"I had Lightning since I was about ten, even if I didn't become a fully fledged Trainer until a decade later" He admitted when Izumi brought up that she had started way late too. But she seemed to be in agreement with them that perhaps they should start out as early as possible. She wanted them to learn responsibility early in regards to Pokemon.

"I can agree with that. Even when I didn't have Lightning, just growing up around a ranch pretty much decided for me that whatever I was going to be doing... I would be around Pokemon at all times. Learning how to treat them responsibly... That's something I had to learn even before then. And now with our own children growing up practically the same way I did... Aye. Perhaps it is good that we find a way to get them started early" He agreed. "And... It would be nice, I suppose. To let them experience something that we didn't get to experience until much later. That's always been something I've wanted to be as a father... Someone who can give our kids what I didn't get to have" He spoke softly.

Their conversation was temporarily interrupted by a rustling, but it ended up being a Numel. Smiling softly from nostalgia, Josh would walk over and pull out some berries to the Numel, and had a Pokeball ready depending on how it responded...

"I dunno, I thought the proposal was pretty good" He remarked with a laugh when Izumi affirmed that he wasn't the best at romantic talk. "Didn't rehearse or anything. Didn't stutter much. Think I did pretty well with the language too" Josh joked. He remembered the proposal well enough, and why he had done it. Izumi could be... Spitefully possessive, and he had figured if he was to propose to her, while he wouldn't normally in a public setting... Doing it at a moment that would make her happy, and even happier that she could turn and grin at people she wanted to spite with a ring on her finger - it seemed right. That was all he had cared about in that moment. Making her happy.

"We went way far" He agreed. "Board of directors in a huge company, veteran trainers in our own right... But parents, most importantly. I can't think of anything I'd rather be than a father to Zackary and Lyra... And a husband to you."

She asked how their friend was doing, and he shrugged his shoulders. "No idea. Maybe those sharpedo got him after all?"

He chuckled when she brought up the costume contest. "I remember. I almost miss those days. But I'm happy we've finally found a life here... Hopefully one we can settle into permanently. I..." He trailed off, letting out a sigh as he wrapped his arms around her, keeping their movement on the ice going as he spun them around a bit, holding her close. "I think I'm finished hopping from region to region, if I'm being honest with you. I think I'm done moving to different homes. I think I've grown a bit tired of it, but... More importantly, the kids don't seem to be adjusting well" He admitted. "They aren't taking this moving around thing as well as we are, now that they're old enough to understand more that they're being thrown around places they're not used to.

It really is about time we start thinking about them, and not just our own interests. So perhaps this should be it. Maybe this should be our permanent home. Thoughts? How long have we been hopping from place to place now?"

He smiled softly as he leaned over to place a gentle peck on her forehead when he saw the reaction coming. "My apologies, lover. I couldn't resist. The opportunity was too good. You know me well enough by now that I'd never endanger the twins. They mean far too much to me to dare do anything without thinking of them first."

He didn't regret scaring her, it was all in good fun. But he had perhaps horrified her a bit too much for one day.

The two began to talk of nostalgia, and he chuckled slightly when she asked about it. He squeezed her hand in turn. "I guess it's... Well, I'm not exactly great at romantic talk, so I'll just say what's on my mind. It's crazy to think that all those years ago, how many has it been now? It was just around here that we met, both really just getting started as Trainers, both still trying to find their footing, doing odd jobs for a bit of money and experience. I was just coming out of that... Hell, and you were trying to find identity outside of just being part of the Izakaya, and things just... Clicked between us so easily.

I also remember we were both a bit of a handful at the time" He added with a laugh.

"It's crazy to think that we've done so much, travelled so far together in the years since. It's crazier still to think that we left this place, and when we came back... We're completely different people. Married, with the twins, and the world behind us yet still more of the world before us.

I just wanted to say... I can't think of anyone that I would have wanted to share this journey with more. I'm happy it was you. I'm happy you stuck it out with me."

FdvS1PYq

Josh couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. The flowers were in bloom, and the Cutiefly and Ribombee were out. It seemed that with the weather beginning to warm up, it was that time of year again. He just stared out at those before him, happy to take in the sights and the sounds. He had to watch his feet though, cautious as he lifted his foot to avoid stepping on a Forget-Me-Not that had almost become the casualty of his large, tall frame.

Josh held out a hand, allowing for a Cutiefly to land on it for a moment, mistaking it for a flower. Josh chuckled slightly when the small Pokemon realized it wasn't dealing with a flower, and would promptly fly away in order to look for more.

While the Braixen was rare indeed, and Josh certainly could have turned his attention to catching it if he had felt selfish... The sheer joy in seeing a shiny creature and especially one of its species coming from Orion made the decision for the veteran Trainer. As the Grimer's Pokeball disappeared, Josh turned his head to watch the display, smiling lightly when the catch finished.

"Congratulations" He spoke up as he approached once he had earned the Pokemon's trust. "Speak of the devil and they appear, I suppose. That's a rare catch indeed."

He cleared his throat as he remembered his prior question. "As for your question before... Honestly, I've been hopping regions most of my life. As for the place I was born... Ri... Rihon maybe? I'm not sure. I didn't hear the name of it very often and then my family hopped to another, and then when I was an adult I hopped to Sinnoh for my education. Since then I've hopped regions as part of my Pokemon journey, and only just recently returned to Hoenn with my parents, my wife and two children.

I don't know if we'll hop again, honestly, my kids don't seem to be taking the change as well as my wife and I have. It might be about time to settle down for good, I suppose."

He grinned cheekily. "Can't do much worse than the region I met my wife, I guess. We met not far from here actually, just on the outskirts of Lavaridge Town."

He had considered asking where he was from as a means of conversation, but it was obvious by his accent the man was from Hoenn. "Have you traveled much outside of Hoenn?" He inquired. It was there that an... Interesting creature caught his attention. "What in the...?" Josh whispered as he turned to stare at it. "Is that mine cart alive?" He asked, laughing a bit as the Carkol would ride past them... And then promptly spin out of control and hit the wall, causing Josh to wince.

He hadn't seen a Pokemon like this before, but while he wanted to catch it for himself, he knew that it likely needed help too. He walked over, and gingerly tapped the knocked over Pokemon with a Pokeball. As it went inside and began shaking, Josh tapped the watch on his wrist. A holographic interface came up, and he set up to record a message for his mother.

"Hi Mom. I'm going to be sending a Grimer and a... Pokemon I've never seen before, your way. Both are a bit battered, could you help them out for me? Thank you!" He chirped, before sending the message.

A Meowstic! Admittedly this was the first time that Josh had seen one in person. He couldn't help but stare at it a moment as the feline-like Pokemon would peter out from the grass, turning to stare at him, frozen in place when it realized there was another presence there. Josh stared at it back, but his emotions seemed easy enough for the Pokemon to read as they didn't stay frozen for long. It seemed that this one had been able to read the feeling of joy and excitement that radiated from the Trainer at its presence, to the point it seemed to somewhat trust in him.

Remembering the provisions he had brought with him in case the Safari Game ran long, Josh would take out a bit of food and offer it to the Meowstic, as if understanding it was in a state where this could make or break the trust in it... Since he couldn't battle it, he had to be creative, after all. He held out the food slowly, no sudden movements...

They were nearing the end of the road. Josh could tell quite quickly that the Hydreigon was getting close to the end of its rope. He and this stranger just needed to get in a few more hits and hopefully that would take the Pokemon down, hopefully calming it as well. He made a note to alert the police once it was down to secure it. Hopefully they would be able to ensure it was calm again before returning it to the wild. Or perhaps one of them would capture it?

Hmm, actually... Capturing it for the local police force might not be a bad idea...

But they weren't finished here just yet. The stranger had sent out a second Pokemon - a Corsola. The pain of the repeated Hyper Voice attacks began to fade from the Greninja and Swampert as the Corsola began to work its magic. That and the attacks from the Greninja opened up an opportunity for Josh as he called to his Swampert.

"HAMMER ARM!"

In a surprising feat of agility considering the size of the Swampert, Dunamus would rear back before leaping high into the air, rearing a large blue fist back before slamming it into the chest of the three-headed behemoth.

The Hydreigon toughed it out, and Josh could admit it was tough... But it had to have a limit somewhere.

She was right. The makeshift "rink" was rather crowded, wasn't it? But he was sure that with his height and size, people would steer clear enough once they saw them to make sure they were able to go on their skate date unimpeded. Not that Izumi would be much help in that regard considering most people might not even see her with hers.

His wife inquired as to who had been set to babysit the kids, and he deadpanned as he stared at her. "... I thought you had set up a babysitter" He spoke up, eyes widening in horror for a moment. But very quickly his gaze changed as he chuckled lightly. "I'm kidding, dear. Mom is on it. She offered the minute we mentioned the date. I mean, it's not like it's hard for her considering she lives with us, right?" He remarked. Lightning had also stayed behind in a rare instance, the Raichu had been busy chasing the children around when they had left.

The whole color thing went unnoticed by Josh. He'd never been educated to associate color by gender.

With mention of hot chocolate being just around the corner, it seemed they wouldn't go cold for long at least once they were done here. He would finish lacing his skates, smirking lightly when she would hurry them along. Once he was finished, he would take a moment to get his balance with the skates before hopping onto the ice. He took her hand in her and squeezed it tight as he glided across the rink, taking her with him.

"Being here in Hoenn, it takes me back" He admitted softly. "Do you remember when we met? Near Lavaridge all those years ago?"

"WOOOBUFFET!"

Wob had not been present when his Trainer had gone to Slateport, hoping to partake in the New Years festivities. Perhaps that was for the best. The innocent Wobbuffet would not have been able to understand all that had happened, but even now, the aura of sadness was still something that the Wobbuffet would be able to pick on. Everything was somber. The stench of death and destruction was prominent.

But it was less prominent than before. And for that, the Wobbuffet seemed blissfully unaware of why they were here other than that his Trainer had instructed him to help. Following the lead of the other Pokemon, Wob wobbled about until they came to a stop and began working on unearthing rubble. As the Wobbuffet was not as physically strong as the others, it focused on ensuring their safety. As rubble was being thrown around and other things that risked endangering the others, Wob had begun wandering around and watching out for these things.

Perhaps it was due to getting overezealous or careless, but some of the rubble went flying and heading straight for the Lucario that belonged to Alexei Ivanov as it headed for the back of its head. Catching it in its sights, the Wobbuffet calmly waddled over, using Mirror Coat and sending the piece harmlessly bouncing back. The Wobbuffet gave the Lucario a goofy salute. "WOOOOBUFFET!" It chirped as it returned to its wandering... And seconds later tripped over a rock.