We woke up the next morning to leave for a city called Levincia, which was about fifty miles or so away from Artazon. I helped Kari with her camping equipment, and I prepared breakfast sandwiches for our Pokémon and ourselves to munch on. I had just finished bathing River, when I heard, "Hálogi. OW! Illr Hálogi! That's not nice!" I looked away from River to find Kari chasing her Fuecoco, a sponge and hose in hand as she begged, "Let me clean you, gørvel!" She finally caught up to him, and grasped him by the foot only to be promptly snapped at as a response from the disgruntled Fire Type, and causing Kari to yelp as she exclaimed, "You're a illur sveinn, Hálogi, Trying to bite me! You smell like a smoldering composter." "Fue! Coco-Fue!" Hálogi cried in protest. "Watch that tongue! You know better than to backtalk me. Now let me clean you up!" "Trouble?" I asked, setting my Pokémon on the ground to let him play. "Always. Hálogi seems to be content on smelling absolutely abysmal. I'll NOT stand for it!" Kari huffed, flopping back on the ground in defeat. "Perhaps he just likes to be dirty." I suggested, Buttercup, newly evolved into a Vivillon, flapped directly behind me to get my attention. "Not now sweetheart, go play with your friends for now." I cooed, gently sweeping her away, and causing her to flutter off. "If he was a Ground Type like Vön, I'd be a bit more lenient, but he's a Fire Type. Fire Types always smell of burning SOMETHING. Wanna pin him down while I scrub?" Kari asked, looking up at me with bright eyes. I looked between the disgruntled Fuecoco and her keen eyed trainer, not really feeling good about the idea as I asked, "Are you sure it'll work out how you want it?" "Absolutely! Just sneak up, and grab him from behind." She assured. Reluctantly, I decided to help Kari on her mission to clean Hálogi, so taking her advice, I crept behind the table. Carefully, I snuck up the side of the table, stopping now and again to make sure Hálogi hadn't suspected anything, and I rounded the corner quietly while both of our Pokémon watched in interest. I was right up on the Fuecoco, and I took my chance to grasp his feet to plant them firmly to the ground as he thrashed and squealed. Kari leapt from the other side, sponge ready as she soaped him up, being very sure to get everywhere she could as Hálogi growled in defeat. "There you go. Now you shall smell nice for a change!" Kari replied, putting her sprayer away as the disgruntled Fire Type blew smoke from his nose angrily. He shook himself dry, and waddled off under the table to sulk as Kari and I kicked back for a bit. "Thanks for the assist! Hálogi was smelling worse by the HOUR." "I'm only grateful he didn't breathe fire at me!" I giggled, watching the Pokémon play around when Buttercup fluttered her way back up to me with a Berry in her arms. "Awww, for me?" I asked, and I extended my palm to her for her to place a Pomeg Berry into my hand. "Thank you. I'll place it in my bag for safe keeping, alright?" I said, putting the Berry in my backpack. Buttercup spun happily, and fluttered away as Kari said, "I'm impressed! You all JUST started your journey together, and all of you are carrots and peas already." "I guess with a bit of tender care and some love ANYTHING can happen." I replied with a shrug, looking out at the sunrise over the Paldean horizon. "It's beautiful, the sunrise." I said after a while, making Kari look on ahead herself as she replied, "You should see it where I'm from! Tundra as far as the eye can see, and mountain peaks higher than the top of Uva Academy. And the sunrise makes it all worthwhile with how scenic everything is!" "How long have you been coming to Paldea?" "Hm? Oh, no, I'm a first year like you! Exploring the joys of a new land as all new comers tend to do." "And you've caught so many Pokémon here as of yet?" I asked, amazed. "Easy when you're raised to know how to get on their good side. Here, I'll help you pack everything up, and I'll show you!" Kari offered, and I happily obliged. After we packed the picnic area, and called back our Pokémon, Kari and I traveled down the dirt path ahead, talking as the cool breeze swished on past us gently; the warm, golden sun shining down on us that made a perfect scene of childhood bliss. I never had luxury like that in Kalos, as it was always just me on a tree somewhere, thinking about what I'd like to do with my life as mom watered the flowers around the city for a living. How I wished things were different, and that my father was still present for me, but when life hands you oranges, you make orange juice. We continued on down the path when Kari held her arm out in front of me to grab my attention, pointing ahead as she cried, "Look there! It's a pack of Tauros!" I followed her arm, and sure enough, there was indeed a large pack of Tauros in front of us. "YIKES! We should probably take a different route, Kari, those Pokémon are ferocious at best!" I exclaimed, trying to pull her along when she said, "But look in the group! In the middle, see? There's a special Tauros!" I turned back, confused as to what she was going on about when I saw a peculiar looking Tauros-it's bubble like horns glinting in the sun, and the blue droplets along it's neck like gems! It swished it's propeller like tail around as it grazed, and I couldn't help but stare on at the magnificent creature hypnotically. Kari gently set my hands back to my side, and before I could reach out to grab her she had already begun to approach the beasts. "K-Kari! What are you-?" But all she did was calmly smile as she mouthed the word "Watch." She stood a few feet from the pack, and bowed her head in silence for a long while as I anxiously watched my peculiar friend from the side when suddenly I heard the most lovely melody floating through the crisp wind. At first I though Kari was playing an instrument, as the Tauros had looked up from their grassy meals to look her way, including the bubble horned Tauros, but after a good long while of listening to the flawless tune, I realized that Kari WAS the instrument! She sang high notes with perfection, and belted out long holding notes without so much as a breath, and it absolutely fascinated me. The most intriguing part of the encounter, though, HAD to be how calm all of the Tauros seemed in her presence, almost as if they too were enthralled by the angelic tune she sang, and it wasn't long until the bubble horned Tauros approached Kari with eyes full of trust! She patted it's head, and looked back at me with a grin, and I couldn't help but be amazed at the reaction of the normally hostile Pokémon. After a while of patting it, and a few handfuls of grass offered, Kari leapt upon the back of the Tauros; a bad idea at best as I opened my mouth to warn her. I was once again stunned when the Tauros, instead of throwing the strange girl off, began to walk over my way as she continued to pat it, and talk to it in her native tongue. Once she was close enough to me, she threw her arms in the air, and shouted, "Tada!" Making me shake my head as I laughed, "You sure ARE something, Kari. That was INCREDIBLE!" "Why, thank you Spirit. That means the moon to me that you thought it impressive! I wish the teachers weren't so against it, though, as shocked as it leaves them." "Well it's not every day you meet a Pokémon Trainer that catches Pokémon by simply singing to them. What are you gonna name him?" I asked, petting it's luscious fur. "Aksel. It's a fine name for such a fine creature!" She replied, continuing to love on the massive bull Pokémon. That's how I found myself in a race with my friend-myself on Miraidon and Kari on Aksel as we raced across the meadows, the pack of Tauros behind her all the way as she laughed, wooped, and hollered. The wind blew through our hair as we found ourselves side by side in a tie, and we looked over at each other joyfully, knowing we each were having our own great time! We leapt over rivers and ran through grassy meadows all the way until we finally reached our next destination, and the next Gym.