A Quiet Stop

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Having gotten restless, Kaeya chose to wander off early and wait around outside for the girl and the Pidgey she had met yesterday. She ran through the events of the morning in her head once again, hoping Reika would find the note she had left to tell the girl of her whereabouts. "Hmm...I wonder how long we should wait..." She mused, tapping a finger to her chin.

She glanced behind her at a loud noise, smiling and laughing at Modrian's display. The little Charmander was chatting it up with two Rattata, probably telling them about one of his adventures back home. Modrian always hated being inside a building for too long, preferring the outdoors - she could barely stop him from scratching his way through the door when they got ready to leave the Professor's this morning.

With a comfortable sigh, Kaeya sat down on a nearby rock to continue watching the three Pokemon from a distance that wouldn't scare the Rattata off. Occasionally, she'd look around to see if anyone was coming, or just to see what other curious Pokemon were popping out of the grass.

[Shade Chaos]

Shade and Totodile were giving each other odd glances as they neared the first Route, but Shade was more worried about Totodile's look; it was happy, but looked sinister at the same time, "You're probably gonna try and bite me again, and don't even try it." Shade warned his Pokemon, getting a laugh and a dance in response. Shade just decided to set Totodile down and let him dance about on solid ground.

Travelling on the Route farther, Shade and Totodile came across a Bidoof. Eager to know what it was doing, Totodile bounced over and started talking in the little Pokemon 'language'. The Bidoof seemed to respond to something challenging and used Tackle on Totodile, sending him flying back to Shade, "Oh, this Pokemon wants to train. Alright Totodile, let's see what you got!" said the trainer to Totodile, who responded in a, "Totodile!"

"Totodile, uh... use your Scratch attack!" his Totodile flipped in the air, and landing in front of Bidoof, it used its claws to scratch at the opponent and jump back in front of Shade. Bidoof's returning attack was a Growl, which made Totodile a little worried, "It's okay, you can get past it. Use Water Gun!" Totodile shot his mouth open and a large stream of water attacked the Bidoof and sent it a little farther away from them. Giving up, the Bidoof just slowly turned a different direction and walked off.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Kaeya started a bit as she heard a ruckus a little ways up the path, "I wonder what that was..." Without a second thought, she got up to investigate. "I'll be right back, Modri!"

"Ch-... Char?" Modrian stopped in mid-sentence, curiously watching as Kaeya walked off. Tilting his head to the side, Modrian made an inquisitive sound and took off after her. The two Rattata followed, though one more reluctantly than the other.

A few strides brought her to her destination. "Ohh, a battle." She remarked, watching in awe as the Totodile used water gun as it was told. She had never really seen a battle outside of the ones on T.V. "Hey, good job!" She clapped for them with a bright smile.

Modrian popped around some grass, stopping just beside Kaeya. "Charrchar!" He vigorously waved his greeting, one of his Rattata friends coming up beside him curiously. The more cautious Rattata kept it's distance from the scene. Modrian stared curiously at the Totodile, having never seen one before.

[Shade Chaos]

"Oh, thanks!" Shade said with a laugh, wacing at Kaeya. After this, his Totodile got Tackled back into his legs and they both fell over on their backs, "Well, maybe you shouldn't fight every single Bidoof here..." Shade said, nervously laughing and picking up his Totodile.

"Say, cool Charmander," complimented Shade quickly as he set down his Pokemon, trying to run off and fight more Bidoof, but Shade held onto his tiny shoulders and stopped him, "Does he have a nickname?" added Shade into the converstion, watching Totodile turn his attention to the new Pokemon in front of him and greeted with his right hand out in a 'Pokemon handshake' of some sort.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Kaeya jumped a bit when the two fell backward, laughing quietly once she saw they were okay. She glanced down at Modrian, who was still curiously watching the two newcomers. “Yep, his name’s Modrian.”

Modrian swelled proudly at the comment he had received, looking up at Kaeya as his name was said. “Char!” he chirped happily, taking a step back as the Totodile’s outstretched hand startled him. Shaking his head vigorously to clear it, Modrian stepped back into place and returned the gesture with a happy sound.

Kaeya giggled at the two, rolling her eyes fondly at Modrian’s antics. “Speakin’ of names, mine’s Kaeya!” She took a small bow, “How about yous two? You out here for the Gym Challenge?” Folding her hands behind her back, Kaeya leaned against a small, young tree next to her.

[Shade Chaos]

"Well I be Shade, and this wee man is just what he is, Totodile," explained Shade in a fun, Scottish accent, "And we are definitely for going against Gym Leaders." Totodile jumped about and declared its cry, dancing from one foot to the next.

"What about you guys, you going for Gyms?" he decided to ask. Shade looked overhead and seeing a few flying Pokemon speed out of the tree Kaeya just leaned on, such as Pidgeys, Hoothoots, Starlys, etc, "AND... did you get any other Pokemon yet?" Shade decided to continue on the conversation of Pokemon.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Kaeya laughed lightly at the fun accent, laughing again at the Totodile’s happy dance. “Well, Totodile’s real excited! So far as I know it’s a fire based gym, so you should have an easy time if you train enough.” She looked up at the Pokemon that had flown out of the tree, cringing a bit. She’ll have to bring some apologetic bird food next time she comes down this way.

“As for me, I’m not sure if I want to do all the Gym challenges...Maybe as a side quest.” She idly walked around the tree once, watching a Fearow pass by up above. “I just want to study and explore, to see the world.” She stopped, leaning against the tree again, “I guess the Gyms will all be up to Modri and any other Pokemon in my team, if they want to do it or not.” She smiled down at Modrian.

Modrian, who had just managed to coax the cautious Rattata over with the help of the bolder Rattata, glanced up at Kaeya. He tilted his head to the side as he listened, letting out a happy sound and smiling back at her. He then turned back and started introducing the Rattata to Totodile.

Kaeya blinked at the last question. “Nope, can’t say I have.” She folded her hands behind her head, looking up to the sky for a few seconds. “But, I have a few in mind that I’d like to raise. Larvitar would be an interesting undertaking, Gible too. And Torterra.”

She laughed at herself, “They’re all real rare though, so I’ll have my work cut out for me just findin’ ‘em!” She winked brightly, “Don’t mean I won’t try though! I hear there’s a cave right outside of the next town over. With any luck and a lot of searching, I might just get lucky and find a Gible. Or, at the very least, a Gastly.”

She paused, blinking. “Oh jeeze, I’m sorry I was rambling! So how about you? I’m guessing Totodile’s the only one you have so far, but do you have any in mind?” She sat down against the tree, looking on with curiosity.

[Seraphinu]

Reika hurried down the path, hair slgihtly out of place, with Pilot on her shoulder, looking put off by Rei's quick pace. "Hey! Kaeya! Your aren't leaving without me are ya?" She asked in a playful tone as she caught up to the pair, grinning and huffing. Pilot meanwhile gave her a look that said, 'you don't get out much, do you?"

She blushed shyly as she spotted Shade, not having noticed him before. "Hi... I'm Reika, and this is Pilot," She mumbled, her shy nature taking over again. Of course, as soon as she noticed the Totodile, she grinned. "He's cute~!" A girl all in all. She may not like dresses, make-up, or anything of that sort, but she was the same as all the girls when it came to cute pokemon. That's right, the instant 'awwwww' factor.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Kaeya blinked, craning her neck a bit to glance behind Shade. Her expression brightened up again as she jumped to her feet, waving over at Reika. "Hey! Rei!" She laughed, "'Course I wouldn't leave without you two! Feeling any better Pilot?"

Modrian perked up as well, squealing happily and running around Reika's legs a few times. The more cautious of the Rattata skittered off, the other one calling out a brief 'goodbye' as it followed it's sibling.

Kaeya glanced over at Shade with a smile, "I just met Reika in Shinoka, and we decided to travel together for a while. I was waiting for her just up ahead."

[Seraphinu]

Pilot trilled happily, stretching its still bandaged wing, and flexing it. Rei bent down, and petted Modri, smiling at the perky Charmander, and looking to the retreating Rattata, cocking her head slightly. "Friends of your, Modri?" She asked, still petting the top of his head.

Pilot, meanwhile, had since abandoned his perch, and flew shakily over to the little tree where a bunch of bird Pokemon had flown off. He inspected it carefully, wondering about what birds had been in it before. When he was finished he settled contentedly on a branch, and began to prune what feathers he could reach.

[Shade Chaos]

The Totodile waved to the new Pokemon, Rattata, and exchanged a few quips of conversation, "That is a rare team. I think my wanted favorites would be... Tentacruel... Togetic... Skarmory... Shedinja... and others, but those are all I can think of from the top of my head.

Shade turned to the beginning of the Route and noticed the new person entering the area and waved before the conversation started, "Very nice to meet you, Reika," Shade said, after hearing her name, and then waved at the Pokemon. Totodile seemed to do the same, "I'm Shade, and my Totodile doesn't go by any other nickname."

"As for the cute factor on my Totodile, take a picture! He won't stay that way for long!" Shade said in a somewhat joking tone, adding a laugh or two. He actually did mean to evolve his Totodile sometime, but what he had just said felt necessary for the conversation.

Thinking more into a conversation about Pokemon, he thought about other factors, "Anyone have any favorite type?" Shade decided to ask, picking up his Totodile for a moment, "As you can see I like the water. It's so calm and serene!" he yelled a little loudly, his Totodile copying his owner's movements and facial expressions.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

Modrian made another happy sound, leaning into Reika’s hand. “Charchar!” He nodded, waving to the Rattata as they ran off.

Kaeya laughed behind her hand at the two’s display, particularly Totodile’s mimicry. “That’s right, Totodile will become a Feraligatr someday, with some training.” She smiled, “He won’t be cute anymore, but he will be a tough contender!”

She thought a bit about the question asked, “Well, I can’t say I have favourite type...though, if I had to choose, it would be Fire or Rock, and Dragon. Ohh, I do like the Dragons. I remember reading about them – They’re rare and tough to raise, but they’re also lifelong and loyal friends. Though, that can be said for any other Pokemon.”

Modrian nodded in agreement, waddling back over to Kaeya’s side to sit down. He yawned lightly, glancing up at the sunny sky.

Kaeya smiled fondly at him, looking back at the others. “I think I’d rather have a well-balanced team than just one type though, at least for now.”

(I hope you don't mind the next part Seraphi! I thought of it randomly and it was too cute to not try out.)

"Pidgeo!" A bolder Pidgeotto lighted down on the branch next to Pilot, having come to investigate the loud human yell he had heard whilst up in the sky. Glancing over at the smaller Pokemon, he tilted his head to the side slightly as he studied Pilot. "Geott?" Bobbing up and down a bit as he looked the other bird over, the Pidgeotto flipped around and moved to help Pilot with his preening.

Kaeya glanced up at the two birds with a smile, hoping the Pidgeotto wouldn't be seen as a threat or unwelcome intruder to Pilot. Some Pokemon were more solitary, after all. "You know, I've always respected Pokemon for the way they treat each other. Even with territorial disputes, they're generally good and helpful to each other."

[Seraphinu]

Pilot jumped a little at the Pidgeotto's sudden landing upon the branch, but, sensing that he wasn't a threat, purred softly as the larger bird began to help with the preening.

"Pidgey are naturally gentle, but can fight fiercely if they are forced. But generally, they avoid fighting," Reika pointed out. She had limited knowledge of Pokemon behavior, but she knew some things, and looked forward to learning more from catching and raising Pokemon.

"If you asked for my favorite type... I'd say... Fire types are pretty good. But, in general, I love all Pokemon," Rei smiled, adjusting to her more casually bubbly attitude. She went back to Modri, sitting with him on the ground, playing with him, tickling him gently. She always did associate better with Pokemon than people for some reason. But, she still liked Kaeya and Shade just fine.

[Shade Chaos]

"I wish I could have an all water team, but I know that's a little bad on the Gym quest." nervously explained Shade, scratching the back of his head a little and letting out a little flourish of red on his cheeks. He picked up his Totodile and hopped over the two of them and jumped into the air before falling back down on his back to the grass.

Shade let out a sigh of relief, "It is true how they act like that; much like humans, don't you think?" pondering this thought, Shade smiled and laughed at his Totodile, getting a smile in response as Totodile sat on his chest. With a pat on his head, Totodile let out a yawn and looked at the Pokemon in the tree.

Generally, Shade spoke from the top of his head. Without usual thinking of Pokemon, Shade would just hear about Pokemon from TV and what his brother would brag or explain, "Do you ever wonder what the responsibilities and feelings Pokemon have that changes from the beginning to the end of an adventure?" Shade wondered, thinking about it and watching Totodile laying down on his stomach with his eyes half-closed.

[Kaeya J. Hughes]

“I hear Pidgeys can kick up one heck of a dust cloud, too, as a defense.” She sat down as well, carefully leaning against the tree again as to not disturb the two Pokemon that were currently settled in it.

Modrian watched Reika closely as she sat down beside him, his tail swaying back and forth slightly. He let out another happy sound as he realized she wanted to play with him, getting to his feet and jumping up and down excitedly. Upon getting tickled Modrian squirmed and laughed, taking one too many steps back and tripping and falling into Kaeya’s lap.

Kaeya laughed brightly as the little Charmander blinked up at her, patting the top of his head. “Wow, Modri sure is fond of you, Reika!”

“Charr!” Modrian leaned into Kaeya’s hand with a happy sound, giving her an affectionate nuzzle before hopping off her lap to play with Reika some more.

“Y’know, Shade,” Kaeya touched a hand to her chin, trying to think back to the old books she read back home and the accounts of one of her trainer-neighbours about the Pokemon in the world, “An all-water team might just be possible, with the right ones. Like, if you have a Quagsire electric Pokemon should be an easy feat. Or, at least I think so...”

Kaeya laughed behind her hand at the Shade and Totodile, moving over a bit to give them more room. Kaeya stretched her legs out and supported herself on her hands, a bright smile on. Modrian, who had been looking at her and curious as to why she moved, returned to his playing, and Kaeya glanced over at Shade as he continued voicing his thoughts.

She blinked, “Hm...what do you mea-Gah!” Kaeya laughed as Modrian pounced on her, giving her a hug and another affectionate nuzzle. She returned the hug, scratching just above his bandana for him. “Well, as I was trying to ask, what do you mean by that Shade? The feelings and responsibilities of Pokemon?”