Frontier Town Old Town

[HelloYellow17]

Wes didn’t usually care to get too attached to any singular location. His lifestyle had always made it impossible to settle anywhere for long, or for anything to start truly feeling like home—and as far as he was concerned, he was perfectly fine with this.

Yet he immediately took a liking to this place the first time he’d found it while exploring the town, and it was becoming a favorite location for some peace and quiet. Away from the bustle of Main Street and never crowded, it was a reliable refuge. And Wes could really use a moment to relax after the horrifying chaos of last night.

He settled into a spot of grass under what was becoming his favorite tree and let out a sigh of relief, relishing the way the cool grass felt against his aching muscles. At least that Drapion—Odette had reminded him of the creature’s species—hadn’t shredded him like the Charmeleon had. He’d take some aches and bruises over that first experience any day.

He stared up at the sky and watched the clouds roll by, lost in thought. How much longer will I be stuck here? he wondered.

 

[HelloYellow17]

Wes made his movements slow and deliberate, careful not to exacerbate his still healing injuries. After finally getting the go-ahead from Drungfield to leave her damned office, he was itching to put all his pent-up anxiety to good use, but he knew that he needed to pace himself properly this time if he didn’t want to end up back in the sickbed.

He’d found himself a patch of bare earth at a far end of the park, where the grass was more sparse and allowed room for sand and rock. He narrowed his eyes at his target—a stone perched atop a stump several yards away—and tried to focus his aim. Rocks quivered at his paws, and then with a small lunge, he sent them flying.

They clattered all around his target, but none of them made contact. Biting out a curse of frustration, he paced back to his starting position to try again. It was much easier to strike a Pokémon-sized target in general, true, but the more precise he could be with his aim, the more impactful each hit would be. Not to mention that adding some range to his moves wasn’t a bad idea.

He tried again, sending up a spray of sand as he darted forward. Pebbles flew in all directions this time, and only then did he notice someone was nearby and well within pelting range.

“Oh, shi—watch out!” he barked.

 

[HelloYellow17]

Wes’s paws carried him almost on instinct to the quiet old park at the edge of town—not too far from Nocwell’s, but far enough that it was hopefully a safe distance from the store and a particular customer inside of it. This place was becoming a refuge to him, of sorts; never too crowded, it was one of the few places in town that offered grass, trees, a pleasant breeze, and some peace and quiet all in one.

He slowed only when he reached a tree near the center of it and breathed a sigh of relief. He felt a bit stupid and more than a little pathetic for turning tail and bolting just like that, but…well, it was for the best. It wasn’t like Wes really needed anything from there, anyway.

He was about to sit at the base of the tree to gather his racing thoughts and take a few deep breaths to calm the anxiety thrumming in his chest when a flustered, metallic chime called out to him.

Scorching sands and hells, had the damn magnet followed him here?

Wes bristled, but didn’t turn, terrified of what he might see if he did. What, was Steven here to lecture him about last night? Berate him for his selfish recklessness? Demand an apology for himself and others? Throw all kinds of burning accusations that Wes had said to himself a million times over already?

His ears twitched as Steven drew closer, saying something else that Wes was too panicked to focus on. He was glad for it though, otherwise the Beldum might have managed to sneak all the way up on him, and he definitely couldn’t have that.

Fine. Let’s get this over with.

He clenched his teeth and whirled on his assailant, hackles raised. “What do you want?” he snapped.

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Lyle wasn't really sure why his memories were drifting during the trek over to Obstinea Abbey, especially since it wasn't exactly a casual trek, but somehow, he kept thinking back to the day right before he set off with Rodion, Silver, and the others they'd gathered together...

---

Lyle hadn't realized that how much of the town he'd been overlooking since Betel had brought him to this world. It'd been weeks, if not months since his arrival and yet he was still finding himself surprised by places around town. Like this little garden or whatever it was built around the shrine to the local 'Saint of Song and Step'. Something about it felt like it ought to have been familiar to him, but yet he couldn't place it.

He wasn't really sure about why the place was so quiet. Maybe it was just the hour growing long with the shadows starting to stretch ever further from the west, or maybe this 'saint' wasn't the primary figure that more religious types around here venerated. He settled down, letting the fire idly flicker from the vents on his back, when he thought he heard footsteps approaching and turned his head with a curious glance.

 

[Cresselia92]

Market day had finally arrived! Vendors and customers of all species gathered by the much busier street, trading goods of all kinds and coming from all places.

Despite not being entirely comfortable in crowded places, Silver decided to check out the various stalls in search of potential supplies at an affordable price. The day of the expedition was getting closer and closer, and the now-Sneasel wanted to make sure to be fully prepared for every potential setback and circumstance.

In his near mindless wandering, he found a stall that sold stuff toys of many shapes, and one of them was in the shape of a Ralts. And somehow, against his own expectations, a faint memory resurfaced once more…

"...Yeah... Good work guys... You're gonna be alright..." he said with as much energy as he could muster before the light completely engulfed him and, in an instant, it was gone... and the ralts along with it, sent back to his world, his part in this story finished.

Everything had happened so fast. In mere seconds, it shifted from the Blast Seed grenade knocking Valere unconscious — with that blast almost knocking him off the tower while climbing down — and the next moment Corey was enveloped in a mystical glow and just… poof. Disappeared through the aether.

Silver sighed and tapped the doll, feeling the soft fabric brushing his fur. ‘I couldn’t even say goodbye…’

It’s not like Corey would have even remembered any of it, of course. But maybe, just maybe, he would have known for one final moment that there was someone else who understood what kinda internal struggles he was going through. Someone who was still looking for something — an achievement, maybe? — to claim as his own.

‘Well, it’s not like thinking about that can help now,’ he reasoned with himself, shaking his head and pulling away from the stall. ‘Besides, it might’ve been for the best, and he probably left this world without too many regrets.’

As such, Silver turned tails to leave… only to see a familiar Oshawott not too far from him. Archie, wasn’t it? And thinking about that… didn’t he often see Corey hanging out with that Oshawott and Tarahn?

Silver quirked an eyebrow. ‘Well, either that’s some kinda cosmic sign or some twisted and awkward coincidence.’ He dismissed the thought with a shrug and approached the Oshawott. Might as well take that chance to get to know each other a bit more. “Hey there! How’re you doing?”

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova wanted an easy request from the bulletin board given his fatigue. Unfortunately, in this case, easy meant dumb. Thus, Nova was searching around old town for a misplaced scarf. A job was a job.

It was dumb because of how long it was taking. By now, the desert winds probably covered the damn thing in dirt.

But then something cast a shadow out of the corner of his eye. Nova looked up, crest fanning out. "Oh, hey! You here for a stupid reason, too? I'm trying to find a lost scarf."

 

[Cresselia92]

Sitting on a solitary spot of Old Town, Silver stared intently at the Apricorn Ball in his paws, alternating between rolling it in his claws and throwing it in the air to catch it. Doing so seemed to entertain him somewhat - it must’ve been because of those hyperactive weasel instincts! — but it also served as a glaring reminder of his meeting with Mewtwo Giovanni.

As much as he tried to not think too hard about their new alliance and mentally chided himself for not seeing it as simple business, there was that unsettling sensation that wouldn’t leave his mind. The way Mewtwo Giovanni studied him with that calculating smirk, and then the way he shot that patronizing glare when Silver pointed out his weakness and failure… for a moment, he felt like he was talking to his father — his blood-related father. And that fact irked him to the bones.

Could they really trust that Mewtwo, even if he wouldn’t trust his own father? Well, he trusted his own judgment, and he wanted to extend that trust to his interdimensional twin’s judgment. If both Giovanni were so alike, then that probably meant he and the other Silver were alike as well, no? And his twin trusted Mewtwo Giovanni, no? Then why couldn’t he do the same?

“Ugh! This is so stupid!!” the Sneasel Silver hissed, throwing his Apricorn Ball against a rock and letting it ricochet away. He sighed, his ear and head feather drooping, and wrapped his arms around his legs before resting his head on the bundle of limbs. “Why must everything be so complicated…?”