Arceus, what was with people? Didn't they understand? He was their bell, people paid their alms to the statues, and he got the alms. What in the name of any deity listening made them somehow conceive the idea that it was okay to take his money?? Honestly...

Okay, okay, okay. So maybe he didn't necessarily need the money- but it was his! He earned it fair and square! It was his to do whatever he wanted with it, even if that was nothing! Or just straight up stashing it somewhere else. One way or the other it was his and they had no right to take it from him! Which warranted them a loud chiming, some irritated flailing, and almost a wrap around their face with his tassels. But something interrupted him, a calm voice, possibly the voice of a deity? The one he'd heard form earlier?

"What's the matter, little one?" The voice asked. It was partnered with blue hair, a smooth face, and a warm smile. So warm he could nearly bath in it and get a tan- if he tanned... he'd never tried, honestly. He was made of metal, after all.

What... beauty. The blue hair, the face, the smile- it was well taken care of! Suddenly he was looking over this trainer with almost hungry eyes. He could see she obviously took good care of herself and judging from the Cottonee in her arms and not drifting off into the sky to who-knew-where, she took great care of her Pokemon as well. He chimed at her words, then suddenly his face befell something awful, groaning and ringing as he moved to cuddle into her embrace, ignoring the small grunts from the Cottonee.

"Hey! Watch it!" Cottie protested, obviously to the air.

The trainer on the other hand moved one of her hands to hold the Chingling. "You poor thing, what's happened? Have you been abandoned here?" It certainly acted like it.

Yes, yes, that was a good excuse. He'd been... 'abandoned.' Another chime through the air and he was curling his tassels around her. He wanted to stay with her, because then he could get what he wanted - a decent place to sleep. He needed to portray this to her in some way, so he simply used his ability to his advantage - since all he could use his mouth for was high pitched chimes, and ringing. Oh, beautiful maiden, you have heard my cry! Will you, by any chance, take my tortured soul with you? I have been wronged in this place and seek a comfortable shelter... please, allow me to rest in your arms for eternity- if possible. It had better be. He wasn't putting on this show for free, after all.

Cottie... didn't like it. "Hana--"

"Of course!"

"And she's gullible." Cottie admitted, glaring at the Chingling. There was something terribly off about this Chingling. Maybe a bit of a prankster, or something. Either way, she supposed she couldn't argue with Hana on this one.

"Absolutely you can stay with us. Uh... hm. Do you need some food or maybe a potion?" She leaned back and took a seat, Cottie was set in her lap as she looked over Chingling. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Chingling curled into her hands, her warmth, the rope moving lightly to caress her hands. No, no... they simply took my Al--.... his thought drifted off before he recovered, chiming as he curled into her hands like the memory was too painful. Oh miss, it's simply too much. Might I rest with you for a while? I need not a potion, just your warmth-- possibly a pokeball, if you've a spare- you've a spare don't you?

The thought became less 'woe is me' and more 'excuse you' the longer it dragged on... and now Hana was starting to think this Chingling was a moocher. Oh well. She smiled and nodded. "Sure, I'd love to take you along with us." She began digging through her bag.

Perfect! This woman was making it far too easy on him. Yes, brilliant, he'd be pampered for sure if he kept on her good side... perhaps even get some of her money, or maybe food, oh he could use some food all to himself- he gave out a small chirp of sorts as she bopped his head with a Pokeball.

NOTES. Attempted capture, -1 pokeball. that was too fun...

Well, that had been far more exciting that she thought it would. Strange little Chingling. She glanced down at Cottie and grinned. "We have a Queen, now we have a Prince to pamper. Isn't that exciting??" She admitted with a bright grin.

Cottie eyed her before moving toward the village where they were exploring. "I guess. It depends on your patience level, I suppose."

"I've been told," she bent down and picked Cottie up, smiling brightly at her. "That I have a beautiful patience level... think that's true?"

"Well, knowing your team so far, the only one that isn't terribly annoying is Hawlucha. So, yes, I'd say you've got a pretty good patience level..." Cottie admitted as she snorted through her cotton body.

"Awe, c'mon, Aurora's not annoying!"

"She is scared stiff of most anything that moves toward her- how is that supposed to be a battle ready Pokemon? More like something nice to look at. It's not a winning team- if that's even what you're going for... but trying to become a ranger, isn't it?" A small shrug of her leaves later and Cottie decided she didn't much care, curling her leaves in before stretching them out and wiggling a bit to get comfortable in Hana's arms.

But, Cottie was right, and Hana knew that. She needed a strong team if she was going to be a ranger. Keeping those Pokemon in her roster for now was a good thing but... truth be told.. she needed Pokemon that were willing to fight with her, not scared to. She could try and train it out of them- but she wanted to become a ranger as soon as possible. The haunting words of that assistant at the lab kept creeping into her mind though. 'Abandoning' her Pokemon - not her! If they are going to a good trainer then who was she to argue they wouldn't be happier in a less 'fighting' stressful environment?

Cottie's words swirled around in her head far longer than Cottie had even stuck around to watch Hana mull them over. Each and every one of them was right. Was Hana's current team good enough to be a Ranger team? Did she need to beef them up a bit?

Okay, she knew Hawlucha was up to the task. He had expressed himself that he wanted to be a better fighter. She had no doubt in her mind that Queen wanted to continue getting stronger as well, flaunting her heroics and ego? Definitely, something she would be interested in. Aurora... well, maybe her drive to help people would compel her, but she was a bit scared of everything. Cottie was obviously up for helping out, she hadn't denied wanting to help. And now Prince? Well, he seemed more interested in being pampered and given the sweet life than fighting. Probably enjoy himself more in contests and being made a literal prince then being on a Ranger's team.

End result? She'd have to do some sort of group meeting or something and ask each one of them what they thought would be best or what they wanted. Perhaps Aurora would want to grow with a trainer, or even with a coordinator? Prince definitely...

Her thoughts were suddenly jarred by the screech that she heard beneath her feet. "Eh?" She glanced down at the Pokemon that ran past her feet, then looked forward at the Glameow that was chasing them.

< Stop! Stop!! > He panted, but slowly came to a stop, groaning, blinking his eyes and huffing as he laid against the nearest crate. A small growl later and he was leaning off of the crate. < This dirty street... no class, no class at all. > He mumbled.

Hana bent down, tilting her head to the side, and smiling. "Are... Are you okay?" She asked with a brow raised. "You seemed in quite the hurry. Did they do something to you?"

< Do not mock me with your concern. > He spat before standing straight. < Leave me be, will you? I'll handle this situation myself. > He rolled his shoulders and shook his fur, licking one of his paws before looking up at the blue haired woman. < What is wrong with you. I said go away. > At least, that's what, leave me be meant. Did this human not understand that? Wonderful yet another neanderthal.

Hana let out a small laugh. "I heard you, I was just concerned. I'm sorry for interrupting... but," her curiosity got the best of her. "What happened? Why were you chasing them?"

The Glameow glared at her. < I don't see how that is any of your business, girl. Now, move along, would you? >

Hana furrowed her brows at him. "Hey." She complained. "I'm just trying to he-"

< Then stay out of it. > Truth be told, he didn't want the woman involved. Those Pokemon had taken food from a stall. He was trying to get the food back, it was the right thing to do. But apparently his more brash and harsh personality - mixed with his constant need to keep his own business to himself - was upsetting the woman. She must have been used to being open and honest with everyone... well, that just rubbed him the wrong way. Perhaps it was his more traditional way of going about things because of his experience growing up in a far more refined environment. Oh, how he missed those days...

With a huff, she stood up and moved in front of him. "Can't you just tell me what happened so I can help?"

< You wouldn't be helping. This is not your concern. Reel in your emotions and leave me be, before I am forced to make you. >

This was it... was this a test? To see if she could take the harder routes in life as a Ranger? Was that a silly thing to think? Either way, she was prepared for it. With a small smile, she pulled a Pokeball from her waistband. "Fine, then you just might have to."

Seemed a battle was to ensue. Oh, he was no good at these. It was why the others had gotten away from him. But, he also couldn't refuse a challenge - where was the honor in that? His fur bristled as he squared off with the trainer. < Bring forth your challenge, girl. >

Somehow this Glameow made her feel... young. He talked with such a pristine tone, the way his words flowed, his inflections- it was like talking to somebody of wealth. Either way, she tossed out Cottie's Pokeball.

The moment Cottie materialized the Glameow moved, quickly moving in for the first attack, a cheap shot- fake out.

Hana hissed through her teeth. "Retaliate fast with absorb and follow up with a fairy wind! Back him off of you!"

The Glameow was prepared though, hearing the trainer's words. Seemed all Cottie caught onto because of her flinching was fairy wind though, and a beautiful gust of sparkling pink swept past the Glameow whose claws were firmly planted in the ground. He retracted them for a scratch, which caused Cottie to call out more because she was annoyed than because she was in any real pain.

With a new determination in her eyes, she gusted him once again with another fairy wind. As the Glameow was pushed back, she gave a grunt, letting out a sort of victory call as she gusted him once more with fairy wind. Once he was pushed back, lying on the ground, she gave a puff or four of her chest.

Hana rejoiced, whopping with her fist in the air. "Great job Cottie! Way to hustle! The both of you! That was a great fight!" She grinned and pulled out a Pokeball, tossing it Glameow's way and smiling over at Cottie before swooping her up in her arms to cuddle her, which had Cottie blushing and squirming a bit in her hold. Couldn't she just be put back in her Pokeball now?

NOTES. Attempt at capture.
EXP GAINED. 514, + 2 lvls! Cottie learned Leech Seed!
6 » 7 514/225
7 » 8 289/250
8 » 9 39/275 (236 needed)

Hearing the praise from her trainer had Cottie pleased that she had battled so well. It was true she wasn't much into battling, but sometimes her short temper led her to times like this. Because of her battle, she requested she would be put back in her Pokeball. Hana agreed, doing as Cottie asked. She had fought plenty enough, and Hana couldn't be more proud of her for doing so.

Her walk down the city-scape had her a little overwhelmed. The sun was starting to settle and she was admiring the way the sky looked. Her adventures were leading her to consider a lot of things, like her team, what sort of team she would need as a ranger, what sort of team would make her a better person in general, and the like.

Truthfully she didn't see anything wrong with being picky about her team. There were trainers and breeders out there who would want her Pokemon she had already caught and would be a better match for them than Hana was... right? Right. There was no reason for feeling bad for being picky. Why was it she was so conflicted about the idea? Probably because of what she had been told in the lab... abandoning her old Pokemon. It sort of bothered her. Had she abandoned them? No, she hadn't. She had given them what happiness they wanted. It was very much the opposite of abandoning them. But at the same time, it was a bit daunting to her to think that maybe they had felt that way. If any of them had, Hana wouldn't be able to forgive herself, let alone sleep well at night.

She couldn't let this haunt her though. She needed to get over this... this... fear, or self-doubt in herself. There was no room for her insecurities when she was helping others. She would be stronger than this. Hana was determined, now, not to find herself weak. Or perhaps it would be easier not to take things people say and coil them so tightly around her heart.