Walking down route 1, the rarely seen flat route north of Springville to reach Vinesburg.  Bastion was annoyed, very annoyed in fact, as an angry Lucy caught up to him.

"Why did you leave me behind?!" She screams.

"Because you are slowing me down."

"But there is so much to see, how can we just pass so much interesting things by?"  Lucy asked, apparently amazed by the apathy Bastion is showing.

"I am not here to play around, I have a job to do.  If you want to do sightseeing then do it yourself." 

"But it feels like a waste to not- I mean I'm sorry!"  She was trying to persuade Bastion until she receives an evil look from him, and she swears that she sees a dark aura around him.

"Do what you will, but do not expect me to slow down for you.  After all, you are the one asking to come along."

"I'm sorry."  She apologizes again.

After taking a deep sigh Bastion and Lucy continue walking in silence.  After a couple of minutes of walking, they come across a boy who is wearing a yellow T-shirt with a white stripe in the middle, blue shorts, and a blue hat that is backward.

"Hey you, let's battle!"  The boy suddenly calls out to them.

"I refuse." "I accept."

They both said at the same time.  After an awkward silence, Bastion continues to walk down the route ignoring both the boy and Lucy.

"He's pretty cold huh, but enough of that.  The name's Joey." The youngster, Joey, said proudly.

"I'm Lucy, although this might be sudden but let's settle this quickly.  I need to catch up to him."  Lucy pulls out her Pokeball after introduce herself.

"Alright, go Rattata!"

"Let's take him down Totodile!"

"Let me tell you something, my Rattata is in the top percent of all Rattatas!  So be careful!"  Joey boasted.

"Cut the talk, Water gun!"

"Ha dig!"

Totodile then proceeds to shoot a stream of water at Rattata who dodge it by digging underground.

"Chi again?  Totodile be careful, checking underground movements!"

After a few seconds after this, a slight movement under its feet was felt by Totodile, and proceeds that are Totodile successfully dodged the attack.

"Water gun!"

Taking the moment chance, Totodile shoots a stream of water and launched Rattata across the field.  Although it is launched quite far and with quite a lot of force it manages to land on its feet.

"Good Rattata, let's go."

After hearing the command, Rattata instantly begins to run at high speed at Totodile.

"Water gun again!"

Totodile which stabilized on the ground shoots out a stream of water once again.

"Dodge it Rattata!  Show them what top percent means!"

By moving slightly to the side, Rattata dodges the shot.

"Bite!"

"Sucker Punch!"

As the two get into melee range, Totodile jumps up and dive down with its mouth wide open at the same time Rattata use its hind legs as a launch pad and launch itself into the air with its front right foot glowing.

When the two about to crash into each other, Totodile begin to bring down its mouth down on Rattata only to find it is no longer there.  The next moment its eyes widened as it stomachs sunk in by the force of Rattata's punch.  Totodile shoots into the sky.

"That's it, Pursuit!"

After Rattata landed, it immediate chase after the Totodile that is flying in low attitude.  Soon the Rattata is upon Totodile, ready to smack it down.

"Now!  Scratch!"

Recover midair Totodile did a turn and scratch Rattata's face, causing it to be surprised.

"Wha-"  Joey yelled before he was interrupted by Lucy, "Bite, and follow it with Water Gun!"

Totodile bites down on Rattata and stomps down on the ground, skipping along the ground.  Using the momentum Totodile turn 180 degrees and throw Rattata into a tree, and then shoot a pressured stream of water into it, crushing Rattata between the water and the tree.

By the time Totodile stopped, Rattata has fallen on the ground, fainted.

"Rattata!"  Joey runs towards Rattata before return it into a Pokemon.

"Good job Totodile!  Let's rest alright?"  Lucy also runs towards Totodile before complemented it and also return it to its Pokeball to rest.

"Darn, I lost."  Joey murmured to himself.

"It is a good fight, your Rattata is top tier."

"Of course it is!"  Joey's eyes sparkle at the compliment.  "Please let me get your phone number so we can have a rematch!"

But before Joey's word reaches her, Lucy has already begun dashing after Bastion.

---------- Line Break ----------

After Bastion leaves Lucy with the random kid, he marches onward in silence.  Other than the occasional Pidgey and Pidove, which he ignored, that pop out there is no events.

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Enjoying the peace and quiet, he marches on until he found another person  who is blocking the road.  By the looks of it, she is battling a Honedge with a Marill.  By the looks of it, it will take a while before someone can emerge victorious from the struggle. 

Bastion keeps advancing while counting his steps, he stopped when he counted to 30, thirty steps.  They are taking too long, Bastion thought as he sends out Growlithe.

"Growlithe, let's finish this in one shot,  Flamethrower." 

Growlithe steady itself into the ground before send a giant torrent of to the Honedge from its mouth.  Honedge, unable to react in time, takes the whole attack unprepared.  After few seconds of constant burning, the Honedge falls to the ground, either fainted or too fatigued to even float.

Ignoring the astonished girl and her Marill Bastion continue down his merry way after returning Growlithe back to the Pokeball.

"Um, thank you."  The girl said to Bastion after returning Marill to the Pokeball and throw one at Honedge.  The small ball sucks in the Honedge, and after three shakes it is caught.

"Don't worry about it."  Bastion simply waved his hand without turning around.

Then the girl run beside Bastion, "Are you going to Vinesburg?"

"Yes."

"Then do you mind if I accompany you?"

"Suit yourself."  Bastion simply said after he looks at her, a teen around his age with silky long brown hair, droopy black eyes, about 160 cm in height, and wearing a white one piece dress with a pink ribbon tied in front of her chest.  If it was Bastion 2 years ago, he'd be all over her, but him as he is now  held no interest in her.

"Ah, excuse me for the late introduction.  My name is Bell, Bell Wellstain."

"Bastion, Bastion Lastavas."

"Then please let me thank you again, Bastion."

"There is no need, I only did it out of my convenience."

"Is that so?  But still, it didn't change the fact you help me if you don't mind why don't you stay in my house for the night?"  She said as she looks at the now setting sun.

Before he can reply, someone come to a halt beside him.

"Ha...ha...  You really didn't wait for me."

"Of course, I keep my words." 

"Oh, is this your acquaintance?"  Bell asked as she gestures towards Lucy.

"... you can say that."

"I'm Bell Wellstain, it is nice to meet you."

"Lucy Almond, same.  Also, Bastion, Totodile and me won the battle!"  She exclaimed.

"Oh, good for you,"  Bastion replied in a very uninterested manner.

"What's with the lackluster reply?  Oh well, is she someone you know?"

"No, we only meet minutes ago."

"Yes, he helps me catching a Honedge." 

"What?  Who?  Him?"  Lucy stared at Bell in incredulity while pointing at Bastion, who slightly nodded in return.

Before Lucy can make any more rude remarks Bastion cut in, "I did it because they are blocking the road."

"... Figures, I know you aren't so kind to help someone without a reason."  Lucy muttered.

"In the end, he still helped me, so please let me repay the favor."

"There is no reason to deny it, you mind Lucy sleep there as well?"

"Not as all, the more the merrier right?"

"What are you all talking about?"  Lucy asked in confusion.

"We are sleeping at her house for the night, that's all.  Well, it seems like we are here, Vinesburg." 

In front of the trio is a small town that is no bigger than Springville, but unlike Springville, there are fields upon fields of Grepa Berries, a sweet and sour fruit.  The sweet smell of finely brewed wine entered their nose.

"Vinesburg is a small town that specialized in wines and winery, this place alone supplies the Grepa Wines for the whole Nioc region,"  Bell explained as she leads them into the town.

"I wonder how it tastes like..."

"I'm sorry to say, but the legal age of drinking is 17 and above."

"What!  Why?"

"I don't know, but it is the rules.  But that aside, do you want to try some Grepa juice?"  Seeing Lucy's dejected face, Bell asked.

"Then let's go!... Is that alright Bastion?"

"Do as you wish, we are resting here for the night, do as you wish before morning comes,"  Bastion said before walking towards to what seems to be a winery.

"Ah, my house is on the far East side of the town."

"Alright."

"He's so responsive as always."  Lucy's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"We should go as well.  You haven't visited this town yet right?"

"No."

"Then let us go around sightseeing since we still have a little time before sunsets."