004

[firstnothing]

The afternoon before had been ... enlightening. And with the egg he'd acquired hatching just after dark, bringing his team to three (two and a half he supposed; a newborn pokemon wasn't terribly strong), things seemed to be going well. The dusky little fox was more than content to curl up with Sorrow and Regret and sleep there the entire night through, and he'd had no reason to disturb them. Come the morning, all three would be put to work.

That had been the plan anyway. Something seemed off as he set up breakfast; he's almost completely certain there had not been four pokemon sleeping there last night. And now there were. Regret's obvious black-and-white, Sorrow's vivid green, the little zorua's dusky gray, and ... orange, cream and black, all curled up.

Frown.

Ousting the doglike pokemon proved to be more troublesome than it was worth, and Xemnas quickly settled on simply ignoring it in favor of straightening out his own, handing out breakfast, checking for lingering injury from the day before, and heading on his way. Honestly he had intended to catch a growlithe sooner or later, preferably sooner, but this one was ... overaffectionate. And far too exuberant for his tastes, with the way it bounced in happy, barking circles around himself and his bewildered team.

Thus went the day. The constant energetic presence of the growlithe didn't really interrupt the hunting any, as wild pokemon seemed to ignore the noise and darting about for the most part, including one sleeping abra at the base of a tree. Abras, according to his pokedex after a quick scan, wouldn't ordinarily counterattack. And the little zorua was more than happy to test its small claws and sharp teeth on the sleeping psychic-type.

Repeatedly, given the thing kept teleporting. It was annoying enough to all of them (except the growlithe, who seemed impossible to annoy) that actual effective teamwork seemed to be rapidly forged between his three pokemon out of sheer determination to corner and catch the abra. It kept teleporting. How often could it do that?

Quite a bit it turned out. But eventually, with a lot of effort and a well-timed Grass Whistle, Xemnas had the little psychic-fox neatly trapped in one of those red-and-white pokeballs. The first one he'd ever bothered to catch, and that probably due to the frustration levels of chasing it around all day.

As sunset approached and he set out for the distant city again, the growlithe followed.


[Audio]

[From the sound of sharp little hooves on road, he's managed to find a proper route to follow.]

Is it ordinary that a pokemon might decide to join you, whether or not you wish it to be there?

Comments

[firstnothing]

Perhaps the darkness simply can't touch a heart so bright. I admit I do not know. I haven't had the leisure or opportunity to discover the answer. Perhaps before Radiant Garden fell she was simply taken from her home and moved elsewhere, conveniently for her.

[shadowdive]

Maybe. There was another apprentice around at the time, the King from - [an obnoxiously colored, bright, SO FUCKING BRIGHT place] I forget it's name, but he was called Mickey. He may have moved her. [It's a thought, anyway.]

[firstnothing]

A mystery for the ages. I had heard she'd arrived in this world ... again, if you have the right of it. But it has been some time since I have heard mention of her.. I wonder, might someone appear and just as swiftly disappear again?

[shadowdive]

It has happened before, I wouldn't be surprised. This world is honestly fickle as fuck with who it brings, only to throw them out a week later, or to keep them for years.

[firstnothing]

And no rhyme or reason for the pattern?

.. I wonder if another version of me has been here before. Or yourself for that matter.

[shadowdive]

From all the time I've been here, I haven't seen or heard you before. Myself?

I heard when I first arrived, I attacked and physically beat the shit out of everyone in New Bark Town except mom, because for some reason no one can get in the door.

Since I've never been to New Bark Town, I can guess there was at least one other me once. I woke up in this world in Mahogany Town.

[firstnothing]

[That elicits a laugh that seems far more genuine than the hollow chuckle from before.]

That is certainly one method to make a lasting impression on New Bark Town. I was under the impression however that everyone arrives there. This is not so?

[shadowdive]

[That is awful but the laughter ends up making his mouth quirk up; it's something he can chuckle about now, is it?]

No. I was part of some dumb organization called Team Rocket when I arrived, but I've since been thrown out after my first year when I was busy with my own plans. I don't think Rocket members arrive in Mahogany town anymore though.

[firstnothing]

[That's interesting.]

Team Rocket? I have heard a little of them now and again. Primarily either of their incompetence or their grave threat. Given your background I could see which category you might fit into.

[Not that he clarifies which.]

[shadowdive]

[Vanitas finally laughs about that.]

They're generally incompetent, but they do have a few members who know how to make a bang when they want. I don't know if those ones are still around though, this world and all.

[firstnothing]

Am I allowed to ask whom those might be, or is that a secret?

[shadowdive]

They never quite revealed their names or faces, but one used to show pictures of his latest acts and "speak" by writing on cards they would reveal to the feed.

[firstnothing]

I will make a note of it, if a similar pattern reappears. I'm afraid I haven't paid much attention to the news, perhaps I should be. ...You have been remarkably helpful.

[A pause.] Thank you.

[shadowdive]

You're welcome, is what I'm supposed to say I guess. [He at least sounds amused.]

For the most part, the network is boring and full of the same questions, but every now and then something like that shows up and Goldenrod is on fire. Due to it being a large city, it ends up being a popular site for assaults.

[firstnothing]

And robberies I imagine. The city seems to be quite wealthy and brimming with resources being misused.

[shadowdive]

Heh, you're right on that. Saffron is similarly wealthy, but no one screws around there because the gym leader is a psychic user, and can read minds herself without any Pokemon assistance.

[firstnothing]

... Is this so? How unsettling, to have someone else rummaging about in one's mind like a sock bin. Are her powers something that can be defeated, by perhaps a psychic pokemon keeping watch?

[shadowdive]

She probably only does it when she's suspicious of someone, but she knows an uncanny amount of her challengers when they first approach for a badge. You'd probably have better luck with a dark type Pokemon that also knows the move "psychic", as dark types are completely immune to psychic type moves.

[firstnothing]

I will see about finding such a pokemon, then. The idea of being so vulnerable on a world that otherwise strips one of their proper powers is unsettling. I possess a psychic-type but I do not think the dark-type I also have is capable of that attack.

[shadowdive]

You could try raising an Umbreon or an Absol, I think both can learn it. Umbreon require a little more input, since they are an evolution of an Eevee during the night. Until then, maybe buy some tinfoil and make a hat.

[firstnothing]

Tinfoil hats do nothing, Vexen tested that out years previously. I will look into these eevees and absols. I know I've seen the latter at least at the breeding centre's list.

[shadowdive]

Vexen? Another scientist sort of guy? [Sounds vaguely familiar, but not enough.]

[firstnothing]

Indeed. One of the sharper minds I have encountered, and preoccupied with his work. One of the six apprentices that led Radiant Garden to darkness, in fact. The hats did nothing. But it was entertaining while it lasted.

[shadowdive]

I was actually joking about the hats. [Because now he's just going to laugh because oh my god someone actually tried that]

[firstnothing]

So was I when I suggested it be tested. He assumed it was an order, and seemed so enthusiastic about it I couldn't bear to tell him the truth. Enthusiasm is so hard to come by. And it paid off well. Nothing quite matches the memory of seeing a seven foot tall wall of muscle and bad mood wearing a tinfoil hat because it's 'his turn to be the subject'.