They pass time in the safety of the tent. No one bothers them. No one questions the girl. As far as they are concerned, she’s helping, so they’re willing to overlook anything deeper than that. Navy knows a fight is coming. He’s handed off his Pokemon to get seen after by one of the many nurses manning an impromptu Pokemon Center.[break][break]

They have time. Eris has been quiet this whole time. Keeping to herself. He’s known her for all of two days, all told. They nearly got killed on top of a car together. That makes them acquaintances. Maybe even siblings in arms. But they’re not friends.[break][break]

Yet still, there’s someone in pain there. A girl, and a kid. And someone Navy wishes he could help. He doesn’t know what to say to her. Maybe nothing he says will matter. Maybe he’ll isolate her further. But, all he knows is…he has to try. He doesn’t want this silence to keep going.[break][break]

“Hey, Eris.” Navy’s voice is slow. Considerate. Like he’s trying to consider what he says with utmost care. “You seemed scared back there. I don’t know what you’ve been through. I don’t know your life story. I doubt you wanna just tell it to me but…I just want you to know, it’s alright to be scared. And if you don’t wanna go back out there with me, it’s alright. I won’t hold it against you.”[break][break]

It's said, and he hopes something in there gets through to her.



[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She’s right. More people are going to get hurt if they don’t help. There’s a whole world of problems out there. There aren’t enough trainers to help. The officers are spread thin. The rangers are spread thin. Even the Rockets, the ones that actually care about Hoenn and want to help it, are spread thin. There’s not enough help to go around. The people here can’t afford to turn down two trainers that actually know what they’re doing.[break][break]
“You’re right.” He admits to her. “Without us, people are gonna get hurt. It’s crazy. You’re so young, but you’re already a great battler. Probably better than me, despite how crazy some of these guys I’ve raised are.” He’s not too proud to admit that. He’s going to have to overcome everyone on his path to the top eventually, but for now…[break][break]
For now, he lets her have that consolation. Whether she wants it or not. He’s bad at lying.[break][break]
“I’m not gonna turn you away. But I promise I’m gonna try and keep you safe. You don’t need me to do that, but I’m gonna do it anyway. I had a little brother, once. It’s…it’s really hard for me to not wanna help out people who remind me of him. So, pinkie promise, I’ve got your back.” He kneels by her and holds up a pinkie. Just like he used to do with Gabe.


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Their fates, or at least the health of their pinkies, are now bound inexorably together. Were an outsider to observe them, it looks a wholly absurd premise from all sides. A grown man making a pinkie promise to this girl with the severity of a matter of state. Her, just a solemn, half caught in her own world, eventually coming around to at least agree to see this through with them. Navy stands up, crosses his arms, and looks solemn. There’s nothing more to be said between them, here and now.[break][break]
A whistle interrupts the moment. A patronizing, cocky sound. Arrogant, like the snippet he saw gives this stranger some amusement. In walks a ranger in a wide-brimmed Unovan cowboy hat. Across his shoulders is a red scarf. Electric blue eyes look from detective and girl, then back again.[break][break]
“Well awright. Navidson, l’il lady. Looks like you two’re up. Got a big mission. Analysis shows whatever’s drivin’ the bees crazy’s comin’ from a big hive deep in the forest. Rangers’re gonna launch an offensive t’keep the area under control. You two gotta break in, try n’ scout the hive. See whatcha can find.”[break][break]
The stranger briefs them, crossing his arms and looking them over once again. Whether or not he likes what he sees (or knows who Eris is), none can say. If he does, he’s certainly not saying anything. In times like these, Hoenn needs all the help it can get. This minor crisis could spill out onto the town if not controlled.[break][break]
“So, any questions, or are you two ready t’go? Everybody in on the operation’s mountin’ up.”[break][break]
“I’m good.” Says Navy, who also looks at Eris. “Ready when you are, Leading Lady”


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Navy looks down at her with a nod and a wink. She’s got a good mind on her. That was his thought, too. These Ranger bastards are so gung-ho to jump on the frontlines and play hero, let them. They’ll swoop in after the bees are engaged. Less work for them, more work for the rangers, same paycheck at the end of the day.[break][break]
“The real trick, if you ask me, is letting the run on ahead. We’ll be right behind ‘em. Let the Rangers do the heavy lifting.” Navy tosses out Lizzy. His Cyclizar looks at him excitedly, wagging her tail and letting him on. Both Navy and Lizzy look to Eris, wondering whether she’ll hop on or stick to Reiner.[break][break]
Either way, the rangers blow a whistle. It sounds the attack. Several of them move out. Navy’s sitting there, waiting. Letting them engage. And then…[break][break]
Once more into the breach. Revving the clutch attached to Lizzy, he urges her to speed off. Galloping until her wheels again momentum, Lizzy launches herself through the woods. The buzzing is there again, but no bees, whether Combee or Beedrill make themselves known. The rangers are doing their parts.[break][break]
Up ahead is the hive, thus far undefended. It’s time for them to do theirs.


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

That’s hell he’s riding into. No other way to describe the inside of a hive full of angry bees. Navy muses that Voyager could simply burn the whole place down, spare them all the problem. Beedrills and their ilk are pests anyway. After consideration, he dismisses the thought. That would hurt the ecosystem. It might spark a fire that would spread to the nearby town or cause massive environmental damage. It also doesn’t remotely solve the crisis. Something’s got them agitated. If they don’t discover what’s riling them up, it’ll just spread to the other hive.[break][break]
“Alright, Leading Lady.” He gives her a thumbs up. Cassius, his Machamp, taught him that. No matter how dark the day, Cassius smiles and gives four thumbs up. With a goofball like that around, it’s hard to have low spirits. Navy strives to follow his example.[break][break]
“Let’s give these rangers something to bee-lieve in.” It’s a terrible pun. Lizzy audibly sighs before rolling towards the hive. Her speed is near unparalleled. This is what Lizzy is made for, being ridden into battle like a steed of old. It’s not quite as dashing an image as riding in atop a Rapidash, but it doesn’t need to be. It is every boy’s dream, even if most won’t admit it, to ride a dragon.[break][break]
Their brains get them to the hive entrance unmolested. It is a massive structure, winding down underground like an anthill. Navy doesn’t know how far it goes. Inside, rangers are doing battle with many of the Beedrill. Kakuna are hanging from the walls and ceilings. Their eyes look down, judging them all. They are annoyed, hateful looking little creatures.[break][break]
Their road down is a long, winding, spiral path. A beedrill buzzes into their path. Lizzy screeches and lunges forward. The white dragon delivers a dragon rush before skidding past the Beedrill, sending it slamming unconscious into the wall of the hive.


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Much as I appreciate the distraction our ranger buddies are causing, it was bound to happen eventually.” Navy hates making that admission. They’re in the heart of enemy territory. While the vast majority of the soldiers are outside fighting this war for their queen, inevitably some will notice them as the bees rush to the frontlines. Combees buzz about, singing their merry songs. It seems, within this particular hive’s ecosystem, they’re the workers. Even the fighting outside doesn’t sway them from their routine.[break][break]

So long as they stay a certain distance away, the swarms of combees don’t seem to mind them. Wanting to test this theory out, Navy pulls an apple he swiped from the rangers out of his pocket. Aiming it near one of the small swarms, he tosses it. Before the apple so much as hits the ground, the combees swarm around it, piercing the apple through.[break][break]

More are attracted to this errant apple, not turning to face the people descending into the dark swarm of this wax hive. How much deeper can this go?[break][break]

“Look out!” Navy says, looking up as a Beedrill threatens to descend upon them. He’s caught by surprise, unsure whether the bee is about to dive on him or the leading lady.


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Eris,” Navy says as he sees the fear in her eyes, “Eris!” The great detective hold up one single pinkie in a show of solidarity. A wordless reminder that he’s got her back, come what may. As the powerful attack subsides, he pulls Lizzy closer to Reiner. The two are practically side by side as they reach the bottom. On the other side of a large door sealed by strong wax is something pulsating with red energy.[break][break]
It scares him. Navy imagines it scares Eris, too. They’ve come this far, they’ve broken into the heart of the hive. Now, they have to face the music. A whole swarm of beedrills descends upon them. A dozen of them at least. Any eagle-eyed man worth his salt can tell a few crucial facts concerning certain creatures at a glance. None of these Beedrill are exceptional. There is no such thing as a factory made or mass produced Pokemon, but these come close. There is no power in any individual. None have been trained under the keen eye of a trainer.[break][break]
They’re just soldiers acting on instinct. Navy supposes, in that regard, he’s not so different from them. It’s time to get a little clever.[break][break]
“They’re not gonna get us, Eris.” Navy promises her. “Trust me, I got a plan.”[break][break]
Hattori is launched from his pokeball again. Smoke spills out of his mouth, pointed upwards. Lots and lots of smoke, naturally produced by the creature. If Eris knows anything about beekeeping, she might just know where this is going…

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]