Mick stretched a bit as he finally was released from the hospital, they still had to wait for Gleaming Gem and Widget to make full recoveries... but they would discuss that after the two of them were up and active. It was even hard for Mick to realize that it had been nearly a month and already the pokemon in Canida were being adjusted to living just as the humans had...
As it turned out, Arceus had sent Shaymin around the world to populate it with various berries that the Chansey working in the hospital were happily cultivating as local scientists began to experiment with the ways that they affected pokemon. Mick was even deep in conversation with one of the doctors as he and Richard waited for Derek's surgery to end.
"Fascinating... So this Professor Elm? he was studying into pokemon evolution and breeding before that Arceus fellow transported all of these creatures here?" The Snubbul-looking diamond dog asked as he scratched down a few notes into a journal.
"Yep! I'm even going to speak with Arceus to see if I can get his research transported here, he was part of the professor teams making breakthroughs all the time about how we came to understand pokemon."
"Amazing! By the way, I've noticed that a surprising few pokemon have been able to speak with us... how is it that you are so fluent in Canid?" He asks.
Mick shrugged. "I'm a pretty fast learner... still a few bits of the language I have to get right, for most part I can handle it." He replied with a small smile.
"I see... Yes, still a bit broken in some places but with practice I'm sure you'll be as fluent as any natural born dog."
"Thanks Doc, I gotta ask though... How did you guys get everything under control so quickly?"
"You mean with keeping the pokemon from causing disasters? That was easy, Diamond dogs always have natural predators they run into when they expand so we've developed tactics to help distract, delay or repel monsters and other threats without killing them, since more often than not they're of more use alive than dead." The dog explained as he started scratching the back of the Cyndaquil's head, causing Mick to tilt his head at an angle as he began getting enveloped in bliss. "All it was is a tiny change to our usual tactics and we were able to adapt them to keeping pokemon from destroying towns and crops as well." He let Mick sit up straight again as he gave the little mouse a curious look. "It's an incredibly uncanny thing though... many of the pokemon that have been recorded within Canida at least seem very much like regular animals of our world... so much so that it's hard to remember at times that they're as intelligent as Arceus said."
Mick shrugged a little. "I can't really fault you for that... Most pokemon had the same status as pets back in our original world anyway... if anything I'd have to say that treating them just like a citizen of the country must be a bit more shocking to them than being in a new world..."
"Oh yes, even those Chansey that are working on our staff were surprised that we hired them like we would any other citizen, They do have quite a natural talent to heal after all." He looks down at a watch on his wrist. "Your friend should be coming out of surgery any minute now... It'll be at least an hour before he wakes up though. I had better be getting back, thank you for the information as well. I hope you guys have a safe journey."
In a way, Mick was happy that Canida simply saw no need for a monetary system, since the surgery and hospital costs would have been through the roof in his world... no... the old world... this world was his world now, The thought brought a smile to his face as he got up and walked with Richard to check on Derek.
"Just think... we're going to speak with Arceus... and then go on the greatest road trip ever." He thinks to himself as he steps into the room that one of his newest friends was occupying.
Once again Mick looked around the snow-coated town on the edge of Canida and Equestria and felt an overwhelming sense of... he couldn't place the exact feeling, though it was strange nonetheless to watch as pokemon and natives of the country were mingling (for the most part) among each other as if the pokemon had been born in this region. They weren't even being treated as second class citizens! More and more he noticed how the Diamond dogs fueled their society by simply doing what they loved because they loved to do it, they were... amazingly altruistic in most senses of the word.
And it all started with the dogs' natural inclination for digging. Miners would dig up supplies, construction workers would use the stone to build homes aboveground for those who couldn't find solace underground... and in most cases they would end up with a surplus of stone, gems and fuel because the dogs would simply expand their homes by digging more. He and Emma had been invited to a few homes as they explored the city and found that the diamond dogs themselves lived in very... spartan... abodes. Every home seemed to be furnished with only what the family needed to survive, with the largest room being the pantry so that they could be well-stocked during the winter.
"...I think when all is said and done... I'd like to live here... but not aboveground..." He thought as he looked around the town, mentally sizing up different pokemon to look for as a battle challenge. With the pokemon restoration limited to the berry stock that the local Chansey had, it wasn't a smart idea to be picking fights with every pokemon that one came across.
"oh well... I'll evolve at some point..." He sighs quietly as he continues walking alongside Emma.
Emma rolled her eyes as she listened to Mick sigh again. "I'm bored..." He groaned as he lay belly-up on the bed in their rented hotel room. She had been listening to his groaning and complaining for the past hour when they found out that the injuries were going to leave Widget and Gleaming gem in the hospital for a bit longer than they had anticipated. With how nice the town was she had been expecting the little Cyndaquil to want to keep exploring it, but his desire to keep travelling was definitely becoming a hindrance at the moment.
"Then find something to keep you entertained Mick!" She replied with a slightly annoyed tone. "We're taking Gem and Widget along with us, remember?"
"Actually... They were only going to come with us to the edge of Canida since they still have a house they need to take care of... So we were going to be travelling through Equestria on our own anyway." Mick replied as he poked his paws together.
Emma was quiet for a few seconds before she calmly walked over to the little fire mouse, narrowed her eyes and shouted. "WHAT!?" Mick quickly covered his ears and rolled onto his stomach. "When were you going to tell me that we were going into Equestria with no guide?"
"Yeesh Emma... We weren't going into Equestria blind... at least... till the train hit... We had a map in my bag as well as the orange water. We just have to look for a place that's willing to part with some gems and a map of Equestria, Aside from that I've still got Vinny's swiss army spork and if the Chansey here are right we'll be able to find plenty of berries to eat along our route because of Shaymin's efforts."
She glares at him for a few more seconds before relenting. "...Fine... but we're not just going to leave the two of them here..."
"Of course not, we'll make sure they're informed when they wake up and then Richard and Derek will be accompanying us to Equestria."
"Why would those two be coming?" Emma asked as she gave him a confused look.
Mick smiled a bit. "Because Richard wanted to see if Arceus would be able to restore Derek's arm... He had to get it removed because the glass that was embedded in it risked getting him killed, but he's ready to go any time that we are." Being a pokemon was certainly beginning to show that it had some perks compared to being a human... and recovering faster was very high on the pros list.
The Quilava sighed again as she sat down against the bed. "Alright... but... we need to think about what we're going to do in order to get to Arceus. We won't be able to survive off of berries alone and I know that there's still nearly a month's journey on foot to get to Arceus."
"I know... but we'll figure that out when we get there, for now let's just enjoy the ability to travel... since we'll be free from the bonds of responsibility." He smirked.
"We have responsibilities for a reason Mick... We still have to find the rest of the team and make sure they're okay."
"Emma... You know that the only two I'm worried about are Minna and Todd, everyone else has had plenty of training so I'm confident that they're alright." Mick says as he leans over to nuzzle her cheek. "And if what my gut is telling me is right... I know one of our team members found both of them."
She simply smiles a little and nuzzles him back. "I'll go see what I can round up... Just stay here and try to keep Gwen out of trouble..."