We departed Oldale town after a quick breakfast in the Pokemon Center the next morning. When we were a good bit into route 102, we stopped and I bind new rocks to their tails. While I was still not sure if this would really help with learning Iron tail, it couldn’t really hurt either.

The route was very similar to route 101, except that I kept my eyes towards the trees. There was a possibility to encounter a certain Pokemon on this route in the games, and if it’s somewhere it should be near those. Sadly I had no luck and we stopped for lunch. I relieved both my Pokemon of their loads so that they could eat in peace.

“So do you two think you are able to try out the new move?” I ask them while we were eating. Both shook their head, not that I was surprised mind you.

“Well no problem, we will get there. It was only a day after all, do you want to continue or pause the training for the afternoon?”

“Absol. Sol!” “Poochyena…” Absol clearly wanted to continue, while Poochyena looked like he wanted a break.

“Alright, come here Absol. Let’s get that stone settled. Poochyena you can walk a bit further from us in the afternoon, just please don’t start fights you can’t end yourself.” I said and tied the stone to Absol while giving Poochyena a look. At least he did look a bit guilty, as he should after some stunts he pulled while on patrol for the lab. Most of the time it was him stealing gathered berries from other Pokemon and one time he even came back with an egg. That last one earned him a time out.

“Come on, let’s go.” so we continued our walk along route 102. We did not encounter a person the whole day, but since there isn’t anything to do in Oldale that isn’t a surprise.

After we sat up camp in the evening I turned to my Pokemon. “You two want to go on a hunt?” Both nodded with equal grins. “Remember to stay somewhat close and come if I shout for you ok? You never know with wild Pokemon.” Yeah they already were gone when I finished, letting out a sigh I looked around for some fire wood.

When I finally got a fire started I rummaged through my pack for ingredients. I’m not a cook but I will be damned if I eat instant meals every day. So after getting the water boiling and setting the noodles in there, I occupied myself with cutting vegetables. Thankfully the mart had stew bases for sale with which you can quickly start a meal in the wild. Setting aside the noodles after they where done, I put the stew base into the pot and followed the instructions. Putting in the veggies after some time I happily observed my bubbling stew.

I was ripped out of my observations when my Pokemon came back. Absol had a Zigzagoon in her mouth, clearly dead. “Did you two already eat and brought that for me?” Absol nodded and placed the dead Pokemon beside me. I took the stew from the fire and took out a cutting board and a knife. “Well then I will cut it up now, I don’t need the whole thing though.”

What followed was me cutting up the meat, putting it in a pan on the fire. When it was cooked through I added everything to the stew and soon I enjoined a somewhat self made stew in the ‘wilds’. ‘As if I would risk something like this in the real wilds’ I snorted to myself while eating. Because that was a sure-fire way to attract scavengers.

The rest of the evening was me putting the, now cold, stew into sealed boxes and getting ready for bed. Like that our days on route 102 continued, my Pokemon trained with their rocks and we made steady progress to Petalburg.

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We arrived towards lunchtime on the fifth day. Quickly finding the Pokemon Center I enjoyed a quick shower and a bite to eat. While the meals on the route where tasteful, I still prefer food from a real chef. After eating I recalled Poochyena, the little guy finally was worn out after the tail training and eating his fill.

“Do you want to explore the town for a bit Absol?”

“Absol. Ab.” She looked at her fur, back to me and back to her fur.

“Oh? Only if I brush your fur first?” I sigh and receive a nod. “Well come on then, let’s go to our room for that.”

After an entirely too long time brushing Absol’s fur we finally were out into Petalburg city. And it really was a city, while not a metropolis it was big to me. We wandered through the city taking in the sights, sadly one thing was a somewhat constant. You guessed it, the mistrustful looks directed towards Absol. You remember those PokeDex entries from the games? About Absol being the ‘Disaster Pokemon’? Those are real here, which isn’t helped by the fact that not much is known about their life in the wilds.

‘At least nobody creates a fuss and they only stare a bit’ I muse while we were walking on the side walk.

“Hey you! Why are you letting that thing out in a city? Do you want to ruin us?!” came a somewhat lulling shout. ‘I really shouldn’t tempt fate’ I thought with a sigh.

I look over my shoulder and saw a guy in the mid thirties with faded cloths and a brown paper bag in hand. “She is my Pokemon so of course she is out with me. I think you should mind your business and maybe head home. I think you had a bit too much to drink.” I lazily call over my shoulder, not that I give a damn what other people think about my Pokemon. We will just show them, it’s more effective than talking anyway.

“What did you say?!” thundered the guy behind me and I saw Absol flinch from the volume. I turned around as I heard thundering steps coming up behind me, only to see a fist flying. It never reached me though because Absol tackled the guy (not the attack) and brought him down to earth. In the literal sense.

I blinked away my confusion for a second before hastily saying. “Absol! Only intimidate, no need to cut of fingers! I just brushed your fur, and I would need to bath you to get the blood out!” That sentence of course sparked some murmurs among the onlookers. Well you can’t talk with predators and dark types specific like any other Pokemon. They just think differently.

“What’s going on here! Police, let me through!” came a voice from the crowd. From the crowd emerged an honest to good, or Arceus I guess, Officer Jenny. ‘That are some good genes right there’ I idly muse as I looked her up and down.

“You! Is that your Absol?”

“Yes, mam.”

“Well? Call her off already.”

Sigh. “Alright. Absol come on, you don’t know where this guy was. And I think he got the message.” Absol nodded and walked back to my side. As I looked back to the officer I finally saw the Growlithe to her feet. ‘What is one of those doing here? Weren’t they only in Emerald’s safary zone or something?’ I thought a bit confused.

“Alright you three, you will all come back with me to make your statements. No retorts, alright?” Jenny said towards us after quickly checking the guy over.

“Of course, lead the way, mam.” I answer, not worth getting into trouble for really. The guy obviously had over intentions.

“What? This beast attacked me!” he slurred out. “Why should I come with you?”

Officer Jenny clearly wasn’t impressed and turned to me. “Seems like we won’t get away from here for now. What happened?”

“Well, he badmouthed my Pokemon and I told him to go home, since the obviously had a drink too much. Than he tried to punch me and Absol put him on the ground. He is lucky that that was it, never mess with a dark type or it’s trainer.” I explain. While Jenny didn’t looked impressed with my last statement, she nodded anyway.

“Alright, I can see that happening. You Sir will come with me and don’t resist!” Jenny said while turning to the guy. He spluttered this or that but honestly I didn’t listen. I just waited to be finally able to go. Jenny saw my state and shooed me away. “You are free to go. But be careful alright?”

“Thanks and good luck with him.” I said while walking back to the Center. This day was officially done and my mood a bit soured.

That’s probably why I left Petalburg the next day after a quick restock. Onto Petalburg forest we go, let’s hope that this was an exception.