The show must go on!

Miles walked into the Pokémon Center, the place bustling as usual. It was already getting late out, Viridian forest not being an easy or short path to traverse. Miles was lucky to have gotten out of there within the day, taking most travelers multiple days to a week to make it through. As he inquired about the Caterpie, Nurse Joy took it into her arms.

"Oh? Is that your Pokémon too?" she inquired, looking over  Miles's shoulder to the door. Just outside the glass double doors, Butterfree could be seen fluttering about wildly. It seemed she couldn't quite figure out the door, since they were pressure activated. "Can someone please let her in?" the nurse asked sweetly, someone near the door stepping on the pressure mat to activate the automatic doors.

"Fweee! Fweeee!" the Butterfree called out, tears in her eyes as she flew up to Miles at the counter. It seemed she had been trying to catch up for a while now, and was looking pretty scuffed up. The Caterpie chirruped a bit, looking up from Nurse Joy's arms.

"Oh? It seems this Butterfree feels some sort of connection to Caterpie..." Joy said, Caterpie wiggling out of her arms. It wiggled across the counter, rocking happily back and forth as Butterfree fluttered. "It seems they're kindred souls!" Joy said, clasping her hands together in amazement. "I bet this Butterfree's maternal instincts kicked in, and she wanted to take care of Caterpie!"

While Joy went on excitedly about her own theories behind Caterpie and Butterfree, a Chansey came around with a tray. There were six slots in it for pokéballs, allowing Miles to place the capsules of his tired team on it. Chansey chimed her name, taking the tray into the back room to heal them as the Nurse gushed.

"Isn't that right, Butterfree? You want to take care of Caterpie, right?" she asked, cheeks blushing as she made up some fanciful story in her head. Butterfree chirruped her name happily, nuzzling the Caterpie, glad he was safe. "I think these two will be perfectly alright. I'll make sure they're taken back to Viridian Forest safely."

Tsuki hurried to the Pokemon Center.The door opened as he approached. Tsuki scribbled a note to Nurse Joy.

"Can you heal my Pokemon please?"

Tsuki reached into his jacket and pulled out 3 Pokeballs and set them on the counter before helping Shirai unwrap herself from around his waist and set her on the counter as well.

Tsuki finally turned around and saw Miles.

"Hi Miles! Glad to see you are alright!" Tsuki wrote.

Miles had already retrieved his pokemon from the Chansey in the back. Now all he could do is await Tsuki's arrival. Miles had only been at the pokecenter around a hour before he began to worry about his companion. What if the fire had wrapped around and  and got him? Miles shook these thoughts from his head and continued to stare down the clock. The time seemed to be going backwards at time, as the sun began to fade.  Miles sat on the couch closest to the automatic doors. The couch had the best view of the clock, as well as being able to hear the door.

The sunset cast orange and purple hues onto the cobblestone walkway of Pewter City. Miles had actually fallen asleep, his Charmander Rosto was snuggled in between Miles and the couch. His tail popped out to face away from his trainer so not to burn him. As soon as the door opened, Rosto popped his eyes open and glanced seeing a familiar face.

"Char~!" it spoke as Miles stretched his arms and opened his eyes as well. "

"Hey Tsuki, glad to know you got out of there alright..."Miles noted before quickly changing the subject. "I see you have new pokeball on you! Good job!" Miles exclaimed, the sun  now fully down.

"Yep!" Tsuki wrote.

"So Do you want to challenge the Gym first, or do you want me too?"

Tsuki allowed Miles to ponder that while Tsuki made use of the showers in the Pokemon Center. Tsuki returned a half hour later no longer smelling of smoke and sweat holding a large cup of hot tea with honey.

After taking a sip, Tsuki spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Is the Caterpie and Butterfree ok?"

"That's awesome!" Tsuki said at the mention of the Butterfree and Caterpie being reunited.

"You go do that, I'll be here. I'd like to wait for my Pokemon, and Sissy." Tsuki said his expression falling into a worrisome frown.

Tsuki really was worried about not only his sister but all Pokemon. Even if they were his opponent's Pokemon. Mitsuki sat back on the sofa as Miles and Rosto left. Eventually, he asked Nurse Joy if he could receive his Pokemon as she got through healing them and immediately received his Scyther. Using his notebook Tsuki started writing out a battle plan. Feeling he needed a second opinion he called out Scyther.

"Hi Scyther, I'm need a second opinion on this battle strategy." Tsuki quietly read through his plan after giving Scyther a cookie.

Scyther would play charades with Tsuki if the insect-type thought one area could be changed. Nurse Joy called Tsuki over and handed him another Pokeball, it was Litwik's.

"Litwik, I choose you!" Tsuki said tossing the ball up in the air.

"Lit?" the ghostly candle said.

"Hi Litwik, I'm Mitsuki Barkhorn. I hope we can be friends." Tsuki said reaching out to touch the candle.

Litwik allowed Tsuki to get close before turning the heat up mildly burning Tsuki's hand and running to his coat and devouring the cookies Tsuki kept there. Tsuki recalled Litwik and ask the Pokemon Nurse if she could look at his hand.

The man seemed like a pretty traditional fisherman in his own respects. He adjusted the old cap atop his head, decorated like a pokeball with lures dangling from the brim. He had on a utility vest, pockets everywhere to make sure his line was always ready. The bobber floated just offshore, glistening in the pale moonlight as the man waited with utmost patience. He was clearly an older man, probably well into his thirties or forties based on features. Somewhat heavier set, though not obese it was to be expected with the more lax sport lifestyle.

When Miles approached, the fisherman tilted his head up slightly. He had on a soft smile, hardly afraid of Miles though he tried to sound stern. "Ah, so this is your owner, eh?" He asked, addressing the Charmander, Rosto first. With a slight grunt, he leaned forward onto his feet to stand from the upturned bucket he'd been using as a seat. Turning to face Miles, he sized him up for a moment and chuckled. "Yeah, I can see the resemblance, alright," he said, giving Rosto another scratch on his scales before sending him over to Miles's side.

"You must be a new trainer," the fisherman stated, nodding to Miles's collection of pokeballs at his arsenal. "Tell me, do you know about fishing?" As he asked, he turned back to grab his pole, facing the water as he continued. "It's a great past-time, calming, relaxing...exciting," he droned on somewhat cheerfully, reeling the line in. As the hook and lure lifted from the water, he again turned to face Miles with a smile. He thrust the pole out toward the boy suggestively. "Go on, give it a shot. There are some Pokémon you can only catch by fishing, you know? Consider it payment for your Pokémon's company," he said with a smile, handing the rod over.

The fisherman hummed in amusement as Miles took the rod enthusiastically. He had at least been fishing once or twice before, based on his ease with the cast. The handle whirred as the line was sent out into the lake with a light *sploosh* as the bobber and weight hit. Miles probably wasn't prepared for the wait to follow, but fishing was a test of patience. Fortunately, it wasn't too long this time before he got a bite!

The Pokémon at the other end fought menacingly, the Fisherman coaching when to let some slack on the line to prevent it from snapping. It was no walk in the park as the enormous creature managed to pull Miles up from his seat, Rosto and the Fisherman holding onto the lean boy for added weight. With the final tug, the Pokémon broke the surface of the water, sending a rush of it down onto Miles and the others like a torrent of rain. Rosto even had to quickly duck away, keeping his tail safe from being doused.

The Fisherman's eyes widened, mouth opening slightly as his gaze followed the silhouette flying through the air. With a quick jolt, he pulled Miles back out of the way as the massive shellfish landed. Its mineral spines spread from its outer body, eyes glaring menacingly from within the crack of its shell. "It's a Cloyster!" The Fisherman exclaimed, taking a few steps back to give Miles his space. The Pokémon was clearly not happy about the situation, being lured in by the bait. It looked ready to clamp Miles!

Cloyster, M Lv12

Cloyster eyed the tiny bird that had been summoned to the field. A menacing grin could be seen from the dark innards. The massive shellfish was nearly five times Pidgey's size! However, it seemed that neither Miles nor the Pidgey were prepared to wait to attack. The bird took off into flight, whipping up a gusty breeze. The tornado like storm was sent rushing toward Cloyster, who wasn't about to be taken so easily.

Closing his shell, he Withdrew inside it to raise his defense. The wind lashed at his shell viciously, but barely made a scratch! Opening back up, Cloyster seemed more than prepared to return the favor. Opening his shell further, a froth of bubbling water seemed to surface from deep within. In a powerful burst, a heavy flow of water shot toward the bird like a cannon! It was Cloyster's Hydro Pump attack!

As the Pidgey dove, Cloyster was quick to think up a course of action. Being the creative being it was, it quickly knew what to do, waiting for the opportune moment. He left himself wide open, exposed to the attack as he timed the inevitable impact from the bird. Just before Pidgey's beak found its way between his shells to the soft innards, Cloyster began to close his shell to pinch the bird and trap him! With the bird incapacitated, now was his moment to strike! He smirked menacingly at Pidgey, a blue glow beginning to form as the air abour him became cold. In a blast of gorgeous hues of blues and greens, Cloyster shot an Aurora Beam point blank at Pidgey! A super effective move, even!

"Boy!" The Fisherman called out, digging in one of his many tackle pockets for something. "Catch!" he again called, tossing a strange blue ball to him. It had a geometric red design on it, along with three parallel yellow lines within the red. "That's a Lure Ball! It has a better chance of catching Pokemon you hook on the rod!" It was very likely Pidgey wouldn't be able to take the hit, or at least not much more afterward, let alone weaken Cloyster further. This could be Miles's chance!