FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Art Used In Preview By https://paipuru.deviantart.com/

The following chapter takes place three years after the conclusion of the original TOTGM series. After having found a rare (for his region) Bounsweet and taking an egg housing a Fennekin under his wing, given to him by its dying mother just before passing, Chris continues along with the imp-Pokemon named Midna hiding within his shadow, making his way toward the Platinum Star Lines headquarters where his ship, the R.M.S. Legend awaits his arrival, ready to set sail on its maiden voyage with him as its captain!

Chapter 4 - A Goomy With A Deadly Disorder!

"Another day..." Chris sighed after taking in a deep breath of air, Bounsweet doing the same with a sigh of its own. "Not bad progress so far. Been nice to walk without being chased by a ton of Pokemon again!" he laughed, causing Bounsweet to sulk. "Kidding, just kidding." he assured, patting the Pokemon on the head as it sat tucked into his hood by his face, remaining hidden from the view of potential predators. Lifting his shoulder, Chris adjusted the strap he'd made out of vines that clung to the egg against his back, hidden beneath his cloak after having been wrapped in massive leaves and secured in a net of smaller vines he'd found along his way. "Kinda fun getting to toy around with my creative side again..." he thought with a smirk, glancing back before focusing ahead. Jolting, he felt a whispering ping in his mind, the call coming from the stone embedded in his chest as he looked down curiously. "Oh, yeah... I owe you one. I'll grab the stuff you like in the next town we pass." he assured with a grin, some of the souls housed in his stone having helped guide him on how to put together the makeshift rucksack for the egg properly, Bounsweet looking at him curiously. "Just talking to my friends again." he explained, tugging his collar so it could see the glowing stone within. "A few of them want a bite of a few things once we pick a place to rest." he added. "I don't mind when they want food... It's alcohol that's a problem for me." Chris laughed nervously before feeling another whispering ping in his mind, this time with a sense of agitation. "S-Sorry! I don't mind now and then of course!" he assured nervously, looking back at the stone as the glow slowly faded away, going back into a sort of slumber state allowing him to sigh in relief.

"Folks who like that stuff take it pretty seriously." he thought to himself as they continued along. "You doing okay down there?" he asked, looking at his shadow as Midna's face appeared with a grin, a hand reaching out of the darkness in an "OK" manner before retracting itself. "You've been pretty good so far... I'll have to get you a treat too." Chris smiled, making the imp cackle excitedly before rising from his shadow and slithering up his body, taking on its miniature, almost Gardevoir-like form as it sad on his shoulder with another grin. "Always remember, good behavior means good food!" he affirmed, getting a nod in response. As the group continued along the meadow before them, now and then they would pass trees lining the path, allowing for a casual rest under the shade they provided. Eventually, Chris arrived at a hill that took him a moment to climb, finally reaching the top where a lone tree stood giving him something to rest against as he caught his breath, working the egg out from behind him and softly setting it on the ground as he slumped against the tree, sitting with a plop. "Boy oh boy..." he muttered, looking back at the direction he'd come from. "When you think about all the traveling I did before, getting worn out from this goes to show how much I've let myself go." he point out, pulling off his hood to enjoy the breeze while Midna and Bounsweet climbed down onto the ground before him and scanned the area. "Living with the girls spoiled me." he laughed nervously, taking out his Pokedex to see how far he'd gone since leaving his valley before looking up details of the weather, not wanting to be caught off guard as he checked nearby towns to stay at just in case.

"Nice view, isn't it?" he asked, Midna showing a grin while Bounsweet nodded before warily inching close to his side to be safe. "Hey, you don't need to worry! There's nothing around us for miles, far as I can tell." he assured, looking around and up at the tree above them before returning his focus to his Pokedex, thinking and mumbling to himself as he brought up different hotels. "Mm... Wouldn't mind staying here, simple enough..." he finally spoke up, nodding as he made his choice before tucking his Pokedex away and standing once more. Working the egg back under his cloak and over his shoulder, Chris reached down and let Midna zip its way back up his arm before picking up Bounsweet, lifting his hood and tucking the Pokemon within allowing itself to snuggle its way into place as he took his staff in hand. "Alright... I think we'll stay somewhere tonight just to be safe. Probably gonna get some iffy weather later on." Chris affirmed, looking around and noticing dark clouds in the horizon behind them. "Rose hates storms... Hope she handles it alright without me." he laughed nervously before muttering about how the valley was probably seeing rain already. Turning in the direction he was heading when he'd stopped to take a break, before he could progress Chris found himself stopped mid-step by Midna tugging at his hood, making an "Eh! Eh!" type of noise to grab his attention. Looking at the imp, Chris raised an eyebrow with a "yeah?" in response, noticing it was pointing at a small grove past the base of the hill ahead. "What? You wanna go look at more plants?" he smiled nervously, only for the imp to shake its head and point with a more stern "EH!" noise in response.

Tilting his head, Chris took his Pokedex back out and held it up, opening its camera feature before zooming in on the location. Scanning the area for a moment, he finally spotted someone within the trees, looking around as though nervous. Enhancing the image, it turned out to be what appeared as a man with a hood on himself, his face hidden by a scarf. Raising his eyebrow again, Chris backed his way behind the tree, holding his device out just far enough to keep the image focused on the man as he reached into his vest and took out a Pokeball, looking at it for a moment before warily checking his surroundings a second time. "What are you up to...?" Chris muttered before the man started examining the trees around him. Finding one with a knothole in it, the man looked at his Pokeball again before tucking it away and stepping back. Noticing his mouth moving, Chris fidget with his device until managing to pick something up about "can't afford" through the static, his device struggling to pick up the voice from such a distance before the man started backing away further. Looking around, he focused on the Pokeball once more, seemingly having regret and second guessing himself before pulling his hood further down over his face and making his way off, warily keeping his focus on his surroundings as he slowly stepped out from the grove. Back on the path, the man looked back once more before hurrying off along his way, with Chris watching him turn into a smaller and smaller speck in the distance until vanishing past various smaller hills in the horizon. Remaining hidden for a moment, Chris finally stepped out and tucked his Pokedex away, looking toward where the man went before focusing on the grove.

"...Lets check it out." he muttered, Midna and Bounsweet nodding before he made his way down the hill. Once he was at the base, Chris approached the grove while looking around himself and entering, heading past various trees and bushes until reaching the knothole containing the abandoned Pokeball, having found it by noticing the shine bouncing off its surface beneath the rays of sunlight. Taking it out, Chris looked it over curiously while leaving the grove, Midna and Bounsweet blinking at the object before he returned to the trail, looking around once more before he extended his arm and clicked the release button. Popping open, it let off a flash before a red beam shot toward the ground, releasing a flash of its own before the group looked down at what appeared to be a puddle of goo. "The... Hell...?" Chris muttered, Midna and Bounsweet equally bewildered by the sight of the creature before them. Squatting down, he gave it a curious poke, murmuring "Some kinda Muk...?" followed by "No... Ditto...?" as he tried to figure out the species. "Maybe it's like a foreign version... I know places like Alola have em' that look different compared to Pokemon in other places..." he added. Noticing what looked like antennae sticking out from it, Chris gave one a soft tug, causing it to stretch slightly before getting a weakened sound from the creature, making him jerk his hand back in surprise. Suddenly hearing his Pokedex go off, Chris took it out and held it up to the flattened blob, allowing it to scan before letting off a flash and bringing up data. "Goomy, the soft tissue Pokemon!" it exclaimed. "G-Goomy...?" Chris replied in surprise, blinking at the blob himself. "Those are hard to find too... I heard they're kinda like a pseudo-legendary species..." he added.

"Considered the weakest of Dragon-Type's in its present form, Goomy has horn-like protrusions used to check its surroundings. Because of their sensitivity, if you grab them you will get a shock, leaving you immobilized!" it warned. "I didn't feel anything..." Chris thought, looking at the glob again. "Its source of protection is a layer of slime coating its body, making physical attacks slide off harmlessly." it went on as Chris checked his hand and poked the glob again. "Don't feel any slime either..." he muttered. "Trainers who claim these Pokemon at this stage of their life cycle must be vigilant, as when a Goomy dries out, it loses its ability to breathe. Consisting of primarily water, should they dry out death is an almost certainty if left without moisture." it affirmed, causing Chris's eyes to widen as he looked at the pictures of healthy Goomy compared to the motionless blob before him. Panicking, he quickly rummaged through all his pockets until pulling out a mini-sized bottle of water he'd taken for a sip on occasion. Having filled it from a spring he'd passed the day before, unable to find the creatures mouth in its flattened state, he poured the bottle over it instead, though there wasn't much to offer since the group had sipped away half its contents. Trying to coax the Pokemon to respond, after a moment it finally opened its small, beady eyes, making Chris show a slight sign of relief only for it to let out a weakened noise once more and return to its unconscious state. Letting out a frustrated "shit" as he looked up his map on his Pokedex, he managed to find a Pokemon Center located ahead before reaching the next town. Reaching out, he clumsily took the blob in his arms, struggling to keep a descent hold on its shapeless form.

Standing up, he looked around for the Pokeball, deciding to return it for safety only to freeze when he heard a sudden loud "CrUnCh!!" from under his foot when took a panicked step back. Freezing wide eyed, he slowly moved and found the Pokeball shattered, bits and pieces both on the ground and beneath his shoe. Seeing this, it made him flash back to the distant memory of when Alicia's trainer stepped on her Pokeball, sending a guilty twinge through his mind yet shaking it off nonetheless. "The ONE time I wanted to use one... Damn it..." Chris muttered, looking at the path ahead. Thinking of what to do, he looked down at the misshapen Goomy in his arms before suddenly feeling the stone in his chest resonating, countless pings going off in the back of his mind as the souls within called out to him. Taking a moment to hear them out, Chris asked "you sure...?" before the stone let off a flash beneath his shirt. Nodding, he suddenly pulled off his robe, using it to hold Goomy as he placed it in the center and tied it like a bag to the end of his staff. Lifting it to test his knot, Chris nodded as he placed his staff over his shoulder and tucked Bounsweet under his opposite arm. "...Alright, if you're willing to do it, I'll take you up on the offer." he agreed as the Pokemon under his arm looked up curiously. "My friends are gonna help us save our new friend." he grinned, causing Bounsweet's eyes to widen, wondering what he meant as he instructed Midna into the pocket of his coat. "We've never tried this before... I'll do my best to work with ya!" he assured, looking down as the stone began glistening, its glow turning brighter as energy began welling up from within. Looking ahead, Chris smirked with a "lets do it!" remark, taking a ready stance and making sure the egg was secure.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - Philosopher's Speed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30bjOS-0HVQ Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

After a moment, a sudden flash of electricity shot down his legs from his chest, pure blue in color before the power began collecting in his feet, engulfing them in a blue aura and electricity of their own. Once he felt the order to go from the souls within, Chris ran forward and gradually began picking up greater and greater speed, the force of wind blowing tears from Bounsweet's eyes as it shout in a panic, trees and other objects going by them in a blur as Chris left a cloud of dirt flying behind him. Leaning forward, Chris tackled the wind head-on, keeping up his rapid pace as his footsteps left a trail of electricity behind him. Glancing back , he told Goomy "hang in there!" as he rocket along the winding trail, speeding along curve after curve and bounding along the hills. Passing by other travelers along the way, it was impossible to tell if he'd passed the one who'd left Goomy behind, though it wasn't the main thing on his mind anyway as he raced along, leaving those he left in his dust bewildered, some pushed aside from the wind he'd kicked up along the way. With the power of those he'd bonded with aiding him, Chris made short work of a trek that would have otherwise taken him until greatly after dark to accomplish, with Bounsweet's eyes beginning to spiral from the twists and turns along with the up's and down's along their way, groaning out of nausea. Poking its head out from his coat, Midna's reaction was the polar opposite, let out a thrilled "EEHAAW!!" noise, its hands up in the air while showing a grin from ear to ear as if on a ride at an amusement park before holding onto the rim of his pocket, letting out noises as if to say "faster!!" repeatedly. Taking another glance back, Chris made sure both Goomy and his egg were safe once more.

Continuing along, the group was forced to dodge crowds the closer they got to the Pokemon Center, with the nearby town luring in countless people that became obstacles on the trail. Leaping over heads and shifting between groups, it didn't take long for their goal to come into view as Bounsweet neared the point of emptying the contents of its stomach, Midna showing a disappointed look when they began slowing down as the building grew near, resting its elbow on the rim of his pocket with its cheek leaning against its hand. Cancelling out the power coming from the stone in his chest, Chris made a leap into the air as the energy vanished before landing in a skidding manner, sliding along the trail causing his feet to sink into the dirt as his speed rapidly decreased. Just as he arrived at the entrance to the Pokemon Center, he finally came to a stop with his legs knee deep in the trench he'd made, heavily breathing as he looked up at the building before him with an exhausted "made it..." comment, those around him and the crowds left in his dust showing both, awe and intimidation from what he'd done as they looked at the skid trail. Looking around, he apologized with a nervous smile, sweat on his face from the workout as he climbed out of his trench and made his way up to the facility. Suddenly flailing under his arm however, Bounsweet forced itself loose, landing on the ground and running off to the side of the entrance. Hiding behind potted plants, the Pokemon began spewing from the experience, overwhelmed by the speed and maneuvers he'd made along the way. Looking towards the sickened creature, Midna sneered at Bounsweet's weakness, having savored in the ride in comparison. Walking up, Chris rubbed the nauseous Pokemon on the back, coaxing it to finish.

Once done, he picked Bounsweet up and made his way inside, though not without pausing briefly once his foot passed the front door. Flashing back to his experiences in the past and the dangers he'd faced had he tried to take Serenity and the others into such a place, Chris had to remind himself she and the others were no longer with him as he proceeded to enter, only to wind up pushed in by others needing the facility as well. Stumbling aside, he showed a scowl of agitation as Midna hissed at the crowd, causing him to remind the imp to control itself as he took a breath and looked around the surrounding lobby, noticing several nurses at the reception desk ahead. Making his way along, many had to take a second look at Chris, caught off guard from his presence as he neared the nurses. Once at the desk, he was greeted by the typical "Welcome" and a smile, only for the nurse to jolt and freeze up wide eyed as she looked at him while he placed Bounsweet on the desk along with his staff, unwrapping his robe it to reveal the Goomy still in its weakened and unconscious state. "I need these two looked at... This one here's a little nauseous and this one... I'm not sure... I found it along the trail coming here. It's real bad off so, could you push this one up the list and treat it now?" he asked, looking at the nurse as she stuttered in response. Reaching behind himself, Chris sat his egg on the desk as well, unwrapping it for the nurse. "I'd like this one looked at too, make sure everything's okay inside... I got it a few days back." he explained, the nurse continuing to tense up before quickly nodding. "R-Right away! We'll take care of them immediately!" she assured. "W-Well the only major priority is...!!" he tried to point out, only for all three to be quickly taken for treatment.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - A Chronic Diagnosis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ8kM-VOFwA Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

Standing in surprise for a moment, Chris blinked before relaxing with an "O-Okay...?" in response. Glancing around, he felt the strong gaze of the combination of admiring and fearful eyes around him, their murmuring among one another causing an uneasy sense to well up in his spine while shrouding himself by his cloak once more, lifting his hood over his head and shrouding his face. Lowering it warily, he jolt when another nurse instructed him to follow, nodding before taking his staff in hand and letting her lead the way. Stopping him at an empty room, the nurse let him watch the care of the Pokemon he'd brought through a window in the wall, seeing them place Bounsweet and Goomy on two separate tables while the egg was placed in a machine for scanning. Seeing an image of the developing Fennekin inside pop up, the Pokemon could be seen curled up within, a twitch seen on occasion in response to the lights and sounds the machine gave off to test its responsive progress. The team around Bounsweet treated the Pokemon with a spoonful of medicine for its nausea, causing its face to twist before rapidly shaking its head and hopping about. Once both were finished, the teams brought out both the egg and Bounsweet, returning them to Chris allowing him to hold onto the egg while Bounsweet hid itself in his hood once more, trembling with a sour look on its face and a "blech" sound. "S-Sorry... Do you feel a little better though?" Chris apologized with a nervous smile, the Pokemon scowling in response before shuddering again from the aftertaste. Looking back inside, the teams that had taken care of the two now joined the rest around Goomy, their expressions a combination of puzzled and somber between them.

Trying various things, they dipped the Pokemon in a small container of water and used syringes to inject water in its mouth, gradually bringing it back to life until it was aware enough to show signs of confusion from its situation. Continuing to examine it for some time, the team repeatedly felt Goomy over, keeping it partially submerged as it went from syringes to drinking on its own via the water surrounding it. Eventually they managed to restore the near-death Pokemon to its proper state, though not without maintaining the same look of confusion as before. By the time they had finished, the sun was beginning to set as they started coating the Pokemon with a cream-like lotion of sorts, one of the nurses finally coming out with a puzzled look of her own showing. "So... What's the deal with that one? What's the hold-up?" Chris asked. "W-We uh..." she replied, scratching her cheek while looking at Goomy through the window herself. "It's complicated, but that Goomy there is lacking the membranes that usually work to keep its body moist... Without that feature..." she paused as Chris looked at the Pokemon as well. "Beyond that it's a perfectly normal, healthy Goomy, though even with a body in peak condition on the inside, without that ability to keep it protected on the outside, it dries out at a pretty instant pace. When it's dry, it can't..." she went on, only to be interrupted as Chris finished with a "Breathe" response. "I know, I saw the data about it on my device." he point out. "Anything you can do to fix it?" he asked. "I'm afraid not... Normally the mucous would shield its body through pores along its skin, but for whatever reason that one isn't releasing any mucous at all." the nurse point out.

"We've soaked it completely, given it all the water it wants, but the pores just aren't functioning." she affirmed. "So... Does that mean there's no chances for it?" Chris asked, glancing toward the nurse. "Well... It's not really impossible. There's an ointment you can coat it with as a replacement for the mucous, but the issue is whether or not you would be able to handle the task. It would be a routine treatment, if you were to miss one, that could spell the end of it." she explained. "It's amazing it was alive in the shape it was in when you brought it here... I suppose you could say that shows how durable it is, but at the same time, it also shows what happens if it's not taken care of consistently." the nurse went on. "The next issue is a matter of price... The ointment it requires isn't the most expensive, but it's not the cheapest on the market either. Each prescription runs around $30, though you might find it both, cheaper and more expensive depending on the location... Because it's not something commonly a necessity for Pokemon, the government hasn't included it under the coverage a majority of treatments fall into, meaning it's an out of pocket expense for the trainer." she finished, causing Chris to face down. "I see... So that's why..." he replied, the nurse asking "Pardon?" only for Chris to shake his head. "Nothing... For once I just managed to have a legitimate understanding for why something happened." he added, confusing the nurse as she tilt her head. "This isn't to say the Pokemon can't solve the issue on its own however." she point out. "As you know, most Pokemon evolve, as does this one. It's possible, not certain, but POSSIBLE the issue may correct itself when that occurs." she assured, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

"What if it doesn't?" he asked. "Well, its later evolution's aren't as reliant on its moisture, its final form is on par with humans in terms of durability and its capability to retain fluids. But until it reaches that point, whether its pores start working or it simply evolves beyond its reliance on them, you're looking at a round the clock task to keep it alive." the nurse affirmed. Looking back at Goomy, Chris thought in silence while Bounsweet showed a somber look of its own, Midna looking at everyone out of confusion, unable to fully grasp the atmosphere. "I-It's not ideal for many, but... There is the option of putting it..." the nurse point out, causing Chris to jolt before facing the nurse making her tense up warily. "N-Not that I'm saying you SHOULD do it!" she panicked. "Y-You did say you happened upon it, correct? It's... Quite a burden, financially and physically..." she clarified before lowering her head and quietly apologizing. Turning back toward the window, the team around Goomy finished coating it, the Pokemon looking relieved as it relaxed on the table with a somewhat euphoric look, its body glistening from the lotion. "As you can see, it's perfectly fine now, for the time being... So long as the prescription is coated regularly there's no issues." the nurse assured. "...So that's all it needs?" Chris asked. "Y-Yes sir, if it's consistently applied, it should be alright." she affirmed. After a moment, Chris nodded and turned to the nurse, telling her to get the prescription written for the ointment it needed, offering to take the Pokemon nonetheless. Blinking in a somewhat surprised manner, the nurse nodded in response before returning to the team in the room before him, Bounsweet looking surprised as well, though not fully understanding the prescription part.

Midna however sulked with its arms crossed, irritated over taking something in that served better as a meal in its eyes, the imp grumbling in its own way from the decision. Though it didn't grasp the drama, it did understand the Goomy was a weak Pokemon, serving as little resistance should it grow hungry. Looking up at Chris, it let its frustration known by chatting in agitation, only for him to focus on Goomy through the window making the imp slump and grumble once more. After a moment longer, the same nurse from before finally brought the Goomy out while a separate nurse brought other Pokemon in for treatment. Now taking on a stable form, it looked at Chris with its beady eyes, blinking curiously as the nurse handed it over. Holding it himself, he nodded while being given a slip of paper as well, a written order for the ointment Goomy would need. "You can get that filled in the town down the road. The coating on it now should last several hours. For the most part you're looking at five coatings a day, sometimes in-between if you're in the heat for extended periods of the day." the nurse cautioned. "Got it... Thanks." Chris nodded once more, also being given a sheet of paper showing everything they'd done before making his way out of the center. Looking around, people were still examining the trail he'd left when skidding to a stop, causing him to show a nervous look on his face before quickly putting distance between himself and the scene. Looking around itself, Goomy seemed all the more bewildered as time passed, looking up at Chris in particular confusion as he made his way toward the town ahead, its lighted homes beginning to twinkle in the twilight before them.

Looking down, Chris made the Pokemon jolt, the darkness around them shading his face completely from sight making him appear like that of a faceless figure from another realm. Not wanting it to remain so unnerved, Chris stopped by a nearby streetlight, one of many that had started popping up as they neared the town with a bench under the light. Taking a seat, he looked around before pulling his hood back, showing his face and Bounsweet next to him as Goomy tilt its head. "...Hi there." Chris smiled. "Uh... I know it doesn't make sense, but, er..." he added, rubbing his head trying to think of how best to explain the situation as simply as he could. Looking down at the Pokemon, it had started looking around again, either as though it were lost, or looking for somebody it had lost, causing Chris to show a somber look of his own before quickly shaking it off and smiling again. "It's hard to explain, but I'm gonna be taking care of you from now on." he assured as Goomy looked back at him curiously. "You see... You were with a human before me, right?" he asked, the Pokemon jolting and quickly nodding. "Well... There was a problem that came up, so uh..." Chris paused, continuing to think his words over carefully. "You're a special Pokemon, and your body, it doesn't work like the other Pokemon that look like you... Understand?" he asked, causing Goomy to blink at him before looking down in a somehow somber manner of its own, seemingly grasping what he'd point out. "You need special stuff to stay healthy... To stay alive." Chris affirmed, making the Pokemon appear all the more saddened. "The good news is, I'm gonna take care of all that for you!" he grinned, causing it to jolt and look up at him again.

"I dunno where you came from, I dunno anything about the human you were with before. Dunno anything about you either really..." he confessed with a nervous laugh. "But... I know life is important. Everybody deserves it, so I'm gonna do everything I can so you can enjoy life too." Chris assured with a nod. "Um... But uh... As far as how you got here and all..." he paused, scratching his cheek as he thought over the revelation yet decided to be honest. "The human you were with... What you need to survive is kind of expensive to a lot of folks... I guess he couldn't afford it so he left you behind..." he explained, detailing how he'd found its Pokeball in a tree making Goomy sulk once more. "I know it sucks, but if you want, try thinking of it this way." Chris point out, making the Pokemon hear him out. "If that human had kept you, then something bad could've happened to you since he couldn't get what you needed to survive... Since he left you, I was able to find you, and now you've got a real chance!" he assured with another smile. "M-Maybe it doesn't help the hurt of being left because of your body much, but... It's a start to looking at the positive side." he added. "You... Didn't seem like you had much longer left when I found you... Maybe it was guilt that made him leave you, maybe the guy couldn't handle it..." he went on. "But no matter why he did it or how he felt, you're with me now and I'm guessing you feel pretty good, right?" he asked, Goomy looking down before nodding and returning its attention to him. "You... Don't really HAVE to stay with me, but I'd appreciate it if you'd at least stick around long enough to maybe grow out of your problem! I'd take you anywhere you wanted to be set free after that! I swear!" Chris assured, crossing his chest with his hand up.

"I just... Don't wanna let you die when all you need is a little help... Nobody should suffer alone, you know?" he point out, both Goomy and Bounsweet looking at him while Midna picked its teeth in his pocket in an "Eh" manner to the moment. "Those humans we were just with, the ones that took care of you? One of them told me you'd be okay after you evolve... Even if you don't have that slime stuff you wouldn't need it as much anymore so you could live even without the stuff you need right now! So... If it's okay with you, I'd be glad to take care of you until you reach that point... I just want you to survive is all." Chris affirmed. "I uh, have a bad habit of making people do that, sometimes even if they don't wanna." he added, flashing back to Rose when he'd saved her from the truck years prior. "Everyone deserves life... Sometimes you gotta fight for it, but that's way easier to do when someone has your back." he smirked, looking down at his chest before looking toward the town ahead. "We can get more of what you need just over there... If uh... Sticking with me and letting he help you is alright, I'd like to go ahead and get it for you." he offered. Continuing to look up at Chris, after a moment Goomy faced down, silent in its own thoughts before returning its focus to him and giving a nod. Thanking the Pokemon, he lift it onto his shoulder opposite of Bounsweet and lift his hood once more, shielding both Pokemon and his face. "If you stay in there, it should help you stay moist too." he instructed, glancing at Goomy as it nodded in response. "You don't mind sharing the space, do you?" he asked, looking toward Bounsweet as it shook its head. Nodding with an "alright" in response, Chris stood and took his staff in hand before heading off toward the town.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - New Town New Friend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qImZFMRkwaQ Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

Once he'd reached one of the many entrances, he read a sign that said "Onset Town" touting the location as "A Place Where Life Begins" as well. Making his way down the streets, due to the simplicity of the town the buildings shared similar cabin designs, a much smaller place than the cities he'd come across on his journey years prior making him sigh in a relaxed manner. With the roofs having a common ceramic tile design, there was a soothing atmosphere to the place, with homes decorated with lush bushes along their front-side and patches of healthy grass around them, giving each a small yard for its residents to have to themselves separated by plants. With some housing seniors that sat on their porches enjoying the last of the setting sun, there were a few that offered a friendly wave as various Pokemon, including Pidgey, Starly, Fletchling and Taillow, even various Pidov along with some migrating Pikipek roosted on the rooftops and the lines hanging on the polls above. The sight of the Pikipek however made Bounsweet cower under Chris's hood, whimpering warily causing him to laugh. "It's okay, they're dozing off." he assured, reaching in and rubbing its head. Along the way, the group found themselves approached by a Delcatty and its small little of Skitty, the Pokemon curiously surrounding and sniffing at Chris's feet. "Well, hello there!" he grinned, squatting down and letting the felines sniff his hand before brushing themselves against it. Looking curiously, Bounsweet accidentally rolled out of his hood, landing with a plop that startled the others as it froze up. Sniffing at the Pokemon curiously, Delcatty and its litter pawed at Bounsweet as its scent soothed them, rubbing their bodies against Bounsweet.

"I guess they think you're perfume." Chris chuckled as the Skitty rubbed their faces against Bounsweets, the Pokemon remaining tense and quietly whimpering. "Don't worry, they won't eat you." he assured as it looked at the felines warily, eventually relaxing however subtly as Chris resumed petting them as well. After a moment, their owner called from her porch, another elderly woman causing the felines to perk up and run off into their house. Picking up Bounsweet and tucking it back under his hood, Chris gave the senior a wave before resuming his trek through the town. With the streets made using cobblestone designs, in a way it reminded him of his home as he neared a pharmacy, looking at the prescription sheet before nodding and heading inside. Handing the slip of paper to the pharmacist within, the group waited for it to be filled while browsing the aisles, eventually receiving the order and making the payment before heading back out. "Alright, see what we got here..." Chris muttered, tucking his egg under his arm before opening the stapled bag and taking out the large tube within. "Ohh... Pretty good amount." he point out, showing Goomy as the Pokemon blinked curiously. Heading to a nearby trash can, Chris tossed away the bag and tucked the ointment into his coat pocket. "While we're here I should probably get something better to hold you in as well..." he added, holding the egg up before him before noticing the storm clouds beginning to linger above, suddenly hearing a slight rumble. "Wuh oh..." he muttered, Bounwseet and Goomy looking at the sky as well. "I'll have to get the container later." Chris affirmed as he made his way along, bringing up a map of the ever darkening town.

Once he'd found a hotel, Chris made his way inside and paid for a nights stay, the location as simple as the town itself with only a single story. Being given a key, he made his way toward the room he'd been directed to, unlocking the door and making his way into a slightly small location with the lights already on, a bed and a small TV on a stand in front of it. The bathroom was miniature as well, squeezing in a toilet and a sink just inches apart and a shower just big enough for a single person to stand in. "Not much... But I kinda like it." Chris nodded, noticing the windows near the bed. Setting his egg on one of the pillows, he slid them open, revealing various plants lining a pot that hung from the frame like a shelf, Goomy jolting before making its way out of his hood and along his arm. "What's up?" Chris asked, blinking curiously before the Pokemon began nibbling on the leaves of the plants. "Oohh... So that's what you like..." he muttered while showing a smile. "Since my companions keep growing in number, I guess I'll have to get me another rucksack and start toting supplies again." he point out, sitting on his bed with a sigh and pulling Bounsweet out of his hood, setting the Pokemon on the bed allowing it to look around curiously. "Pretty soft, huh?" he chuckled as it looked down at the sheets before rolling onto its back with a sigh of its own. Climbing out of his pocket, Midna looked around as well, the sight of the egg and two meek Pokemon making it show a hungry look. "Oy oy, we'll get a bite to eat in a minute. This place has a small restaurant." he assured, the imp chattering at him in a "hungry!!" manner. "Can't we just relax for a second?" he smiled nervously, making Midna sit with its arms and legs crossed impatiently.

"Alright, now lets see here..." he muttered, looking over the sheet of paper detailing what the staff at the center had done. Paying the closest attention to the section about Goomy, after a moment he noticed the genders were marked as well, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. "Hold up..." he paused, looking at Goomy then Bounsweet before checking the records again. Looking at Bounsweet a second time, he asked "You're a GIRL?" in surprise, causing the Pokemon to jolt and shoot up with a flush, snapping at him for the first time in an insulted manner as she hopped in place while bickering. Quickly apologizing, Bounsweet stood with her cheeks puffed out and growling while he looked at Goomy as well. "It's a girl too..." he muttered, looking back at the records. "...Why is it always girls?" he thought with a nervous look, slight sweat showing before thinking his words over. "N-Not that I mind, I mean!" he thought to himself, looking at the two with a slight blush of his own, scratching his cheek warily. "...The others are gonna kill me though." he point out, this time aloud making Bounsweet tilt her head. "D-Don't worry about it. Just thinking out loud by accident." he assured with a nervous laugh before the Pokemon scowled at him again. "I-I said I was sorry..." he reminded before she turned her face away with a "hrmph!" type of sound.

Letting out a sigh, Chris returned his focus to Goomy as she continued nibbling on leaves, another round of thunder calmly echoing from the horizon. "Gonna get a good one tonight probably..." Chris muttered, standing and leaning out the window over Goomy, looking at the darkened sky above before facing down at the Pokemon, giving her a smile as she looked up at him and gave a smile of her own before taking another leaf into her mouth...