8
I didn't want Tammy to feel like the "middle child" of the team, especially with Jerry acting like he'd just been knighted by the Galar Queen.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a small, velvet box I'd picked up back in Littleroot. "And for the lady of the group," I said, clicking it open. Inside was a sleek, black leather collar inset with a shimmering Opal. It wasn't just a fashion statement; it had a hidden compartment for held items.
Tammy's eyes went wide, the pupils expanding until her eyes were almost entirely black. "Yo... for real? You got the 'drip' for me?" She let me fasten it around her neck, then spent five minutes admiring her reflection in Jerry's silk scarf. "Check it! I look like I own the whole block now. Thanks, Boss. I won't scratch your eyes out while you sleep tonight."
"High praise," I muttered.
Meanwhile, Kage took the Focus Sash—a long, crimson ribbon—and instead of tying it around his waist, he wrapped it firmly around his forehead. He let the ends trail behind him like a headband. With the ironwood stick tucked into his belt and the red sash fluttering, he looked less like a starter Pokémon and more like a Ronin seeking vengeance.
[Chat Log]
NinjaFan_X: THE DRIP IS REAL. KAGE IS A SHINOBI!
IceCreamQueen_C: The sash looks perfect on him. Good luck, Jake.
SilentRed: [GIF: Naruto run]
The Absol's Warning
We hadn't even cleared the woods toward Petalburg when the temperature plummeted again. The Zigzagoon in the bushes went dead silent.
"Something's wrong," May said, her hand dropping to her belt, her 'dumbass' persona vanishing as her battle instincts took over.
The Absol from last night didn't just appear this time; it jumped from a ledge, landing gracefully in the center of the path. It let out a low, vibrating growl, its horn glowing with a dark, pulsating energy.
"Zzzzt! Lens is rolling! Viewership is spiking! 50k and climbing!"
The Absol wasn't looking at us. It was looking at the ground beneath our feet. Suddenly, the earth heaved.
"Look out!" I shouted, grabbing May and pulling her back just as a massive Aggron burst from the soil, roaring. Its eyes were bloodshot—it was in a blind rage, likely disturbed by some local construction or a Team Aqua scout nearby.
"Kage! Tanto! Jerry, use the scarf's momentum for a Quick Attack! Tammy, distract it with the Opal's glare!"
[Chat Log]
DragonTamer_Lance: An Aggron?! This is too high-level for a Route 101 encounter!
Clone_02: Observe the Absol. It isn't attacking the humans; it's providing vanguard support.
Kage didn't hesitate. He drew his ironwood stick, the Solar Tanto edge igniting with a fierce, white-hot glow. He leaped onto the Aggron's metal shoulder, his Focus Sash trailing behind him like a streak of blood.
"CHREEE!" He slammed the glowing blade into the joint of the Aggron's armor. Sparks flew like fireworks.
"My turn, darling!" Jerry squeaked, his new Silk Scarf glowing with Normal-type energy. He moved so fast he was nothing but a white-and-purple blur, slamming into the Aggron's knees to throw off its balance.
"Eat sand, chrome-dome!" Tammy hissed, tilting her head so the morning sun caught the Opal on her collar. The flash was blinding, a prismatic explosion of light that made the Aggron flinch and roar in confusion.
The Absol seized the moment. It launched a Night Slash, a crescent of dark energy that knocked the heavy steel-type back into the trench it had dug. The Aggron, realizing it was outnumbered by a ninja, a posh mouse, a ghetto cat, and a literal disaster omen, decided it wasn't worth the headache and burrowed back into the depths.
The Aftermath
Silence returned to the woods. The Absol turned to us. It locked eyes with me for a long moment. It didn't join the team—not yet—but it gave a slow, deliberate nod toward Kage, acknowledging a fellow warrior. Then, with a flicker of its tail, it vanished into the brush.
"Did... did we just win?" May asked, blinking. She looked at me, then at the camera, then back at me. "Jake! You actually gave orders! You didn't even trip over a root once!"
"I was too busy being terrified to trip," I admitted, my heart hammered against my ribs.
[Chat Log]
IceCreamQueen_C: Magnificent coordination. You're learning, Jake.
PervySage: CLIP IT! 'The Ninja of Littleroot'!
SilentRed: [GIF: Clapping]
"Alright, Chat," I said, leaning into the camera, trying to stop my hands from shaking. "That was... a lot. We're heading to Petalburg now. I need a drink, a nap, and to find out why high-level Steel types are popping up in the starter zones. Stay tuned."