Jett sighed as he removed the hand from his face, slightly angry that Celestia didn't even explain the basic fundamentals of the world. Taking his flask out from his overcoat, he took a swig before speaking.
"Business to attend to, my ass, she just didn't want to do explanations. Typical." He sighed. "This might take a while, do you want the short version or the long one?"
"How long is the long one?" She responded.
"Hours." Jett said simply.
"Yeah, short version."
"Alright, good. This little guy," He placed a hand on Riolu's head, "is a pokemon. More specifically, a Riolu. Pokemon are the dominant race next to humans, which is what we are. They all have innate elemental powers. My Riolu has the specific strength of the fighting element. These elemental traits work in a rock, paper, scissors style of battle where as fighting is strong to the normal type, but weak to the flying type. There are many different elemental types, ranging from normal to ghost. I can explain them as they come up. The pokemon themselves have hundreds of sub-species, probably thousands left to be discovered, each one different from the other. Then there's the strange process in which the pokemon change into a different, stronger version of themselves that we call evolution. That's still mostly a mystery that people are trying to solve. Following along so far?" Rainbow nodded and he continued.
"Now, these pokemon hold a large place in our community. People capture the pokemon in things called pokeballs." Jett took a small ball off of his belt and pressed the button, enlarging it before returning it. Rainbow opened her mouth but Jett cut her off. "I know what you're thinking, but let me explain. While we capture, and later use pokemon in battles, the whole ordeal is meant to strengthen the bond between human and pokemon. People don't believe pokemon to be lesser beings, but rather as equals, hell, there are pokemon that more or less created our entire dimension. The point is that pokemon aren't forced to do anything, everything is of their volition. We give them orders, they can choose to follow it or go against it."
"What if a pokemon doesn't want to be owned and would rather be free?" Rainbow asked.
"Well I would let 'em go, and I'm sure everyone else would too. I've only had my Riolu here, and he has been my friend for a couple years... I feel like I'm forgetting something... oh right, battles. Did I explain battles? Eh, whatever, if so, your listening again. Battles are a way of testing a trainer and his pokemon's skill. There are typical rules, go until the opposing pokemon can't battle any more, not to the death though, just unconscious. Trainers typically find battles as a way to settle some disputes, or as a challenge to become a better trainer. From what I understand, the battles in a pokemon's eye, is honor bound, like a samurai duel. They aim to sedate without lasting injuries... I think that's about everything." Jett put a hand to his chin in thought before shrugging. "Is there anything you need clarifying?"
"How do pokeballs work?" She inquired, crossing her arms.
"I have no idea. My best guess is plasma or something." Jett said standing up, Riolu hopping up his back and onto his shoulder. "If your gonna stay here, you're gonna need a Pokemon of your own. C'mon, I know a nice cave nearby that could hold a Pokemon you might like." Before Rainbow could reply, Jett was walking out of sight, and hurried to catch up.
"Hey, who said I wanted a pokemon?" She frowned, crossing her arms again.
"I did, and like I said, you're gonna need one. You'll learn fast that wild pokemon can be aggressive as fuck! The only way to defend yourself is with a pokemon." Jett pointed out, receiving a confirming cry from Riolu.
"Fine, but I get to chose which one. Ah!" She shrieked as a Kakuna husk fell from a branch above. Jett's eyes widened as he realized what that meant.
"Run!" He grabbed her arm, possibly with too much strength as she squeaked in pain, and pulled her as he ran. He heard the tell tale sound of buzzing behind him and pulled Rainbow closer before throwing her onto his unoccupied shoulder. She shrieked once more as she saw what was chasing them.
"What are those things!?" She screamed into his ear.
"Beedrills, one of the most aggressive bug types you'll meet!" He growled in response. A small explosion sounded just behind him as he got shrouded in dirt.
"What was that!?"
"I can only assume one of them used pin missle. You might want to hang on to me, it's about to get bumpy." He said, the edge of a cliff showing a few feet ahead.
"What do you mea-?" her question was devolved into a shriek as Jett jumped off the cliff, falling a short while before grabbing the branch of a tree and flipped him self to the ground. He looked back up when he felt the weight missing from his shoulder, finding Rainbow stuck in the tree. He could barely contain his laughter as she glared at him.
"Next time, tell me when you want to jump off a cliff!" She yelled, causing him to let out the laughter he was holding in. "Hey, stop laughing!" Her cheeks reddened as she tossed herself from the tree, using her wings to slow her descent. When she landed, nearly falling over, she crossed her arms and glared at him as his laughing subsided.
"Oh come on, don't look at me like that!" She continued to glare at him. "Alright, fine! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Alright?" She smirked, causing Jett to roll his eyes.
"Not that I'm complaining, but why did they stop following us?" She asked, looking back up to where they jumped off.
"They realized we were too much trouble. I'm also assuming you want to know what exactly just happened?"
"Yeah, why did that bug thing fall? And why did those... Beedrills?" Jett nodded. "Beedrills, attack us?"
"Well the 'bug thing' that fell was a Kakuna, or rather the husk of one. When a Kakuna evolves, they turn into a Beedrill leaving behind their old form like a cocoon. I can only assume their aggression is due to being in a cocoon, little more than helpless as friend and foe pass by. So when they finally evolve, they lash out at almost anyone they see. At least, that's what I believe."
"Huh, I kinda feel bad for them now... kinda." Jett chuckled at her comment.
"Come on, let's get to that cave, or if you'd rather, we can search for a pokemon out here." It only took a glance up to the cliff for Rainbow to decide.
"Cave." Jett chuckled again and started walking in the direction of the cave. Over the course of their walk, multiple pokemon passed by, from Caterpie, to Pidgey, all of them not being 'cool enough' for her. It took them a couple minutes but they eventually found themselves standing in the gaping mouth of a cave.
"Wow." Rainbow let out a whistle. "This is bigger than the cave that a big ol' dragon once slept in."
"Dragon, eh?"
"Yeah, I kicked it in the face, though that only made it angry."
"Why am I not surprised?" Jett chuckled. "Well there are no dragons in this cave. Well, maybe." Rainbow raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "C'mon, we aren't gonna catch any pokemon out here." He moved into the cave and grabbed an unlit torch from the wall. Reaching into a pocket in his overcoat, he produced his flask, pouring a little alchohol on it before producing a black lighter, a silvery flame shooting out, igniting the torch, the silvery hue withstanding.
"What's with the silver flame?" Rainbow asked, her face slightly illuminated in the silver light.
"I'm sure you received an enchanted lighter from Celestia. This isn't different, the color of the flame depends on the dragonfire used to enchant it. Mine was apparently enchanted using a dragon with silver flame." She nodded, obviously satisfied with the answer. The two, along with Riolu, entered the cave, soon the only source of light being the torch. The only pokemon they saw was zubat, all across the ceiling. They turned a corner and Jett quickly whipped out a knife, slashing the wall to their right, leaving a gash in the stone. Rainbow shrieked at the sudden action before glaring at him.
"What was that for!?" She growled.
"So that we don't get lost." Jett said, spinning the large knife before putting it back in the sheath attached to his side. "Anyone ever tell you make the most adorable shrieks?" Her cheeks flushed as she looked away.
"Shut up!" Jett chuckled as he led them further into a cave. Rainbow marveled at the stalagmites and stalactites they passed, as well as the countless minerals. She asked why they were like that but Jett only shrugged. After a short while, he suddenly stopped, causing Rainbow to bump into him.
"Hey, what's the big idea!?" Jett shushed her though as a Koffing came into view.
"What about this one?" He asked, but she shook her head saying it still wasn't cool enough. "Guess it's mine, always did consider catching a Koffing. Riolu, use Quick Attack then follow up with Feint." Riolu nodded before disappearing from his shoulder one second and kicking the Koffing the next. Rainbow gasped as Riolu followed up with Feint before the Koffing could do anything. Riolu landed a few feet away from the Koffing before he was charged by a Tackle.
"Counter!" Jett called, causing Riolu to quickly hop over the attack before kicking the Koffing back into the ground. A cloud of purple gas suddenly rose from Koffing, causing Riolu to cough uncontrollably before it got hit with a Tackle. Riolu hit the cave wall, where he fell back down to the ground on his feet.
"Quick Attack." Riolu disappeared again, attacking the Koffing from behind the next instant. Jett quickly tossed a ball at the Koffing. The pokemon turned into a digital red before getting sucked into the ball. Dropping to the ground, the ball started to shake once, twice, and a third time before finally halting. A loud ding resounded throughout the cave, emanating from the ball, before Riolu grabbed it and ran over. It hopped back onto his shoulder before dropping the ball in his awaiting palm. “Good job.” He commented, scratching Riolu behind his ears.
“That was…” Rainbow trailed off, her lips slightly opened.
“I bet you didn’t like what you saw, huh?” Rainbow nodded in response.
“I understand what you said earlier about treating pokemon as equals, but that’s kinda mean, dontcha think?” Jett thought for a moment, a thought quickly coming to mind.
“Why don’t we ask the Koffing then?” Jett tossed the pokeball in the air, where it opened, releasing a red energy that changed into Koffing. Catching the ball that flew back towards him, he placed a hand on top of the Koffing. “Hey there, buddy.”
“Koff.” He replied.
“Are you at all angry that I caught you the way I did?” The Koffing looked confused, but shook himself, simulating that of a head. “See?” Jett asked, returning his gaze back to Rainbow. “Feel better about it now?”
“Yeah, a little.” She said, nodding her head slowly.
“Well, baby steps are steps all the same. Anyways,” he returned his attention back to Koffing, “I bet me and you are going to get along just fine. Ain’t that right, buddy?”
“Koff!” He agreed.
“Awesome, but you gotta get back in the ball now.” Jett returned Koffing back to the ball and placed it back on his belt.
“Hey, I got a question.” Rainbow said.
“Shoot.”
“Why is Riolu not in a pokeball if that’s where you keep them?”
“Ah, good question. Well, it’s rather simple. He doesn’t like it, and personally, I like him being beside me. There’s a reason he’s known as the dog pokemon, a man’s best friend, and fiercely loyal. I think that’s why we get along so well.” Jett smiled.
“Rio!” He agreed, his red eyes shining in the light of the torch.
“Huh.” Was all Rainbow said as they started to walk again.
“Let’s make this easier, what would you classify as ‘cool’?” Jett asked, stepping around a stalagmite in his path.
“Your Riolu.”
“Aside from him.” He deadpanned.
“Are there any tortoise pokemon?” She asked after a moment’s thought.
“Tortoise, eh? I would have thought you’d only go for fast pokemon. If you want a tortoise though, I heard that there are a couple Torkoals deep inside the cave, could take a little bit until we find one.” Jett put a hand to his chin. “I’d say another ten minutes or so.”
“I can wait, I guess.” Rainbow walked on in silence, following Jett’s lead. They saw a couple more pokemon, Zubats, Golbats, Geodudes, and even a stray Diglett or two. After a couple minutes of walking, Jett broke the silence again.
“So why a tortoise?” He asked, looking back.
“I had a pet tortoise named Tank back home. Why I chose him is actually a funny story, but I doubt you want to hear it.” Jett could faintly see a smile graze her lips as she looked back on the memories.
“Try me.” He said with a smile of his own.
“O-okay, not as awesome as me doing a rainboom though.” She said, a faint blush on her cheeks. “Well my friend, Fluttershy, and I saw that all our friends had pets but me, so I felt a need to get one. My only problem was that the pet I wanted had to be as awesome as me. Eventually I got it into my head that if one of the animals beat me in a race, then they would be my pet.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Then, during the race, a rockslide catches me and pins one of my wings to the ground. All the animals flew past me, too eager to win than to notice me there, that’s when Tank showed up. He helped me there and as thanks, he became my pet. Even got him a magic propeller so that he could live with me in my cloud house.”
“Well I happened to find that to be pretty awesome. You chose your companion based on his actions rather than abilities. Which is much more valuable.” Rainbow smiled at the compliment.
“What about you? How did you and your Riolu meet?” Jett smiled at the memories that question brought back.
“Alright, a story for a story, seems fair enough. Well, a couple years ago, more specifically, four years ago, I still didn’t have a pokemon of my own. A fact that most people found odd as people usually get their first pokemon around the age of ten, back then I was already eighteen. Anyways, like the dumbass I am, I venture out into the unending blizzard just outside of my home town. Take a wild guess what happens. A wild pokemon, specifically one called Abomasnow, attacked me. No pokemon, no defense, I thought I was as good as dead, but this little guy came and saved my life.” Riolu hit him lightly. “Hey, it’s true! Anyways, imagine my surprise when this little guy takes out a raging Abomasnow. And to put things into perspective, Abomasnow is about one point five times larger than me.” Rainbow gave him a blank stare. “Take the height of my legs, then add that to my already existing height. Anyways, after the ordeal, Riolu led me back to town, and hasn’t left my side since.”
“I guess the little guy’s more awesome than I thought, huh?”
“Rio!”
“I guess that makes three of us.” Jett smiled again when he smelled smoke in the air. “Seems like we found us a Torkoal.” The two moved around a corner and found a Torkoal digging into a pile of coal, smoke rising from his shell. “You want to take him?”
“Huh!?” She gave him a surprised look. “How am I going to do that?”
“I’ll let you use Riolu and I’ll give you a pokeball.”
“Uh.” Was all she said as a pokeball was put in her hand. “I’m not too sure about this…”
“You’ll do fine. It’s simple, start out with a Quick Attack, then tell him to follow up with Feint. Just keep doing that and when the Torkoal tries to attack, tell Riolu to Counter. Then when you think Torkoal is weak enough, throw the pokeball at him. Just remember to press the little button on the front before you do, does not work out well if you don't do that.” Riolu readied himself as Rainbow stumbled on her words.
“Uh, use Quick Attack.” She said uncertainly and Riolu disappeared, reappearing next to the Torkoal before kicking the underside of it’s shell, sending it into a flip as it flew. Rainbow hesitated after that, allowing Torkoal to retaliate with an Ember. Riolu put it’s arms up to protect itself from the onslaught of flame that assaulted him. The force behind the flames pushed him back a foot and covered him in burns, his teeth grinding. Seeing the look of abject horror on Rainbow’s face, Jett took control of the fight.
“Riolu use Quick Attack!” Riolu nodded before attacking Torkoal. Riolu kicked the Torkoal in the head, causing it to get stunned, but Riolu had to quickly backpedaled as he nearly lost balance, and Jett could see the pain in Riolu’s eyes. “Hang in there. Use Hidden Power!” Spheres of varying color rose around Riolu as he closed his eyes, suddenly, with a push of his paws, the spheres shot at Torkoal, sending up dust in the process.
Jett quickly grabbed the pokeball from Rainbow’s hand and tossed it at the Torkoal. Torkoal was sucked into the ball with a red flash and quickly caught. Jett rushed over to Riolu, sliding the last of it as Riolu jumped into his arms.
“Here, I got just the thing.” Jett reached into one of his pockets, producing a potion designed to heal burns. “This’ll sting a bit.” Riolu nodded before, Jett sprayed the medicine onto the burns, lightly rubbing it in for maximum effect. “There, feeling better?” Riolu nodded in response as Jett put him back on his shoulder. He then sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose as he picked up the pokeball on the ground. Rainbow was still where she was, crouched down, arms around her legs. “You okay?” Rainbow shook her head. “Are you gonna stay there?” She nodded. “Not gonna happen.” Jett grabbed her and shouldered her once more. Getting a foot under the torch he left, he launched it into the air where he caught it with his free hand, surprisingly, the fire was still active.
The trek back through the cave took almost another half hour, but he couldn’t be sure as it was dark by the time they got out. He sat Rainbow down by the entrance of the cave, telling Riolu to stay with her until he returned with fire wood. It only took about ten minutes before he had a fire started, he even lugged over a large log to sit on.
“C’mon.” Jett patted the seat next to him, but Rainbow only looked at him. “I’m not mad, if that’s what you're thinking, and even if I was, talking always helps. Even if you won’t say anything, I will.” Hesitantly, she moved closer and sat on the log, her eyes, never leaving her feet. “Hey, look at me.” When she did, Jett gave her a comforting smile. “It’s not your fault things went down that way. I know you come from a land of peace, where most things are sentient and often make friends with you, and even when attacked by a predator it is against your nature to fight. So I understand that this was hard for you, and I’m sorry I didn’t see that you were uncomfortable with it from the start.” Rainbow looked down again. “Hey,” Jett put a finger under her chin and raised it to himself, “don’t frown, I like you better with a smile.” The blush that filled her cheeks made Jett smile, and earned the smallest of smiles from Rainbow. “See? That’s much better.” Jett turned back to the fire, unaware of Rainbow’s lingering gaze.