The boat bobbed up and down as it sped across the open sea, wind whipped up her short hair as she watched the island's silhouette grow smaller behind them.

"Back up" She called. Carbink was floating precariously at the edge of the bow. "If you go overboard we're not stopping.

"Bink!" He bounced and moved less than an inch back. Fine, she'd probably be able to recall him quickly enough. Probably.

Normally she'd be more confident but she had a predicament, she was pinned to her seat near the helm. Ralts was sat in her lap, leaning back into her chest.

Physically it should have been trivial to move the Pokemon who weighed less than ten pounds.

Practically?

Tanya was not sure what to do with her hands. She'd caught them a few times, right about when they were going to comb the green locks.

She could safely say this to be one of the strangest situations she'd ever found herself in. And wasn't that a loaded statement?

There was no obligation on her part to care for the Pokemon. She'd not made any agreements with its former parent and was even wronged by that party.

Without the intention of being a Pokemon trainer, it would be foolish to take on another mouth to feed. Especially when she doubted the mouth's ability to meaningfully contribute to her dilemma.

But. And it was an egregious but.

Tanya was not a short-sighted individual. As such, she thought about what would happen after Team Flare. It was not that she, as the locals would say, was counting her Torchics before they hatched but that not preparing for a transition to normal society could result in missteps.

In the direct aftermath, she would no doubt be granted citizenship and hopefully a reasonable cash infusion for services rendered. Business would then become her new battlefield. If the offer stood, she could assist Gurkinn, or strike it out on her own. Either way, she needed to be prepared to deal with the realities of this world.

The reality of psychics.

Not the charlatans of her first world but bonafide psychics able to rip the thoughts from her head, or plant them.

She'd already been a victim of the latter and she was loathe to repeat the experience. Using those abilities, she could easily see someone become a titan of industry and running circles around their rivals.

As a law-abiding citizen, she would never engage in such acts but she needed to be prepared to deal with them. Naturally, she would report such instances to the authorities. However, that was predicated on having an intact mind to make the report.

For that reason, having a psychic on retainer was a necessity. Ralts was a long-term investment. She'd not be useful in the immediate term but Tanya had seen and felt what her mother was capable of.

Maybe she'd never be as powerful as Gardevoir but, for her purposes, a fraction was all that was needed.

With that perspective, she could tolerate some of its eccentricities.

"Wile." Mawile's head gently nudged her side and she saw the Pokemon's hand outreached.

Tanya took the clear orb that held streaks of purple and green. Gardevoirite.

"Yours will show up." She played lip service to the Pokemon sitting on her left side who huffed in response.

A dainty white hand snatched the stone for her. She allowed it; Ralts seemed to draw some comfort from its presence. She could imagine it was some form of memento, it was the other item that it held that puzzled her.

The ratty Pikachu doll was clutched to Ralts' side. She only barely beat it out in height and it looked comical in her grasp. Tanya had been planning to leave it when the Pokemon made a beeline for the thing.

The boat crested a large wave and took to the air for a moment, they slammed down and she grabbed the Pokemon's side to make sure Ralts was not thrown.

"Sorry about that" Gurkinn yelled from his position at the helm. "One of them got close, I had to pick up the speed."

She'd figured that was the reason. They'd had to wait until Alakazam gave the all-clear before gunning it from the island. The Gyrados who claimed this area must have gotten wise and decided to give chase for a while.

Tanya hunkered down and kept one arm on Ralts while the other curled around Mawile. The Pokemon was sturdy and she'd be able to use her to prevent being jostled around.

"Bin Bin." Carbink saw sense and came down from the bow, he bumped into her from the right.

It felt cramped but at least she wouldn't be tossed around.

The minutes passed and their speed began to slow, the ride smoothening out as the sea became less choppy.

"Isn't that a sight" Gurkinn released the wheel and turned towards her. "let me get my Holo Caster"

"Don't even think about it." She spat, a picture could be used to confirm her identity and location. "I value my privacy."

"Ah right, forgot you're on the run." Gurkinn leaned back on the console next to the wheel with his arms crossed. "Is that why you don't want to come with me to Shalour?"

She regarded the man, he still had the haggard look from the battle. The status of Gengar and Blaziken must be weighing on him. He was no doubt anxious to take them to a Pokemon center.

"I have business elsewhere."

She responded smoothly and they fell into an awkward silence. They'd not spoken much since the events with Gardevoir. His initial shock had worn off and been replaced with quiet contemplation.

A sigh was released, she'd missed her opportunity to secure a Keystone for herself. Without one, her new Mega Stone was relegated to the same status as a child's blanket.

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way but are you going to be okay Visha?"

Had she given him reason to doubt her?

"I believe I will." Confidence in one's own abilities was a cornerstone for success. "Your concern is appreciated."

It wasn't but better to salvage what was left of this bridge.

"That's good. Don't push yourself too hard. Be sure to rely on your team, remember the bond between trainer and Pokemon is the most powerful thing there is."

That last bit was suspect but she would be sure to throw them between her and any Team Flare members unfortunate enough to cross their path.

"Still" Gurkinn stroked his moustache while speaking. "I'm disappointed I didn't peg you as a Fairy specialist from the start."

"Pardon?" Her lips moved faster than her brain and she realized how her latest addition must have looked from the outside. "This was a coincidence." She spoke faster than intended. "I am not predisposed to any particular type of Pokemon."

"You could have fooled me." Gurkinn responded with an amused tone.

What was the saying? Once was an accident, twice a coincidence, three times a pattern?

She examined her team and Mawile kicked her shin. Tanya shot the Pokemon a disapproving look. Any corporate downsizing did come off as premature at this point.

She'd just make sure to rectify that going forward, otherwise she was liable to be saddled with that dreaded nickname again.

"It was not my intention. My fourth Pokemon won't follow the pattern."

If she were to pick up another, it would need to be something large and fierce-looking. At last check, her height was 132 centimeters. Her being the tallest in the group was inexcusable.

"Bin-"

"Maw" Carbink's statement was cut off as Mawile hopped out of her seat. She pulled on the Carbink's ear, leading the Pokemon away while whispering.

Strange. Hopefully, that would not require intervention on her part.

"Coast is in sight." Gurkinn's words caused her to turn and see the beach and green expanses of Route 12 behind it. "Coumarine City is close. Should take you less than an hour to reach it."

From there she could resupply. Speaking of which, she reached into her pack.

"Do you know what this would get me?" She produced the stone Carbink had paid her with. She'd been hesitant but if the man gave away Mega Stones he'd not be tempted with whatever this.

"Not a Fairy specialist she says." Gurkinn smiled and shook his head ruefully. "That's a Moon Stone, you can use it to evolve a Clefairy or Jigglypuff."

"That's not what I asked." She said pointedly.

Gurkinn hesitated a moment before responding.

"It's been a while since I checked the rates but the league would pay you about a thousand PokeDollars. I would recommend against that though, better to keep it. If you're dead set on not using it then you can use it to barter for another evolution stone or item you can use."

It was not an insignificant sum but was less than she hoped. The way he phrased it reeked of government price manipulation. Perhaps she'd get a better price trying to pawn somewhere less official.

Evidently, Gurkinn was not finished.

"Speaking of stones." He tossed something that glinted in the light. "Catch"

She needn't, the Rainbow colored marble floated under Ralts power. Tanya plucked it out of the air with urgency. It reacted to her touch, shining for a moment and she felt it drink in her Aura. It certainly didn't feel like any computational orb.

"Eager aren't you?" Gurkinn's words made her cut off any attempt at experimentation. "Just remember not to force the Mega Evolution. Trust your gut, you'll both know when you're ready."

"I understand." It was a moot point as she currently had a Ralts, not a Gardevoir. "I'll be sure to repay you."

It would be difficult to draw a valuation but she didn't give a timetable of when that repayment would be made. She'd make an accurate estimate somewhere down the line.

"There's no need for that." Gurkinn waved her off "Consider it payment for helping me this past week."

That irked her. Apart from the Slowbro, she'd not done anything of substance and had instead leached off his generosity.

She swallowed her pride, for now, she was in no position to refuse.

"Ha, after all this time you'd think I'd realize you wouldn't accept something like that." Gurkinn commented, her poker face having failed. "Tell you what then. Just try not to cause too much trouble out there and we'll call it even. I don't want to wake up and see your name on the news for the wrong reasons."

Did he believe her to be some sort of troublemaker? She wasn't sure what had led him to that conclusion. It was an easy enough concern to put to rest.

"The name Visha won't appear in any headlines, I can guarantee it."

—

The barred glass door gave a chime as she pushed it open. Fluorescent lights illuminated the interior, rows of aisles laden with a mismatch of goods tilted ominously; it resembled more a hoarder's den than a proper shop.

Near the door she entered from, sat a man reading a magazine behind a counter. She took note of the large dog curled in a bed near him. Its long tan and brown fur stretched over the floor, she couldn't readily identify it.

"Need directions?" The man didn't look up from his reading material. He wore a long green coat and had shaggy brown hair. The stubble on his chin spoke lack of care around grooming.

Her hoodie was pulled over her head and Ralts walked beside her with the doll.

"I was told this store offered second-hand trainer goods at reduced rates." She'd arrived at the outskirts of the Coumarine City. This particular establishment had been recommended by a passerby.

"Buying then. Don't get much out of towners this time of year." The man nodded and flipped a page. "What you see is what you get. Try stealing something and Stoutland will sit on you. And he will notice. Before he joined up with me he worked search and rescue on Mount Lanakila, you can't hide anything from that nose of his."

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The names were unfamiliar but she took the warning at face value.

"Dully noted, can I release the remainder of my Pokemon?"

She'd kept Carbink and Mawile stored while traversing the city. The events of the PokeCenter were still fresh in her mind.

"Sure." The man took a fistful of something and shoved it in his mouth. "But you break it you buy it."

This could be a case study in poor customer service but she wouldn't care as long as she got what she needed.

She didn't immediately release them and instead grabbed one of a few shopping carts nearby, the name printed on the handle did not match the shoddy sign displayed outside. Something tugged on her pant leg and she turned to see Ralts looking up at her.

'Mama' Her horn pointed to the cart. 'Up'

It would make it easier to keep track of her so she lifted the Pokemon into the built-in seat. Ralts settled in and propped up the doll next to it, looking pleased with herself.

They would have to work on her vocabulary. The Pokemon should be capable of stringing complex sentences together but preferred either blasing emotions or speaking verbally.

She pushed the cart and began her search. There was a large amount of gear she needed. As she slowly passed the rows she could see, despite her initial impression, there was some sort of method to the madness. Items were largely stored by category, there was just a wide variation from one piece to the next.

The prices brought a grin to her face and the worry that the cash she had on hand would be insufficient faded away.

She ignored the shifting of Ralts and the hint of intrigue, focusing on shopping.

Each piece of equipment loaded onto the cart made her shoulders feel lighter. It felt like she was spoiled for choice at some points and she might have shed a tear at the boots selection.

If there was one thing not to skimp on it was a sturdy pair of boots. Soon after, it was joined by a jacket, shorts, and several other cheaper pieces of clothing. She needed options in case she had to lay low.

Unless she wanted to dye her hair a covering would be needed. The berets were promptly ignored and she settled on a baseball cap. The sailor's cap was tempting, it reminded her of her old uniform. It might be too eye-catching so she was forced to pass it by.

Item balls were where her pockets started to feel light. The cheapest ran at 100 Pokedollars. Given she only had 784 to start, she had to limit herself to one and compensate by buying a larger pack.

Eventually, she came to the part she had no clue about.

Pokemon care.

On the island, Gurkinn had provided all the meals for Mawile. While she did observe their creation, foraging for the ingredients was not an efficient use of her time. Buying premade feed was the most logical course of action.

Hundreds of bins lined the walls, each with a paragraph describing their contents. She didn't know where to start. Fortunately, this decision did not rest with her alone.

"Mawile" She released the Pokemon. "Please pick out an appropriate brand."

"Wile…." Mawile held a hand to her chin in contemplation and began slowly pacing up and down the aisle. "Ile, ma" The Pokemon quietly muttered to herself.

Tanya let out a breath in relief, it seemed Mawile knew what it was doing. While she waited, she took stock of what she had in her cart. Seeing something amiss, she mentally retraced her steps.

Her hand reached in and withdrew the offending item.

"Ralts." Tanya held the small art supply kit. "Did you grab this when my back was turned?"

"Ra" Ralts minutely shook her head while sending a feeling of denial.

This wasn't a conversation she wanted to have but supposed it would only be the first of many.

"Lying to me is unacceptable. As is squandering our funds. If you wanted it the correct course would have been to make your case by defining the cost versus benefits of the purchase."

Ralts raised a hand and pointed at the doll sitting next to it.

"Blaming others for your mistakes is also not allowed. Progress is made by taking ownership of your failures."

"Ra Ra Alts" Indignation soon followed.

She was no expert on children let alone Pokemon children. Did her mother's passing affect her more than she let on? Or was pretending a doll was its own actor something a child did? It had been too long since she'd interacted with them.

"That is a doll." It would not be healthy to maintain Ralt's delusion. "I am disappointed that you do not want to take responsibility."

Ralts puffed up its cheeks and glowered at the inanimate doll.

"Wi." She took Mawile's address as an exit from the conversation. "Ma, ile."

She had stopped in front of a bin with a satisfied expression. Tanya was glad the Pokemon was taking it seriously, nutrition was important. For as much as she detested the man, Xerosic had taught the Pokemon a lifelong skill in it.

Tanya squatted by the label, intent on reading it and learning what made this brand the best choice.

100% Made with real artificial flavor

That did not sound good, but not everything artificial was bad. It must be some special formula designed to maximize vitamin intake. She looked at the ingredient list next. It made her head spin. None of its contents were recognizable but they must have been normal for this world.

Her eyes moved further down the label, a few font sizes down and a shade lighter a line read.

Per League statute, we are required to inform you this product does not contain a meaningful supply of nutrients. Please feed responsibly.

Tanya looked to Mawile who was already shoveling pellets into a container.

She grabbed one, it was offensively sweet smelling.

"Mawile this is junk food."

"Wile."

"It is not in the eye of the beholder. This is clearly garbage. Find something else."

Mawile pouted and crossed her arms, meeting her stare in challenge.

"As a senior member of the team." She decided to try another angle, employees liked to be empowered after all. "You will be taking a more active role and be granted responsibilities. This includes ensuring the team's nutritional needs are met. I expect you to set a good example for your juniors."

Mawile tilted her head in thought and counted on her fingers before holding a single one out.

"Maw." She retracted the one finger.

Uck.

"It doesn't matter if Carbink joined the same day. You are still the older Pokemon and you should act as one."

"Bink?" Carbink exited its ball, having heard his name called. He looked around eagerly and began to float away when she grabbed him by the collar.

"Carbink. We are discussing options for food. Would you care to weigh in?" The Pokemon won't be able to meaningfully contribute but perhaps the jealously would kick Mawile into gear.

"Bin. Bin." That utterance had somehow beaten her already low expectations. Come to think of it, the Pokemon hadn't eaten at all since they joined. She knew their agreement stipulated he provided his own meals but the arrangement had evolved. It reflected poorly on her to have failed to properly notify the party in question.

"Carbink, since you have been an active participant in our endeavors. I've decided to add meals to our deal. Please let me know what you need."

"Bin." The Pokemon repeated.

"What do you mean you're full?" The Pokemon flapped his ears in what she took as confirmation. Did Carbink's species need to eat? Pokemon were strange creatures, maybe he subsisted on rocks. She'd have to add it to the research list. "Very well."

She'd set aside food for him just in case.

'Mama' Ralts gained her attention and she followed the tiny outstretched palm. A bin lid flapped. 'Favorite'

Ralt's shouldn't have a favorite. It had been raised in the wild. Unless it was tasting them behind her back, she would have to make sure to lecture her about stealing. Tanya cautiously approached the bin. Reading the label, she was pleasantly surprised to see a large portion of the ingredient list was recognizable. Most of its composition was berries. It was pricey compared to the other but an army did march on its stomach. Not wanting to waste her time, she made her decision and started scooping some to take.

"Thank you Ralts. The team and I appreciate your contribution." She made sure to emphasize that last bit.

Mawile bristled and stomped towards a bin.

"Wile.." She kicked it.

Tanya walked over, seeing it was not the same junk it had recommended before.

"Ma. Wi. Wi." Mawile spoke while not meeting her eyes.

Ah, she should have considered that. Pokemon had different needs, they would do better with specialized feeds.

"Good job Mawile." She praised the Pokemon who shifted in place. "Choose out something for Carbink and then you may select some sweets."

Rewarding cooperation was par the course.

Mawile nodded and raced off on her tiny legs. Tanya waited patiently and eventually, they were finally sorted. She recalled Carbink and Mawile and pushed the cart for the entrance.

"Find everything you need?" The man asked, his attention still trained on the magazine.

"I did, you have a comprehensive collection." It could stand to be sorted better but she kept that to herself.

"Thank Ramos." The name meant nothing to her. "A lot of hopefuls drop out here. The fourth gym in the circuits is usually the point where you know if being a professional trainer is for you or not."

Ah, the gym challenges. She knew a little about them. Nominally they could be taken in any order but tradition dictated a certain path. After having sense knocked into them, they must unload most of their equipment here.

She placed 731 PokeDollars on the counter and the man finally looked up. His eyes went up and down her before traveling to Ralts and freezing.

The magazine fell and Stoutland picked up its head.

"Where did you get that." The man pointed a shaky finger at Ralts. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Just go."

She frowned, was there a prejudice against Ralts?

"I'm not done. I need something with a PokeNet connection."

A device was thrown in her direction, it resembled a smartphone.

"There, y-you got what you wanted." The man's chair had been knocked back and he was against the wall. Stoutland had its hackles raised and began to growl. "Now go!"

"Okay." There was something off about this situation. "How much for this? And do you have anything for self-defense?"

The man mouthed the last word before a repel was tossed in her direction. That was not what she had meant.

"It's on the house. Take the cart too. Please leave."

He pleaded, she noticed how his gaze hadn't left Ralts. The Pokemon in question was glaring at the man while clutching the doll protectively.

Had Ralts transmitted something to scare the man? Another behavior to curb out then.

Later of course. She wheeled the cart out of the store. For now, she finally had a source of information.

She'd store her new belongings and then finally set about learning her enemy.