(Reboot) Pokemon: Beyond the Tall Grass

The moonlight pokemon's patience was gone. He had enough of people trying to 'be kind', and 'act concerned'. He stood up, the thorns falling out of his fur and he let out a feral growl. He crouched down then tore out of the bush, ramming into Catia and knocking her onto her back. 

"I am NOT you!" He roared, biting the air a mere inch from Catia's face. "Do NOT treat me like I am your friend! Do NOT assume that I want to be around you humans! Maybe I WANT to be alone!" He harshly jumped off her chest and started walking past the thorn bush, before stopping and looking over his shoulder. "Do not lecture me on what you do not understand yourself, Human. I have lived longer than you, and have probably survived far worse." He turned around and continued walking. "I do not need your pity. Your 'lessons'. The wisdom that you don't have. You have no say as to what happens to me."

Umbreon disappeared into the dark.



Espeon slowed to a stop and turned away from the other pokemon, going off to find the ones she had promised a story to. The psychic type went over to Decoda and established a personal telepathic connection with him.

"Human, would it be alright if I took your small ones on a night walk? I promise to keep an eye on them and return them to you safely."

Pawniard waddled over to the shallow end of the water, splashing around and having a ruckus with the fun that he was having. Seeing Mudkip and Chimecho approaching, a mischievous smile came over the Pawniard's face. Waiting until they came a bit closer, Pawniard splashed the other two Pokemon as quickly as it could before running away with a laugh of glee.

Meanwhile, Chespin was now sitting down, keeping its eyes on everyone and making sure they were all alright. Noticing Goomy approaching with a fruit extended towards him, Chespin nodded before accepting the fruit to eat. Goomy plopped itself down next to Chespin and ate her own fruit as she also watched everyone. She didn't have too much experience with travel, but Chespin certainly seemed to be well-versed. Might as well pick up a few lessons from the grass-type!

Catia gave a small cry as she was knocked over, the bite making her eyes shine instinctively on case she was to be hurt. But instead the Pokemon left, Catia picking up her e medical supplies and putting them away before keeping her end of her bargain and leaving. She never put her jacket back on, the scar across her back in full view if anyone was to look. Once she made it back to camp, she looked over at Wes, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"Somehow, I don't think your ability to help me discipline my Pokemon is the best idea. I would rather not have my Pokemon behaving like yours do."

She told him calmly, going to her sleeping bag and lying down on top of it. She was silent as Fox and Fang sensed their trainer's odd behavior and pawed at her. But for the first time that anyone had ever seen, she only shrugged them off.

"Go back into your pokeballs and go to sleep. I don't want to play."

She told them, Fang and Fox both looking shocked at their trainer's coldness before quietly nodding in agreement. Catia curled up then, holding herself as she quietly stared into space. She hadn't felt this disheartened in a long time. No matter what she tried to do, nothing ever worked out. Sure Yuno felt better thanks to her and it was great that she got to help her, but what was the point if it all ended like this for her. She always returned to the same feeling at night: emptiness.

Mudkip wasn't too pleased with the little Pokemon splashing water at him, unlike Chimecho who shook the water off before playfully chasing after the little scamp.  But as she drifted after it softly, Mudkip slowly sank into the water below, its top fin slowly disappearing underneath the surface of the river.

Speeding through the light current, Mudkip caught up and quickly passed the two running Pokemon from under the water.  Suddenly, it resurfaced, leaping into the air with a loud cry; it then proceeded to blast a Water Gun attack at both Pawniard and Chimecho as payback for its "pain and suffering."  In reality, it really didn't hurt him all that much, he just wanted his revenge.

Meanwhile, Decoda had returned from the river, his hair soaked and upper body and parts of his pants stained with evaporating water drops the closer he got to the fire.  He plopped onto the ground by his things and let out a sigh before reaching in his guitar case to pull out his instrument, but stopped as Espeon approached him.  He was very surprised that such a majestic Pokemon that wasn't even his would want to establish a connection like Chimecho did, but listened carefully to what it said, anyway.

"Ah, sure," he started, redirecting his reach to grab the Pokeballs on his belt.  When he tried to open them, he found that there was no one inside.

"Ummm, h-has anyone seen my Pokemon?" he stammered in question, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face.  He had no idea that they escaped, let alone causing a little bit of trouble.  Immediately, he got his feet and started searching around the campfire area, but there wasn't a Mudkip or Chimecho to be seen.  "Where did you guys go?!  Augh!  Tell you what, Espeon, if you wanna walk with them, help me find them first!"

Even Wes looked a bit shocked at Catia's behavior. He expression turned to confusion as she told him off for his pokemon 'misbehaving'. 

"Excuse me?" He spoke out, not moving from his position. "What exactly do you mean by that? Espeon and Umbreon and very well behaved!" He flipped up his visor and watched as Espeon and Decoda ran about looking for his pokemon. "You just don't know how to deal with other people's pokemon. Just your own."


Yuno, who was now deeply asleep, rolled over and cuddled into Catia's side. She smiled slightly.



Espeon ran about the campsite, soon finding the pokemon playing at the water. She called to Decoda, letting him know she had found them.

"I shall be going on the night walk with them now. I will protect them and keep them safe." She spoke to Decoda, then turned to Mudkip and Chimecho. "Come along. Let's see if we can find my mate."

She lead the two off into the night, walking along the river. Espeon looked up at the moon and sighed. Her ears twitched as she picked up Umbreon's movement. They came across the dark type sitting in the water, pulling thorns out of his sides and unable to reach the ones in his back. Espeon padded over and began to gently pull them out.


"What are they doing here?" Umbreon asked harshly, and a bit pained.

"They wish to hear your story."

"...Is... Is that so..." Umbreon asked the two pokemon, his hard gaze now a bit softer.

Taking the water gun to the chest, Pawniard fell flat on its rear, a bit surprised that Mudkip had caught up so quickly. He was about to retaliate when Espeon called Chimecho and Mudkip over. Curious, Pawniard began to follow but a tug from Chespin's vines halted it in its tracks. A bit annoyed, Pawniard sighed and went back to playing with Tympole... wherever it had went. With a grin on its face, it began to look around for its playmate.

A bit further back, Cerise watched the exchange between Wes and Catia, not exactly surprised in the slightest. Someone really needed to be a mediator for the group, as these spats were becoming too common. Cerise's eyes landed on Yuno. Maybe she'd be a candidate. Catia trusted her, after all. Getting Yuno to act as a counterbalance between disputes Catia was involved in could possibly work... but Yuno seemed so timid. Cerise let out a deep sigh before pulling out his PokeGear and scrolling through its different functions, familiarizing himself with Kanto's map and the areas the group had gone so far.

Catia didn't get up from her spot, smiling slightly as Yuno cuddled into her side.

"Other people's pokemon don't attack someone without being provoked. Neither do my own."

She retorted flatly, putting an arm over Yuno's body as she slept and letting her cuddle with her. It seemed to make her happy after all.

Upon finding his Pokemon, he grabbed the sopping wet Chimecho and Mudkip one by one, putting them near a drier spot on land.  The red head tilted his head at the two of them, the water type looking much more satisfied it had gotten back at the Pawniard and Chimecho.  Somehow, the psychic type still maintained its silly little smile.

"You two should probably let me know when you escape, next time.  Especially you, Chimecho - at least you can talk to me," Decoda said to them, relief in his voice that he found them but embedded worry in his words.  "Espeon wants to hang with you, so just behave for her, alright?"

He pet both of his little creatures on the head as they trotted off with the psychic quadruped.  Decoda knew she would protect them, as she had told him, so he sighed, put his hands on his hips and walked back to the fire.  With Catia and Wes arguing, he looked back and realized that it looked absolutely ridiculous; he felt ashamed for being a part of those same fights earlier in the week.  Why was this team so prone to bickering?  With Yuno calming the martial artist down some, he made his move back over to his spot.  Maybe this was a better time to take out the guitar and play some soft music.  Once he withdrew the instrument and configured its settings, he tested a few light strums before playing some native Kanto music.  He hoped it wouldn't turn out too bad.

Mudkip and Chimecho, after following Espeon for a while, both wondered just how far out Umbreon really was.  Once they finally got to the dark type, Chimecho's eyes widened.

"What was he doing to get those thorns all over him?"

"We shouldn't ask more than what we came here to learn," Mudkip stated bluntly, moving forward first into the water as Chimecho carefully glided after him.

"I'm sorry, Umbreon.  I don't know how to use Heal Bell yet..." she told him, looking over the marks the spines made.  "But Decoda gave me a potion to hold.  Do you want it?"

Mudkip then spoke up, a little bit of nervousness in his yips.  "So what really happened to you two?  And your trainer... what's on his arm?  Is he really as he said - capture specialist?"

Espeon and Umbreon both looked at each other, then looked at the two small pokemon. When the last of the thorns were removed and lazily floating down the shallow creek, Umbreon turned his gaze upward, eyes lighting up blue. Rays of light from the moon danced about as he began to heal himself. He could easily tell them how he felt threatened by the female trainer, and how he felt she provoked his attack on her, but he could sense the stress between the group already and didn't feel the need to make matters worse.

"I fell asleep under a thorn bush." Umbreon lied, then turning his gaze to Chimecho. "No thank you, small one."

"Will you tell them or shall I?" Espeon said as she climbed out of the water and sat down on the bank, looking up at the stars. 

"...I'll tell them." Umbreon sighed as he leaped out of the water. He lay down and closed his eyes. "It was... near the very beginning of the year. We were getting off a boat that had come from the Orre region. We landed in Johto's Olivine Town, which was controlled by a Team known as Plasma. They were spouting off nonsense about on freeing pokemon from 'undeserving trainers'. It got bad. Plasma members began pointing weapons at trainers, trying to force them to release their pokemon. Several humans and pokemon died, many were wounded. I was one of the many who were wounded." Umbreon turned his head to the left and his ears fell forward. there was a silver ring right behind his ear with small markings carved on it. "I got hit by a stray bullet. It struck my brain, and almost killed me."

"They only way to save him was to do what's called 'Type Connecting'." Espeon interjected. "It's a skill only a few humans have; humans that have the powers of pokemon. They can select a type of their own, and give that typing to a pokemon. Umbreon was Type Connected into Psychic. He's now a Dark and Psychic type, which is why he is able to hear telepathic thoughts as well as broadcast them."

"I... I never looked at humans as cruel creatures until then. Before that, I saw humans as friends. I would be willing to accept their help, accept affection they tried to show me." Umbreon looked at the ground, sighing heavily. "I can't trust humans anymore. I've seen the suffering many of them have put pokemon through, the emotional torment, the physical strain." Umbreon went on. "All pokemon experience a time where they make a decision that could mean life or death. For you. Your Allies. Your human. Then there are times where you must pour all of your trust in a human, hoping they make the proper decision. However, not all humans are trustworthy as I found out..."

"Our human loves us, as your humans love you." Espeon said gently, placing a paw on Mudkip's shoulder. "They would do anything for us. They most likely feel the same." She looked up at the stars once more. 

"Until I know I can trust your humans, I will be keeping my distance from them all. I mean no offence to you all, It is just something that I need to do to avoid a repeat of earlier." Umbreon concluded. "We've been out here for quite some time. Perhaps it is time to head back to camp."

"As for your question, small mudfish. That item our human has is something very powerful. If in the wrong hands, it could prove catastrophic. It's called a Snag Machine." Espeon explained. "It forcibly alters the coding of a pokeball, and allows him to capture a pokemon that already has a trainer. I've only seen him use it on pokemon whose hearts have closed to emotion. He takes them from horrid humans and works with the pokemon to open their hearts back up. He's saved many pokemon like that."


The four pokemon then headed back to camp. When they returned, Espeon and Umbreon lay down on both sides of Wes and went to sleep.

"Sleep well, young ones." Espeon whispered gently to Mudkip and Chimecho.

Catia closes her eyes for a little bit before the other Pokemon get back, the sounds of their paws padding back to the camp making her stir from her momentary slumber. She sits up and blinks before giving a large yawn and standing up.

Time for nighttime training....

She thought to herself as her gaze floated around the campsite. Soon enough her eyes landed onto Cerise and Decoda, a thought occurring to her as she spots them. Didn't Cerise ask Yuno for lessons in self-defense? A mischievous smile comes across her face as she gets an idea, going over to Cerise and kneeling down next to him to wake him up. She shakes him gently.

"Cerise, wake up. I have something I wanna ask you. Decoda too actually. Hold on."

She tells him gently before going over to Decoda and shaking him awake as well. It was the middle of the night but Catia wasn't going to slack off on her own training. This would be good for them to see how she likes to discipline herself. She shakes Decoda's shoulders gently.

"Decoda, wake up. I wanna ask you and Cerise something."

She tells him, going to her bag and grabbing it for her bandages and such. Regardless of what happened here, she was going to need them.

Mudkip felt his spine curl as Umbreon told them about Team Plasma, creeped out by the idea that someone would willingly take away Pokemon from their trainers for no reason other than to "free them."  Chimecho's mouth opened wide in shock, listening to the horrors of the mindless killing of Pokemon and humans.  She remembered how horrifying it was for her to be trapped alone in the hideout behind the Game Corner, getting stuck there, hoping someone would come along.  She took that same fear and tried to put herself in the Eeveelution's situation, imagining how horrible it must have been and nearly crying about it.  Mudkip put his paw on her to try and calm her down, but it was hard to fight his own feelings back.

When they finished their story, Chimecho cried out, "I hope we never ever have to see those horrible humans with the weapons, ever!  And if we do, I want to be strong enough to fight them!"

"Then we should try to train some more.  All I want is to protect my trainer and our new friends, human and Pokemon.  Maybe if we work hard, we can prevent something like that from happening again," the mudfish told her, standing up after the dark type declared it too late.  "I saw the weapons they had with them... I don't want them using them, though.  We thank you for the helpful information."

He bowed lightly before them, Chimecho following Umbreon away and trying to stifle her sniffles.  When the purple Eeveelution answered Mudkip's question, he trembled again.  It sounded like Wes was a part of that 'Team Plasma' group.  Catching Pokemon already partnered up... Then again, what were they doing in a location with that scary team, anyway?  Was Wes once a bad guy?  But she thought of him as saving emotionless Pokemon... what was the truth behind their trainer??

"I... see... but, thanks again for telling us all this.  I'll remember this for a long time."

Decoda hadn't even been sleeping, staying up as he waited for his Pokemon to come back.  He had put his guitar away for a much more quiet atmosphere, and to keep himself busy, he was fixed on his Pokegear, playing with the settings and maps.  He had figured out how to mark all the places he'd been, remembering that he did go to Johto and Hoenn, even if it was just for a little while.  He also remembered that he had been to some ranch in Almia, but didn't recall the name of it to locate it on the map.

Once Mudkip and Chimecho returned, he offered for them to return to their respective balls, but they declined with the shake of their heads.  Shrugging, he put the balls back onto his belt and let them cuddle down next to him.

When Catia stepped over to talk to him, he looked up at her in surprise.  "What's going on?  You okay?"

At the time, Cerise's Pokemon had come back and were snuggling around his sleeping bag. As Catia nudged him awake, he groaned as he slowly got up, trying not to wake up his Pokemon team. He slowly sits up, trying to steady himself as he watches Catia go over to Decoda. What was so important that she needed to talk about now rather than tomorrow? Slightly annoyed at being awoken, Cerise slides out of his bag and stands up as he waited for Catia to return.

Catia smiled brightly at Decoda and Cerise, standing up straight and putting a hand on her hips. She addressed Cerise first before Decoda.

"I think I remember that you wanted some self-defense training Cerise? Honestly I'm surprised you didn't ask me for that kind of training. I had to teach it to myself to get by when I was little."

She asked him, turning to Decoda next.

"I'm usually up for my own physical training at this hour. I figured if you guys wanted I could show you a thing or two. And if your pokemon are willing we could maybe have them spar each other a little while too. I was going to have Poochy and Fang spar with each other while I did my own training tonight but I thought it would be more effective if everyone got that kind of training and not just me."

She explained to the both of them, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she got ready to go into the forest.

"If you guys want to come with me and train a bit you can. I'm only offering so if you want to go back to sleep you can. But if you want, I'll definitely give you some basic self-defense training. Anyway, sorry to wake you up Cerise. But if you come with me definitely bring your shield. I might be persuaded to pound into it a bit to let you get a feel for using it."

She told them both, turning to go into the forest. She got to the edge of it before turning around slightly and watching Decoda and Cerise, waiting for their answer. Even if they didn't come with her tonight, she would still do what training she wanted to. It was a win-win for her whether or not they came tonight.

Decoda looked at Cerise, eyebrows raised curiously.  What was all this about?  

"I coulda sworn you asked Yuno back at Vermillion, but I'm honestly more surprised that she gets up during this time to train when I've never seen or heard of her doing it before," he said to Cerise, shrugging.  " 'Least she offered, but I dunno... I think I'll go exploring a little bit, instead. I'll see you back in an hour or so, okay?"

He then tucked his two Pokemon into the blanket he brought with him before putting on his hat, jacket and belt.  He also clipped on his Pokegears and began to stand up, stretching and yawning. It was still relatively dark out, but he wasn't too tired.  All these days of staying up late finally got to him, even after years of teaching himself to wake up early.  He supposed that was just how things worked.  After breathing in deeply he waved to Cerise, before walking in the direction of the river, following its path.

Looking back at the map of Johto on the Pokegear earlier made him remember something important.

"Mantine."

"It's news to me, too." Cerise replied to Decoda before the older teen left. Turning to Catia, he yawned before shaking his head. "Maybe another time."

With that, he slumped back into where he had been sleeping, reclaiming his spot in the pile of his pokemon team.

Catia gave an internal sigh before nodding to the both of them, heading out into the forest to the first clearing she could find. Once there, she let both Poochy and Fang out of their pokeballs before petting the both of them.

"You two should spar with each other for now okay? Play fight for awhile while I do my own stuff okay?

She told them, both Pokemon nodding in agreement. She didn't come back to camp that night, having used the tree she found in the clearing as an attack dummy as much as she could until the sun finally rose into the sky. Poochy and Fang had already given up, the two sleeping together in a small pile near the bank of the River as Catia washed herself up in the stream.

((Because I honestly dont know what else to do, Time skip. Next morning. Go.))


 ಠ_ಠ

(In order to keep this thing going, I'm going to take a few liberties and set the scene for everyone so we have something to work with.)

Many miles later, Wes, Cerise, Decoda, Yuno and Catia have all had a decent rest, collected their bags and Pokemon and made their way towards Fuschia City.  Though it was just a couple more miles ahead, the team becomes weary and tired.  After all, Decoda had only brought enough food for that night, so they needed some sustenance to help them make it to their destination.  They had even tried fishing, but nothing was biting.  Managing to survive off a few berries they had picked along the way (staying away from the poisonous kind), they had reached a local farm, hearing the sounds of many Doduo, Miltank, Tauros, Bouffalant and others on the ranch.

Approaching the ranch, the team met a cheerful farmer, Mr. Persim (discoverer of the Persim berry) and his wife, who happened to be a champion berry baker and sold her prize pies to the City.  The farmer also informed them they could stay the night if they wanted to in his empty barn, but warned them not to cause trouble with the pasture Pokemon.

There seemed to be no sign of any team activity here - at least as far as our heroes could see...

The team is currently in the barn now, dropping their things off.  It is currently 2 o'clock in the afternoon.  Sun sets at 7 tonight.

-

"So we got lucky!" Decoda said as he gently dropped his guitar case onto the floor covered with hay and leaves.  "I never even knew there were these farms out here!"

Wes plopped himself down in a pile of hay and sighed, placing his now functional arms behind his head and let out a comfortable sigh. Espeon and Umbreon lay down at his sides and got comfortable.

"Yeah, it seems that way. I'm guessing you guys don't have the best of luck when it comes to traveling?" Wes asked aloud, looking around the barn.

There were a few farm pokemon coming in and out of the barn, but none really paid much attention to the group. A few mareep welcomely nuzzled the trainer's faces as they made themselves at home. They ran out of the barn, bleating cheerfully.

Yuno climbed a ladder up into the loft of the barn and set up her gear. She poked her head over the side, her white hair falling forward. 

"I'll be claiming this spot up here~"

Catia looked up as Yuno called down that she was claiming the spot up in the loft.  Fang and Poochy stretched out and relaxed as they finally had found a place to rest while Fox happily mewed and pawed at the hay and leaves, trying her best to make a big mess.  Catia had gotten into a much better mood since they'd traveled here from the spot near the river, Yuno pacifying her natural curiosity about Umbreon and Espeon by giving her someone to bond with that was easily related to.  She grinned up at the top of the ladder.

"Room for two up there Yuno? I would love to have a high bunk to sleep in tonight!"

She called up to her, Vulpix giving a small cry as one of Mareep came in and nuzzled her, giving her a small static shock that had surprised her. Catia giggled at the little Fox's antics before petting her lightly and guiding her to go and play with the other pokemon in the room. Fox soon tackled Poochy over and the two began to play fight with each other while Catia watched and waited for Yuno's answer.

His stuff already set aside by a nearby pile of hay, Cerise smiled as he stroked the chins of one of the nearby Mareep that had wandered into the barn. Recording the Pokemon into his Pokedex, he lay down against the hay bale, stretching his arms with a muted yawn. At this point, his trio of Pokemon had all been returned to their respective Pokeballs. "I think we're making good time to Fuschia City, though! Shouldn't be much further."

Wes nodded to himself as he listened to Cerise speak. There was still plenty of daylight left, so he sat there and wondered what to do. 

"Plenty of light left," he said aloud. "and now that we're settled in, now what?"


Yuno held a hand out to Catia and helped her up into the loft. She was fairly strong, and lifted the fighter with ease. With a giggle, she pulled the girl into a tight hug and quick kissed her cheek. Yuno crawled a few feet and covered her face, blushing furiously.

"S-s-sorry! I-I-I..." she stuttered, not being able to finish her sentence.

Catia grinned at Yuno when she was so easily pulled up into the loft of the barn, a rosy blush coming over the bridge of her nose as she was kissed on the cheek.  When the shy girl backed away from her, she slowly crawled over after her.

"That um....that was interesting.  C-can I ask...."

She stopped midway through her sentence and took a deep breath and looked over at Yuno gently.  Best just to get this over with and out of the way....

"Yuno?  Do you....like me?  Not like friend like.  It's okay to be honest.  I promise not to judge you."

She asked her, genuinely curious about her feelings towards her.

Decoda felt welcome as the team settled in amongst the rafters and hay, especially when the Mareep came in to say hello.  He patted their fluffy bodies gently, but didn't really touch them too much, knowing enough that they have electrical abilities.

"Yeah, I agree.  We should be there tomorrow, according to the map," he stated calmly.  "What do you guys want to do?"

He scratched his head under his hat and started walking towards the exit of the barn.  "I'm kinda interested in learning more about the Pokemon on this farm!  Anyone want to come with me?"

"Yeah, sure! I'll go with ya!" Cerise said with a smile as he looked over the Pokedex entry for Mareep. As the Mareep he was stroking left the barn, the egg hatcher rubs his hands together. "Maybe I can get my hands on another egg while I'm here?"