A New World, a New Way: Against the Book

by Speven Dillberg

Heated Encounter

Heated Encounter

Jenny stretched out as she woke up the next morning. She couldn’t help but laugh at Scorch, laying on his back and murmuring something. Deciding to let the sleeping Growlithe lie, she stepped out of the room and saw Remedy stumble towards the dining room.

“Stupid school…”

Ah. Jenny remembered what that was like. At first it had been so exciting and fun. Then, as the years went by, bullying and nepotism and ignorant or incompetent authority figures had almost destroyed her enthusiasm. It was only after a demonstration at her high school of a police Arcanine taking down a ‘criminal’ where she found what she wanted to do in life.

“Remedy, stop complaining. You can’t lay about the house all day,” Nightingale replied.

“But the puppies get to!”

“Because they don’t have to worry about school. I’ll feed you in a moment,” the older pony said, glancing down at Jenny. She just plopped her rear on the ground and waited patiently.

Jenny watched as a bowl was filled with what she realised was kibble, like she used to feed Scorch. And that the bowl was the one she had left bite marks in. She sighed a little, knowing that this bowl was going to be hers forever now. She was honestly a little surprised Remedy hadn’t written her name on the side, though.

“Can we take Jenny with us today?”

The Growlithe looked up from her bowl, bits of food stuck to her face. Was that a good idea? “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Nightingale asked. “The last time she left the house Scorch came back with a broken leg.”

Jenny scowled as she returned to her meal. That’s not like it was her fault. Scorch had simply led the way, she had followed, and that Aggron had simply gotten a bit over-enthusiastic. It had been an accident, short and simple.

“But if you’re with us it’ll be fine!” Remedy argued, sounding a lot more articulate than she had a few minutes ago.

“You should ask Jenny. It’s up to her.”

Jenny almost fell over when Remedy appeared right in front of her face. “Do you wanna?”

As politely as possible she used a paw to push the filly away. It was too early to be that eager about anything. Then Jenny noticed that she was tearing up. Making a big show of it, she rolled her eyes and slowly nodded, as if she was reluctant. Going back for another bite was a mistake, because the moment she did Remedy reached down and hugged her. “Remedy!” Nightingale yelled. “Let her go!”

Jenny began coughing up bits of kibble that had gone down the wrong tube. “Must not eat around the kid,” she muttered.

“What have I told you about being careful around dogs?” the older pony scolded.

“But she’s not a dog! She’s a Pokemon!” Remedy argued back.

“She looks like a dog and acts a bit like a dog. I don’t want you getting bitten.”

“It’s not like she’d bite me,” the filly retorted.

“But you don’t know that. Now, apologise to her,” Nightingale said, pointing at Jenny.

“Why am I getting dragged into this?” Jenny asked loudly. “All she did was hug me. I nearly choked, but I wouldn’t bite her.”

“Sorry Jenny,” Remedy droned in the way children do when forced to apologise. Jenny just smiled and patted her on the head. “This isn’t right,” the filly noted, her voice going a bit dark. “You’re not meant to be petting me.”

“I’m going to have to carry my camera all the time around you, aren’t I?” Nightingale asked. “It’s like everything you do needs to be documented.”

“Please don’t.” Jenny scowled at the older mare before turning back to her food.

She ate sedately, not wanting to make a show of it like that first day, before getting tapped on the shoulder. She looked up to see Nightingale looking down at her, with Remedy nowhere to be seen. “I’m sorry about my daughter. She doesn’t mean any harm, she’s just a bit too enthusiastic,” she said apologetically. “And half the reason she wants you to come with her this morning is to show off. You don’t mind, do you?”

Jenny thought about it for a bit. As much as she didn’t want to be treated like the prize Glameow at a Pokemon show, she also wanted to get out the house for a bit. She wasn’t sure if it was just because she hadn’t for a while or if it was a new Growlithe instinct though.

She decided that it could be worse, and this way she could see what the city was actually like. The last two times she had either been too busy following Scorch or carrying him to look around.

Remedy reappeared, a small set of bags draped over her back and resting on her haunches. “What did she say?”

“She said yes,” the filly immediately began cheering, “but if you misbehave, then she won’t come again. Okay?”

“I’ll be good, I promise!” Jenny and Nightingale watched as she happily bounced out the door. They both shook their heads at the display and followed her, the mare locking the door behind them.

Moments later, Scorch stumbled out into the kitchen, his plastered leg clacking along the floor. “What’s with all the yelling?” he asked sleepily. “Jen?” The Growlithe looked around, now acutely aware that he was completely alone.

“Come on!” he shouted, his tone a mix of anger and disappointment. “I broke a leg, not my spine! I can still go for walks!”

---

Walking with the two and getting a good look around the city gave Jenny some insight to the place. Namely that it was nearly indistinguishable from cities back on Earth, with the exception of the ponies. Strangely, though, there was a marked lack of Pokemon, limited to common Flying-types and the occasional feline or canine.

She made sure to note the sights and scents, in case she ever had to leave the house, so she could get back to Nightingale’s house. As much as she doubted that would happen, she also never thought she’d end up a Growlithe. Or that Arceus would be responsible. Maybe a Ninetales, but she always treated every Pokemon with as much respect as possible.

Ten minutes was all it took to get to the school, a large brick building that she realised shared a lot in way of appearance to the one she went to. Everywhere were more foals, and a lot of them were staring at her. “Uh oh,” she muttered, rapidly realising why this was becoming a mistake.

Before Jenny could consider backing away one of the foals stepped in front of her. This one was a bit taller than Remedy, and was smiling down at her. “Crap.”

“She’s so cute!” the foal screamed. That signalled the beginning of fifteen of the worst minutes of her life. And having been attacked by a drug addict’s Trubbish, who had been absorbing traces of Fantasy, Ice and crystal meth, that was saying something.

Eventually, they relented, but only after the sound of a bell tolling not far away. Jenny took stock of what had just happened. She had been tugged, hugged, pushed, pulled, poked, prodded and otherwise mistreated by more children than she wanted to count. “Now I know how Scorch feels when we did school demonstrations,” she said to herself as she patted down some of her coat. She glanced to the side to see Remedy getting one last hug from her mother. Then something hit the side of her head.

Strangely, though the blow hurt, it didn’t do much more than sting a bit, like a tennis ball. She looked around and saw a unicorn colt with a grey coat and a crimson mane. What really got her attention was the smug smile he wore. It was the one she’d seen on so many bullies and criminals before.

“What do you think you’re doing here, you dumb animal?” he asked, smirking as he swung his bag at her again. Now that she knew it was coming, Jenny was able to duck under it easily. “You freaks aren’t welcome here.” This time, Jenny caught the bag in her mouth and held on. “Hey! Let go!” the colt shouted, his smugness replaced with anger.

Jenny glanced at Nightingale, who appeared to be unsure what to do. As the colt tugged and yelled more insults at her, the Growlithe decided that she had had enough. Jerking her head to the side, the bag fell from his telekinetic grip easily. “You dumb animal!” Jenny’s temper flared at the last insult, as did the temperature inside her mouth.

The colt watched in silent shock as all his stuff started smoking. Jenny spat out the bag and focused on it. “I can do this,” she muttered to herself. She took a deep breath and… “Flamethrower!” She deliberately missed the bag, knowing that destroying his belongings would only have negative effects later on. Still, she was impressed with the amount of damage she was able to do the cobblestones, leaving them charred.

“So… you can breathe fire,” Nightingale noted as the Growlithe came up to her. “It seemed like it earlier, but I guess it’s nice to have confirmation. Just… don’t. Please?” she asked warily. “I have a business to run, and I can’t do that if you or your friend set it on fire.”

Jenny nodded. “We’ll only set thieves and home invaders on fire. They deserve it.”

---

As Jenny and Nightingale neared the house, Scorch stumbled towards them. “Jenny!” he shouted.

“I thought I locked the door,” Nightingale mused. Her eyes widened when she saw that the door had been completely obliterated, the frame scraped and bent. “What happened!?” she screamed.

“Scorch? What’s going on?” Jenny asked. The other Growlithe didn’t look any more injured, which was something. “What’s inside?”

“You remember that Aggron?” he asked timidly.

“What about - oh no,” she muttered as everything clicked. “H-he’s not angry, is he?”

“Angry? No. Impatient, yes.” Scorch turned around to see Nightingale poke her head through the door. “On the plus side, he’s not alone.”

“I already apologised!” they heard Aggron shout.

You tried to take a bite out of me, a monotonous, metallic voice replied in their heads.

“It’s not my fault you look like a hubcap!”

“A Psychic-type?” Jenny asked.

“We sorta have a translator now,” Scorch said.

“What are you doing!? Get out!”

Jenny gave Scorch a flat look. “Yeah, if we don’t get kicked out for this.”

Comments

[Fancy Fox]

Yes.
I like this new chapter

[V-Oblivion]

Nice chapter.

So is a psychic/metal type. Little options then.

[EonAon]

lets see Psychic types that looks like a hubcap...that HAS to be Bronzor

[Speven Dillberg]

5125016
The only reason it's a Bronzor is so Aggron would have tried eating it.