In the end we never found any Petilil. As the sun started drooping down we flew back to our cave and settled in for another night in Kitakami. I crashed into my sleeping bag stretching out on the soft floof.
Mimikyu, snoring already with my hat covering him on top of a section of my sleeping bag. Ivy had her new pokemon out around her.
Fomantis I learned were nocturnal, being much more active, and not just snoozing the day away.
But Ivy had a lot of new pokemon. Her little team of Fomantis. Her Sewaddle, which she had managed to distract him with an older shirt that he was sewing into a cocoon of leaves at this point. Seedot seemed pretty fascinated by everything. Exploring around the cave and all the equipment we had.
I looked at my pokeballs. Mimikyu was already out, and I still didn’t want to bother the Goomy until we were back in Kanto…
Gible… I should do some more connection stuff with Gible, but I certainly wasn’t going to sleep with her out unless I had more than just her out.
But I couldn’t let that night scare make me not want to connect with her.
“Come out Gible!” I called loud enough Ivy could hear and she nodded, instantly scooping up the Fomantis around her so they were on her lap and off the ground.
Gible appeared and I could see her instantly take in the situation around her. Her jaw worked as she looked for whatever her instincts were demanding of her.
I gave her a couple seconds. Long enough that her sudden release wouldn’t cause a startle bite before speaking.
“Hi Gible. You want some food?” I offered and that got a reaction, she turned to me, and her eyes were thankfully her normal blank look.
“Gib?”
“Yeah, why don’t you come sit here, and I’ll get you some food.” I offered, patting a comfy spot on my sleeping bag beside me, and she stared blankly at my offer for a few seconds before it seemed to process through her brain.
She took a step, and then another and another until she was beside me. Her eyes watched me move, as I reached into my bag and pulled out some food stuff.
I quickly set up a pot and got some protein kibble along with some berries for flavor and texture going. Dragonites food would be good enough for Gible for now, but I should probably get some specific kibble differences for the species.
Luckily Gible didn’t seem to care about flavors. I glanced over as I was chopping berries and almost went still, as I realized she had shifted, mouth open in a very obvious instinctual reaction to food. But she was practically touching my elbow and I had a feeling she would clamp down on me, just as happily as on whatever I offered her.
I hummed as I finished the chopping, tossing the mix of cut berries into the pan. Then very slowly, I pulled out a berry chunk with my cooking spoon and considered how to best do this.
“Gible do you want a taste?” I offered and I could see how my words barely registered in her eyes. Lazer focused on the good before her.
I sighed a bit. I would need to do something here. I plopped the spoon into the pot, and then adjusted myself so I was facing Gible a bit more. Then I reached out and gently touched her.
She twitched and instantly went on the attack. Mouth snapping as she tried to bite whatever was coming for her but I was quick, and I expected it. I grabbed her. Right on her little shoulders so she couldn’t bite me, and yet she still tried.
I could hear Ivy gasping a bit from across the fire, and her pokemon all started moving, but I only caught it out of the corner of my eye, because I was more focused on my Gible.
“Hey. Look at me Gible. Come on. Look at me.” I whispered quietly, just loud enough she could hear, but enough she might not fully understand without actually listening, and slowly she stopped her thrashing attempts to bite me and blinked.
Her eyes dilated returning to a more normal size. It was kind of interesting how her eyes did that. “Hey back with me?” I asked and she just sort of hung in my grip for a minute before she spoke, her voice almost clueless.
“Gible?”
I snorted at the complete lack of comprehension in her tone.
“Yeah you’re back with me. Let’s get you fed okay? You don’t have to struggle for food anymore. Whenever you get hungry. You can tell me, and I’ll give you food.”
“Gib?” She asked, sort of pointing into her mouth, drool practically flowing out of her maw. I nodded, as I set her down, and grabbed the pot of stir fry Gible food. Throwing it onto a plastic plate I very carefully offered it to Gible between us.
“Eat slow.” I warned, but that wasn’t heeded and she instantly started trying to shove the entire plate into her maw. I struggled against her just a bit, but tipped the plate in, and then had to work a bit to get it out of her mouth as she choked down the entire meal.
“Gible the plate isn’t food. It’s like eating rocks. It won’t be good. Don’t bite it.” I instructed her, and she wasn’t fully instinctual, because she sort of listened, letting go of her bite and I pulled the plate free, and sort of made a choking swallowing noise and then opened her mouth.
“Gib!”
“Feel nice and full now?”I asked and she looked at me blankly.
Ah of course, did she even know what being full meant?
“Let’s clean up the plate. Cleaning up is part of eating okay?” I explained and she just looked on blankly, but when I offered her my hand, she looked from it to me, and back to it still confused.
Reaching out I slowly touched her hand and she didn’t react negatively, I slowly stood up holding onto her little claw hand and started walking letting her see what I was doing.
And Gible rose up onto her tiny legs and followed me out of the cave.
She helped me clean the dish, well mostly just watched, but she did try. And then I brought her back inside, and returned her so she could sleep.
“Vicky?”
“Yeah Ivy?” I asked, looking at my friend who looked a little worried.
“That pokemon… She’s dangerous.”
“All pokemon are dangerous Ivy. All of them. Never forget that. But yes, some are more dangerous than others. Gible is still very feral, and may be for a long time. She’ll take a lot of work until I can fully trust her, but she needed help.” I answered simply with a shrug.
“Are you sure? She seemed…”
“Uncontrollable? Wild? Yeah. Her line of pokemon have a reputation for being aggressive to start with, but honestly Ivy. There isn’t another Gible in the world I would pick over her if I had a choice.” I said as I flopped onto my sleeping bag. “She’s my friend now.”
Ivy just sighed and shook her head. “Just be careful. Everyone always warned us about capturing pokemon that don’t take orders well.”
“Well I guess that explains why we are friends then, because we both have that problem.”
“What? No I don’t! All of my pokemon are sweethearts!” She denied looking a little offended and confused.
“Ivy. Your Sewaddle is turning your pillow case into a leaf fort.”
“What!? No! SEWADDLE! I said leave my bedding aloooone! Noooo!” She screamed as she pulled out what used to be her pillow, but was now sewn into a leaf pile. Just a mess of leaves covering it.
—---
The next morning Ivy demanded some training battles and marched out of the cave early.
“She’s just grumpy because she didn’t have a pillow last night.” I told Mimikyu who looked on, confused at Ivy’s retreating back as she stomped out of the cave.
“KukukuKUku?”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Eh it’s okay. If we have to, we can always fly out of here and hit a pokemart or something.” I shrugged it wasn’t a big deal, Ivy was just grumpy.
Mimikyu was such a sweetheart for worrying though.
I followed Ivy out of the cave and towards our little battle space, and her grumpiness had increased her seriousness.
“Go!” She called out instantly as I arrived and Fomantis appeared looking eager and ready, it’s little eyes narrowed aggressively.
“Okay! Mimikyu!”
“Kkukuku!” He cheered as he leapt off my shoulder and it was on. Our pokemon battled both enjoying the fight, as they both tried to get stronger.
“Cut it up with Shadow Claw!” I called out, as Mimikyu defended against a Leafage.
“Drain Mimikyu Fomantis! You can do it!” Ivy called out in return, switching to a different attack.
We were both smiling widely, Ivy’s irritation disappearing as our pokemon battled it out also having a blast.
Of course then something smacked into the back of my head.
“Ow!” I whined spinning around and glaring at the interloper.
“Rio rio rio rio!” Riolu laughed at me, hands on her knees.
“You little shit!” I snapped, reaching down to grab the apple she had bonked me with and chucking it back, but she just casually caught it with one hand and sent me an evil jackal grin.
“Vicky! We are battling!” Ivy called out, but before I could complain at her for calling me out she turned to Riolu. “That wasn’t very nice Riolu, you shouldn’t interrupt a battle. If you want to play with Vicky you can do it after.”
“What!? I’m not playing with that brat!”
“Rio! Riolu, Lu rio!”
We both exclaimed in disgust before realizing we were both saying the same thing.
“You both are silly.” Ivy decided and we turned to her with a glare and she just rolled her eyes at our shared glare. “Are we going to finish this?” Ivy asked, waving at Mimikyu and Fomantis that were both looking at us with confusion.
“Rio!” She called out and to my surprise she ran out onto the field and faced me with a challenge on her face.
“Oh it’s like that is it?” I grumbled before pointing firmly. “Mimikyu! We are changing targets! Sorry Fomantis! Use Shadow claw on that pup!”
“KuKukkUkUU!” He shouted as he leapt to do just that.
“Rio!” She shouted as she took a firm stance and then shot forward her paw glowing as it clashed into Mimikyu’s claw with a screech of metal.
They both were blasted back and then it was on.
“Hehe! Mimikyu! Teach the pup a lesson! Use Astonish!” Riolu had fallen back into a wide stance looking for the attack, but then suddenly the ghost attack surprised Riolu by appearing suddenly in the corner of her eye, slamming into her.
But she didn’t flinch, In her paw she retaliated, as a Vacuum Wave roared out, and surprised Mimikyu.
Unfortunately, his disguise was already damaged, so he took the blow to his little face!
“Ri ri ri ri!” She laughed as Mimikyu fell back with swirly eyes. I guess he had been too tired to go all out against Riolu after Fomantis had worn him down.
“It’s okay Mimikyu! You did great little buddy!” I called out, as I grabbed another pokeball, throwing it out.
“Chansey!” She cried out looking around at the fierce looking Riolu that looked like she was still going to fight, and Mimikyu looking a little tuckered out.
“Chanse!” She cheered and then hit Mimikyu with a heal pulse.
Riolu though, didn’t realize the battle was over. The little battle maniac!
She charged suddenly going for a Steel Claw on Chansey.
Leaping into the air she came down crying out, when it felt like everything stopped.
Chansey had reached up and simply slapped a fin into the outstretched blow, and then with a casual twist tugged Riolu right out of the air and into a nasty overhead slam.
Riolu cried out in shock and a bit of pain at the hit and then laid there on the ground staring into the sky huffing lightly as the wind had probably been knocked out of her.
No one struck at the Goddess without divine punishment. Of course I didn’t have a chance to walk over and tease the shit out of Riolu because suddenly a firm call echoed out.
“Lucario.”
I looked over and Lucario was glaring, not looking very happy.
“Chansey.”
“Lu, Lu. Luca.”
“Chanse?”
“Rio.”
I watched the back and forth for a moment before suddenly Lucario blurred. A sound met my ears I was quite familiar with. Extreme Speed.
Lucario suddenly appeared slamming a fist into Chansey. Tanking the hit like it was barely there, Lucario had a moment of surprise on her face as Chansey’s flippers grabbed her wrist.
And then in an echoing boom. Lucario ended up in the dirt right next to her daughter. Both pokemon, shocked at their circumstances, simply lay in the dirt. As Chansey looked over them.
I was frowning though. What had Lucario wanted? Was she angry and lashing out at Chansey for hitting Riolu, looking for a challenge, or what?
I walked over as the battle seemed over. Lucario wasn’t hurt hurt, but it was obvious she was surprised at what had just happened, and Chansey had seemingly knocked whatever fight she had in her, right out.
“You okay?” I asked, and Chansey turned to look at me, throwing me a ‘fin’ up. I threw her a thumbs up right back.
Cool.
So instead I turned to the two pups.
“You two okay?”
“R-Rio!” Riolu growled, realizing I was the one asking, she jumped to her feet and glared at me, before rushing to her mothers side. “Rio?”
“Lu, Lucario.” She replied back rising up and brushing herself off. Chansey just watched on with a look in her eyes.
A challenge.
Lucario looked to Chansey, and then bowed her head in defeat. “Lu-Lu, Rio.” She offered and Chansey smiled brilliantly, blasting mother and daughter with a Heal Pulse.
“R-Riolu?” The poor girl looked from her mother to Chansey back and forth utterly shocked. I actually winced, because Riolu? She almost looked heartbroken. The shock of a child's faith in their parent being battered.
I doubted the pup ever expected her mother to lose.
“Luca, Lu.” Lucario explained calmly to Riolu reaching out and patting her on the head, comforting the little girl.
“Rio! Ri! Ri ri Rio!” She argued and then looked to Chansey demanding.
Chansey looked a little sad and just shook her head. “Chanse. Chansey, Sey, Chan.” She explained and Riolu looked none too pleased.
“Ri! Rio!” She argued, but Lucario reached out and picked up her daughter, shocking the pup and holding her tight as Rio looked pretty upset. Almost…
No. She was crying.
I think I understood what was going on, and since the fighting stopped I relaxed despite Riolu being upset. Noticing Ivy had stepped away and was settling cross legged in the grass holding Fomantis in her lap as they watched what was going on. I threw her a smile in thanks for being okay with just stepping back.
She threw me a thumbs up.
Nice.
Whether the action, or it was time, Chansey looked over to me and smiled, waving me over. Since Chansey wanted me to, I walked over and leaned into her side for a second in greeting.
Lucario looked at me, and simply sent me an apologetic nod of her head.
I just shook my head in return, there was nothing to apologize for. Riolu was just angry and surprised, and not okay with her mom not being the strongest ever.
As Lucario pet Riolu’s head calming her daughter, she looked to Chansey and they started chatting. To my amusement, Chansey placed a hand on my head and was petting me as well.
But the conversation between the two continued on, and on, until Lucario asked a question, and Chansey tittered and nodded.
Riolu hearing the question instantly snapped out of her fit and snapped out a refusal. Turning to Lucario and whining at her.
Lucario just smiled and patted her on the head.
Then the Jackal looked at me. “Lucario. Lu-lu.” She spoke solemnly. I looked to Chansey and she met my eyes and rolled her eyes as if I should know what was happening…
“Oh no! No no no no! I’m not letting that brat join my team!” I denied and Chansey tittered and Lucario’s eyebrows quirked up as if she was judging me.
I’m not here to be judged!
“Don’t give me that! She doesn’t want to be on my team! Chansey tell Lucario!”
“Chanse.” She denied me and patted my head, then she flexed her fin and pointed at a sullen Riolu.
Then she pointed at me.
“Lucario wants me to make her daughter strong.” I answered the entire reason for this situation.
“Chansey.” She agreed.
I groaned, because I knew this was a bad idea.
Could I make Riolu strong? Of course! Lucario were fast powerhouses, and they would suit my training style perfectly.
Only one problem. Riolu and I didn’t exactly get along. I could see her derision in her eyes as she looked at me.
I looked at her now, and saw that same emotion still. Riolu had no interest in me as a trainer. She didn’t want this.
“You know she doesn’t want to join me.” I told Lucario, “She wants to stay with you.”
“Lu. Lucario. Lucar, ri ri Lucario.” She spoke, although her words were more for Riolu.
“Ri, Rio!” Riolu argued and Lucario looked at her, and then, the taller pokemon knelt down and placed her paws on her daughter's shoulders.
I couldn’t follow the conversation that went on between them, but Riolu looked down. Then she looked back up. Her spine straightened and she barked out something looking firm despite the tears in her eyes.
Lucario looked down on her daughter with pride that even I could see and nodded, stepping back and the small family split.
Riolu walked over to me and barked at me with a pointed finger.
A challenge, an offer, and a grim resignation. She wasn’t happy.
Which is why I instantly reached down, grabbed a clod of dirt and smashed it into her face full force.
“Riiii!” screamed in shock at the sudden mud attack stepping back and blowing her tongue out as I had managed to get some right into her mouth!
Score!
“Hahaha! You look so stupid!” I crowed out in delight, practically bending over and laughing at the look of complete shock on her face.
“Riolu!” She roared and leapt at me.
A moment later I was crashing into the dirt, the two of us scrambling to beat the other, I grabbed an ear and tugged it, earning a yelp, while she smashed a mud clod into my face, we rolled around, as we fought each other constantly changing who is winning with every new move.
I smashed her face into the mud, she bit my arm earning her freedom from a headlock. And then we were both on our backs gasping for breath.
“Ow.” I muttered, and she whined a bit too. “Pbthh.” I spit mud out of my mouth unable to really use my hands as they were covered in mud from earlier.
“Blegh!” Riolu grunted as she wiped at her face. With a wince I stood up and headed for my bag which he been lost in the scuffle. I vaguely recall her choking me with the strap for a second. Before I smashed it into Riolu’s snout.
I grabbed my water bottle and after a few seconds mostly had my face and hands mud free, at least enough that I wasn’t tasting dirt anymore.
I walked over to the grumbling Riolu and poured out some water over her head. She glared at me from behind one eye, but eventually just accepted it, taking some water to spit, and washing her eye and paws.
“You’re kinda dumb you know.” I said aloud. Loud enough that everyone could hear me. I noticed Ivy was still sitting watching all of this, even eating a snack with her Fomantis as if this was a funny show.
“Ri!” Riolu replied back with a glare, and I scoffed.
“I wasn’t talking just to you.” I said and then spun and pointed a strong finger at Lucario. “You! Idiot! Moron! Stupid!” I called out hammering in my words to the surprise of the older Jackal.
“Lu?” She asked shocked, a finger pointing up at her face like she couldn’t believe that I was calling her stupid.
“Yes you! You were going to let Riolu run off with a strange human, someone she doesn’t even get along with! Dummy! Riolu obviously still wants to stay with you, but you didn’t think at all! Idiot! If you want Riolu to come with me so she can get stronger, then why don’t you just come along as well! Idiiiiot!” I yelled at the top of my volume.
Then I sighed and patted my clothes down. Looking to Riolu who looked just as surprised.
“Adults, am I right? So how about it? Both of you can come along. I’ll train Riolu if you want, and Lucario can train or not if you want, but at least you’ll be close to Riolu to make sure she is okay. I mean. I have tons of pokeballs.” I said with a shrug, pulling two pokeballs out of my bag handing one to Riolu to her surprise and then walking over to Lucario.
“Chansey! Chanse, Chan chan!” Chansey called out, miming smacking herself in the forehead, and then throwing me a fins up. I returned her thumbs up immediately.
“So how about it?” I offered a pokeball. And Lucario looked down at it.
“Lu.”