7/6/20

10:00 am

Nio Nacpulpa (Pier)

It took another two hours for us to get out of the Express Cruise because of that Inteleon getting attacked earlier. It kinda annoyed me that everyone in the boat had to talk with a bunch of Pokémon in uniforms when they did nothing, but there was nothing I could do about that. Even worse, I couldn't tell them who actually did it, unless I wanted everyone who spoke to me to consider myself crazy. And you know I hate when people call me that.

One by one, the group was released from that prison, each given a card saying to call if there's anything they missed. On the bright side, me and Phoenix now know that there's phones in this steampunk city.

My eyes kept looking at the tall building filled with glass windows, seeing many Pokémon hanging out nearby or literally inside the building, working on something. "Call me curious, but I wanna check out that building over there," I said pointing to it. "It seems weird since that entire building revolves around this area."

"You literally took that in after looking at it for an entire minute?"

"No, I mean it literally revolves around it." I was saying that because it seemed like the entire building I was talking about was literally spinning around slowly, steam coming out on grates surrounding the area. "Look, if you guys don't want to go, I'm fine with that."

"I'll go," Phoenix raised her paw before walking next to me. "Only because I'm interested in that place as well. Anyone wanna join me and the rat?"

That's a new one. My ears perked up before shooting a stare at the Houndour. "I swear to God, if you call me that again, I'll throw you in a ditch." She knew I couldn't physically do that, so she just chuckled while ruffling my head.

"I might as well," Abby raised her paw while approaching us. "There's nothing really to do here but to check it out. What about you Cord?" The Glaceon turned around to see my best friend intentionally daydreaming. "Cord?"

"Huh?" He shook off whatever he was thinking and stared back into the group. "Oh sorry, I'll be taking a pass on this. In a way, I want to sightsee the area since I read about it earlier..."

"Fair, fair..." Abby nodded before going in her own way towards the futuristic building. Me and 'Nix said our goodbyes to the Raichu before glancing at each other, knowing what each other was thinking.

Cord was lying. And I sure didn't like it one bit.

***

10:26 am

Nio Nacpulpa (Research Building)

"The Nio Nacpulpa Research Facility, sponsored by... TMP." You could obviously tell I had no clue what that was, and other Pokémon walking by noticed. Some were giggling, entering the building since they had to work, while others shrugged and moved along, probably because they didn't know what it meant either.

The Houndour next to me walked up towards the door before peeking in. "Well, they aren't showing the 'research' part of the building, it's just the lobby here."

She was telling the truth; a small lobby with only one main desk and a few chairs used for waiting. The only Pokémon working the desk was a shiny Leafeon, his light green fur on his ears brushed up to a T. Whoever it was, he were trying too hard to impress others around them.

The three of us decided to walk in, grabbing the attention of the Leafeon ahead. "Hi there!" He said, glancing with a cheerful expression. The Leafeon's chair turned around in order to face us. "Welcome to Nio Nacpulpa's Research Building. How may I..." He paused to tilt his head confusingly. "Abby? Manny?"

It was now our turn to be completely confused. "I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked for both of us. "I'm not sure I've seen you around."

The Leafeon face expressionless, like we were somehow supposed to recognize him in some way. "Guys!" He yelled before hopping on the top of the desk. After making sure nothing fell out, he turned back. "Guys, it's me Chris!"

Wait... WHAT?! Is that why I recognized his voice a bit? The little shiny Eevee evolved?!

I take back anything I said bad about him in-book and off-book.

My ears perked up to see Chris suddenly start circling around the Houndour around her, trying to "get familiar with her scent?" I don't know how animal instincts worked, but Chris is going at it. Phoenix could only nervously smile, begging for this to be stopped.

"Chris, I guess I should introduce you. That's my cousin Phoenix," I said with a paw on my neck. "She's not used to being a Pokémon, so I suggest you stop... doing whatever that is."

The shiny Leafeon glanced at 'Nix's expression before chuckling, sweat dripping from his face. "S-Sorry... I got too excited there..." The Leafeon thought to himself before pressing his paw on one of the direct lines to somewhere. "Can Mr. Henka please come down to the lobby, thank you!"

I was about to ask who that was but was interrupted when Phoenix pulled me aside. "Is he usually like this? Being a handful?"

"No not really," I responded, gazing into the Leafeon's face as he talked to his "sister." "I'd say he's grown more confident than I last saw him... Which is probably why he started sniffing you around."

The Houndour shuddered while shaking her head. "Don't remind me of that... Speaking of, you noticed Cord's expressions, right?"

"Don't remind me..." I sighed before turning my head around outside. "I don't know what he's hiding, but I hope I can get it out of him sooner or later."

"Alright, Chris. Why did you..." I turned around to see a familiar grey and white, small creature staring straight at us. His voice was a bit softer than when I heard him on the speakers. "Well, well, well! If it isn't the Pikachu and the Houndour! Nice to see you again."

"Castform?" The two of us yelled, acting surprised. What was he doing here?

"Well, yes. It is I, Castform Henka!" His voice was now acting like the same voice he used during the Grassland Qualifiers. But it seemed he couldn't have held that tempo for long, as a cough suddenly came upon him because of a lack of air. "S-Sorry...," Casform said in his soft voice again. "I can use that voice every so often. You can call me Cass or Mr. Henka. I'm the Vice President of Pokémon Research here in Nio Nacpulpa."

Woah... Does that mean he gets paid twice? Yeah I know it's weird that a 14-year-old would ask about that, and it's a stupid question, but I'm wondering. He gets paid to do a highly considerable job for the progress of technology, AND he gets to be an announcer? It sounds awesome!

"Well, I guess you already know Manny and Phoenix, but you haven't met my little sister!" The Leafeon hugged the Glaceon with a toothy grin. "This is Abby. She's going to be taking part in the Island Qualifier, right?"

"Mhm." She nodded before turning her attention to the Castform. "I did hatch from there, so it'll be fitting for me to battle in that same place."

***

12:47 pm

Nio Nacpulpa (Apartments)

The conversation between Cass and Chris was fleshing out for too long, so let me just sum up the important details. Chris asked the Castform if he could rent out two empty apartments next to his, coming out of his paycheck. Cass decided to be nice enough to just pay our apartments in full, since all of us are going to be in the World Pokémon Tournament.

We now just had to figure out who's going where.

"I call being with Abby!" I immediately raised my paw, making Cord, Chris, and Phoenix start laughing right in front of me. "What? Chris was the Pokémon to ask!"

The Glaceon moved in front of me, trying to shield me from the laughter. "I wouldn't mind," she said, smiling at me. "We technically are together."

And I immediately forgot about that... During the last few minutes I was a Pokémon a few months back, Abby told me that when I returned we could try the whole "dating" thing. I thought that someone else like Chris was going to remind me about that, but Abby telling me about that just put me off.

"Right...," Phoenix said to everyone. "You guys don't mind if I get my own room, right?" When everyone around nodded, the Houndour smiled before backing away towards the right door from Chris' apartment. "Thanks everyone!"

I was trying to peek into the room me and Abby were staying in, but the Leafeon next to me decided to push me to the local metal wall by accident. It felt rusted, but luckily it didn't give me any cuts. I didn't take my Tetanus shot yet...

"I wanna ask, you need a date place for you and—."

"Yes!" I nodded almost immediately. My knees dropped to make it look like I was begging. "Please! I've never had a date before, so I need—."

My mouth decided to shut up as soon as Abby stopped right next to his brother. "What's going on with you now?"

There was a lot to explain, with me also admitting that I forgot about our relationship... So I'd better do something, and quickly. I suddenly got on one knee and faced Abby, a sigh exiting me. "I know this looks awkward but I might as well ask..." I told myself mentially to not screw up these next words. This had to be perfect.

It had to be perfect for my sake.

"Abby, would you like to go out somewhere together?"

*Game File Saved*