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Chapter 12

Jubilee (Part II)

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"Maybe we can work this into our schedule after all," said Claire. "I vote the Pokemon go and enjoy the jubilee while we go get the shopping done. What do you think, Eve?"

"I vote yes," said Evelyn as she reached into her bag and pulled out her Pokemon and released them.

"Alright all!" said Claire as she released her own Pokemon, "Here's the deal! Go hang out, have fun, don't fuck anything up!"

She said the last part as she glared at Magmar, who just shrugged and smiled. She also had a Growlithe, who took to sniffing around right away, and a Slugma that just looked up at Claire with a pitiful look in his eyes.

"Oh...right. You probably won't actually get around much. Return..." sighed Claire, returning him. Evelyn smiled at her team.

"Okay, everyone go have fun, but we're meeting back here at the pier near the painting of the Remoraid by dinner." She said. Draco turned and gave her a torn expression, and she chuckled. "I'll be fine for one evening, Drake; go have some fun."

"Alright, enough talk, let's just go!" sighed Claire impatiently, grabbing Evelyn by the wrist and dragging her aside and deeper into the crowd. She waved goodbye to Draco, who returned the wave with a very apprehensive look and a half-assed wave.

(Oh, dear Legends, I'm glad I'm not her.) He thought with a grimace. He heard Toukon sigh next to him.

"Awesome, no shopping!" he said, practically voicing Draco's thoughts. "Now we can just chill and be back here by- Woah-woah! Where the hell did everyone go?"

Draco blinked at him for a moment, wondering what the Combusken was talking about. Then he turned around and saw that everyone but Claire's Rapidash had disappeared. The equine raised an eyebrow.

"You don't expect me to tell you, do you? I'm just going to wait here; I hate crowds..." he muttered before trotting off to stand near the restaurant that was their rendezvous point for dinner. Toukon clicked his beak in annoyance.

"Fat lot of help he is...sheesh. Can you believe this guy?" he mumbled. Draco grunted in reply, arms crossed and mostly enjoying the fact that if he stood tall and on his toes, he was taller than his new-found feathery friend. Toukon sighed.

"We'd better split up and keep an eye on everyone. I don't know about your team, but mine is filled with idiots who don't understand when 'dinner time' really is," grumbled Toukon, looking around for some clue as to where the others had gone. Draco thought about his friends for a minute and cringed.

(Oh man...if Issac is by himself- fuck!) he cursed in his head. He and Toukon exchanged a glance before nodding an agreement that their friends weren't competent enough to be left alone in the middle of a busy festival and be expected to come back in time. With that, they dashed off in opposite directions.

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Along the busy merchant stalls wandered the ever-so curious Alvaro and the ever-smiling Issac. Alvaro drifted over people's heads to avoid phasing through their bodies, which he considered to be rude and an invasion of their privacy. Issac just padded along down the street right behind him, looking up at each person that passed, following them as long as his neck would allow, and continuing to walk whilst doing so. Alvaro had to admit, it was impressive that he'd yet to run into anyone. Honestly, he didn't know why Issac followed him. Alvaro considered himself to be, for all intensive purposes, boring. Maybe this was due to the fact that he'd read a book, rainy day or no, or the fact that Richard continually snored whenever he lectured about something.

(At least he didn't follow Richard,) Alvaro thought grimly. The Breloom was far too mean to be trusted to Issac. Well, not so much mean as tactless and impatient, he decided. As long as Issac was happy, he was welcome to follow. Still, thought Alvaro, I should make an attempt to humor him so he doesn't get bored.

"Issac! Look at this stall!" said Alvaro, drifting over to a stand filled with puppets and marionettes. Issac waddled over quickly, fascinated by the little toys. Alvaro smiled as the Quagsire played with one of the puppets and then turned his attention to the other stalls.

It was midway between lunch and dinner, judging by the sun's position; no longer noon but apprehensive about falling. The streets were crowded, but not packed to overflowing like he had feared. One could smell food stalls and snack vendors whipping up their treats to sell to the hungry festival goers. Children in random, brightly colored paper masks would run by, giggling and bumping into other patrons. Here and there were stalls made simply to sell fair-commodities. There was a ring-toss, a goldfish booth, the birth-place of previously mentioned paper masks, and many more things.

(Humans always make the most of their celebrations, don't they? Even funerals have food...) mused Alvaro.

"Oi! Get out of my stall!" shouted a man somewhere in the stall behind Alvaro. He quickly turned around to see Issac struggling to get free of a mass of stringed puppets. He finally squirmed free, thanks to his protective mucus membrane, and skirted right past Alvaro and into the crowd. The Gastly turned to say a quick "Sorry" to the merchant (which, of course, was lost in translation) before flying over the crowd to follow his watery, blue friend (if not easy trailed by his color, then his slight slime trail did the trick.)

(Finally!) sighed Alvaro mentally as he found Issac, sitting with his hands between his legs, leaning against them as he watched, ironically, a puppet show. There were a few children there as well, but he didn't pay their odd looks any mind.

"Issac..." started Alvaro in a foreboding tone. The Quagsire simply looked up at his levitating teammate with a wide smile, tail wagging (or sliding) back and forth, similar to a canine's but far slower (naturally, considering the source.) He seemed quite happy, and showed no sign of stress from their little tangle-and-run. Alvaro sighed, rolling his eyes as he looked around. Perhaps there was something that could entertain them both. Out of the corner of his eye, all the way across the street, was a big shaded stand with large letters spelling out "Books".

"Issac," said Alvaro. "Enjoy your show. I'm going to the book stall across the street. Stay put! Got it?"

Issac just smiled and mimicked, "Got it!"

With that Alvaro was off, gliding over the crowded street between the two areas. The book stand was filled with rows of waist-high shelves and a few display tables. Near the back of the stall, against the building it was set up against, were a few opened books on podiums.

(Oh, thank goodness!) thought Alvaro. He had no hands, so despite his ability to become tangible and intangible at will (most of the time), this gift was useless without digits with which he could turn pages. He floated to the third one, from the right, flinching when a woman in the stall standing near that podium saw him, screamed, and bolted right out. Alvaro let it roll off his back (so to speak); he was used to the prejudice. He focused instead on the book, a guide to breeding. He read what he could, though the words were ever-so blurry.

He never really knew why, but Alvaro always had trouble reading anything written by mortals. Maybe it was because he was technically locked between two planes of existence, or maybe there was something about being a ghost that made it hard on his eyes, but one thing was for sure; Alvaro would sell his right foot to get some glasses (as soon as he located a tradable foot.) Still, if he squinted really hard, and read slowly, he did decently enough. After finishing the two pages he could see, Alvaro moved to the second podium, sitting in the middle of the row. He was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a movable magnifying glass nearly the size of his body standing like a lightless lamp between the first and second podiums. Its glass was located for him to read this second book perfectly.

Unfortunately it was dreadful. Not a book with facts and figures, but something more ironic; ghost stories. Alvaro groaned and, as if on cue, a woman passing behind him, stuck behind the tower of books she carried, was drawn by the sound, looked his way, and screamed before dropping all her books and sprinting away.

(Honestly,) Alvaro mentally grumbled, (You'd think people had never seen a ghost Pokemon before...)

He glanced to the last podium, and the book that sat there. He was met with yet more disappointment when he saw how miniscule the print was. Alvaro groaned as he floated to the movable magnifying glass. He became tangible and pushed his face into it, moving it inch by tiny inch, until it pivoted to stand over and magnify the fist podium's book. Then he floated back to the book to read what it was. He was rather excited to see that it was something useful! It was a book on all the basic techniques of survival. He read it with gusto and was saddened when he reached the end of the second page.

"I wish I could turn the page..." sighed Alvaro out loud. Suddenly a blue finned hand came up from behind Alvaro, right through his body, and turned the page, making Alvaro jump and shoot up into the air, all the way to the canopy of the stall.

"Issac!" he exclaimed. The jolly Quagsire smiled up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"You want me to leave?" he asked, looking sad.

"No-no!" said Alvaro, backpedaling. "How long have you been standing there?"

"I dunno. A while. I turned the page; isn't that what you wanted?" asked Issac, turning his head in confusion. Alvaro smiled.

"Yes, thank you," he said before floating back down to hover once again over the magnifying glass and continued to read until he finished the next two pages. He turned around to ask Issac for assistance, and noticed his aquatic friend yawning in boredom.

"What?" asked Issac after he could open his eyes toward the end of a long yawn. If Alvaro had shoulders, he would have shrugged.

"Nothing. I think I've had my fill. Let's go find something more entertaining, shall we," suggested Alvaro. He flew out of the stall, Issac following with the gentle flip-flopping of wet flipper feet.

"Why did you seek me out, Issac? Weren't you enjoying the puppet show," asked Alvaro, glancing back. Issac was watching random people and objects go by, never really watching where he was going.

"It was boring..." replied Issac, voice drifting off. Alvaro turned back, looking at all the stalls and entertainment they were passing.

"Oh look! They sell donuts here. Is that a fire-breather? Humans are odd. Don't you agree?" mused Alvaro aloud. Silence was his only answer. He frowned and turned around. Issac was nowhere in sight.

"Issac?" he called, but no reply came. He groaned.

(Great, now he's wandered off,) Alvaro sighed mentally before drifting off over the crowd, trying to find Issac. All he could see were more children in paper masks and older humans walking up and down the street, enjoying the festival games and activities. No sign of Issac. A shiny substance on the ground caught Alvaro's eye and he moved down to the road. It was a mucus trail. Issac was a Quagsire, after all, and an amphibian, so he always had a coat of slime that usually evaporated pretty quickly, so Alvaro was in luck that the trail remained. He just hoped this was Issac and not anyone else.

He followed the trail, weaving in and out of legs, eventually abandoning manners when one man tried to stomp him when Alvaro accidentally spooked him by brushing against his pant leg. Alvaro phased to be intangible, the man's foot and other people's legs just drifting right through him, many jumping at the sudden chill that crawled up their skin when he went through. He turned a corner into an alley way, and glanced down it. There were a few Pokemon and, thankfully, Issac was one of them. He was squatting down, huddled with three other Pokemon; a Scyther, a Pinsir, and a Heracross. As he came closer, Alvaro could hear their voices-

"Ha! You lost again! Fool, you should quite while you have the ch-" began the Pinsir, but the Scyther hissed in.

"Shut up! Let him lose more; it means we get more money..." he said. The Heracross nodded. Alvaro was floating over them now, so far un-noticed. Before the Heracross was a small wooden table, and on that was a pack of cards.

"One more time, dopey," sneered the Heracross, holding up a single card. It had a picture of a Butterfree on it. "There's one Buterfree, and all the rest are Beedrill; it's all a game of luck. Watch now."

He put the Butterfree back into the pile, then shuffled with great speed before placing the pack face down on the table and fanning it out.

"Now guess," grunted the Pinsir. Issac appeared to be concentrating rather had, frowning at the cards. He put a hand forward then back, hesitating.

"We don't have all day!" hissed the Scyther. Issac jumped and quickly reached forward, pointing at a card. The Heracross flipped it over; a Beedrill. The Scyther cackled.

"Lost again! Enough, now! Pay up!" he said. The Pinsir next to him reached forward, holding his hand out expectantly. Issac frowned and tilted his head.

"Pay up?" he mimicked.

"Yeah, you know. Money!" snapped the Pinsir, wiggling his little claws impatiently.

"Oh, money!" said Issac, comprehending, "Yeah, I don't have any."

"WHAT?" all three bug Pokemon exclaimed. Alvaro chose this moment to swoop down in front of Issac as the three Pokemon rose up, starting to advance.

"Now now, gentlemen, let's not be hasty!" Alvaro tried to reason.

"Who the hell are you?" snapped Scyther, holding up a scythe threateningly.

"I'm a friend of his. There seems to be a misunderstanding. My friend here didn't know your 'entertainment' came at a cost; do forgive us and we shall be on our way," said Alvaro. He and Issac were backing up toward the entrance of the alley. The Scyther sudden disappeared before blinking into view behind them, blocking their exit.

"I don't think so," said the Heracross, "You don't seem to understand. We provided entertainment. Now either pay up, or return the favor."

The Scyther behind them sudden lashed out with his scythes, aiming for Issac's feet. Issac had to hop from foot to food in order to avoid the attacks and still stay standing.

"Hey! Knock it off-uph!" Alvaro started when the Pinsir suddenly clamped him down in his pinchers, squeezing him. The little Ghastly choked before phasing out from between them, out of his grasp before changing back. He heard a buzzing behind and looked up.

"Brick Break!" shouted the Heracross, hovering over Alvaro. He brought his arm down, but it went right through Alvaro, who grinned at him.

"Ghost types aren't affected by fighting moves," he clarified when the Heracross looked shocked. He grinned back then launched forward suddenly, horn glowing.

"Megahorn!" he shouted, and before Alvaro could realize what was happening, he was thrown backward, crashing through a set of trashcans and smacking against a wall. Everything went quiet for a moment, and then sound began to creep in like mumbles, and Alvaro opened his eyes. The dimly lit alleyway was blurry at best, and a group of blurs were moving. A green, a brown, and a dark blue moving around a light blue one. The sound began to focus more and he could hear the distinct sound of kicking and crying. His vision focused on the group, bringing their image in sharper; the bug Pokemon were circled around a cowering Issac, beating him.

"Leave him...alone..." Alvaro gasped, trying to float up out of the garbage, a banana peel and some coffee grounds slipping off the top of his head. With all the strength he could muster, Alvaro shot forward. The Heracross leader smirked when he caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye.

"Again?" He grunted. "Persistent little bugger."

Like a batter to a ball, the Heracross waited for Alvaro to be in range before his horn began to glow once again. With another well placed Megahorn, the little Ghastly went flying back from whence he came, more rubble than before landing on him, covering him. The Heracross sighed, satisfied, and turned back to join his cohorts in the senseless beating of a quiet, jolly Quagsire. In their distracted state, they didn't see the faint blue light peering out from the rubble, just glowing through plastic bottles and napkins, before fading away.

"When we're finished, you're gonna go out and pickpocket what you owe us, you got that, lumpy?" ordered the Heracross, his sidekicks hissing and chuckling dumbly along. They took no notice of the shimmering clear image lurking up from the ground behind their leader until the Heracross suddenly stopped his kicking.

"Boss, you alright?" asked the Scyther, the Pinsir still kicking Issac. Scyther nudged his comrade who looked up, agitated, then toward their leader. Heracross was making choking sounds, and his body began to shutter. The two bug types were too shocked to move, unsure what was happening. The air behind Heracross shimmered like the atmosphere on top of a hot road; blurry, but clear. Then it began to take shape and color, starting from around the Heracross's head. Sharp, purple fingers had lodged themselves around the leader's skull, skillfully avoiding the horn. The image continued to sharpen as another hand appeared stretched to the side and open, looking viscous. Its palm was toward the Heracross, and shimmering air was moving from around his body into the hand. Then a body began to appear, from nose to end, the purple came into view, angry, sharp eyes aglow with furious violet.

There hovered Alvaro the Haunter, holding the Heracross in a ridged grasp with one hand, and draining his life force with the other. He had a wide and hungry smile, empty glowing eyes looking directly at the other pair. Heracross gave a gurgled choke and one final gasp before his eyes rolled back and closed, his body going limp. Alvaro blinked and his eyes became clear and normal once again. The Scyther and the Pinsir still stood, staring dumbly at Alvaro and their fallen leader. Alvaro moved a little closer, and the two flinched, shaking in their exoskeletons. He hovered a little closer still, until he was a few feet away, looking them dead in the eye.

"...boo," was all he said. Both bug Pokemon screamed high pitched cries before darting off down the alley and out of sight. Alvaro waited until they were out of sight before groaning and floating down to the ground.

(Oh, my head...) He groaned, holding his head in his hands. It took a moment before he registered that he was holding his head...in his hands!

"I have hands?" he gasped, excited.

"Yep..." came a drifting voice. Alvaro turned around to see Issac, who was just standing up, wobbly on his feet (more so than usual.)

"Issac! Are you alright?" asked Alvaro, circling around Issac. The Quagsire nodded, rubbing his head.

"Ow..." he mumbled. Alvaro guided him out of the alley and back to the streets.

"Don't worry; we'll get you back to Evelyn. I'll tell Draco what happened and he'll signed it over to Eve. She'll make you feel better," said Alvaro. Issac just nodded.

"She usually does," said Issac, fiddling with something in his hands. Alvaro pointed at it.

"What's that?" he asked. It looked like a little burlap pocket bag with a draw string, but something inside jingled.

"They left their money behind," said Issac, simply. Alvaro opened it and counted.

"It's a good bit!" he said, impressed. Though, he felt a little bad, since that must have been money those thugs beat out of someone else. He looked up at the bruised Issac and smiled. "You keep it. Buy yourself something nice."

Issac looked at him, long and hard, before tilting his head and replying, "Kaaaay..."

"Good, now let's go," said Alvaro, once again leading the way. They passed a few stalls they had passed before, heading back from whence they came. Alvaro saw the puppet stall.

"Would you like a puppet, Issac?" he asked. No reply. He stopped midair and closed his eyes. With a deep, calming breath Alvaro turned around slowly and looked. No Issac. He blanched.

(Not again...) he groaned mentally, rubbing his face with his hands.

"Issac?" he shouted, turning this way and that. "Issac, where are you?"

He turned and turned and turned some more, trying to locate any sign of Issac, but there was none. Not even a slime trail.

"Issac? Issa- Ah!" yelped Alvaro, scooting back as Issac's smiling mug popped into view, right in his face. "Legends, Issac! Are you trying to kill me more?"

"No..." said Issac, looking sad. He held something new now. His arms folded over, holding it against his chest.

"Issac, what is that?" asked Alvaro, pointing to the object. Issac smiled again and held it out quite happily. It was a book. A big book. On closer inspection, Alvaro realized it wasn't just any big book.

"The survival guide!" he shouted with glee. Issac handed it over, and for the first time in his afterlife, Alvaro held a book in his hands, flipping the pages. "Oh, Issac, this is wonderful! Oh...I do wish the font wasn't so small. I'm having trouble reading i-"

Issac shoved something under Alvaro's nose, between him and the book. Held in his hands was a little pair of round, black-framed spectacles. It was intended to be balanced and held on the bridge of a nose, since it had no ear pieces. Alvaro took it gently, examining it before he perched it on his nose, moving it back and forth until he found the perfect reading distance, and settle them there. He found they stuck to his undead form like a magnet to metal. He looked over at Issac, who was just smiling, tail flapping back and forth like a slow dog's wagging.

"Issac...did you use that money to buy this?" asked Alvaro. Issac nodded, smiling so much now he couldn't keep his eyes open. Alvaro felt his eyes begging to sting with tears and batted them away before diving down to swoop Issac into a hug, pulling the poor thing almost a foot off the ground.

"Thank you, Issac," he said, sincerely. "Now let's get going so we can get you healed up."

And with that, Alvaro the Haunter and Issac the Quagsire set off down the street.

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Richard grinned to himself as he walked along the pier and spotted a group of lady Pokemon standing at the beginning of a drawbridge. There stood a group of female grass-type Pokemon. A Bellosom, a Chikorita, a Roserade, and a Sunflora. He held himself high and began to pass slowly, chest puffed out. The Bellosom giggled when she saw him and nudged her Chikorita friend, who in turn attracted the other two and soon they were all admiring the bravado-filled Breloom.

He continued to strut his stuff, pretending (poorly) not to notice the ladies until he was right in front of them on the bridge's walkway and one called out to him.

"Well hello there, handsome!" said the Bellosom, batting her lashes. She had a sweet, oddly southern accent. "I haven't seen the likes of you 'round here. You new in town?"

"Yes ma'am," answered Richard, taking to kneeling on one knee before bowing to the ladies, all of which giggled at the show of chivalry.

"Then what might your name be?" asked the Chikorita.

"Richard the Lionhearted, good lady," he said sweetly, looking up from under his cap. "And might I say, these eyes have never before beheld beauty such as yours, ladies."

The group fell into an array of approving giggles and swooning before surrounding him and bombarding him with questions.

"Do you really think I'm pretty?"

"Where are you from?"

"Do you really think I'm pretty?"

"What do you do?"

"Do you really think I'm pretty?"

"Where are you going?"

"Do you really think-" began the Bellosom again, but Richard cut her off.

"No," he said. Bellosom's face fell, saddened, but Richard took her little hand and kissed it gently before giving her a wink. "I think you are beautiful."

The Bellosom nearly fainted in her swoon. Richard flashed them a smirk before pressing on.

"As to your other inquiries, my dears; I am from far away. My life's work is to battle the forces of evil, wherever they may lurk. As to where I am going...well, I suppose wherever life takes me."

A group of giggling and sighing female grass Pokemon was what met Claire's group of Pokemon as they started their walk across the bridge. Magmar, Ninetales, and Growlithe all approached the huddled mob cooing over the Breloom. Magmar frowned and looked closer, slowing down.

"Please keep walking," growled Ninetales, not meaning to be polite at all. She spoke more with a tone of one who knew Magmar's habits in similar situations and was weary of them.

"No can do!" replied Magmar, grinning mischievously as he leaned out of their walk, veering to the group of female grass Pokemon. Ninetales groaned and Growlithe yapped.

"We need to keep going if we're going to see any of the festival before dinner! You heard what Claire said!" commanded the Growlithe.

"Screw that noise," was Magmar's reply before he continued to the love-struck circle. Growlithe turned to his other teammate.

"Aren't you going to back me up?" he pleaded. Ninetales raised an eyebrow.

"Magmar-"

"Nope!"

"There," sighed the Ninetales lazily, "I tried. Now if you'll excuse me, I do believe I've spotted a handsome Mighyena down the bridge who might just be the sucker- er, I mean gentleman to escort me through the festival."

With that she took off, swishing her tails as she went. Growlithe rolled his eyes and then tailed behind Magmar, barking at him.

"Seriously, I know that look! Don't get into trouble; Claire will be mad!" warned the little dog. Magmar put a hand in Growlithe's face and pushed him to the side, and out of his way as he approached the group.

"What are a couple-a fine little flowers like you talkin' to this loser for?" he asked as he entered the circle, earning a few gasps from the surprised company. Richard, who was just moving and flexing to show off, stopped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, eyes narrowing. Magmar raised his hands in mock defense.

"Woah now! I'm not trying to intrude. I see a bunch of hot babes in one spot and you trying to 'entertain' them, I figured I'd step in and save you the humiliation," said Magmar. A few ladies looked him up and down before smiling.

"Who might you be, touch guy?" asked the Roserade, a flowered hand in front of her face, batting her eyelashes. Magmar smirked.

"I am the invincible Magmar, of course!" he said prideful, puffing out his chest with his hands on his hips. "The winner of many battles and hottest fighter around, if you catch my drift."

The girls giggled. Richard's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms.

"Pft, 'invincible' indeed," he said sarcastically. Magmar hardly even spared him a glance from the corner of his eye before turning his attention to the ladies of the hour.

"I've seen some hot babes around, but you girls are the finest," he said. Flattered, the girls began to crowd him.

"So where are you from?" asked the Sunflora.

"Oh, here, there," he said elusively, "I don't talk about it much. Too much in my past. I'm a bit infamous in some areas, let's leave it at that."

The girls 'oh'ed at that, seemingly impressed at his 'bad boy' persona. Richard felt his eye twitch. It was like yin and yang, good and bad, fighting over the same thing.

"Did he mention he lost a battle to me?" asked Richard loudly, getting their attention. They eyed Magmar carefully.

"Is this true?" asked one of them. Magmar looking at each of them before glaring Richard's way, seeing the self-satisfied grin on the Breloom's face.

"Not entirely, no," said the Magmar, "Little bugger met me in a tie. I could have kept going, but I'd partied waaaay too hard the night before the battle, so I figured I'd kick his butt in a rematch some other time."

Richard sputtered for a moment before finding the words, "You cur! That is the farthest from the truth! It was an honest tie! If anything, I was the one that could have kept going! Weren't you suffering from that curse Alvaro gave you?"

Magmar growled back now butting heads with the Breloom. "Doubt it! Yeah, sure; I had a curse, but even with a curse I could beat you to a pulp no-problem. Type advantage!"

Richard scoffed, "Type advantage? Please. It would be like a coward such as you to enter battles with someone you think you have the upper hand against!"

It was at this point Growlithe chose to move in toward the group of shocked grass Pokemon and usher them to the side saying, "This might get ugly..."

"Duh," countered Magmar, "Why fight a fight with someone stronger when you can fight someone weaker?"

"For your honor, sir!" said Richard. "Have you any? Why do you think I was so unfazed by the battle with you? I chose to fight someone with an advantage over me to prove that I can overcome odds with powers superior to my own."

"Ah-ha!" shouted Magmar. "So you admit that I am stronger than you!"

"Absolutely not!" seethed Richard. "You could never be stronger than me!"

"I already am!" said Magmar, irritated.

"By what means?" said Richard, equally so.

"Type advantage, motherfucker!" shouted Magmar.

The group of ladies gasped and Richard growled, "Watch your tongue around a lady..."

"The only lady I see is the one standing in front of me," sneered Magmar. That seemed to be the final straw and Breloom moved forward, a Mach Punch landing in the fire Pokemon's face. Magmar countered with a flamethrower. The girls screamed and scattered, running away, while Growlithe simply stepped to the side. Neither of the battling Pokemon even took notice as they jumped and dodged around each other, throwing punches and fire and spores every which way.

"Are you serious? Knock it off! Magmar, stop it!" shouted Growlithe, moving around Magmar as he fought, quite underfoot. He and the Breloom were knocking over little food stands and wooden supply boxes as they rolled and tumbled, punching and kicking anything they could. Unfortunately, this included Growlithe...

With a well-placed tail-swing that could have been either battling Pokemon, and a good THWAK, Growlithe was thrown backward, over the railing, and down into the water below. There he resurfaced, struggling to stay that way.

The fight continued, punches thrown left and right until at one point Magmar was about to land a Fire Punch when Richard stopped him.

"Wait-wait!" he said, "Listen!"

Magmar did and shrugged, "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly! Where's the yappy little friend of yours?"

A silenced passed between them before the sound of frantic splashing was heard, followed by a plea for help-

"I can't swim! Someone help! It's so wet! And cold! And...wet! HELP!"

Both fighters jumped up and rushed to the railing, looking down to see a little spot of orange fluttering in the waters of the canal below.

"Oh fuck," grumbled Magmar.

"I have to say, that would be my assessment of the situation too," said Richard before shouting to Growlithe. "Hang on! We'll find a way to get you out!"

He got up and looked around. No rope in sight, not anything akin to one. Just broken boxes and stands. Magmar picked up a piece of wood and threw it down.

"Hang on to that while we try and find something!" he shouted. Growlithe latched on the best he could, but without thumbs the wooden board just served as a small amount of buoyancy while he still struggled to stay surfaced...

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Toukon groaned as he continued to walk, his feet aching. He had concluded that this was the worst...festival...EVER! He hadn't any luck with finding his teammates (albeit, he didn't truthfully try very hard) so he just enjoyed the festival. Though, 'enjoy' was the wrong word. Something like 'hated' or 'loathed' would work better. Everything about the festival was water Pokemon this and water Pokemon that; it as driving him out of his mind! If there wasn't a fire festival somewhere in the world, he was going to officially go on strike.

The only Pokemon he had found was Ninetales, but she was busy grinning at the collection of male quadrupeds she'd attracted and that were following her. A Mighyena, a Houndoom, an Umbreon, and more. At least someone was having fun at the festival.

As he turned a corner, he nearly bumped into Draco, who looked equally as annoyed.

"Oh, hey buddy," grumbled Toukon. "Any luck?"

Draco just shook his head and walked with the Combusken, too tired to care about anything else. They passed a few more food stalls before walking along the pier that ran the length of the canal on both sides.

"I hope Claire and Evelyn are having some fun," grumbled Toukon, sounding a bit irritated at the idea that they were, while he and Draco suffered. Draco snickered.

(They're shopping. It's nice to know that while I'm in pain, so is Evelyn. She must be in hell right now,) he mused. Suddenly a group of grass Pokemon rushed past them, screaming.

"What the fuck was that?" asked Toukon, watching them go. Draco wasn't concerned about where they were going. He looked up the canal to see what they were running from. Up on a bridge he could see fire and hear a fight. He nudged Toukon and pointed.

"Great. Why do I have a bad feeling that's someone we know?" he grumbled.

(Because wherever there are property damages or lawsuits, there will be our teammates also. ) mused Draco as they watched the petty squabble. Without warning, something orange and yelping flew from the side and landed in the canal with a loud splash. Even from this distance, Toukon could hear the bossy goody-two-shoes voice of Growlithe.

"I can't swim! Someone help! It's so wet! And cold! And...wet! HELP!"

"Fuckin A!" shouted Toukon about the same time Draco mentally screamed it. They both took off, sprinting down the pier toward the bridge just as what looked to be Magmar threw something down for Growlithe to steady himself on...

"Oh, thank Legends!" sighed Richard as Draco and Toukon rounded the corner and ran onto the bridge. "Do you have any rope?"

(Who carries around a fuckin' rope?) grumbled Draco mentally, but his eye roll seemed to convey his thoughts.

"Thought I'd ask!" confessed Richard. Toukon was looking over the edge down at Growlithe, clicking his beak in annoyance.

"Damn it, Magmar! Why do I get the feeling this is your fault?" he shouted, Magmar just growled, throwing debris around while he searched for some means in which to retrieve Growlithe.

"Why don't we just make a rope?" asked Richard.

(Because we're out of fuckin' burlap, you fucktard!) thought Draco, growling in Richards face. The Breloom backpedaled and explained.

"No-no! What I mean is; why don't we hang down from the railing and link together, like those plastic Mankeys-in-Box kids play with?"

Toukon and Draco exchanged glances. It was a good idea, even they had to admit. One nod exchange and the plan was settled.

"Hold on!" shouted Toukon down to Growlithe. "We're going to form a chain by linking up. Just hang on until we can get you!"

"Alright, Magmar; you're going to be the anchor, since you are the largest. Then it'll be Draco, Richard, and then myself, going from heaviest to lightest, for the most part. Got it?" said Richard. The group nodded.

Magmar stood at the railing, holding Draco's tail, who was hanging off the bridge while holding Richard's tail. He in turn held Toukon's foot as they dangled over the waters of the canal. Toukon reached a clawed hand out to Growlithe who was stretching to reach it only a few feet away. In his efforts the wood slipped out from under his paws and he was once again struggling to not drown.

"We're close! I need some slack!" Toukon shouted up. Magmar just frowned and tilted his head before shouting, "What? I can't hear you up here!"

Toukon groaned. Damn him and his hard hearing. He thought he'd try and different approach.

"I need slack! Pass it on!" said Toukon to Richard. The message went up the line until it got to Magmar.

"Now's not the time for a snack!" he shouted down. Toukun nearly shouted in frustration.

"No! Ugh. Tell him we just need a few feet!" he said and the message went up.

"What the fuck do you need teeth for? Dude, focus!" shouted Magmar.

"FUCK!" shouted Toukon before looking at Richard. "What the fuck?"

"Hey, don't look at me! Draco's the one signing with one hand to a guy that sucks at charades and communication in general," said Richard. Toukon groaned and shouted his loudest.

"Magmar!" he bellowed, Magmar looked down at him.

(Good,) thought Toukon. (He heard that...)

"Wrap your tail around a pole on the railing and hang like us, we need the slack!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Thankfully, Magmar followed the orders. Toukun knew he'd be hoarse later, but it was worth it as he moved downward, finally grabbing Growlithe and holding him above water to breathe.

"Thank -gasp- you! -gasp-" huffed Growlithe. Suddenly the whole chain jerked.

"What was that...?" groaned Toukon, looking up as the chain jerked again. The pole Magmar had wrapped his tail around was bending under the pull and the heat, looking like it might smolder in half any second.

"Oh Legends..." was the last thing Toukun said before the pole gave way and all the Pokemon fell to what was sure to be a watery grave; a fitting ending to the world's worst festival. Yet...no end came...

Draco had slammed his eyes shut, waiting for the impending splash of cold water after his short drop, but nothing happened. He peeked out one eye, wondering what Paradise looked like, but what he saw was no paradise. All the Pokemon were floating in the air above the waters of the canal, surrounded by a pinkish aura.

(What in the hell...) said Draco mentally, trailing off. A familiar voice penetrated the echoing of his mind.

(Why didn't you guys just send Richard to swim out and get him? Or ask another Pokemon to?) asked Shamma the Grumpig as she lifted the whole lot of them up and back to the bridge. She was standing on the walkway, eyes aglow and little hoof-hands moving in time with their movement, steadying her psychic control.

(We hadn't thought of that. Maybe we should have- woah, woah! Wait a tick! How the hell are you here?) he asked as she released them from her control. Before she could answer, the other Pokemon bum-rushed her into a group hug.

"Thank you!" sighed Toukun. And the others echoed his sentiment. Shamma blushed a little before pushing them off.

"Yeah, yeah; don't get use to it. You know, this is a water festival-" she began.

"Don't remind me," interjected Toukon, still not able to get the silly I-can't-believe-I'm-still-alive grin off his face.

"and being such," Shamma continued, glaring at the Combusken, "You had a massive crowd of water types to choose from. Hell, upstream just two blocks is a school of Goldeen!"

"Yeah...we kind of...panicked a bit," muttered Magmar, scratching the back of his head, abashed. Shamma, hands on her hips, just rolled her eyes.

"Now that the pleasantries of 'you saved our lives' is over, you mind if I have a chat with the Silent Wonder over there?" she inquired. Toukon and the rest of the gang were already walking away.

"He's all your's!" he shouted. Draco sputtered wordlessly, looking shocked.

"We'll see you at dinner, dude!" Magmar shouted before he, Toukon, Growlithe, and even Richard walked off the bridge. With a groan, Draco turned to the Grumpig.

(What?) he snapped mentally. It had been a long day, and the last thing he needed was this bothersome Pokemon to hassle him about something.

(Now is that any way to talk to someone who just saved your life?) asked Shamma with a snort. Draco rolled his eyes.

(What do you want, Shamma?) He growled back.

(I want to come with you and your team.) said Shamma. Draco was starting to feel the beginnings of a headache creeping into his skull.

(No way!) was his reply. Shamma stomped a hoof.

"Why not?" she snapped out loud. Draco held one clawed hand to rub his head, the other to hold up against Shamma's high pitched voice in defense.

(Why should I?) he countered. Shamma crossed her arms.

(Because you owe me now. The least you could do is translate for me to your girlfriend.)

(She's not-)

(Yeah-yeah, whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep at night, tall dark and scaled. Are you going to help me, or what?)

(How did you even get here?)

(I stowed away on the boat.)

(And why do you want to come with us?)

(I've never seen the world before, and I wasn't living up to my job's requirements at the Tower. They don't need a psychic medium that can't bridge the gap between human and Pokemon thoughts. They'll find someone else, I'm sure of it.)

(Does anyone else know about this?)

(Master Alkier does. I asked him for his advice, and this is more or less what he suggested.)

(Ugh, I thought he was on our side! Baster-)

(Hey! I can still hear you, you know!) snorted the Grumpig. Draco just ignored her and walked past her, following the path of his friends to get back to Evelyn by dinner. Shamma tailed behind him.

(See, this is why I don't want you along! You invade my thoughts; even the deep and VERY private ones!) he growled.

(Alright, fine. If you let me come with, I'll show more respect to your person space and leave your thoughts alone. Deal?) said Shamma, skipping ahead of Draco and stopping in front of him, holding a hoof out to shake. Draco eyed it with contempt.

(You do realize Evelyn will have to catch you, right?) he asked.

(I figured as much. I had a feeling that was going to be my ultimatum, and I've come to terms with it.) she said, hoof still out. With a groan Draco took it and shook it.

(Fine. I agree to bridge the gap and translate to Evelyn. I do NOT, however, guarantee she'll let you tag along.) he said. Shamma grinned.

(You know as well as I that she will,) she said. Draco let go of her hoof so he could hold his aching head with both hands.

(No, you know as well as I do! Now get out of my head and let's go...)

They walked down the bridge and down the pier and streets until they caught up with their friends. Draco noticed a few more had joined in. Claire's Ninetales was there, looking amused at the dripping wet Growlithe. Issac was there, flipper feet patting along the sidewalk and next to him as a Haunter with little spectacles, buried in a book as he floated behind them.

As he approached, his look must have given away his thoughts, because when the Haunter looked up at the incoming figure, he smiled and said, "I evolved!" before going right back to his book like no explanation was needed. Headache sharpening after the long day, Draco had to concur that truly no explanation was needed whatsoever. Alvaro looked back and saw Shamma.

"Hello, Shamma," he said, sounding almost cautious, "What brings you here?"

At this point the whole group stopped to look back and see Shamma, who said, "I'm hoping to join your group."

"Is that so?" said Alvaro, beaming, glancing to the pained looking Draco. "Well, I heard all about the bridge incident, so I'll see to it Draco translates."

"That's the deal," said Shamma happily before skipping past Draco and the group continued toward the strip mall along the edge of the docks, where a big restaurant waited with a big Remoraid painted on it. Out front, overlooking the bay area, were several well-sized picnic tables. Evelyn and Claire sat in one of them, chatting while Evelyn polished and cleaned her egg with a washcloth. Claire spotted them from the corner of her eye and turned to look at them, Evelyn following soon after.

"There you are!" sighed Evelyn from a picnic table. She got up and gave Draco a long hug before turning her attention to her other Pokemon. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Alvaro sincehHe was no longer a Gastly, but a Haunter with a few new accessories. In his floating hands he turned the page in the book he held and was clearly engrossed in.

"Alvaro! Where'd you get those spectacles? Or that book?" she asked. Draco face-palmed. She would notice something like that and overlook the fact that Alvaro had evolved. The Haunter smiled and floated over, showing her the book. It was about basic survival, with diagrams and charts and many things Evelyn would have to investigate further to understand.

"I like it, very practical, very you, Alvaro," she said, and then frowned, "When did you evolve?"

Haunter turned to Draco, who had sat down on the bench and was pressing a cold can of soda onto his head, looking very much stressed. Evelyn walked over and sat down next to him, resting her chin on his shoulder as she waited for him to be calm enough to explain. Draco was ready to tell her, but first he simply enjoyed the feel of a cold can against his head and her warmth against his should and neck as she breathed. Finally he put the soda down and turned to her. The other Pokemon had already sat down and were tucking into the festival food.

"It's a long story," signed Draco. Evelyn snorted.

"It's been a long day," she reasoned. Draco snorted. He must have looked as aggravated as he felt because then Evelyn added, "What is it?"

"It's about to get longer," he signed and jerked his head to the side. Standing a few feet away from the table was Shamma the Grumpig, looking quite abashed.

"How did...when did...she...?" stumbled Evelyn, looking back and for the between their guest and an exasperated Draco. She soothed his back with her hand. "You're going to have to tell me what happened today."

"I've had a busy day," he signed before dropping his head to the table with a growl.

"You and me both, buddy..." mumbled Evelyn.

Draco dove into an explanation of his own day. How he and Toukon went looking for their friends, with no luck, and about how they saved Growlithe from drowning, but nearly drowned themselves if it weren't for Shamma. Then he pressed on, telling her about Shamma's desire to join their little family. Evelyn, at this point, was watching Draco's signing out of the corner of her eye while looking at Shamma with a smile.

"Anyone who saves my Drake from something like that is welcome in our group any day. Shamma," she said, taking a Pokeball out of her bag and expanding it before holding it out to the Grumpig, "Would you do me the honor of joining our team?"

Shamma beamed, dancing in spot. Draco, seeing the glee in her, felt suddenly guilty for not wanting her to join. She looked so excited at this opportunity, and not once had he imagined what it must have been like to live trapped in that tower while people tried to teach you something you couldn't learn for a job you didn't want...Shamma looked at him, as if asking for permission. Draco was glad she kept her promise of not invading his mind when he didn't want her to. He nodded approval and Shamma nearly dove at the button on the ball before being swallowed up in red light.

"Well that's that!" said Evelyn after she released Shamma and the Grumpig sat down on the other side of Draco. "Welcome the newest addition to our family, boys!"

The entire table fell into applause, even Claire's Pokemon. Claire clapped, but she was glaring at a guilty looking Magmar the entire time. While Draco had been conveying the story, Evelyn was translating out loud for everyone, Claire included, to hear. Naturally, she was a little peeved at Magmar, but not enough to stop the dinner.

"Now what about Alvaro?" asked Evelyn as they began to eat. "What happened with you?"

Draco spent the rest of the meal eating and translating as Alvaro voiced his own festival adventure. Time passed and the gang finished their meal and relaxed. Through the stillness of the late-festival night, a loud fog horn boomed out, making them jump. Evelyn and Claire exchanged glances.

"Evelyn, what time does your ticket say the ship leaves? Somewhere around ten, right?" asked Claire. Evelyn pulled her tickets from her bag's front pocket and blanched.

"Not even close; more like six. What time is it," asked Evelyn. Claire looked at her watch and jumped up.

"Five fifty, let's go!" she commanded and everyone jumped up, gathering whatever they needed before the whole group took off down the pier and to the docks. There, waiting for them, was a massive cruise ship, steam pouring out of it. A vested ticket man was just starting up its ramp when they approached, shouting for them to wait.

"You're very late," said the old man, disapproving. Huffing and panting, Evelyn apologized and thanked him. The man gave a curt nod. "Sure thing. Hurry and come along so we can pull the ramp up."

With that, he started up the ramp, but at a slow pace, giving Evelyn and Claire time for farewells. Evelyn turned to her redheaded friend.

"I guess this is goodbye..." she muttered, just realizing what that meant. Claire waved it off.

"For now. I plan on beating you in battle some day, so you can bet we'll me again. Who knows? You might see me some time on our travels," said Claire. Evelyn smiled and embraced her tightly before letting go and leading her Pokemon onto the ship. It was nearing nightfall, and the ship was ready to depart. She gave her tickets to the man at the top of the platform and handed her a cabin card before she and her Pokemon lined up along the railing, looking down at Claire and her team.

"Good luck in Snowpoint!" called Claire as the ship began to move. She waved at Evelyn, and Evelyn waved back along with all the Pokemon as the ship took off. A ways out, when the dock began to shrink in the distance, they stopped waving. With a sigh, Evelyn said good night to all her Pokemon before returning them. It had been a long day for everyone, thought Evelyn, and she took Draco's hand in hers and dragged him off to find their cabin.

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