I was fortunate. We had just finished our Ice cream when Cynthia was called. The look on her face was a pleasant smile but there was some real edge to it that had an underlying rage to it. Umbreon hid her face under my shirt to hide from the sheer amount of displeasure rolling off Cynthia. She had excused herself explaining that something urgent had been brought to her attention and she had to handle it immediately. The annoyance was clear, but I believe I dodged a bullet there.

  I wondered what could have been so important, but I shrugged it off. It wasn't my business and I had enough to do with taking care of my Pokémon then to worry about something that likely has nothing to do with me. Keeping my nose out of Sinnoh's problems would probably be for the best anyways. I have my own problems already, no need to stack more on my plate.

  I however wasn't so fortunate. Arceus must be having a laugh right at this moment. Damn that Llama in the sky. Walking around and enjoying the sights in Canalave City I came across a two kids one bugger one being a jerk to a smaller one.

  "Ha! What do you want that sucky bottom feeder for? It can't even do much more than splash around and look ugly."

  I blinked pausing in my steps looking down some steps towards a calm stretch of land. One slightly taller kid was picking on a younger one that is carrying what looks like a rather heavy-duty bucket. Umbreon looked rather upset from her spot in my arms. It looks like I was going to be involving myself with kids again. I held in a sigh going down the stairs.

  "Hey kid." I called managing to get both of them to look at me. I am unsure of if his face paled due to me catching him being a brat or because of Umbreon because the taller kid bolted down stretch as fast as his legs could take him. I made it close enough to the kid with the bucket to spy a Feebas in it.

  "A Feebas. Huh... Interesting choice you got there." I glance up at the kid and fought the urge to roll my eyes. He was trembling like a leaf the only reason he likely didn't run was because of how heavy the bucket with the Feebas is.

  I set Umbreon down as I crouched, to get more on the kid's level. Umbreon being the skittish girl she is moved immediately behind me. The kid seemed to panic less when I crouched and Umbreon was out of his sight. I remember my grad school and kindergarten teachers doing something similar when talking to me one on one.

  "Y-Yeah... She's my friend Glimmer." A little girl's voice came from the kid and here I thought this kid was a boy with how short their hair was.

  "Glimmer? Did you name her that because she likes shiny things?" The girl nodded putting the bucket down the Feebas actually poking her head out of the water looking at me. "It's a very pretty name."

  "I know. My brother says that Glimmer isn't a strong Pokémon. That she will keep me from being a great Pokémon coordinator." The little girl pouts crossing her arms.

  "That so?" I reach back and start to pet Umbreon who was pressing herself into my lower back. I adjusted a bit sitting in the sand and slowly bringing Umbreon around my form while the kid is grumpily looking out to where the pale faced kid booked it. "Was the kid who bolted off like a spooked Tauros your brother?"

  The girl nodded tuning her head to look at me then to her bucket. "But Glimmer really likes watching the Contests... I really want to be a Coordinator too."

  "It's a goal then... you two have a little while before you set out on your journey, right?" Umbreon got herself settled in my lap and was accepting the attention via back scratches with her eyes closed.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  "I just turned eight yesterday. Daddy said I could keep Glimmer at the house now as my present."

  I raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? Why not get you a Pokéball for her?"

  "Daddy said if I want to keep her then I have to put in the work first. Get her home without any help and I'll be given a Pokéball." The little girl said bringing up her arms and flexing as if in imitation of who I can only assume her father.

  "Your dad sounds like a wise man. Hard work leads to a fulfilling reward in the end. I know that to be true all too well." I give the girl a small smile. "Especially when it comes to Pokémon... Take this brave girl here..." I say scratching Umbreon under her chin who started making some kind of purring sound.

  "T-That's an Umbreon... Right?" The girl practically squeaked but upon taking not that her friend in the bucket isn't even phased by her presence it must be keeping her somewhat calm.

  "Yes, that's exactly right. Umbreon here is my brave girl. Isn't that, right?" The purring seemed to grow as she responded with a soft sound. "Umbreon here and the rest of my team of Pokémon are Dark-Type Pokémon. Do you think Umbreon is scary?"

  The girl crouches down next to her large bucket sticking her hand in it. She is likely seeking reassurance from a known source while getting closer to Umbreon.

  "N-No... It's just... All the teachers say that Pokémon like Umbreon are really mean and do bad things."

  I hum thinking about what she said. "I see... Well... What about this one? Does Umbreon here look mean?" Keeping Umbreon distracted with scratches and rubs to her favorite spots was working literal magic considering she wasn't nervous at all from the little girl being so close. Either that or she feels the girl a non-threat.

  "No... She looks kinda soft and gentle." She says looking from Umbreon up at me. "Can I... Can I pet her?"

  I should have expected that question. Of course, the child would want to pet the wonderful coat of Umbreon. I put quite a bit of work into keeping it nice and shiny.

  "Maybe. Why don't you ask her? She really likes it when you call her brave. Perhaps if you call her that she will let you."

  The girl blinked a bit before I paused in my letting getting Umbreon to crack her eyes open and look up at me like I'd just taken away the most important thing in the world. Like I went and murdered her happiness she was so disappointed and sad. Oh, that look is so unfair.

  "U-umm..." The little girls voice made Umbreon's ear flick as her body froze slightly but her eyes moved along with her head to look at the girl. "M-May I pet you? I... I want to be brave like you."

  Umbreon seemed to narrow her eyes a bit and sniff at the outstretched hand. Whatever it was she was looking for she must have found because she allowed the little girl to pet her. It was only for a few moments, but I could tell she was paying more attention to what I was doing than I thought. She had Umbreon making her purr like noises after a moment or two. After a minute or two she stopped and looked at her hand like she had just achieved something monumental.

  "My teacher will never believe I got to pet a Umbreon... Her fur is so soft and warm. I don't get why people don't like them." She says with a slight pout.

  I let myself smile taking over the petting, so Umbreon doesn't start being a pouty girl from her throne, my lap. "Yeah, it is rough. It's not fair... But just because they are a little angry and moody doesn't mean they are like that all the time. Nor are they all that scary when you take the time to try and understand how they feel. Have you ever seen a Tyranitar before?"

  "Tyranitar? You mean the big green Pokémon that lives in the mountains?"

  "Yeah, that Tyranitar."

  "I've never seen one, but my Daddy has. He said he'd never been more scared of anything in his life."

  "Scared huh? Did he say where he saw it?"

  "I think he said it was on a mountain somewhere far away..."

  "Far away? Probably Mt. Silver if I had to guess. It's a place where the truly strong go to sharpen their skills. Your father must have been quite a trainer. Would you like to see my Tyranitar?"

  The dropping of her jaw as the girls' eyes went wide. "No way! Daddy said nobody could handle a Tyranitar! You have one?"

  "I do." I say with a nod pulling her ball from my belt. "Do you want to see her? She's just a big softy and she loves kids."

  "Yeah!" The girl cheers, "You wanna see her too right Glimmer?"

  The Feebas had a blank look on its face. I couldn't tell if that's just how Feebas look or if the fish has no idea what a Tyranitar is but if this little one grows up with less fear and more respect? It would be worth it.