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The sun was hanging low in the sky as Ezra and Karen made their way up the winding trail toward Mt. Moon, the looming mass of rock and rugged cliffs visible on the horizon. They'd been walking for nearly an hour, a steady pace carrying them north through the rugged route that linked Pewter to the areas beyond.
Karen cast a wary glance up the trail, groaning as she saw how far they still had to go. "Tell me again why we can't just fly to Cerulean?" She muttered, shifting her backpack higher on her shoulders.
Ezra smirked, glancing over at her. "What, a little walk too much for you? You're looking a bit… Soft lately. I'd say some hiking will do you good." He flashed her a teasing look, barely holding back a laugh.
Karen turned to him, her expression as smooth and calm as ever. "You know, lots of things can happen in a cave," She said conversationally. "And I guarantee you they'd never find your body if you keep on like that."
Ezra grinned, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, point taken," He said, though his eyes gleamed with amusement. "But really, I want to take some time to train up my lower-level team on the way, give 'em some real experience instead of just jumping from gym to gym."
She raised an eyebrow, looking over at him with a faint expression of disbelief. "I seem to recall you saying something about not wanting to do a 'normal' journey. What changed?"
"Nothing's changed," He replied smoothly, looking up at the peaks of Mt. Moon with a thoughtful expression. "I still don't want to spend weeks on end out here… Shitting in the woods."
Karen wrinkled her nose, visibly repulsed. "Lovely, you couldn't think of any other way to phrase that?"
He shrugged, smirking. "I say it like it is. I like my creature comforts. Don't worry, I'm not about to start trekking all over Kanto and Johto, living out of a tent. But a little training now and then won't kill me. And my 'mon could use it."
They continued walking, both of them eyeing the trainers scattered along the roadside. Most were already locked in battle, shouts of encouragement and commands echoing through the trees as Pokemon clashed in the grass. They were everywhere, and both Ezra and Karen knew they'd likely be challenged before long.
That was entirely the point. Ezra needed lots of battles to give the likes of Alduin and Morrigan some proper experience.
Karen sighed, reaching to her belt and palming one of her Pokeballs with a resigned expression. "I suppose I have one or two Pokemon who could use a little more battle experience…" She muttered.
Ezra gave a wry nod, rolling a Pokeball between his fingers as he kept a wary eye out for any overly enthusiastic Bug Catchers - the menaces. His stomach turned slightly at the thought of seeing yet another Metapod. "Just bear with me," He said, smirking slightly. "A few days of extra training, and we'll be in Cerulean before you know it."
Karen's lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening at the mention of Cerulean. She looked away, her gaze fixed on the trail ahead. "Yes… Cerulean…" She muttered with the barest hint of an eye twitch.
"Something wrong with Cerulean?" Ezra asked, clearly amused as he tilted his head to try to catch her eye. Like he didn't know exactly what was wrong with Cerulean.
Especially to an overachieving girl like Karen.
"Oh, look," Karen said loudly, cutting him off. "There's someone to battle right now. Excuse me." She turned abruptly, ignoring his question as she strode over to challenge a girl sitting proudly atop a Tauros.
Ezra shook his head, smirking to himself. Karen always seemed to have a way of avoiding conversations she didn't want to have. But he didn't have much time to think about it, as a young boy with a Pikachu on his shoulder stepped up to him, his face set in serious lines.
"Hey, you!" The boy called out. "I challenge you to a battle!"
Ezra sighed inwardly, glancing at Karen, who was already immersed in her own battle against the Tauros girl. He gave a small nod, accepting the boy's challenge and grabbing a Pokeball from his belt. "Sure thing, kid," He said, releasing Alduin, his Deino, who gave a fierce little roar, clearly ready for some action.
The boy's Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder, its cheeks sparking as it prepared to battle. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!" The boy shouted, his face lighting up with excitement.
Alduin tensed, tracking the yellow blur as Pikachu shot forward in a burst of speed. Ezra didn't flinch, calmly observing as the little dragon met his opponent's charge with a snarl. Already having begun the technique he'd trained him to start with if his opponent utilized a speed move.
A Protect materialized in front of Alduin, just in time.
"Dragon Breath," Ezra ordered. Alduin held firm, letting Pikachu slam into his shield with a flash of light, not even flinching from the impact just in front of his face. With a deep growl, he released a swirling vortex of blue flames, which engulfed Pikachu who didn't have time to dodge - and who's trainer hadn't given it any further orders anyway, sending it flying back toward its trainer with a faint yelp.
The boy gritted his teeth, looking at his Pikachu with concern as it wobbled, struggling to get back on its feet. "Come on, Pikachu, don't give up!" He shouted, determination flaring in his eyes. "Thunder Shock!"
Ezra's eyes gleamed with amusement, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Alduin, Quick-Attack, Bite."
Alduin sidestepped with ease as he went into the Quick-Attack, the bolt of electricity missing him by inches as he let out a fierce bark, clearly enjoying the chance to show off his speed as he rushed it. The boy's Pikachu looked visibly frustrated, its cheeks sparking as it tried to ready another Thunder Shock, but Alduin didn't give it a chance.
Alduin lunged, his jaws snapping shut around the Pikachu, careful not to hurt it too badly, but enough to end the battle. The boy's Pokemon slumped to the ground, defeated, and the young trainer let out a defeated sigh as he returned it to its Pokeball.
Ezra gave the boy a nod, accepting the modest sum he offered as a prize, though his thoughts were already drifting back to the road ahead. This was going to be a long few days if every trainer wanted a battle. But it was what he needed for the moment.
A few hours passed in much the same way, with Ezra and Karen both battling their way through a mix of eager young trainers, overly enthusiastic hikers, and a few scattered Bug Catchers. Ezra was thankful none of them had yet presented a Metapod. That might've been more than he could bear.
As they finally reached the base of Mt. Moon, the evening sun cast a warm orange glow over the rugged landscape, with shadows stretching long across the dirt path. Ezra and Karen stopped to take a breather, leaning against a boulder and watching as the last rays of sunlight dipped behind the rocky peaks.
Karen rolled her shoulders, groaning as she stretched her back. "Well, that was exhausting."
Ezra chuckled, crossing his arms as he looked out over the path they'd traveled. "And you wanted to fly," He teased. "See? A little exercise doesn't kill you." He gave her a half lidded look, smirking, "And if gives you an amazing ass."
Although truly, Karen had one to begin with, but it wouldn't hurt to keep her at it. Letting an ass like that lose its definition would be a crime against humanity.
Karen shot him a withering look, but there was a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Fine, fine," She admitted grudgingly. "But if we don't reach Cerulean by tomorrow at the latest, I'm going to start making you regret this whole 'exercise' idea." She cracked her knuckles, her Sneasel giggling at her feet, "By using you for exercise."
Ezra snorted, "As far as threat goes, you might think that one over again." He said with amusement.
He wasn't entirely opposed to being 'used' after all. Karen only huffed, her ears reddening as she turned away from him.
They lapsed into comfortable silence, both of them gazing up at Mt. Moon as the night deepened, the cool night air settling over them. For now, at least, they could enjoy the peace before facing the darkness of the caves ahead in the morning.
At least by the time he was done in Cerulean, his wayward programmer should finally have arrived in Pewter… Ezra would be very annoyed if the dork had managed to get himself kidnapped again or something.
He swore to Arceus… If he had to go pick the guy up… Well… He couldn't actually punish him too badly, because he needed the guy, and therefore needed to use a lot more carrot than stick. But he'd figure something out, he'd just have to get creative.
"Share a tent?" He offered, laughing as Karen threw her water bottle at him. He simply opened it and took a sip, "Ooh, an indirect kiss!" He teased, tossing it back.
Karen just sighed, "Do you ever stop?" She somewhat whined, but the twitch of her lips betrayed her.
"I'll let you know if I ever run into such a phenomenon."
"Just shut up." She groaned.
He did not in fact shut up.
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The crackling fire painted the night in a warm glow, as they sat around it in the makeshift camp they'd set up right in front of Mt. Moon. Karen sat cross-legged on her blanket, absently petting her Sneasel, whose sharp claws gently raked the ground as it purred in contentment. Across from her, Ezra lounged against a log, his Eevee curled in his lap, her fluffy tail twitching every now and then as his fingers ran through her soft fur. Above them, fireflies danced in the dark, their lights flickering like distant stars, blending with the faint constellations overhead.
Karen broke the quiet with a thoughtful hum. "You know," She began, her voice soft yet pointed, "You don't talk much about your past."
Ezra's crimson eyes slid over to her, his lips curving into an amused smirk. "What past? You know I have amnesia," He replied smoothly, his tone as light as the flickering flames before him.
He wasn't sure where this was coming from, but he certainly wasn't going to let on about his extra dimensional existence. He was never telling anyone that.
Karen didn't smile back. Instead, she pursed her lips, her piercing gaze fixed on him. "Not sure I believe that. Not entirely."
Ezra raised a brow, tilting his head slightly. "What brought this on?" She gets riled so easily I sometimes forget she's intelligent…
Karen leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand, her elbows resting on her knees. The firelight highlighted her sharp features, her silver hair glinting in the amber glow. "You've got way too many weird inside jokes, way too much… Strange knowledge, to only have memories for such a short time. It doesn't add up."
Ezra's smirk widened as he turned his attention back to the Eevee in his lap. He trailed his fingers along her back, making her let out a soft, pleased chirp. "Perhaps I have a few tidbits here and there," He admitted, his tone playful, "But that's not so unusual, is it? Even people with amnesia aren't completely blank slates."
He'd know. He'd looked it up as to better continue playing the amnesiac. Although he'd let some of that fall to the wayside since leaving Lavender, he had to admit.
Karen didn't respond right away, watching him with narrowed eyes. But as he turned his focus entirely back to his Eevee, she sighed and leaned back, letting the firelight warm her face.
Ezra, meanwhile, chuckled softly as his Eevee stretched, rolling onto its back to expose her belly. "You're getting spoiled," He murmured, running his hand along her fluffy underside.
That's when the glow began.
At first, it was faint - a soft shimmer, like moonlight reflected on water. But it quickly intensified, surrounding the Eevee in a golden light that pulsed with an almost hypnotic rhythm. Ezra froze, his hand stilling as he stared down at the radiant glow enveloping his Pokemon.
"Ezra," Karen said sharply, sitting up straighter, her voice edged with surprise and curiosity. "You can't be serious? Again!?"
Ezra's smirk faded into genuine awe as he leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving the Eevee. "She's evolving," He said softly, his voice almost giddy.
The golden light grew brighter, swirling around the Eevee as her form began to shift. Her legs stretched, becoming more slender, and her tail elongated into a sleek, elegant curve. When the light finally dimmed and faded, a new Pokemon stood in its place - sleek black fur gleaming in the firelight, golden rings and symbols glowing faintly along its body. Her piercing red eyes looked up at Ezra with a proud intensity.
An Umbreon.
The Umbreon arched her back, shaking itself out before stepping away from Ezra and strutting around the campsite. She moved with the confidence of a predator and the elegance of a shadow, each step deliberate and purposeful. The faint glow of her shining rings and symbols reflected off the nearby stream, as Umbreon pranced happily.
"Aren't you the prettiest little thing," Ezra said with a pleased smirk, his voice filled with admiration. His Umbreon flicked her tail, preening under his praise as she continued her circuit around the camp, clearly reveling in her newfound form.
Karen watched the display, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "You always do something crazy," She said with a sigh, though her tone was more amused than annoyed. She pointed a finger at him accusingly afterwards though. "But don't think for a second that you can distract me with this. We were talking about something."
Ezra leaned back against the log, his smirk returning full force. "Oh, yes, about how your past is shrouded in mystery, right?" His tone was teasing, his eyes gleaming with playful defiance.
Because he knew practically nothing about her either. So he wasn't the only one who was keeping his cards close to the chest.
Karen growled softly, her Sneasel chittering in support as it perched beside her. "You are so Arceus-damned annoying," She muttered, one eye twitching in frustration. But then she sighed, giving him a resigned look. "Fine. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours after."
"How naughty," Ezra murmured with a wicked grin, though he held his hands up in mock surrender when Karen shot him a withering glare.
Karen leaned back, resting her weight on her hands as she stared into the fire, the flames reflecting in her sharp eyes. For a moment, she was quiet, the words catching in her throat. But then she sighed again, finally speaking.
"I grew up in Johto," She began, her voice low and measured. "You already know that much. My parents…" She hesitated, her jaw tightening. "My parents were double agents for Agatha back when. They… Died on a mission for her. And she… Took me in, practically raised me, until I fought my way to an apprenticeship."
Ezra frowned, his smirk fading as he listened. When Karen fell silent, he tilted his head, his gaze sharp. "That was the worst storytelling I've ever heard," He said dryly, though there was no real heat in his tone. "You didn't actually tell me much of anything." He shook his head, "Have you never heard a bedtime story?"
Also it contradicted some of what she'd hinted at before…
It also meant his plot to pull her away from Agatha might have a few more snags then he'd realized if she was being truthful.
Karen glared at him, puffing her cheeks out in indignation. "Dead. Parents." She said flatly, as if that explained everything.
"Oh. Right," Ezra said, though his frown deepened. He leaned forward, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied her. "Still, you didn't give me much to work with. I already told you everything that happened in Lavender. What more do you want in return?" He splayed his hands out, "I have nothing else."
Karen smirked slightly, showcasing her disbelief, before leaning back with a challenging look. "Then tell me a story," She demanded, her voice light but firm. She closed her eyes, her expression softening as the fire crackled beside her.
Ezra grumbled under his breath but eventually relented, leaning back against the log as he began to speak. His voice was smooth and steady, weaving a tale of faraway lands, ancient battles, and legendary Pokemon. It was a story most people wouldn't have heard - a tale buried in the folds of history, obscure and forgotten by all but the most dedicated researchers. Or so he told her anyway - telling a story about a land far far away.
But as he reached the halfway point of his story, he noticed Karen's breathing had evened out, her head tilted slightly as she leaned against Sneasel. She was fast asleep, her expression peaceful in the firelight.
Ezra sighed, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Figures," He muttered, pulling a blanket from his bag and draping it over her. He looked to his newly evolved Umbreon, who had settled beside Sneasel, its glowing rings casting faint light over the sleeping pair. "Watch over her for me, alright?" He murmured.
The Umbreon gave a soft, affirmative growl, its piercing red eyes gleaming in the dark.
Ezra leaned back against the log, his thoughts drifting as he stared into the flames. Karen's story had been brief - too brief. He knew there was more to it than what she'd shared, more pain and more complexity than she was willing to admit. But for now, he let it rest. There would be time to unpack it later.
He headed for his tent, it was time to get some rest, tomorrow they had Mt. Moon to cross, and he now had Umbreon to add to his rotation of rookies.
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The air inside Mt. Moon was damp and cool, with the faint, earthy scent of stone and moss lingering in the cavernous tunnels. The faint sound of dripping water echoed intermittently, punctuating the otherwise eerie quiet. The light of Ezra's Umbreon illuminated the path ahead, they had flashlights as well, but Umbreon's flash was much more encompassing. Morrigan, Ezra's Dreepy, floated silently beside him, her translucent form almost blending into the dim surroundings at times.
There were certain rest stops within the mountain where trainers congregated to get a rest halfway through, he'd let the others out for some battles at that point - Morrigan and Umbreon plenty enough to handle some wild Pokemon.
The rest stop was run by the Pokemon rangers, as a way to ensure trainers didn't get lost within Mt. Moon. Or to Ezra's cynicism, ensured they went through one particular route instead of creating problems by running amok everywhere, bothering the Pokemon inhabiting the mountain.
Karen walked a few paces ahead, her Sneasel darting between the shadows, its sharp claws glinting faintly in the light. Beside her, her Murkrow flapped lazily, its eyes alert as it scanned the tunnel for any movement. The two trainers moved cautiously yet steadily, their footsteps muffled by the uneven ground beneath them.
"So," Karen began, her voice low but cutting through the stillness, "Remind me again why I'm in this rock-infested hellhole?" She let out a breath, hands on her hips, "How I keep getting convinced by you… I don't know."
Ezra smirked, his hand brushing over Umbreon's sleek fur as the Pokemon stayed close to his side. "Because we're training, remember? Your Murkrow could use a bit more practice too, from what I've seen. Don't tell me you're scared of the dark, now?"
Karen shot him a glare over her shoulder, her silver hair catching the faint glow of Umbreon's light. "Whatever, at least you can't pull off anything else weird now that we're stuck underground, I've had enough weirdness for the year."
Ezra chuckled softly, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "It's cute how you think that somehow limits my weirdness, or anyone's else's."
Karen wrinkled her nose, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "I'm not kidding Ezra! I want a normal week. Normal. With nothing odd happening, no new never before seen Pokemon or asspull evolutions!" She stepped closer to him, pulling on his cheek, "Normal!" She stressed, speaking slowly and clearly.
"I can't do normal," He said with a mock bow, his smirk widening. "I like to think it's one of my many talents."
He wondered what she would say if he revealed what he could actually do? Although with the reveal she'd basically been brought up by Agatha… There was zero chance he'd ever tell her.
Karen rolled her eyes but didn't bother responding again. Instead, she refocused on the path ahead, her sharp gaze scanning the rocky terrain for any sign of movement. The tunnels were vast and winding, with jagged walls and uneven floors that made progress slow. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone daggers, dripping water into shallow pools that glimmered faintly in the dim light provided by Umbreon.
They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being the quiet tapping of their footsteps and the occasional flap of Murkrow's wings. It wasn't long before the first disturbance came. A rustling sound echoed from a pile of loose rocks nearby, and moments later, a Zubat burst out, its wings flapping wildly as it screeched and dove toward Karen. Several others behind it as they flew erratically.
"Of course," Karen muttered, stepping back instinctively. "Sneasel, Murkrow, handle it."
Her Sneasel darted forward with lightning speed, its claws glowing faintly as it slashed at the Zubat mid-air. The bat Pokemon let out a startled screech before crumpling to the ground, dazed and unwilling to fight. Sneasel chittered triumphantly, its grin sharp and mischievous as it flicked its claws clean. Murkrow cawing proudly from where it sent the other Zubats back with a spiral of wind.
"Good work," Karen said, giving the Pokemon an approving nod before turning back to Ezra. "You'd think the wild Pokemon here would be smart enough to leave us alone. Our Pokemon aren't that weak…"
Ezra smirked, his tone light. "Wild Pokemon aren't exactly known for their intellect at times, Karen, that's how even those bug idiots manage to catch them. Though I'll admit, the ones here do seem a bit… Aggressive." He said, furrowing his brows.
"Mm," Karen hummed noncommittally, though her brow furrowed slightly as well.
The specific route outlined by the rangers that they were following, was done as such specifically because it avoided the Pokemon habitats and shouldn't have much in the way of encounters.
Certainly not a small swarm of Zubat. Although at least they'd been easily dissuaded without having to fight very hard.
They continued deeper into the tunnels, their Pokemon staying alert as they moved. The winding paths led them through narrow corridors and into larger caverns, some of which were filled with clusters of glowing crystals that bathed the space in a faint, light.
"Nice ambiance," Ezra remarked, gesturing to the crystals. "I'd almost call it romantic, if it weren't for the constant threat of some sniveling bug trainer wandering down here."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Karen snorted, glancing at him with a dry look. "Romantic? Really? You are deep in a cave surrounded by wild Pokemon and romance is something on your thoughts?"
Ezra shrugged, his smirk never fading. "You could do worse for a place for a date. I'd like to think I'm a man of culture, even if the setting's a bit… Rustic."
Karen just snorted, finding something amusing with what he said, she glanced around before focusing on the next turn in the path. As they rounded the corner, a trio of Geodudes rolled into view, their rocky forms blocking the narrow tunnel ahead. The Pokemon let out deep, rumbling growls, their fists clenching as they prepared to attack.
At the same time, several Paras skittered in behind them.
Ezra frowned, now that's definitely odd behavior.
"Great," Karen muttered, noticing the same, "Somehow this is your fault, I just know. Murkrow, back me up, Sneasel Quick-Attack and Ice Fang."
Ezra stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "Contrary to all other evidence so far in this journey, I am not actually behind everything that happens," He turned to his own Pokemon, leaving the Geodudes to Karen, "Umbreon, keep the light steady for us while I grab my flashlight, then go wild. Morrigan, flamethrower at the Paras." He gave his excited Pokemon a look, "Thin stream, we are in a tunnel." He didn't need to roast himswlf here.
Morrigan floated forward, her small form glowing faintly as she gathered energy. She unleashed a stream of flame, catching one of the Paras and making it screech and withdraw, running around with flames flickering around it.
By then Ezra had his flashlight out, and Umbreon cut flash, as she speed forward in a Quick-Attack, not even bothering with another technique as she simply bowled over the Paras, both of them, just as they were releasing their own techniques, a mist of spores being released well out of Ezra and his Pokemon's way thanks to Umbreon's tackle.
Discombobulated, the two Paras were quickly dealt with by Morrigan and Umbreon, with another Flamethrower, and a Bite taking care of them. The third one had disappeared with its burns, likely fleeing.
Umbreon turned Flash back on, as they turned towards Karen, to find three fainted Geodudes, Karen scowling at nothing as she stood by them, the damage looking like Ice Fang and Wing Attack had done most of the work.
Ezra watched the scene with an approving nod. "Not bad," He said, his tone casual. "Looks like your team's finally pulling its weight, that looks like one hit KO's."
Karen shot him a sharp look, a scowl on her face. "What the hell do you mean finally?" She snapped at him.
"Only that I tend to do all the hard work," Ezra replied smoothly, stepping over the fallen Geodudes as the group pressed on, more wary now.
He probably deserves the punch to the shoulder that comment got him.
The deeper they went, the more frequent the encounters became. Zubats swooped from the shadows, only to be swatted down by Morrigan's Dragon Breath or Murkrow's Wing Attack. Paras scuttled out from beneath rocks, their glowing mushrooms making them easy targets for Sneasel's Ice Fang or Umbreon's Dark Pulse. Even the occasional Clefairy, though rare, didn't stand much of a chance against their combined efforts. Yet… The Rangers should have cleared this route…
Karen couldn't help but notice something odd about the Pokemon's behavior and pointed it out to Ezra. They weren't just defending their territory - they seemed actively agitated, almost as if something had disturbed them.
By the time they reached a larger cavern near the halfway point to the first rest spot, Karen's unease had grown. She paused, her gaze sweeping over the darkened space as her Sneasel sniffed the air, its ears twitching.
"Something's not right," She said, her voice low and serious.
Ezra glanced at her, raising a brow. "You mean aside from the rock Pokemon and flying rats trying to kill us every five minutes?"
Karen ignored his sarcasm, her frown deepening. "No, I mean… The Pokemon here. They're more riled up than they should be. It's not even only that something's agitating them." She bit her lip, "It's like someone's driving them this way."
Ezra's smirk faded slightly as he considered her words. He glanced at Umbreon, whose glowing rings seemed to pulse faintly as she sniffed the air, its ears twitching in a similar manner to Sneasel's. "You might have a point," He admitted, his tone more serious now. "But the question is… What's causing it?"
Karen didn't answer right away, her gaze focused on the shadows ahead. For a moment, the cavern was silent save for the faint sound of dripping water.
"We should keep moving," Karen said finally, her voice steady but tinged with caution. "Whatever it is, I'd rather not stick around long enough to find out."
That's when The cavern's oppressive darkness was abruptly pierced by a blinding spotlight.
Oh… No. Ezra thought.
The light appeared to be a stage light, and suddenly from nowhere, music began playing.
No, seriously, just no.
Ezra and Karen shielded their eyes, squinting against the sudden illumination. From the shadows emerged a trio of figures, their synchronized voices echoing through the subterranean chamber.
"Prepare for trouble!" A female voice declared with theatrical flair.
Oh you're fucking kidding me? Team Rocket is a proper terrorist organization and still has these idiots! Ezra quietly bemoaned.
"And make it double!" A male voice chimed in, equally dramatic.
As their introduction continued, the figures stepped into the light, revealing themselves. The woman, Jessie, stood tall with an air of confidence. Her vibrant magenta hair cascaded in a voluminous wave, defying gravity as it swept back from her face. She wore a white, form-fitting crop top emblazoned with a bold red 'R', paired with matching white pants and long black gloves that reached her elbows. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she struck a pose, one hand on her hip.
Beside her stood James, his lavender hair styled in a sleek bob that framed his delicate fuckboy features. He wore a uniform mirroring Jessie's, complete with the prominent 'R' symbolizing their allegiance to Team Rocket. His eyes held a playful glint as he mirrored Jessie's stance, although not with as much panache.
Between them, a Meowth stood on its hind legs. Its cream-colored fur contrasted with the gleaming gold charm on its forehead. The feline's eyes gleamed with cunning intelligence, and its mouth curled into a sly grin, revealing sharp fangs. It flexed its claws, adding a touch of menace to its otherwise diminutive stature.
"To protect the world from devastation!" Jessie proclaimed, her voice dripping with melodrama.
"To unite all peoples within our nation!" James added, his tone equally grandiose. And he somehow had a rose from somewhere too.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!" Jessie continued, her expression fierce.
"To extend our reach to the stars above!" James declared, raising a fist skyward.
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!" They announced in unison, striking a final, dramatic pose.
Meowth leaped forward, landing gracefully between them. "Meowth! That's right!" it chimed in, its voice a distinctive, nasal pitch.
Ezra and Karen exchanged incredulous glances, their initial surprise giving way to exasperation. The ostentatious display seemed almost absurd in the dank, foreboding depths of Mt. Moon.
"Who are these clowns?" Karen muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the trio. "No way they're actual Rockets."
Ezra smirked, although he allowed some of his annoyance seep through. "Looks like we've stumbled upon some local entertainment," He quipped, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Because really, he couldn't take these people seriously. Ash constantly defeats them in the future. Half the time without even knowing about it himself really, just happenstance.
Then Karen let everything catch up to her, and she pointed at the Meowth, "Wait a minute, did that Pokemon just fucking talk!?"
Jessie's eyes flashed with irritation at their dismissive remarks. "How dare you mock Team Rocket!" She snapped, her hands clenched into fists. "We're the most notorious organization in all of Kanto and Johto!"
James nodded vigorously, his expression earnest. "Indeed! Our exploits are the stuff of legend!"
Ezra crossed his arms, "We weren't mocking Team Rocket. We were mocking you." He taunted.
"Is no one else going to say anything about the fact that fucking Pokemon just talked!?" Karen growled, pointing at Meowth. "How do some loser cosplayers get a talking Pokemon? Why is the world not fucking making any sense anymore!?"
They all ignored her.
Ezra didn't know the Rockets' reasons, but he did it because it was funny.
"To think we were limited to simply guarding the way, while the boring people took care of the Pokemon Rangers, and yet we found ourselves with some delicious catches before us!" Jessie crowed, making an exaggerated, "Hohoho!" Sound while holding her hand to her lips.
James nodded and did a small pirouette, still clutching a rose to his chest. "Indeed, we've truly stumbled onto the chance to rise within the organization!"
Ezra and Karen both exchanged a hard look at that information. The real Team Rocket was attacking the rest stop and the Pokemon Rangers right now. That's why the wild Pokemon had been going nuts. They needed to take care of these jokers.
Meowth crossed its arms, puffing out its chest, speaking at the same time as Karen spoke up pointing at him, "Let's take that one, the League will definitely want to study him." - "Yeah! We're here to steal your Pokemon!"
Meowth blinked slowly, "Wait, what?" Pointing at himself, looking up at Jessie and James as if he was double checking he'd heard things correctly.
Jessie snapped at Karen, "We're the thieves here, don't steal our schtick!"
"I suppose, if it will get me some goodwill." Ezra sighed, nodding at Karen, ignoring the joke squad as he agreed to attempt to capture Meowth.
Meowth scrambled behind James legs, squeaking out, "Ahh! It's not supposed to go this way, don't let them take me!"
James threw the rose before him, before drawing a Pokeball, "En gard!" Striking a pose at them.
Karen's Sneasel hissed, baring its claws in a display of readiness. Beside her, Murkrow flapped its wings, its eyes gleaming with anticipation. Ezra's Umbreon stepped forward, her eyes glowing ominously, while Morrigan hovered nearby, ready at a moment's notice.
"You really think you can take us on?" Karen challenged, her voice cold and steady.
Ezra chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the trio. "Oh, you really should have just stayed with bullying mentally challenged kids," He murmured, a smirk playing on his lips.
Sure, Ash wasn't going on a journey yet, as far as he knew, so it was interesting these bozos were around. But he was so far away from that naive kid as could be, and he was definitely not one for excessive amounts of mercy.
Jessie and James exchanged determined glances before each tossing a Pokeball. "We'll show you the true power of Team Rocket!" Jessie declared, her eyes blazing with resolve.
"Prepare to face defeat!" James added, his voice firm.
Meowth flexed its claws, a wicked grin spreading across its face. "Let's get 'em!"
A Koffing and an Ekans appeared from the Rockets Pokeballs, arriving on the cavern floor before them.
Ezra's smirk widened as he met Karen's gaze. "Shall we?" He asked, his tone light but edged with anticipation.
Karen nodded, her expression steely. "Let's teach these fools a lesson."
Jessie and James both cried out together, "Foul!" Waving their arms like they were the referees at a football game.
Their reason?
Akuma punching his fists together, Loki floating over Ezra's shoulder, his Mimikyu and his Deino, Alduin, joining Umbreon and Morrigan to face off against the Rockets.
By Karen's side, all six of her Pokemon were out as well.
"Well… Here's the thing, clowns." Ezra said with a dark smile that promised violence. "When facing a terrorist organization… All. Bets. Are. Off."
Playing fair? What was that?
It was for suckers. That's what.
Karen made a play off looking at her nails, casually checking them over as she spoke, with malice in her voice, "These caves are so nice, a big cavern like this will really make your screams echo, at the same time as no one is down here to hear you scream!"
Ezra thought that was kind of a poor attempt at intimidation, but he'd leave her be this one time.
Meowth showed he had the most sense out of the trio as he immediately abandoned Jessie and James and ran for the hills.
Unfortunately for him, Karen's Sneasel was very fast. It blocked the path grinning with pure anticipation.
"Oh, don't go anywhere, I'm very interested to find out how you work." Karen said, eyes intent on the talking Pokemon.
Jessie bit her lip, "Hahaha, you know, we were really just kidding, playing dress up, you see?" She said, sweat pouring down her face.
James glanced at her, "We were?" Before receiving a hard punch to the shoulder, squeaking out, "Yes, of course we were."
"Oh in that case we'll let you go." Ezra said, friendly like.
"Oh, really." James said, shoulders slumping, "That's so nice -"
"No. Not really. Sick 'em."
At the same time Karen growled out, "Make it hurt."
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Minutes later,
So it turned out… Jessie and James were kind of pathetically weak.
As in hugged each other crying as their Pokemon waffled indecisively kind of weak.
Ezra and Karen tied them up, and were now at kind of a loss at what to do with them.
Karen glared at them, one foot tapping at the ground, "We can't just leave them here, eventually they'll get away…" She frowned at them, "Or get eaten."
The two cried even more, making Ezra give Karen a dirty look for that last comment, not that he cared - he just didn't want the whining. She just shrugged, continuing to look at the two with disgust.
The two of them, not three…
Because they already had Meowth wrapped up like a mummy and stuffed in Ezra's backpack. If the Rockets had a Pokeball for him, they didn't have it on them anymore, so they'd been forced to get creative.
They'd also taken their Pokeballs and would be bringing their Pokemon with them no matter what they decided with these two clowns. There was a bounty on returning Rocket Pokemon after all.
"You can't take our Pokemon! That's not fair!' Jessie shrieked suddenly, her tears evaporated like they were never there.
Ezra couldn't help but laugh a little at their delusional world view. "Ah, so it's only okay when you take them from others?"
"Yes!" Jessie snapped, then seemed to understand the fallacy of her argument and floundered for a way to argue more.
Karen solved it by duct taping her mouth shut. Like she'd already done to James after he'd loudly proclaimed that she could use his body in exchange for their freedom, that he was willing to make that 'sacrifice' for his team.
"You're technically the one with league connections here, it's your decision." Ezra said, now that the fools were quiet.
Personally he didn't really care what happened to these two, they were ridiculously stupid. So perhaps being caught and brought to justice would rehabilitate them, because he doubted they'd done anything truly egregious.
They were failures. Not terrorists.
"Taking them with us means we have an issue if we run into 'real' Rockets." Karen grumbled, giving the two squirming captives the stink eye as they protested vehemently against her insinuation that they weren't the real deal.
Ezra gave her an amused look, "They don't have any Pokemon anymore, and I'm sure we could take them in a fist fight." He shrugged, "Like I said, your choice, I'm fine with leaving them too."
Karen sighed, looking like she was already regretting what she was saying before even saying it, "We'll bring them with us, just attach a rope to the dumbasses and we can lead them along."
Both of the Rockets squirmed where they were sitting, their body language and gestures making it pretty clear they were asking to go to the bathroom.
Ezra stepped away, "Like I said, you're the one with the league connection, they're your captives."
"Ezra! Don't walk away from this! I am not watching this jerk pee!"
Ezra laughed as he walked away, determined to wait on the other side of the cavern until they were ready to go. "Maybe he's asking for something else?"
Not that it would make it better of course.
It just wasn't his problem.
He was fine with letting them take off or get left behind after all - they already had the prize in Meowth anyway.
"Ezra!!"
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The tunnels of Mt. Moon seemed to stretch endlessly, the labyrinthine passageways seeming to twist and shift with every step Ezra and Karen took. Their progress was slow but steady, the dim glow of Umbreon's flash illuminating the rugged path ahead due to the Rockets having broken the lit path towards the rest stop. Beside her, Akuma, Ezra's Annihilape, watched their captives, holding on to the rope tied around Jessie and James, dragging them along should they attempt to slow down or impede them in any way.
It had only taken four times of being dragged through the rocky ground before the clowns stopped trying to play games and walked along sullenly.
"Could we pick up the pace?" Karen asked, her tone sharp as her Sneasel darted ahead, checking for any more ambushes.
"Could we not?" Ezra countered with a lazy smirk, his flashlight's beam sweeping across the walls as he assured Umbreon in lighting up the way. "We're not exactly on a deadline here. Besides," He gestured to Akuma, who growled lowly at the pair of restrained Rockets. "Our passengers don't seem to be in a hurry."
As far as Ezra was concerned, the Rocket attack either would be happening just as they arrived - as per narrative - or had already been over with for quite awhile. So why worry?
The two captives grumbled behind their duct-tape muzzles, glaring daggers at the trainers leading them. Jessie attempted to toss her hair dramatically but failed, given her bonds. James merely sighed, his face a picture of resigned indignity.
Karen rolled her eyes. "Let's just hope the Rangers at the rest stop are in a better mood than I am. I don't want to deal with this circus any longer than I have to." Her eyes were hard as she added, "The worst shit always happens to us it seems…"
Ezra snorted lightly, his voice echoing softly off the stone walls. "Oh, come on, Karen. This isn't the worst thing that's happened to us. Think of it as... Character-building."
Although it did somewhat put a pin in their whole reason for this outing. Getting some more battles in with various trainers throughout the journey.
Karen shot him a dark look. "I have enough character, thanks."
The tunnels widened as they continued, the air growing slightly cooler and fresher. After nearly two hours of navigating the cavernous maze, the dim light began to shift. It wasn't the artificial glow of flashlights or lanterns, or the soft shimmer of Umbreon's Flash. Instead, it was natural light - soft beams of silvery luminescence filtering through veins of metallic ore in the ceiling and walls. The sight was breathtaking, the walls glittering like starlight scattered across the stone.
"Wow," Karen muttered, momentarily distracted from her foul mood. Her Murkrow flapped above, letting out a small coo of approval as it flew across one of the glowing veins right up against it, admiring the shiny.
Ezra gave a low whistle, his eyes sweeping over the scene. "Alright, I'll admit, that's impressive." He paused, reaching out to touch one of the glittering walls, only for Umbreon to growl softly at him in worry. "Fine, fine. No touching. It's still pretty, though."
He watched the wall thoughtfully, not sensing anything through the shadows, but Umbreon apparently thought differently, so he'd leave it alone.
Karen smirked. "Even you have moments of awe, huh?"
He grinned. "I'm not made of stone, unlike certain walls around here."
Karen groaned. "Stop. Just stop."
Soon after they arrived at the first point of Mt. Moon, the first major rest stop.
The rest stop cavern was a marvel of both nature and careful human intervention. The chamber itself was massive, its ceiling soaring high above in a dome of jagged stone. Glittering veins of silver and other metallic ores wove through the walls and roof, catching the natural light that filtered down through narrow fissures. These cracks acted as skylights, spilling soft beams of light into the cavern and illuminating the space in an ethereal glow. The effect was mesmerizing, as though the entire cave was alive, its walls shimmering with an inner light.
At the heart of the cavern was a circular arena carved into the rocky floor, its edges outlined by smooth, polished stone. The battle circle wasn't overly large, but it was clearly well-used, with faint scuffs and scratches marking the surface. It served as both a training ground and an area for trainers to challenge each other during their journeys through Mt. Moon. The circle was surrounded by sandy ground, likely brought in to cushion the area and make it safer for battles.
Around the perimeter of the cavern, several small buildings were built into the natural stone walls. They were practical and sturdy, blending seamlessly with the rocky surroundings. Their exteriors were simple, constructed from a mix of wood and stone, but there was a deliberate elegance in their design. Smooth wooden beams framed the entrances, while sturdy metal lanterns hung from hooks, their warm yellow light complementing the natural glow of the cavern.
One building, marked with an open hand, was the washroom and shower facility, or at least according to what Ezra had read about the place before making this journey. Trainers could clean themselves up after long hours of trekking through the dusty tunnels.
The gentle sound of running water that echoed across the cavern hinted at an underground spring that was likely feeding the plumbing. Next to it was a small canteen, its entrance marked by a hand-painted sign that read "Rest Stop Café." The scent of warm food and brewing coffee emanating from it, not that Ezra intended to partake, according to the guide he'd read, they were known for outrageous prices - they quite literally had no competition down here.
Nearby was the barracks, split into two sections. One was reserved for the Pokemon Rangers, its doorway guarded by a pair of Growlithe who sat attentively, their eyes scanning the cavern. The other was for trainers who needed a place to rest during their trek.
The cavern's natural beauty wasn't lost even amidst the signs of conflict. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone chandeliers, their dripping water forming small, clear pools on the ground. Moss and hardy ferns grew in patches along the walls, adding a touch of green to the otherwise earthy tones. The air was cool and damp, but not unpleasant, carrying the faint, mineral-rich scent of the underground.
Near the far wall of the cavern, a set of stairs carved into the rock led upward to another level, possibly to more tunnels or even a second rest station. A few Rangers stood near the stairs, their postures alert as they kept watch for any signs of further trouble. Their Pokemon, a mix of sturdy Rock-types and agile Flying-types, stood ready at their sides, their gazes scanning the cavern with practiced vigilance.
"Guess we have nothing to worry about." Ezra told Karen, gesturing to the center of the cavern.
Several Rockets were there, tied together in a neat cluster, sat in the middle of the battle circle, their expressions ranging from surly to outright terrified. The Rangers had clearly dealt with the attackers swiftly and efficiently. Burn marks scarred the walls of a few buildings, evidence of attempted arson, and a handful of Rangers were stationed around the cavern, their Pokemon standing alert at their sides.
More disturbingly, there were several bodies lying still near the edges of the cavern, unmoving and clearly lifeless. Ezra's gaze lingered on them briefly before shifting to the gathered Rockets, who seemed to shrink under the watchful eyes of their captors.
Thankfully all but one of the bodies wore Rocket uniforms. Whoever else had died, they weren't a Ranger - Ezra doubted they'd be left on the ground if that had been the case.
"Well," Ezra said after a long pause, his tone light but edged with amusement. "That makes things easier anyway."
Karen hummed her agreement, though her sharp eyes scanned the cavern for any signs of lingering danger. "Guess they didn't need us after all."
Ezra felt a flicker of humor at the realization. Maybe he was developing a bit of protagonist disease, assuming everything would revolve around him. He'd been so certain they'd end up having to fight off the Rockets themselves despite their slow movements, but here they were, walking into a scene already handled by professionals.
A Ranger approached them, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a serious expression. His uniform was pristine despite the obvious signs of battle around him. He held out a hand silently, his gaze expectant.
Ezra and Karen both handed over their trainer IDs without complaint. The Ranger scanned them briefly before nodding, his voice a low rumble. "Caught two, huh? What were they up to?" He gestured toward Jessie and James, his tone neutral.
Karen scoffed, her arms crossed. "These two idiots were just on the path trying to steal Pokemon. They're complete morons." She gestured to them with disgust, "I honestly have trouble believing they're actually Rockets."
Ezra nodded in agreement, smirking slightly. "Honestly, if it weren't for the attack here happening at the same time, and then having knowledge of it, I'd have thought they stole those uniforms from somewhere and were masquerading as the real thing."
Jessie and James protested vigorously, their muffled voices little more than garbled nonsense through the duct tape. Their wild gesticulations only made them look more ridiculous, as if they were trying to convince the Rangers of their innocence of incompetence, not realizing that it simultaneously would be admitting guilt.
The Ranger gave them a flat look before turning back to Ezra and Karen. "I'll take it from here. You have their Pokemon?" He eyed Akuma warily as the Annihilape handed over the rope with a low growl.
Karen nodded, handing over the pair's Pokeballs. "Right here," She said casually, making no mention of the Meowth hidden away in Ezra's bag.
They'd hardly let such a treat go. The Rangers might give them a commendation and a pat on the head - but then they'd have no idea about what came of it.
Karen would obviously want to go straight to Agatha and use her League connection. While Ezra doubted he could convince her otherwise - he wouldn't mind sending the Meowth to his business and have him studied. Steven would be interested, he was sure.
The Ranger grunted in acknowledgment, slipping the Pokeballs into a secure pouch on his belt. "Your profiles will have the bounty added once it's processed. Good work, trainers." He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "The rest stop is currently not available," He added apologetically.
Ezra shrugged, unbothered. "We're fine with walking straight through. Our Pokemon haven't even gotten a scratch." He gestured to his team, who stood tall and alert despite the long journey.
Karen sent a sharp glare toward the cluster of Rockets still tied up in the battle circle. "Yeah, we'll move on," She said curtly, clearly eager to put the whole thing behind them and get as far away from the Rockets as possible.
The Ranger nodded, "Another trainer assisted with the takedown and should be leaving momentarily, it might be wise for you to team up." He offered, and then he stepped aside, allowing them to continue. As they walked past the battle circle, Jessie and James renewed their muffled protests, their flailing drawing a few bemused glances from the surrounding Rangers. Karen didn't even spare them a second look, though Ezra couldn't help but chuckle softly at their antics.
"Think they'll last the night?" He murmured to Karen, his tone low and conspiratorial.
Karen smirked faintly. "Depends on how loud they are. Something tells me the Rangers don't have much patience for whining."
Ezra snorted, his amusement carrying them forward, although it died a swift death as someone walked out of the building dedicated to the washrooms and showers.
"Hey, Kassian, fancy seeing you here." Shae said with an irreverent smirk, her Arbok slithering next to her.
This was the other trainer assisting in taking down the Rockets? He thought, clenching his teeth.
Is this a double bluff?
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The winding tunnels of Mt. Moon carried the echoes of footsteps and low conversation as Ezra, Karen, and Shae traversed the uneven path. Ezra's crimson eyes stayed sharp, glancing frequently at the woman now walking slightly ahead of them. Karen's Sneasel and Murkrow flanked her protectively, their gazes flickering toward Shae as if they, too, shared their trainer's suspicion.
Shae, meanwhile, seemed entirely unbothered. Her stride was confident, her arms crossed in a way that accentuated her chest. Her Arbok slithered at her side, its hood flaring slightly every so often as if daring the others to question its trainer's presence.
Finally, Ezra broke the silence, his tone blunt and suspicious. "Are you following me?"
Shae stopped and turned slightly, fixing him with a cocky smirk. "Normally? No." She leaned slightly toward him, the action drawing attention to her curves in a way that seemed entirely deliberate. "Right now?" She winked. "You betcha."
Karen's sharp glare could have cut steel. "She admits it! Come on, Ezra, you can't trust this girl."
"I don't," Ezra said flatly, his voice cold as his gaze bore into Shae's. He took a deliberate step closer. "Last time we met, we immediately flew into a Team Rocket ambush afterwards..."
Karen seized the opportunity, crossing her arms and stepping between Shae and Ezra. "And here we are again," She said with a dark tone. "And guess who else just happened to be here." Her tone was all but accusing.
Shae giggled, a bright sound that quickly turned darker, almost sinister. "I fought the Rockets, you loons," She said, spinning on her heel to keep walking, but her voice carried easily. Her grin widened, taking on a bloodthirsty edge as she looked back at them. "If I'd known about them ambushing you back then, I would have crushed them, slowly, and with great pleasure."
Ezra hated how he could never seem to understand if Shae was full of shit or not. Karen was easy to read - Shae always seemed a contradiction.
Karen didn't even hesitate to fire back, her voice cutting through Shae's like a razor. "You're not sounding more trustworthy, just so you know." If anything, Ezra would say that Karen sounded quite… Catty.
Was she jealous? He found some amusement in that, even as he didn't let his guard down, watching Shae warily.
Shae shrugged, unperturbed. "I'm not trying to sound trustworthy." She tilted her head, shooting them a sly glance over her shoulder. "I'm actually very untrustworthy. You definitely shouldn't trust me." She confided in them coyly.
Ezra cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "Is everything a double bluff with you?" His voice carried his growing irritation. "What's real? What's fake?"
And what the fuck did she want with him? Because Rocket or not, she definitely wanted something. And she had yet to even hint to what…
Shae turned toward them, now walking backward with an infuriatingly playful grin. "That," She said, drawing out the word for dramatic effect, "Is a good question!"
Ezra's teeth clenched audibly, his temper hanging by a thread. "And the answer?" He forced out, his voice low and dangerous.
Shae's giggle echoed in the tunnel. She winked again. "You wouldn't trust me if I told you, so you'll just have to watch me and ~find out!" She spun back around, her steps light and carefree as if they were on a leisurely hike instead of traversing a cave system with known terrorists infecting it.
Ezra kind of doubted the attack on the rest stop and those two morons - had been all that was planned for Mt. Moon. He especially thought something was going on now that Shae had showed up again.
Karen yanked Ezra back by the arm, forcing some distance between them and Shae. Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "You're not believing this bullshit, right?"
Ezra let out a frustrated growl, his narrowed eyes fixed on Shae's back. "I don't know what to believe," He admitted, his voice low but heavy with irritation. "That's the problem…"
Karen's scowl deepened. "I don't like her. She's hiding something, and I don't like the way she's playing this whole 'mystery act'. Her Sneasel growled in agreement, its claws flexing against the rocky ground. Ezra's Pokemon were comparatively silent, trusting in Ezra to let them know if there was anything to worry about.
The problem was, he didn't know.
Ezra's gaze didn't waver as he replied to Karen. "You think I don't see that? I just… Don't know yet what her angle is. And until I do, I can't do anything about it."
"Except not let her travel with us!" Karen hissed, throwing up her hands in exasperation.
"And then what?" Ezra countered sharply. "Let her wander off, only to show up again later with even more surprises? I'd rather keep an eye on her. If she's planning something, I want to know about it."
Karen made a noise of frustration but didn't argue further, her hands curling into fists. She hated when Ezra made sense, especially when she couldn't argue against his reasoning.
Shae, meanwhile, seemed to revel in the tension she was causing. Her pace didn't falter, and she hummed lightly to herself as if oblivious to the heated conversation behind her. Her Arbok slithered along, its yellow eyes occasionally flicking back toward Ezra and Karen with a predatory gleam.
The trio continued their uneasy march through the tunnels, the faint echoes of dripping water and the occasional flutter of Zubat wings the only sounds aside from their footsteps.
Finally, Shae broke the silence again, her tone light and conversational. "So, what's the plan, fearless leader?" She glanced back at Ezra, her grin sharp. "Just keep walking until we stumble into the next disaster?" There was a light mocking tone to the last sentence.
Ezra's jaw tightened. "The plan," He said through gritted teeth, "Is to get to Cerulean. Anything else is a bonus."
Their training plan was a complete bust at this point, and he felt somewhat naked not having his full team of heavy hitters with Shae here - who he knew packed quite the punch.
Worst case he had the ghosts in his shadow and the shadow itself, but revealing that was a last ditch effort if everything truly went dire.
Karen snorted. "You mean if she doesn't sabotage us on the way." She glared challengingly at Shae.
Shae laughed, the sound echoing off the walls. "Oh, Karen, you wound me. What possible reason could I have to sabotage two fine trainers like yourselves?" The glib tone making it clear to Ezra at least that she was now purposely messing with their other girl.
Karen's glare could have frozen magma. "You really want me to answer that?"
Shae's smirk only widened. "Please do."
Karen opened her mouth, but Ezra cut her off, his voice cold and clipped. "Enough." He stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Shae's with an intensity that wiped the smirk off her face. "You want to tag along? Fine. But one wrong move, keep trying to rile up Karen, and I swear I'll -"
"Relax, Kassian," Shae interrupted smoothly, her cocky demeanor quickly returning. "I'm not here to cause trouble." Her voice dropped, taking on a more serious edge. "At least not for you."
The tension in the air thickened as Ezra and Shae locked eyes, neither willing to back down. Finally, Ezra stepped back, his posture stiff. "Just keep walking." He said irritably.
If there truly was Rocket shenanigans going on, Shae could be a valuable ally. Especially as both he and Karen didn't have their strongest teams.
It definitely wouldn't be smooth sailing…
Shae gave him a mock salute before turning back around, her steps light and carefree once more. Karen shot Ezra a dark look but said nothing, falling back into step beside him as they resumed their uneasy trek through the cavern.
The tension didn't fade, but it settled into a wary silence as the three of them moved forward, each step carrying them closer to whatever awaited them.
With the rest stop behind them, they'd have to camp in the caverns unless they made it to the next stop - which was highly unlikely.
Ezra already looked forward to trying to go to bed with these two there…
He was never going to tell Karen that she'd been right about just flying past Mt. Moon…
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