The girl stood behind the trash cans, ready to push them both over. Nautilus and I waited several feet in front of the cans. He held a Hypnosis, ready to fire the instant he saw his target. I had a PokéBall in my hand. I didn't know what the catch rates were, but I felt it safe to assume a sleeping Pokémon was easier to catch.
I nodded at the girl, who pushed the two containers and ran away. As she went around the corner, the trash cans hit the floor.
"Co!" A familiar ball of pinkish scales rolled out. Nautilus released his Hypnosis, putting the Paldean starter to sleep.
"Good lord," I sighed. "It just had to stay in Santalune."
I readied the PokéBall. Just before I threw it, Fuecoco woke up again. It shook itself and flames flared from the top of its head.
'You've gotta be shitting me.'
"Inkay, Peck!"
Nautilus zoomed forward, but Fuecoco rolled out of the way. It glared at both of us and sent an Ember at him.
"Fuecoco has only used Ember, so stay close and keep using Peck."
The two went back and forth for a while. Nautilus got in close to land a Peck or Payback, Fuecoco dodged and returned fire, and Nautilus either dodged or used Psybeam to block the Embers.
The stalemate didn't last long, however. Nautilus was still ready to go, but I saw Fuecoco starting to breathe harshly. It failed to dodge the next Peck and tumbled toward me. Nautilus landed another Peck and used Hypnosis again to make sure it didn't continue the fight.
"Keep using Hypnosis to make sure it doesn't get away."
Just as I finished talking, Fuecoco woke up again. Something was up. Inkay's Hypnosis normally lasted at least thirty seconds against wild Pokémon, but Fuecoco was waking up in less than ten. I pulled my phone out and opened the Scan app as Inkay put the Paldean Native back to sleep.
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Fuecoco (Female): The Fire Croc Pokémon
It uses heat absorbed through its scales to create Fire energy. However, this energy is constantly leaking because of its small flame sac.
Ability: Early Bird, Unaware
Moves: Ember, Leer, Yawn, Bite, Curse, Slack Off (Egg Move), Disarming Voice (Egg Move), Dig (Egg Move)
Condition: Frustrated, Hungry, Helpless
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'There it is,' I thought. 'Early Bird.'
But it didn't make sense. The starters normally had Blaze, Torrent, or Overgrow as their primary Ability. Unaware made sense since that was Fuecoco's Hidden Ability, but I had no clue where Early Bird came from. I shelved the thought for later as she woke up again.
"Alright, Fuecoco, let's stop this cycle," I said, putting my hands up. The Ember growing in her maw died down slowly. "I was originally planning on turning you in to the Rangers, but I don't know. I was thinking maybe you can stick with us."
I nodded my head at Nautilus, whose new name still needed some getting used to. Fuecoco growled and the fire grew hot and bright again.
"Alright, alright, no need to get hasty," I tried to placate her. "Listen, all I need is for you to stop bothering this store. If you can do that, I've got some Berries for you to take."
"Fu," she huffed. "Fue Co."
"Ink!" Nautilus replied, his beak glowing with the pale blue energy of Peck.
"Can you two just relax for a moment?" I said, grabbing Nautilus and putting him on my head. "Fuecoco, I don't know what you've been through, but I would like to help. If you don't want my help, that's fine. But please leave the stores and people in this town alone. I'll just keep finding you and fighting you if you keep stealing."
I looked Fuecoco in her eyes, her beady white eyes glaring at me. "If I find you messing with others again, we won't go easy. I'll let Nautilus really let loose, and I'll make sure to catch you in this PokéBall."
I tossed the regular PokéBall in the air a few times. We stared each other down for what seemed like an eternity. If I backed down now, Fuecoco would not take me and my threat seriously. Eventually, Fuecoco puffed, the fire above her head flaring for a second, and waddled away from the store. I'm sure I'd see her again soon. I doubted she took me as a serious threat, but I could easily change that if I needed to.
I watched as she approached the town wall and disappeared into the ground. "Man, Inkay," I said. "It would have been a lot easier if I just had you knock her out and caught her."
"Inkay!" he shouted, proud that he was visibly better trained than Fuecoco. He floated in front of me and came in for a hug, the yellow lights on his mantle flashing rapidly.
"Yo, if you try to hypnotize me, I'm smacking the fuck out of you. Got it?"
"In?!"
"Yeah, I'm serious. Don't hypnotize me," I repeated as I hugged my squid. I called the owner to let him know it was dealt with before finishing my report on the Task app. "Hmm, better report it to the Rangers as well."
Once I finished, we walked back to the Center.
"Inkay?"
"Yeah, we're done. Now it's time for dinner," I told him.
"Ik! In Ink?" Nautilus squeaked. I paused mid-step.
"No, we're not going to the buffet."
…
*smack*
"Kay!"
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[Elio POV, Ultra Megalopolis]
"Ozma!"
"Oh, come on!" Alola's young Champion cried out. He sat on his Toucannon, preventing another fight between Necrozma and the Beasts of Light. He'd made a lot of progress in getting Necrozma to use more peaceful methods of restoring its light, but Lunala and Solgaleo were fierce protectors of the City of Prisms. All Necrozma needed was the last of the Z-Crystals in Ultra Megalopolis to fully recover from the ritual used by the ancient people of the land.
Elio had convinced the natives to willingly give up the Z-Crystals they had. When he explained the possible threat Necrozma was planning to face, they gathered everything for him. But then the two Legendaries arrived and now they were fighting.
"Zazu, get me close to Lunala," Elio cried out. He fumbled through his bag as Toucannon shot through the air. She dodged, ducked, dipped, and dived attacks from all directions, getting full use of Keen Eye. Elio managed to grab a tablet with a particularly thick antenna attached. He turned it on and called his friend just as Toucannon flew in front of Lunala and Protected against a Moonblast.
"Elio, why is it so noisy? What are-."
"Selene, calm Lunala down!"
"Wha? Lunala!" Selene's voice cut through the air. Lunala halted his attack and zoomed to Elio, using his Psychic abilities to bring the device closer.
"Nala, can you hear me?"
"Luuuuu!"
"Necrozma is helping us! Please get Solgaleo to stop so Elio can explain. I'm counting on you!"
"Lu!"
Lunala stopped his attack and flew to Solgaleo, who slammed into Necrozma. Shockwaves rippled throughout the city, sending citizens flying and causing a few of the thinner buildings to crumble.
"Thanks, Moony," Elio said as he slumped into his flyer saddler. "That was close."
"Anytime, Sunny," Selene responded through the tablet. "Make sure to recruit Solgaleo too. She tends to avoid any sort of cooperation with Necrozma."
"I know. Nala is calming Sol down now. I'm sure she won't mind Necrozma when she hears about how the Ultra Wormhole split into two."
"Okay, good luck."
"Don't need it!"