98 Onsen Onset

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"So what's your plan Naomi?"

"Well," She stops brushing her little, magical fire pony, and pulls out her trusty tablet, "We've been rescheduled back a day."

Jane sighs while feeding berries to a baby Numel, "The girls in juvi never shut up about that Torch guy."

Watts returns to brushing at Ponyta's insistence, "Kurt and I will go first in a 4v2 team match the day after tomorrow. Citro is up the next morning with a 3v3 singles match. Then Jane will have an official 3v1 Boss Battle that evening."

Jane hops in between Naomi and I, "I'm getting an official Gym Boss Battle?!"

"You can have team battles in gyms?" That's new.

"Oh yes. In fact," Naomi passes the brush to Jane and opens up a file of a poster draft, "We're all fighting for our 8th badge together."

Like an 80's movie poster, our team is arrayed opposite Electra. The Sootopolis Gymleader is sporting a feral grin while the rocky spires of the gym stadium set the backdrop. At the top, in red neon letters, 'Red Rebels VS. Electra!'

Jane and I both, ""Badass."

I flick her ear, "language."

"Oh piss off hypocrite." she's practically hopping, "When was this decided?!"

That's not exactly important right now, "Back to Lavaridge. I don't think this changes much for me, although I guess that means we're just using two pokemon a piece?"

Watts nods, "We'll have to come up with a strategy tomorrow. We'll be busy tonight."

Amber, the girl with the goat, speaks up from the stall across from us with Citro and his Salazzle, "I heard you guys are staying at the Litwick Inn?"

The boy carefully helps the vain lizard polish her scales, "Please tell me the inn isn't haunted with a name like that. I had enough of ghosts back home."

I don't blame him.

Naomi at least looks apologetic, "I can get you a different hotel or a room at the center." turning to look at Jane and I, "Gabby set this up for more content. We just have to stay overnight at this spooky hotel and record anything we find on our phones."

The local girl giggles, "That sounds fun. I won't spoil the experience for you but you can relax knowing people stay there all the time. It's not an abandoned building or anything. Agnis' family lives there."

Ah, tourist attraction, haunted house meets Ghost Hunters, "This could be entertaining. I take it her family runs the place?"

Ponyta huffs a bit of smoke and nudges the tablet away from Naomi. She smiles and takes the brush back from Jane. When she sets down the tablet I catch a glimpse of a second poster draft featuring Watts and Grace Ketchum. With the headline 'One Night Only!,' just before the screen flicks off.

Distraction Scraggy escapes from his ball only to be immediately returned by a flick of Salazzle's tail to the button. She's enjoying her scale oil treatment too much to humor the pesky sand lizard.

Citro chuckles and answers Naomi's offer, "If it's not that serious then I can definitely give it a go. We're a team right?"

While Naomi perks up, Amber cuts in, "Can I join you? I've never personally checked out the tourist experience of the Inn."

Watt's right eye does a bit of a twitch, "Maybe. The website put the tour max at four people."

"Oh don't worry," Amber starts picking up the grooming sets, "Agnis will let me in on it for sure."

The heiress clicks her tongue, "Are your social media contracts set for the season? I won't have you crying foul when all of Hoenn see's you squeal from a haunter prank."

Amber hesitates, "They wouldn't do that to me… no, they totally would focus on me." She sighs, but then turns to the boy, "How about lunch tomorrow then?"

Lemon Head is oblivious, "Sure I guess. Do we need to dry her off at all?"

Salazzle steps between him and Amber, shaking her head but pointing to the girl's painted fingernails.

He gives Salazzle an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I don't think we have time for painting your claws. You can ask her at lunch tomorrow."

The boy and the local with a crush, nail down the one sided date and Naomi finishes brushing the mini fire horse. Ever prepared, she takes out a pokeball that looks like a pearlescent swirl of blue and grey smoke. Then she stops.

Looking at her new partner, "Do you want to stay here with the other ranch pokemon one more night?"

The waist high Ponyta gives a happy neigh and licks her on the face. Naomi gently scratches the back of its neck, her hands combing through blue flames without the slightest hint of discomfort.

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We left the ranch hours later with nothing new in our inventories except a shopping list for some of the care items we learned about. I had asked about any new contracts. Apparently the Ranch has little interest in the areas on the north side of the Mt. Chimney, save for a long standing bounty for any Volcarona sightings.

Lavaridge is an uphill maze of ash brick roads. At the base of the town rests the pokemon center shaped like a squat, four story pagoda. I can see outdoor dining on the second floor complete with on brand, fire pits. Various flying pokemon from all corners of the pokemon world join in the social atmosphere from the roof.

Past the scents of barbecue, the main drive snakes up the mountain side, lined with dozens of food carts, shops, cafes, and inns. The traditional architecture is lined with gentle orange, white, and red lanterns along their sloping, tile roofs. Each switch back allows a side street of residential homes of locals or renters.

I happen to spot one such road blocked by a Snorlax taking an afternoon snooze while a ranger's Poliwrath pounds on its side like a jammed door. Maybe he ate himself into a food coma at the nearby teppanyaki restaurant.

While fire is an abundant theme, tropical plants peek out from courtyard and balcony gardens. Every few yards is a flowering tree. Some being tended to by all manner of pokemon, from Azumaril and Bellossoms to Zangoose with a watering can.

Naomi points out the rooflines, "Every night, besides the lanterns, most of the buildings along the main road have neon lighting."

Jane is looking up the hotel we're headed to, "It's so you Mauville folks don't feel lost… So, I've found it. 'The Litwick Inn is a highly rated, Escape Challenge. Each participant is allowed one, small sized pokemon, excluding ghost, and psychic types.'"

"What counts as Small?" oh boy, "I already know Jane doesn't have one."

Said redhead freezes in her seat.

Watts grimaces, "You can borrow my Mienfoo Jane. Kurt, I think your Sandslash is pushing the upper limit with Blue being disqualified."

Rusty it is, "Are you gonna use your new Scraggy, Citro?"

He shudders, "I think my Noibat is under the size limit."

Watts rains on his hopes, "I can't recommend picking a flier for an indoor event like this."

"Then my Salazzle." the boy taps his head against the window, "I need a lot more time with Scraggy before I use him for anything official."

Her tablet dings, "Turn off here Kurt. I'll register our pokemon choices. I'm using my Whimsicott myself."

Citro's haunted Rotom phone pipes up, "Does that mean I can't come?"

Right, nearly forgot about her, "Actually, I have an important task for you, Kona, and Blue. Maybe even Naomi's Florges, and Gardevoir. Let's add Jane's Marowak and Citro's Noibat for good measure." Seeing their expectant looks. "If this hotel is full of resident ghosts and tricksters, I don't want them messing with our stuff. So they're all on guard duty together."

Glados squeaks, "Like a Slumber Party!"

Let's pray Marowak and Florges can keep things in control, "Sure, protect the room, and don't trash it while you're at it."

"It's the last building at the end of the street," Naomi points ahead, "Oh, it's bigger than I expected!"

The road ends in a roundabout featuring a giant, stone lantern, doubling as the driveway for a three story mansion. The traditional asian aesthetic takes on a very intentional, menacing vibe. Most of the building is painted dark with the only light coming from the roundabout lantern and the small, blue sconces by the main entry. Shadows play across the overgrown, front planters.

Yet, it's not decrepit, in fact, "This would fit right in at an amusement park."

Jane's white knuckles ease off the side of my seat, "I've always wanted to visit Nimbasa Park in Unova."

Naomi makes a gagging noise, "If only I could live the rest of my life without being called 'The next Elesa,' once a month."

"What's an amusement park?" askes the lime haired tragedy in the back.

I spot Gabby and Ty walking our way from their van and nudge Naomi to hop out with me while Jane starts showing Citro and Glados the wonder of theme parks on her phone.

"You cut it close here Miss Wattson." Starts our producer, "We only have twenty minutes before the sun passes over the mountain and we lose the best lighting."

Ty quickly sets up the camera while Gabby slips into full director mode. "Hop back in the van and pull around the drive. I want you guys to pull up slowly, park, then get out together as normal. Look up at the Inn and take out your pokeballs."

Oh boy, we're in a Scooby Doo movie, "Sounds like a nice promo clip."

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Frankly, it took a couple tries to nail the whole, getting out of the van in serious mode, without something going wrong. Jane kept peeking at the camera, Citro tripped twice, Glados tried to get in the shot, traffic made us wait. A Taillow perched on the camera to watch while its tail feathers blocked the lens. The little thing thought Ty was trying to play when shooing it away.

As the sun slips past the mountain we finally pass between the two Litwick watching from the entry sconces. I glance at one causing it to shrink back a bit with a flicker.

Ty follows us in as we step on creaking floor boards. The rustic lobby desk stands empty facing a narrow waiting area. Against the back wall is a wooden statue framed by burning incense. I think it's some variant of an Arcanine, this one looks considerably more ferocious than the ones I've seen in the police yard back in Rustboro.

A classic paper, sliding wall is slightly ajar allowing me to peek in on a perfectly modern lounge area complete with bar. One team of guests are having a lively meal with their pokemon. A playful Monferno hints at their home region.

The wall slides open and a frizzy haired young woman in a purple kimono scurries out and around to the desk, "Hello! I'm Agnis and Welcome to the Litwick Inn… No Aria! Get back upstairs!"

Jane shrieks as a wolf sized, red spider scurries back up its thread into the rafters.

Agnis blushes a bit, "Sorry, my Ariados is still learning when the haunting game starts."

Glancing over at Ty, he taps the camera on his shoulders and gives me a thumbs up. He got Jane's yelp.

"Nice," Turning to Naomi, "Well, let's get checked in Watts."

Naomi's mouth is twitching to hold in a laugh, "Hi Agnis, it's good to see you again! We spoke about filming here tonight?"

"Right!" She's very cheerful for the heiress to a haunted hotel, "I have you all registered for a stay in the west wing. I see you've registered your participating pokemon. Here are your room keys. Go ahead and get settled in, you'll know when the game starts!"

She releases two pokeballs, a Golduck and some fox pokemon appear, "My Golduck will lead the ladies to their room. If you'll please follow my Thievul Mr. Kurt. I believe your crew's room is in the south wing."

The fox with a cartoon villain look takes me down a hall ahead of the girls. Wooden floors flex under my steps and I'm surprised I can't hear the girls with all the walls made of thin wood or paper. My room has traditional grass mat floors and a small closet.

Across the room is a half open slider revealing a small hot spring lined with bamboo. A black and red peacock treating it as his private bird bath squawks in surprise upon sighting me and vanishes in a poof of black ash.

I look down at the Thievul, "Uh, do you know what pokemon that was?"

He cackles with a weird hissing laugh before turning to leave.

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