02

Michael was in front of the center going through his bag. They both had bought some clothes and basic supplies along with 1 tent rather than two as a way to save some money. At the moment his brother was saying good bye to Clair. He looked at his watch and shook his head. He was taking to long. He was wondering what kind of good bye could take 30 minutes but stopped there. He did not want to know what his brother might be doing to the nurse joy. He was about to go look for his brother when he came down the hall carrying his bag.

 

"Please tell me you weren't doing what I think you were doing" Michael said put his bag on his back.

 

"Who? Me? What kind of guy do you take me for" Tyler said shaking his head.

 

"Since we got here i'm not sure what to think of you" Michael said.

 

"Look. We were just talking. Nothing else" Tyler said shrugging his shoulders.

 

"Talk? You never talk. Some times it's hard to get more than one sentence out of you in a conversation with other people unless it's some thing related to video games or anime. What was brought up that could get you to talk for about 30 minutes" Michael asked.

 

"Private matter" Tyler said as he walked past him.

 

Michael sighed and followed after him.

 

"I guess that's better than what I thought you were doing. Where are we going" he asked as the two of them left the center.

 

"West. I'm hoping to make it to Dog Patch in a day or two" Tyler said as he looked around, shouldered his bag and started down the road.

 

"Why and what happens there" Michael asked.

 

"It's a pro-pokegirl city and I want to make it there for an event" Tyler said.

 

"What's the event" Michael asked.

 

"Check your pokedex" Tyler said looking back then forward.

 

Michael thought about it then shook his head. He hadn't spent much time on figuring out how the thing worked. He spent most of the time after the test studying for his watcher exam. The two of them spent the rest of the walk to the west entrance till they left and walked onto the dirt road. As they walked Tyler pulled out his dex and started searching through it. When he found what he was looking for he slowed his pace so he was next to his brother.

 

"Oh ya. I found out a legendary pokegirl was spotted a couple of miles from here a few days ago" Tyler said.

 

"So" his brother asked.

 

"So, the forest we came to this world in is a place she regularly visits" Tyler said handing over the dex trying to keep a straight face on.

 

His brother took the dex and looked at the information before screaming "Holy mother of god. That was in there."

 

Tyler broke out laughing and took back his dex.

 

"That's not funny" Michael said glaring at his brother.

 

"Sorry. Couldn't help it" Tyler said smiling

 

"And what if she had caught us" Michael said shaking his head.

 

"If she did we wouldn't be here having this conversation now would we" Tyler said as he closed the dex and put it in its belt holder.

 

"I hate you, you know that" Michael said.

 

"Feeling's mutual" Tyler said as he looked forward.

 

The two of them spent the next couple of minutes walking in silence again as they left the city and eventually stopped for a break when it was no longer in view. They walked over to a part of the road that curved into the trees and sat down.

 

"Are there any pokegirls around here that we need to look out for" Michael asked as he sat down under a tree.

 

"One but she shows up rarely" Tyler said as he took out a water bottle and drank it.

 

"What should I be on the look out for" Michael asked.

 

"Big vibrant colored flowers with sweet scents coming from them. They're called vinebras and disguise them selves as plants while waiting for prey to come along" Tyler said as he put the bottle back.

 

"I'll keep an eye out for those. How come you're not in the shade like I am" Michael asked.

 

"Because they normally live in high places" Tyler said.

 

Michael quickly moved from the tree he was under and looked up into the branches. This just caused Tyler to smile.

 

"If there was one you'd know by now" Tyler said shaking his head.

 

"How so" Michael asked as he sat down next to him.

 

"You'd be wrapped up in her vines probably getting the life squeezed out of you. Look over there. That's probably a vinebra" Tyler said pointing to a tree.

Michael looked over to the tree which was covered in vines. On one of the branches was what looked like a large bromeliad with a few leaves cut in a pattern.

 

"If you think it's one why don't you check" Michael asked.

 

"I'm not crazy. That's why. My harpy would be at a disadvantage" Tyler said shaking his head.

 

"Which reminds me, let's refer to the pokegirls as teams. I don't like the idea of calling them a harem" Michael said.

 

"Fine with me but not every one's gonna accept that" Tyler said.

 

"My group, my name" was Michaels reply.

 

"Speaking of names, have you named the water maiden" Tyler asked.

 

"If she already has a name she can keep it" he said.

 

"If she was born human and raised human before she went through threshold then she might want a new name. Most threshold cases accept new names because their old human life has ended and the new name represents their new life as a pokegirl" Tyler said as he stretched.

 

"Like I said, if she already has a name she can keep it" Michael said as he stood up.

 

Tyler just shook his head as he stood up. As the two of them started back down the road he looked back at the bromeliad. He swore he saw it move. He shook his head and started walking at a quick pace hoping to get at least half way before sun down. It wouldn't have mattered if it was a vinebra. It'd most likely beat his harpy and even with the water maidens help it'd most likely come out as a loss. The next few hours were spent talking about the various towns and pokegirl evolutions that could be brought up by memory. As Tyler was about to bring up negative evolutions the two of them spotted some one walking towards them. He had black hair done into spikes with a read bandanna tied around his head, a black vest, a red t shirt leather gloves, jeans with torn up legs and dirty mountain boots. The two brothers moved aside to give him room but he stopped in front of them.

 

"I challenge you two to a salvage battle" the tamer said.

 

"Sorry but we don't do two on one battle" Tyler said.

 

"Don't matter to me. I can still wipe the floor with the two of ya" the tamer said.

 

"We don't have to accept this do we" Michael asked.

 

"I'm afraid we do. He challenged us to a battle. No one to blame but him self if he looses and until you become a watcher you have to accept challenges from morons like him. Be sure to set up your dex to record in case this guy's a sore looser" Tyler said as he took his dex and set it to record the battle.

 

Michael just nodded as he did the same. When they were finished they took the pokeballs off of their belts.

 

"This two on one salvage battle's been registered. Ready to go when you punks are" the tamer said as he took a pokeball off his belt.

 

"Punks? I'm sure we're both older than you" Michael said.

 

"What ever. Go Candice. I screw you" the tamer said as he tossed his pokeball.

 

"Glad I don't have to say that. Go pokeball" Michael said.

 

"Ditto here" Tyler said and the two of them tossed their pokeballs.

 

Tyler's harpy came out and quickly took to the air while Michaels water maiden looked around. In front of them a pokegirl with dark orange scales, red hair and two small horns on her forehead. Michael turned to his brother for an explanation but he just shook his head.

 

"Dragon/fire type. Just try not to mess up the hair" Tyler said.

 

Michael just nodded looking forward to see the tamer looking up at Tyler's harpy. Tyler must have cleaned her feathers and cut her hair short because when he first saw her she had long tangled white hair. He wasn't able to do much with her face but it was an improvement.

 

"That's one ugly ass pokegirl. When I win this i'm taking the water maiden" the tamer said.

 

The two brothers looked at each before at their pokegirls.

 

"Feather shuriken/water gun" they called out at the same time.

 

The two pokegirls responded quickly and launched their attacks. The flarebra jumped to the side to avoid the water gun only to get hit by the feather shuriken. The flarebra puffed out a small fire ball as she pulled the feathers out of her hair.

 

"Fire spin" the tamer yelled pointing at the water maiden.

 

"Water gun up into the air" Michael said.

 

The water maiden aimed upward and let loose a water gun as the flarebra sent a stream of fire that surrounded the water maiden. The flames did little damage to her before being put out by the falling water.

 

"You really don't think this through do you" Michael said crossing his arms.

 

"Shut up. Fire ball that harpy" the tamer said pointing up.

 

The flarebra looked up only to see the harpy was gone.

 

"Dive" Tyler yelled.

 

A few seconds later his harpy shot up from the tree line before dive bombing and knocked the flarebra onto her back.

 

"Water gun" Michael said smiling.

 

The water maiden sent a sent a stream of water and hit the flarebra in the head.

 

"Bad idea" Tyler said.

 

"Why" Michael asked as Tyler moved aside.

 

He pointed towards the flarebra who was getting up. She moved her wet hair off of his face as she glared at the water maiden. The pokegirl let out what looked like a roar before she started to form a fire ball in her mouth.

 

"Cecilia will distract her. Have your water maiden work on recollecting her water reserves" Tyler said

 

"How" Michael asked figuring Cecilia was what he named the harpy.

 

"Think about it and you'll figure it out. Feather storm" Tyler said.

 

Cecilia waved her arms and the feather formed around the flarebra and caused her to hesitate at the last moment before firing her fire ball. Michaels water maiden took the moment to move out of the way and managed to avoid the fire ball. Michael quickly thought as the tamer told his flarebra to use fire spin. As the fire circled the pokegirl and started burning the feathers it came to him.

 

"Use water tower on your self" Michael said.

 

His pokegirl nodded as she closed her eyes. When the feathers were gone the fire dissipated from around the flarebra. She looked to see that the water maiden being covered in a column of water.

 

"Hyper beam" the tamer yelled.

 

The pokegirl nodded and quickly charged the energy into her mouth.

 

"Tempest" Tyler yelled.

 

Cecilia started flapping her arms and created a tornado around the flarebra. The flarebra closed her eyes to keep the dust being kicked up by the wind out of her eyes. She opened her eyes and fired the energy blast when it was ready. The hyper beam went through the air and into the water. It went a few inches past the water maidens arm but she grabbed it due to how close it was.

 

"Use water gun as fast as you can" Michael said.

 

His water maiden nodded and started firing short bursts of water using the remaining water from the water tower to help her regain the lost water faster. The flarebra dodged most of the shots but some got her in her shoulders and pushed her back.

 

"Flame thrower" the tamer yelled.

 

"Water gun" Michael yelled.

 

The dragon type sent a stream of fire at the water pokegirl. The water maiden quickly sent a stream of water at the fire and the two hit causing steam start filling the area.

 

"Now Cecilia" Tyler yelled.

 

A look appeared on the tamers face that definitely said crap. He had forgoten about the harpy. If his flarebra stopped to move she'd get hit by the water gun. If she didn't she'd get hit by the harpy. He started going through ways out of it when feather shurikens rained down hitting the flarebra followed by the harpy hitting her with a dive. The flarebra stopped the flames as she fell to her back and wast hit by the water gun a few seconds later. The water maiden stopped as Cecilia flew back over to them. They waited but the flarebra didn't get back up.

 

"I believe we win" Michael said smiling.

 

"I do believe you're right. It's what you get for calling Cecilia ugly" Tyler said.

 

"Damn straight" Cecilia said smiling.

 

"Grr. Fine take which ever one you want" the tamer said as he returned the flarebra and held out his pokeballs.

 

"I don't feel comfortable with this. You do it" Michael said as he walked over and checked on his water maidens arm.

 

Tyler nodded as he walked over to the tamer and scanned the pokeballs with his dex. One of them caught his eye and he picked it up. He put it on his belt as he started walking back to his brother.

 

"You can't take that one" the tamer said.

 

"And why not" Tyler asked looking back at him as he put his dex back onto his belt.

 

"She's my favorite play thing" the tamer said smiling a not so trust able smile.

 

Tyler turned around and glared at the tamer as he walked towards him. He grabbed the tamer by his collar and pulled him close to his face. Michael swore he could see some sort of aura around his brother as he watched. The tamer looked up at him with some fear.

 

"Do you take me for some noob tamer? I know what this pokegirl is and i'll be damned if I leave her in your care. If it wasn't against the law i'd pound you so far into the ground even a dig tit wouldn't be able to reach you. Now scram" Tyler said pushing the tamer back.

 

The tamer put his pokeballs onto his belt and ran. As Tyler walked back over to them what ever aura was around him faded. He looked at them and they looked back.

 

"Some thing wrong" he asked.

 

Michael and the pokegirls shook their heads. Tyler shrugged his shoulders.

 

"Let's go then" he said and started walking.

 

"Did any one else feel a chill go down their spine" the water maiden asked.

 

"I did" Cecilia said before flying into the air for a better look around.

 

'What caused that to happen' Michael asked him self as he followed after his brother with the water maiden following "what type is she?"

 

"Penance" was the only answer he got.

 

The water maiden winced which caused Michael to wonder what the pokegirl his brother got was. He took out his dex and looked up the penance. When he finished reading the entry he shook his head. He could only guess that the tamer was abusing the pokegirl and that was why Tyler wanted her. He started wondering what Tyler would do with her because he didn't know if she spoke sign language and even if she did they didn't. He gave up on the thought and figured he'd ask later. The group continued walking till the sun started setting. Tyler sent Cecilia off to check the area for any ferals while the water maiden went to look for fire wood and Tyler and Michael set up the tent. When Cecilia came back and landed the water maiden came back with the fire wood. The two brothers finished up the tent and started preparing some thing to eat. As Tyler got the fire going Michael looked at Cecilia and saw that she was wearing form fitting blue tights.

 

'He dressed her up like a harpy from yugioh. It's official. My brothers an anime obsessed dork' Michael thought shaking his head.

 

"Get the stand set up. I'll get some ingredients" Tyler said as he fanned the fire abit startling his brother.

 

"Ya, ya" Michael said as he reached into his bag and took out a fold able grill and set it up over the fire.

 

What was cooked was some fish along with some rice. Michael looked at the fish wondering why his brother was cooking fish like the one their dad normally did when the only kind of fish he ate was tuna. He then remembered that water maidens and harpies had a preference to fish. He shook his head and kept an eye on the food while Tyler went through his bag. When the fish finished he took out what looked like two orange sized eggs. Michael looked at them for a few seconds before figuring he didn't want to know where or what they came from. He handed the eggs to Cecilia who took them with out saying any thing before cracking them open and started swallowing the insides.

 

"Not even a thank you" Michael said shaking his head.

 

"I'll act how I want. Besides, I have no reason to follow orders from you" Cecilia said before sticking her tongue out at him.

 

"Let her be. I don't want a fight breaking out between you two" Tyler said as he took a bottle of milk from his bag and handed it to the harpy.

 

She took the bottle and started drinking.

 

"So why'd you want the penance" Michael asked figuring it'd be pointless to try getting the harpy to learn any manners.

 

"I see no reason for a penance to stay with a tamer who'll abuse her and I have a soft spot for them. If I could i'd get them into a place where they could live in peace and take some time each day to hug every one of them" Tyler said smiling.

 

"That's so sweet" the water maiden said after taking a bite out of the fish.

 

"Ya. Who are you and what have you done with my brother" Michael said smiling.

 

"Ha ha. Very funny" Tyler said glaring at his brother.

 

"So why haven't you let her out" Michael asked.

 

"Penance are very skittish and run away from both humans and pokegirls. The moment she's let out of the pokeball she'll bolt" Tyler said shaking his head.

 

Michael just nodded figuring that that was a good idea. The meal continued in silence till Michael looked over to the water maiden.

 

"Do you have a name or a nick name you want us to call you" Michael asked.

 

"I do but you can change it if you want master" the water maiden said.

 

"Please don't call me master. My name is Michael. Don't call me master unless you have to and you can keep your name" Michael said.

 

"Alright. My name is Undine" the water maiden said doing a slight bow.

 

Michael looked over to his brother who was grinning.

 

"No MR references" Michael said.

 

"Like i'd do such a thing" Tyler said with a smile.

 

They finished the meal in silence and the two pokegirls were returned back to their pokeballs.

 

"During the battle you didn't give out too many commands near the end" Michael said.

 

"Ya. After taming Cecilia I spent some time with her working on hand signals. Not easy with a pokegirl coming out of feral state." Tyler said as he put the left over food in a container.

 

"I guess it'd be a good idea if I do the same with Undine" Michael said as he put out the camp fire.

 

"She needs a harp and a toga" Tyler said smiling.

 

"Damn it. I said no references" Michael yelled at his brother.

 

"I couldn't help it. At least she wasn't out to hear me say it. I wonder if she knows how to the play the harp" Tyler said still smiling.

 

Michael mumbled under his breath and the two went to sleep for the night.