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And so Luka was back on the pier. I many ways, this pier represented so much about his time in Castelia. It was like his rock. It cheered him up when he was sad, it calmed him down when he was stressed and it felt like it looked after him. This would probably be the last time he would come back to this place for a long time and Luka wanted to say goodbye to his favourite spot in Castelia. Sure, he was going to be here for a day or two more, but, it felt like the right time to do this.

So, he went to his favourite bench and sat down on it. He released his Pokémon and smiled at them. He lifted the newly dubbed Misa onto his lap and talked to her. "Misa, I'm Luka. You'll be journeying with us, I hope that's alright with you." He smiled at the Sandile and started introducing her to his other Pokémon. "This here is Kai. He's my Pignite and we've been friends for seven years and counting. Up until recently, neither me, nor Kai had been in a Pokémon battle so we are still kinda new to this whole shebang but we're growing together. Next to Kai is Squirt. My dad has a Carracosta and Squirt here is his son. Before I left for College, Dad gave him to me to help protect myself and although we didn't get along at first-"

Squirt squirted some water in Luka's face which dripped onto Misa a little. [You bet'cha. But, he's getting better. So, I'm not gonna tease him for too much longer. Gotta give him a break at some point, y'know.]

Luka wiped his face with his sleeve and did the same for Misa. "Sorry about that. He always was a joker. Anyway, next to him is Tayla. She joined the team a few days ago and she's a pretty sassy Swadloon. Just don't ruin her coat and you should be fine. Everyone, meet Misa the Sandile. Be nice to her and treat her like one of the gang. Ok?"

There was a cheer from the Pokémon and Misa jumped down off of Luka's lap. She walked up to Squirt and nipped at his flipper. [That is for crunching down on my snout. That hurt really badly you meanie.]

Squirt sprayed some water on his flipper and glowered at Misa. [Says the Sandile that decided to chow down on my flipper. If I hadn't stopped your jaws, you would have eaten me alive.]

[Not true. I don't like seafood and you tasted awful.]

[Well, thank Arceus for that.]

Misa turned to Kai. [So, you've been with Mister Luka for a long time then?]

Kai grinned and started laughing. [Mister Luka? I've never heard anyone call him Mister before. Awww, that's great. He'd love you being so polite. But yeah. We've been friends for a very long time and he's just so chill. Sure, he gets all super paranoid and investigitavey at times, but, beneath that he really is just a cool guy. And he likes to chill out and relax. This place in particular is one of his favourite relaxing places.] He paused for a second before carrying on. [Are you alright being so close to the sea? I know Ground types are usually pretty terrified of it....]

Misa looked out at the big blue sea and her eyes seemed to sparkle. [I've never seen the sea before. It's.... It's so pretty. I've lived in that desert for ever and it's just so boring. But this... Even though I don't like getting wet, this place is wonderful.]

Tayla hopped over to where Misa was. [Isn't it? It's my first time seeing this view too. It's gorgeous. The way the afternoon sun glints off the sea is just stunning.]

Misa grinned a very toothy grin and looked back up to Luka. [I think I'm going to like it here with you guys. It's gonna be great seeing the world beyond my desert and getting to experience such beautiful views.] She squealed, which sounded very odd coming out of a Sandile, but she did it all the same. [This is going to be so much fun!]

Seeing the Sandile having so much fun made Luka smile. As he had told the Nurse at the Pokémon Centre, Pokémon had the right to avoid capture if they didn't want to be caught. But some Pokémon did want to be captured. They wanted to achiveve their own ambitions. Some wanted to travel the world, some wanted to meet as many friends as possible, some wanted to just have fun and some wanted to challenge themselves and become stronger. Without a trainer, most Pokémon would never be able to do anything like that. They would be stuck in the same habitats and they would never be able to travel unless they could fly like the Pidoves or swim like the Alomamolas. Pokémon had the right to shoot for their dreams too, didn't they?

This looked absolutely crazy. "N..." Henrietta whispered. People were staring at them. She looked homeless and he was talking to a Pokemon. This was, literally, the craziest looking she could get - she thought.

[I don't fight for me. She gives me things to beat and so I beat them. She delivers me to battles - but they're my own battles.] Melty considered the second part of what he said. He cast his eye on Henrietta.

[That's crap. We've only had small fry to fight. Tell her I wanna keep getting stronger - she better get her a** to fighting.]

N turned to face Henrietta again. "He's tired of fighting weak opponents. He won't accept you quitting because he needs your help to get there. You're just going to have to keep getting stronger, even if it's hard."

****

Spike's Rapid Spin severed Sazu's String Shot lines connecting the bug to the wheel, causing the car to spin out of control. The Stun Spore dispersed, and Crofton dropped Lancer into the back seat of the jeep to grab the wheel, unbinding him in the process.

"Watch my car, you crazy child! I'm a Pokemon Ranger! You need to let go!"

The car became steady again, but was still going forward. With his free hand, Crofton aimed his whip to snap at Takamaru's fingers. One swipe across would probably stun him enough to let go of the car.

A rainbow colored bolt of light zig zagged at Spike's midsection. The Psybeam flew at the Drilbur as Sazu flew alongside the car, positioned to knock Spike into the shotgun seat with Lancer.

It took N a moment to answer. His eyes darted away to the sea of people next to them.

"Because you're one of the few I've met who knows what it really means to be a trainer."

the boy and his kirlia were still there watching and listening, getting much entertainment from these events. they wanted to say something but thought this must be a tv show recording, so held back. often, kai's eyes moved to the litwick, interested and confused by the emotions it has put out

"I've fought them more than once. Every single time we were interrupting what they were doing. But one of them told me once, we wouldn't have to fight if I left. I could - just like that - leave. It was..." She recounted the event.

"The same day that two of them saved my life. They fought each other, for me. All of it seems really circumstantial. I want.. I want to know more about them." She managed a soft, faint smile.

"I don't think they're bad people. I'd like to understand what they're doing, why they're doing it."

“Stop, stop, I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

Salieri looked up from her pokedex with a raised eyebrow at the Frillish, who looked just as frustrated as she did. [Must I reintroduce my desires? And where is my monocle? I will not be as entertained fighting you for a second time, woman.]

“Can you just shut up? For a second, please? I’m just trying to figure out why you were in my room being a creep. I’ll give you back that Scope Lens when I know why, and then you can leave.” She folded her arms. “Don’t you have any easier way of communicating to humans?”

The Frillish tilted his head to the side, brainstorming. Then his eyes began to glow a soft pink. Salieri took a step back. The attack was Night Shade, which would induce a mirage of her fears. Her muscles tensed. She was ready for it.

What looked like a thought bubble made of swirling, murky purple energy floated above Frillish’s head. And then in the inside appeared a “ stare ”

Salieri glared at the emoticon. A weaker version of Night Shade. Not a mirage of her fears, but of a simple expression. “You could do that this whole time and you didn’t tell me?”
“ xd ”
“You…you…” Salieri’s fists trembled at her sides. A vein popped on her forehead in anger. She wanted to try to communicate with a Ghost type pokemon to overcome her problems, and what happened? She found one that was useless.

“你是没有用的 ！谁会教这样一个技巧，疯狂的小丑 ！？愚蠢的幽灵水母 ！悟空应该变成午餐 ！"

(("You are useless! Who would teach such a skill to a lunatic buffoon!? Stupid phantom jellyfish! Wukong should turn you into lunch!"))

As the unintelligible Frillish and now equally unintelligible Battle Girl continued yelling at each other, they were approached.

“You don’t have very good control over your pokemon, do you? Do you want some help?”

Salieri and the Frillish both paused to turn their irritated glares onto the interrupter. She was a girl about Salieri’s age, with the same skin tone. She wore white and pink are her main colors, including a pink sarong around her waist. And her purple ponytail was absolutely huge, almost the size of her body. Next to her was an Axew.

Sal was already having a rough time with her pokemon. She didn’t need someone else to tell her that.

“My control over my pokemon is my business, not yours. And it’s just fine, thanks,” she told the girl while waving her away with one hand. The girl looked flustered, and then clenched her fist at the gesture.

“I was only trying to help. If you’re in denial then it’s none of my concern.”

Salieri grit her teeth and spun to face the girl. “Who do you think you are, anyway?”

The girl jabbed a thumb at herself. “My name is Iris, and I’m set up to be a Gym Leader in Opelucid City. I came here to do some extra training, but if the trainers around here are as poor as you then I’m out of luck.”

Salieri’s eyes widened. Her teeth continued to grind together.

This girl was going to be a Gym Leader? Her? What did she know, anyway? Only weak people went around bragging about their strength.

“Get real. If you wanted a challenge you’ve come to the right girl. I’ll show you what it takes to really be a Gym Leader! I don’t even know this Frillish and I’ll still kick your a** with him” Salieri growled.

Iris grinned, showing off her canine teeth. “Great! I won’t lose, no way no way! Axew, are you ready!?”

“Xew!” cried the tiny Dragon, hopping up and down excitedly. Salieri extended a hand out to the Frillish.

“I don’t know what your deal is, but here’s my proposal. If you help me show this girl that we aren’t weaklings, I’ll give you back your monocle. Just one fight. And you can go do whatever you want, I don’t care.” She stuck out her hand. “Deal?”

The Frillish stared at the outstretched hand for a few seconds. Finally, he created a Night Shade emote above his head again: “ rolleyes ”

His tentacle arm slipped around Salieri’s hand, bobbing it up and down in a handshake. She recoiled her hand and rubbed it. It was all cold and slimy now.

“Gross.”

****

"Then you should probably go to one of their lectures," N told her curtly. He paused. That response seemed a little harsh. He turned back to face her, still staying firmly on his side of the bench.

"They seem to be very misunderstood. I believe they're having a banquet tonight to explain previous allegations against them."