for this lost lamb

< Toooo greasy! > a soft whimper came from further up the path, just off the road in the tall grass. The bulb shaped head of a Petilil struggled its way out of the discarded paper bag from a careless young trainer who had been only a few minutes ahead of this group now. She thought she’d make a lunch of his leftovers but the cold and mushy fries were just..well...greasy! The smell alone had turned her little tummy. This was why mother always told her human food wasn’t to be trusted, but she’d never been one to listen to what mother said! Rules were meant to be bent, if not broken!

An acidic and fruity smell cut through the oils still clinging to her nostrils and she turned to see a delightfully plump and juicy looking berry clutched in the claws of an elekid. Now THAT was a lunch for a little bud like her! She scurried onto the path, her shiny little eyes shining with delight as her skirt of leaves twirled in the swirling dust. < Hello, sweet thing! May I please have a bite of your berry? > she batted her lashes and laid on the charm.

Astrape beamed back at the creature and started to hand it over, gullible and eager to please as always. But her mama’s hand shot out to prevent her giving it up so easily. Aislin’s voice took on the same politely charming tone as the wild pokemon had used, “Hello to you too, honey. I’m afraid that’s her lunch but you’re welcome to have a berry of your own if you come with us.” she had images of a magnificent Lilligant on the stage in her mind’s eye. She’d be a perfect addition to their team.

Chloris toddled out from behind Aislin to waggle her bud at her fellow grass pokemon. The Petilil, unconvinced, shook her bobbling head, < Oh I don’t think so….mother says… > and then she was torn between her desire to rebel against her mother and her desire to rebel against the trainer’s wishes. She wouldn’t leave her childhood stomping grounds on a whim for a berry. But how to put that politely? “Do you always do what your mother says?” Aislin asked out of genuine curiosity. It wouldn’t do to take a homesick pokemon with her but if she had to battle to get this beauty she would.

At the thought, her hand had already unclasped her purse and produced her as yet unnamed Igglybuff’s ball from the pouch along with the newborn Kore, her bounsweet. Her fingers had clicked their buttons in seconds to release them. Sure most of her pokemon were babies, but they needed to train sometime. At least the Igglybuff could put this angel to sleep if things got too dangerous. < No, I don’t! But I don’t do what some human tells me either! Just give me a berry please and you can be on your way. I don’t want to fight you. > the petilil answered at last. Astrape took another bite of her berry and frowned. Were they really going to battle her over a berry? Chloris was sucked back into her ball and before she knew it she had been as well, her half eaten berry still clutched in her hand as she went.

Nosos was released as well as Aislin strapped her new gas mask on to protect herself. “Nosos, use your Poison Gas…” she instructed him slowly and deliberately. He took his time bobbing around and trying to get his bearings before unleashing a steady stream of pink smoke towards the Petilil. It hovered just over her head and only made her feel more ill, unsuccessful at actually poisoning her due to the young pokemon’s poor aim. Petilil attempted a leech seed that stuck its landing around the team but didn’t inflict its damage just yet. Aislin crouched to Kore’s level and patted her on the head, “Go ahead and do your Splash, sweetie.” the baby pokemon trilled and flopped around in the dirt to no effect. But she was helping! Right??

Petilil’s heart warmed at the sight of the caring trainer and her patience with what was obviously a team of amateurs. She decided to take it easy on them this round, and used Growth. She had time to kill after all, might as well let them train against her. Aislin realized the strategy she’d barely formulated was working and instructed Nosos to tackle the petilil. He did and landed the blow. Petilil frowned, < Ow…. > it didn’t hurt that much but between how ill she already felt from the greasy food and now this smelly pokemon was trying to poison her and bump her?? How rude! She used Absorb on the baby pokemon who was a bit useless and should really just go down for a nap for its own good and WHAT WAS IT DOING ROLLING AROUND IT MADE HER MISS!

“Put her to sleep.” Aislin instructed the igglybuff who began to sing a sweet little lullaby to the Petilil who instantly became drowsy and thought perhaps she was the one who needed a nap. Didn’t mother always say you should lay down when you have an upset tummy? Little by little she felt her eyes droop and wasn’t even worried about doing her next move. She would find her own berry later. Now she just wanted to...to sleep.

Aislin grinned as she pulled her pokemon back into their respective balls and pulled out an empty to chuck at the incapacitated Petilil. Now to wait.

for this lost lamb

One rock, two, then a third and the tell-tale click let her know the sleepy and now sickly little Petilil was hers. She crouched to pick up the beautiful cherish ball and dropped it into her purse with the others. Even if it was only useful to grow friendship points she used them for every one of her pokemon. She didn’t see anything wrong with increasing their friendship and bond even if the pokemon didn’t evolve that way. A trip to the magidome was on her to-do list. They’d had a good time there the last time she was with Astrape and Chloris, so it would be good to go back with her newest kiddos and get some decent training in. For now the battles they had on the road would have to do. And she feared as they went forward it couldn’t all be as easy as the one she’d just had, in which she’d used three of her pokemon to gang up on one little bud.

She left her team in their balls for now, enjoying the rare peace and quiet she’d just given herself. They could rest from the battle and she could enjoy her lunch in silence. She was definitely going to be steering clear of that damned lake this time around - she was afraid even going near it that her Dratini would bust out of her ball and flee back to its watery depths. A tree up ahead looked like a good place to sit and have a picnic for herself, maybe read her book and enjoy the warm day. She may even have a loose allergy pill in the bottom of her purse to make it that much more enjoyable. A large scarf was spread on the grass to make a comfortable place to sit and she unpacked her sandwich and still just-barely-cold beverage she’d bought in town. Fishing around she managed to produce the med she was looking for and was excited that her luck was turning up a bit better this time around.

Long red hair was pulled back into a high bun to keep it out of her face while she chowed down on her turkey and cheese sandwich. It had been carefully prepared by a delicatessen in town who she could tell really cared about his craft. Right down to the little biodegradable cup of pickle spears he’d put on the side - “made em myself” he’d bragged only to be admonished by his homely wife. They weren’t her favorite thing but she’d been unable to turn him down. Maybe one of her babies liked pickles. It was a learning experience these days figuring out how to feed all of them and what to feed them, what they preferred, what was good and bad for them of those choices. It really felt like what she figured motherhood was like more and more each day.


She released the Igglybuff to see if he’d like to try some of the vinegar and dill soaked veg. ”Hi there babydoll. Hungry?” she offered a spear and was glad to see the little pink sphere greedily gobbled it up. < That was tasty!! > he exclaimed, his voice high and floaty. < More! > he immediately demanded. Apparently her igglybuff was a glutton. The pickles disappeared in a matter of minutes and he had to be held off from the sandwich Aislin was trying to savor and not be forced to scarf down. This caused big fat tears to well up in the pokemon’s eyes as he began to wail in protest. Perfect. SO much for peace and quiet!