When Harry Met Sally, or Not

Petite leathery nose to the ground.  Apricot fur darkened by sweat.  Dark tails twitching anticipatively.  Chocolate eyes hardened in concentration.  This was the sight Lance had been subjected to for the past twenty minutes as his Vulpix roamed the woodland outside of Violet City in pursuit of an unknown prize.  Or at least it was unknown to the boy.  Whatever it was, his furry companion was determined to track it down, and the trainer trusted his Pokemon enough to let him be, as this was the same creature who had won the novice a Persian and located an elusive Eevee.  

At least for another ten minutes.

"Connor, what was it?" he asked, not for the first time.  As anticipated, the Vulpix slowed his pace for a moment to register the question, then kept pushing forward, nose to ground, not bothering to look up.  The scent trail somehow led Connor under a tangle of brush, leaving Lance to find his own way around the vegetation.  As he pulled his pant leg from a snag, Lance noticed hints of a clearing farther ahead amongst the oak.

Good, he thought.  Once they reached it he would call this game quits and eat his dinner.  Curiosity had been eating away at him for the first half of their goose chase, but he was starting to feel exasperated, figuring if his Vulpix hadn't caught up to the Pokemon by now, at his dawdling pace he was never going to.

As though he'd read Lance's mind, Connor's disposition took a stark change.  The fox halted in its tracks and peered straight ahead with widened eyes and quivering limbs.  He gave the air one last sniff as a growl sat in his throat, then before Lance could say a word he was racing at full speed towards the clearing.

"Connor!" Lance shouted at the blur of orange, but it was no use.  If he wanted to retrieve his Pokemon he'd have to keep up as best his useless human legs could manage.  He sprinted over the grass the Vulpix had trampled, excitement quickly devolving into fear at the sounds he heard up ahead.  Something had been slammed to the ground, and from behind the tree trunks he heard vicious snarling coming from Connor, and a deeper, less mammalian cry coming from something else.  "Connor!" he yelled again, but the sounds of fighting had only escalated.

His frantic mind had resolved to recall Connor into his Pokeball as soon as he reached the clearing, but what he saw made his limbs go weak.  The Pokeball dropped to the forest floor.  His Vulpix had pinned a Charmeleon twice his size, and the two were tussling in the grass.  Both the Pokemon were too absorbed in the moment to concentrate on fueling their fire sacks, which left Connor a mouthful of sharp teeth as he tried to get a grip on the lizard's neck, and his adversary sporting an even crueler set of jaws as his defense.   Before Lance could figure out what to say (greed and shock filling his thoughts equally), the Charmeleon was successful in grabbing his vulpine Pokemon and tossing him off.  Connor was quickly back on his feet, growling fiercely and waiting for a chance to strike.  Lance called out the first thing that came to mind.

"Flamethrower, now!"  Connor must have been thinking the same thing, for his eyes started to become muted in color, and from between his clenched teeth sneaked a lick of flame.  But he was too slow.  The Charmeleon charged on two legs with head lowered, and when the eruption of flame shot from the fox, he leapt over it, coming down with a body slam to topple the Vulpix.  He then rolled off his winded victim and instantly twirled in place, his long muscular tail colliding with Connor's side, causing the downed Pokemon to let out a cry of pain.

"Connor!"  Without thinking Lance ran up to retrieve his comrade, and thankfully the Charmeleon backed up at the approach of the human, albeit growling a warning to them both.  At first Lance didn't know what to do but kneel there and feel guilty.  He usually knew when to call Connor off, but it had all happened so quickly.  And now his very first Pokemon laid there in the grass inhaling ragged breaths.  Lance laid a comforting palm on the creature's side, but he could still hear the Charmeleon's loud breathing from behind him - the repetitive sound grating on his already frayed nerves.  Needing to take his rage out on anything but himself, he twisted around and yelled at the lizard, "Get out of here!  Get!"  The Pokemon took a few steps back, but he never looked away from the trainer.  Content that the reptile was at least not growling anymore, Lance turned back to Connor and stroked his back gently.

"I'm gonna try to pick you up, okay?" he told the Pokemon in a soft, comforting tone.  "Let me know if it hurts."   Moving slowly so as to not hurt Connor and not provoke the Charmeleon, Lance scooped the former into his lap, distraught at how little resistance he offered.  At least his eyes were open now, but he wasn't sure if this look of shame was any better than his previously pained expression.  "Hey, buddy, it's okay.  You're gonna be okay..." he assured the Vulpix, cradling him to his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye Lance caught motion from the Charmeleon, and he immediately whipped his head around to observe the Pokemon's actions.  The bipedal reptile had oriented itself toward the trees behind it, and over its shoulder Lance saw someone emerging from the shadows the forest cast.  It was a girl.  She looked about Lance's age and had long, fair-colored hair and bright eyes.  There was something surreal about her, coming as she did across a completely random scene involving a wild Charmeleon and a wounded Vulpix with its trainer, yet her expression was entirely tranquil if somewhat concerned.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her question directed at Lance.  In the meantime the Charmeleon had sauntered over to the girl's side, answering at least one of his questions.

"'Going on'?  Your Charmeleon beat up my Vulpix is what!" he said indignantly whilst keeping his knelt position on the ground.  But as soon as the words had left his mouth his throat sank into his stomach.  Very likely Connor had actually been the one who started this mess, and by now the hesitation on his face was clear.

"And a good thing he did," she sneered.  "Gwindor doesn't attack anything without my expressed consent, which means your little pup there is the one who started it.  Nice try."

Despite the truth she spoke, Lance returned her accusation with a hard glare, but eventually he had to bite the bullet and spit out, "My Vulpix was tracking something - probably your Charmeleon.  He didn't know it had an owner..."

"Well that's what I get for letting him wander off to hunt on his own," she mused to herself.  For the first time she seemed to really consider the limp Vulpix in his arms.  "Sorry for any trouble my Charmeleon caused you two.  Think he's going to be okay?"  The concern in her voice didn't seem completely faked, so Lance tried to ease the tension in his body before responding.

"I think he'll be fine after a night's rest.  Just winded is all."  The eye focusing on Lance had indeed opened further and looked more cognizant, even if subdued.  The next thing to come from the girl's mouth was even more unexpected.

"I have some healing ointment if you could use it at all."  Her voice was nearly void of an edge now, lightened into a tone one might use with a friendly acquaintance.

"I... Thanks," Lance stuttered, as though still piecing together her offer.  "I have some of my own.  I don't think he needs it, though."  The girl nodded, taking a few steps closer as though to make herself less imposing.

"Might I ask what you're doing in the middle of the forest with the sun about to set?  You're a good ways from town, you know."

"That's sort of the plan," Lance replied, the slightest smile upturning his lips.  "We were headed for Goldenrod City.  We camp when the light runs out.  'S'about the only thing my pocket can afford."  The girl eyed his backpack suspiciously.

"Without any supplies?"

"Give me a blanket, the stars, and a fire, and I'm all set."  Lance rose to his feet as he said this, shifting Connor's weight in his arms to better support the Pokemon.  "The nights have been unusually warm of late anyway."  Since the girl still seemed to be scrutinizing him, Lance broke the silence by offering, "And you?"

"I'm camping, too - though a little more comfortably."  She jabbed a thumb behind her to indicate the site's location.  "We might as well team up.  It's always safer for a trainer to travel with someone."

"I dunno...  We do fine on our own..."  Mostly Lance protested because he figured that was what the girl wanted, but he was surprised to find she looked genuinely disappointed.  When the furrowed brow didn't go away he raised the confidence in his voice to tell her, "You know, on second thought, I think I'd like that. ..."  He struggled to think of something else to tag onto the statement but trailed off instead.

What little he'd said seemed enough for the girl, however, since she broke out in a smile and said, "Alright then.  Well I'm Talia, by the way.  And you've both met Gwindor..."

Lance quirked a brow at the odd jibe but told her, "And I'm Lance.  The 'pix here is Connor.  So... we should get a move on, I wager?"  The girl nodded in agreement as she returned her Charmeleon to its Pokeball.

"Just follow me, Lance."  Already the forest was many shades darker than when this ordeal had begun.  They tromped through the brush in silence for the first minute or so, but eventually Talia called back to her new companion, "So, where do you hale from?  You a New Bark boy?"

"Oh-- no.  I actually come from Cinnabar Island.  Kanto."

"Oh, Cinnabar Island!  My family used to go there on vacation!  I always got a kick out of the natural hot springs.  And it's about the only place where I've seen wild Ponyta running about."  Lance beamed with pride, although Talia couldn't have seen it with her back turned.

"Yeah, I've seen ranchers go out and rope the Ponyta," he told her.  "It's kind of a lost art, but they take pride in it.  I've even ridden a Rapidash that was wild-caught once.  I mean, it was after he'd been broken in completely, or I wouldn't be talking to you right now."  He almost laughed out loud, thinking about the hapless riders he'd seen throughout his childhood, mounting a freshly caught Ponyta only to have their bottoms burnt and then bruised from the nasty fall.  "And you?  Where are you from?"

"I'm a Viridian native.  We're sorely lacking in hot springs and Ponytas, but we have some of the best Pokemon laboratories in the country."  Lance released a bark of a laugh.

"Viridian?  That's where I caught my first Pokemon!" he shared excitedly, referring to the now-Pidgeotto nestled in its Pokeball.

"Is that so?  That's where I got Gwindor before heading out.  ...Ah, here we go."  Talia had come to a stop just past the tree line overlooking a small valley, with her sleeping bag and pile of used kindling resting atop the hill.  "I have some more wood," she explained, "So don't worry about that."  Gesturing to Connor as Lance gently placed him down she inquired, "Think he could help?"

"Hm?"  Then, realizing what she meant: "Oh, sure.  Let's just get the kindling situated first."  Lance helped her pick out some choice sticks from her pile, then once they were collected Connor blew fire into the heart of it, causing it to quickly ignite into flame.  The Vulpix had become deft at controlling the heat of his flames to some degree, which Lance knew meant this fire would last longer than a naturally burning one.

Lance took a seat on the grass beside his Pokemon as Talia sat opposite him.   Now that he wasn't busy avoiding eye contact in embarrassment or looking at her backside, he was finally able to take in the other trainer's appearance.  He could tell she was rather attractive, but unlike most males that wouldn't be enough to keep him tagging along.  He appreciated, however, that she wore simple attire.  He'd seen girl trainers loitering at gyms wearing make-up and skirts, but God forbid they have to cross a creek to catch a Pokemon, or wipe the mud off their Eevee's paws.

Though content to sit there in silence for a time, Lance eventually ended it with, "So... I guess this is where we divulge our life histories?"

Talia laughed politely before saying, "Mine's boring.  You don't wanna hear it."  Lance grinned at the challenge.

"So tell me something that's interesting."

She only paused for a moment before stating simply, "My Pikachu beat a Geodude once."

"Riight.  And my Vulpix took on a brigade of Squirtles."  Connor cocked an ear and looked at his trainer incredulously, which Lance promptly scratched and hissed, "Not really, ya idiot."

"She did!" Talia insisted.  "Why would I lie?"

"To make a fellow trainer feel even more inadequate, is why."  But Lance was smiling, and her lips mirrored his through the flames.

"Well Swifter will tell you herself," Talia mumbled as she grabbed the last Pokeball on her belt, releasing the Pikachu in a flash of red light.  The rodent-type creature appeared to them balancing on its tippy toes, catching the scents on the night air before twitching its long ears and observing the newcomers steadily.  Connor extended his neck in the Pikachu's direction, reading her scents like a book.  In response to his inquiry the Pikachu gamboled over to their side of the fire, causing the Vulpix to raise and investigate further, his nose finding its way to her rump.  The creature chattered angrily before spinning around and instantly flying two feet back.  A surprised Connor recoiled and let out a defensive growl.

Lance wrapped his arms around the fox's chest, pulling him back some as he grumbled, "Sorry, he's just... rude."

Talia smirked at the scene and informed him, "My Pikachu could beat up your Vulpix, too."  He knew she was just saying that to get a reaction, which is why his frown was faked.

"Uh huh.  You'll have to prove that one, sweety."

"I'm nobody's sweety," Talia chuckled.  "And neither is Swifter."

"Heh.  Guess that makes sense, if those are the only Pokemon you got," he replied, indicating the three Pokeballs on her person.

"Yep, those are them.  I need more of a variety, but... it always made sense to me to have a powerful, devoted team, instead of trying to "catch 'em all" and have a multitude of weaklings."  Lance had to agree with that philosophy.

"I try to not bite off more than I can chew, myself.  I have five right now, and I'm happy with them."  Unable to fight it back anymore, Lance let out a long yawn and took advantage of the break in the conversation to take out some dried strips of Rattata meat and feed them to Connor, who accepted the vittles greedily.

"Ugh, is that Rattata?" Talia asked with a wrinkled nose.

"Yeah..." Lance replied hesitantly, wondering if this girl was one of those weirdos who raised their Pokemon to be vegetarian.

"I have a Raticate," she explained with a shrug.  "So it's always weird for me to see their meat advertised everywhere..."

"Yeah, I can imagine.  I'll never eat Pidgey again now that I've trained one.  They're really bright critters."

All Talia offered in return was "Mmhm," and Lance focused on her again to see her head tilted at him, as though she were examining a Nidoran in a cage.  After a long pause she piped up, saying with a resigned sigh, "So we should probably get to sleep, huh?  Don't know about you, but I like to get an early start.  Most of the Pokemon here feed at dawn."  In all honesty Lance had been hoping to talk with her longer, but at the proposal he realized just how weary he was.  The boy had been trekking nearly all day, and his muscles were more than sore as a result.

"Sounds good."  Lance let out another yawn, then, deepening his voice for emphasis, "And once Connor is well rested we'll see just who is the Pokemon Master here."  Talia snickered as she unrolled her sleeping bag.

"A week's worth of sleep won't win you that battle, but knock yourself out."  As Talia zipped herself into her nylon cocoon her Pikachu curled up on top.  Meanwhile Lance tugged his blanket from his backpack and nestled down on a particularly thick patch of grass, his Vulpix cuddling up against his abdomen.  After anticipation gave way completely to exhaustion, Lance fell asleep with a smile planted on his face.  For when he awoke in the morning, he knew he wouldn't be alone.