Doug sat in a boat, which rocked up and down with the water, with little control of motion. A perfect breeding ground of seasickness, especially for one who couldn't even look around to settle his body down.

So Hideo hadn't sat in the boat. He was still close by - this was time he could spend with Doug - just on top of his Dragapult. The massive dragon gently floated above the water, her tail moving from side to side as if to propel her.

Hideo had found himself without much to do. With his run of the gym circuit on hold, he was stuck trying to make sense of all the chaos around him. Even at the forefront of it all, he could barely put together what to do, and the crushing feeling it brought was burning him out.

Would catching more Pokemon now make him feel any better? Apart from that strange Alakazam he'd found in one of his Pokeballs one day, he hadn't caught anything in a while. This could actually be the key to get him out of his current funk.

He jumped at Doug's offer to go out and catch Pokemon - also because the two finally had a lot more free time to spend together. And who knew how much time they'd have left to enjoy things?

John Sullivan

FIRST

Let's get rich, Hideo Kino!

Chillaxed as he was, Doug barely reacted when one of the many fishing rods set on the boat began to move, its line clearly being tugged at from underneath the water.

As he had sung before, he was doin' NOTHING and no one was gonna force him to, much less a goddamn fish. That's what he brought pokemon for! Besides him, an equally splayed out Cobra Jr. very casually grabbed the trembling fishing line, and gave it a yank, hauling a Relicanth right out of the water in the process.

---

Capturing Relicanth!

While Doug found a catch in the water, Hideo found a visitor from the air.

A Pelipper had mistaken the Dragapult for a seat that anyone could use, perching itself on one of her legs. She was less than amused by the visitor, especially with it sitting so close to Hideo.

The Pelipper found itself catching a pair of Dragon Darts to the face. The Dragapult did at least make sure her Dreepy dragged the Pelipper closer to Hideo, so that boy had an easier time tapping a Pokeball against it.

Catching the Pelipper

John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD CROCONAW APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] TORRENT
[attr="class","wildtabox"]ICE FANG	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SCARY FACE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]WATER GUN	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]HYDRO PUMP
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Hideo Kino John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD ZUBAT APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] INFILTRATOR
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MEAN LOOK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ASTONISH
[attr="class","wildtabox"]AIR CUTTER	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]BITE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]WHIRLWIND	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Hideo Kino John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

BOTH OF YOUR CAPTURE ATTEMPTS ARE SUCCESSFUL!

FIRST

Let's get rich, Hideo Kino!

Only the gods knew why in the world a Zubat would be out in the sea-

Oh wait.

Doug lazily looked about, noting they had drifted near enough an island to see it over the horizon; he thought he could see a cavern in the distance.

Trippy.

"Duuude, we've not been paying attention at all." The youth said with a laugh as he reached over to grab a pokeball, casually rubbing the napping Cobra Jr.'s scalp before rising up into a sitting position.

He whistled sharply at the Zubat, making it stop in its tracks as it came near- before it got bonked across the face with a pokeball, falling onto the water briefly before resurfacing.

The pokeball floated on the sea shortly before the youth plucked it off the water.

"I freakin' knew my throwin' was flawless." The kantonian grumbled. "Dunk tank balls must've been weighted."

---

Capturing Zubat!

Hideo’s Dragapult followed along the river, despite floating a few inches above the water. She was mostly just keeping pace with Doug’s boat.

“Not like I know where we’re going,” Hideo said, a small snort escaping from him, “I’m not much of a navigator myself. Don’t think it’ll be that hard to find our way back at least.” All they had to do was go back the way they came, right? And he could just have his Dragapult fly towards civilization if need be.

“Yeah, my aim was kind of crap there too. Most of my shots missed.” And most of his hits didn't keep him on the throne for long. Still didn’t stop him from netting a good number of crowns. “I got better luck with Pokeballs, at least.”

Another Pokemon popped up, this time from the water. Hideo could hear it, but didn’t have a clear shot - not until his Dragapult’s Dreepy came out to irritate it, drawing it out enough for Hideo to get a shot - and loudly enough that Hideo knew exactly where to toss the ball.

“...wish I could feel better about aimless wandering. Feels like that’s all I’m doing nowadays.”

Catching the Crockonaw

John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD DODUO APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] TANGLED FEET
[attr="class","wildtabox"]TRI ATTACK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]PLUCK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]PURSUIT	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]QUICK ATTACK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]QUICK ATTACK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Hideo Kino John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD SWABLU APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] CLOUD NINE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]TAKE DOWN	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]PECK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MIRROR MOVE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]PERISH SONG
[attr="class","wildtabox"]DRAGON RUSH	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]Hideo Kino John Sullivan

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

BOTH OF YOUR CAPTURE ATTEMPTS ARE SUCCESSFUL!

FIRST

Let's get rich, Hideo Kino!

"Pffft, please. Aimless wandering is what trainer's do, Hideo." He said with a laugh as his boat slowly drew near to a piece of land; the mouth of a cave was there, inviting the two youths inside. "Yer waiting 'till yer turn arrives for a gym battle, ain'cha? Have ya tried the battle tents in the meanwhile?"

He stood up, popping his head from side to side before hopping off the boat with a rope in hand, whistling to Junior to get off as well.

The Machop followed soon after, helping the youth moor the small boat to the make shift pier by creating some stone to tie it up to. They had fished for enough water-type pokemon, Doug thought. It was time to move on to other quarry!

"Battle tents can be pretty hardcore, ya know?" He pointed out with a grin. "It's in the name, ain't it? It's a place which only battle maniacs frequent. If ya want a place to train yerself up for challenging the Elite 4... well, they're probably better than most gyms."

---

Pass!

Hideo smirked. “True ‘nuff,” he said, the now-filled Pokeball plopped in his hand by a Dreepy. “Maybe it’s just with everything going on, it’s kinda hard to know what to do next. Or when the next region-threatening thing’ll pop up.”

As for the Gym mention, that earned a tired sigh from Hideo. “Guess you can say I’m taking a bit of a break right now. Spending time with my Pokemon, my friends. Not really as much battling as I used to, so I ain’t really doing any Battle Tents either.” Who knew when he’d need them to be in tip-top shape at a moment’s notice?

Who knew when some monster would appear and take them away from him.

Though before his thoughts could dwell further on his past nightmares, he felt one of his Dragapult’s hands poke him on the face; he’d only just realized his Pokemon wasn’t moving anymore, and that the sound of water was slightly further away than usual. “‘Sides, there’s plenty to do other than battle,” he said, his Dragapult aiding him in his dismount before turning rightside-up.

“Like catch more Pokemon~” He could hear the flapping wings of an approaching Pokemon, and his Dragapult was already on the offensive, pulling a sudden U-turn and smacking the Swablu down near Hideo. The Swablu may have been a Pokemon, but its impact made more than enough noise for the boy to pinpoint it - and toss.

Catching the Swablu

John Sullivan

FIRST

Let's get rich, Hideo Kino!

"True enough. I think it's easier to just not worry 'bout it." He said simply. He reached out to ruffle the other's hair, grinning. "It's fine to take a break; ya ain't on a timer or anythin'! Gotta have some fun to go along with it or you'll burn it."

He sure as hell had on a couple of ocassions. Glancing over his shoulder at Junior, Doug snorted as he saw the Machop attempt to catch a water-type with his bare hands.

"Don't fall behind, Junior! We're done with water-types today!" He called out, prompting a pout from the Machop. "Don't worry, it's about time for lunch!"

Turning back to watch Hideo nail a Swablu across the face.

"... [Jesus christ equivalent], mate." Laughed Doug. "Are you sure ya ain't an avatar already, Daredevil?"

Joining together, the two friends marched into the awaiting caverns...