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Fandom Pokémon (Kanto)

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Riley sighed when he got back to the others. He could tell that a storm of emotions was brewing and tensions were rising, looking to explode any second now. Having packed eleven of the Oran berries, Riley held the last one in his right hand and extended his mechanical left hand to Yume, silently asking for the now dead Spearow.
 
“Was that supposed to be a threat?” Kayla asked. There was nothing confrontational in her tone. Just confusion. What had she said that was so wrong?

Then, her gaze hardened, and she spoke up in her defense. “You can try breaking Sole’s Pokeball, but you won’t be doing him any favors. He knows his place. I command, he obeys. Isn’t that right, Sole?”

“Veniii,” came his affirmative cry. Maybe he naturally submitted to one he perceived as stronger than himself, or the last three months being Kayla’s partner had conditioned him to be this way. But Sage didn’t bother to speculate, turning her attention to Teddy instead.

Whatever. There was plenty Kayla could say about her too. Of course a sorry excuse for a trainer like Sage, who coddled her Pokemon so much that it was barely viable in combat, would accuse anyone with a healthy degree of impersonality toward raising one of not having empathy. People like her were overly sentimental.

Viridian was a three-day journey on foot. There was enough time for the emotions to settle, and a whole host of other things to rise. Like the feeling of hunger within them. Or the moon, high in the sky. Kayla sat around a fire, the group having made camp in a forest clearing some distance from the main road. She’d returned from a short trip farther north, where she’d happened upon a stream and pulled out her Old Rod. Time passed slowly as she caught enough Magikarp to feed their party, tying them together with twine and carrying them back to camp.

Now, they cooked on sticks by the flame. She knew she wasn’t popular with her group, but the fact that she’d saved the sentimental types in it the trouble of killing Pokemon had to count for something.

“You know, a thank-you would be nice,” Kayla said.
 
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What was happening? And why was it happening? Was this truly how it was supposed to be? Even after everything the Professor said Yume found herself in the presence of, and arguably worse, partnered in a group with someone who seemed to think like Team Rocket and saw Pokemon as tools or slaves. How could this be? Why would the Professor approve of this girl? Did she lie her way through to getting a Pokemon? Did she steal the poor thing? Or maybe she stole the Poke Balls needed to catch it and after catching it now treated it like some kind of servant? It had to be something along those lines. The Professor would never knowingly give a girl who thought like this a Pokemon. Right?

She was broken out of her thoughts by a tap on her shoulder by Riley who held out his mechanical hand in silent asking for the body of the Spearow she held.

She regarded him for a moment before relenting and placing the little one's body in his hand. Hopefully he would either bury it or leave it somewhere for other wild predatory/scavenger Pokemon to eat. It wasn't a pleasant thought. But that was the cycle of nature. But she maintained that this little one shouldn't have died like this to Enjō's bite. She didn't even order him to do that. So, why? Was it his own predatory instinct kicking in? Was he hungry? She hadn't asked him in a while. Maybe she needed to feed him. She had food for him in her pack which she preferred to having him wander and hunt on his own. He was still young. And the last thing she wanted was for him to wander somewhere he shouldn't be and get himself in trouble, or worse, get hurt.

With emotions running high the group seemed to reach a somewhat awkward and silently acknowledged consensus that they had to move forward. Arguing personal moral views wasn't going to help them. So, the group pushed on. That night they set up camp near the main road and, similarly to earlier, the air was filled with tension. Nobody seemed willing to address what had happened earlier. And for Yume, that was fine. Kayla had brought them some Magikarp to eat and passive-aggressively demanded a "thank you" from the group for doing so.

Having brought her own travel meals in her pack, Yume opted out of eating the fish Pokemon and, predictably, offered no thanks to Kayla for the deed. Whether or not the others partook and/or offered thanks would be up to them. But Yume wanted nothing to do with that girl and spent most of the evening keeping herself slightly turned away from wherever Kayla was. Meanwhile, she tended to Enjō who was happy to eat the meals she had prepared in her pack while she stroked his head and shoulders while he happily munched away. Once he was done eating he curled up on the ground next to her, and she continued to stroke his back.

He was warm. Very warm. Maybe that was part of his nature as a Fire type Pokemon. But even in the cold night air his body radiated such warmth that Yume found herself without the need for a jacket or even the warmth of the campfire. When she brought out her sleeping bag she placed it down next to Enjō and was asleep in mere moments. When she woke up the next morning Enjō had snuggled a bit closer and had pushed his head up against her stomach. The sight and feeling of him snuggling brought a smile to her face and a tremendous sense of joy to her heart. He really was affectionate. The Professor had told her so when she was first introduced to him that he was a love bug and seemed eager to be so. But even with that note in mind she couldn't resist reached out and stroking his head some more to prolong the snuggles before finally getting up.

The next two days weren't much better than the first. After what happened, and with so much tension still in the air, most of their travel time was spent in silence or engaged in very careful discussions about when to stop and rest, eat, get bathroom breaks, etc. Nobody dared to bring up the event, or their personal views anymore.

Hana, being such a vibrant and energetic child, was the only one who seemed relatively unfazed by all of the tension between the adults and regularly spoke up or bugged Sage about going to find more bug Pokemon which Yume found rather adorable. It was heartwarming to see Hana had developed a love for bug type Pokemon which was normally a source of fear or disgust for a lot of other young girls. Yume included. When she was Hana's age she hated bug type Pokemon because they scared her. In time she learned to accept them, but still wasn't fond of them. Especially the larger ones which had her worried about Kayla's Venipede. Someday it would evolve into a Scolipede which was quite the colossus of a Bug Pokemon standing at an average height of 8 feet (2.5m) and weighing nearly 450 pounds (200kg). She wasn't looking forward to having to see or spend time near such a creature if she didn't have to. Even more so if it was under the influence of such a person as Kayla who thought of it as an object rather than a living thing to love and respect.

Time would tell.

Finally, after three days of walking and walking on eggshells around each other they finally arrived in Viridian City. Yume's stock of prepared food had run out, so it was time to go shopping and refresh her supply. She knew she'd have to start letting Enjō hunt for food himself, though. There was no way she could afford to feed both of them on what would become longer and longer journeys between major cities and towns. The road through Viridian Forest alone would be almost an entire week if they stayed on the main road. If they wandered off of it, either on purpose or by mistake, it could take them up to ten days to reach Pewter City, or potentially even longer. And Viridian Forest wasn't exactly known as a "safe" space. Arguably, it was the most dangerous leg of first-time Trainer's journeys due to how many dangerous Pokemon lived within it.

Bug types. Electric types. Grass types. Poison types. Flying types. And while very rare, it was possible to find a Ground, Psychic, or Ghost type as well though they were mainly found far off the beaten path and in the darkest reaches of the forest.

But all thoughts about that could wait. They were here in the city and had a host of things they could choose from to do. There was the Pokemon Center where they could hand over their Pokemon to rest for a few hours or, if they were injured, leave them overnight for treatment. There was the Poke Mart where they could handle all their inventory needs, providing they had the money to do so.

Trainers like them most commonly earned money passively through what might be called an "allowance" by the Pokemon League. At the beginning of each month the League would provide their online Trainer bank account with around $1,000 (regardless of the previous balance), courtesy of the tax payers and all the ways the League earned money through merchandise, Poke Marts, competitions like the Pokemon Olympics, Elite Four challenges, etc, and providing they were in good standing with the League itself.

If they engaged in criminal activity or caused any disturbances in any major town or city that amount could either drop in value, or be outright withdrawn so they received nothing from the League at all and would have to work regular jobs to earn anything which would cut into their time exploring or chasing their dreams. They could also gain monetary earnings from battling other Trainers (but not those within their starting group). Whether they win or lose both participants receive an amount which is calculated based on the respective teams used and how many Pokemon were on each side (fewer members on your team earns a higher payout), how quickly the match was completed, and other variables. Typically, a winning Trainer in a battle would be granted around $500 for their victory, sometimes a bit more or less. The loser would usually stand to earn around $150. So, battling was highly encouraged since it was a great way to earn both money and experience. But it was not mandatory by any means. Many Trainers went their entire lives without ever battling another Trainer.

There were also other nick knack shops, restaurants, clothing stores, Pokemon Parks where they could let their Pokemon run free and play and have fun while they either watched or went about other business in town, and more.

Yume was set on visiting the Poke Mart so she could stock up on food for herself, getting a few potions in case Enjō got hurt at any time, getting a better sleeping bag if one was available, and perhaps getting a new basket for gathering berries, herbs, roots, and other things that nature would provide for food and/or medicines.

"Would anyone like to accompany me to the Mart?"
 
Carefully holding onto the small body with his artificial hand, Riley carried it over to the hole he had dug and placed the last Oran berry in the bird's mouth before burying it in the earth. "Rest easy little one, you may yet provide for your flock in the future."
His self appointed task done, Riley returned to the group in silence. Later that night, having set up camp, Riley took one of the Magikarp Kayla caught and thanked her. While he certainly was not a fan of her views on Pokemon being nothing but tools to be used by humans, he was not going to pass up any chances of conserving his own rations when someone offered an alternative. He did however pass three Oran berries to Vera before they eventually went to sleep.
Two days later, the group arrived at Viridian City. Maybe it was the tense atmosphere, but it felt like it took longer to get there to Riley. When Yume asked if anyone wanted to go with her to the pokemart, Riley shrugged his shoulders. "I'll come, I want to see if I can find anything useful."
GojiBean GojiBean
 
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Sage didn't respond to Kayla. A thing like that didn't need further acknowledgement, so Sage wouldn't further humour the words being thrown in her direction. The conversation wasn't one that was worth continuing, as she'd said. She spoke over Kayla, loudly enough that she could be sure the only thing Hana would be hearing was a few interesting funfacts about how Yamper was a herding pokemon, a friendly one tasked with keeping cute sheep pokemon from wandering away from their herd and getting hurt. Thrilling new information for the five year old, rather than the sewage (wait, no, that was an insult to Muk, they deserved better than that) that insisted on spilling out of Kayla's mouth.

The next few days proceeded much the same, with Sage coming up with new information on Pokemon everytime Kayla tried to spit more poison (no, that was an insult to poison types, she'd need to find a new comparison). So, basically, anytime she tried to say anything that wasn't an absolute necessity. Kayla would die without eating... But she wouldn't die from Sage loudly talking about how Rotom only needed to consume electricity and that being why they could safely be companions in cellphones. She didn't have an explanation for why the Rotom in her phone didn't come out and couldn't battle, when Hana asked. Some things were better off left as unwritten rules of the universe, decided because Arceus thought it would be really funny for Rotom Phones to exist.

Taking pictures of almost everyong at any given opportunity, posting pictures of her and Hana to document their journey. Teddy regularly found berries and would share them.

She didn't demonstrate her Telekinesis. Humans with psychic capabilities were uncommon in the Pokeworld, but not unheard of, yet Sage still didn't really want to deal with any questions the others in her group might have. She would've used it to steal Sole's Pokeball, if she decided it was necessary, but as long as Kayla wasn't cruel toward the little bug she wouldn't do so.

That didn't mean Hana wouldn't try to steal him, once yoinking him straight off the ground for a surprise hug, but Sage quickly got her to put the poor thing down.

Throughout the time walking through the Viridian City, Sage finally got Teddy to figure out "Fling" after a few sessions of handing her bear a rock and telling her to use Fling. Yet, beyond her increasing capability of throwing rocks, it was becoming evident to Sage that Teddy would probably never really be capable of battle. She had lived seven years only ever interacting wiith other Pokemon to play, there was no changing that at this point.

She'd...Need to catch a pokemon quickly, if she wanted to earn enough money to feed just the three of them. All the way to Viridian City, Sage was trying to figure out the most efficient way to do so. A Pokemon known to be easy to tame, which certainly didn't involve most of the bugs Hana liked. Those were some of the most abundant, though. She'd have to go looking for something, or purchase an egg from a local breeder. Maybe there'd be a local shelter with Pokemon surrendered by a trainer? Did she have the money for that?

"I...Yeah, I'll go with you." Before she could consider that, she needed necessities. Food, potions...Maybe some repels if they were on sale.
 
“No thanks,” Kayla replied. “I’m going to do some training.”

After a tense last few days, she was glad to get away. The Viridian City Gym was in the opposite direction, according to her phone’s GPS app.

When she reached her destination, though, she laughed dryly. She should have searched for the Pokemon Gym, she realized, as she stood in front of Viridian’s local fitness center.

“Well… might as well get a workout in.”

For the next hour and a half, Sole’s trainer was the one being trained. Kayla threw together a push day from exercises she found online, her gym clothes soaked with sweat by the end of it. There were a few minor things she had to take care of, like getting them to the laundromat. But more importantly, she was in a better mood, the intense workout clearing any negative thoughts like dark clouds.

The spring trees that lined the paved paths of Viridian’s largest public park seemed to bloom more brightly. The laughter of people playing with their Pokemon, even as the sun began to set, was more pronounced. With her endorphins soaring, Kayla felt much more present during her stroll. Finally, she decided to rest on a park bench.

She dozed off in minutes. Sole was safely in his Pokeball, his trainer not taking the time to play with him as others in the recreation ground did. Either she put him to work, or they battled. She didn’t waste time on frivolous bonding exercises, and for Sole, who’d known what she was like since before she lost her memory, that seemed to be fine.

Someone plopped down on the bench next to her, and she awoke.

“Kayla Mire,” the person said. She recognized the voice. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, which settled on the face of the undercover cop who’d arrested her back in Pallet. She instantly sprang from her seat.

“Easy there.”

“Are you going to arrest me?” Kayla asked.

“Only if I have to.”

She looked around. The officer sat to the right, and his Growlithe snarled at her from the left, bowed down as if he would pounce on her were she to make any wrong moves. She reached for Sole’s Pokeball. That was when Sean spoke up.

“I just want to ask you some questions.”
 
"Would anyone like to accompany me to the Mart?"
Isaac nodded gratefully. Hopefully the conflict between the group members was over or at the very least wouldn't flare up again.

"Yeah. It's good to be back in civilization. Time to stock up on what we'll need for our trip through the forest, I hear it gets nasty."

Isaac's Gastly chooses this as the time to come out from under his hat and give him an affectionate lick. The ghost-type pokemon took advantage of their trip to find new and exciting things to try to gnaw through. Isaac didn't know what caused this teething, but was documenting it all the same. Maybe his notes would be useful to Professor Oak.

Sighing Isaac gets out Gastly's pokeball, only for the grinning pokemon to engulf the pokeball and his hand up to his wrist.

Isaac wiggles his hand in an attempt to free it, only to give up in the end and press the button on the pokeball to put Gastly back inside it. With a flash of red light Gastly is gone for now.

"I don't think he even minds being inside the pokeball, he's just extremely playful."

He flicks his hand to get Gastly's drool off it.

"At the very least I've developed a strong resistance to his saliva. Which was not fun to build up, let me tell you."
 
"I can imagine." Riley patted Isaac's shoulder with his right hand. "At least it isn't Lickitung saliva. From what I've heard, that stuff will leave you feeling numb for days."
By now, Kayla had left the group and the rest of them were making their way to the Mart to restock on supplies and possibly obtain some items they did not already have. Vera was enjoying the sunlight as they walked, her leaf absorbing a lot of the energy as she moved.
 
“If this is about your opinion that I sold you drugs, I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Kayla said.

“It’s not an opinion,” Sean replied. He held out his hand, and his Growlithe ran over to be pet. “Blaze here’s sense of smell is impeccable. The dessert you sold me was laced with an illicit substance. We searched your old workplace, and we found more of it in your cabinets.”

Kayla placed her head in her hands and massaged her temples. A lot of strange things had been happening lately. For instance, the doctor who released her from the hospital had set her up with a job and told her it was an outpatient program. Of anywhere she could’ve gone after getting out, why there? And what were the odds that it would get her in trouble with the law? It was as if someone were pulling her strings and guiding her to every misfortune.

“Like I said… I wouldn’t know how that got there. Ask the supplier,” Kayla answered.

“We’re looking into that,” Sean informed her. “But you’re still a suspect. Your boss was quite certain that you were a recovering drug addict.”

“Probably because of my frequent headaches,” Kayla explained, “and the fact that I was hard to train. The first few weeks after losing my memory, even basic motions were hard.”

“You lost your memory?” Sean’s gaze softened, his curiosity piqued. “Do you know what might have caused it?”

“I tried asking the doctors, but they couldn’t put into words what had happened to me. Only that I came to them in critical condition. That was all they knew.”

Suddenly, Kayla seemed like an innocent amnesiac who’d somehow gotten caught up in this mess. Not only was her hospitalization unrelated to drugs, but she’d likely been through much worse. Something that the young cop couldn’t fathom.

“You’re not in any trouble, Kayla,” he said finally, prompting her to sigh in relief. Convinced they were done here, she began to walk away. But the sharp tone of what he said next made her stop. “Even though you did break out of prison, which is a criminal offense.”

Her brain raced to form an explanation. From the way he said that, she figured he’d changed his mind about not taking her in, and she needed to say something that would change it back. Her first instinct when she encountered trouble was to reach for her Pokeball, have Sole take care of it. But she wasn’t confident about his chances against Sean’s Growlithe.

“You’re right. I should have stayed put,” Kayla admitted. “I’m not the one who broke me out, though.”

There was a way Sole could get her out of this situation—if she made it seem like her escape from prison was his idea.

“It was my Pokemon. I didn’t even command him to do so,” she added. “I’ll train him better so that he doesn’t make the same mistake.”

That’s right. None of this was her fault.

“That so?” Sean questioned with a smirk. He’d already said that Kayla was in no trouble, but how quick she was to defend herself anyway. “Ah, the things Pokemon will do for love. You must have raised him well.”

Just like the nonsense Sage spouted in response to her view that Pokemon were tools, the officer’s statement puzzled her. If there was any love between her and Sole, she didn’t remember. He didn’t seem to solicit her affections either. She supposed it was because Bug Pokemon differed from their mammalian counterparts. They produced more offspring and lived in collectives too large to develop attachments to particular individuals.

“Thanks,” Kayla answered. She’d take the compliment, albeit with an awkward smile.

“Stay out of trouble, all right? And get some help if those headaches get worse.”

She nodded. The night gradually apprehended the setting sun, even as Sean decided not to do the same with her. He let her leave without another word, and Kayla, who’d been dealing with one tense situation after another, walked the Viridian streets in search of a way to unwind. She didn’t know how her traveling companions had spent the rest of the day after visiting the Mart.

And when she found the entrance to Viridian City’s most popular nightclub, she stopped caring.
 
Yume was delighted to have some company as they all headed down the main strip together. And she couldn't help but chuckle at Isaac and Ghastly's dynamic. The mischievous Ghost certainly had a personality on it. And poor Isaac. To have developed a resistance to the Lick technique's paralyzing effects? She had to believe him when he said the process wasn't a pleasant one.

Along the way she took note of all the lovely homes and small business buildings she saw such as the restaurants, a local bank, a small chiropractic center which might be good to visit later as all the sleeping on the ground in an older sleeping bag with little actual support in it was taking a bit of a toll on her lower back and shoulders. But the first thing they all saw when arriving was the Pokemon Center which was quite massive given the relatively small size of the city itself in the grand scheme of things. But, then again, this was technically the "gateway" to the Kanto Pokemon League as the route to it lay beyond the city's West end.

The Poke Mart lay a bit further beyond and to the East of the Pokemon Center. But it was hard to miss with its bright blue rooftop and the awning over the entrance. Once inside Yume recalled Enjō to his Poke Ball, and she found the mart to be rather quaint compared to the size of the Pokemon Center. There were only 8 aisles, but they were deep and probably ran for around 100 feet or so to the back of the store.

Aisle 1 was dedicated to Poke Balls, of which nearly 60% were run of the mill Poke Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls. The other 40% were a mixture of the various "Specialty" Poke Balls such as the Net Ball, Moon Ball, etc.

Aisles 2 and 3 were Pokemon Care items such as potions, antidotes, food, temperature proof and static-proof gloves, training clickers and other devices to get the Pokemon's attention or alert them to a job well done, and much more.

Aisles 4 and 5 were for Trainer Care and Preparation including sleeping bags, travel pillows, tents, fire pit building tools and kits, pots, pans, utensils, rope, etc.

And aisles 6-8 were general goods for everyone, not just Trainers. Everything from carpets to desks and chairs to houseplants could be found in these aisles.

Yume gave a wave to the others as she told them she'd be headed for the Trainer Care section first. She had to replace that old worn down sleeping bag and possibly get herself a tent as she didn't have one yet. However, she'd also need a bigger bag since the one she had wasn't large enough to fit both items. Price was starting to become an issue now, as she still needed to plan for her personal rations, upgrade some of her meal prep tools, get more Poke Balls and Potions, and more.

Bringing out her PokeDex, she took stock of her finances which currently were sitting at $3,000 even. A hefty sum at first glance. But compounding issues such as hers would drain that rather quickly. The tent and sleeping bags alone would cost her around $780, to say nothing of Potions which were expensive items individually, much less in bulk. As was standard, Yume had received 5 Poke Balls when the Professor bestowed Enjō to her care, along with the PokeDex. So, techncially she was covered in the Poke Ball department. If she had to sacrifice buying anything today, it would be them. Buying replacement food preparation gear would cost her around $200. So, just on meal prep and her own sleeping accomodations she was down about $1,000.

This would be tough.

Having wandered each aisle at a slow yet steady pace twice over to make her selections while she calculated using the PokeDex, Yume opted to buy a new travel backpack ($60), tent and sleeping bag bundle ($780), upgrades for her meal preparation gear and utensils ($190), two potions ($300*), two antidotes ($100*), two paralyze heals ($300*), two awakenings ($200*), and a 100ft line of rope ($50). The total came out to $1,980. Quite a steep price. She'd thought about buying some repels as well, as they were on sale. However, just one was $175 (*). The path through Viridian Forest was going to be a long one. And repels only lasted for about an hour before their scent would dissipate and stop keeping Pokemon at bay. She couldn't justify the cost with her other expenses.

Still, at $1980, for the sake of taking proper care of Enjō, as well as keeping herself protected from the elements and comfortable when sleeping at night the costs she'd already incurred would be well worth it in the long run. Following checkout, she waited for the others near the entrance while happily wearing her new (and full) backpack.
 
Kayla didn't feel lucky, despite how easily Sean had let her off the hook. She knew that she'd done nothing to warrant that level of scrutiny in the first place. Or her boss, for that matter, who was as clueless about the drugs that had somehow made it into their supply as she was.

From now on, she'd recognize shady business before she got involved in it. The bass thumped from inside the club, drilling the conviction into her mind. When she entered, it was like surfacing from underwater. The sound was clearer, colored lights flashed, and people moved to the beat, creating a sea of motion. She made her way through the crowd, feeling a mix of trepidation and excitement. She hadn't been able to enjoy things like this in Pallet, but she figured it would be a good experience. In such a stimulating environment, she was more likely to regain a piece of herself.

"Would you like a mochi donut?"

Or lose herself, if she wasn't careful. Kayla eyed the dessert on the tray of the server who'd offered her one, recalling the drugged ones that were circulating thanks to her. She instantly felt sick to her stomach and forcefully shook her head no. The crowd seemed to swell around her, the music assaulting her ears, searching lights swimming in and out of her vision. The only people who walked straight were the many servers, navigating the chaos and presenting the clubbers with the same treat. She wasn't sure if the donuts came from the same batches that she'd sold. Nor could she glimpse anyone's pupils in the brief moments of visibility that the lights allowed. But she wouldn't be surprised if the people here were under the influence of something.

When she slid into a seat at the bar, it felt like she'd reached a safe zone. The bottles on the shelves reflected the colored beams of the ceiling lights and appeared to glow in the dark. She ordered a Malibu bay breeze; the bartender snatched a few of them and prepared it, pouring, mixing, and setting down the glass with fluid motions. Kayla was about to pay when a man came up beside her, throwing a handful of dollars on the counter.

"Do I know you?" Kayla warily regarded the stranger, who wore a white vest over a collared shirt, a gold chain, and tinted lenses.

"No, but you will soon enough," he replied, tipping his glasses to reveal endearing, green eyes. Then, he nudged his head in the direction of the band setting up onstage. "I'm a singer, and I'm supposed to be up there right now. Only problem is, we're missing our flutist."

"What's that got to do with me?" she asked.

"Well, you two look alike. Any chance you can play?"

Kayla had never played the flute in her life, as far as she could remember. She wanted to tell him the truth, but a part of her was open to the new experience. That was what journeys were for, weren't they? Trying new things. Maybe it would even trigger her to recall something, like when her fingers had instinctively found all the right notes on the guitar.

"Maybe if I were drunk enough." That was her attempt at a joke. But the man had been grinning already, so his face didn't indicate how well he'd received it. She shook her head. "Sure, I'll do it. If I can practice the song."

"Oh, you won't need to practice," the man said. "Just get up there and freestyle. I'll give you a thumbs-up whenever there's a flute solo."

Kayla laughed nervously, feeling a bit of doubt creep in. "Freestyle? On a flute? Are you sure about this?"

The man nodded confidently. "Absolutely. I've got a good feeling about you."

Reluctantly, she agreed, and the man led her backstage. He handed her a flute, and she stared at it for a moment, feeling its weight in her hands. Her fingers trembled as she lifted it to her lips and tried to remember how to play. To her surprise, the notes came more naturally than she expected. She blew softly, testing the sound, and then a bit more confidently, finding the melody that felt oddly familiar.

For a few minutes, she practiced, her uncertainty gradually melting away. Just like with the guitar, she felt like she had done this before. The band members gave her encouraging nods, and she took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.

When she finally stepped on stage, the crowd erupted in cheers, the energy in the room palpable. The band began its first song, and Kayla watched for the singer's signal. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she brought the flute to her lips, the music flowing through her effortlessly.

At first, she was cautious, playing the notes softly and tentatively. But as the melody progressed, her confidence grew. The flute felt like an extension of herself, and she began to play with more passion and intensity. The crowd responded enthusiastically, swaying and moving to the rhythm.

Then, something extraordinary happened. The Pokeballs on the audience members' belts began to shake, and one by one, Pokemon broke free. They rushed toward the stage, seemingly entranced by the melody of Kayla's flute. The trainers watched in awe as their Pokemon danced to the music, creating a surreal and magical atmosphere.

She closed her eyes for the last solo that the singer indicated, trusting her fingers in their travel along the instrument. She felt another memory returning to her, less like a headache and more like a dream playing on the blacks of her eyelids. She was in a forest this time, crouched on a high branch of a tree, working the flute with the same vigor. A group of people were looking for her in the bushes below. But they were swarmed by wild Pokemon--friendly ones, not angry like the Spearow had been--in much the same fashion that those of the audience had rushed the stage.

The song ended, and the audience erupted into applause. The Pokemon returned to their trainers, still buzzing with the energy of the performance. Kayla lowered the flute, her heart pounding with exhilaration.

The singer gave her a thumbs-up. "You were amazing! Thanks for saving our show."

Kayla smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time. "Thank you. I think I needed this more than you know."
 
Riley looked around the small store, browsing potential buys with a shopping basket in hand. While healing items are certainly handy, Riley preferred the use of berries and medicinal plants. He had been taught how to forage by his parents and he had no desire to allow that skill to stagnate. However, once he found the camping gear, including outdoor cooking, he felt spoiled for choice. While he already possessed his own cooking set, it was only meant to serve one meal at a time. If he got the bigger ones, he'd be able to help via batch cooking! With that in mind, he also acquired a variety of seasonings as well as some knife sharpeners and a can of WD-40 for his arm. He also found a small hand-crank generator with multiple USB ports in case anyone needed to charge anything on the road.
By the time he was finished, Riley had spent about $300. It never failed to amaze him how much more expensive Pokemon items are in comparison to products meant for humans. Then again, it was not like being a trainer was a walk in the park. Plenty of beginner trainers end up dropping near the start of their journeys. That, and the amount of time and effort to produce those products, was likely how they justified their prices. Not to mention the allowance provided by the league. Once he finished his purchase, Riley met with Yume at the entrance, his new pots and pans hanging from his pack. "You alright Yume?"
GojiBean GojiBean
 

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