'i've got to break away'

He hadn't planned to get quite so distracted - he was supposed to spend time training and learning before moving on to Ara Village. Learning about his Pokemon, about how to be a trainer, since he had basically no clue to begin with. But honestly, now that he'd made his visit to the Pride Festival and returned, he felt refreshed and recharged after the encounter. He'd reminded himself that his current path was different than what he'd thought - he'd likely never be a doctor - but he could still help people. Plus, he'd gotten to hang around some cool people, and after his nomadic upbringing it had made it very clear that people were truly his calling. It gave him renewed drive, a sense of deeper purpose, and he'd returned to Cygnus Lake with a consolation gift - a Magikarp, additional to the egg he already had nestled into his bag. Perhaps they were seen as weak by many of the populace, but Minske didn't mind it. Actually, he was rather excited. If he was going to be a ranger of any worth, he needed Pokemon for any situation. Kanna would be a good all-rounder, strength and power at his disposal whenever needed. Ginkgo was agility, stealth - she'd be able to work from a more covert angle, digging under volatile situations and moving at speed. It was pretty obvious where a Gyarados or two could fit into the equation - a force of nature on the water, bullish and indomitable. Not that he was great with that sort of personality, but he was sure they could get along somehow.

So Cygnus was the logical place to return to. His Pokemon weren't strong enough, yet, to move any further, and plus, the longer he hung around the longer he could pretend he was carefree. They'd move along when it was time, but for now he was in no hurry. The sun was bright, hot, a sunburnt sort of day. Normally Minske spent a day like that under cover or inside, protecting a scholarly type's fair skin from abuse and moving in the dimmer hours, but the boy figured he needed to get some exposure or he was never going to adapt. So he'd slathered on sunscreen that he'd bought in Rigel, set Kanna and Ginkgo to swim on the shore, and dove into the lake in his boxers. The lake was free of other trainers, at least at the moment, and he'd found that such things were much more common and acceptable in the wilderness than they were in the cities. His head popped back above the water, and she shook his pale hair like a dog. The water moved at chest level, and he tread water to keep his feet off of the algae-slick bottom. Slicking his hair back from his face, he turned to shore. "Kanna, let the new one out? Might as well meet it." He preferred to meet his new Pokemon in environments that made them comfortable rather than defensive, so he'd had yet to meet the new Magikarp. He'd wanted to get to water first.

He wasn't quite expecting what he got.

The Phanpy pressed the button in Minske's bag, and the light obligingly beamed into the water just off shore. There was a splash of red, quick and agile, and then... nothing. "Um... Minske looked around him, still treading water, with a growing sense of apprehension. He wasn't sure the technicalities of all of this, now that he thought about it. Could Pokemon run away? What was the range on a Pokeball? How long until he should be worried? < Mmmm, maybe fish gone, > Kanna said after a few long minutes had passed, and Minske wasn't sure whether to be okay with that or not. It was hard to miss what you'd never really had, but at the same time his small vision of a dream team was evaporating. Kind of. Once his egg hatched he'd have a different Magikarp, he supposed, and that was fine t-

"Whoa!" he shouted in alarm, throwing his arm up awkwardly as a massive splash struck up in front of him. There were echoing cries from the shore, impotent because of the distance, but after a moment it was clear that the worry was unnecessary. The splashing subsided and Minske stopped choking on the rampant waves to find the missing Magikarp (or, he assumed it was the right one) staring at him quite directly. "Um, hi," Minske said weakly, a half smile on his face.

The Magikarp watched him for a moment, saying nothing. Minske had always heard that Magikarp were useless, barely sentient, but this one was nothing of the sort. There was an almost eerie intelligence as it watched him, like it was observing something beneath his skin rather than on the surface. Minske had to force himself not to look away under the scrutiny - after all, this was his Pokemon, now. He wasn't going to come off as uncomfortable just because he was being looked at. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was only a minute or so, the Magikarp spoke with slightly narrowed eyes. < You're the trainer, then. Not much to look at, but you're fit enough to tread water for as long as you have. And you're a level enough head, since you didn't panic and run for shore when you were uncertain. How long have you been a trainer? > Jesus, this creature was sharp. Minske felt off-balance, like he was talking to one of his old teachers rather than a Pokemon the same level as Kanna. Kanna was playfully juvenile, and Ginkgo was wildly innocent and young - but this one? There was nothing young and playful in those eyes or in that tone. It made him feel like he was staring down an Arbok rather than a great orange fish. "Not long. A few weeks?" He held back the insane urge to apologize, like he was letting this new one down. Which was stupid, because... or, well, maybe it wasn't. It's not like Pokemon might not have expectations of their trainers, especially when they're given away as prizes with absolutely no say.

Fair, then.

The Magikarp watched him critically for a moment, then with a sigh swam away from him and up to the shore, straight toward Minske's other two Pokemon. Minske floated in that general direction, enough so that he was floating waist-deep - feet lifted so that he still wasn't standing, because dammit, his feet were tired from all of the walking and he didn't have to. The three Pokemon were chatting, using their own language rather than his, and Minske just knew he was being evaluated. Minske left them to their chat, finally pulling himself out of the water and onto the bank, flopping down on his back some twenty feet away. His arms were spread wide, gaze skyward. The sun beat against his bare chest and legs, and he could practically feel the water evaporating off of him.

He dozed, then. Not a full sleep, but he lost track of time until a voice brought him sharply back to the present. < You're going to burn, > came the Magikarp's critical tone, and Minske sat up with chagrin, feeling the stiffness of his skin in such a way that the boy was sure he was probably right. He ignored it, though. "Did I pass? he asked, still a little groggy but curious nonetheless. The Magikarp swam in the water at Minske's feet, tail tweaking just enough to keep him upright. The Pokemon grunted, glancing at the other two who waited expectantly down the shoreline, then back to the trainer. < For now. You're learning, which means you're not absolutely useless. We've got some ground rules to establish, however. > It should have been comical, hearing such a thing from a Magikarp, but somehow Minske just felt equally as serious. He crossed his legs, leaning forward, and nodded for the Magikarp to continue. < Fine then. You've done well so far, but don't start thinking you can just order me around. I'm not you're toy. You will not rename me - my name is Reishin, and that stays. Don't expect me to do anything other than speak my mind. For now, that is what I require. >

"Is that all?" Minske asked, amusement coloring his voice, and the Magikarp glared. "Yes, alright, I agree. Now answer me something - how did you end up at that game booth?" This was no idly bred Pokemon. This was a smart, wily, educated one. The orange fish flipped its fin once, holding its mouth in such a way that Minske thought he was pleased by the question. It didn't take long to realize why. The Magikarp appeared to like an excuse to talk about his own well-laid plans. < Magikarp are hunted in the wild, and I wasn't going to survive long if I didn't find a trainer. I lived somewhere remote, however, and the likelihood of finding a trainer willing to catch me out of a school of my kind wasn't high. There was an villainous sort that came around, throwing out nets to catch us up, and I willingly got myself trapped. They were either going to sell us or train us, so really there was no downside for me. I lived there for a long time, but kept myself from ever getting chosen for anything too troublesome. There was a Ranger raid later, I believe, and the Pokeballs we were held in went through various channels before we were consulted about our options, and the booth is what I chose. You need some work, but I think it wasn't a bad plan altogether. >

Well, it made enough sense, slight insults notwithstanding. "I'd say it was brave, but really it sounds like you had it all planned out." Minske paused and a somewhat comfortable silence ensued. The Magikarp was looking out over the lake, and Minske asked after a moment, "Reishin, it sounds like you'd rather I didn't release you, but if I become a ranger I'm going to need you to cooperate. I won't tell you what to do, but we need to have similar goals." The Magikarp turned to study him for a moment, and Minske could almost see the wheels turning at an incredible rate. Finally, he said, < If you can manage not to be a complete imbecile, we'll get along just fine. Now, would you prefer we sit and chat all day or should I go find something to enhance your little team? > Well, that was hardly fair since Reishin was the one that had started the whole conversation, but Minske waved off the Magikarp with a sigh. At least they'd be able to get some training in, or something, even if the Magikarp didn't find anything inherently interesting.

---

< Ginkgo >
< Kanna >
< Reishin >

Squirtle Egg | Magikarp Egg | Rhyhorn Egg | Mystery Egg

Word Count; 1,810
Tag; @staffersort
Notes; This is a continuation (kind of) of the Dratini hunt/route thread from this thread c: Still going to do three interactions, I'm not compounding them or anything.