FicWad

Burnet proves to be a very speedy shopper. She pulls me expertly from one shop to another as we pick up supplies for the crew tonight, plus a few items for the house. We've loaded the bags up on my Pokémon with extra dishes, food, and a few things to fix the fence around the yard. I've already ordered a load of lumber to begin making the repairs, but that wouldn't be coming for a few weeks yet.

"We'll be replacing the whole thing eventually, but I want to make a few repairs, so no one else falls off the ledge until then," I say to Burnet as we leave with nails, a sturdier tool kit, having decided it was time to retire the old one I currently have, and a few smaller bits of wood to cover the missing pieces, until the lumber arrives. I place this new set of supplies in Sugar's packs.

"What else is there?" My neighbor asks, silently guiding our path away from a group of boisterous people dressed in black with odd skull caps on their heads and black masks covering their noses and mouths. She smiles at them when a couple make eye contact, letting off a friendly wave, but they don't seem pleased to see her. The woman appears completely unfazed, as if their cantankerous reaction was expected.

"Umm," I pull out the list again and run my eyes over it to distract myself from their yelling, my heart pounding at the noise of them calling after us and my hands gain a slight tremble. I don't much like crowds most of the time, but I can handle being in them well enough. It's when that group of people take notice of me that my fear response kicks in. To my disconcertion, I hear the sound of many footsteps fall into place behind us. "I need to restock our medicine and some milk. But that's it." I check the watch on my right wrist, trying to act nonchalantly about our new followers, and realize we are making great time at least.

"We should grab the milk last, so it doesn't spoil," Burnet says, looking directly at them and then rolling her eyes back to me. She says in an undertone, "Don't worry about them. They're apart of Team Skull, a group of wayward teens and young adults. They're quite harmless."

"Oh, I have a Pokémon that will be able to help us keep it cold, so there won't be any issue with that," I respond, trying to keep up the louder conversation like she had done. "Why are they following us?" I whisper back.

"Probably just curious. You're new around here and have Pokémon that aren't native to Alola." She says in a louder voice, indicating my creatures beside us, "Now, let's see," She places a finger up and counts as she goes. "You left your Delcatty at home. Rapidash is a fire type, and Luxray can learn Ice Fang, but that won't do much to keep anything cold." She says, running through the list. "So, who is it?"

I shake my head and turn away, quickening my pace. "Let's head to the Pharmacy," I say, grasping onto a fun chance to tease the younger Professor, and hoping my unbothered appearance would deter any mischief.

"Wait, hold on, who is it?" She calls, but I keep walking, seeing the store I want down the road.

"I'll give you a hint; it'll be a Pokémon you don't expect," I call over my shoulder, but realize with a sinking feeling that the Skull group behind us heard it as well. Their eyes gleam with just as much interest as my neighbor's does. That was a foolish thing to say, Sash. I silently chastise myself.

Burnet catches up to me and starts making guesses as we enter the shop. My Rapidash and Luxray follow when Burnet points to the sign on the door. It's the allowed Pokémon size limit for inside, and it's much larger than I'm used to seeing. It also allows for two Pokémon per person, not just one. To my relief, our tag-alongs do not join us in the building.

"You're not from Alola, so I could probably rule out any Pokémon from here exclusively. We have no way to transport water breathers right now, so it won't be a marine-dwelling Pokémon. Maybe something from the Vanilluxe or Mamoswine line?" Burnet queries but stops as I shake my head. We continue our shopping as she ponders her mystery.

"An Aurorus or Avalugg would certainly be a surprise, but a Beartic would be fascinating too. Or," She says, suddenly excited, "Maybe it's something super rare, like an Articuno or even a Suicune!" She giggles, already guessing my answer to this. Then she continues with a far-off, dreamy gaze, "Oh, I would love to see one of those in person someday."

This one gets me laughing so hard that I nearly drop a large, rather heavy stone mortar and pestle I was examining. "I definitely don't have an Articuno," I say after I've placed the fragile items down and stopped laughing long enough to respond. Her nonchalance had eased my own worries quite a bit by now.

We wander about for longer than need be, picking up some wraps and medicine for the Pokémon. I glance out the shop windows a few times, but the Team Skull group seems to have vanished. I'm worried they may simply be hiding, and start making plans in my head for if they try to jump us when we exit the building.

"I've got it!" Burnet yells at me a few minutes later from across the store.

An elderly couple near me looks over in curious surprise. I bow and apologize to them as my face reddens with embarrassment, but they wave it off with a laugh, commenting on how it's nice to see young people having so much fun. I exit the aisle to hunt down the eager woman, only to find that she was looking for me too. We painfully smack into each other as we both turn a corner.

"I've figured it out," She says triumphantly, still rubbing her banged chin, eyes gleaming in triumph. "It's a Glaceon! Or maybe a Vaporeon. I know it is! It has to be!"

"And why is that?" I ask, confused by her confidence while rubbing my own sore forehead.

"It's Bead! Kabir mentioned that you had an Eevee as a child. There's no way it hasn't evolved by now, so it must be one of them."

"Wrong again," I say, laughing at her fallen smile when she realizes she's incorrect once more. I pull out a Pokèball and release Bead.

"Fee?" He questions, unsure of why he's been released inside a store.

"This is Bead, and as you can see, he's a Leafeon. Bead, say "Hi" to our new neighbor, Burnet. She's a Professor and rather excitable!"

"Lee fee!" He chirps happily, eager to accept a few scratches from the woman in front of him.

"Burnet," I ask, lowering my voice and standing so close our sides touch. "Do you have any battle-ready Pokémon on you?"

She copies my actions and walks us to a quiet corner. "I have a Munchlax, but it's not all that strong yet." Her hands still rub the ears of Bead as he purrs his contentment at the long affection. "I've let Kukui know what's happening though. He'll have the situation pretty well taken care of once he sees my message."

"I'm still a bit worried. Take Thunder and Sugar's balls, just in case. Neither of them like to battle and I want to be ready if they try to jump us outside." I hand over the balls of my Luxray and Rapidash, so we won't be breaking any store rules.

Before we leave the building and head to the dairy shop, we distribute our purchases evenly, weight-wise, so as not to offset the balance of the kind Pokémon carrying our things. I snag a fourth ball, this one black and yellow, off my belt, and release a new beast.

"This is Garbee." I tell Burnet as she eagerly eyes the tall Fire Type fox. He's a fair amount larger than an average Ninetales, but he's so old that his muzzle shows gray around the edges. Even so, he still moves with ease and confidence as he takes up a place near my right hip, clearly sensing that danger is near. Bead slides over to my neighbor's heels in a protective manner as well, after I tell him to prepare for battle.

Finally, we exit the shop. The street is just as crowded as it was before we went in, but it is suspiciously missing the group that had me so on edge. Garbee notices something though, and he lets out a growl at a nearby alleyway. I glance in that direction just in time to see a black and white cap covering a head of pink hair vanish behind the wall.

"They're waiting for us." I whisper to my companion, trying to steel myself for a conflict.

"I don't see Kukui anywhere. We should just wait them out." Burnet comments back after scanning the streets and vendors. "They'll get bored and leave after a while. I promise you, they really aren't much to worry about. Kukui will give them a stern talking to when he gets here."

"Do they live around the city?"

"Most do, yes. They're apart of the local street gang. It's likely they'll demand a battle if they think you look unassuming."

I sigh, running my left hand over the back of my neck. This was certainly not a situation I would have ever hoped for. I like battling as much as the next Trainer, but this wasn't likely to be a fair fight on their part. "They'll probably keep coming at me and Kabir if we don't stand up to them today, right?"

Burnet gives me a sad and understanding look, "Yeah, most likely."

I breath in deeply, trying to quell my pounding heart. I was not at all prepared for a confrontation, but knew it couldn't be avoided at this point. "Right. Let's do this." I walk towards the alley, clutching my hands to calm the shaking. I really don't like crowds, and this was a bunch of people that didn't seem to have kind intentions.

"Hey kid. You're not from around here, are ya?" A male's voice calls as we cross the opening, incorrectly assuming my small stature to mean my young age.

"Leave us alone." Burnet comments. She sounds more annoyed than worried, like this was an interaction that happened too often.

"We aren't talking to you, Professor." A man with blue hair peeking out from under his skull cap steps forward, arms crossed over his chest. His cronies snicker at the way he sneers Burnet's title.

I count five in total. All of them look to be younger than me, and one is clearly still a teen. Likely a new recruit. I think to myself. None of them appear to be physically strong though, so it's not likely I'll have to use any martial arts at least.

"Please leave us be. We have no business with you." I try to say, my voice cracking in fear at speaking up in front of so many strangers.

"We're just trying to get our shopping done." Burnet adds in. She sounds exasperated. "Don't ruin such a lovely day for us."

"How about you hand over those rare Pokémon with you, and we'll let you leave without having to rough you up."

My companion steps forward, unperturbed by the demanding voice of the leader or the jeering of the others. "That's not going to happen, Tupp. Kukui's on his way right now, so I'd suggest you clear off before he gets here."

Tupp, as I now know him to be called, takes a half step back, regains his composure after looking around and seeing no backup from the mentioned man, and takes two full steps forward, out of the shadows. "How about we battle for 'em." He leers.

With a flash of light, he releases a small, black and purple lizard I don't know the name of. Someone else releases a Zubat, a black Rattata, a Garbador, and a brown and yellow weasel I've only recently learned to be called Yungoose.

"Bead, use Sunny Day." I instruct my Leafeon quietly. He calls out immediately and the world brightens. Even the alley lights up in the strengthened sun. Behind me, I hear a crowd beginning to gather. The people seem vaguely interested in the commotion, and just like Burnet, more annoyed at this Team Skull group than fearful.

Before the others can attack, I instruct Garbee to use a Fire Blast. As if already knowing what I'd want, my Ninetales releases a massive flaming letter at the gaggle of Pokémon before us, engulfing them in an enhanced fiery attack. "Bead, get ready to use Solar Beam." I add to my Grass Type, preparing for a counter the second Garbee lets up his own move.

To my great surprise, all five Pokémon come away sizzling and fainted once the glowing flames dissipate. It was a very powerful attack, but I wasn't expecting it to take all of them out at once. Especially with the amount of showboating they were displaying. Even Garbee seems surprised and rather dissatisfied at the easy victory. He spurts out a jet of fire through his nose at the offending group of ruffians, who return their Pokémon and make a swift exit. Bead loosens his stance, no longer ready to attack.

"What?" I stare at their fleeing forms in shock. "Was that it?"

Laughter erupts from the gathered crowd behind us. I swivel around and feel my chest tighten. My body starts to shake and my breath catches in my throat. A large mass of people now have their attention on me. A stranger to my left places a hand on my shoulder, patting it a couple times and chuckling at the event. Another two or three reach out as well, while the rest begin to swarm forward. Their voices make a cacophony of noise that rumbles in my ears.

Even though the Sunny Day was still in effect, I feel as though the world has begun to darken.

Please go away. Please, just leave me alone. I try to say, but my mouth refuses to release more than a garbled "Please." I stand in horror as the crowd moves in closer.

Beside me, Bead lets out a massive amount of energy from a Solar Beam attack, aiming it at the sky to avoid injuring anyone. Immediately, people stumble backwards and cover their eyes. Burnet snatches me by the arm and drags me away from the gathering. Garbee lopes after us, waving his nine tails threateningly at anyone still to close by.

We rush past people until we stop inside a quiet shop. Bead catches up soon after and is let in the door by an elderly man making his way inside as well.

"Are you okay?" Burnet asks, worry flashing in her yellow eyes. "You seemed really freaked out." She sits me down on a bench in the far back of the store, placing herself next to me. I instinctively flinch when she reaches a hand out to touch my arm in an attempt at comfort. Instead, she draws back and scoots down a bit to allow me space to calm.

When I don't answer her question, she grabs her phone and plays around on it for a moment. "I've let Kukui know we've solved the issue." She tries to say in a light tone. "It seems he hadn't even read my last message."

It takes a few minutes before I'm finally able to mumble out the words, "I'm sorry. I really don't like crowds."