Arcanine de-gooed, now back in her pokeball I faced the Goomy horde.

There were a bunch of them, and more were poking their heads out from around the little cave entrance.

The bravest one was looking up at me, and for once I actually really liked the look on its face. It wasn’t scared.

I kneeled down and then sat in front of it.

“So that’s why you guys are scared of humans huh?” I asked and got a nod from the little blob.

I nodded at that and sighed, settling Mimikyu in my lap. There was still a crackling noise inside the costume as Mimikyu shored it up with the new material.

More Goomy were coming out as I watched. The fear of me was gone, and instead was interest. I guess saving them from a bad human would give me a little more credit. But I was still frowning.

If I left… When I left, he would be back.

“That kid. The hunter with the Ekans, and the Snorunt. He’s gonna come back.” I said and Brave Goomy puffed up while the others flinched back.

Yeah. That’s what I was afraid of. “You’re very brave. You do a great job protecting your friends… But even if you beat him. He’ll just come back with more pokemon.” I added and Brave slowly deflated before my eyes they nodded and then called out.

“Goom! Goomy goo.” And all the Goomy deflated. Instantly I noticed the change. They started moving. More and more Goomy started coming out of the cave all slowly lining up with the others. I recognized what this was.

A migration.

Brave had figured it out. The only way to survive would be to leave and find a new home…

“No.” I answered as much as I had wanted to capture all of the Goomy, or at least all that wanted to come with… It felt wrong to do it like this. So I would have to handle this very very well. For my own morals. “Listen. I live in a place super far away from here. It’s called Kanto, and we don’t have any Goomy. None! Not a one.” I said attracting some attention, as I spoke loudly, but I was mostly speaking to Brave.

“Goom?” Brave asked, but I couldn’t tell exactly what the question was. So I reached into my bag and pulled out something very slowly and carefully, and placed it on the ground.

“I want to help you. All of you. Goomy are friends! You aren’t dangerous, and it’s wrong to hurt you. I can help. Please let me help… I can take all of you out of Kitakami, all the way to Kanto. I have a stable, a-a place that's just for me to keep my pokemon. It’s safe and warm, with a big river! I can bring all of you there. And release you. You can live there safely. No more hunters trying to hurt you. Or even pokemon trying to eat you! It’ll be safe, and I’ll make a cave just for you, where you can eat all the leaves you want, and play in the water with the Milotic that live there already!”

I then reached into my backpack, into the pocket that I stored my pokeballs, and started just pouring them out.

“See! Each Pokeball can take a Goomy, and I can transport you safely! No dangerous travel to find a new home. It’ll be perfectly safe. You’ll just… You just have to trust me.” Then I just waited, staring into the eyes of dozens of Goomy, some so tiny they were carried by the bigger ones.

Cute!

“Goom.” Brave Goomy responded sounding pretty negative and I took that and nodded.

“I know. Listen. You don’t really know me. We’ve only just met. I haven’t earned that level of trust yet… But I want to help you. I actually came to Kitakami to this land.” I added, waving around when I noticed their confused looks at the name. “I came here to meet Goomy and bring some of you back with me. But I’ll bring you all if you want! No limits! I got tons of these.” I added gesturing at the rolling around Pokeballs.

“Goom… Goomy goomy?” The question to my surprise wasn’t at me.

“KkkKukkukkuku.” Mimikyu answered back from my lap and I don’t think the answer really satisfied the Goomy.

“Maybe a good judge of my character? Come on out Milotic!” And Milotic appeared around me, already half wrapping me up as he hovered off the ground around me and then arched his neck down and I gave him a big hug as he nuzzled me back.

“Miii! Milo!”

“Hi partner. Can you help? The Goomy are in trouble. I want to help.”

“Mi. Milotic Mi.” He trilled and looked at the Goomy.

Then they started talking. Milotic’s trilling call was matched by not just Brave but lots of little Goomy Voices. Some sounded very depressed as they called out to Milotic.

But I had faith. My partner was a total chad, and there wasn’t a pokemon alive that he couldn’t seduce!

“Milo.” Milotic finally spoke not to the Goomy but to me. Rubbing his cheek with mine a bit.

“Thanks partner. So how about it? Goomy. All of you? Will you take a risk and come with me. Or take a risk and head out into the wilds to find a new home?” I asked and the Goomy collectively seemed to turn to each other to ask themselves just that.

Finally Brave Goomy slid forward and called out.

“Goomy. Goo.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t understand.” I replied because it sounded serious, but the clarity wasn’t there.

“Goom… Goomy goo.” He puffed himself up and then the Goomy moved.

Each one slid over towards a pokeball, and slowly poked it.

Zip. *Chime*

Zip. *Chime*

Zip. *Chime*

On and on it went, until there weren't any pokeballs to slide into.

I quickly grabbed my bag to pour out more. Even holding some out to Goomy to help capture them one by one.

Until finally, it was just me and Brave.

Brave who looked up at me and moved towards a pokeball. But I stopped it. Grabbing the pokeball before it could.

“Hold on. I have… Do you want to be one of my pokemon?” I asked, and Goomy sort of looked at me like it didn’t understand. “Right details. So… I’ll take all of you to my stable where you can live however you all want, but I’m a pokemon trainer. I catch pokemon to train them to become strong. So will you be one of my team members? You’ll travel with me, and train and do lots of adventures. And I promise you’ll get strong. I’ll help you evolve.”

The forest was quiet as I offered the Premier ball to Brave and a moment later the noise echoed out.

Zip. *Chime*

But the premier ball in my hand was empty.

“Mii?”

My shoulders slumped. “I’m sure at least one of them will want to get trained up and be my friend.” I responded and Milotic leaned over and rubbed his head on top of mine. It was comforting, but kinda annoying because I had really wanted a goo dragon.

“KuKkKukuku.” Mimikyu called out from my lap. The first time in a while the pokemon had said anything. I looked down into his little eye holes, and I saw sympathy and worry in equal measures.

“Oh don’t you worry at all Mimikyu.” I said reaching down and pulling him into a hug. “Just because I want to add more pokemon to my team doesn’t do anything to change your position in it. We’re friends now. Forever and ever.” I told him and giggled as once again my shirt started getting wet from happy Mimikyu tears.

So this hadn’t gone entirely how I wanted. That’s okay! I had a whole horde of Goomy to take home with me! They would love the Stable land, and I would play with them and eventually one will become my newest bestie!

“Yeah! Vicky made lots of new friends today! They just don’t know it!” I called out and Milotic laughed at me, but was nice enough to help me gather up all the pokeballs. Which I quickly organized in my bag between occupied or empty.

“Alright. Let’s go.” I decided, rising up, but… “I wonder what’s in the cave.” I muttered and looked towards the Goomy cave entrance.

“Milo?”

“Yeah it’s a bit big for you buddy. But it’s time to explore.”

“Mii.” He agreed, rubbing me once more, and then I pushed the pokeball to his snout. Once he disappeared I gave his pokeball a squeeze, and stood up.

“C’mon Mimikyu. Let’s look around!”

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“Kukuku!”

I slid onto my belly and with a bit of finangling managed to slip into the dark cave. Unfortunately it was dark, and I didn’t have a flashlight on me. With a bit of grumbling I found what I could use in my bag.

A lighter. Something I didn’t use much. It was a campfire lighter but I just used Arcanine with a click the light came on and if I hadn’t known it was a Goomy cave I would have shuddered.

Everything was coated with goo.

“K… Kukkku.” Mimikyu seemed far less enthused about the cave as he looked around and even flinched as a drop of slime slipped down and almost landed on his costume.

“Want to stick to your Pokeball?”

“Kkukuku!” He refused instantly and I smiled at his obvious attachment. “Okay, how about you just hang out in here?” I offered lifting up my hat, and a moment later he was stuffing his costume up into the hat and then settling in on top of my head.

I could feel his weird body slipping into my hair a bit to hold on, but it wasn’t painful, and the scritching feeling was kinda nice actually.

“Okay let’s go!” I started crawling further in.

—---

So it turns out the reason the Goomy picked this cave wasn’t just because of the small entrance.

“Nice.” I whispered quietly. On the other side of the tunnel that was definitely formed by a Pokemon. Probably a Geodude, or a Graveler or something, as it was only a few feet wide and a few feet high. But enough I could crawl through without too much trouble. Even rise up to my feet if I crouched real low.

But at the end, it connected to another tunnel.

The reason the Goomy had used it was revealed. The exit was high up on the wall of a much larger cave, the exit showed slimy goomy trails up and down the rock face because at the bottom was a small pond. The water dripped down from above and formed a cave pool. It was only a foot or so deep at the maximum but it was perfect for Goomy. Just not a good place to eat.

With a bit of work I climbed down from the goomy entrance high up the wall, slipping and sliding down…

“Okay I’ll need to get some help to get back up there.” I muttered as I looked up at the hole that was six or so feet above my head along the absolutely slime coated wall.

I shrugged. I had pokemon that could help. Instead I turned around and looked around at the cave I found myself in. My little lighter barely giving me the light to see the other side.

“Cool.” I said and my voice echoed. “Echo!” I listened as my voice repeated over and over and over.

“SKEEE SKEEE SKEE!” The noise struck me back echoing through the cave with a force I could almost feel.

It was a noise I recognized.

“Ah… My old nemesis.” I whispered as I fingered a pokeball. “Go Arcanine! Blaze a trail!” I called out. Now that I was out of the tiny Goomy tunnel, the cave was much larger, and as the horde of Zubat approached they were struck by a fur missile.

I hadn’t actually done much exploring in caves in this life, but I remembered how often these damn bats ruined my journey through Mt. Moon in the games!

“Okay Chansey, you are up! Let’s heal them up and remind them to calm down. Arcanine! I could use some light! Let’s explore!” I giggled as I got happy tail wags and a little Chansey gasp as she ran around and started healing up the Zubats.

Time to see where this cave takes me!

—--

“I am a bit lost.” I told Arcanine who was just as turned around as I was. We had even tried to use her nose to go back towards the Goomy tunnel, but had gotten a bit turned around again.

Luckily I wasn’t really that worried. I could always capture a native pokemon and have them lead me out or something.

Besides, it was kinda fun. When I wasn’t just staring at a crossroads I was pretty sure I had seen before.

“Do you think these tunnels are all just Golem or Graveler just wandering around?” I asked Arcanine and she shrugged at me.

Yeah I figured as well.

“Okay let’s try… That way?”

“Arc!” She agreed and off we went. I was actually walking mostly because Arcanine speed and low ceilings make for a dangerous combination.

“Kukukuk.” Mimikyu spoke from under my hat and I nodded. He sounded a little depressed.

“It’s okay! Just because you don’t know these caves isn’t a bad thing.” I assured him and he went back to worming his way into my hair some more as we walked. “Huh! Oh! Look, sunlight!” I called out happily. Far in the distance, I could see the bright light of the sun.

I broke into a jog Arcanine practically dancing around me as she wanted nothing more than to just take off full speed, but she kept close and I huffed a bit despite all my fitness training jogging what I realized uphill was a bit of a workout.

Finally we broke out of the cave and I gasped. We were pretty far up the mountain, and on the north side instead of the east.

“That’s the Barrens over there.” I said, as I looked over the plantless area on the northern side of the mountain. Large rock outcroppings covered it, giving it a very different look to any other section of Kitakami.

I stretched and winced as the cool air of the mountain ran over my still rather gooey clothes.

“Okay! It’s time for a clean up. Mimikyu, can you hold onto my hat, and bag over here?” I asked as I walked over to a rock. It took a few moments but slowly Mimikyu untangled himself from my hair and he hopped off landing on the rock with my big hat still hanging out on top of his disguise. I giggled as it looked rather silly. “Thanks Mimi.” I said dropping my bag next to him.

“Ku! Kukuku!”

I smiled at his happy answer, and quickly checked myself over. Nothing in my pockets that would get bothered by the water.

With that it was time for a bit of cleanup.

“Milotic! Quick wash!” I called out walking far enough away Mimikyu wouldn’t get bothered and then I was soaked as Milotic appeared in light all around me, and used surf to just absolutely swamp me in water. I held my breath as he spun around the water making a whirlpool of water that helped rub all the goo off. Then it was over and the water flowed away, it would have pulled me right off my feet if Milotic hadn’t wrapped around me holding me in place.

“Whew! That’s always a rush!” I called out and Milotic trilled happy back at me. We threw each other big smiles.

“Kukuuku?”

“Miii! Milo!” Milotic called out looking towards Mimikyu and floating over, giving my new friend a greeting. They both got into a conversation that I wasn’t able to follow, but Milotic was being nice and friendly at least.

“Okay Arcanine! Spin dry special!”

“Arc!”

A minute later I was patting myself down making sure I wasn’t on fire anywhere, and then I nodded to Arcanine. “Good job!”

She gave me a doggy smile and her tail wagged a bit behind her. With that done… Well I had to figure out what to do next. I should go back and see Ivy soon, but…

But more importantly… Since I was already up here…

“Do you think we can find some Gible up here?” I muttered and looked around. The cave hadn’t been exactly full of interesting pokemon. In fact, besides Zubat, it had been almost completely barren. Only a few Geodude hiding in the ground had caught my eye.

“Milotic! Return! Mimikyu! You want to-oh, fair enough.” I said as Mimikyu had leapt at me, landing on my head and instantly worming his way back into my hair. My bag landing in my hands that I quickly threw over my shoulder.

We were free of that cave so that only meant one thing! More Pokemon! More friends!

“Let’s try going higher! Arcanine! Up the mountain!” I called out, finally freeing my girl from her restraints as I jumped on. I could feel Mimikyu jerk a bit wondering what was going on and then Arcanine threw herself forward.

“KUUUuuuuuuuuuuuu!” Mimikyu cried out as he held onto my hair as the wind battered my hat and Arcanine rushed practically straight up the mountain jumping from rock outcropping to out cropping until, we finally found a section of the mountain that was flatter.

“Arc!” She cheered as she landed strutting around a bit as if she had just won a contest or something.

“Silly dog.” I told her and rubbed her mane, but then I had to focus on my other pokemon. “You okay Buddy?” I asked and my hat just shuddered and I could feel Mimikyu worming his way through my hair trying to tighten down. “Hey it’s okay. We stopped.” I said but he certainly wasn’t letting go.

“Arc!” Arcanine called out and I looked up to see she was calling out at the Piloswine that were staring at us backing up against a small pack of Swinub…

Urge to pet piglets… Rising… But no, they were scared.

“Sorry to bother you! We are just passing through!” I called out calmly and even patted Arcanine on the back to get her to relax. She had shifted into battle mode the moment she saw pokemon. Not because she was worried about attacks, but because she wanted to play.

“Pi-Pilo! Piloswine!”

“Okay! It’s okay! We aren’t going to touch you or your Swinub! Honest! We will just go right up that way okay? Nothing to fear from us!” And Arcanine sighed at the lack of battle and switched to pouting mode and walked up the flat path that spiraled around this section of the mountain.

The pokemon thankfully started to relax… But since I was here. “You wouldn’t happen to know where the Gibble Gabite or Garchomp live do you?” I called out and all of the pokemon surprised me by nearly leaping into the air. Instantly they circled around gathering up the Swinub and faced outward looking as if they were ready for a battle…

I mean… Sure they were Ice types, but Garchomp are Garchomp…

And Gible are Gible and probably try to take a bite even if they are weak to them.

I waited a minute as even Arcanine was interested and slowly the Piloswine seemed to relax.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you. I just… I’m looking for them, and if you know where they might be?”

The pokemon didn’t seem at all interested in helping me after their scare, but one of the Piloswine stepped out and then Turned upwards. Pointing it’s snout.

“Pilo.” It offered and then gathered back together with its little pack. I guess that was my answer

“You heard them Arcanine. We need to go that way! I pointed up and more towards the western side of the mountain. And a moment later we were gone. Leaving the cute little piglets in our dust. And poor Mimikyu once more struggled to stay stuck to my head.

We raced around. Plenty of pokemon were passed by in a flash, although the density of the pokemon we saw started to dramatically slim down as we reached the western side of the mountain.

Something I noticed with pleasure because I was pretty sure I knew why.

Garchomp were always considered a pretty aggressive pokemon. I mean, anytime a wild Garchomp were shown in the anime they had always been these absolute beasts wrecking everything around them. Even powerful Ice types… wasn’t it one of the Hisui promotions that showed that? I think it was an Alpha Garchomp that time…

I shook it off, and instead had Arcanine start guiding us. Her sniffer once more coming in handy. Being so familiar with Dragon types. I didn’t think it would take us too long to find our quary. Although that wasn’t quite right. Turns out?

They found us first.

Arcanine was leaping around, but even she had to slow during her leaping fiery trail up the mountain.

And it was just as we landed, and she rocked from the weight of her landing that the attack happened.

“GARBITE!” The scream was the only warning she got, as suddenly out of holes all around us Gible and Garbite launched out, mouth first.

“Arc-” Before I could even call out, she acted.

The Gabite came out from the ground below us. Out of a hole in the rock that expanded instantly as it rushed out. The Gible, leapt out of holes as well, acting like the earth sharks that they were.

Arcanine leapt. I was rocked back against her, as she basically leapt straight up to avoid the dog pile. It meant I couldn’t see what was happening below us, although she seemed to know as she adjusted herself a bit in the air and as we landed we were now turned around and facing the group as we stood on a large boulder to face…

It was a Gible nest.

The whole place was dug down into the mountain, it was a creche. With tons of Gible sized holes throughout the whole thing. On the walls, on the ground, everywhere.

Gabite turned to glare at us, and I narrowed my eyes. The entire creche was locked onto Arcanine and ready to take a bite.

What a cool defense method.

Any pokemon that accidently fell into the creche would be dogpiled by tons of Bite attacks. It’s only Arcanines speed that kept her from getting torn apart like the Gible were piranha.

“Hi! Nice to meet you!” I called out, this did not in fact help the situation.

“GARRRR!” The Garbite opened his mouth and it was a male. I noticed the cut in his dorsal fin, and charged an attack. So did many of the Gible.

Most instantly flubbed the attack which was actually super cute seeing them mimic the others and just exhale nothing, but then the actual attacks came.

“Dragon breath! Dodge it!” I called, and Arcanine did just that, before the Gabite could even finish its attack Arcanine was gone. Having leapt completely over the edge of the creche leaving us completely out of sight.

She turned back to me, I looked at her. And I giggled, while Arcanine gave a doggy grin as the attacks all just started exploding around inside the stone pit.

Apparently none of the Shark dragons knew how to end a move early.

We waited as the sound of dragon breath ended before Arcanine hurried and peaked over the edge, letting me lean over as well.

Yep.

That hadn’t gone well. Most of the Gible were on their backs, steam and smoke coming out of their mouths and there were scorch marks everywhere.

The Gabite looked a little roughed up as well. A lot of the Gible near him were okay and were all looking to him.

I realized that they were little idiots. They had all looked to the Gabite for what to do once Arcanine disappeared…

And then blasted him.

Feeling a little responsible for it I whistled.

Then I pulled out a nice big Oran berry. “Here! Sorry about that!” I called out to him and tossed the berry right at him.

Which also happened to be a mistake.

Every Gible between me and the Gabite leapt to grab the berry. Even the ones that had moments before been nearly unconscious after getting blasted with a dragon type attack.

The Gabite did not in fact make a grab for it, instead just glaring as it bounced off his chest, and he instead reached out to smack four Gible that were all leaping at him, teeth first.

While he was distracted keeping himself from being bitten by his… Kids? Little siblings.

Another Gible ran over and snatched up the berry, swallowing it whole.

This Gible was then instantly dog piled and a rumble broke out, that the filled Gible seemed to barely even notice despite being bitten multiple times as the little horde of teeth all tried to get a berry…

Okay my usual method might not work here.

“Sorry!” I called out again. Even as Gabite did not look like he was going to accept my apology. Wisps of Dragon energy flowing out of his maw in a clear threat display.

“Do you want some berries? I really didn’t mean to get you all so hurt!” I called out, but it was Mimikyu still hiding in my hat that alerted me. The feeling of him tangled in my hair suddenly jerked and practically pulled my head to look behind me.

“Oh hello.”

“GARRRRR!” The roar of a full sized very angry female Garchomp echoed off the mountain tops.

Huh. This was going to be…

Fun.