New Connections

[Kimo]

<..And so one time I went around my cage just sniffing around, doing whatever, and that catty Meowth I was talking about before, she just barged into my- my life- and told me, ‘Hey! You stink!’ I got pretty upset. At least I don’t think she was being literal. I mean, what do you think?>

Rose turned her head behind her as her tiny feet strut down Route 3 like a fancy little cat.

Harry and Hodoro began to stammer all of a sudden. <..You, uh.. smell.. like, roses! Yeah, roses..> The Riolu rubbed his neck, nervous she’d see behind the white lie and feel bad. Harry’s owner spoke up, though, and backed up his favorite buddy. “Yeah, Rosie, don’t worry. That Meowth is just like that Sneasel. They only see what’s on the outside, and not what’s in here> The boy patted his chest where his heart would be. <Love.> Harry remembered his mom tell him something gushy like that once.

<Aww.. Thanks.> Rosie seemed to be a bit more cheerful, until she spoke up again, looking a bit panicked. <Wait, are you saying I do smell?>

The two boys sighed as they struggled along awkwardly, nearly regretting choosing a female to join their ranks first.

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[Cricket]

((^^ Um.. I was hoping to mod you since I haven't modded you thus far. :3 Hope that 'salright.))

Up ahead a small clump of reeds could be seen. By the size of the lake, it was quite obvious it hadn't been there for very long. Nonetheless pokemon huddled around it to discuss different matters. Not many were around today though, as another storm was supposed to come that day.
"I'm excited for this rain. Maybe the lake'll get bigger and we won't have to find another one." A Shellder said to a Scyther who nodded briskly before the water type continued, "I mean, it's been dying for weeks now, but Dragonite told us it was going to rain hard this time."
"Yeah. I hope he's right.."
"What do you mean you HOPE he's right? He's ALWAYS right."
"I guess. But, maybe he's just trying to convince himself. If this lake tries up his kids are in danger too, you know. If it dries up they won't have anywhere else to go. Not to mention they've gotten too big for him to carry them out."
"I doubt that. He's very strong."
"Indeed but those little Dratinis have grown long and he would risk hurting them when he tried to move them. If the lake runs dry before they turn into Dragonairs they're done for. It's already hard enough they say to swim in such shallow waters."
"Don't say stuff like that. I'm sure it'll work out. After all, when they turn into Dragonairs they can control the weather and make it rain."
They turned sharply to see the head of a Dratini peeping out at something across the small lake. Their voices hushed and the Scyther leaned in to continue the conversation without being overheard.

[Kimo]

(( Of course it is! I asked you to mod me in the first place. :] ))

All three of travelers happened to see the the reeds and the conversing Pokemon, but neither of them held their gaze for the exact same time. Hodoro kept his eyes and ears sharply on the sad excuse of a lake, while in contrast Harry stared aimlessly at the two as they went by, mind filtering out their words since he was already too busy imagining an epic battle between a Charizard and an Articuno- a famed battle, it would be.. Rose only gave a single glance and kept her sight on forward. Like her owner, she was too concerned otherwise, mainly about her body odors.

Hodoro received enough of the conversation to get a fair idea of what was happening at this lake. Maybe it wasn’t his problem, and maybe his juvenile young master would only make things worse by stepping in.. But maybe it was a worth a try to give a helping hand, even if it meant simply raising their hopes.
<Harry.. Harry, wait!> The bipedal canine reached out with his paws and tugged on the boy’s pants to bring his attention to the situation. “..What, Hodoro?” called Harry loudly, which followed by a immediate sush.
<Please, don’t raise your voice.>
“But.. We’re outside, it doesn’t matter.”
<Eh.. You’re right. But stay here.>

The Riolu walked over to the Shellder and Scyther, but in a cautious manner since he knew he was a foreigner barging into their little world.
<Uh.. Hi. I, um, happened to hear you guys talking about the Dratinis, and I.. wondered if I could help?> Hodoro was extremely doubtful he’d get a positive response, and in fact he thought he was sounding a bit sketchy. <I mean, we,>- he pointed to Harry and Rosie (who managed to stop following down the path and turn around)- <..We’d like to help.>

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[Cricket]

They stared at the pokemon. Particularly the pokemon's size, before laughing in unison.
<What do you think you can do that Dragonite cannot?> The Shellder asked once she had stopped laughing, <You're tiny. As for the human.. I suppose there's a little more meat on that one but still. What do you think you can do to help?>
The Scyther chuckled some more but soon he stopped to watch the small pokemon.

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[Kimo]

Hodoro looked frustrated, but his comrades didn’t share it. Instead, they looked more perplexed rather than offended. <Well.. Um..> spoke up Rose in a high voice, <Aren’t you small too?>

“I still don’t know what going on, Hodoro..” But still, he realized that maybe he should defend his Riolu in this situation. “And I don’t see size as a problem. Heck, my buddy could be twice the size of you too if he wanted to! Probably stronger, too. Lucarios and Riolus are the greatest Pokemon that ever existed.” Harry’s buddy, turning red under his fur, began to wish he wasn’t his buddy at that moment. He tried to signal him to stop, but he took no notice. “He would be big, but we decided not to. ‘Cause he wears this collar with a tag made out of that stone that keeps him from evolving. The No-Evolving-Stone.” Hodoro looked up at the sky, asking relief from Arceus.

Rose didn’t seem to help either as she talked quietly to herself. <Only the little Shellder is small, though.. That green guy is big! I wonder what they’re called..? I only know Shellders ‘cause they’re purple. I know everything that’s purple. It goes great with anything.>

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[Cricket]

The Shellder frowned, well, as much of a frown as a Shellder could manage. It was more like a glare with added tension, but either way a look of distaste passed to the others around her. She sniffed once before saying, <I am small, but it is not me who is saying I can help, now is it? I stick with what I said before, unless you can think of a way you three can assist at all, I do not know what you are doing here but attempting to start trouble.>
The look of dislike never really faded from her eyes.
The Scyther glanced at her once before looking at the trainer and pokemon again, laughter dying out of his eyes as well. <Thank you for the offer, but she does have a point. Unless you have an idea...?> He frowned, but the look was more thoughtful than hateful.

The two Dratinis were now facing the trainer and pokemon curiously, remaining on the opposite end of the small lake, keeping to the usual shy nature of the species.

[Kimo]

Harry scrunched his brow. “Help with what.” Hodoro awoke from his slump with an ’Oh’ and quickly explained what he heard to the boy.
“Oh.. Huh, the poor Dratinis..” He looked upset, both because he did feel bad and also he couldn’t think of anything that could possibly help them. “I wish there was a simple answer to it..”

<Woah!> Rose suddenly cried, noticing the snake-like pokemon in the background. Hodoro and Harry both turned their attention over to what she was looking at. <Wow.. Those are pretty..> The Riolu wanted to look away, but he’d never seen anything like them.
“Those are the Dratinis, right? Huh.. So cute.” Now Harry had an even harder time than usual focusing. “Err.. Let’s see.. To help them you could, um.. Er, wow, I see why you’re having trouble with this..” He stood there in an awkward silence, clearly stumped.
<Rain, huh? That’s what you need?> Once again, Rosy was speaking. <That reminds me of a funny story..> The Stunky made a chuckle as the memory faded back into her current thoughts. <Once time I was hanging out with this Lombre back at the lab, Harry, and he was pretty nice, I mean he had a happy attitude and didn’t give a lot of trouble to anyone, everyone loved him. Such a good guy. That’s why no one expected him to be the target of this really mean Houndour that had just arrived two days ago. Those fire types, so harsh sometimes, though I used to know a pretty cool Slugma..>
<Anyway, so they had to fight each other ‘cause the Lombre got him fired up somehow, and even though he was part water and he was fire, my Lombre friend was losing.. So he starts doing this freaky dance, and I’m looking at him like he’s a lunatic, but then it starts raining! I mean, on a clear, sunny day! Apparently, that made him feel better. But he still lost.>

<Yeah- just felt like telling you guys that story.> Rose shrugged, and began to think more about the Lombre and how cool of a dual type he was.
Hodoro pondered on what Rosy had said under the huge pile of unneeded detail. <..Oh, that’s right.. Some Pokemon are able to change the weather. Couldn’t you find someone who could make it rain?>

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[Cricket]

The Shellder was no longer listening, just rolling her eyes before glowering off into space. The Scyther, however, was nodding knowingly at the story. When Rose had finished, he spoke up and regained the attention from the Shellder.
<We have already thought of that. It is hard for us pokemon out here to obtain those move-learning shells, and Rain Dance is a move learned long after a bunch of training. The pokemon who learns it the quickest is Poliwag, but he refuses to help. He tells us it is Dragonite's arrogance not to heed the warnings from other pokemon that got him in this mess. He does not want to be a part of helping. That would work, but we have no way of getting it. We do have a Marill working on it, but she is far off. Much too far to save these Dratinis.>

[Kimo]

<Oh.> Hodoro lowered his head, feeling miserably for the Dragons that inhibited the water. He could’ve sworn the Rain Dance was a sure fire answer..

Harry felt bad, too.. But, at the same time, it was not their problem. “Um.. Well, I think.. Well, I don’t know what else we could do.. We might as well go now.” He looked down at his pokemon for agreement, and with disappointment and regret, Rose and Hodoro nodded.
<I guess so,> said the Riolu, wishing he hadn’t bothered to intrude on the two. <Yeah.. Be hopeful, though! Something might happen, who knows,> followed Rosie, whether she believed in it or not.
Although they would've left by now, Harry stood there, waiting for an answer. For some reason, he couldn't just walk away.. Was this part of being a trainer?

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[Cricket]

The Shellder let out a disapproving noise and leaped with a small splash into the water, resurfacing farther off. The Scyther shook his head slowly, <Keep your mind open though. We'll always be here for the help, and if something does happen, please ignore her and come back. She's getting a bit old and doesn't understand when people are trying to help.> He said, chuckling a bit, <Or maybe you could talk some sense into that Poliwag, but don't count on it.>

[Kimo]

Harry shook his head, sort of understanding what the Scyther was saying about the old people. “Yeah, I have a grandma just like her..” he said quietly, not trying to be comical. He listened to the last sentence, but he already had his plans in mind. “Well, alright.. we’ll be heading off.” The boy turned around and walked a few steps, but he stopped when he noticed none of his pokemon were following.
Hodoro was still standing in place, thinking things over while Rose waited awkwardly for the Riolu to finish wasting time. He was reflecting intensely, even moving his hands in the middle of a thought. <Wait, Harry.. I had an idea..> Harry looked confused and asked him what it was. Hodoro turned around, looking very sastifyed with the scheme he had put together in his head. The Riolu morph waited eagerly for him to spill, ready to hear a brilliant plan since he took so long to think it through.
<We should.. We should..>
“Well?”
<Talk to the Poliwag.>
Silence gripped Harry for a second. “..Oh. Yeah.” He was going to ask why it look so long for him to figure it out, but on the other hand, he hadn’t even thought of talking to the Pokemon. Huh.
Hodoro turned back to the Scyther. <Alright, we’ve decided. We want to talk to the Poliwag.. Where would we him?>

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[Cricket]

The Scyther waved them off, watching them go, or not go, but decide what their next actions would be. When they turned back to him, he took less than five seconds to think before saying, <You should check the damp grounds over there> He guestured to his left, then pointed forward, <Or try the sunny rocks up there.>

[Kimo]

Harry thanked the Scyther and turned to walk to either one, but he stopped when he realized he didn't know which one he was going to. He turned to his Pokepals. "So, guys- damp grounds or sunny ro-" The Riolu morph didn't have to finish his sentence before Rosy blurted out, "Sunny rocks!" enthusiastically.
Harry blinked. "Are you sure?"
<Yeah! Pokemon love sunbathing! I mean, at least I do, it feels so good! The sun rays sinking through your fur and your skin, making you feel all nice inside..> The Stunky shook with happiness. <I want to be there right now.>
Hodoro shared a look with his owner. <i guess she's got a point.. The sun is nice.>
Harry nodded. "Alright then, rocks it is! The trio began running over to the tanning spot, mainly because they couldn't catch up with Rosy.

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[Cricket]

Up ahead the rocks could be seen towering higher than some of the smaller trees. The sun was at the perfect height in the sky to bathe the rocks with warmth and light, turning them a glowing golden color. One one of the closer, lower rocks an Seviper was stretched to her full size across it. As she was longer than the rock itself, a part of her tail fell off the side as she dozed in the warm light.
A few rocks away, on a rock much higher, a Machop basked sitting up, eyes closed to enjoy the sun's rays.

[Kimo]

<Oooh, look at them!> Rosy shook her fur in anticipation. <I just want to climb right on up there and share their comfort!>
<They do look like they're having a good time..> Hodoro couldn't help but add in, finally understanding what the Stunky was getting worked up about. She was pawing at one of the rocks, begging Harry to go on, and Hodoro wanted to join her.. But Harry brought him back to his senses.
"No, Rosy," Harry said, scolding the purple creature like a puppy. "That's not what we came here for. The Poliwag, remember?" Rosy nodded her head after a moment of hesitation. She searched the tops of the rocks like the rest for doing, looking for any sight of the Water type. "I don't see it.." Harry said, not much hope behind the words. In fact, he wasn't very sure was a Poliwag was. He guessed, though, that it was blue and had some kind of fins. Most Water types shared that trait.
Yet, none of the people residing here currently looked like that. "Excuse me," Harry blurted out rather loudly, "Are any one of you a Poliwag?"

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