want to be or play the big brother."
“Huh…?"
“..." Moonlight commented back with dry silence as Thief bumped his nose against his upper back. “Just rest for now… and let… let the younger brother take it from here."
“Stay in the cave…" Moonlight blinked as Thief repeated that dutifully; all through a void of white as though snow surrounded them at every angle until the meadow became a reality. A place where flowers gently bloomed over tender sways of warm wind. Where a scent that seemed so familiar left a sharp guilty lick over his own nose. Yet Moonlight knew there was two simple flowers, both side by side… that weren't there. Two simple scents that couldn't touch him now. Not with a simple honesty that hung in the front of his eyes and resonated in his ears.

A place… where I'm… wanted and needed. That's what Luna… aimlessly does. She always has that look in her eyes.

And it hurts.

Moonlight only graced a small, aimless patch of grass where a flower much like silk graciously accepted his gentle pink paw pads to roll against its petals. For him…
There wasn't enough morphine those flowers could make to dull the pain away. Not in that field surrounded in ever lasted memory as Thief clung onto him and muttered aimless things.
Repeated those four words, words that made Moonlight look at him with softened eyes; regardless of how sharp he could make them. It's… no different than… isn't it? Little Thief… Just don't take and wish the harshest medicine that I do… pain reminds you that you're alive. It always does and always will… To be kind I must be cruel to you, no different than the opium here. So, I'll take enough for us both.

That's all I can do to numb the pain… Little Prince.
Prince…?

That's the first thing I think of? Some dumb nickname mom… You're no different. Just a whirlwind of expectations on how the world will be and reality is right here creeping up on you. Moonlight's paw stalled at the center of the meadow as Thief aimlessly muttered into his fur.
“Wake up… Please… The suns out so wake up… wake up…"
He fell asleep? Your troublesome mutt… are you just thinking about that old human again? Were you that happy there?
“Thief…?" Moonlight rolled his shoulders as the Growlithe on his back slumped and coughed
“Huh…? Don't do that I'm going to vomit…" Moonlight scoffed and turned his head away with a smirk.
“Just making sure you aren't dead kid. It hurts right?" Thief shifted, barely, but he moved, nonetheless. “Just don't give into it like I did. You'll be happier that way. Like Bandit."
“She's defensive about her mate…"
“Naturally." Moonlight replied to him as the world suddenly felt weightless. “Shadow never beat her."
“Huh…?"
“She let him win. That's what love is in a way. Giving more then you take. In every way… I took." Thief coughed gently.
“The nightmares don't stop…" Thief commented again.
“I told Luna I wouldn't use Dream Eater again. Not for that."
“I want them too. I'm always paralyzed on the ground and they all just leave…"
“Who?" Moonlight brought up. “Who leaves?" He'd ask again. All of them? What are you talking about?
“Everyone. They make all these promises to help… and they all leave. They leave the cave… and they never come back." Thief muttered into his shoulder and coughed before he made this heave like sound. Moonlight just looked up at him; the way how the capsule fluttered around them both. “Everyone back home… They… I couldn't… even when I was there I couldn't. I don't even… even remember their names." Moonlight huffed and shook his head before he flicked his tails.
You're living… my fear already…?
He'd gently clear his throat and sighed before he began to gently sing. An awkward hushed voice came from his muzzle as he'd ignite the air with a gentle hum of a tone as they'd wander through a void of white as though now it all took an eternity of time. Less than a minute had passed by them both, but for Moonlight, with that stab of guilt which clung to his shoulders; he only sung a song that he knew from heart.
The only one he really knew.
As gently as his voice would let him. Thief only stirred and Moonlight felt the Growlithe's fur puff out.
“I know that song…"
“..."
“From the island…"
“Huh?" Moonlight dryly stated.
“I know… I'll… be your sunshine…" Thief commented dryly. “My mom sung it to me once… and all I can remember is that she's gone too… Just like… yours… right?" Moonlight twitched an ear and looked down at the grass which peeled away, underneath his paws and fluttered by aimlessly.
Then we're both just two sides of the same coin… aren't we? I only took and you only gave. You did everything I wanted and it… failed for you too? Moonlight felt the thoughts creep up on him and nodded as his tail flicked out. “Do you really hate me… Thief?" The Growlithe shook his head no. “Then trust me. I promised Luna that I can protect her… but I can't trust her, I can't really trust her. She doesn't trust me – that's something I need to earn. But you… you already trust me and even though you get on my nerves… You're no different..." Then any of my… damn… Moonlight continued as though he watched what he said and cleared his throat through blurry eyes. “So, trust me. That's all I can promise." Moonlight expressed. “Because if I promised… to protect you too, then I know that I'd simply fail all over again."
“…" Thief swallowed bitterly and flopped his tail “What… did I do wrong?" Thief began to say as Moonlight twitched and ear. “I… in every nightmare I'm always there for them…"
“In every nightmare… I'm not." Moonlight retorted back as though it slipped out. “Or… they're always the most painful. These splendid wonderful memories, Thief. I hate you for so many reasons… Just, trust me."
“I've never… not done that. Moonlight… I get angry with you… I get scared…" He'd reply “I don't… know I get terrified and just act like I'm there. I really… really can't do anything."
“I know. You're young. Just… young." But your heart is in a better place then mine is. Moonlight couldn't find the strength to say those words up front. “So, let you're fears guide you. Get stronger because of them." Moonlight mentioned “Get stronger before they became too real for you to handle." Moonlight expressed and huffed sharply with a near-chocking inhale. “You stood and fought back there…"
“It…"
“Wasn't for us." Moonlight continued to say and felt the world spin and shift and change. “If that's your…. Medicine, Thief. That'll eat you alive."

It wasn't until the room and the lights – cold concrete and a wisped scent of alcohol and sterilizers touched the air that Moonlight knew they were back in an all too familiar basement.
“Hand him to me." Ayumu commented as Moonlight obediently let his gemstone glow a bright pink and hoisted Thief upward slowly… even though he did vomit after that. Ayumu batted and eye immediately. “Like I thought… I need my medical bag, remember…" Ayumu trailed off as Moonlight swallowed.
“You mean… that?" Ayumu nodded
“The vial is in the second shelf on the right. Top cabinet."
“You found a rainbow berry here?" Ayumu rolled his eyes
“Go, go! We haven't got much time. The infection will spread – this looks nearly like.... The only way anything…" Ayumu coughed lightly and Moonlight could smell the tobacco on his breath as he'd drop a hand lightly and turned his wheelchair from the counter to the small healing dock. Moonlight put Thief down and pulled out this intriguing vial of clear, viscous and near pure white fluid. A translucent like fluid.
“You… purified it?"
“Yes YES, Hurry up."
“You're drunk…" Ayumu stalled and sighed.
“…" He'd shake his head after a moment as Moonlight stared at the human dutifully. “Yeah… I am. Again. Logan found that… thing." Moonlight blinked.
“What thing? The Cheshira?"
“It's unevolved form." Ayumu commented back and coughed again before he'd whip his head a little to knock off his stagger. “He's isolated it in the Pokeball."
“Luna's…" Moonlight softly growled. “That thing she talked about…"
“She spoke to it?" Ayumu stated “The Vulpix?"
“I'll need to…" Moonlight pushed the vial to him immediately. “How many berries did you…?"
“Too many. I didn't… We… don't really need them anymore." Ayumu mentioned and sighed as he'd pull open the vial and forced Thief to drink it.
The Growlithe practically winced and recoiled in response.
“You're not sedating him?"
“I can't risk it." Ayumu mentioned back to him. “We'll give him all the fluids he needs after; follow up with proper medication, IV him." Moonlight pulled his head back.
“Ayumu…"
“I am NOT…" He shook his head and tossed his hand outward in this 'fetch' like manner before he made a powerful and hefty sigh. “Makani is being a pain in the ass, since… that thing attacked us here. I barely leave the house now because that son of a bitch left his… 'fanatics' all over Alola." Akiyama partially slumped his upper back against his chair. “Let's just get him better… alright? If that bastard is sending out shipments of Pokemon medicine that are purposely tainted – broken seal and all. That's a real big finger to any kid out there. Any doctor… anyone." Ayumu mentioned and made Thief drink the entire vial…
It was like milk, but this heavy… thick liquid. Moonlight only tried it once before and the only thing he could compare it to was bleach.
It nearly smelled and tasted like it; or so he assumed. Thief just began to roll his head to the side and cough after.
“Did he…?"
“He's out cold. Now… the IV." Ayumu mentioned, prepped a needle with something in it that made Moonlight stare at it.
“That looks like… are you hitting him with Antibiotics? Ayumu t – that's what we did with Autumn when…"
“The max restore works no different than a mixture of sugar, water and a type of opioid, remember?" Ayumu cusped his thigh with his open palm. “This isn't what we put in humans; not this type. You know that. What happened with Autumn then was an error on the clinics part. Not mine… I was sober then and I corrected it all the same." Ayumu looked over the Growlithe in front of him, the one on the deck and checked the scans. “Yeah, the burn sprays from before… the tainted max restore. He either goes into shock if I try to administer anything to really help him out other then this, or he rides out the infection with a slim chance. I'm talking meager percentages." Ayumu commented. “I hit him with this, a small enough amount of antibiotics, add the IV and keep him hydrated; the vial we gave him will do the rest."
“What… what does he have?" Ayumu just chuckled and looked at the screen in front of him. The Scanner screen just flickered.
“The scan is coming back with high traces of Vibrio Cholerae. A culture must've gotten into the Max Restore. If it was added or got in there naturally is a different question…" Ayumu commented “So… I better get prepared…" Ayumu commented. “Gloves and mask."
“Cholera? But what about everyone else? It can't be just… just him; he was in the hot springs with everyone!" Moonlight remarked in fright as Ayumu tilted his head.
“Well, did they DRINK the water?"
“Well… no but…"
“They should be absolutely fine, if they aren't you can drag them to a clinic. Did he share any food?"
“No…" Moonlight went silent for a moment as Ayumu batted an eye
“Then they should ALL be fine." Ayumu commented as Moonlight scoffed and grabbed his equipment as the man in the wheelchair prepped an IV. All Moonlight could do was watch Ayumu delicately stagger and then stiffen his hands with a precision that only came from years of muscle memory. “The max restores and burn sprays may have suppressed his immune system. Luckily…" Ayumu pushed the needle inside and Moonlight winced as he watched. It was a slow, perfect puncture; but Moonlight could never get used to seeing it. “Thief has a naturally higher white blood cell count then I ever anticipated. If he was exposed yesterday; even with his immune system repressed… it was a slow burn. Lucky little guy. This isn't going to be easy for him."
“That's why he was throwing up water…" Moonlight shook his head “I should've noticed…"
“You haven't dealt with this before." Ayumu retorted back softly and professionally
“But I know!" Moonlight retorted before he darted his head away.
“Cub…"
“What?" Moonlights arrow-like ear flicked.
“No, no. You just remind me of a certain Eevee I found on the roadside. By the lake right?"
“…"
“Moonlight. He'll be fine, I'll make sure of that. It'll take me more then a mickey to completely mess with my head. You know me… so why are you having such… a problem? You haven't…" Ayumu tapped the IV for a moment. “There's the drip… You haven't acted like this since…" Moonlight just silently opened his lips – parted them ever so slightly.
Haven't…?
“There's this little spark in your eyes that I haven't seen for years." Ayumu mentioned idly and nodded. “Why don't you check on Wuffles? She hasn't left the house since Thief left."
“… a…" Moonlight shook his head and huffed “She's that upset?"
“She has been since he came back injured. I give Thief about the night, and he'll be good as new. Almost, his rib cage is still… Maybe you can give that Arcanine what for? Frankly, this little Growlithe tried to save my ass… or what's left of it by now; sitting on it for years."
“… I know…" Moonlight replied and tenderly lowered his eyes. As… As always, I can't just not stare at… not when Ayumu does this. He stepped towards the little ramp that went up to the living room.
“And Moonlight."
“Hm?" He turned towards the human being in the wheelchair with a mew. All Ayumu did was look back at him; mask over his face – gloves on each hand.
“Try not to let Wuffles drink out of his water bowl; or eat his food. Makani has nearly been avoiding me… but that's expected; you don't just pull out a gun and shoot at a Pokemon every day. Hell, he's been asking more questions and not getting answers, what I gave him isn't enough to sate his curiosity. If you see him… maybe you can convince him to come back home. I don't need to have to worry about him too." Ayumu commented and turned as Moonlight went for the ramp to the living room. “Thief should be at least responsive in a few hours, following that… it's just letting him rest." It stalled the Espeon before he mew'd delicately in reply and left that cold, chilly cement surrounded basement and found himself in an all too familiar; small, open concept home with hardwood floors - a kitchen with a near bar counter and finally a few pictures on the wall that left him to stare from time to time. Although, those pictures didn't seem to pour salt into him; to lick at wounds with something that stung more then just guilt alone.

Luna:

Mist sprayed at her muzzle and nose where that delicate scent of salt touched her face. It dared to sting her eyes yet the hairs on her whiskers and fluff before her little nose caught every little droplet. It left her to sneeze softly and glare outward towards the waves ahead of them. All in all, she was left in silence after Thief left in the way that he did.
Unexpectedly.
Unfairly.
All she felt was this strong burn against her stomach as though her own fire pushed throughout it.
“You seem upset." A voice jostled her haunches.
“Get lost…" She'd remark back and barely looked at the cream-soil colored Leafeon behind her. “It be a shame if your little leaves' got singed." He'd softly scoff in a sound that oddly sounded like a bark, something that left Luna with a face that appeared like she ate something much too sour for her taste. All that Leafeon did was lay down on the hot, sun-covered deck and glare out into the distance with her. All she could do was hesitantly look back; catch onto Absol who was busy trying to push something up to Griffin. A little yellow rag that fell out of his backpack…?
She remembered it from Cerulean; when her, Thief and Moonlight all fell into the water. Griffin nearly jolted when he noticed her with that strange bandana in her jaws. Petted her idly as he continued to chatter with Brad and Natasha; she was dressed as they always saw her, fashionable. A different outfit with a beret covered in Eevee related pins; her shoulder bag tossed around her and clung delicately to her side as Yuny made a chirp.
Bandit was the only strange one at that point; rubbing at her tongue with the back of her paw as though to get this bad taste out of her mouth.
“You don't remember a whole lot from home, do you?" Leafeon commented a moment after as she scoffed in reply.
“If it has Ninetales like Crescent; I don't want to." Luna retorted back to him as the Leafeon flicked his strange ears and scratched at the hardwood. All she could do was focus out to sea as the Leafeon rolled his shoulders for a moment.
“I feel, as though you want to ask me a question." Leafeon commented as Luna stiffened her tails.
“Yeah… alright sure… Why are you clinging to Moonlight? I mean why are you really?" Luna commented as the Leafeon turned his head and stared out to the clouds more then the mainland.
“I feel like it's something he needs." Leafeon expressed back, in this near cold voice as Luna rolled her eyes.
“Right… That's it? He just ne-"
“I was no different then he was." Leafeon mentioned back as she continued to talk. “It's that simple… black and white." He commented as Luna twitched an ear. “All because I was no different then him, I lost something beyond myself. I don't want to see that mistake repeated in him… I don't want to see it repeated in that little Thief of yours."
“He's not mine!" Luna snapped her jaw as Leafeon chuckled.
“The first thing you picked out… was about Thief." Her face began to flush through as she turned back to the sea. “I both gave and took… and I don't have the courage to tell either one of them that. All I know is that Moonlight is better bet then I am, but he can't just… hold Thief's scruff and carry him." Luna flicked out her tails and exhaled, annoyed.
“Why is everything so cryptic with you?" Luna commented back to him. “All you want is to drag me home."
“You're one of the head maidens, why wouldn't I? But I can't make you go home… That's up to you, Luna." Leafeon expressed.
“Tell me about it then." Luna retorted. “Tell me all of it. If you know so mu-"
“I don't know enough." Leafeon returned back to her and that left her silent. “After all, Luna. I've only really been to your home once with someone else. They know more then I do… and all I know is that I may never see them again, without Moonlight."
“What does that even mean!?" Luna commented back as Leafeon went quiet and looked out at the water.
“Let's say it's because I was no different then Moonlight was for the longest of times. As for your home… I'm basically the mail-runner. I brought food from my home there… especially after the whole 'problem.'" Luna felt her haunches rise.
“… T – Thief, right?" Leafeon nodded somberly and that left Luna to glance away.
“There once was a place where all sorts and types of Pokemon lived. All the variants you know… and don't… lived there. It was too large for its own good. Your little island, that was the last one left and it became no different then some hierarchy." Leafeon bluntly stated and rolled his shoulders before he yawned delicately. “In truth, being around Moonlight has been a little tiring… It's so strange that an Espeon seems to suck sunlight out of everything." Luna tilted her head. “Like how he used Dream Eater on you, right? Let's say I'm trying to help him too." Luna twitched her ears and it left Leafeon to chuckle.
“Reminds me of Lunar."

It left her pelt to stay rigid for just a moment.

“I only ever talked to that Alolan Vulpix one time. He was exceptional to speak with… kind hearted. All of it. The island hated him for… let's say 'marrying' as the humans call it… into the head maidens' family. An outsider of all things; I heard he got around from many of the Ninetales there. Was a friend with an Arcanine; curious thing. The only time I went down there was before all of it; with a very special friend." Leafeon expressed. “I've never seen an Arcanine use thunder. Head guardian of the Island too… small thing – smaller then I ever expected. I figured I'd look at something as large – if not larger – then Entei or Raikoui. I was proven wrong." Luna only stared at the Leafeon as it made a little noise.
“… You're… staring?"
“Lunar… was my dad's name, Leafeon… How… How old are you?"
“A year older then Moonlight, Ten. Why else do you think these old leaves are frayed at the ends?" Leafeon expressed as Luna shook her head. “As for knowing your dad… if you're asking questions about it – I only spoke to him once. It was no different than those two Eeveelutions – I believe they were brother-in-laws." Leafeon stared down at the sea… “Heh…"
“What?" Luna just listened closely.
“You're surprisingly easy to talk to… Luna. No wonder why everyone does." Leafeon shook his head. “I can see you desperately trying to catch onto a scent… If you'd like I can easily pick them out for you." Leafeon mentioned as Luna looked at him closely now. “Your mother and father, right? I can catch onto them, I've met them both that day, after all. It's where your little dance comes from."
“… no..." Leafeon went stoic for a moment from her response. “It's my choice, to go back or not. So… I'd rather find those two scents myself, if the time ever comes. That's my decision." Luna replied to him and all that Leafeon could do in reply was respectfully nod.
“Hm… I find that you're afraid to see things in black and white. You're an interesting stone for sure."
“…" Leafeon chuckled then and that left her ear to twitch once more.
“I feel you're more like a flat stone tossed across the sea, and frankly…" Leafeon nodded and turned over to Griffin as he petted Absol intensely, chuckled or laughed with her… dared to put on that little bandana around her scruff. “I feel like the one that tossed it has a better arm then we expect." It left Luna to look back at the lightly dark-skinned, messy sandy-haired and green eyed human closely.
What… kind of fate brings us all together? Why… do we connect in the way we do…? Because if I'm afraid to see the world in black and white…
What about Thief? Moonlight… Bandit? What about all of you?
Leafeon let out a gentle and expired huff as he stared into the distance firmly… but his gaze softened after a while.
“I'm worried about him."
“…"
“Yeah… just, seeing him with tears in his eyes just…" Leafeon looked at his left paw closely. “I've never felt anything like it, the raw emotion… all of it. I can't use Dream Eater, but I can…"
“You actually care…?"
“Of course I do, Luna. Moonlight is the kind to try and hide themselves as though they carry shame and guilt that's not even of their own. He's… I haven't felt that in… in years. Not that kind of soul and heart put into something so… well… so black and white. Simple. Straightforward. He lives like that, and all I want to do is change that… it's something he deserves. He refuses to acknowledge that; too much just reminds him."
“… Autumn… right?" Luna began to say as Leafeon twitched his ear.
“It's black and white, and you're afraid to face that." Luna pulled her back and straightened it to him. “You already know the truth of that, it's hard not to. Just… it's something he needs to let go of; to open up about with all of you. I just want that to be sooner, rather then later." Leafeon continued “I would've been here sooner… I could've helped at the train if I didn't get caught up with helping the forest… like how Griffin helped in Fuchsia." Luna's back crawled for a moment. “I've moved past it already, but too many Pokemon died there too. Even a Gyarados did. I only got lucky because I'm as good at purifying plants and air as Suicune is with water… and then Moonlight. The moment I saw him and caught onto that scent of it… It surrounds him endlessly." Leafeon expressed. “Poison. Pure… unprecedented and volatile poison." Leafeon expressed and somberly sighed as he flicked out his shorter head fluff. “I don't want him to smell like that; In fact, I think Taraxacum suits him better."
“Tara… what?"
“Oh… Dandelions. With scent, if you go right to the roots of fur you can pick out all sorts of amazing things and learn quite a lot about another. It tells you about where they were born, how they lived. Moonlight had… well I guess everything was just as it should be until it fell apart for him. I can catch onto that." Leafeon expressed “His body language is a dead give away – albeit subtle. You must've seen that he makes himself smaller when he's in the center of all of you. Agitated even. He's afraid to warm up a little… But you already know that. I want to… do something special for him, but Dandelion; it doesn't naturally grow here. Not the species he knows at least." It made Luna lightly giggle after a small, soft look.
“If anyone can find that… I bet that'd be you. If it's so important to him…" Luna expressed and felt a smile crack on her face.
“It's not, anymore. But I think it'll remind him how important it really is." Leafeon said and gently let out air, Luna's nose perked up
It's… clean air. I didn't know that a Leafeon could make air like that; it's like a mountain range… Just a breath of fresh air.
“Moonlight isn't… poisonous." Luna mentioned back to him “He's… He's just been around it more then all of us I think." She'd give a sigh “I barely know enough about him, but he is kind. Under the surface he is…" She took one last glance out to sea as a voice gently perked her ears.
“Luna! Are you hungry?" Absol mentioned to her as her ears twitched again. “Natasha bought extra kibble!"

“Didn't we just have breakfast?" Luna brought up as Absol chuckled
“Well, waiting on the ferry, it has been a couple of hours. Come eat little one, you too Leafeon." Absol brought up as Leafeon nodded back to her. Luna only huffed and flicked her tails out.
“You aren't hungry?"
“I'm just worried that Griffin is going to fatten me up…." Luna commented back as she stretched out her back and forepaws before making her way over. Leafeon lagged behind her and stalled for just a moment to look at something. Luna took notice right away.
“What is it?" Leafeon tilted his head as he stared at some trainer tap at their phone, annoyed.
“That… screen? Or is it called a mirror? I don't know… it's flickering; like it's suddenly broken…?" Leafeon mentioned as Luna tilted her ears and listened.
“I can still hear humans… right now anyway." Luna brought up and chuckled as she wandered towards Griffin.
“Are you sure you can?" Luna stalled and stiffened. “I remember that Lunar mentioned he couldn't." Leafeon expressed gently as Luna paused nervously. “I never understood if he meant it literally, or symbolically. I'm just getting a bad feeling suddenly." Luna twitched and fluffed out her fur as Leafeon mentioned that.
“About… here?" Leafeon shook his head no and only went towards Absol after that; left Luna to stare at his back as he'd wander way.
She only pointlessly stared at him, watched that larger, stronger and near sunlit Leafeon pass away from her… just another ghost that walked her way. One that made their way to all of them.

All she did was feel the sea air blow against her ears as though they held a song beyond any other; one without words… a hum and a gentle spark of guidance.
“Find her… Luna. Hear them…"
She only found her paws touch against a small bowl that Absol delicately pushed her way. It left Luna to tilt her head at the Absol…
Griffin put that little bandana around her neck; something that Thief wore much earlier on. A bright yellow bandana with white little flowers that peppered all around it – one that was torn in some places as though a branch snagged onto it as though it were nothing more but another empty promise. It left her to raggedly exhale as Absol tilted her head.
“Are you okay, Luna?" She'd softly whisper the words as if she didn't want anyone to hear her.
“I'm… fine." Luna brought up. “Just worried like always… I feel like I've broken a promise."
“A promise?" Absol expressed “I don't think you really can, if you haven't given up on one yet. Have you given up on it?" Luna shook her head unexpectedly.
“I don't… really know." Luna expressed back to her as Absol nodded.
“I promised Lycanroc…" Luna's ear twitched “I guess a little bit of faith helped me keep that promise." Absol continued to say as Luna stared at the bowl in front of her. “Eat!" The Absol mentioned “It's too early to look and feel sad. Much too early for that." Absol just stared at Luna for a while longer until she sighed gently and flicked out her pelt.
Lashes… cuts? I can see them so clearly now… wait? Her… Her…
hips have claw marks on them… Where… where they're placed it…? Luna recoiled lightly at the sight of that, nearly winced as Absol tilted her head once more.
“Luna…?" Absol mentioned and gave a tired smile. “You have that… look in your eyes; are you sure your okay?"
“I'm… just… not hungry." Luna mentioned back and flattened her tails to the ground. “I'm not that hungry; so eat plenty for both of us, okay?" Luna expressed and tried to hold her tone while the Absol nodded and showed off another kind smile.
“Okay. I'll eat plenty for both of us." Absol expressed back while Luna felt her paws move away from her; gave curious looks her way as she'd feel her stomach churn. As she wandered through the bodies around her, she'd notice Scarf pop his head up.
“Luna?" The Pikachu's voice came through as she gave him a stare; an empty eyed stare.
“Y… You're kind to her right?" Scarf's ear twitched as his tail went rigid.
“Whenever she gives me the chance… What's wrong?" The Pikachu's voice held concern, enough that the pit in Luna's stomach felt lighter.
“N… nothing." She'd express back as Scarf held up a little small bit of kibble to her.
“You should eat!" Scarf mentioned and chuckled lightly “It won't do you any good if you're hungry later on. I mean… how can you go through a cavern starved?" The Pikachu laughed as Luna flicked out her ears and stiffened her tail.
“I'm not hungry." Scarf blinked
“O… Okay. I…." She'd roll her head and huffed as she wandered away from the Pikachu – left him in the dark.
“Is she upset?" Luna heard Akamaru's voice in the background.
“I… I don't know… D – did I say something wrong?" Scarf's voice replied as she heard Tsuara's voice after
“She's just being a drama queen again. Even I get a cold vibe from her." Luna's haunches rose on her pelt.
“You know that's not nice to say, Tsuarara." Natasha's Sylveon – Sephiran had replied to her Glaceon “She's just a little different, nothing wrong with that." Tsurara scoffed shortly after as Luna stalled at the edge of everyone…
“You all won't understand her; she's different, and that's what makes her better then the rest of us." Leafeon stated outright “She has her heart in the right place; her naivety means nothing compared to that." Leafeon continued to express as Luna flicked off their voices and wandered over to Bandit. She was in the middle of eating… whatever it was that she ate.
“Hey runt." Bandit expressed without much of a word after, until she looked up at her. “You look all teary eyed; what's up with that?" Luna didn't reply. “…" Bandit went back to eating shortly after in that awkward silence before she tore off a piece of… whatever she ate.
“Stop hurting the Pidgey!" Yuny commented as Bandit gave a delicate cackle.
“If you leave your mouth open – you might get salt water in it this time." The Mightyena expressed back and proudly showed off her splotches that layered her fur. Luna just sniffed at her food as Bandit sent a down-casted gaze. “What? There's plenty of kibble…" Luna sat back down as Bandit rolled her eyes. “You know this silent, cold shoulder thing you've suddenly-"
“Do males claw… at…?" Luna went quiet and huffed gently before looking down at the deck. With the way everything swirled and jostled – she felt sea sick. Bandit just went silent before she'd huff.
“I don't… entirely know what you're asking…"
“I can't ask with Yuny around." Luna mentioned with folded ears as Bandit huffed gently…
“…" Bandit went quiet “That's a… bit of a… inappropriate question to ask Luna." Bandit had filled in the lines fairly quick. “They try not to, in fact they're usually fairly obedient in not." Bandit expressed very, very quietly. “If I compare it to my mate; I'd say none of them would… why are you asking me this?" Luna nervously pushed her paws into the deck and stared at them silently. “Luna…" Bandit expressed in a sterner voice.
“D… Did you get the chance to look at Lycanroc?" Bandit tilted her head, before her tail stiffened.
“You noticed on Absol…" Bandit sighed and casted her view away. “Well… you've killed my appetite." Bandit pushed the bowl away as Griffin made a noise.
“Huh… what's wrong Griffin?" Brad brought up.
“I've… never seen Bandit do that…?" Natasha looked over too.
“Finally figured that it's alive right?" Griffin rolled his eyes and Luna could feel his footsteps in the deck and looked back at the Mightyena; all Bandit did in reply was gently push the tips of her paw against Luna's.
“There's a lot of things about Absol that's unfair, Luna." Bandit expressed gently. “Too much… So… don't give her that look you have now too often. I don't think she needs that look from you – judging by the marks on your pelt. She… she doesn't need you to have that look on your face all the time." Luna felt the larger footfalls stop behind her, and then there was a hand that went down her side – went near her ribcage. Her eye's dilated and in that instant; her head spun around… She clamped her teeth against Griffin's hand and bit down in a way that left him to jolt.
“L – Luna?" Bandit softly recoiled, with the intention of not interrupting anyone even though… they all noticed. With all the people on the ferry, it was hard not to. Bandit was near dead silent when she said her name… and all that Vulpix could see was Griffin's jacket. No one could see the fact that her face was redder then usual; or the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
It's… It's not fair. All she did was hold onto Griffin's hand; her teeth broke skin the moment she clamped down on it. Why…? Why!? Whenever I get like… why do I see Griffin like him? Why do I just see that painted smile on Absol's face!? Why is it always… why isn't it SIMPLE!? Her heart only pounded against her chest as her fangs held onto Griffin's skin firmly… and the only thing that frightened her more then the bite; was the fact that it barely bothered him. That, aside from the initial recoil, he just left his hand in place. Smiled lightly, even though he winced.
“If only… I knew what you both talk about." Griffin commented idly and then took his second hand – something that left Luna to shut her eyes tight as he petted her cheek. “You… just don't entirely trust all of us yet… I just wonder how we can help change that. So, bite me all you want; I won't back down until you know… Luna." She bit down harder and felt his arm stiffen – legs froze.
That's just bullshit! It's bullshit! Complete fucking BULLSHIT. She could hear her own voice scream at her repeatedly as she raggedly let out hot air against the back of his hand. Griffin only knelt there and let her hold onto his palm with her little teeth, hold on… until she let go and just started to lick at it. It's… not fair…

Luna refused to leave Bandit's side for the rest of the trip; just clung against her fur to the point that the Mightyena appeared agitated by it. The way how her ear would twitch spasmodically while that smaller Vulpix just held tightly against her; hardly pulled her eyes away from the shifting deck below her as she refused to lift her eyes up. It took Bandit long enough to make Luna eat anything – offered her that treat that Griffin made her… or whatever was left of it. It didn't supply any comfort for her; not when she knew that Absol delicately looked her way from time to time. Scarf gently sparked up conversation with her even though she didn't make much of a reply in return. That deck slowly changed towards grass and soil – they touched down nearby the beachside headed towards Pallet Town.
“You know… Griffin's dad gave him that bandana." Luna didn't twitch her ear to that and just continued to stare at the earth below her. “Hell… the first time he tried to put it on me, I bit him in return. I don't like having anything around my neck." Bandit expressed gently and all Luna did was hide further into her fur. It left the Mightyena silent. “…" She'd exhale sharply and sighed “Are you going to be like this all day?"
“I'm just… I'm upset." Luna tried to figure out her emotions and that left Bandit to grin in reply to her as they wandered down a rain-poured grassy meadow. The clouds bellowed above them as Luna could hear the sea crash with its crisp and gentle waves. Music that tenderly filled her ears as her pelt soaked through.
“Then I know just the thing… after all – you really haven't tackled me yet. You have some pent-up anger? Then take it out through some training." Bandit brought up yet Luna just looked back down at her paws.
“I… I don't know today; Bandit." The Mightyena gave that Vulpix a push with her large paw. It felt like a little punch to the side. “Ow… hey!" Luna chirped up and sharpened a look at her while Bandit grinned once more – showed off her crisp white fangs.
Luna didn't feel scared of them, all things considered.
“We still need to build you up against steel… it's unexpected for you to be… crippled by it." Bandit searched for the right words and Luna flicked her tails
“Well I don't get why…" She'd brought up as Bandit delicately shrugged in return.
“You do get frosty." Bandit remarked back and stuck out her tongue as Luna blew air at the fluff that hung just at the tips of her eyes as she rolled them. “Snarky… I like it!" Bandit commented again as Luna found a small giggle in her throat.
“You're trying to cheer me up?" Luna mentioned with a silly, soft grin as Bandit flicked out her tail and tilted her head to the left to show off the spot on her right eye. That Mightyena delicately showed the tip of her tongue as she wandered beside that smaller Vulpix; something that drew her to giggle and roll her eyes once more. “Alright; I get it…" Luna began to say as Bandit gave off her infamous toothy grin.
“Good; I know it's rough to get by, but I know that when you have that look on your face – she'll feel much better. You're stubborn as hell, you know that…?"
“Stubborn… I barel… oh…" Bandit laughed harder then Luna thought she would – the cackle in her throat had said it all. “You're only stubborn when you have to be; Nice work… for the other day…" Luna let her eyes drop downward. “That Granbull will be fine, all because it looked messy… doesn't mean I killed it." Luna just softly nodded. “You'll know when I do, Luna. It's clean… it shouldn't be messy for anything."
“Have… you before?" Bandit went silent and huffed gently.
“No… I've been lucky, Luna. It takes more strength then you know to fight… but it takes all sense of cowardice and weakness to take a life. It's naïve; murder. Childish. I may get gleeful at the sight of a little blood – even I know that. Yet unless you're hunting for food and sustenance; which is usually always a clean kill… the rest is just… Just human like. Infantile. It takes a lot of strength… and courage to know when to stop. I learned that time and time again." Bandit huffed and sighed. “It makes me wonder how that Skarmory is."
“Skarmory?" Bandit nodded and appeared to scoff.
“I used Super Fang after using Hyperbeam and Agility in that fight with Steven. I just didn't expect that Hyperbeam would hit so hard. I… singed it's wing with it and when it went to evade my next move… it's wing buckled, and it fell into me." Bandit explained softly and raggedly sighed. “I bit down on its throat too… and my fangs got caught. I couldn't pull away and it panicked. I did too… they're hollow – the steel around it; I never thought I was able to puncture into it. The whole set up was… was dumb. I still remember how terrified it became. Logan spent weeks apologizing to Steven and even though Steven said it was fine – that nothing got hurt; Logan was still devastated by it… then it was shocking news after sad news." Bandit shook her head as they walked side by side; Luna only stared at her closely. “Logan didn't give up though. It's… something that I don't want Griffin to do – give up. Griffin was always quick to." Luna continued to walk close by her as she listened closely. “I do mean with everything. Griffin has never really seen anything through; he can't because reality is always this… this door in front of him."
Is she talking about her nightmare? Luna's paws stiffened and stalled for a second as Bandit continued to walk past her… naturally, Bandit was in the front of the pack.
That made Luna question it all that much more as everyone seemed to pass her by.

“Luna." Absol's voice made her pelt lax. “Come along little one; you're going to fall behind – far behind." Luna just nodded and forced a little smile back at her in return.
“Right!" She'd reply with a tender laugh and hopped gently to keep up with Absol. She could see Bandit turn her head from further down the way – walk close to Griffin… Even though Luna couldn't read her face as she did.
“Did you eat enough?" Absol brought up.
“Bandit talked me into it."
“I'm glad." Absol nodded her head softly “You need to keep your energy up, I've heard many things about the Viridian Gym." Luna gave her a glance and kept her smile on.
“Who's the leader?" She'd ask as Absol seemed to waver her head
“I'm not entirely sure; the old leader left for a while and came back shortly there-after. He still looks over the gym from time to time." Absol expressed “aside from that… There isn't much known about the new one – or at least the one that's always there now. Some think it's not even a trainer."
“Is it a tough gym?" Luna expressed with her tails gently flickering in all sorts of different directions. Stay still damnit…
“Well… no. That's the odd thing about it; I've heard, as of late, it's the simplest gym to fight at. All normal and ground type Pokemon; ill-trained. For a time, when the original gym leader came back, no one could beat the gym." Absol continued to say as Pikachu partially hopped up to them.
“The gym? Do you think it's going to be tough?" He'd say and smiled, brightly. Luna just looked at his expression.
Unlike my smile… his even feels genuine. He's a strange… strange Pikachu – are you training… so much because you know too?


Wouldn't it… wouldn't it be better not to try and be some white knight? Luna twitched her ears
“In all honesty, I'm actually really worried about it."
What…? Absol seemed to chuckle
“And your honesty get's the better of you." Absol mentioned as sighed softly. “Like with Kommo-o."
“I was terrified, yes." Pikachu replied and gently flicked his ears. “I have no fear in expressing that. It's the truth; but I was more terrified that it would hurt both of you and then gun for everyone else. It took nearly five of us to hold it at bay."
I'm the nearly… right? Thanks Scarf… Absol nodded in return.
“Perhaps you should train more… even eat more."
“I figured I'd need to have a growth spurt, not become pudgy." Luna rolled her eyes.
“What's wrong with pudgy? Pudgy is warm and adorable…" Pikachu just stared at her after she said that. It took Luna a second before her face went deep red. “I…" She wasn't expecting them both to lightly chuckle to one another as she interjected. Naturally, there was only one Pokemon among them that really filled out that description. My dumb mouth… stop flicking about! Luna turned to her tails – they were wrapping amongst one another and thrashed back and forth spasmodically. Why do you have a mind of your own whenever I get like this? Scarf gently sighed and rolled his shoulders softly.
“If only there was a place to rest my legs for a moment…" Scarf commented after a moment and gently sat down on the trail. “All this standing; my hip isn't much for it."
“Ah, the age IS catching up to you." Absol remarked back as that Pikachu sheepishly smiled
“I would've thought all that extra training would help them out!" Absol shook her head
“No, at our age; it's about rest. If anything, you should work on your cheeks." Absol expressed as Pikachu delicately looked away.
“If I could; I would. It's strange, they feel like they're swelled all the time but there's no charge. I can barely spark up from it." Absol shook her head and showed off the axel on the side of her scalp
“It's no different then my blade here, it's grown… sensitive at times – it doesn't like the pressure; especially in a fight. I'm lucky the Kommo-o didn't break it." Luna twitched her ears and went to open her mouth… but…
“Have you tried Lum berry?" Scarf began to mention as Absol tilted her head.
“It's a strong berry; helps with burns and… all sorts of ailments." Scarf nodded his head in this small; friendly and jolt like way – as though he'd just nod constantly.
Exactly four times he nodded; a strange little quirk.
“It usually helps with my hip, that and when I eat enough of them… my cheeks hurt less. It might help out with your blade; Absol." Scarf expressed with a light smile “I'm fairly confident in finding them too." Absol nodded and smiled
“Your voice sounds… raspy, Pikachu." Absol expressed “I have a good nose for Rinka berries. That may help with that." Scarf laughed gently
“You haven't heard me sing, this raspy voice is good for some things." He'd say with a delicate laugh as Absol gently, and in an all to friendly way, scoffed in reply.
“Is that another one of your 'oh so hidden' talents? Aside from climbing trees?" Pikachu sheepishly smiled back from there as Luna just wandered close by Absol.
“They aren't hidden talents, just plain as the eye can see." Luna twitched her ears.
“Try singing." Luna commented idly as Pikachu appeared to go blank.
“We – Well I can't really sing on the spot… I… I need music for that. A song of any kind… humans make the best music… when they want to." Scarf replied
“They can. Humans can do all sorts of wonderful things." Absol flicked out her fur once more as Luna felt her ears perk.
You're… proudly showing off those scars…? No… it's… it's the bandana Griffin put on you. It looks like a bright yellow Nanab berry; that's it's color.
Sunshine… That's no different than his fur, right? I just want to know… too much. About everyone; everything.
I still have that thought in the back of my head that I don't belong here.

“Luna?" Absol brought up as she began to wander ahead of her.
“Hmm? Oh… I wanted to talk with Akamaru." Luna brought up with a giggle “And Yuny too, she's always chittering on about something!" Luna expressed and smiled to them both “I want to see how they're both doing." Absol gave a warm look in return; something that left Luna's chest go cold.
“Of course, Luna. I'm certain Yuny is still frightened from yesterday." Absol expressed softly and Scarf gave Luna a studious gaze in return. That Vulpix didn't have much of a word to say after that, and simply left them both alone – let them talk and explore little things about one another as she pushed further up the pathway to Pallet Town. By now the sea was far behind them – a glimmering little gemstone in the back of them all. A small shimmer of cloudy water as the rain pelted down around them.
Griffin, by then, had tossed his jacket over his scalp; as though that tight nylon-like cotton would do anything for him. She could hear his voice, hear him mutter about how he should've brought an umbrella… Like Natasha. The two girls were sharing a single cover as Brad and Griffin were left out in the rain. Brad didn't mind it at all; in fact, he freely undid his jacket and held out his arms.
“You kidding Griff!? This is great!" She heard his loud voice resonate through the otherwise quiet little trail, mountains looked over them in the distance as though they wandered closer and closer to that horizon. “This weather is awesome! The rain is nearly warm dude!"
“I'm freezing…" Griffin expressed back and muttered something in a language that Luna couldn't put her ear to.
“He talks funny." The voice made Luna's head perch up to the rain – droplets touched her nose from the edge of a frilly, clear-vinyl umbrella. Luna just watched the droplets collect on top of the magical jelly-fish like sheet above Natasha's head.
“That's not all too nice to say, Yuny." Luna commented back and felt something nearly shove past her. It left Luna to huff and plume as Tsuara shot up her icy-blue tail and wandered past her with all sorts of rough ended comments. Sephiran only wandered in the rain nearby… and Akamaru clung close by to Smokey; that Houndoom stared at Luna as she auspiciously came up to them.
“Yeah, but like I was saying – I'm wondering how you get your fire so narrow over distance." Akamaru continued to say as Houndoom snorted.
“Trick of the lips." The Flareon partially went quiet.
“You really don't say much when it comes down to it…"
“Not much to say." Smokey replied back as Luna heard Natasha talk to Melody. Melody was busy asking her what Kalos was like and Natasha had all too much to talk about. Naturally she started with the contests; some fancy battle place… Lumiouse City – where her apartment was.
She lived in a place that was tame and quiet, nearby a hospital. Luna picked that out pretty quick.
“What about Russia?" Natasha rolled her eyes.
“Well, there's not much to say about that. I moved to Kalos when I was fourteen… My father owns a place out there for business – I see him sometimes. He'll usually surprise me with something. Flowers or clothes or… in fact he does more shopping then I do." Natasha gently laughed “I mean, Russia… I guess you could go with the stereotype 'it's cold… very cold' but in all honesty; during the summer it's one of the most beautiful places you could be. I lived in the largest city down there. My parents own a manor. Place has been up since before the revolution – in fact, the family was nearly killed when it was burnt down the first time."
“It's happened more than once!?"
“Well… it was an entire revolution right? They burned down the homes of many nobles. It became a… a war." Natasha expressed and lightly nodded “It's just what happens when people live in horrid conditions and move to a place that can't house them with a governmental structure that's not capable of taking in those numbers. It was terrible either way. The house was burned down and rebuilt three times. The first time was the worst and then the next two was just an aftermath I guess you could say."
“that's really cool… so wait… if I remember my history correctly"
“Hm? Oh no no no; my family wasn't any major political faction or anything. They were just richer land owners. If you mean the Romanov family – they never met them, not formally." Natasha expressed “All I know is that I didn't want to live there, I couldn't be me. What… I am is… it's enough to get killed over. It's not illegal by law to be gay, but… it's not socially accepted by a massive percentage… even though it's a minority compared to the rest." Natasha huffed gently. “I just came down here to figure things out I guess – I kept it all… secretive and hidden but, believe me… I've had my own share of fights and scuffles over it." Melody seemed to nervously look down. “Hey, don't do that… thing, whatever that is." Natasha commented and laughed “All because some lanky ass shithead guy tried to punch me and lost doesn't mean you have to give me that sort of look." Natasha expressed and glanced up at her umbrella; gave it this fist-bump like bounce and let a sudden flurry of droplets land all around them… including on Luna.
That left Smokey to scoff as though it were funny.
“It just seems unfair; I mean here we don't have that. We've never outlaw'd it even – save for a minor period in the eighteen-hundreds." Melody continued to say “I sorta thought-"
“That it's just completely natural and normal everywhere? I mean look at Pokemon; they have interactions like that. It's only normal – society isn't. Never has been… benevolent; that's impossible to be." Natasha laughed “It would make it too simple; you know? How would I get better if it was that simple?" Melody only huffed in reply and hum'd and haw'd at it.
“Like I said; angle your lips."
“That doesn't make sense? I angle them straight up and I'll be singeing the fur on my head and burning my nose…" Akamaru commented back and chuckled and Smokey plumed out embers at the Flareon.
“Train more." Smokey replied, “Have you ever heard of a guide Pokemon?"
“hmm?" Smokey sighed after that
“You know how they have the vest? It says, “Do Not Pet"
“I guess?" Akamaru replied.
“They should add “Don't Talk To." Smokey replied back as Akamaru rolled his eyes
“Yeah… sassy, a bite to ya… gooooood." Akamaru huffed and stopped before he went around Smokey and Melody. That Houndoom didn't keep his eyes away for a second from him.
“So; what's up with Foxfire?" Luna tilted her head drastically.
“Uh… what?"
“Oh, Griffin and Brad had this nickname argument last night – After you dozed off and all. It was kinda…. Kinda cute that you carried Thief upstairs." Luna felt her face turn red “He's like the perfect size to be carried on your back." Luna tossed her gaze down at the trail for a moment as Akamaru made a noise. “N – Now wait a second; I didn't mean it like a bad thing! Not at all." Akamaru laughed lightly as he hung underneath the Umbrella; next to Melody. Natasha had brought up a conversation about her glasses and Melody expressed that it still felt and looked weird.
Natasha brought up that it takes time to get used to. “I mean; it's never a bad thing… carrying others that need it. It's what we do when we have to. You didn't need to last night – I… it's something you chose to do. I simply found it adorable." Luna nodded and shyly laughed
“Yeah… well he was sort of-"
“Leafeon told me that he even fell asleep against you."
“…" Luna huffed “He just…"
“Well I woulda heard of it eventually – I mean we all talk about one another… I'm just wondering if your okay. You look stressed out." Luna huffed
“If I'm being honest… I'm entirely stressed. I don't know what to really think or… or do…" Akamaru chuckled
“Just a sign that you care – I get that way with Yuny all the time."
“Hey! I'm not a stressy!"
“Stressor, Yuny." Akamaru corrected her as the little Eevee cub huffed and stuck out her tongue. It made Luna giggle as Akamaru made a small, tender laugh.
“You've known her all her life, right?"
“Since we found her egg abandoned on the roadside. At first, Tsurara just tried to convince me to leave her alone… the whole 'whatever deal' you know. She's not the kind to enjoy or like being around cubs – they annoy her. I just couldn't leave Yuny alone; she gets scared during thunder storms – funny right? She'll be a Jolteon and she gets terrified when it's raining heavily out and…" Akamaru trailed off
“You talk a lot about her, what about yourself?"
“Me? There's nothing to talk about" Akamaru mentioned in this confident, calm way. “Natasha caught me, raised me and then I evolved into a Flareon. Tsurara was already a Glaceon when I met her – Sephiran was already a Sylveon. I just… connect with Yuny because I used to be the 'annoying little brother' so to speak."
“No!" Yuny commented and huffed “You're too big to be little!" The Flareon laughed
“I guess I am now! You'll be just as large as I am! If you eat those berries…"
“I'm not eating the yucky berries!" Yuny seemed to snap back at him as Luna found herself breaking out into laughter. It made Akamaru shyly chuckle
“You both… really do have that" Luna strayed off with a giggle “You really are like a big brother and a little sister, you know that?"
“Hm?"
“Because you're trying to be a dad, right?" Akamaru went silent and only blinked tenderly in response. “You're trying to be a dad without any experience… It's wonderful." Luna commented and felt her face glow. “What… what did I say?" Akamaru gave a little smirk
“Yeah. I just try to be a big bro; if I'm lucky… maybe we'll get to meet her parents one day."
“We will!" Yuny commented back to them from Natasha's satchel-like laptop bag “That's what I do!" She'd comment and popped her head out of the center pocket.
“Well what happens if they run away? Being in that bag all day is going to make you sleepy!"
“I'm not tired!"
“Are you sure? Because I think my pouf says otherwise…" Akamaru gestured to his fluff – something that left Luna to stare.
“I'M NOT TIRED!" She'd chirp out and went silent as Natasha perked a hand on her scalp
“You're being rowdy today." Natasha commented back to her as Yuny flopped into the bag. That made Luna giggle.
“It's like a den"
“Hm?
“The bag!" Akamaru snickered after Luna commented on that
“Yeah… it sort of is; I wanted to get out of the bag every time I was put in it. Yuny actually likes it – it was always cramped and agonizing for me – like being on that ferry. I felt like I was going to hurl…" Akamaru mentioned “I don't get how you could just freely wander about and look out at the ocean the whole time – just looking at that much water makes me feel sick" Akamaru laughed lightly as Luna clicked her tongue
“I always asked… what's with the weird names?"
“Huh?"
“Akamaru, Sephiran, Tsurara? They're all Japanese or they seem like it." The Flareon laughed lightly
“Oh… that… yeah. Natasha likes all these Japanese media stuff; she named us all after characters or something like that." The Flareon shrugged “I don't get why… and then there's Yuny." Akamaru mentioned as Luna saw one of her ears stick out of the bag.
“Huh?"
“We're talking about your funny name!"
“It's not FUNNY!" Yuny pouted and stuck out her tongue “Your name is funnier! Bakash?jiki" Luna tilted her ears and flicked them after.
“Why would she call you reserved…? Reticent?" Akamaru smiled after that
“Well, I'm honest to a fault, so to say." Akamaru expressed as Luna tilted her head again. “There really isn't too much about me, but her name? I think it has… something to do with the name Yuriy. But… that's a boy's name, not a girls. In some way, maybe she wrote the nickname down with the r and the I too close together – Natasha handwrites on her phone."
“You can write on it!?" Luna mew'd – or so it appeared and that left Akamaru to laugh harder then she thought he would – it left her face pure red.
“T – T- The way that you just… paused and your eyes lit up! It's too funny!" The Flareon only smiled and gave a sigh after “I could see the whites of your eyes!"
“W – Well how would I know? It's just some block that beeps to me!" The Vulpix chipped back as the Flareon stuck out his tongue.
Just like Yuny would.
“All we know is that it's her name, and she's with all of us now. It's all that matters. It's the only thing that matters at the end of the day, you know?" Luna just kept her gaze on him as they continued to wander… and Pallet town had shown up as the furthest little blip on the horizon.


Moonlight:


He'll be… fine. I can't worry about him. He's not any of them. Moonlight sharply exhaled as he curled up on the couch in the living room. Give an Arcanine what for? Really…? I don't… feel like fighting right now. I feel like I want to get away from that for just a minute.
Give me a minute. Moonlight pushed his head down against the cushions below him and softly shut his eyes. It… It's so quiet. Why? He'd restlessly rest on his side and sprawled out his legs in this lazy way – let them dangle past the edge of the couch as his breath escaped him. The wind gently racked against the window – tapped on the frame and hovered around the glass pane as all Moonlight could do was stare out at the sky the afternoon has nearly passed by already… Three ten? That means it's only ten AM in Japan. They're nineteen hours ahead… compared to here. Moonlight let out another ragged breath and rolled on his back – winced when he felt it crack and adjust to the angle; all he could do was look at the flat, white ceiling; his light and dark purple scarf lagged lazily to the left of him. My… head is clear? All I can do is smell that damn Leafeon – sleeping on me like that; he got the scarf all…? Moonlight perked his head up. When did I stop…? The Espeon's eyes went wide as he brought the scarf directly to his nose. I stopped using psychic to… The… Future sight in Fuchsia City. Leafeon convinced me not to… Now all I can smell is him… Moonlight felt a shiver creep up on him and shook it off as he flared out his pelt and haunches. Am I just going to keep getting starry eyed and fall for his damned parlor tricks? As cold as his thoughts were, Moonlight felt the snarl on his face fade much too quickly when the wind picked back up and he found his paws on the hardwood – a gentle thump and a slide forward left him to wander to the door. He hadn't seen that troublesome Rockruff around the house and all he did was let his gemstone glow as the door handle pushed down and that big heavy door popped open endlessly.
Then it was the near dead silent close and the view of a beach which glowed no differently then the sands in an hour glass – sky that was bright and blue and beyond his understanding while the sea flickered silver-gold against his tender pink eyes.
It all glowed before him
“Hey hey!"
“Hmmm? A Pikipek? Hello? What may you want?" Moonlight replied out to the small, jet black bird that flapped it's wings and showed off it's regal red plumes on it's head, he just started to walk towards the staircase – one with this tender incline and a rope that was pinned to the sand below and the trail above; it made the Espeon huff.
“I haven't seen you before! What happened to the Growlithe?" Moonlight stalled at the first stone step.
“Thief?"
“Yeah! That's the one! Is he dead?"
“Dead? No… he could be if he keeps acting foolish." The Espeon replied back. “Do you know of an Arcanine on this island?" Moonlight continued to say as he began to wander up the large steps effortlessly – the Pikipek flew around him like some annoying buzzard. It made this chitter of a call and then landed ahead of him on the trail when Moonlight got to the top. Hopped towards him and tilted its head – Moonlight could see it's just rise and fall quickly; the plumes of feathers on it's chest unfurled for a moment and flattened respectfully.
“The Arcanine? The caretaker?"
“Caretaker?" The Pikipek went into a strong explanation – one with a little too much unneeded detail for Moonlight. Yet the basis of the story that the Espeon caught onto from that little black bird, was that it was a Growlithe that came from the sea out of nowhere. That it had been on the island of Melemele for over a year. He explained all sorts of strange things; and even the attack on Thief – something that made Moonlight chuckle lightly and tilt his head.
“Hm…"
“What?"
“I've known that Growlithe for longer then I care to admit; it's not like him to jump into the fray. Are you sure you're talking about Thief?"
“I gave him a seashell."
The one in his tail?
“Why?"
“A Dragonair asked me to." Pikipek replied “She was rather polite, old for sure, but polite. I had no reason not to; my nest isn't far from here. Neither is the Arcanine's cave."
“A cave?"
“Well it's like a hollow'd out rock – it gets too hot for them during mid-day; you'd be fine naturally." The Pikipek expressed “What's with the cloth?"
“Nothing of importance. It belongs to my owner." Moonlight replied as the Pikipek would occasionally stall and hop down the trail with him. “That strange Pokemon, has it been around?"
“No; it just came in all… noisy and ate anything and now we haven't seen it for a while – the Island has been very quiet since then. We just have to deal with that dream stealer or whatnot."
“Dream stealer?"
“Some annoying Growlithe that the Arcanine takes care of… her name is Marina I think… Yeah… Marina! She has weird eyes, kind of like yours!" Moonlight twitched his tail. “In fact, exactly like yours – wait… are you like her dad or something?" The Pikipek tilted its head drastically.
“Of course not." Moonlight replied, “I have no offspring or mate." Although… I… could have family down here. There's that chance. “We're on Route One correct; coming out from Kale's bay?"
“I don't know, I think that's what the humans call it."
“So the Pokemon Lab is up ahead, correct?"
“I don't know what that is?" Pikipek recoiled back politely as Moonlight rolled his eyes and searched around. “Aren't you hot?"
“Hardly."
“Hmm… you have very short fur."
“So?"
“It's just… curious – I only see that with Alolan Eevee's."
“I come from the Column Region." Moonlight returned to him and glanced down at the Pikipek which spent it's time flaring out it's feathers.
“I've never heard of that region!" It began
“Your type wouldn't go there." Moonlight replied back “But I know my father is from Alola. He used to talk about the nights there and mentioned that the nights in Column were everything better."
“There's no night sky better than the Alolan sky."
“I beg to differ." Moonlight returned I don't need to tell him any of this; why does the conversation feel… therapeutic? “There are many places beyond Alola to see; perhaps you'll have the chance to see them some day." The Pikipek remotely shrugged – or… it seemed that way.
“I don't know, my nest is here." Moonlight gently chuckled in reply as the Pikipek continued to hop by his side.
It's the sunlight… that's why. It's clear skies for miles – it's filled up the air. I feel… energetic and… and happy. That's why I'm talking aren't I?


“If it wasn't for your Growlithe friend that thing would've ate my nest. I never really had the chance to thank him."
“He's sick currently." Moonlight replied and stalled for a moment in his next step. This feels like a bad case of déjà vu… “He'll be better soon." The Espeon expressed to the chirping little bird as they passed by the research center. Knowing Griffin; he'll be calling Akiyama soon… if we left at eight – now it's ten… I bet they just touched down around Pallet Town. Moonlight sharpened his look on the Pokemon Research Center from the trail he was at.
“I don't like being around here, there's too many humans…"
“Hm?"
“We're near a town…" The Pikipek mentioned and flew up to the treeline as Moonlight lowered his haunches like some predatory cat. I don't see Makani… just some Litten licking it… oh… oh the Litten's moving away. It's headed to the city? Or around it? Odd. I don't see a… wait is that a Rockruff? That is Wuffles…? What's it doing with that Professor?
Moonlight crept up closer.
“You're sure you saw him? Why would he leave his Rockruff…?" It was the Professors voice that came up.
“I noticed him on route two, headed to the city… I think he's been… been drinking." It was a woman's voice that came from the window. “D- Do you know what that's about?"
“… I think I might… He can't just leave his Rockruff with me whenever he does though; she'll just run off one day and… she could get hurt." Moonlight shot his head down before the Professor had the chance to notice him peering into the window of the wooden building. It was a large place for a building of its architecture; one that reminded Moonlight of an old fishing-like home. It held that aesthetic to a tee. Moonlight delicately looked over at the glass; the reflection into the room. “There you go… eat up."
He could see the tanned – near shirtless man whom wore shorts, flip flops and a lab coat; put down a food bowl for Wuffles. “I don't understand why he'd leave her behind… he does this too often."
“He has a problem – we could try an intervention." She expressed – Moonlight was unable to see her face.
“You and I both know we have too much work already… I can't just pull you away from your studies…"
“That's fine, you, silly dolt." She'd mentioned with a laugh and Moonlight could feel it fade shortly after. “He… got drunk and told you right?"
“He did. I understand why he does but Makani shouldn't… I was thinking about dropping by his place later today; bring some notes and talk it over with him. See if I can convince him to… to tone it back a bit."
“That'll be tough…"
“He just needs to be reminded that things fall apart, but that doesn't mean he has to spend his time looking at all the broken pieces. Losing a father is one thing but… a mother too; that's tough. Alone for sure – he told me all of it. I guess my first conversation didn't reach him. I thought it did for a while… You're still hungry, right Rockruff?" Wuffles had barked in reply to him and flicked her little tail back and forth with delight. Moonlight just stared at the reflection in the glass for a moment longer.
That makes you happy… being there right? It's like watching the abused become the abuser. I doubt Makani even realizes it. Moonlight turned and pushed back to the pathway; crossing the sands to leave a print in the dirt before he made his way down the trail – a curious flicker of wings landed by him again.


“Why be so close? That human could've caught you!" The Pikipek returned as Moonlight scoffed.
“No he can't, you do realize that I am a trainers Pokemon… right?" It stretched out its wings and chest
“No; I definitely didn't see you leave a human built house with humans in it." His comment made Moonlight chuckle in reply. “I just never had the chance to thank that Growlithe yet. Anyways, it's not like your trainer is here so you're no different then a wild Pokemon. In fact you sort of act like one – the way you hold yourself I guess…"
“There isn't any difference between us."
“Except for those… humans – you don't even smell like one."
Don't… smell like one? Leafeon? “I didn't realize birds even had a sense of smell"
“I'm right next to you! It's sort of easy that way." The Pikipek showed off it's wings, as though it were obvious as Moonlight just wandered down the trail towards the sound of a glistening city. “If you want to find that Arcanine… his nest is closer to the shopping center – you went the long way around if anything."
“I needed to find one thing first, and then find another."
“What are you? On a mission?"
“Let's say it's a pointless side quest. It was too quiet for me." Moonlight commented back to the Pikipek as it hopped beside him down that trail. “Is there anything I need to know about that Arcanine?"
“Well, it's friendly; sort of. Steals plenty of food from the humans; refuses to hunt… which is weird – it has this Ratatta with it all the time. I would've thought the Arcanine would just eat it. Maybe it's saving it for later?"
“I think you see them all as a little too wild. They live on the outskirts of the city."
“By the beachside, yes."
“Hmm…" Moonlight stayed quiet as the Pikipek flew away rapidly. It left him to turn his head swiftly until a shadow caught his eye; his gemstone glowed sharply, acutely and sparkled, the air around him. A Pokeball?
“Look look!" A voice made a noise at him as something strange flew straight up to his face. “It's an Espeon! The Sun Pokemon!"
“I know what I am…" The blue tufts in Moonlight's ears flickered extensively as his tail quivered. They're going to throw another Pokeball? Really? The Espeon jolted and moved his legs as the ball shot out of the bushes. “You're a Rotom?"
“And you weigh Sixty-Two pounds and are a Meter in height!" The Rotom mentioned back to Moonlight. “You're bloodtype is A! Such a high count of B antibodies!" The Espeon tilted his head at the small floating screen as it aimlessly snapped photos of him. “This is great! You're slightly taller than the average Espeon!" Then it shot behind Moonlight and he shot down his tail
“Hey hey! Watch where you're pointing that thing!" He'd reply back, agitated; the Rotom jolted and seemed to fizzle.
“I'm just gathering information!"
“Yeah! Sensitive information! You're still a Pokemon; so, I can still battle you!" The Espeon replied to it before his back stiffened and he jolted again; a Pokeball randomly missed him and hit the Rotom. There was a crackle – the entire floating thing appeared sucked inside of the capsule… and that's when this very young boy jumped out of the bushes.
“Yeah! I got it! I…" Moonlight just stared back at him as his face went stiff and his shoulders sagged. Moonlight flicked out his tail and tilted his head at him. “Really…? Why is this so hard…"
You're like… eight kid. And you look like you've been hiding in the same bush all morning.
“Hm?" He pulled a stick from his hair and laughed as the Pokeball cracked open and left the young boy to jump. “Whoa?!?"
“Hey watch where you toss the Pokeballs! Kukui only lent you out to me for testing!! We're supposed to be taking pictures remember. Not catching Pokemon! Those are for an emergency!" The Rotom replied back to the boy as Moonlight rolled his eyes and began to wander away. “Hey hey! I'm not done with taking pictures!"
“You got all the information you needed." Moonlight replied
“No I don't! Wait…" It stalled for a minute. “Huh… I guess I do." Moonlight scoffed and continued towards the city
“I'm looking for my owner Rotom, later." Moonlight replied to it as the boy pointed at Moonlight
“Come on it's getting away!"
“It's someone's pet!"
“You ALWAYS say that!"
“It's TRUE!" Moonlight gently chuckled and walked into the waterfront – that huge highway with a bustling crowd. Only one or two humans gave him confused and interested stares as he wandered by them. To his left was the beachfront where funny umbrellas sat overtop of vacant chairs – voices came by… a jogger passed him while he stared down his way. Moonlight took the second to catch a scent on the air It smells… faintly of Ayumu. Makani has to be further in – the shopping district has an old market… I think. This has turned into an all-around errand run… Moonlights paws gently touched against the clean pavement below him before he pushed his hind legs and fore paws ahead of him. Let's wrap this up; I'm running out of time… He focused his nose on the fine, crisp air around him and took in salt… and that faint scent again – bolted past this one younger boy; a chubbier boy that nearly jumped out of the way.
“What's it's hurry?" The voice asked as something replied with 'Toga!' Moonlight just shot past them and slid across a corner, towards a collection of stands and shopping tills where all sorts of things were being sold.
“There you go…" The Espeon ran past an elderly woman that handed berries to something; he only caught onto a blur of red and black fur while he crossed another road; darted through the crowds. The tall buildings loomed over him as he caught his breath for a moment in the shade. Chasing scents; it's like chasing ghosts… How long have I gone for…? Too long, I think… I just need a minute. Moonlights tongue rolled out as he heard a door open; it looked like the kind for a small market.

“Thank you again for choosing Paniola Ranch!" A young pre-teen stepped out of the back of a building “Come along Charizard we st…" They stalled as Moonlight looked up at them and sharpened his gaze. “Hey little fella, you look thirsty." They mentioned and knelt down – rotated a pack they had. “Luckily for you I always keep extra's."
“Hmm?" Moonlight made a little mewl as their Charizard; one with a saddle on their back tilted its head at them… they exchanged gazes until the Espeon noticed the little bowl in front of him. It's… milk?
“There you go little guy; you look like you've run all over. Looking for your owner?" The young man asked as Moonlight looked at the bowl “Well go on, it's not dangerous or anything!" They expressed as Moonlight took a moment to lap at it.
H… Holy sweet Arceus… The moment his tongue touched that bowl – his whole pelt shivered in a way that left them to chuckle and say.
“Glad you like it! We all work hard to deliver the best! Come along Charizard, we should go." The Charizard only nodded as he walked beside it – returned the Pokemon to their capsule. The moment they turned the corner; that's when Moonlight cleaned the bowl, hardly left a drop and exhaled. Then he was on the road again, bolted down the way; dodged passed this oddly moss-haired girl that carried bags with her father; or so it had appeared.
He's still around here somewhere. Moonlight's paw touched the ground as he flicked out his tails – they quivered in the sunlight. Something else is too. He'd stall and skidded his paws against a dirt road; a back road as he'd notice a glimpse of golden fur along the treeline; just like that it was gone. Then his nose got the better of him. He'd sniff at the sky intensely until he stopped at someone hunched over; behind the buildings. It left him to blink more than once as he wandered up to them and pushed both his paws against his arm. This… asshole is out cold… Moonlight felt himself giggle before he couldn't hold back his laughter. “That's my luck huh? Go out for the day…" He'd exhale and tried to compose himself. I haven't taken in this much sunlight in… in years. Not like this. His hind legs kicked out and shook at the air aimlessly; and then he'd close his eyes and let his gemstone do the work.
Moonlight simply used Psychic to pick Makani up, he knew, that in this harsh weather he'd barely feel a toll on himself for doing so.

Luna:

Pallet town was a special kind of place; the kind where it seemed as though it tried to be the faintest hint of a micro-city in the middle of nowhere; at least from where Luna and everyone else had walked in from. The town's road was this clean-brick like pavement which layered around in a wonderful circular fashion. Homes layered the outskirts where this wonderful river chased through from one side to another. Luna, from the center of the small town, which was just a tailor shop, a florist, this humble little restaurant that held the name Pallet House in bright and clear; friendly text and a few other small buildings for farming tools and hardware supplies. A simple market… The bare bones necessities. It left the Vulpix to tilt her head at the sign with curiosity as they wandered through the center of the town. Aside from the town, the rest is all just… just farmland and small pockets of homes further out. It's all mountains and… and… it's beautiful. In the rain and mist it's… so beautiful. She held her paws at a running fountain in the center and sat down as Griffin and the others checked out the map. Brad crossed his arms and looked over with Aura by his side – Natasha held the Umbrella over them to keep them dry.
“Well when I lost Aura on my way to Pewter City… I learned that Professor Oak's lab is over there." Brad pointed out to a wonderful hilltop where the water crossed by it – a small tame river where the water droplets danced over it as though they tapped gel. The wind generator was the first thing Griffin noticed.
“There doesn't seem to be a motel or anything here…"
“Most trainers skip here; or live here." Natasha commented “There's no gyms or anything of interest – save for Professor Oak. Most trainers don't stay for long."
“hmm…" Griffin began to huff and checked the time. “Thief should be done by now; can we stop by Professor Oaks lab?"
“I don't see why not – we can dry off a bit." Brad expressed and chuckled “I doubt he'll mind a drop in from some trainers" Griffin nodded as Natasha shrugged
“Let's just hope the rain stops…" She brought up “It's going to suck, walking all the way down to Viridian; soaked to the bone"

All Luna could do, when they stepped towards that large laboratory at the top of the hill was stare at the reflection in the window and listen to the rain. It took them long enough to get inside – all of them; much to Professor Oak's surprise at that. Brad pressed a bell on the front door; it slowly cracked open to start before opening up all the way to reveal a sleep-ridden man.
“Uhm, Hello!" The tall, grey haired elderly man began; garnished in his slate trousers and a warm, brown golf shirt; a labcoat over his back… but he appeared to have fallen asleep that way. “I wasn't expecting any trainers – especially so soon."
“So soon?" Griffin brought up as Brad smacked his head delicately
“Right… I knew I was – you went to Hoenn to meet up with Birch, right? Sorry; Brad from a few weeks back. It's nice to see you again"
“Yes; about two days ago; I just came back yesterday morning… Oh Oh! I do apologize; please come in, you all must be soaked! It's nice to see you too Brad – and that must be the Lucario that went missing on you."
“Yeah, Delia and Mimey did a wonderful job in taking care of her while I was running all over the place." Griffin only blinked in return
“Yes, Delia is a wonderfully kind woman; I can see where her son get's it from." Griffin lightly shrugged as Luna shook out her pelt before they stepped inside. “Hmm? That's oddly polite." Griffin perked his head up as Luna tilted hers. “Most Pokemon just shake themselves off in here, rather then out there." That's when Oak went rigid and turned his head before he made a light chuckle
“B – Bandit!" Griffin nearly squeaked out in shock… The Mightyena shook out her pelt; right there… in the center of everyone. “I am so sorry, Professor I-"
“It's quite alright young man." Professor Oak mentioned back “I had to deal with a Pikachu nearly like her at one point during my time." Professor Oak nodded and then lightly jolted “Where are my manners today; you all must be freezing! Tea?"
“Please." Natasha mentioned “Tea sounds wonderful; Natasha Laurent – it's nice to meet you, Professor Oak."
“Likewise, and you?"
“Melody, and this is Smokey." Oak tilted his head
“Just… Melody?" She tapped her foot nervously and half shot an eye to Brad. Luna noticed the subtle nod.
“Green." Professor Oak went stoic at first. “Melody Green. You… You might know my sister."
“I do." Oak expressed back “She's quite the trainer – albeit a little bit of a pain at first… don't tell her that – she might challenge me over that fact…" Melody giggled lightly
“That secret is safe with me, Professor Oak." Then lastly Oak looked over to Griffin… and then blinked. Griffin blinked back and then Natasha punched his arm lightly
“Huh; Right right!"
“Griffin Fletching" Professor Oak said
“Gr…" He went silent and trailed off.
“Your brother studied at one of the colleges I visit; I knew him right away – showed me a picture of you both during the conversation. I still remember that; it's been years. It's a pleasure to meet you, young man." Griffin reluctantly shook Oak's hand in return “And your Mightyena is Bandit? How is she?" Professor Oak turned towards her as Griffin stuttered a little.
“We – Well I mean she doesn't… entirely listen? That's just part of her personality though! She's always been like that." Professor Oak studied her closely for a minute; and then Bandit showed off her teeth as though to smile. It made Professor Oak chuckle. “I was the first advisor to reconsider the Leagues choice." Bandit stalled and froze as her smile became this small open-mouthed look. Luna twitched her ears. “I re-watched the video countless times after your brother explained exactly what happened – every detail down to a second. Even the security footage. It's exactly as he said it was. I was the first one to re-evaluate her case."
“Case?" Melody brought up…
“I think you've mentioned something like that before… I can't really-" Natasha cut Brad off
“You said it was an accident during a fight, right?" Griffin only blinked and shook his head – much like Bandit did… that just left Professor Oak to laugh; and then he expressed that he'd make tea – commented…
commented that Griffin and Bandit might be more connected then they think they are.
All Luna did was tilt her head


What… they both went blank and shook their heads at the same time? Sure, it looked a lot alike… Is copying just a sign of affection?
Luna stretched out her shoulders after that and pressed against the tile below her; glanced around the laboratory. There was this beautiful bookshelf that left her to look at her own warbled reflection against the glass that covered every book before she stared out at a massive field from beyond these small arched windows that overlooked the couches.
A lobby… Then she stared at a computer screen as something jostled the table before her and left her haunches high.
It's just a tea set…
“Jumpy?" Bandit expressed as Luna huffed.
“Maybe… Maybe a little. The rain won't let up; right?"
“Probably not – it's wishful thinking for that." Bandit returned to her.
“Thank you!" Natasha commented, and then they all did after. Griffin was the only one that didn't join in for it; he just partially leaned against the wall and looked outside.
“Who may that be?" Professor Oak looked to the window.
“Oh; that's Tracey, my assistant – he's an exceptional artist!" Professor Oak commented and smiled. “The trainer under my aid met him in the Orange Isles. Since then Tracey has been my assistant – it's been about… two months; nearly four since he started. He's currently in Hoenn, headed for Fortree City. I suspect that he'll be done before the month is finished – come back for a while; like he always does and head back out."
“He's in Hoenn?" Griffin began to say “Already down in Fortree… I remember that gym battle. It's not easy, I used Thief to start… but he… wasn't all too experienced…" Griffin commented “I hate to ask, Professor Oak; I'm curious to see if I could try and get a hold of my professor – he's taking care of my Growlithe."
“Hm? Of course, are you doing a transfer?"
“Yes; or at least I better be…" Griffin partially muttered the last part and sighed.
“Have some tea!" Natasha commented “You're doing that whole… moody face thing again." Griffin looked up at her. “Yeah; that. Can I just take a picture and tape it to your forehead?"
“Funny, I'm just worried is all." Professor Oak partially tilted his head.
“What may you have to worry about – Birch is your professor right? I assure you that he's the best."
“Birch isn't my professor; he wasn't Logan's professor either."
“Hm?"
“I work with Akiyama Ayumu." Professor Oak furrowed his brow.
“Akiyama… Ayumu? I'm sorry I've never heard that name before." Griffin went blank. “In fact, I'm sure I haven't… how long have you been working with this… professor?"
“He was Logan's Professor to start and then became mine after."
“He invented the Full Restore." Natasha brought up as Professor Oak tilted his head again.
“No… that was Joseph Ward and Cedric Juniper; the father of the Professor in Unova. The Silph Co and Devan corporation aided with the initial production line – more leaning on Silph. Cedric is the leading Professor in Pokemon Biology and distribution. Joseph Ward is a medical practitioner that studied with Cedric for years."
“What… What do you mean?" Griffin brought up.
“I mean, I don't quite know who or where you got that information from; but it's wrong. Will this… Ayumu fellow answer his phone?" Professor Oak began to say and gently rubbed his eyes “Alright; let's head upstairs. I want to scan your Pokemon just in case." Griffin partially flinched
“Uh… I…"
“It sounds like you have a freelancer; someone that isn't recognized by the Pokemon League – that's very dangerous."

It was Luna that couldn't stop looking at Griffin as Professor Oak placed her on the scanner; it filled out all sorts of strange information she hadn't seen before. Her Blood type even sat on the screen.
“Why are all these coming back negative? I don't get it… What is DEA anyways? That's like… like a cop thing right?" Professor Oak didn't chuckle from the comment
“Dog Erythrocyte Antigen; it's all coming back negative save for DEA 4. It's exceptionally rare for a Vulpix; but her blood type is a universal donor type. Fascinating… I don't see anything in particular… She does have a peculiar strain of Pokerus."
“Poke what?" Griffin went wide eyed as Luna flicked her ears in shock.
“It's a virus. It's not harmful to Pokemon and can even infect other Pokemon but hers is… strange."
“I don't…" Griffin continued but was cut off by Professor Oak.
“Similar to that of an STI in a human. It looks like it was caught during embryonic states. She has it for life." Professor Oak explained “There's no known cure for the disease, but it won't harm her."
“What does it do?"
“Pokemon with it tend to became very powerful, very, very quickly."
“That can cause problems."
“If you don't keep it in check; yes. If she trains too much, the strain could kill her. I hate to be upfront like that, yet you are older then most of the trainers I've dealt with." Professor Oak sighed “Now for Bandit." The Mightyena obediently hopped onto the scanner.
“Dea Seven… Four… So, she has two of those Antigens and none of the rest?"
“It's a rare blood type, but since she's positive for blood type four; she'll be fine. As for the bullet, that's a very tough spot to get to – not without her losing most feeling in her leg… Logan already told me that story; I thought it was a lie now the truth is right there in front of me." The number continued and the scans followed as well; they all came back fine. Pikachu was shown to have the scar tissue in his sacs, something that couldn't easily be alleviated. Absol made Oak go silent and Griffin explained that he got her from two Team Rocket thugs. It just left him silent as he read through her scans. “She, your Absol is DEA four negative. That makes it difficult if she ever got injured and required a transfusion." Professor Oak finished up his scans and then made a quick comment “Your Pokedex please."
“Hm, Oh right." Griffin went into his pocket and pulled it out for him as Professor Oak went through the dex.
“You've seen… do you even use this thing?" Griffin shrugged lightly
“I should be…"
“Yes, you should – you have your friends Pokemon on here, a few from the center… a Column Region Vulpix? Huh… What I don't get is one little thing… Griffin."
“What?"
“What's this Pokedex entry here?" Professor Oak tapped the screen and Luna looked over to. It only sent chills down her back as a report on the screen only showed…


                                                                                     MissingNo: ??????????

There wasn't anything else to say on the file, aside from the one page constantly loading text and numbers as though it was stuck in an error loop – something that Professor Oak refreshed with the touch of a button on Griffin's Pokedex. The numbers would just repeat with absolute nonsense – computer code… but something stuck out for them both
 
                                                                     0x0000288866473323

Professor Oak just saw the screen go blank – the description on the error screen repeated from top to bottom in a strain of strange code.
“Huh?" Griffin shrugged after that with Professor Oak's confusion
“My brother coded the Pokedex; along with Ayumu."
“I've seen the error code before it usually goes until the Pokedex crashes, runs in the background… it fries the Pokedex entirely. They programmed a stop code for this error. It just repeats until it hits this code. Fascinating. The type is even here too; last time I saw a code like this it was a Dragon and Ice type… here it's a steel and poison type."
“I don't know what to tell you, Professor…" Griffin shrugged a little “I need to call Ayumu and check up on Thief; this fancy… computer… magic can wait – I honestly care more about him then a Pokedex." Professor Oak put Griffin's Pokedex down.
“Hm… Alright; call up your Professor. You nearly remind me of the trainer I'm working with." Griffin chuckled
“Well… if it's a good kid; then I'm glad that I'm trying to be that."
“I don't think you try… Griffin." Professor Oak mentioned back as Griffin pulled out his phone. “… Let me." Griffin nodded and touched a number on the screen as Oak took the phone and brought it to his ear. Luna could hear it ring… and ring…
“Hello? Griffin? Yes yes; your Growlithe is fine. Like I thought the Full Restore from… Fuchsia? You mentioned? The seal was broken – specifically the spray nozzle; that's my guess. It's the only thing that can really be broken on it. I called the Pokemon Center, got no response and then sent my call to Edna and Jonathan there, explained the situation – they got all up in a tizzy and got back to me. Their entire shipment botched; specifically, the six pack ones that any medical professional could quickly pick up from a market. Larger companies don't sell them like that; it takes a more local distributor. Thief is fine; Cholera – a cult… Hello? Hello…? Griffin you're usually not this quiet." Luna just listened closer. “Hello? Christ did he ass dial me. Really? I don't got time for th-"
“Who are you?" There was an awkward silence for just a moment.
“Hm? Yeah put Griffin on the… Who is this?"
“I'm Professor Oak from Pallet Town. Your Trainer, Mr. Fletching made a surprise visit with his friends. Who am I speaking with?"
“… Marcus." They replied back idly as Luna flicked her ears in confusion.
That's Akiyama's voice… who is…?
“Put… I'm sorry, who?" Luna could hear the click on the other side of the line as Professor Oak went quiet and cold.
“Is… Is everything alright?" Griffin brought up “You look white!? Pale?" Professor Oak opened his mouth before he closed it promptly.
“I'm fine; I just… had a whole bunch unloaded on me at once – I think he thought it was you... mentioned you were bei-"
“What?"
“Taurus."
“Huh?"
“One of my trainers' Tauros… we used multiple full restores on him this morning – I bought a small pack of them to top off while…" Professor Oak moved from one side of the room to another in a hurry; and Griffin went with him; he followed Samuel down the stairs swiftly, Luna bolted to keep up; along with everyone else. Luna never thought that an old man could move that quickly. A young man in a yellow parka was outside; holding this saucer of water, The wind beat back at Professor Oak as he called out to Tracey.
Luna just moved ahead of him, bolted across the field and tackled the saucer – it left water to splash all over the ground; and then she aimlessly slid around until she crashed into the mud and the wet grass. It left the fourteen-year-old to stare at the Vulpix in utter confusion. “Tracey!?"
“Yeah, yeah I… what's wrong?"
“Did you drink any of the water after Tauros did? Anything? Food even?"
“What… well I was about to; it's not drinking at all; running a fever – I can't move it. I thought it was just falling ill – you mentioned that it was feeling sick I…"
“It's Cholera."
“Huh!?"
“Cholera…" Professor Oak panted out finally as though he held his breath Griffin just looked back at him
“What do… you mean? My… is Thief okay?" Griffin began to say
“He's fine, your Professor has him." Oak tossed his hand over as though to toss it aside. “He knows what he's talking about, believe me. With all he unloaded… he knows what he's talking about."
“You're going to catch a cold out here Oak. You have nothing on – you're already soaked!"
“Better then you in the clinic…" Samuel light chuckled “We need to move Tauros inside." Griffin shook his head
“Not even Bandit can move it…"
“The other Tauros can. Did you mix… their food or… water?"
“No, I didn't Samuel, you told me to keep him entirely isolated until he was better – food and all. It's the first time we let him out in a week – I looked over and saw him like this after. He can't hold anything down."
“He's running the infection through – we need to get him hydrated…. I'll have to inspect the Full Restores after…"


It wasn't until all the commotion, Griffin out there with Oak; helping him to move that one dead weight near bison like Pokemon out of the rain that everyone began to ask questions… Oak just jumped right back into the lab upstairs. They were left with Tracey; all he did was talk about the orange isles… and politely drew a small set of sketches for both Luna and Bandit.
Pencil thin sketches for his sketchbook, and Griffin was shocked by the detail… everything was caught perfectly on paper. Natasha had finished her tea and checked the time…
“We've wasted like… it's almost one already… One! We could've finished up the gym by now."
“Griffin your still soaked – what… happened?"
“Apparently the full restores were a botched shipment… it wasn't just Thief's full restore… Professor Oak said he was going to inspect the ones he had left and he's calling the police to inform them…" Griffin shrugged “Sorry if… I don't know… helping? Wastes time…" Natasha rolled her eyes as Tracey filled up her tea cup. Yuny stuck her head out from Natasha's bag.
“You know… get them all against… Brad, right? Griff? Move the couches and the table. I'll sketch them all out with the bookshelf for the background."
“Oh my god, that is genius, you sketch them, and I'll take some pictures for my blog!" Natasha commented and laughed; in fact, she even went to move the couch she sat on… a quick remodeling was all it took and then they all were lined up against the wall. Luna was stuck in the front with Yuny, Pikachu – they measured it all by size. Bandit was directly behind her with Absol and Leafeon, Akamaru was on Luna's right with Sephiran and Tsurara was on her left, with Leafeon.
Only Luna, Yuny and Scarf were up front, and they all stood while the others sat down.
“You're weirdly… tame here, Bandit." Luna commented
“After hearing Oaks' comment, I say he deserves more than my respect."
“Stand tall Luna." Absol commented and smiled and Luna, without drawing her head back, smiled in reply. All she could do was hear the clicking from that funny, beep box that Natasha held and the sound of sketching from Tracey… Luna just stayed in place and occasionally looked at Griffin and Brad – Brad was busy on his phone and Griffin didn't have his phone with him; Oak needed it to call Ayumu back; so Griffin just looked at them for the whole time…
Stared as though to burn the image in his mind. Like he wanted nothing more then memories to look back on, but desired to live in that moment every. Single. Time.

Moonlight:

“Yes, my assumptions were correct the first time; you're welcome… Samuel." Ayumu hung up the phone as Moonlight glanced down at a pair of eyes that just looked back up at him.
“How are you feeling?" Moonlight expressed and twitched out his tails.
“I still want to throw up… and the thing in my side hurts…" Thief muttered back but refused to look at it. “I'm feeling a lot better though." Moonlight just stood there and stared.
“… Are you going to ride this out alone?" Thief just blinked and idly huffed.
“I don't know… Ayumu is going to need help; when you… and I aren't here I mean. Wuffles isn't enough to protect him. We can talk to the Totem Pokemon."
“Totem? How do you know that?" Moonlight blinked lightly
“Marina… I think she helped me wake up; I don't know why, but she did." Thief expressed and gently huffed “My throat feels dry but I'm not thirsty; it's so weird." Moonlight blinked at him and just stared at the Growlithe on that near throat height table – it was the perfect height for Ayumu… “What did I get sick from?"
“Something common." Moonlight expressed “Cholera." Thief pushed his head back down against the scanner…
“If this is where I'm going to keep ending up… the least I could have is a pillow…" His stomach would repulse, and Thief ended up hurling.
“Ah fuck… again?" Ayumu made a noise and turned his chair around; Moonlight let his gemstone glow at him shortly after.
“I found Wuffles at that Pokemon lab, apparently Makani left her there while he went out to drink – I found him passed out in the old market place. I guess… he hit the bottle too hard; went to the alley to sit down." Moonlight commented as Ayumu gave him a look. “I used Psychic to carry him back; he's in that room… as for Wuffles… that Professor said he as coming by later today to look over notes with him – he wants to try and spark an intervention or a talk – one on one."
“Good good. Makani could use help getting that bottle taken out of his ass." Ayumu commented back.
“Wuffles is…" Thief squinted lightly “My head is spinning."
“It's just the IV." Moonlight expressed back and then tilted his ear – the blue hairs on it twitched. “How did… you do that?"
“Huh? Aren't you talking out loud?" Thief mentioned again.
“No… There was also a Pikipek that wanted to thank you for saving it's nest, Thief." The Growlithe lifted his head and twitched his tail… then something racketed against the window – a slit panel window that just showed the grass and bushes. Moonlight glanced over as his tail flickered.
“I think your Arcanine friend came by to say hi… I got this Ayumu." Akiyama showed a hand
“I have a gun in my pocket; go… go; try not to leave much of a mess. I had to ditch the thirty-eight already…" Ayumu expressed and sighed as Moonlight went back up the stairs and wandered into that living room for a second time. It was strange; all he could see was some large and gold-sunshone furred Arcanine that sat, obediently on the sand. It looked through the window from a distance and twitched an ear when Moonlight came into the frame. All the Espeon did was roll his shoulders – stretched out his paws and twitched out his tail before the door opened for him and he wandered outside into the bright and powerful sunshine.
A soft close and Moonlight sat in front of the door, blocked the Arcanine's pathway in. This Growlithe was with him, Moonlight took note of her eyes right away. A pink-purple color; the only thing abnormal about her.
“What do you want?" The Arcanine huffed and shot out a plume of smoke.
“I told that little cretin that if it came back here; he'd have to give me a real good reason not to kill him." The Arcanine tilted its head as Moonlight gave a long and lazy yawn back. “Are you even listening?"
“I'm talking to Marina." Moonlight commented “I like your friend, Dusky? Was it?" Moonlight expressed “A Ratatta and an Arcanine. Cute." Moonlight idly commented. “It reminds me of a certain Vulpix and a Growlithe."
“Luna right?" The Arcanine straightened his back with that. “Does she know where Lumine is?" Moonlight shrugged.


“Lumine? I've yet to hear that name. Yet I did hear of one; in fact, I just met her the other day." The Arcanine twitched an ear as Moonlight played with a dramatic pause and held the name on his tongue.
“Well!?"
“Heh… sorry; Marina thinks you're like some ill-mannered puppy." The Growlithe went stoic and stiff. “I can read her easy enough, but like Thief… Luna. I can't get past anything other then you waking up in Alola – why is that?" Moonlight expressed as the Arcanine huffed.
“What's it to you?"
“I'm protecting her now." Moonlight recoiled; softly yet firmly. A sweet voice that lulled against the air. “Luna is under my protection… and a certain Leafeon's. Says he knows her, about her home." The Arcanine huffed. “Do me one favor."
“Why would I do that you over glorified cat!?" The Arcanine expressed back to him.
“I'll tell you her name; in fact, she knew you. The moment she heard your name it was like big bright lights just turned on… for once." Moonlight expressed and chuckled as the Arcanine twitched his ear. “Bring the Totem Pokemon here. Now. Thief wants to talk to him but he's ill currently."
“Heh…"
“Your injuries did nothing to stop him in a one on three fight." Moonlight expressed as the Arcanine narrowed his vision. “I'd hate to see what happens when you have an all too experienced Espeon deal with you next… what was that phrase Bandit used again…? Right. Muzzle down and Tail up, you want to act like a bitch? Heh. I can teach you the definition." The Arcanine growled in reply to him
“What's an itch?" Moonlight rolled his eyes to the smaller and younger Growlithe beside him.
“Something you don't need to know at your age – other then that you scratch one and make it go away. Now… go along sparkles; you look like fools gold – metallic and worthless."
“You have a lot of tongue; I wonder how much you'll screech when I turn it into blubber." The Arcanine recoiled back.
“Aweee, but then you wouldn't know a name or a place. Melemele's totem, Now." Moonlight made this soft, snap like sound from his lips.
You think you have fire…? Sunlight on your side? This is an even playing field; and frankly I have more environment to use; Arcanine. You don't. Moonlight just stared at the Arcanine as he licked the back of his paw; followed him with his eyes and thrashed his own tail left and right – let it quiver against the air and then thrash all over again. A territorial body language; it was plain and simple, and Moonlight let that be known to him as he'd take two simple hops over the large hillside to his left – one that was around the building. The Arcanine kept in eye contact for the entire time, before he wandered off.
“You stand your ground fairly well."
“Hmm?" Moonlight tossed his gaze towards a Ratatta that perked her ears against the sand. “Aren't you going with him?"
“Marina is… The Totem had already given Lucius hell for her 'special tricks' as he calls them. Had strange dreams about a Growlithe… your Growlithe." Dusky expressed and showed off her little claws. “Why do that…? All for a Growlithe? Lucius talks about this, vile and terrible Arcanine from his home; that Growlithe is their son. Why?"
“You seem passionately curious. Perhaps ask Lucius why he takes care of so many cubs." Moonlight twitched his ear; heard it in the small Ratatta's voice as all she found was a spot to sit and lay back in the sand and harsh sunlight. “I find it strange that his hatred goes for this long."
“That Growlithe's father killed his siblings." Dusky commented back as Moonlight twitched an ear. “It might not make it right to be… but it explains why."
“I'm no more less than a brother lost… and a garden of red, black and gold which ties them together amongst a flower as vigil as snow." Moonlight stalled his voice as the wind flurried against his breath. Those random little words that Leafeon expressed came back to him.
“Those wise and young, never live long." Moonlight expressed as the Ratatta clicked her little neck and sighed. “But those that shed their own blood together, are brothers. I need not to be remembered myself, but I know that if the wise and young fade away much too fast; then I can't let nothing become of it. I'll hold my ground as is my choice – being the fool I am." Moonlight replied back “It's nothing more then standing on guard; and let's say that's something I understand all too well. It's something I grew with. I'm not protecting the Growlithe alone… I'll simply stand guard here." Dusky made a soft chuckle
“You sound like you're fighting your own personal war."
“And to wander into one's own self is a dangerous thing, but into another? That's more frightening then I'll let you believe." Dusky huffed in reply and rolled her little eyes
“Being here isn't what you want; I can see that" She'd reply and gently stuck out her tongue as her little hands clung behind her to keep her back propped up.
“What I want, is to go home. Yet I have no home to return to; not until all I know is finished." The footfalls gathered Moonlights attention as he'd prop his head over towards the Arcanine on the crest of that cliff-like hill before them.
“The Island's Totem will not leave; yet if you bring him there…"
“He's in no state to m-" Something scratched at the door behind him and that left Moonlights pelt to go rigid. He didn't turn to face the door and heard it open on its own.

Moonlight drew up his gemstone – let it glow brightly and hum; as he'd talk… and then finish talking it would go out again.
“Akiyama?" He could hear a joint in the wheel chair as it came to the door.
“I was wondering… what happened?" Ayumu commented “It's much too quiet out here for a fight to break out." The Arcanine tilted its head and gave a snarl as Moonlight met it with a sharp look in return. “I can hear… everyone's voice out here – I was beginning to think that I was going nuts."
“Marina!?" Lucius remarked sharply to her – the Growlithe just hid her face into the Arcanine's back; she clung to it with her little teeth and claws.
“I can't stop it…" She'd remark back as Moonlight tilted his head.
Can't…? Like… Moonlight only felt his heart pound against his chest
“So what's this about the Totem of Melemele? Moonlight?" Ayumu commented and squinted from the sunlight as though it hurt his eyes. “I'm getting one hell of a headache from all this." The human commented starkly and pushed one of his wheels against the sand. “It's like hearing my own voice talk to me in my head; but it's not my words."
“The Growlithe is… she's…"
“I remember that you used to do that when you were going to evolve." Ayumu commented as the Growlithe sheepishly hid her face into the Arcanine's pelt.
“How does a human of all things understand us!?" Lucius snapped firmly and roughly as Moonlight gave him a glance.
“Telepathy in a sense; when a human bonds with a Psychic type – they can speak with one another; albeit… simply. It can cause headaches; sickness. Marina doesn't mean to do it; she simply can't control it." Moonlight expressed “It's because you're scaring her, Lucius… and the fact that Ayumu understands? It means… only one thing." Moonlight continued to say as Lucius flicked an ear.
“What might that be… Espeon?"
“It means…" Moonlight could see the Growlithe's head perk up in shock; noticed it tilt her head drastically and flicker her ears.

“It means I'm related to you… and if I'm right; I know exactly who your father is. Marina."

Moonlight felt his pelt shiver for a moment. “It means I'm your first cousin, once removed… we share the same grandfather."
“Bullshit." Moonlight rolled his tongue
“If her father was an Espeon; then yes… she is." Moonlight retorted back to him. “There's no feasible way she can relate to Akiyama, not without a bond… or a blood relation. She's nearly right next to me on that pathway – what she says and does is tunneled through me and to him. My direct bond with a human. That's why only the most experienced psychic trainers can handle breeding them together." Akiyama seemed to sigh
“There's a reason why I only have an Espeon – all the voices get jumbled together; it makes so much noise I can barely think." He'd reply. “Enough of this chatter; all of you. What's this about a Totem Pokemon? Why does it mean anything to me?" Ayumu expressed and then something coughed.
Moonlight darted his eye behind him.
“That's because… I'm worried about… it." Thief expressed; rolled his head over and looked at the Arcanine that stared him down. “…" Thief stayed quiet. “Hey… Lucius."
“Not dead yet…?" Arcanine commented as Thief gently scoffed – tired. “That pointless little dream I had after you left – I guess it was Marina's way of making sense of it all… it annoyed me. A lot."
“I still have names I need to remember. I'm… I'm not done, until I remember all of them. But first… I need to make sure that an unexpectedly kind-hearted human is safe."
“Putting your faith in that is… it's entirely! Fo-"
“Crescent is in Kanto; Cinnibar Island."
“Cres… ? What…?" The Arcanine stalled and stopped as Moonlight shot Thief a look.
You're a naïve fool Thief. Why would you just… just tell him that outright!? Moonlight firmly planted his feet against the ground.
“Crescent, she was… from the island, right? I don't remember much about her – she didn't like me much; naturally. A gym leader named Blaine caught her… She…. She seems well."
“Crescent… should be dead… Are you sure?" Lucius spoke again.
“As clear as cystal; Luna mistook her for Lumine at first…"
“You were awake?" Moonlight mentioned in disbelief
“I got worried when Luna got angry – I heard her… I can't do much other then that. Unlike Luna..." Thief commented back. “I didn't even realize that I could've been sick – it could have gotten everyone ill." The Growlithe expressed back to him and lightly plopped his head down against Ayumu's thigh.
You look content there… The… you look content resting on his thigh like that. You're really just some house pet; aren't you?
You're getting dragged along and all you want is…
That can't be all of it, Thief. I already have that, and it did nothing for me. Don't… tell me that

Don't make me think that you and I could swap places that easily…

It wasn't until Ayumu appeared as filled in as he needed to – at least about Thief's worries that both Moonlight… and that human in a wheelchair made their way through the trails that connected down Route two where that Espeon hung close to the large wheel beside him. Arcanine simply lagged; watched… stared in a mix of bitter anger and some other emotion that Moonlight couldn't catch – even as his tail vibrated against the wind. He just stared at the Growlithe, huffed. That dumb look on your face. Like it's all going to be alright as long as we're all around. You're so tired and withdrawing from all those sprays… drugs. You can barely really focus on what's going on. Is that content look on your face solely there because the only time you didn't have to worry was in some little house in Hoenn?
That… has to be it. Just some little house in Hoenn where you could live out a life you wanted. Be in a place where you were wanted and needed…
And… And I broke that news to you because you… you were being a fool. So tell me why you look so damn quick willed and wise resting on his lap now.

Tell me why you would bleed for… for someone like me.

…

Can both of you tell me that?

Luna:

It was her capsule that scared her the most; having been out of it for as long as she could – Luna just looked around an all too familiar meadow; a field where the wind jostled and danced against the faux sky that hung above her. A rumble had slowed and stalled below her paws as that Vulpix pushed her head against a glass.
“Esi?" She'd whisper against this thin veil of oil that held no way for her pass.
“Hi hi!" It replied after a moment of time “I got hungry! Like really REALLY hungry! That big tan and red thingy doesn't like me much! I ate ALL of his berries!" Luna felt a giggle slip out of her throat.
“How are you?" It twitched it's long; near arrow-curved ears and flickered out it's twin tails; creaked and twitched them as though they were the hands on a broken clock. It was absurd to look at a jointed tail like that; but by now… Luna didn't mind it.
“Hmm? I don't understand." The Esi called back to her – stared at Luna from a distance. “How are you?" It expressed back to her
“Well… I feel… confused and stressed."
“I don't get it. What's confused?" Luna laughed softly
“It's what you're feeling right now – you're confused." The Esi replied with a prompt and short 'oh' and then flicked it's tails all around.
“I found this really neat thing! Those funny leaves out of the ground have water on them sometimes!"
“Leaves…?" Luna began to say
“Yeah! They sprout up really, really tall!" The Esi explained in this tame and near childish dialogue.
It's weird… hearing something older then I am that's talking like a cub. “I think you mean grass; Esi."
“Grass?"
“Yes; sometimes it keeps rain water on it." Luna explained “You can see it the best in the morning." Esi chittered and bounced sound against the walls around itself and Luna just listened against the veil of oil and water – a shimmer of light color unfurled before her when she touched it with her nose; revealed it to be solid.
“It's weird… being in the dark. Here it's all just… a big round place… It's lonely too, except for the voices that I hear sometimes." It explained gently “I want to… see where you are. I only had the chance to see those big BIG creatures! I'm can't even show you how tall they are! Oh; and that big fluffy male… and a ball? It looked like a pudgy ball…" Esi explained as Luna giggled; she understood that the Esi spoke of Shadow and Marill.
“You have fur too right?"
“It's very very short!" She'd expressed “My stones cover some of it."
Stones? Right… she had those clay things on her... They remind me of panels; hexagons? Diamonds? Luna flicked out her tails and watched the Esi's ear twitch.
“But I know one thing I want to do!" Luna tilted her head and giggled lightly. “I want to see the morning!" Esi exclaimed with excitement as its twin tails clocked out again – twitched randomly and everywhere. “I bet when I see it; it'll be my favorite time to see!" Esi huffed and suddenly flopped on the ground; it made Luna's ear twitch and her nose to bump the oily-like wall.
“Esi?"
“I'm so BORED." The Esi replied and huffed; showed off it's ears; Luna could see those clearly.
It's like a Litten crossed with a Fennekin with an Espeon and a Sandslash. When I see it do that… an all-around chimera by first glance. Her hood is pretty… reminds me of a feathered headdress but with… just quills. The colors are beautiful, like… like a rich purple obsidian in the center and black on the ends. It's like looking at a crystal veil inside of a stone.
“I mean… at least… Hax? Haxy? Haxy; I'll name him Haxy! He tried to show me Focus Punch!" It chittered with excitement. “It told me that all I had to do was grow wings and I'd be a full-fledged dragon!" Esi expressed “He didn't get very happy when I asked him about his wings…"
Hacks? Wait… Haxorus? Logan has him? … back at Maiden's peak, Griffin moved his Pokeballs around. I didn't even think about Haxorus…
“Is… is Haxy okay?"
“Hmm? I think he is! He's really really friendly! Measures my skull with his palms from time to time!" She'd comment “Said it'd be nothing unlike a berry and shows off his teeth!"
I think that's more of a threat… Esi… It came to Luna's mind as she shook her head wildly “Are you okay?"
“That fluffy male talks bad to them!" Esi expressed and lowered her ears “It's weird that he gives me food though. I don't like it…" Luna twitched her ear again.
“Why?"
“Because they don't do that! They just hold you down right away!" Esi explained back as Luna recoiled.
“W… what are you talking about?" Esi twitched her ears in response.
“Hmm? Well females can mate at any time of the year; it's the males choosing." Esi expressed back and chuckled “That wastes time to hunt and eat if we did!" She spoke in such a way that made Luna's ears wince back. Esi spoke of it as though it were so normal and commonplace.
“You still… what do you eat?" Luna expressed back as she tried to dodge a question; one that she had no answer to or for.
Sympathy… but nothing close to empathy.
“I like anything, but those berries taste the best! Back home… it was bones. The males ate all the meat; we're left with the bones… picked clean." Esi twitched her ear after a moment “Oh! A Log wants me out again!" She'd explain and flicked out her tails like mad “I love water; he gives me SO much water!" Esi expressed “I just drink it all so no one can steal it away!" Luna giggled
“Try sharing it!" Luna commented back to her as Esi flinched “Try sharing the berries with everyone too." She'd express with a gentle voice as the rumbling below her feet had stopped. Esi just stared at Luna; nearly right in the eyes even though the small thing couldn't see her. “Unfortunately, I have to go too Esi. I think… my 'Log' will want me too." Esi nodded and gave a twist of her tails as Luna watched this sparkle of light flicker and flake in the distance before it disappeared entirely.
The oily-water like mirror in front of her stayed, however… and it was the last thing she could see when she felt a weightlessness surround her and her world morphed towards a strange sidewalk… parkways; buildings that were small with an all too familiar sign that told her a PokeMart was right there across the road.


A Trainers Village, in Viridian City.

It didn't seem all too different from Vermillion; the one that Luna had spent enough time around. The only thing that really sparked her attention; aside from Griffin and his friends thanking Professor Oak for driving them there, was the number of humans – trainers. All Griffin could do; when he noticed Tracey glance at him awkwardly was shyly wave and chuckle.
“Be safe, I guess. It's kind of weird that your Vulpix knew what to do." Tracey expressed as Griffin shrugged
“I think she just panicked. I didn't even get what was going on…" Griffin mentioned “But you see… someone that knows what they're doing move, I mean you got to help out… right?" Griffin gave an awkward smile and scratched his head after that as they parted ways. All he did was feed his hands into his pockets as Luna looked up at him, caught onto a glance of worry in his look. Her tails stayed rigid, frozen against the air and noise that surrounded her as Griffin looked ahead of him.
He looked ahead of him.
“So; straight to the gym?" Brad mentioned and stretched out his back, Luna could see him rotate his torso as though to get a kink out of it. “All of this has been nuts… this whole week at least…"
“Don't tell me you're tired already…" Griffin started to say as Brad sheepishly grinned and yawned
“I woke up at like… eight… again." Brad mentioned and laughed a little “Of course I'm tired!"
“You're both either tired, lazy or dumb…" Natasha commented and shook her head – albeit playful. Yuny stuck her head out of Natasha's bag and stuck out her tongue at them both. Smokey only huffed from all the noise as Melody glanced down at him.
“I'm going to use the restroom first." She'd comment as Griffin nodded
“Let's just take a second to take care of ourselves before jumping to a gym battle" Griffin expressed and Natasha went with Melody as Brad stuck to Griffin on his way to the Pokemart. Luna just followed beside him, closely… obediently and took a glance towards the battle square in the background. It looked like this one had fences around it – chainlink. She'd be able to see this small park where young trainers gathered around and more curiously she'd see Officer Jenny.
Griffin and Brad turned their heads her way as she looked up at them, checked out this computer on her bike and then began to talk on a radio.
“I can't believe the International Events are starting so soon." A voice began to say, a Trainer with this strange Pokemon on their shoulder.
“Yeah, Bunnelby looks ready to go!" The other trainer expressed “You think it's going to be like last year?"
“Unova? Probably; open up with the preliminary rounds, activity events. Have some smart scientist from the Pokemon Association talk." The trainer replied as Luna twitched an ear “Introduce the guests from all over… who is it this year anyways?"
“Some gym Leader from Russia is one of them." A trainer expressed “And some cop from Canada, I mean you've probably seen him around."
“They brought someone from Galar too right?" They nodded back
“They brought gym leaders from all over the world…" They commented back “I'm just happy we don't have to fight them… That one from Russia looks scary…" They'd express back “And that police officer? I watched him do a training presentation with the police here; that weird Vulpix he has is… it's a caliber I haven't seen before. I'd talk to him but he always looks strict and tired. Especially today."
“Luna?" Griffin's voice came to her from a distance “Come along, you're falling behind." He'd comment as the trainers gave him a look.
“Awwe, what a cute little thing!" One of them began to say “It's adorable! How old?"
“Hm? I think she's nearly five years now."
“What…?" They went silent and stunned “She's so…"
“Hm?"
“Nothing, nothing. Just surprised is all." They mentioned back as Luna lightly backpedaled and stepped closer to Griffin, they didn't talk for long with them. Luna clung back to his side; his ankles… glanced up at him as he'd dart a look to his lower right from time to time, aware of where he stepped.
She didn't walk ahead or behind him, not like how Bandit or Moonlight did. Luna walked beside him, where Absol and Thief would.

The Pokemart was more of a stop for food for all of them, Griffin folded with buying organic meat again; berries… paste or some kind of light seasoning along with sprays. He generically stocked up on potions, burn – poison this time around.
He went through some mental checklist where Brad began to ask him questions – Pokemon medicine too was on Griffin's list.
“Hm? Oh… my… brother used to talk about how he'd restock." Griffin explained “Granted he'd always try to haggle with… with berries and other herbs he'd collect – keep his costs low. I don't know a thing about herbs or anything like that… save for cooking."
“Oh I know that" Brad commented back as Aura twitched her tail “It feels like a little déjà vu for me; all you need to do is walk into her again." Griffin lightly laughed
“AND cook you food too; right?" Griffin snickered and smiled warmly – it left Luna to twitch her ear as she looked at him. A genuine little smile, she caught onto it right away.
“What?" Brad commented in return as Griffin laughed “What!?"
“You could live off of doughnuts" Griffin expressed as Brad rolled his eyes and huffed back
“No thank you!" He'd comment back “I hate those things; it's bad enough that I'm addicted to coffee." Brad mentioned back “We got all we need?" Griffin nodded
“Yeah; I guess this is sort of it… last badge of the region and all." Griffin expressed as Brad nodded in return.
“Yep; with the internationals though… the Elite Four are running the whole competition with it; it's part of the schedule." Brad commented and showed off his phone. “If we even want to check it out that is."
“Definitely! If we're fortunate enough to watch in the least." Griffin commented back “There's going to Pokemon from every region there; not to mention all of the guests right? Then there's the regional championships right? The only chance we're going for it is there."
“That's a lot of people watching…"
“Cold feet?"
“Naturally."
“Excuse me… if you're going against the gym here, you might want to hurry." The clerk mentioned “If I know my rumors; they're closing at five."
“Who's the Gym Leader?" Brad asked promptly.
“From what I know of, Karen; she's been taking over the gym since Agatha left." The clerk replied as Brad went white.
“What's… wrong?" Griffin began to say as Brad tossed him a shocked look.
“Karen is a member of the Elite Four in Kanto, Griffin… why – why is she…?"
“The original owner disappeared; rumor was he worked with Team Rocket. Then Blue left… Agatha took over for a little bit and Karen replaced Agatha after she left. I heard that old ghost trainer retired." The Clerk explained and rang through all they bought. Then they doubled back and waited on Natasha and Melody. It took longer then they expected; but eventually they both showed up.
“Sorry we're late. I just started feeling sick." Melody commented
“Are you okay?' Brad began to say
“I'm fine now; just took me a minute. Let's go for the gym!" She'd say with a smirk as Luna flicked out her tails. She tilted her head at Melody before Smokey stepped in front of her. The Houndoom didn't say much of a word, aside from stare Luna down firmly… enough that her ears pinned down.
Her face is pale… like the color is just coming back to it Smokey is just… I can't tell if it's fear or, or that he wants to rip me apart. It's the look in his eyes.

It's terrifying. Seeing something with so much to lose and having it willing to throw itself away for it.

Smokey huffed and flicked black smoke and licks of red burning embers from his nose; something he'd do whenever he exhaled. The flakes barely touched her face… faded before then as Smokey flicked out his tail and nudged Melody.
They all went down this massive, bustling city where every building touched the sky… yet unlike Vermillion where there was character and an allure. Viridian… Viridian was even more modern and sleek then that. From the Pokemon Center that they found at the edge of the town… the gym really wasn't that far away. It was just a quick check up on all of them… Griffin spent his time on the computer; trying to figure out information on the gym leader. Luna only heard him mutter about dark type Pokemon… ghost type Pokemon. All he did was stare at the computer and looked at two of his Pokeballs in wonder.

The phone call caught his attention the most… made Luna twitch her ears.
Growlithes? There's so much noise in the background!? How many are there… a dozen?
“Griffin?"
“Ayumu!!" He'd reply as Luna heard a delicate laugh
“Yes; you got it right. Thief is ready to come back"
“I bought medicine; the actual Pokemon Medicine; not a potion or anything."
“Good, Good. Thief is doing much, much better. Sorry about all the noise! Let's say… something odd came up."
“Yungoos!" Ayumu sighed as the sound came through the receiver
“Yes yes; I can get food for you too." Griffin just listened into the phone with a perplexed look
“What… is going on?"
“That Arcanine, the one that became a problem… A trainer caught it." Ayumu stalled for a minute as though he acted in disbelief to it.
“What?" Griffin brought up “Is that a bad thing?"
“Yes and no. The… Lab is covered with Growlithe cubs; the thing was stealing food for all of them. With them displaced; some of them ill. I took them in; only one here that really can. This lab of mine is going to be busy for… for a while." Akiyama mentioned and laughed “I have Moonlight and Thief being sent back to you immediately – keep Thief hydrated and give him some time before giving him medicine; no sprays. Sorry it took longer." Akiyama expressed “I've had quite the little adventure today! It's not quite done yet."
“At least he's okay… again." Griffin sighed as Ayumu made a noise; shook something. Kibble – Luna recognized the sound.
“He will be, I take it you're at Viridian; Professor Oak informed me earlier today. Rarely a shipment goes bad for those Full Restores, perhaps it was overlooked from the international event – so much is going on over there for all of you… it'll hit Johto too; the craziness. Hey! Hey! Off the couch! Yes you! I see you on there!" Akiyama laughed after that “I have to go; one of these Growlithes are so wiry that it just runs around the house over and over again. I'm even expecting someone in a bit. Give Thief some food – Berries; light kibble or even berry mulch. By tomorrow he should be back to… well I guess the best he has is seventy percent. Those burns are healing, slowly… but healing. He's a tough little thing. Best of luck with the gym!" Ayumu took a breath “Oh; right. I double checked the software on your Pokeballs. Blaziken… is still recovering – doing well. Lycanroc is, rough cornered and your Vibrava? Marked up but it's entirely healthy… I'd suggest checking your Pokenav and looking at the software – there's a surprise there for you."
“A surprise?" Akiyama snickered as Griffin pulled out the device and checked the 'Pokemon' tab. “Huh?"
“You can have twelve Pokemon and rotate them before a battle and after one. Marill and Shadow are still with Logan, along with your Haxorus. Congrats; you almost have a second full team; just rotate them before a battle Griff – or that license is suspended. The extra Pokeballs in your bag have your second team… call Logan to swap back Haxorus; it might just help with Dark Types. As for the transfer? Check the Pokeballs. Have a good day." Akiyama hung up after that and Griffin released out Thief and Moonlight before making another call.
“Thief!" Luna perked up her ears and twitched her tail as that Growlithe unfurled before her.
“H – hey" He'd reply back with a tired little smile and bounced his tail expectedly. “We… we had a bit of a-"
“It went well" Moonlight interrupted them as Griffin went through a phone call and a half. “It… went well." The Espeon continued to say and flicked a paw at the scarf that hung low on his chest.
“Yeah! I'm feeling better."
“You're still sick, so take it easy." Moonlight expressed back and sassily flicked his tail before wandering towards Natasha. She simply huffed and rolled her eyes as the Espeon wandered towards her… but that Pokeball of hers cracked open without her command.
“Are you feeling better?" Thief twitched his ears as he distractingly stared at Moonlight.
“A little woozy… my paw hurts – Ayumu put a needle in me for a while." Luna just flicked her ears.
“He changed the bandages on your chest." She brought up
“They feel weird now… it's like… some weird sticky thing – it's always cold!" Thief said, “It barely hurts." Luna's paw pushed on the strange bandage and that left Thief blank and rigid.
It feels like… like leather – the top moves like gel but it… it doesn't slide against his chest. It doesn't feel cold to me, it's blue… sort of? The bandages over top keep it covered.
“Luna, Thief" Griffin's voice cut her thoughts in two as he collected his Pokeballs… two trays – one with six and the other with one. Griffin already had Thief, Moonlight and Luna's empty capsules on his belt.  “Let's go! We got a gym to challenge!" Griffin expressed as Luna jolted and they quickly made their way towards the Viridian City gym; In fact, Griffin looked and felt too excited – considering the way that he ran down the road towards it. Luna only looked at his belt… Four Pokeballs in the back of it and his regular six on his right side. Luna just kept up with her little hop – like jog.

Griffin nearly left everyone behind him as Luna only chased him down the road. Amid her little run; she caught onto Moonlight that panted and walked beside Leafeon
He's tired? No… he looks more exhausted then usual but… there's so-
Luna never ran head first into anything before, especially not a leg. It left her to jostle her scalp and tossed a gaze at someone that passed her by swiftly. That's the man from Cinnabar? The cop? She simply watched the man dip into an alleyway as Officer Jenny drove by them. He's avoiding…? Something gently scooped her up; it left her to flinch and plume flames – she shut her mouth and clamped it as the smoke sizzled from her nostrils.
“We can sightsee later." Griffin mentioned and chuckled “I promise, alright?" His voice made her ears twitch frantically along with the light drizzle that gently tickled the fluff on her hair. Griffin nearly left everyone behind him as Luna only chased him down the road. In the midst of her little run; she caught onto Moonlight that panted and walked beside Leafeon
He's tired? No… he looks more exhausted then usual but… there's so-
Luna never ran head first into anything before, especially not a leg. It left her to jostle her scalp and tossed a gaze at someone that passed her by swiftly. That's the man from Cinnabar? The cop? She simply watched the man dip into an alleyway as Officer Jenny drove by them. He's avoiding…? Something gently scooped her up; it left her to flinch and plume flames – she shut her mouth and clamped it as the smoke sizzled from her nostrils.
“We can sightsee later." Griffin mentioned and chuckled “I promise; alright?" Griffin spoke with a tone so tender that it left her ears to flicker and wiggle against the rain that pelted down around them. The sound of rich waves against pavement – scents that filled her nostrils in a way that left her to huff delicately and softly let out a plume. The view of his neck was there before her as she'd gently muffle at the sight of two little marks.

Fangs…

You said it was a form of trust. It came to her thoughts as Griffin carried her in his arms – collected her in a way that left her body numb and frigid. Trust…? You'd trust me after that? After I… You barely got angry about it; shrugged it off as though it were a sign of affection.



Are you as naïve as I am… Griffin? Why…. Why do you seem so content and… and happy about that? Blissful…. Ignorant… Or are there more questions you want to ask…?

Isn't there more that you want? More that you can't have unless you… unless you go further then you want to? Isn't…
Isn't that a door that you have to open?

It swung open and revealed this near greenish blue clean tile with a white rounded ceiling. The lights peered and shone against her as the droplets of water flicked and faltered to the tile below her. Warm rain… The last of a soothing shower that left herself to calm her racing heart as they stared at the empty room where it was only all of them.
“So…?" Griffin tossed a gaze at Brad, all he did was scoff and scratch his scalp.
“Well… Karen, I guess… is bound to be here…?" Brad continued to say as Natasha made a quick shush like sound.
“Shut up… Someone is talking to her in the back." Natasha commented and quietly walked across the gym.
“Natasha…?"
“Shhhhh… I'm curious about this… Karen." She'd say with a playful grin and went towards the back of the gym where a door just hung there. Naturally, everyone had to follow. Luna twitched and perked her ears as the voices came into play.
“No, No! Officer I don't understand what you and your department are doing. You can't… just pull the Elite Four from the internationals! I refuse that, I REFUSE that. Jean? Was it? I'm telling you, Lieutenant that I have zero interest in backing down from the event."
“There is considerable issue for concern, Karen." The voice that replied left Griffin to nervously shiver. “We, as the Global Police, believe that you and most of the championship league should back down and be placed in an appropriate protective custody. We can't force you to do that."
“Then I'm not." Karen interrupted him. “I have no fear regarding what may be going on – a few Pokeballs are stolen that barely have software; rare candy's? Trainers attacked, but only trainers correct?"
“Now Karen -"
“I don't care what wannabe Third World Country YOU come from, but those trainers out there? Some of those are the best I've seen in years Officer. Some of those are the best I've ever seen. Now I'm not going to just hand in a resignation form – it's my first year running a gym. It took me too long to go through the training and applications with the Pokemon Association to back down now. I'm not letting some… some rip off Team Rocket or whatever you call it, ruin that for me. Anyways… Those trainers depend on seeing Gym Leaders like myself; champions like… like Lorelei – Will. Koga and Bruno – Lance… … Agatha. I can't back down all because it got tough; because it got a little 'dangerous.' Newsflash, Officer Jean – all good things come at a price. So, for the last time because I know you've been harassing all of us on this. I'm not backing down unless every other one does. Leave me be… according to Murkrow; I have trainers to test." Natasha swallowed and backpedaled from the door as everyone just instinctively jolted rearward.
“Alright; sorry for the wait! I'm Karen from the Elite Four and I-" She stopped talking. Griffin, Natasha, Melody and Brad just stared at her as she blinked twice… then again in a rapid succession. “Oh… My god." She pointed right for Griffin immediately and that left him to flinch wildly. “Your Mightyena… Is so… CUTE."
Luna went cold as though her supposedly eternal fire just eclipsed in that minute. Bandit just idly tilted her head in wide-ranging disorder as that strange Icy Blue-haired woman nearly skidded on her knees towards Bandit. “You're ADORABLE! Who's is it? Who's?"
“M – Mine…?" Griffin revealed and gently chortled reticently Karen cocked her head his way as though it were a gear in a machine.
It was one of the few things Griffin and Luna shared in mutual understanding – a look where a bonfire just got quenched by a sea of expectations and wonder. “W – W- What?"
“Where did you get her!?" Karen mentioned as Griffin courteously scratched his scalp and halted when Officer Jean stepped out of the backroom. They just glimpsed at one another from a detachment no more diffident then the look on Griffin's face. “We have to battle, right now!" She'd remark as Smokey huffed at her and it left her to tilt her head.

Melody was the next one that appeared estranged and terrified by Karen's sudden expulsion of interest in their Pokemon… As for Luna… she felt left out; in fact, it made her give glances back at Bandit as that Mightyena gave her a look so obscenely uncomfortable that it left her to overlook Officer Jean as he wandered beside them all. He didn't say a word… until.
“It's a shame that Mightyena isn't allowed to battle."
“Hmm? What do you mean?" Karen began to say and tilted her head.
“That Mightyena was owned by Logan Fletching. It's Bandit, From Hoenn." Karen softened her shoulders for a moment. “But… It's said that the Pokemon isn't allowed to fight in a Pokemon Battle in relation to the League and the Associations events." Jean continued to say.
“What?" Karen brought up and huffed. “That's total crap… I've never seen a Mightyena like that before."
“Perhaps you could benefit from a little… experiment." Officer Jean commented and showed off a Pokeball. “He can't compete with his Mightyena against the Association… but the Global Police; we're our own detachment." Griffin made a little flinch as Jean flicked his short hair away from his forehead. “So how about it, Trainer… Karen? How about you review his Mightyena and how well she cooperates with her trainer now. The Association could benefit from the feedback." Jean expressed “In fact… I'd say a battle of this caliber would warrant a badge in return."
“What?" Karen expressed in full confusion.
“A stand in, per say." The Lieutenant mentioned; a clean cut, well dressed and firm man in his full uniform – included with his vest. “How about it, young man?"
“Going against a cop…?" Brad commented idly as Griffin gave him a glance nervously and swallowed. Bandit only flicked her ears and rustled out her tail; waited and stared as Jean nodded and tossed out a Pokeball. Something shattered out with a sparkle of light and red beams that left Griffin to pull out his Pokedex.
“Canadensis Luxray – These Luxray aren't like the usual ones one would see around Kalos and Unova." Logan's recorded voice came over the Pokedex “One would notice, quite clearly that the fur is slim, narrow… but thick up close; it's sheen is created from the exceptional high heat they produce… when sitting – even on stone; their fur can melt the surface of the rock. Without excessive amounts of water, they are known to overheat. Along with this variant of Shinx, one rarely reported outside of the northern US and Canada, it's noted that many Littens are among them as well. When it begins to overheat, the redness in its fur begin to glow to vent or exhaust it and it's gold-wheat color around it gives it a very distinct marking. I believe it to be from Maple Tree's, they're known to climb nearly anything to pounce on prey." Griffin just stared down the strange Pokemon; all it did was delicately tap it's paws as though to alternate them left and right; the fur was just like Logan expressed it to be, colored in a way that resembled any other Litten… yet unlike Luxray with some regal mane… it reminded Griffin of a Persian but with these ruffles of red that ran around its neck.
A heatwave…
“Pyroar aren't common in Canada, we more need to deal with a Shinx or two. Fire types are rare there, this one comes specially trained by some very wrong people. The ones native to my home… are worth more in their trade." Luna just had to narrow her eyes against the strange Pokemon before her…
It's crazy… slender like it's supposed to just creep up on you. If it sleeps during hot temperatures, then… then it makes it even more dangerous to be around.
It hunts… when it's weaker? All it did was cast her a dimly lit gaze and flicker its sharp, pure white fangs; left her fur to crawl. Its fur reminds me of… of Absol's. It's like it's been cut and bit and… I can't fight that.
It's utterly terrifying. Like all it wants to do is leave me dead.
“How about two battles, Trainer? Your Bandit, again my Luxray… And your Vulpix against mine." Griffin swallowed shyly and blinked as the strange, abnormal fiery Luxray began to tread back and forth as though it were some freak exhibit at a zoo.
“H – How… many regional…?"
“Enough to know it's not from this hemisphere." Jean replied. “My Vulpix isn't the only unique thing. There are all sorts of regional types, hybrids. They're exceedingly rare and worth a lot in underground trading. This one is a rescue. It's all I train." The Officer explained back to him. “Well Karen, how about it?"

She had already stood out of the way of the potential fight and took out her computer.
“I'd love to get some data on this one. A Two on Two, and then your friends can take me on!" Karen expressed happily and Griffin gently coughed and looked back down at Bandit. She already gave off this peculiar grin in reply and took a stance that left Luna to flinch as she stared up at her.
“B – Bandit…?"
“Hey runt… you showed me what you could do at Cerulean, so I figure it's my turn to show you what I can do." Bandit flicked her tail as the Luxray continued to pace back and forth. A tread that left Luna to twitch her ears and auspiciously swallow when something tugged her tail.
“Let's go, Luna." Thief mentioned to her with one of her tails in his mouth – it left her to swat a paw back at him… or at least try to.
“H – Hey!"
“You haven't seen Bandit REALLY fight before… sh – she's going… all…" Thief flicked out his tail as the Mightyena took her stance and gave this growl to a yip. The haunches on Bandit's fur rose with her expectations as Griffin tossed a hand down, near her face.
“Bandit… Relax." Griffin commented idly and glared down Officer Jean. His eyes simply trailed down to the officer's uniform… the vest…
There's more then two Pokeballs…? Luna caught sight of it at once; that was… until Jean's strange Luxray cut in front of him again and continued to tread back and forth.
“Well Trainer? Karen has plenty to do for the event anyways, I'd say I'm an appropriate stand in." Brad nervously swallowed
“Griffin you're not… serious about this are you?" Brad began to say “Police trained Pokemon are… they're a totally different caliber. It's no different than Military Working Pokemon." Jean batted an eye and nodded.
“He's right, but like I said… I train rescues; why else do you think you have the head instructor for the RCMP here." Jean mentioned once more and stood easy. His knee's slightly bent – arms down by his sides. “I'll even let you go first."
“He's baiting you Bandit." Griffin explained again and gave a sharp look. “My Mightyena is banned from the League – I'm not breaking laws because a cop is baiting me on." Griffin said back to him as Jean narrowed his view and then pulled out a small notebook. Wrote it down something and then pulled out a second book.
It's like a thick travel book…?
“In accordance to the Pokemon Association, section Twenty Three, Sub Paragraph Seventeen – it states that any trainer with a banned Pokemon can legally be tested by law enforcement, that information can be recorded at any official building of the Pokemon League." Jean showed off the tan-brown and sparsely detailed walls around them and then tapped his boot against the green tile floor. “With Karen as a witness and her permission. It's all based on your consent to a battle. Receiving a badge is more then applicable with the law as those badges are handed out by the judgment of the Gym Leader… or even the community of the city and town."
“That's Canadian law, right?" Griffin partially looked at Brad but he just shrugged in confusion.
“No. That's the rules set out for Kanto, in accordance to their permissions by the Pokemon Association. Every Region has the right to introduce laws if they don't break or undermine international ones. Kanto disapproves of team battles, unlike Hoenn and many others. Many laws are still based internationally. Now Trainer… enough stalling." Griffin nervously fumbled his hands before they dropped to his side.
“He's the head instructor for… for Column? Griffin I don't think you should." Brad commented.
“Like hell he shouldn't, I'd jump at that chance." Natasha commented with a grin as Melody tapped her foot on the ground. All Griffin did was exhale after a moment and froze. Luna shockingly looked at it…


Bandit only licked his fingers and hand to reassure him. Jean even wrote that down when he noticed it himself and his Luxray's thin short fur stalled and quivered curiously. Gold and red fur… Luna still couldn't get over that fact.
Luxray's are black and… and yellow right? Blue? Do… It's like my… dad, right? Ice blue instead of white or red. Griffin only looked down at the Mightyena next to him as she licked his hand in return and gave this quick affirmed bark. Griffin exhaled and took a glance at Karen as the lights flickered in the gym and the screen came up nearby them.
“I'm ready to go." Karen expressed as the tiles below them seemed to reverberate for a moment. “If you're up for it… Griffin? I didn't even know that… Logan has a bro…? Huh, Neat…" Griffin shyly flinched as Luna glanced at him with a quick dilated eye and then wandered over to him. Tugged at his pant leg with her teeth. Bandit only tossed her a look.
“You get that his head's in the clouds." Bandit expressed and picked up Luna by the nape of the neck; pushed her up to Griffin's hand in a way that made him stall and stare back at them both. “So, do me a favor… keep it screwed on tight for him; I have a wannabe pussycat to take down." Bandit expressed with a mawful of fur It left Luna to stall and go rigid… but she felt shocked and delighted solely… because… Her teeth, those sharp vicious fangs carried her more gently then Luna ever realized or understood. A loose jaw; relaxed in the face and ongoing silence before the battle. It left Luna in shock, a quiver that ran down her back and left her to gently find air.

You're afraid… that when you have cubs of your own, they'd see you as some monster…? A monster doesn't have teeth like yours Bandit. Not… Not when I can melt into that feeling of trust you unknowingly give to those around you. I'll… I'll hold Griffin's thoughts to earth but only when it's your fight… So long as you keep mine tied when I must.

An uncomfortable reach where Luna's hind legs say on Griffin's shoulders and nearly rested against his rucksack while her paws feebly held down the back of Griffin's scalp. It was just this place where the hairs were always in eternal disorder – as though he scratched and rubbed it down to the skin below. A strange little spot and she could feel his entire body still, settle in shock. Griffin only picked her up… Luna was the one that squirmed around him and found that place… she'd barely peer past the wheat and pale fluff atop his scalp as though she looked through thin blades of grass. Just a curious fox that looked past the world in a way no different than a window. Where it felt wise in every sense of understanding.
“… Alright." Griffin said after a moment and nodded. “You want a battle against me, Jean? Then I'll accept it."

“A Two on Two, no substitutions. Conditions of a win are when a Pokemon is unable to battle." Karen expressed the rules but barely looked away from the computer screen – her glee and wonder was too much for her to hold. Bandit stood out in front of Griffin as they spaced themselves to the lines that came onto the floor. A measurement of chalk-like light that dimly glowed below them in that well-lit Gym. Jean barely moved, being already in place he didn't need to… so Jean's Luxray and Bandit met with a futile amount of space between them as Luna watched through the hairs atop Griffin's scalp. Her heart pounded against her chest after a moment and it left the fur on her pelt to rise drastically. The frost between Bandit and the strange, near Persian, Pyroar like Luxray made her tails flicker out and swat at Griffin's bag like a metronome. “Battle…. Begin!" Karen called out.
“Luxray use HeatWave."
“Bandit Embargo!" Griffin remarked back as the Mightyena gave him a sharp look and snarled back; Luna could feel the sudden expulsion of flame that struck past Griffin and filled the room with enough heat that even she began to pant. All it did was leave Bandit to click her fangs together in a way that left her muzzle to spark and plume before she'd give of this sharp leer and a tilt of her head… The fire barely appeared to bother her – the heat and that flicker of embers that filled her nostrils and left the strange Luxray to hold and hiss back with its tail thrashing and its haunches to stand on edge. Jean's Luxray couldn't use items now… It left Jean to grin
“Luxray!" Jean chuckled “Discharge."
“What?" The Luxray, even with its fiery distemper left its fur to rise and stiffen in a way that left Bandit to tilt her head as it sparked.
“Hey, hey!" Bandit mentioned with a cackle “A Fire Electric type? That's what he meant by hybrids… I love it." Bandit retorted sharply and clicked “I guess Padre was an Incineroar!" Bandit stated and grinned “It be boring otherwi-“
“Torracat… and it was my mother." That left Bandit to twitch her ear and growl
“Bandit Dodge it and use SandAttack!" The Mightyena shot off from one direction to another, a sharp ended zig-zag of a bolt as the Luxray sparked and shocked the field with sharp, bright lines that left Luna's view of the gym to darken with her own fright. Bandit only charged right in as Jean tapped his boot.
“Tackle!" He called out as the Luxray charged in… but Bandit sassily cut her advance and spun her tail swiftly – shocked the Luxray's vision with dirt… dust and sand. “Hmm…" Jean took a moment to blink as the Mightyena jolted back to Griffin's side and took her stance. The Luxray was blinded by it… almost entirely.
“I don't get it Bandit." Luna remarked “Wh… why did that work so well?" Bandit clicked her jaw as Jean tilted his head and wrote something down.
“Electric and fire types are rare… sure. But they have very obvious weakness's, same as Fire and Ice. Ground type moves are ultimately more affective… but I can't cheat my way into using one here. There's not much I can use for my benefit." Bandit noted and kept her eyes on the Luxray as Jean nodded.
“Luxray, use Flamethrower, sweep it!" The Luxray simply shut its eyes and bellowed out it's chest before it erupted flames from the left side of the field to the right. Bandit jumped over the flames naturally and the Luxray – with a twitch of its ears focused in on her. “Tackle high!"
“Bandit use Counter!" It left Jean to perk his head up… watch as the Mightyena took the blow and sharply rotated her body no different then how she treated Griffin yesterday afternoon.
“Counter?"
“My brother trained Bandit harshly." Griffin commented “She knows a lot of different moves, her best… Hyperbeam… Super Fang… Frenzy and Toxic."
“Hmm… Super Fang? Strange…"
“My Grandfathers Raticate taught her." Jean blinked curiously. “Hermano and Abeulo both worked hard, it was one of the weeks Logan actually came by to say hi." The officer gave a chuckle.
“Luxray!" The Feline pushed itself off the ground and grinned. “Firefang!"
“Bandit Sucker Punch!" Griffin recoiled as the Mightyena made a curious step around and over as the Luxray jumped at her continually… she looked for an opening and only tried to dodge any and every bite.
“Practice that much!?" It's fangs just shot back down at her before Bandit could move it. “Fast on tight ranges…" The Luxray didn't respond at all and that left Bandit to jolt back from another vicious bite.
“Bandit! Agility! Keep evading!" Griffin shot a look at Jean as the officer then dropped his arms behind him and smiled.
“I guess it's time for us to pick this up a notch. How'd you like to go straight to level one?"
“What?" Griffin blinked for a moment as Bandit hopped back again
“Thundershock!"
“Bandit Inferno!" Griffin remarked and Bandit flinted her teeth together in which an explosion of flame and lightning shook the ground around them… until a bellow of smoke crossed both paths of the field – Griffin tossed his arm before his eyes to protect them. “Follow up with Double Team!"
“Use Firespin on the ground; saucer." Griffin tilted his head for a moment as the entire floor before them erupted into flames and became… wider…? Narrow to the floor as though to look at a topdown map of a hurricane. The flames barely licked Griffin's shoes as he fought to look through the smoke and soot. The crackle of electricity from the heat left the gyms room to flash and flicker as though it jolted from ember to ember.
“Ban! Shadowball!" The Mightyena made a sharp yip and howled gleefully as her eyes narrowed and sharpened against the smoke… it left Griffin to stall. “Wait… where did it even go?"
They like to climb… but there's nothing TO climb… Wait…?
“Bandit! Cancel and Protect!" The Mightyena sharpened a look and shelled herself within a veil that instantly got struck down. It left Jean to tsk. “Extreme speed!? I didn't even see it jump!"
“It's nowhere near as fast as my Taser." Jean showed off his electric type Vulpix… the Insupia, as the Luxray; that large lynx-like cougar of a shape shot across the bellow of smoke.
“It's using the smoke… Bandit use Toxic! Spray it!" Bandit gave a grin and bit down on her own teeth and molars. It left Luna to tilt her head as the Mightyena hopped and spun – a spray of saliva and thick sickly purple colors shot around the field.
“Hmm…" Jean commented idly and wrote that down too before he returned to his 'at ease' position. “Luxray Wild Charge!"
“Bandit Flame Blitz! Stay in place!" Jean flicked his hair.
“Trying to best us at defense? Genius!" Jean commented idly and chuckled “But I think you misunderstand what we really do." Jean expressed and nodded. “Luxray Use Wild Charge on the field!"
“Huh?" Griffin stalled and only watched that strange cougar of a Luxray jolt around the field quickly and swiftly. Just a bolt of lightning like flashes struck the field as Bandit held her ground with a cloak of flames that surrounded her form.
Bandit's Toxic didn't hit the Luxray at all… but Luxray used it's speed to spray her Toxic that layered the field back at her. It came down more like a pelt of rain then it did a blob of sickly fluid.
“You're drenching her fire?"
“And poisoning her." Jean commented back with a courteous nod. “Finish off with Will-o-Wisp!" Luna flinched softly as she'd see the Luxray open its mouth and turn it's flame from red-orange to white-blue before sparking the field in an array of rounds.
“Bandit!" Luna gave out a whine as Karen looked over her computer.
“You're fighting like I would! Stacking status effects!"
“It's more on patience then it is on defense. That is a theory proven endlessly over time." Jean commented back at Karen as Griffin bit his lower lip. “I wonder exactly how tough she is, Griffin."
“She's strong. As strong as she needs to be." Griffin commented back at him. “Bandit! You got this!" The smoke and sparkle of it all just blinded him as Griffin rolled his eyes and unexpectedly hit the deck.
“Did he just…?"
“I think he did…" Natasha commented back to Brad. “He's trying to look under the smoke line by laying down."
“Bandit! Use Frenzy and Sand Attack!"
“Two moves at once?" Jean commented “This is getting interesting, Griffin…. That's level two." Jean commented back. “Luxray, use Crunch and ThunderFang" Bandit swung around the field in this way that left Griffin to jolt. She didn't ATTACK the Luxray but only concentrated on the air around him as Jean glanced at the smoke on the field swing and change current… as well as become dark and ghastly.
“She can still move? Impressive. Finish this Luxray." Jean called out as the Luxray shot forward for Bandit, Griffin could see the slender Cougar of gold and red fur dart out from the smoke nearby him… then Griffin called out to Bandit
“Use HyperVoice! Roar as loud as you can and push!" Griffin commanded as Jean unexpectedly tilted his head.
“Hmm…?" The Luxray just shot right for it… the plan that Griffin half thought of and put together; he gave a grin as Bandit let out a powerful, voice throwing roar that turned into a strange sound that left Luna's to wobble her feet.
There's an expulsion of heat…? You're going to throw your voice out Bandit! You're using… three moves to make up for one you DON'T know!? The strain on the Mightyena's throat was enough to make Luna blink rapidly until her eyes watered. No… you…?
“What!?" Jean mentioned with excitement in his tone and held his now tapped foot fast to the ground.
Bandit concentrated the fields smoke… poison veil and electrical charge into one tight air current and used Howl, Roar, and her own heat to change the current in the room. Since Jean's side was colder… she only made it hotter and it left the entire shadow-like ball to curl forward and catch the Luxray in a mix of a poisonous sandstorm.

It took a moment for the dust to settle… Luna couldn't believe the impact a move like that had… or the power that the Luxray kept from first glance. It easily took Bandit's blows and returned them tenfold. It just left them both to stand and stare each other down with a mix of silence… growls… and hisses.
That was… until both Luxray and Bandit hit the ground. It left Luna's haunches to rise in a way that left her silent.
“Bandit!?" It was both their voices that left them shocked. The burn… the poison… paralysis and impact – the strain from forcing some makeshift Shadowball all together…
It put her down… but in return… it put the Luxray down too.
“Bandit and Luxray are both unable to continue battle. The round is a draw." Karen commented as Jean nodded. “Shorter then I expected… but what the hell were those tactics? I use status effects sure but… that was a full area of effect"
“Controlling the field. Griffin saw that and countered it… but the status effects ran their course for both sides." Jean commented. “Well, Griffin. You should be proud."
“What…?" Griffin mentioned idly and stared down the officer in front of him.
“Maybe I went too easy on you in the beginning. Not a lot of trainers can beat my Luxray. Especially in that situation. I've never had a trainer work around it that way before." Jean commented idly as Griffin glanced at Bandit stir from the ground and cough before her paws touched the ground… Luxray did the same.

It took them both a minute to get up from that and Luna just had to watch Bandit give off a grin as the Luxray tilted it's head and coughed at her.
“You look tired."
“You look tired."
“I could keep going just fine."
“So could I." Bandit gave a notorious smirk when he responded.
“Quite the sparring partner. Beating me is an achievement."
“I've beaten plenty and lost to plenty. There's no achievement in that, Mightyena." The Luxray and Bandit pushed themselves to their feet and both stumbled after a moment.
“Not bad cat…" Bandit commented again.
“I'm just following my orders." Luxray commented back “As for you… I see where your loyalty resides." The strange feline went back to Jean's side and the officer returned her. Bandit sat beside Griffin with a pant and huffed as Luna tilted her head at her.
“What? He stacked status effects… smart. Not only that; he could take a hit from ME. I went full in, but it means nothing if the opponent barely responds to it." Bandit commented “Anyways, it was more like a sparring match then a real one. I'm beginning to enjoy Kanto more."
“A – Are you hurt?"
“By Arceus no." Bandit replied “It takes more then that, a lot more. I know that Luxray is the same… I want to battle it again." Jean simply placed his Pokeball back onto his belt and that's when Griffin flinched and stalled as Bandit tilted her head.
“T – That's a Sig Saur…" Brad mentioned idly as Jean gave him a sharp look.
“Standard issue young man, I'd suggest you'd keep your eyes off of it. Safety is on if you're worried, and even if you are… I'd like to inquire as to why." Officer Jean mentioned sternly but politely. “I understand that the KPD and the majority of the Japanese Police Department have no need to carry firearms, such as Officer Jenny. It may be shocking, yes. But it is of no threat in the hands of a police officer." Officer Jean expressed as Griffin tossed Brad a look.
“He didn't have one back in Fuchsia or in Vermillion…" Griffin commented quietly to Brad.
“Most police forces down here use a Nambu Model Sixty. A revolver… it's nearly fifty years old." Brad commented back to him. “They barely need to carry them. They're already trained to talk down suspects and use hand to hand… and well." Jean tapped his boot as Brad blinked idly
“Sorry sorry, we're shocked; I didn't even see it until you moved your belt. It's strange… that's all." Officer Jean nodded
“I understand." He commented back. “Alright Taser, let's get in there and show Griffin how a Vulpix fights." Luna swallowed as Bandit rolled her head lightly.
“Go get that over glorified sparkle dog." Bandit expressed as Luna hopped off of Griffin's shoulders and slid down his arms… before she'd curl her legs and jolt out of them. Her paws lightly tapped the green tile below her as she stared down the Vulpix. His eyes just stared back at her… unblinking. Unmoving save for when her tail twitched.
It's like it views the world in slow motion.
“Last round! One on one, winner takes all!"
“I haven't bet anything." Jean commented “If you lose you can always go against Karen… Griffin." Griffin idly blinked and let out a huff Luna only parted her legs and stared back at the Vulpix before her. A soft gentle shimmer went over her vision for only a split second. It left her haunches to hike up as her thoughts left towards a wood without leaves… void of life and dark.

Where a mirror of a place beyond any other. Distorted and destroyed laid before her… where Vulpi of every type would happen to be there… and yet she had an Insupia before her eyes. A Vulpix that was solely an electric type no different then she had her fire.

It left her to swallow drly… nervously… as her heart began to pound against her chest – left the corner of her vision to waver as though she could still see the heat of the field. A sharpness bit all around her fluff from the fade of sparks that rang through her pelt. It left her tails to sway every different direction they could.
“I'm sorry Luna… but there's no Insupia's left."
Why would there be one in front of me then…?
“I believe in a Phoenix… Luna."
That doesn't make sense… it never made sense. What did you mean?
“… … …?" Luna twitched her ears and narrowed her eyes for a minute before she tilted her head and stalled. Her ears twitched and dropped flat as Jean said something… a command and stopped. Taser didn't respond either and just stared Luna down. “…. … ..?"
“…? ….. …. …?" Luna felt her pelt crawl and her body shiver all over.
“Moonlight!"
“What?" His voice came into the fray as she'd give out a sharp, terrified sound that made Bandit's head pull away from Griffin's side.
“What is it runt?" She'd say playfully.
“Listen to Griffin… No… just listen to the humans!"
“… wh…? Wait…?" Moonlight pushed to his feet.
“… … …?"
“… … …… …. … …?" Taser just tilted his head curiously
“I don't hear anything." He'd say in reply and then turned his head to Jean and stared at him with a tilt of his head… then Griffin went rigid.
In fact… the entire Gym did as this small racking and grinding chitter echoed through the gym. It left Officer Jean to lightly turn his head to Karen.
“…? …. … …. …?" Luna immediately shot her eyes to Griffin as he tapped his foot to the ground and read his lips closely.
“I know this." Griffin said in utter deaf silence “This happens every time that… that THING from Fuchsia comes around."
“….?" Luna turned to Jean as he went on the radio. “Officer to Dispatch." Static cut into the sound of his radio. “Lieutenant Jean calling Dispatch." More static cut into Luna's ears as a gentle… soft chitter came over her. Her pelt began to crawl as something dug into her head and whispered.
“Thank you… Luna. You smell… enticing. In fact, you smell SO enticing that I could nearly get my nose in every. Little. Crevice. You've been around a female…? It doesn't smell like one that's mated before either… that's perfect."
Stay the fuck away from her…
“Do be a good little snack and tell me where she is. I mean… I'll figure it out eventually… your trainer has been around her too. I can smell that on him. Here I was… getting… well; let's say 'hopeful' in the least… 'dominant' at most."
…. You gross creep.
“No Luna… all of YOU are. Like that Mightyena next to you, breeding with a weaker… smaller male? Or how about that Espeon? Refusing to go near a female with that intent…? Or what about you? Curious about males that aren't even of your OWN species. It's debauchery at its finest – you're playing with your food, and not in any appropriate way."
Get out of my head
“I find it comfortable here. Such despair and foolish concern. It's delicious… maybe while I'm wearing your intestines as a blanket… I might consider using something of yours."
Luna's eyes dilated widely as the thing just chittered and hissed around the gym. Moonlight was already on his feet – sprung into action and exhaled sharply.
“I like that… a cop that trains 'rescues' and a boy with his fake friends. It sounds like an interesting dynamic indeed! So… if you want a very… very quick death… listen for a fuse."
“What the hell are you saying!? Go drown yourself you sick… decrepit freak!" Luna slammed her paws to the ground with her face blazing red from bitter anger. Her jaw opened with a trail of saliva from the tips of her fangs to the bottom one as she let out this fistful growl of spite and rage. It took her a moment before the world cut into frame and then her fur and tails dropped at once. Thief just looked back at her with his ears pinned down to his scalp. “W – wait… wait a minute I didn't; that wasn't for you." Thief had to take a moment to stare at her and gently ruffled out his fur.
“I already know…" Thief commented back and that left her to freeze her pelt. “It's like in Alola. You're not talking to me. I already know that… don't take me for a cub!" Luna flinched from Thief's sudden response back to her… it nearly made her bite her lip unexpectedly. “Hey! Whatever you are! Whatever you REALLY are! Why don't you come out here and I'll show you round TWO?" Thief gave a surprisingly loud snarl towards the empty room as Bandit gave this delighted yeen.
“Why don't you bring out your Arcanine friend too? I want to see him hobble around broken." Bandit commented back and licked her lips as a voice stalled them all.

“I'd love to! That sounds absolutely delightful." This time it spoke out in the open, to the point that Griffin… Jean… Karen – everyone flinched.
“Who the hell is that!?"
They can hear him? That's not possible! They can't hear us…
“I'm quite hungry, however. The Pokemon Center didn't have as much… curious foods as I wanted." Jean was busy writing down things on his notepad in a split second and searched for the sound. “But I must admit… you… Growlithe. You're starting to look as delicious as your friend looks… lustful." A set of claws began to creak and scratch against steel to make a noise no different then nails on a chalkboard… if it had a megaphone attached to it. It made Luna's eyes twitch and her ears flicker from the sound as she snarled back. “That Vulpix from Vermillion… Cerulean… he's right; you'd look prettier if your mouth was full of something – Luna."
“What kind of gross shit is this? Is there a speaker somewhere?" Natasha remarked sharply. “This is some kind of sick prank, right?" She'd comment again as Griffin continued to look around. “It can't be a Pokemon if WE understand it! So, some sick creep is… god I'm going to vomit…"
“You know…" Everyone stopped as it appeared, as though to hover no different than a mew – in fact… it looked just like one. A malformed worm covered Mew. Jean snapped down at Taser… but the Vulpix just looked at him aimlessly and tilted his head… then he did hand signals; it made the Vulpix snap to attention and still at the sight of it. That thing… the copycat…
“Chesshira." It made a sound and flicked out it's tri-tails with a delicate growl. Natasha only looked back at it as it hovered right in front of her; as close to meet her eyes with his own. “You would look pretty like that… coughing up mucus and vomiting bits of your lungs. I wonder if humans really do taste like Tepigs…? If you remove all the shit that comes out when they're dead." There was this flash and beam of bright light that made it snarl back at the source… before something sprayed it and crackled across its muzzle.
“Thief!?" Luna remarked… he used that little firecracker move that he had been practicing.
“I said I'm going to show you round two." The Growlithe commented and snarled. “Because I made a new damned promise that I'm seeing through. I'm ripping you the hell apart." It laughed, sharply and loudly after that and hovered over Natasha.
“I'd like to see you try… Growlithe; if it's anything like that pitiful Magnet Tr-" Thief shot out a flare and snarled as plumes rose from his muzzle and nostrils. The Copycat swung into it and slashed it clean in half before he went to casually inspect his claws.
A steel type move!?
“Rude… Obnoxious. Fat and quite frankly annoying." Bandit shot in after that and leapt over Natasha to clamp down at the now malformed Mew yet all it did was hover around to dodge her, and met up with Moonlight who flashed the room again with Psychic. Natasha had hit the ground to avoid getting hit and covered her bag defensively.
“Haxorus!" Griffin tossed out a Pokeball and the second it cracked open… the entire Gym rumbled as it let out a vicious blood-stained roar that left the Chesshira to tilt it's head as it giggled madly, showed his rubber like neck.
“You are alive? Wonderful. I could use my sparring partner back. How's the 'unbreakable' blade on your skull? Hurts still? I love that." It didn't even flinch when it charged in and slashed it's claws at the air towards it. A fury of swipes came out; it's dragon-like claws tore at the air as the Chesshira casually floated between the attacks until it was pinned to the wall and the Haxorus stabbed for it – aimed for the cut.
The it appeared around Griffin as Haxorus's claws ended up getting stuck clean into the concrete. “I like your 'friends' Griffin. The girls in particular. So where may my precious Number be? How about Lycanroc? Arcanine isn't very happy that you have them… He needs something… warm and tight to rest up with." Griffin made a sharp look and a grimace “And frankly… I'd like one too. So where is the female?"
“Little rat." Griffin commented back at the Pokemon as it giggled. “I don't care why you look like Mew… or how this even works, but I'm not telling you shit. Bandit Super Fang!" The Chesshira floated back and waited for Bandit's move yet the moment she began to move it used Scary Look.

And like a curtain that fell over Luna's eyes did her entire world become a place of gore where every single little crevice contained all sorts of gross yellow-green flesh and the scent of decay. Bones that stuck out of the walls and a voice that horrified her tremendously.
“Mommy?"
A cub? No… a baby? That cub can't be more then a week old...?
Luna felt her fur crawl when she heard the small whine of a sound and followed it for just a moment before her paws stopped. “I know your tired… daddy is coming. You can smell him, right? … Right?" She took one step and then felt something write and crawl under and over her paws… maggots?
They were all over her fur; a stomach pouch…?
She was seconds away from hurling when the world was sucked away from her and she'd stay inside of the gym with a stagger of thought.
“What the hell was that?" Luna began to say as the Chesshira met her… right in the face – eye to eye.
“That's my stomach; my insides. Look at your paws." Luna didn't look down… she refused to pull her eyes away, half pulled into a defensive stance...
But she knew that something writhed and crawled over her fur and flesh. It made her paw squirm uncomfortably and horridly as she'd exhale and squelched her blood covered paws against the tile floor below her.
“You think that scares me...?" Luna found the strength to growl at him; to hide as much of her feeble self as she could. “Let… the cub go."
“Oh…? They're alive still? Damn that mother, what kind of resolve is that?"
“LET THEM GO!" Luna snarled and clicked her teeth together… She flinted them and went to bite down at the horrid creature before them, ranted solely on emotion and the heat that flared and shocked her muzzle. Firefang…? She'd never performed it before but now all she had was that thing in her sights and her jaw moving to lock it down.

She had never been blindsided and tackled so quickly and harshly in her life – harsh enough that it knocked every bit of wind out of her as Luna hit the ground and skidded across the tile floor with every bit of air fading from her. A gentle laugh touched the air as she hit the ground and it left her to gasp for air.
“L – Luna!?" Bandit's voice cut into the frame as her vision blurred in and out.
“Damnit." Moonlight sharply spoke and hissed. “Leafeon!"
“Right!" The Leafeon barked back and took a position with his legs parted as the Chesshira's form changed and malformed… Officer Jean stared at it and then began to scribble on his notepad… right before some sound grinded and hissed against the wall. Jean just stalled; went wide eyed as flickers burned through the concrete and steel beside him.
“Officer to Dispatch! Now!" He'd call out as Luna's ears twitched rapidly
I can hear him!? Why did it take so long… is this an ability of some kind? Karen is freaking out too… I can't move again...? Something nipped at her tail and it left her to freeze.
“Let's go!" Thief recalled with his mouthful of her fur “I hesitated… Then you… you… Luna" Something warm touched her cheek.
Blood?
It left her eyes to dilate and grow wide. “That thing hit me…"
“Thief? Are you okay? You can't be out here!"
“Well I AM." He'd snarl back with his tail full of her fur. “So, let's move…." Luna twitched her ears
“You're terrified…"
“So? Bandit has this… Jean has this… it's just as important to get out alive you know?" Thief commented back to her as Moonlight and Leafeon both stepped in towards the Chesshira, that only gave a playful… sadistic grin as Haxorus ripped his claws out of the wall. It left the gym to erupt with this utterly vicious sound… right when the entire thing bellowed with black smoke and a force put Griffin to the ground.

“There will always be a world beyond our own. I tell you that in good faith… Luna. I used to travel with this utterly wonderful Vaporeon and an estranged Flareon with his Mightyena friend… I saw the world beyond our own… past these islands. It's not a place I want for you… wherever that Vaporeon went. He's in a place where's he's happy. Wherever that Mightyena went? A place he's happy. Knowing that damned strange Flareon, he's seeing the world because that makes him happy. I'm here… because you are; because your mother is, and that makes me the happiest thing in the world. So, Luna. If an adventure makes you happy… I don't care where the journey takes you. Just be safe. Be happy… and know that you'll always need to fight from time to time." Luna flicked her eyes around the black smoke and soot as she'd gently cough, a daze rang through her; somehow she wasn't dead. Thief had clung down to the tiles, Bandit snarled viciously from somewhere in the smoke.
“H – Hey! Is everyone okay!?" Griffin commented and Luna went wide eyed as something touched her nose.
Oil…? Why is there oil? It smells like… like oil. I've never smelled anything like it before.
“Griffin!" A voice caught her ears as Brad pulled him up “Let's go! Just return everyone and move!"
“Brad…?"
“It's FREAKING Thermite!"
“It's what!? My ears are…?"
“Just… GAH." Brad pulled on Griffin's arm so hard that it yanked him close to him and pulled him to his feet. “We need to get out of here, NATASHA! MELODY!" Brad roared out and pulled Griffin from the smoke… “Griffin just hit the return?"
“The what!?" Brad pulled out his Pokeball and tapped the button. The laser shot out through the smoke and came back to him… So, Griffin frantically did the same; with everyone. The return beam swung around towards anyone. Luna could see Haxorus return… Thief… from next to her – Bandit's snarls cut out… Moonlight's voice.
Luna just ran up to Griffin and Brad quickly… Frantically to keep up with them, she evaded the red line out of fear. Brad only hoisted Griffin up and bolted out of the building with a fireman carry, the kind that left her surprised that Brad could lift him. The pavement outside was enough to make everyone just stare at the smoke from any distance.
“You good!?"
“I can't hear! Anything!"
“I need to grab the rest of them!" Brad called back to Griffin as he held his ear
“What!? I can't freaking hear you!" Brad was already bolting back in… but Natasha had already pulled Karen from the fray right when he touched the doorway… Melody was being carried by her Houndoom.

It was just Officer Jean who was left.
“What the FUCK was that!?" Natasha commented and pulled out her phone, dialing the emergency number as quickly as she could. Melody gently coughed and hugged against Smokey; the Houndoom could easily take her weight and glanced out at Luna as Griffin just held his ears. “Griffin? Griffin! You okay?"
“What!? Yeah I can't hear you!" Griffin called back out to her “My ears are ringing… What just happened!?"
“I don't know!" Griffin just saw Natasha put Karen down on the ground next to him as Natasha tried her phone; it was strange, seeing Griffin try to make sense of their mouths; Luna could see her talking frantically into the phone… it didn't take long for sirens to play through the blocks - even less time for a motorcycle to show up.
“Hey! Are you kids alright!?" A voice touched Luna's ears as they rang endlessly. “Are there any inside!?"
“Two from what we know of!" Griffin called back as Officer Jenny took a step back.
“Aren't you…?"
“Yeah I can't hear you! My ears… I think they're bleeding? Jesus… what happened!?" Jenny pulled her radio from her response bike and began to talk into it as though to fill in the rest of the details. Then Griffin pointed at the doorway. “Hey hey! I see someone!" Jenny took a glance towards the door and put her radio down Luna just watched Brad lightly drag Officer Jean out of the way. Jenny had already run up to him.
“Jean!" Brad lightly grimaced and took off his shirt and began to unclip the vest.
“Get this off him!" Brad commented sharply.
“Already on it!" Brad commented as Melody perked up and stumbled over.
“What's wrong?"
“Shrapnel. It looks like the vest caught most of it – what do you have ON? It weighs a ton!" Brad and Jenny took the vest off as Melody simply knelt down and took Brad's shirt Jean simply waved his hand at her and took it himself.
“I'm fine, the vest took it; I got this. Jenny did you call it in?" Jean commented, laid on the ground with his hand over a rather… gruesome sight. Yet it looked worse than it was; Luna figured that from how he still stood firm.
“Of course I did!" Jenny retorted back. “What happened in there?" Jean chuckled and looked around
“Secure it! Whatever or Whoever did this is still around; we have backup?"
“Can't you hear that... thing?"
“No!" Jean commented back as his grizzled and well-kept goatee moved with his jawline “Secure the area!" Jenny stalled
“I can't do that; I need to wait, I'm a first responder for trainers! I don't carry firearms" Jean let his head touch the ground behind them as he sighed and kept pressure. Luna just looked at it and took a stance as something rustled. A sharp growl came out from her throat as something creaked and cocked its tails around and shot out of the bushes. Jenny perked her head around and tossed out a Pokeball.
“Alright Growlithe!" Jean moved lightly and then stalled.
“Shit… I can't reach it like this, I'll injure myself. Brad… Get Taser; the Pokeball around the holster." Jean commented quickly and firmly… so Brad did just that and tossed the Pokeball outward.
“Alright Growlithe! Use Tackle!" Jenny commented sharply as the Chesshira shot its body forward, hardly unlike a bullet.
It's going after the injured? Luna felt her leg twitch as Jenny's Growlithe shot forward in a headfirst charge and went for the tackle. The Chesshira stopped and curled itself in an awkward angle as though to change direction… and then let it's sharp pine like needles slash against the side of it. Luna felt her eyes flicker and her body froze anxiously. It looked no different then watching a sharp razer cut through jelly; the Growlithe only let out a yelp and tumbled behind the Chesshira.
“What!? Alright Blastoise!" Jenny went for another Pokeball when Taser shot in with a sparkle of sharp; angled light – a crackle struck through the air. Luna didn't even see it move… let alone saw it stop even as it tackled the Chesshira on the flank – near it's rear were the spines couldn't cover it. It left it to slide around but that didn't stop it's claws from digging into the ground roughly enough that the earth cracked underneath it.
“You want a repeat of the train!? This time I'm killing YOU and your fucking trainer Luna!" it recoiled sharply as Luna just felt her eyes sharpen and narrow while it shot out for her… from four legs to two where it made a weavil like strafe and slashed it's claws at her. It left her to dodge the first one… the second with a risky jolt to the side and then she'd pull back further and further.
She pulled the Chesshira away from Jean and the others; but the creature always kept on her flank.
“Just try me!" She recoiled firmly as jolted her hind legs back as it swung its front set of razer sharp claws down at her. It just cut the wiry hair in front of her face, the adrenaline pumped through her already as a shiver ran down her pelt. It's going silent...?
“Come along my little bitch, I thought you were going to HELP THEM!" It roared at her in a physical silence, but mentally, it felt like hearing it's voice on double; screeching in her very thoughts “Come on! What do ya got!?" Luna only snarled and kept pushing her legs back as it's rather sharp, thin but wide claws slashed down at her again.
Its claws are like… like knives; curved knives. One hit and I'm dead… One hit… I need to get a return in, but it can advance AND attack this accurately!?
“LUNA! USE FIRESPIN ON THE GROUND! SURROUND YOURSELF!" Griffin called out much louder then he needed to as she focused in on the threat that was inches in front of her face; the kind that tried to make up the distance by going for the throat.
It's going to damn near decapitate me if I try… The thought came to her mind as it laughed gleefully
“Not a bad idea… I could screw your corpse after the fact." It left her heart to jolt and pound as she sucked in air and evaded another sharply swung claw to the throat. “You're right about being dead girl. I'll put you there! No one else but me. I'll use you until you're nothing but rot and decay… I won't even eat you…"
You're not worth it…
Let it happen…
Just die… Die… Die… Die… She'd snarl at the sounds of his sing-song voice that dug into her head and let out a torrent of flames as she jumped rearward; a vile molten roar of a pyre that nearly turned blue and swirled viciously around her while the Chesshira laughed and yipped with glee… The flames nearly burnt that last swung paw down to the underlayer of the skin. She backed up to the fiery blue wall behind her as it paced… and it left her to snarl as she saw it do just that.
“You're a Steel, Psychic type right!?" She'd remark firmly and sharply as the Chesshira, that absurd mew appearence of one; had looked at his arm - the wispy flame clung and scorched his skin.
“And I do like a good amount of poison~" The Chesshira replied as Luna felt the blistering heat nearly singe her own fur from that distance. A vicious cocoon of light blue and white enveloped her as the Chesshira just paced repeatitiously. It left her to snarl violently on the return.
“Then you're susceptible to fire. Why don't you back down!? How can you NOT!?" Luna commented back at it with spite and vile intent. “That burn will eat your damn skin away for most of your LIFE." Luna expressed and snarled “It'll rot it down to the bone, you know that! Back. The. Hell. Down." The Cheshira stalled and tilted it's head before it showed off a smile ultimately more fangful and horrifying then Bandit's.
“Where's the fun in that? You can't hold out forever~ I'm killing you, here and now. And when I do… I'm going to find the rest of those maidens and shatter that window forever. We're taking back our territory and I'm going to have plenty of fun killing all of you along the way." The Chesshira hissed its name frightfully and in the most hellish way; creaked and cocked its tails around as Luna simply let her eyes glow. She used Hex… and it struck the Chesshira back violently – threw it back as her little cocoon dissipated.
“Luna Flamethrower!" Griffin said now that he shook off the pain in his ears… so Luna let out a vicious and full throttled current of flame at the Chesshira on its recovery; a current that she never thought she could do herself.
Flash… Fire? You got me to damage myself from my flame to stack the affect…? The Chesshira simply flickered and disappeared before her while her eyes went bright and wide. Teleport!? It came right to her face and struck a claw for her lungs. Between the ribs…!? Luna shut her eyes at once and felt an impact slam against her side… Her heart just beat… slammed against her chest until it slowed down. It slowed down.

And then she opened them and horrifically looked towards it.
“What…?" A curious sound parted her lips as something rumbled the ground around her… it left Luna to look upward to the sound of wings. “Who the hell are you?"
A… Butterfree? Wait…? What? Luna's eyes went sharp and near white as something hit against her firmly and unexpectedly. A frosty air made her body shiver as she stared back in fright.
Blood? Who the hell are… what the hell!? It snarled down firmly and suddenly let out a sharp icy breath that made the Chesshira jolt and jump back. The stranger staggered delicately and crumpled after a moment before they pushed to their feet. It… was a Vulpix. One that was larger than her, a male? It made her narrow her gaze and take a stance beside it.
“You!" A voice called out firmly in a way that made Griffin stutter after a second, as though he fought past the ringing in his ears.
“Oh for… the love of god WHY!?" He'd comment and focused in on the battle. The Ice type simply stood beside her and held fast as Taser suddenly shot in front of them both – it left the Alolan Vulpix to go wide eyed.
“An Insupia!?"
“It's helping us, screw your wants!" She'd recoil sharply and hissed as she firmly snarled.
“You're right Luna! Taser is helping us! Let's go Icy!"
“… I - Icy…? Really? Icy… Right… alright…" Luna scoffed sharply
“It's NOT Icy you old loon!" Luna shoved the Alolan Vulpix after that second; pushed him to the ground as he'd grimace and twitch his arm. The blow... he just deflected it enough that it left his shoulder slashed down the side - rather then stabbed through entirely; it came to her mind in that second.
“Move!" She'd snap and jolted the other way as Taser made a sharp dart-like motion around the Chesshira and sparked the field; all it did was expose it's claws and slashed the sparks into two different directions – stayed grounded to ensure the damage was minimal. Luna followed up with another explosion of sharp massive flames that could put even a Charizard… hell even Entei to shame – if it were soaked and tired. The pressure was enough that Luna felt her paws push back against the earth as the much too well-groomed Alolan Vulpix followed up with Ice. A snowy blizzard that swung around the fiery torrent and turned into water.
“Take about a fox in heat…"
“I WILL BITE YOU!" Luna snapped her jaws back as the Vulpix 'Icy' simply snarled back… Tazer huffed and shocked again… to the point that the gym's power went out.
Half a city grid did… and it all sparked the ground around them to the point that it cracked and broke up like it were some earthquake. The Chesshira only darted from one spot to another, as though it teleported so casually between it all.
“You're REALLY bloody annoying!" He'd say and just as he thought he had an opening one of the many other ones closed it; at least it appeared that way.
“Three on one now!" Luna recoiled sharply
“I guess your friends are too scared to step out into the open" Luna stalled and growled at him
“That's not true." She remarked back firmly “You did something"
“I didn't do anything." It remarked back and clicked it's claws as Taser shot at him in a blur of sharp yellow sparks that emitted a blue-white hue. The Chesshira swung down for it; but that Vulpix was at a speed that Luna couldn't even fathom. It dodged the blow and left another opening as Luna shut her eyes and opened them… let them glow again.
Steel and Psychic is very weak against Fire and Ghost. I know hex… Remember? If you want to fight until death… fine. Without you this'll make it easier for us all. The Chesshira took the blow again and then that electric type struck against it once more… only to have this expulsion of gross, sickly purple worms to cover it's fur and decay it… they dropped to the floor where the Chesshira idly devoured it.
Devoured bit's of itself where it malformed and changed again to a shape that made them go rigid.
“Ahh… High speed and special attack. Low defense but that means nothing in this high." It said as its body made this strange hum and near tone-deaf ringing like sound where everyone's voice was cut out. Griffin said and spoke things that fell on deaf ears… while the Chesshira took on the silhouette of Taser. “I like being able to see the world so slowly… It's nice."
“What?" Taser growled as the copy-cat shot out with a blur of purple-black that made Luna's eyes dilate sharply.
“Icy! Use the field, Freeze it!" He'd huff in reply and then lost sight of the Chesshira; as his eyes enlarged, he shot ice all around the field rapidly. He turned the pavement and grass into an ice-like rink that left Taser to slide across it and cross his paws to balance himself. The Chesshira skidded and slumped against the ground as Luna swallowed.
I can't risk using fire for melting the ice… I don't get why Taser is so… tuned into it; I just wanted to break up the assault. But the Chesshira's not?
“Because he's a little snow elf… that's why. Smart move, Luna… you're just as annoying as the rest of them! It's incorrigible… A shame." Luna flicked her ears and twitched her tails. “Absolutely shameful… I wonder how tight your intestines will be." Luna felt her body and blood rise to a point that she vomited and coughed. “Disturbing? Yes… why would it matter when you're dead? Oh… I know why… because you'll still know and feel it. It's like being trapped in your own body and screaming… begging. It's phenomenal to listen to. A subconscious of endless rejection and understanding… especially with the little ones." The Chesshira hissed and creaked its neck as Luna lowered her head and snarled violently on his return. Taser went for his rapid follow up - but the Chesshira solely blocked and redirected Taser's attacks - it knew how to fight on all fours too. “Why would I care about your species? Your race… your type variants. I'm my own and you all have no worth to me. You're all my objects; my things… and I'll treat you as such all because I finally get to have a little fun!" He'd expressed and sharply sucked in air as something startled all of them. A current of flame and fire sparkled against the icy ground as Taser darted around the patches… or what remained of them by then. Luna huffed and growled once more as the heat swirled around her – singed her fur… left Icy to duck down and try to keep cool. Taser barely flinched as the Chesshira laughed delicately; sadistically in a soft, loving way.
“And now it's two on three!" The Chesshira commented idly and slid his four shadowy and worm covered paws against the now dry ground. “From yours truly, a very special friend of mine… probably the only one from home with worth." Luna tweaked her ears again as the jet-black Arcanine came into frame as a wobbly silhouette that was surrounded by rich hot fire. "... huh... I never gave him a name. That just ruined the damn moment..." Griffin was in the midst of forcing his Pokeball open… Luna could see the red light blink again and again in the corner of her eye as the Chesshira idly stopped to brainstorm, any move that Taser did on him... The Chesshira avoided.
Without a single issue, he hardly made eye contact with the Vulpix that charged his front step with a speed beyond any of them.
“…. .. .. …… … …. …..!" Griffin simply silently screamed as Luna's heart slammed against her chest before he flipped the Pokeball upsidedown and took something out. He poked into a hole and placed a firm amount of pressure on it. Then the Pokeball cracked open with a sound that made Luna flinch as a roar of fire… and then a void… Water… It all expulsed from Griffin's belt as Luna gave a sharp huff.
The safety… he broke the safety on it? It was a crackle no different then the one at Vermillion City; but this time it unlocked All of them, even his second set of Pokemon. The fire only flicked and crossed around Luna's muzzle.
“Hey runt! Sorry I'm late… door was locked." Bandit commented with a laugh and clicked her teeth together to spark up her fire.
“Luna!" Thief called out as Moonlight hushed him and kept Thief around Griffin's side.
“I got this." Moonlight retorted back as his gemstone glowed regally and firmly. The slender, strong Espeon just took a firm and cold stance as a certain Pikachu jumped beside him and partially stared at the Scarf that held the Espeon low to the ground.
“Hey now! This is a cheap move to pull on me!" Scarf recoiled with his near raspy like voice and sharpened his tail with an image of steel “Of course I'm next to him..." Then it was Absol that looked at Lycanroc with a nod; the Chesshira tilted his head with a softer curiousity when Absol whipped her scythe of a tail about.
“Are you doing well? Ly?"
“Much better" The Lycanroc said and donned off a bright, sunlit fur – it's daytime form - as she viciously narrowed her eyes at the painted over Arcanine. “I'm going to rip his nuts off."
“Only after I tear out his heart." Elder Absol commented back calmly and delicately with a smile before she took a stance next to her. Then Haxorus stepped up into the fray…. With a peculiar Vibrava that hummed around his shoulder.
“You ALL are freaking NUTS!" It recoiled “Going with you was a BAD idea! That thing is going to kill ALL of us!" Haxorus grunted and gave out a roar that made them all sharpen their gaze.
“I'm going to crack it's little skull in and watch it convulse and choke on its own vomit."
“Hey, are you talking about me? Little old me…? That's not genuinely nice…… Haxy~" The Chesshira remarked as Luna flicked her tails and left her six pure white orbs to glow; the Haxorus slammed his larger paws into the earth - it left Luna to flinch and jolt; it nearly crushed her. "Oh... I see. I understand."
“Looks like it's ten against two." Luna commented firmly and snarled… and then Bandit replied with her wonderous laughing yeen.
“Damn good job holding your own, although you're so darn stunted."
“I had a good teacher… even though all I did was evade."
“You bought time." Bandit commented “That's all that mattered. Now…" Bandit firmly slammed her feet against the ground. “How about we kill a little bug that's been nipping at us?" Luna flicked her tails again and parted her legs as the Arcanine narrowed his vision on her coldly. She only found a grin in return. “That Arcanine can't beat all of us… and that Chesshira deserves punishment… how about that?" Luna commented and then they all stalled at the sound of a crack; The Chesshira had suddenly jolted for Luna in a flash... or Griffin and hit the ground without any delay; sprawled out… this strange gray and near pink-like matter splattered against the tree nearby as Luna nearly retched from the sudden image that shot through her head on repeat.
Jean had stood with a rag tied around his chest - a makeshift bandage... and a handgun that he held with both his hands; Luna barely heard him yell out before it.
He just!? Without any hesitation!? He could have killed… me…!? What the hell? What the hell!? Luna uncomfortably shifted and squirmed.
“Well… that solved that issue. How about it Arcanine? Wanna take a bullet? I barely screamed when I did, but I know you're just the bitch in that relationship" Bandit mentioned as the Arcanine only tilted it's head. She drew a paw around Luna's chest before Bandit dragged the Vulpix closer to her. “Because I want to see you take one… or ten. I think it'd be worth it; you know these officers probably could use live target practice!" The Arcanine only grinned and then began to giggle… laugh and then louder as Luna widened her eyes to a sudden pressure that built around her. The Chesshira simply and suddenly twitched… moved and writhed back to its feet before cracking its neck into place. The sight disturbed Luna enough that she dryly gagged into Bandit's fur.
T – Th… Wh..? This is insane… I can't do this; before it was just a fight with some bad words... but… I can't; I can't. It… a brain looks like…? I want to throw up. Please let me throw up again. Evading was fine, all of it was fine because he should have backed down, but not now… I just watched it's… and it's just shrugging it off and getting back up? T – That's not….
You can't kill me that easily. I was so preoccupied that I forgot to pay attention to them. That cop is unlucky… I'll make sure it kills its partner; next time. I got a headache. Your friends are a problem I'm going to deal with personally. I just need you and that decrepit Espeon dead.

Well... maybe not; I have some new things I can do.

“What the hell?" Jean commented and held his side for a moment before he clicked the safety of his gun back on and pointed it to the ground in a slower disbelief. As though it was muscle memory. Luna just watched the thing re-adjust its broken muscles and bone before it abruptly healed itself and showed off it's claws with one paw before it held it's skull with the other. His voice - or name slithered out of him like stone grinding on stone; the sound was horrible for Luna to even feel against her pelt.
I'm… very hungry now… I need to eat more of them. All of them… It shook its head wildly as a strange sound filled the air, Luna felt it grace the tufts of the fur on her pelt. “Arcanine. We need to deal with that cop and his Vulpix… Then that old man. I didn't think the Pokeballs had a safety like that. This'll take longer but we have time. All the time we need. We'll take our leave."
“Like hell you are!" Bandit snarled and then Luna shockingly watched the Mightyena lift from the ground and tossed towards the treeline. Luna just watched as that Mightyena crashed through the bushes behind them, past Griffin in a sharp and sudden flurry of invisible force.
That's not possible!? She's a dark type! Psychic can't affect her… Not even Moonlight can!
“I ate plenty of Mew… don't forget that, my moonlit maiden~" It began to say. “Good luck with your pretty little stones… because I'm going to drown each and every single one of them; I'll find a way." The Chesshira commented in a way that left her eyes to glisten, and then touched against the Arcanine as it growled back at the Chesshira just naturally. “We'll find you a new plaything… in fact. Choose one and I'll help you make that dream come true." The Arcanine grinned and stared Luna down in a way that made the Vulpix enlarge her pupils and push against Bandit's chest.
“I already have… and frankly, she won't live through it. Let's go." The Arcanine commented with a stranger smile that left Thief to narrow his eyes and snarl at him. "I just can't believe you'd spend so much time playing with them; they're ants compared to you." The Arcanine mentioned as the Chesshira curiously waved his hands and showed off a much different form then Mew's and instantly disappeared into nothing with a friendly... childish wave goodbye.

They teleported and left a wake of destruction and fear in their path as that Chesshira sadistically turned into it's own form.. one smaller then Moonlight - one with it's skull touching it's spine as though it snapped backward.

It took them all longer than they cared to admit to settle down after all that. Jean was the one to treat the situation as a near freak accident and none of the officers there went to question him… but there was a peculiar group of foreign looking officers that he went to speak to privately; stared at Griffin from time to time with curiousity.
The Officer's injury was nearly superficial in nature, but it did destroy the vest he wore. Without it, they all said that it would have killed Jean. Officer Jenny was the first on scene and abnormally the first to leave, she rushed her Growlithe to a nearby center the moment she had the chance. Karen had seen the entire fight and had one too many questions that the police – or specifically Jean – refused to answer. With her minimal injuries Karen went through and followed up the Gym Battles with everyone but Griffin… in fact, she only asked for an in-depth scan of Bandit and gave him a badge for the help. She offered one to Brad and Natasha and Melody too before the fight, but they refused and went through the battles like any other trainer would – it was there way to vent and calm down. Either way… Karen was a tough and vicious opponent that pushed them all hard. She even made Brad go against three of her Pokemon with his Lucario. Melody's houndoom dealt with Karen's Pokemon of choice easily… and Natasha? Aside from Tsuara refusing to leave her Pokeball. She won with Akamaru, Sephiran and Leafeon even though it was a long and rough fight. Akamaru was the one to wrap it up for her and it drew in Luna's attention as he fought… even though she couldn't get the image out of her head even with Absols comfort and Lycanroc who made a comment here and there. Bandit only talked to her even though all the conversations felt like a blur. The entire battle did as it brought them closer and closer to sunset where they met the sight of a city that glowed with beautiful lights. Like diamonds and jewels of auburn and amber. Thanks to Jean… they didn't need to spend another night in the Police Station or have an array of questions asked… but for Luna it felt like there were eyes that now studiously followed them no matter what. The image terrified her beyond belief, how it sparked her memory… how that thing described to her what it would be like. Like it knew. It knew endlessly what death was like and that frightened her. It made her back crawl to the point that she just stopped in the midst of the street, Griffin had stopped too and looked back at her.


Looked back at a Vulpix amid a busy road where the rain drizzled down in the splotches of sunlit sky. He didn't say anything, but he certainly knelt right there and offered her a ride up. She hesitated to place her paws where his palms were, even as the crowd passed them by. Yet the moment she sat up on his shoulders and saw the world through the tufts of sandy-wheat hair all her heart could do was still in the moment. A moment where the sun had fallen to a point of the horizon and the wind pushed against her gently and embracingly. There were no words to say, no voices to hear. It was only an exploration of the life around her because just as he promised earlier…

It was a promise that kept it's worth every single second they all wandered down that road. A promise in every single step… as though all he wanted to have was to hold someone else up high and live in a moment that she couldn't understand.
Live in a moment where no fright or fear could touch them in a world enveloped with colors of all kinds. A world that was raw and vivid, where even a portrait could become a memory for them all to cherish and hold. Where they could say their dreams and joys without any foolish inclination to drive them back.
Why their world was one of color.
Love…
And a funny little word Luna wished for the most…

…
…
…

“So, I mean… you know it is crazy right Griffin?" Brad brought up
“Huh?" Griffin spoke in reply and enjoyed the wind on his face, the rain that pelted softly against the tufts of his head as he rubbed his ears "I think I'm doing better... maybe."
“I mean… we've only been here a month… Travelling for what…? A couple weeks?" Brad explained gently “I think it's just… just insane that we've already been through this much." Natasha laughed
“It may be rough… but it's nothing..." Natasha commented “Come on! I'm starving! You both are slowpokes you know that!" Natasha called out from ahead of them as Yuny made a friendly chirp.
“I'm quite hungry too… although… I mean…" Melody went quiet as Natasha rustled her head.
“Don't act so cute! Those boys might walk all over you! You're tougher then you look!"
“…"
“Come on you too!" Griffin and Brad both looked at one another and chuckled
“Hey I win you're paying! You got it!?" Brad said and tagged Griffin's back as he'd stutter and watched Brad book off… Then Griffin ran after them as Luna felt the wind and the rain blast back at her. She held on tight as Griffin chased after all of them and towards the sunset in Viridian city. Past all of the twinkling lights and bright auburn and amber gemstones for towers. It was just the hilly pavement and the cityscape to look at – forests beyond them and the sun. A funny little word came to her thoughts; Luna wished for it the most…

A word that stayed on her tongue as her favorite time of day rolled before her for solely the reason of colors. Like rich orange fur… Like a creamsicle on a summer day. A name in her mind… a picture…


A wish…




And a little word known for its faith.