S3E17: Almost Home

The little boat rocked as it drifted and moved closer and closer to Pallet Town Foxx worked on Joy's telepathy collar as for Meowlth gave up on trying to understand what exactly was going on inside of Foxx's head. In stead he just returned to the cabin and went back to sleep.

It was at this point that the captain carefully walked up to Foxx and knelt by his side before asking, "So did I hear that Meowlth correctly that this little device allows you to hear the thoughts of your Pokémon?"

"In a way." replied Foxx, "You see this is a special collar for one of my Pokémon to where while I wear a corresponding head piece that then creates a telepathic link between us allowing us to communicate with each other. It's how I knew the girls were in trouble from you and your friends. Joy called out to me for help when you through her into the sea."

"I do apologize for that. It wasn't really me who did that but we were wrong to do what we did. How is the little vulpix doing?" asked the sailor with a slight hint of sorrow and shame.

"She's recovering slowly but it was a really close one." sighed Foxx as he thought about ho close it really had been. He had almost lost is best friend.

"I really am sorry, I didn't know he was going to slam her on the ground or throw her into the sea. Please except my apology." replied the captain with a lump of sorrow caught in his throat.

"You let your men try to force themselves on my mother and friend. Then you let one of them slam my vulpix into the ground breaking many of her bones before tossing her carelessly into the sea where she couldn't swim to safety due to her injuries and now you ask me to forgive you like it never happened?" replied Foxx as he stood and glared at the man only to spot a small bit of movement coming from the cabin area below as a shadow moved closer to them.

"Vul Vulpix Vul!" exclaimed Joy as she limped over to them only to look up at Foxx before rubbing her head carefully on the captain's arm in her own way of showing her forgiveness.

"Joy I don't know if I can." sighed Foxx looking down at her.

"You understood that?" asked the captain a bit puzzled.

"Not without her collar but I know her enough to know her actions and what she wishes to tell me." sighed Foxx as he'd forgotten he'd left the almost completely repaired collar at his feet.

"Foxx how can you ask others to forgive your parents when you wont forgive this man?" mentally rebuked Joy after she painfully wiggled into her collar with a hint of static as the collar wasn't completely repaired.

"You're right Joy." replied Foxx as he knelt down to adjust her collar a bit more before looking at the captain and saying, "Sir despite my personal opinion Joy has reminded me of a real important fact and because of that I have to right not to forgive you and if possible maybe after the holidays once she's fully healed we can have a Pokémon battle if you're up to it that is."

"I think I'd like that and she is a very smart Pokémon and are very lucking to have her as one of your Pokémon partner." replied the captain with a smile and a nod before standing up before returning to the deck and steering the ship into the port just south of Pallet Town.

As for Foxx he smiled before using one of his tools to finish fixing Joy's collar and saying, "You sometimes I hate when you're right but I almost lost you and I don't know what I would've done if I had?"

"Dawn?" mentally teased Joy as she climbed into his lap with a slight hint of pain.

"What is that supposed to mean?" questioned a confused Foxx.

"I know you love her and want to make a good impression on her yet I'm the one thing that's in the way. Without me you'd be free to presume her." mentally replied Joy as she tried to snuggle into his lap.

"First off I'd be devastated if I lost you and second you're not getting in between me and Dawn if there is even a chance for an us." mentally replied Foxx as he carefully pet her. "Not to mention she was the one who swam out and saved you. If she thought you were in the way why would she have done that?"

"To gain your trust?" mentally huffed Joy. "Get me to like her? No one but her really knows."

"I know this miss you need to forgive him if you expect others to forgive your parents but will hold jealousy and bitterness against someone who I might care about, Dawn isn't like the trainer who abandoned you all those years ago! So give her a chance and get off you high pedestal." mentally snapped Foxx as he hated to be mean to her but he was growing tired of her hating on Dawn.

"And you said the names we Pokemon call you trainers was long and mean." Mea tally teased Joy as she tried to rub her nose against Foxx's arm for forgiveness, "Besides how am I not supposed to be hurt by another girl coming into my life trying to steal some of my Foxxy Pooh's love from me."

"I told you the love I have for Dawn is different then the love I have for you." mentally replied Foxx.

"So you do love her." half purred Joy.

"Yah but how am I supposed to know if she shares the feelings besides she's leaving the group after Christmas." mentally sighed Foxx as he stood to go to the front of the boat and watch the boat cruse into port.

"First don't drop me in the water and second invite her to join us on the roof to watch the stars Christmas night." mentally replied Joy with a half smile.

"I'll never drop you on purpose." replied Foxx with a smile, "I don't know let see how my parents coming to Christmas goes first.

To Be Continued...