“I mean… They don’t have to be part of the Story. Can’t they just stay here in Lumiose?” Real-Chad asked, eyeing Buff-Chad and Psy-Chad pitifully. Somehow, the question managed to upset everyone, almost equally, for completely individual reasons. The shouting died down when the Sylveon from earlier came over, requested they leave, and highly suggested Dragonair return to work. Dragonair returned to waiting tables, after The Lady informed them the squad would meet up again tomorrow to discuss their next operation.
“So, having said my part, what do you two think? I mean, I can guess because I was both of you a few days ago, but I would think you’d be interested in just peacing out here?” Real-Chad suggested, eyeing his muscular and floating counterparts.
“I mean, maybe? Once Team Flare are gone, Kalos seems one of the better places to put down roots, by the looks of things.” Psy-Chad commented, appreciating the architecture as they strode past. “And maybe it’s the stockholm syndrome talking, but I’ve been… enjoying my time here, I guess.”
“True, all true, but hear me out–” Buff-Chad started, bubbling with excitement within his sphere of protective energy. “What if we go to Italy instead? Also pretty, no world-ending bad guys, and most importantly: Italian Cuisine.” He noticed a woman openly staring at him from across the way, giving her a smile and cheerful wave. The orb flashed a bright pink and her pokemon immediately fainted, causing the woman to panic.
“What is Italy called here anyway? We could look it up at the pokemon center.” Real-Chad offered, ignoring the whispers from behind him from the other four. “But that could be great; I still need to talk with Dragonair more, figure out what they’d like to do. Assuming we end up together, that is.”
“Don’t worry about that, you saved us from being erased into nothingness; we can find our own special someones!” Buff-Chad reassured himself, attempting to drape one of his thick arms across his flying-type self’s shoulders only to be stopped by the protective force field. Psy-Chad nodded in agreement while patting Real-Chad on the back.
“And I believe this is where we part ways,” Psy-Chad declared, as the group reached a three-way intersection. “Chad, thanks for saving us. If you’re ever in a bind, the Narrator should be able to let us know. Hopefully I’ll have mastered Teleport by then.” The three shared one final group hug, followed up by an oddly emotional hug for Buff-Chad’s protective ball from Lucielle, who had to be pulled away by Ginette rather forcefully. Alexandre offered a fist-bump and a smirk for Psy-Chad, who returned the gesture. Keanu, not holding any emotional attachments, simply left down the path towards the fields, the rest of the team following in his wake. Psy-Chad and Buff-Chad waved goodbye before heading down the opposite way.
I’m gonna need better names for them if they show up again.
“So, Keanu, I guess I’ll start us with introductions. I’m Chad, fire flying type, and I specialize in all-out assault. You spoke with Ginette earlier, she’s currently just a water type but should gain a dark typing soon based on what I researched online, and tends to be a ranged evasion battler. Next to her, also someone you know, Lucielle who is fighting steel, but I am unsure of her fighting style…”
“Mixed bruiser with technician. Always up-close and personal, but I can beat them black and blue with more than just my fists.” She supplied, as Ginette enjoyed the minor joke.
“Right, and lastly is Alexandre, poison and ground, mix between a raw tank and a staller-”
“If my fists don’t do you in, you won’t be standing long anyway,” he supplied viciously, pounding his fists together to punctuate the statement.
“Yea… Gaston will rejoin us for the conference, but his style may change between now and then so no comment there. With that said, how about you?”
The brown and white bipedal owl stood up straight, whipping out an extended wing with the other covering his chest in a respectful bow. “Alola; Keanu, grass and ghost type, ranged attacker with a focus on hit-and-run tactics. I have more battle experience than the rest of you combined, and request you respect that fact.”
Just go with it, Narrator. Unless you would argue Ginette doesn’t already fit the concept?
She’d probably start by replacing your tea with decaf.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The dark blue frog took in her new form, barely able to examine much beyond her arms before being captured in a big hug by an excited jackal. The two were now roughly equal in height, and the energy became infectious as both celebrated the achievement.
Remembering the event vividly, Ginette replicates the offensive gesture before shouting at her past self. “Stop being an idiot and take the deal! Don't make me come back in time and smack myself for being so short-sighted!”
“Sounds like someone needed a little motivation originally, hmm?” Lucielle teased, reappearing to embrace her frog.
“His sales pitch was caca at first. But, after being informed of the compensation package… Let’s just say I’m glad I accepted.” She replied while leaning in for a peck on her girlfriend’s cheek.
“Chad,” Keanu called out from his perch in the trees above, drawing the attention of the orange dragon below. “I have two questions following the events of yesterday.” Nodding, Chad motioned for him to continue as they walked. “First, it seems like every wild pokemon in the area is actively avoiding us-” To which Chad shrugged. “Second, if you went through all the trouble for a flying license, why are we walking?”
Ginette’s ball vibrated to signal her interest in the second question. “Simple; we need to battle trainers for both practice and money. And most trainers can’t fly, or at least the ones willing to battle won’t be.” Chad clarified with a response, ducking below a relatively low-hanging branch. “The flight license is for the parts when we don’t want to be walking, like Route 17 which is pure snow and cold.”
With Keanu nesting in one of the chairs, and the duo of Lucielle and Ginette hogging the bed, Chad and Alexandre once again found themselves attempting to make the floor tolerably comfortable. By arranging all of the soft pokemon beds in a pseudo-mattress, the two were once again left with an uncomfortable situation. “I miss him,” Alexandre admitted unprompted, gently attempting to lie down with his head on one of the few remaining intact beds; the others scattered around him torn or shredded by his spines.
“I know, but this will be good for him. He’ll be so strong next time we see him, maybe he can solo our whole team.” Chad encouraged, holding his tail in his claws to keep the flame away from anything flammable. “Plus, with his new evolution I doubt he’ll fit inside these tiny rooms anymore.” Both chuckled lightly, doing their best not to disturb the others.
Alexandre stared at the ceiling, thinking, before he frowned. “I mean, maybe he will fit? The rooms seem to get bigger as we go.” Chad eyed the rhino suspiciously, before standing up and attempting to reach the ceiling.
And failing to get close.
“I remember scraping the ceiling when I evolved, pretty sure Alexandre did too. Are we that big?” Chad inquired, eyeing his teammate in suspicion.
“Right; it can be quite easy to skip over the mundane events when people aren’t looking for them. But why the size thing?”
“So why not make one for pokemon?” Alexandre suggested, lying on his back while having managed to avoid skewering another pillow. “Sounds rather fun, raising up a whole new kingdom from the dirt. One where humans are just the guests who come to visit…” The two lie in silence while the idea takes root in the world.
The pink rhino sighed to the degree his soul nearly left his body, turning one eye to look upon Chad without rotating his head from the comfy position. “Yea, I do. My behavior towards you back when we first met was rude, and I made an assumption about you that was clearly untrue. I shouldn’t have been so disrespectful, and I will endeavor to do better.”
Chad rotated his head to lock eyes with his teammate, stunned by the change in personality. “What brought this up?”
“I saw the way you embraced that long dragon back at the cafe; how it made you cry-”
“I didn’t cry.”
Yes, you did; now let him finish.
“...I saw how badly you were craving the touch of another. It made me think back on how often I too initiated some form of physical contact with others; and not just to punch them into submission.” There was a pause, a light ‘eep’ from the bed where one of the girls accidentally sleep-tickled the other. “You just didn’t want to feel alone.” His eye went back to the ceiling, staring into space. “I’m sorry.”
Chad shifted his head to also stare at the ceiling, his horns proving to be a hindrance and angling his skull slightly forward. “Thanks; even though I have you guys as teammates, there’s a difference between a team and a family. And then there’s a further distance between a family member and a loved one.” He paused, chewing over his words before continuing. “Even if I had almost a hundred teammates, if none of them are someone special to me, I’d still feel like I was on an island waiting for rescue.”
“Couldn’t you just fly? I could swim, I bet.” Alexandre commented, the metaphor seemingly lost on him.
“In this case no, you’d be stuck on this figurative island. Because even if you could leave, there’s no guarantee you found another piece of land– or a boat– before you got tired and sunk into the depths.”
Silence hung over the pair, broken by an innocent question from the rabbit. “Is this because of the lovebirds?”
“No, it’s been a thing since before I even met Ginette. I spent my first two years here surrounded by people who made me feel valued and loved... only to learn it was their scripted 'characters' and not how they truly felt.” Chad shut his eyes and huffed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be trauma-dumping on you. I accept and appreciate your apology. Let’s get some sleep so you can go punch more people tomorrow.”
Alexandre smiled, closing his own eyes and likely dreaming of himself going on a rampage across Kalos as pokemon and trainer alike feared his mighty strength.
Shadow Sneak, Swift, Nasty Plot
Stomp, Rock Tomb, Dragon Dance, Hone Claws, Rock Smash, Bulk Up, Detect, Protect, Dragon Tail, Ancient Power, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Crunch, Earthquake
Focus Energy, Double Kick, Horn Attack, Dig, Venoshock, Sludge Bomb, Poison Jab, Earthquake, Bulldoze, Protect, Flamethrower, Stone Edge, Power-Up Punch, Bulk Up
Detect, Protect, Extreme Speed, Aura Sphere, Close Combat, Bulk Up, Power-Up Punch, Bone Rush
Detect, Protect, Swift, Shadow Sneak, Nasty Plot, Phantom Force, Leaf Storm, Synthesis, Leaf Blade, Shadow Ball, Magical Leaf