Ethan awoke with a sense of peace and a slight smile. Emolga had stuck to her punishments the day before with little to no complaints. Although she could feel his emotions and how disappointed he was at her mistake, she could also feel his pride and joy at being able to work with her throughout the day. She couldn’t really help that much, as she wasn’t equipped physically to do much but ferry items to and fro, but being able to hang out with her was… very welcome.

  For awhile now, he’d had the thought that his work shouldn’t be his pokemon’s work. This was his ranch, and the things he did here were not their responsibility. Truly, the pokemon that did work here weren’t even his. The Gloom and Oddish lived here of their own free will and helped him out of the goodness of their tiny little hearts—but with how yesterday went with Emolga? Maybe getting his pokemon involved would be a boon.

  Maybe… just maybe… he was being an idiot.

  After rolling out of bed and doing his best to tiptoe and hop, avoiding Pichu, Pachirisu, and Joyce’s Pikaku’s little fort of blankets and pillows on the floor, Ethan did his morning routine. Afterwards, he made breakfast for his family, and right when he took a bite of his crunchy oven-toasted toast, his pokemon were mumbling goodmornings, and everyone was awake, his phone rang.

  Normally, a phone call wouldn’t be a call for concern. He didn’t get many, but people called every few days to ask about his ranch… or call him about extended warranties and insurance (Spam). A call at the break of dawn before seven in the morning? That was unusual.

  A call from the champion of the region, who probably knew his schedule better than he did at time? That was concerning.

  “Hello? A little early isn’t it?” Ethan said as soon as he answered the call, pinching the phone between his neck and his ear so he could use his hands to dish out his pokemon’s breakfast at the same time.

  Cynthia’s voice was not only that of his friend, but also mixed with the Champion. “Good Morning Ethan, but there’s been some happenings down at the 206 bridge. Have you seen the news recently?”

  Ethan slid over Chatot’s plate of sliced berries and leftover seeds that the others tended to spit out (washed of course) as he let loose a heavy sigh. “Yes…”

  Cynthia must have heard his unenthused sigh. “As you’ve guessed, I am asking for you to come and do your part. As a registered trainer, you may be called in to help during emergencies and are expected to help when an emergency is happening around you—to the best of your ability. While these citations are rare, it is unfortunate that one has happened nonetheless.”

  Ethan sat back in his chair and finally un-clinched his neck and held his phone normally as he watched his pokemon dig into their meals and chat amongst one another. He waved down Pachirisu as he babied his baby by feeding him slices. His furry first friend scampered over and quickly climbed his body to rest on his left shoulder, leaning in to see what he wanted. “Can you please take Snorlax his food? It seems like this call is important.” He asked. “I trust you will not make the same mistake a different eclectic type made yesterday with the pokeblocks, right?”

  “Pachi-Pachirisu!” Pachirisu gave him a salute and darted away, agreeing to his mission. As he hopped on Ethan’s shoulder, Ethan got a face full of fluffy tail for his troubles.

  Now, he gave his full attention to the phone call. “I assume there’s no saying ‘no’?”

  “You’d be correct in that assumption.” Cynthia replied, a little cheekily. “While it’d be wonderful for you to help with excavating the snow and helping find those in need, I believe your experience as an exceptionally fast move tutor would be a better use of time. The more people capable of providing help, the faster the trainers and pokemon trapped beneath the ice and snow can be saved.”

  “You have an hour before an Alakazam will teleport to your ranch to pick you up. Do what needs to be done for your ranch and prepare for an extended stay in less than desirable conditions in the meantime. Joyce will be joining you.”

  Ethan just watched his pokemon be happy as he digested the news. Somehow, it felt like he was being drafted. He signed those papers when he was eighteen and in a different world! “Not to sound like a complete asshole, but is there any compensation or specific time frames on which I am required to stay and help?”

  “There will be compensation. Not a lot, mind you, but there’s something there for everyone. For the legalities of your required help, I’d suggest asking Joyce. While I’d love to talk and fill you in, I am quite busy.”

  She sounded very tired and… almost downtrodden on having to ask him to help. The weight of her position was definitely something he couldn’t fathom. If he was champion, he’d crumble.

  “Sorry.”

  *Click*

  Ethan looked at his phone as the screen blacked out from the ended call. “Damn… It must be bad.” He mumbled.

  As his pokemon finished their meals, side eyeing him every once in a while as they could feel his unease, Ethan thought about who to bring. Snorlax would be coming, Ursaring as well. They were his two heavy hitters and were strong enough to move anything that may be in the way or on top of those that needed to be saved. Chatot would come, but her job would be in the air. She would need to take constant breaks to warm up in the winter cold, as she was a temperate bird, but she could do it—she was strong.

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  Smeargle was a shoe-in. He had Flamethrower and a host of other useful moves to help out in such a scenario. He could also pacify large groups of wild pokemon who may be upset and fearful of the humans with Dark Void, putting them to sleep so that others could help.

  The last two spots… Those were harder to choose. Tinkatink, Emolga, Litten, Ralts, and Skiddo were too young and didn’t have the right movesets to help out. The conditions were also poor for each of them, barring—maybe—Tinkatink. The two Teddiursa were old enough to help, with each of them being over five years old, but they didn’t have the moves or the temperament to help out either.

  That left Pachirisu and Shuckle… and Shuckle, as much as he loved his little bug, would not be a great choice. They both knew Dig, which would be useful, but Shuckle was slow. He also wouldn’t be very happy being away from the ranch and surrounded by strangers. He’d gotten better—much better, in fact—but not to that level yet.

  That gave him five with Pachirisu, and he already had an idea on who his last one would be.

  Ethan stood, put on his winter clothes, and went out the side-door leading to his patio. After exiting his house, he sat down on the ledge of his patio and scooted off to drop the last few feet, near the treeline. His feet crunched the snow as he waded off into the forest, locating his final choice.

  The elder Gloom was settling down, shaking his body as he buried himself into the ground, preparing to sleep as Ethan caught his attention. With a guilty smile, Ethan knelt down in front of Gloom. “So…” He started, lamely. “I have a huge favor to ask of you. There will be dancing, a lot of it.”

  Gloom blinked, not expecting Ethan to come to him with a request, and also from being sleepy.

  “There’s been an avalanche—the mountain’s snow fell down into a valley and buried a lot of people and pokemon.” Ethan explained, knowing that Gloom probably was unfamiliar with the word. “I’ve been asked to come help, and there are many people already there helping save everyone. I think you’d be a great help too.”

  And he would be. Gloom could throw Sunny Day around like there was no tomorrow. Not once had Ethan ever spotted him or the others tiring out after dancing for hours on end. Even if the warmth from the move couldn’t melt the snow—which it should be able to—boosting the fire type moves of those nearby would be enough of a boon to make bringing him along worth it.

  If he agreed.

  Gloom blinked and raised an arm to scratch his head, unsure about the request. If Gloom didn’t want to go, then Ethan wasn’t going to force it. Gloom wasn’t his pokemon, afterall.

  “Glooooo-Gloom.” Gloom spoke, head turned, speaking to the Oddish nearby.

  “Odd-odd!”

  “Oddddd.”

  “Odd…”

  “Oddish-Odd-Oddish.”

  From enthusiastic, to sleepy, to uncaring, came the tonal responses. Gloom shook himself and ambled up to stand from his freshly buried spot of rest. His loopy leaves jiggled about, sending what little snow managed to land upon them from when he was momentarily still. He stood next to Ethan and waited for him to stand to lead the way.

  The echoing calls of the Oddish continued outwards, spreading far and wide. Ethan looked down the line of them all and came to the startling realization that Gloom had started a message chain. He spoke, the Oddish next to him spoke, the ones next to those spoke, and so on and so forth, until all the Oddish and probably the other Gloom heard that he was leaving.

  It was… almost whimsical to witness. He knew that they were smart pokemon, but this at least took some planning and preparation. They never fail to surprise him.

  “So,” Ethan said, “You’re coming?”

  Gloom nodded as he tucked his red scarf, which he got for Christmas, around his body, covering his mouth.

  Convincing (telling) the others that they were needed and they were going on an extended emergency trip to help people and pokemon went far smoother than he’d planned. Thankfully, the only one he needed to bribe was Snorlax, and that was with food—something he’d get if he was coming along anyways.

  After making sure all the pokemon who were going to stay were going to be okay, setting their training plans up for them to do while they were gone, and going over their plans in-case of an on scene emergency, Ethan was waiting in front of his house with Gloom and his pokeballs.

  He did check in with Jessie and James. Jessie was going to take over for Joyce, whom she’d begun apprenticing under since Jocelyn left, and James was going to check in on his pokemon at least twice a day and make sure that they ate and were doing okay. James even promised to call him when he did his check-ups so Ethan would be assured. It was a nice touch, but Ethan trusted James more than he probably knew.

  As he checked his phone for the time, finding that the Alakazam should arrive at any moment, he spotted Joyce strutting through the snow. She was dressed in a full winter get-up—a thick coat, two layers of pants, boots, a stylish black scarf, and a magic duffle bag hanging at her hip. She also had four pokeballs. She gave him a warm yet tired smile as she arrived at his side.

  “I knew this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time and Cynthia’s pride.” Joyce remarked as she settled in for the wait.

  Ethan scoffed but agreed. “I knew the moment I saw her calling that this was going to happen. The instant I saw the state of Eterna City, I knew that it was a big deal.”

  Joyce gave Ethan a once over, then spotted Gloom holding his hand. She leaned over to peek around Ethan, then smiled at the leafy pokemon. “Why, hello there.”

  Gloom gave her a once over as well, then turned and ignored her… Which was pretty unexpected. Gloom had always been nice to him.

  Feeling a little bad for the lukewarm reception she received, Ethan broke the awkwardness up. “Gloom agreed to come and help out. He’s still a wild pokemon, but the Sunny Day I taught him should help a ton.”

  Taking the exit from awkwardness and the frank disregard from Gloom in stride, almost like she’d been the recipient of this behavior before, Joyce readily agreed. “That’s an understatement. Weather effects are quite a rarity. Those that use them in battles usually have a team based around it. Sadly, there aren’t that many fire types native to Sinnoh.”

  Ethan shrugged, not really caring about the details all that much. This was small talk. “Could use it for Solarbeam as well, but that move probably works a little differently here than it did back home.”

  “How did it work back home?” Joyce asked, curiosity coming to the forefront.

  “If a pokemon used Solarbeam, they’d have to wait a turn and charge up before they could use the attack. If Sunny Day was on the field, they got to skip the charging all together” He explained.

  “Huh… Interesting.” Joyce remarked, causing Ethan to feel a phantom worry.

  “... How does it work here?” Ethan asked.

  And before he got his answer, the blip of a Teleport announced the arrival of an Alakazam. The wisened pokemon took in the three of them with but a glance, then held out his hands for them to grab onto. Joyce wordlessly grabbed one while Ethan took the time to explain how Teleporting will feel to Gloom. Once he explained it, Gloom chatted with the Alakazam in pokespeak for a solid fifteen seconds, before Gloom finally grasped onto Alakazam’s wrist.

  With one final look at his ranch and his home, finding several of his pokemon spying on him from the windows, Ethan smiled and was whisked away in the phantasmagoria of Teleport into the fray of an emergency relief effort.

  If nobody was going to come to him for some tutoring, maybe he’d have to go to them…

  Under better circumstances, of course.

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