I woke up feeling pretty great. I think I had slept in? Oh Arcanine was still snoring, and the sound of rain explained why she was still napping and not demanding exercise, wow getting to sleep in for once was kinda nice.
I rose up and stretched a jaw breaking yawn escaping me as I stretched.
Then I blinked and looked around and instantly stilled.
Ivy was awake and glaring at me, eyes red and almost puffy.
"Ivy?"
"Vicky." She greeted me cooly, completely unlike her normal self.
I mean...
"That’s really cute."
"Don’t." She hissed. In her lap was a sleeping Phantump curled up in a ball almost looking like he was suckling his thumb as his hand was pressed up against the front of his stump. "I refused to sleep! Do you know how many stories there are about Ghost types attacking people in their dreams, or eating dreams! Or worse!?"
"What? Phantump are sweethearts though. And Dream Eater is just a move, most Pokemon aren’t going to just attack someone." I responded honestly confused. They were one of the few Ghost types that didn’t have any scary stuff directly relating to them.
Sure people would get lost in the woods looking for them crying, but they were crying because they were little kids, not because they wanted to get people lost.
"Vicky. Ghosts terrify me!" She hissed quietly, the noise not even ruffling the Phantumps body as he continued to snooze away curled up against her.
"You don’t like Ghost types?"
"Ghosts are scary!"
I just continued to look at her because I just... Why?
They are just a type of pokemon! No different than Grass types to Fire types.
"Phantump is very nice and gentle... And he’s a Grass type." I offered casually. And Ivy’s glare didn’t lessen at all.
"I. Don’t. Like. Ghosts."
"You seem to be okay with Phantump now."
"...He was crying." She answered a little bitterly, but I noticed the way she brushed her hand over the little guy’s head.
Awww.
She might have been scared of Ghost types. Something I didn’t know, but had still wanted to comfort him.
"Well Phantump are absolute sweeties. Really. They evolve into Trevenant, which is like a giant moving ghost tree. They protect forests, and are also very kind."
Ivy blinked and then puffed out her cheeks in irritation, even as she then held the Phantump all the tighter.
"You should ask him if he wants to go with you."
"Maybe."
"Great. I’ll make some breakfast and-"
"Vicky."
"Yeah?"
"He isn’t going to attack me in my sleep?"
"No, of course not."
"Then I’m going to bed. Don’t wake me up."
"Okay?"
"Good."
—--
Everyone was fed, and Ivy had taken Phantump into her tent and they were sleeping being all cute.
The poor little guy must have been exhausted because he was still napping despite the hours going by.
I guess being lost in a forest during a massive storm would be pretty scary. I just... I really hope they weren’t actually children that had died in the forest. I really hope that was just weird Pokedex lore. I mean, ghost types still laid eggs, so I was leaning more towards it just being goofy pokedex bullshit again.
"Looks like the storm is finally breaking." I mentioned to Lucario as I came back from checking the entrance. It was still raining a bit, but it wasn’t constant anymore.
"Lu." She nodded, having been kneeling by the fire and filling a bowl of pokemon stew.
Lucario very much enjoyed my cooking and that was something I was very proud of.
"What are you going to do?" I asked her as I settled in to grab some of the food for myself. It was tasty enough for humans too. "I mean you’re welcome to stay! Ivy and I will likely use this cave as our base camp, and having more around just means more security." I trailed off because Lucario was looking out towards the entrance and then back to me.
"I see." I nodded. She wanted to go, and had only stayed because of Riolu potentially getting sick and then the rain. "Well come back anytime for lunch. You can even bring the brat." I offered, pointing a spoon at Riolu who was practically licking her bowl clean after her own lunch.
"Rio! Riolu! Riii!" She instantly snapped back at me, and I couldn’t help but respond back.
"Mlegghhh!" I pulled at my cheeks and waggled my tongue at her. A pretty common playground insult in Kanto.
"Ri! Riolu?" She snapped at me, then looked to her mama, who just sipped at her stew and then scoffed at Riolu who looked frustrated and instead of responding how I expected she scoffed and settled back down.
Then of course she realized she was still hungry and wanted more and I gave her a haughty look as she looked from the bowl to the pot of stew that I was standing over.
"Riiiiiiiiiiii." She growled out and I laughed at her obvious irritation before I held out a hand.
"Bowl." She didn’t look like she wanted to, but eventually her stomach forced her forward. And she handed me the bowl and I refilled it. Even tossing in some spicy Lechi for her that I prepared beforehand.
She took it and even offered me a gritted thanks with a "Riol." And then she hurried over to Lucario and settled in to happily eat next to her mama.
I nodded pleased, as everyone was nice and stuffed full of tasty and healthy food.
I settled in, and grabbed Ivy’s radio. Quietly turning it on, to see if the channels were back, and the music one was.
"Wow you guys picked the wrong targets." I called out, as I slipped off Arcanines back. Which only made the swarm start drawing in even closer.
"Arcanine. Go. Blue Heart! I need some protection!" I called out, and at those words Gyarados appeared with all the anger his species was known for.
The pack of Mightyena stilled at his appearance, but it was too late for that.
Arcanine was already blurring, and all the Sucker punches in the world weren’t going to stop her.
Gyarados wrapped around me. His pure bulk kept me safe as he roared, and then a blast of purple energy blasted out, Twister. Huh, I hadn’t seen him use that move before. But the whirlwind of energy blasted out over my head, although I couldn’t see what had happened, I could hear the crashing sound of explosions and cries of hyena getting blasted around.
"Come on out Chansey." I called pulling free the Goddess who instantly took in the situation from her position between my Blue Hearts coils and nodded. But she didn’t rush out. Simply waiting calmly, as the explosions and cries of pain continued.
—--
"Chansey! Chanse chansey." She lambasted another of the Mightyena.
She had come out after the devastation, and had started with the Poochyena. The little ones had very quickly cowered at her showing their bellies when one of the Poochyena had thought taking a bite from her had been a good idea.
The poor pup was still dazed, both of its cheeks puffed up to a comical degree.
That had taught the others, and now she was working her way through the pack, even healing the leaders.
Arcanine was at my side practically buzzing as she was obviously hoping for more battles.
Gyarados was just glaring. The most quiet I had ever heard him, which was saying something. As he literally loomed over me, casting me in a shadow and glaring at any of the hyenas that so much as looked my way.
I felt very safe.
So this was what the villagers had meant. A full pack of Mightyena twenty or more strong had attacked us out of nowhere. A normal trainer would have been in some serious trouble.
I would have to alert Ivy. Neither of us were allowed to wander around without our pokemon at our sides.
At least until all the packs in the area learned not to mess with the two human girls.
"Chansey!" She called out and walked back to me, wiping her flippers together as she had finished the job.
All of the Mightyena and Poochyena were revived if not fully healed.
All of them were inordinately wary.
"We aren’t going to do anything further. You can go. And you should. Don’t attack us again, or we won’t be as gentle!" I called out and the pack sneered and growled, but the leader, a big female turned and walked back into the forest and all the others followed.
"Arc! Arcanine!" I looked to my girl as she had barked back into the forest, but whatever she had called out she didn’t give me any clues just wagging her tail happily as she had gotten the battle she desired.
"You realize you are covered in mud now. That means a bath."
"Arc?" She yelped looking at me and I just gave her a flat look. She had ended up rolling around in the mud as she fought, and was liberally coated.
"Alright Blue Heart? You mind carrying me back?" I asked, turning to my big boy who instantly jerked his head away from the forest and rumbled in happiness at the idea.
I ignored Arcanines flopped over ears as she followed dejectedly as Gyarados did a few Dragon dances, getting the heft he needed and then flew over the treetops back to the cave as I stood atop his horns.
—--
Arcanine was forced to sit outside the cave when I got back. As I went in to check on Ivy, who was still passed out.
Good.
Milotic and Dragonite had done a good job and so I just waved them off as I walked Arcanine back to the streams.
"Alright. Time for a clean up. And don’t you dare shake all over me!" I told her finger wagging but she just looked at the water and then whined.
"I know it’s cold! Trust me, I know. But you are covered in mud."
"Arc!" She said and suddenly burst into flames hot and bright for a few moments, and then when it dimmed but didn’t go away her tail was wagging sending a few embers around and most of the mud was drying.
"You’ll still be dirty."
"Arc!" She argued, and I narrowed my eyes, before sighing. "Fine. If you can dry off all the mud and not cover everything in dirt I won’t make you go in the stream... For now. When we get home, you’re still getting a full bath."
"Arc!" She argued, but I shook my head and she finally huffed out a doggy sigh and then burst into fire again.
I left her there to bake the mud off herself. I saw her using a tree to rub against as I got back to the cave.
That poor tree.
—---
"Vicky?" The sleepy call pulled me from where I was relaxing.
"Hey Ivy. Did you sleep well?"
She blinked sleepily at me, and then looked at the Phantump that was still curled up to her chest looking up at her with his big pinkish red eyes.
"I slept fine." She decided and then crawled the rest of the way out of her tent.
"Can you hold him?" She asked, and I nodded, and offered both my hands to Phantump, who hesitated for a second but then reached for me, and soon I had a cutie settled in my lap as Ivy went to use the bathroom. Just as she was walking out I remembered.
"Oh! Don’t go anywhere without a Pokemon! Arcanine and I were ambushed by a Mightyena pack a while ago."
"What? Are you okay?"
"Fine! Chansey healed up the pack after. Just be careful. Pokemon here can and will try to eat you!"
She shuddered at the idea but nodded and once she was outside I heard the heavy thump of her Venusaur join her.
I looked down and into the pink red eyes and smiled at Phantump. "You hungry?"
He sort of jittered a bit, and that was good enough for me!
"Let’s find out your favorite, and I’ll make you something to eat then. Let’s see, here are the basic berries. Let’s figure out what you like." I hummed as I spread out each of the berries in front of him, and giggled as he looked between them all and me with a shocked look on his face.
"Yeah, figure out which one you like the most!" I assured him and giggled as the little ghost started looking pretty excited.