Tinkatink went on to fight another battle, one that actually had her needing to throw in a few moves instead of her profoundly unelegant bonk. She won, but came out with a few scrapes. As Ethan finished praising her and recalled her, he scanned the surroundings once more to take in the competition.

  After her first bout against Caterpie, they both had to wait fifteen minutes for their turn to come again. During that time, he had realized that he’d been pretty awkward. While it was true that he wasn’t going to fit into a generalized trainer theme like those here, he was still someone with a license and pokemon who wanted to battle. While some of the humans around did find him odd, it wasn’t nearly as bad as he had originally assumed.

  The pokemon who stood around their trainers didn’t even give him a second glance. They looked at him, took his measure, then accepted his place in and around them like any other. That alone set him at ease, but by the time they got through their second match, this time against a plump young woman with a little Mistreavus who lost with ease against Tinkatink’s Brutal Swing, Ethan had fallen from awkward trainer to fearful dad.

  It wasn’t even like Tinkatink got hurt. She got a few hits landed against her, like all pokemon did, but… an illogical part of him worried. Call it inexperience, overprotectedness, or just plain fear, but there was a part of him that just didn’t enjoy battling. Continuously, he had to remind himself that he wasn’t here for himself—he was here for his pokemon. These were the things some of them wanted to do.

  The pokemon around were… well, weak. That was to be expected here at what he was deeming the kiddy pool of battling, but it took him by surprise. Tinkatink’s typing generally worked in her favor against the majority of the pokemon out and about by their partners waiting their turns. They were just as inexperienced—some just as young—but all of them were… for lack of a better word, basic: Lots of normal, water, and grass types, commonly found in many regions.

  Ethan was going to have Emolga take her turn next… but judging by the opponents, she wouldn’t even be in danger. The Misdreavus was the only pokemon around, from what he could tell, that could even fly other than the handful of Pidgey and Starly hopping about. Even if she battled one of them, then her electric typing practically sealed the deal. One Discharge, and Ethan had faith that the battle would be over.

  As he was thinking about moving upwards from the kiddy pool battles, hand on his chin like a philosopher from old, the woman from earlier, Perrin, strode up to his side and settled in, leaning against the chainlink french which enclosed the field. With a flourish, she dangled a polaroid picture, waving it about in the air. “This is for you.”

  Before he even managed to reach out, Ralts used her feeble psychic powers to levitate it towards her. She sat down on his shoulder and kicked her legs into his collarbone in a gentle rhythm as she took in the picture. “Hmm… I am not in it. Shame.”

  Ethan snatched the photo from her grasp and shook his head in exasperation as he finally got a good look at the photo.

  It was a picture of him swooping up Tinkatink after her battle against Caterpie. It was excellently timed, showing bright smiles and giggles from them both. From ye olde days, when polaroids were common, they were quite grainy and dull in color. This though? This was bright and in high definition. Ethan opened his wallet and tucked it into place—a memento for his first recorded battle.

  “Thank you. This was our first battle.” Ethan said with a smile. “I can see you earned that photographer title.”

  “We all have our strengths and weaknesses, just like pokemon.” Perrin replied, pushing herself off the fence. She gave a lazy wave and started to walk away, but Ethan made an offer.

  “If you ever find yourself traveling through Eterna Forest, come by my ranch. Not to brag, but it’s a beautiful clearing with fields of colorful berry trees, a large meadow and pond, and many wild pokemon. I’m sure you will get some great pictures.” He started following after her, deciding that he was done for the day. Emolga and maybe some others could find some real battles on their walk back home. “I even have a Smeargle! If you’re into art, that is.”

  Perrin’s Growlithe saddled up to her side, walking with a pep in its step. “If I find my way through, I’ll remember.” As they left the battlefields, they each split, walking separate ways. She gave a lazy wave. “It was nice to meet you, partner.”

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  Ethan returned the wave, and went back to the hotel.

  —-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The next morning, Ethan double checked that their room was empty and that neither he nor James had forgotten anything. Afterwards, he closed the door and regrouped with the rockets outside.

  Jessie, James, and Meowth had made another killing operating the berry stand and even found a place to store it for use in the town. In the future, they wouldn’t need to dangle it from below their hot air balloon to travel back and forth. Ethan had taken his share of the money, but quickly spent it on some cheap, bulky, standard foods and some basic tools for the ranch. A large bag of salt, sugar, some fruits he didn’t have access to, along with some more seeds for his garden were the standouts food wise, but the tools were more important.

  The upcoming winter was going to be a trial. From now until the end of his life, he was never going to look at winter the same. Last winter, he’d nearly frozen and starved to death in a dingy little hut he cobbled together with broken tree limbs and vines. Now, with a proper axe in his toolbox, he was going to have a fire roaring at all times to keep warm. He didn’t have a fireplace in his home, but he’d get a wood stove going for sure.

  His home was well insulated according to the construction workers back when it was made. It was well beyond the standard for Sinnoh’s building codes because of his separation and seclusion. It would hold in heat, and he would make sure it was warm and toasty from now until spring. Jessie and James’ uniform bag of shenanigans currently held the metal he was going to use to build the wood stove, as he didn’t have enough money to buy one outright and his much smaller Silph bag was full.

  As they made their way towards the forest to return home, the rockets chatted happily with one another about their business and brainstormed ideas for the future. He caught a few mentions of uniforms from Jessie, and after seeing what she was doing to draw attention recently, he was willing to allow it.

  Their first day through the forest was uneventful. Jessie and James’ experience with traveling also reared its head. Both of them were quick and efficient, stopped for breaks at what seemed to be predetermined intervals and made their camp right before the sun was about to set. Ethan was using James’ tent, as he himself didn’t have one. Both Jessie and James would bunk together again, something Ethan was suspecting wasn’t just an excuse to be with one another…

  From their interactions, Ethan was leaning towards them not being in a relationship. It was borderline, but to him, it seemed that they were just… really close friends. Lifelong partners, but not in a romantic way. They were a found family, and clearly loved each other just as family would.

  Currently, they were sitting around a quaint little fire right alongside Route 205, smack dab in Eterna Forest, watching a small pot of stew boiling and simmering their dinner. Jessie and Meowth were off gathering some sticks for kindling and feeding the fire, and both Ethan and James watched and cooked their dinner.

  Jessie was arguing with Meowth about something off in the distance, and Ethan’s eyes were just watching them work.

  “Don’t even think about it.” James said, completely unfazed and not even glancing his way as he continued to stir the pot. Ethan blinked and threw him a raised eyebrow.

  “She’d eat you alive. I’ve seen you look at her, keep it just that; looks.” James chuckled with some mirth. Not insulted, but just a friendly warning.

  “Don’t think I stood a chance anyways, but thanks for the warning.” Ethan scoffed. “I thought that maybe you two were a couple, but it took awhile to see that you’re not.”

  “Mmm.” James gave a simple hum of acknowledgement, but it was clear that he wasn’t willing to delve into that conversation.

  As the fire crackled and spat out sparks from some settling wood, Ethan decided to speak his mind. “You two really did a fantastic job working the stand. I would have drowned in the sea of customers. I don’t care about what Jessie and Meowth say about you, you’re a good guy.”

  James slowly turned to give him an insulted look, mildly panicked. “They’ve been talking about me?!”

  Ethan waved him off with a warm smile. “Don’t worry, I didn’t believe them.”

  James stood and stomped off towards Jessie and Meowth, hollering about deceit and talking behind his back as Ethan stifled a laugh. That little bit of gas lighting would come back to bite him, but watching the trio bicker then throw him dirty looks made him burst out, unable to hold back.

  After some friendly jabs and light hearted banter, they each dug into the simple stew and settled in for the night. Munchlax was out of his ball and settled snugly by his armpit as they slept, both for companionship and for safety in case a wild pokemon decided to ambush them in the night.

  The next day, around noon, Jessie got into a battle with another traveling trainer. The young woman looked like one of the Hex Manics from the games, and had the pokemon to boot. Showcasing that Jessie wasn’t some pushover, she confidently steamrolled the young woman's Haunter with Seviper. The giant snake was merciless in its battle, clearly showcasing its battle prowess and strength.

  Later on, a few hours before they would begin to set up their camp, a duo of young men were strolling down the route towards them. Both wore similar attire, fit for the forest and clearly used to the environment. As they spotted their approaching group, they quickly huddled together and spoke to one another, before turning to wave them down.

  “Oi! You folks up for a doubles battle?”

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