Zino City [1/3]

The next morning Max awakened, he opened his eyes to see May now on his chest, Dusk over one of his legs, and Bonny and Scarlet at their usual place.

"Starting to get a little cramped here." Muttered lowly Max.

[Even if we were to sleep in a gigantic tent, we will all sleep stuck to you.] Said Scarlet with a slightly sleepily voice.

"Then another one won't be that necessary after all."

[Well, since we all can mate with you outside, which in my taste, is better, it's indeed not that important, but a bigger one won't be too much.]

"True. If someday I got a full team, they will probably need more space."

[Your intellect never ceases to impress me.]

"No thanks to you."

[Hmm, sweet talker as always.] Said Scarlet before giving her master a warm kiss.

"Could say the same to you." Said Max, making Scarlet stuck her tongue at him.

"Time to move then. May, it's morning." Softly said Max while shaking her.

{Huggn… Already? Why does sleep time always pass that fast?} She said while yawning but not moving.

"There is always next 'sleep time'."

{It's too far.} Said May, getting slowly back to sleep again.

"Come on girl, don't be a lazy bone. You won't get stronger with that attitude."

{… Fine.} Reluctantly said May.

To get off her master, May rolled to her side. But unfortunately, she rolled over Bonny.

{H-hey… what's going on?} Said Bonny, awakened a bit roughly.

{Sorry Bonny, my fault.} Said May while lazily getting off her.

{Rhaa. I was doing a wonderful dream about me and master.}

"Really? What kind of dream?"

{Want to know later?} Seductively said, Bonny.

"Why did I even ask?" Said Max, shaking his head.

{Because you like to care about me?}

"True. But now I care more about getting up."

{What's the rush master? Eager to leave us?} Said Scarlet while hugging him tenderly.

{Yes, master. That's not very nice.} Added Bonny, doing the same.

"Hmmm…" Said Max, getting a bit uncomfortable.

"O-of course not… but we are kind of not alone." Said Max, pointing out at May that was looking at them a bit confused and Dusk.

{Dusk is a heavy sleeper, she won't even notice.} Said Bonny.

[And we can ask May to wait outside.]

"Hehe, the idea sounds appealing, but… maybe later?"

Bonny and Scarlet then looked at each other.

{Okay, later works for me.} Said Scarlet.

{Yes. We can be patient.} Said Bonny.

Both of them did a discrete mischievous grin that only the other saw with Max sighing in relief.

"Great. Let's eat and get back on track. If everything goes well, we should arrive at Zino City in the evening."

After both of them let go of him, Max sat up and shook Dusk to wake her up while Bonny goes to his packsack to withdraw the pokebites boxes of everyone.

"It's morning Dusk."

{… 'yawn' Okay master.} Said Dusk, waking up.

Wanting to stand up, she noticed that she was sleeping over her master's leg.

{S-sorry master.} She said, quickly getting off him.

"It's no big deal." He said, scratching her head fur.

After everyone had their breakfast, Max put back everyone in their pokeball, packed up their stuff, and got back on the road. As the day was passing, Max was getting a bit too excited to think about breaking for lunch, which didn't bother Scarlet that much. When they arrived in a more forested zone, Max noticed that she was a bit absent-minded while he was walking and her levitating beside him.

"Still okay Scarlet?"

[Yeah, I was just wondering how you will manage to defeat your gym leader without me.]

"Well, I have my other three pokemon on the team that likes to battle."

[I don't really dislike battles master, but it's just to keep my blood from boiling. When others attack me, it makes me turn into some kind of bloodlust monster.]

"Hmm, you did pretty well on the last gym."

[Please, that wasn't even worth a warm-up, but I barely managed to contain my fury, so if I were to face pokemon that are a bit stronger…]

"Yeah… I think I get the idea."

[That must not be easy to deal with someone like me.] Said Scarlet, feeling a bit down.

"Easy or not, I don't care. You here for me and vice versa, that's all that matters."

[… I guess. Thanks, master. I was scared at first when I had to reveal the true me, but if I knew that you will be that comprehensive…]

"I'm not a saint either, so I can slightly understand. If you say that you don't want to battle, you don't have to. Sorry about what I said."

[Don't sweat it, master.] She said while petting a bit roughly her master's head.

[If I were to hold a grudge against you for every bad move you make, I would be constantly mad since I meet you.]

"Really smooth."

[Hihi.] Giggled Scarlet.

After checking his watch, Max then stops in his track.

"Shit! We already are in the mid-afternoon. The girls must be hungry."

[You should be too.]

Max then paused a moment, only to feel hunger the second she said it.

"Oh, you're right."

After Max released his team, he goes into his packsack to take out food.

"Sorry girls, I think I'm a bit overexcited and forgot about lunch."

{That's okay master, I wasn't especially hungry anyway.} Said May.

"So you don't want to eat?"

{Well, since we have stopped, might as well go for it.} She said while crossing her smalls arms.

Max then couldn't help but think that she was just saying that so that he wasn't feeling too bad about it. After he handed to everyone their respective boxes, Max goes for his ration. As they were all eating, Max noticed that Bonny was not eating very fast, almost not at all.

"Not hungry Bonny?" Asked Max.

{Well, not really.} She said.

"Did you eat too much this morning?"

{No, it's just… I'm not feeling very well.}

"How come?"

{My stomach hurt a bit, like, being all knotted.]

Max then goes to Bonny and pressed his hand on her forehead, which made her blush a bit.

"Hmm, I don't feel any kind of fever, if it's where you check a Lopunny's temperature.

{I don't think I'm sick master, but I think it's because I'm feeling a bit nervous about the next gym battle you talk about.}

"Oh, that makes sense then. But why?"

{Not sure but…} Said Bonny, not really wanting to say more.

"But what?"

A bit reluctant, Max had to insist.

"Come on Bonny, you know that we care about each other enough not to hide something for the other."

{Okay but, don't get mad okay?}

"Now I'm mad because you thought I would get mad."

{… That doesn't make any sense master.] Said May.

"I know, I was just joking a bit."

{But I'm not master.}

"'sigh' Fine, sorry. What is that you are worried about?"

{I'm… worried to lose again.}

"… That's it? You were stressing about that?"

{I'm serious master.}

"I know but, why do you care so much about that. You know that I don't care that you win or not, I…"

{But I do master. I know that you will always love me whatever I'm a loser or not, but did you thought a second about what I wanted, what I felt?}

"…Hem… I…"

{I was almost annihilated in the last battle. How do you think that made me feel?}

"… Bad?"

{Yes, master. I felt humiliated, almost worthless.} Said Bonny, getting a bit upset.

"Now calm down Bonny."

{No master. You can't understand, all you are doing is being behind and give orders. You don't have to deal with a defeat like us pokemon do.} She said while getting up angrily, making her box fall on the ground.

Max then was only staring at her blankly, a bit hurt by her words. Realizing what she had said, she ran toward to forest to be left alone.

['sigh' And here we go again. I'll bring her back.] Said Scarlet with a not so enthusiastic voice.

"I'll do it."

[No master. I think she needs another pokemon to 'understand' her.]

"But…"

[Trust me, there is nothing you can do for her at this moment.]

Scarlet then headed toward where Bonny ran.

Sighing, Max goes to a tree, sat and waited for Bonny and Scarlet to come back, followed by May and Dusk.

{I can understand how Bonny feels.} Said Dusk.

{I too feel a bit nervous for the next battle.}

"You shouldn't."

{Easy to say but hard to do. Your victory and progress depends on us master.} Said May.

"Why do you put so much pressure on yourselves?"

{Because it's true.} Said May.

"What is true is that I really don't care. I started a journey on the way to get you stronger and… passing time with pokemon. It's not about being successful, for me it's about being with you."

May and Dusk then looked at each other.

"If battles put so much pressure on you, then maybe a pokemon trainer journey wasn't such a good idea after all."

{What?} Exclaimed May.

{You would… give up on something you like… for us?} Said Dusk.

"If it's mean that it will not make feel you that bad, then yes."

May and Dusk couldn't help but wonder how he could be that devoted to his pokemon. From what they know, it should the opposite.

"Maybe we can just settle somewhere and train all of you until you become the strongest of your species, without anything else."

{… But master, what will be the point of us being strong if not for battles?} Asked May.

{Well… from the amount of time I spent in that human lab, I noticed that other pokemon were respecting strong pokemon. That even was making them more suitable for… hmmm… relationship.} Explained Dusk.

"You mean like being higher in the hierarchy of their species?"

{Pretty much. But it also assures better survivability in the wild. But I can understand what May is saying.}

{You do?}

{Yes. If it was not for the lab, I would have probably had a hard time surviving on my own. But then I realized that as soon as you go with a trainer, you don't have to bother with what I just said anymore. Which lead us…}

{To be only strong for our master.} Finished May.

{Yes.}

"Hmm, it's quite paradoxical. Pokemon goes with a trainer to become the strongest of their species, but don't bother anymore when they are with them."

{It's a bit strange, I agree.} Commented May.

{I didn't say it was making sense.} Said Dusk.

As they were laughing together, Scarlet was getting close to where Bonny was. When she found her, she was sitting on a big rock.

{Can I ask why you jumped at master's throat like that?} Asked Scarlet, upset by her behavior.

{Leave me alone.}

{I suggest you change your attitude. I don't like that you make master the reason of your own weakness.}

Being quite hurt by her words, Bonny didn't respond anymore.

After a moment of silence, Scarlet sighing and sat next to Bonny.

{… Look, I know you're stressed out, but that's not a reason to go against our master.}

{I know okay, I'm sorry.} Sadly and angrily said, Bonny.

{Then why?}

{Because… I don't like to lose. It's humiliating, for me and for master too. Last time, I felt that I've failed him so much.}

{And what did master do about that?}

Bonny went silent for a moment.

{He… cheered me up.} Finally said, Bonny.

{And if I remember correctly, you even evolved that night. Then I suppose that it doesn't matter much to him.}

{But it does for me.}

{I didn't remember my Bonny friend to be so selfish.}

{I'm not, it's just, I want to be strong for master. What if I always lose after that? What if I end up like May and her last trainer or worse, being abandoned like my first family?}

{'sigh' Must be hard not being a psychic type, always doubting.}

{Must be nice being one, never doubting and knowing everything.}

{For you, I don't know. From the looks of it, I'm pretty you sure would still doubt even if you were able to get into people's minds.}

{Why are you saying that?} Said Bonny, a bit upset about her assumption.

{Maybe it's because I'm psychic, but from an external look, it's obvious that your happiness and well-being are far more important for master than his own needs. Even May began to fully trust him. Why can't the one that has been the longest with him beside me understand that?}

Again, Bonny went silent.

{You've changed since you evolved Bonny. Mostly for the better, but now, it's like you became obsessed with strength and victory.}

{If I want at least a small chance against you, I must.}

{Ah, I knew it will come to this eventually. A chance about what? For battle, for master's affection?}

{… Both.}

{'sigh' I thought we were clear about that. There is no competition here. As long as we are together and both want to protect our master, strength doesn't matter.}

{I'm sure master prefers stronger pokemon.}

{I won't lie, stronger pokemon tend to attract more admiration. But I can assure you that master doesn't care about that. Don't forget that I may be strong, but I also took the lives of many living things, which you didn't. You have less blood on your hands than me, which gave you an advantage over me.}

Bonny did saw Scarlet killed that human the other night, but she didn't know that it wasn't her first time but didn't care that much at that moment.

{But you were the first one with him, which gave you the affection advantage.}

{I indeed was the first one, but not since a very long time when we found you.}

{You still were the first. And you can talk to him telepathically.}

{I'm reminding you that you can also speak with him now.}

{Because of you. There is nothing you can't do with your powers. All I can do is punch and kick.}

{Well, you have a very soft fur that I don' have.}

Bonny then looked at her, disappointed at her pathetic try to cheer her up.

{Sorry Bonny but, I don't know what to say besides that I can assure you that he doesn't favor or love anyone over another one.}

{Really helping.} Sarcastically said, Bonny.

Scarlet then left the rock.

{You really are stubborn. Maybe someday you will understand on your own, but I won't waste time on someone that doesn't want to be helped.} Said Scarlet while slowly leaving.

{But remember that it's not always about you. You should take your energy to think about how what you can really do for master, not wasting it by thinking about how to impress him for his love, which you already have. You're Bonny the lopunny, not the pokemon that want to be stronger than Scarlet and everyone else, so stop making our master worry about you all the time.}

With that, Scarlet left Bonny to her thoughts to join back Max.

"Is she alright?" Asked Max when Scarlet came back.

[She will. She just needs some alone thinking time.]

"Okay."

[Just like that master, but a bit more praise from you could be nice for her.]

"…Sure, but…"

[Since her first loss against that rock-type trainer, her self-confidence has been quite damaged.]

"Did you tell her that it didn't matter?"

[Countless times, but she's more stubborn than a charizard.]

"I wonder if she always has been like this. I read in the pokedex that evolution can alter a bit the personality of a pokemon."

[That makes sense actually since she wasn't that selfish before evolving.]

"I won't say selfish, but less worry about trivial things."

[Things being 'trivial' are quite relative, but I agree.]

"Anyway, all we can do now is to wait that she's feeling better."

[Hope you're not in a rush.]

"If she needs a week, then I will wait a week."

[Hehe, I'm sure that it won't take that long.]

"Hope so, our supplies won't last forever."

[At worse we still can eat you.]

"Figuratively or literally?" Asked Max while frowning.

[Hmmm…] Thought Scarlet.

[I'll think about the best option and I'll come back to you with an answer.]

"Cool."

Max and his team then made a small break until Bonny reappeared from the woods, stopping a bit further in front of them. Max then stood up and walk close to her.

"Feeling better?" Asked Max.

{I…}

Bonny then goes for a hug.

{I'm sorry master. I'm sorry for what I said. I shouldn't have got on you for my problems.}

"Don't worry sweety." Said Max while returning the hug.

"You were right when you said that you're the one that deals mostly with battles. I should have had more consideration toward you."

{No master. You're the one that comes up with a strategy in battle. If we can't keep up and follow it, it's our fault.}

"… Then I guess we were all in the wrong."

{Hehe, I guess.} Giggled Bonny.

"I think that we both have to works extra hard for that not to happen again."

{I agree.}

"Alright, let's continue, we're almost there."

{Okay, but I need to do something first.}

Bonny then breaks the hug and walks toward the others, followed by Max.

{I'm sorry guys for my little crisis. It won't happen again.}

{It's no big deal Bonny, we can understand how you feel.} Said May.

{We also feel a bit nervous.} Added Dusk.

{… Thanks, guys.}

[See Bonny? No one here cares about your strength or whatsoever. They only care about your well-being.] Said Scarlet to Bonny's mind.

After Bonny blushed from embarrassment, Max returned his team in their pokeball before resuming his walk.

"You were a great help again scarlet."

[What will do without me? Maybe I should be the trainer.]

"Like a human trainer?"

[Good idea. I could capture humans, force them to battle each other to the death and…]

"Calm down Scarlet."

[Sorry, just a little fantasy of mine. Could be awesome to see though.]

"Not sure about that."

{Wuss.} Lowly said, Scarlet.

"What?" Said Max, not sure of what he heard.

[Nothing.] She said while faking innocence.

Looking at her suspiciously, Max pinched her butt.

[Ow.]

As the rest of the day passed, Max and Scarlet were either talking or playfully bickering until they finally arrived close to Zino city, seeing it in the distance.

"Here we go. We finally arrived." Said Max while stopping a moment to look at the huge city in the distance.

[Yeah.]

Suddenly, Scarlet had a morose tone.

"What is it Scarlet? Not happy that we made it?"

Scarlet was silent for a moment before speaking up.

[Master…] Started Scarlet.

[Since now… I wasn't minded small humans place… but this time… I think I'll pass.]

"What do you mean?"

[I mean that you will have to go to the city without me.]

"What? No, I don't want to."

[I'm not asking you.]

"But you said…"

[That I would prefer being in a crowded human-filled place than being away from you, yeah, I remember. But the fewer people see me, the fewer problems we are likely to have.]

"We won't have problems with you walking with me."

[Nevermind master. Just with go with someone else, I'll just wait here.]

"Until I'm done there?"

[Don't worry. If you take a room, I'll teleport to where you are when I'll feel that you're isolated. I'll also get over you if you ever run into troubles, so please, be careful and stay away from it.]

"But, what will you do in the meantime? Won't you feel lonely?"

[I'll meditate or something. I'll manage. After all, I've been alone longer than I've been with you.]

"Yeah but…"

[You still can let out Bonny if 'you' ever feel lonely. Besides, I think some quality time with her master will do her good and make her feel better.]

"… I… guess."

[Don't be like that master, I won't be far and will still be with you.] She said while giving him a warm and passionate kiss.

"If it's what you want…"

[It's the best to do for now.]

"Alright. But don't get into trouble yourself okay?"

[Don't you mean, don't make any trouble?]

"… Yeah… something like that."

[Hihi, silly master, you know I can't you promise something like that. Love you.] She said with a last kiss before using teleport and disappeared.

"'sigh' well, let's just hope for the best then."