Chapter 20  

Current and Control

Travel Journal — Day Twenty-Four

Nikola's first trainer battle.
Electric versus Water should have been easy.
It was not easy.
Apparently fish become much more annoying when they are allowed to use the entire river.

Important lessons:

• Do not electrify a river full of fishermen.

• Nikola considers “delicate” a fighting word.

• Holding an attack can be harder than using one.

• Ralph thinks everyone should fish.

• I have unfortunately given Ralph my phone number.

Nikola listened to me today.
Not because she had to.
Because she trusted me enough to try.
I think there's a difference.

Also:
The Egg moved.
A lot.
We're camping early.
I don't think we're going to be five for much longer.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.1

Morning came with the familiar ritual of breaking camp, but this time with an added complication.

Nikola stood beside the remains of their breakfast with all four hooves planted, her posture radiating the same stubborn defiance that had characterized their first encounter. Her head was turned just enough to keep one black eye fixed on the brush in Ravina's hand, the wooden handle worn smooth from years of use.

Ravina held it up, testing the waters after yesterday's clear rejection.

Nikola's tail bulb brightened instantly, the sudden illumination casting harsh shadows across the clearing as electricity crackled warningly across her fleece.

"Right."

A tiny crackle passed through the Mareep's wool, the sound like miniature fireworks going off in the morning air.

"Still no."

Nikola stared, her unblinking gaze carrying the weight of her refusal as clearly as any words could have.

Ravina lowered the brush slowly, her movements deliberate and non-threatening.

"Message received."

The glow faded as quickly as it had appeared, the tension in Nikola's posture easing slightly as the immediate threat of brushing passed.

From his place beside the campfire, Victor gave an approving hum, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical appreciation for the standoff.

"An inspiring triumph of diplomacy."

"I respect boundaries."

"You attempted the same negotiation three times."

"I was checking whether the border had moved."

"It had not."

Nikola gave a short, satisfied bleat that sounded remarkably like agreement.

Ravina pointed the brush at her, her expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.

"Don't encourage him."

Another crackle passed through the Mareep's fleece, this time more warning than threat.

"Or threaten me."

Nikola calmly turned away, her movements dismissing both human and Gastly as she returned to watching the surrounding woods with the focused attention of a self-appointed guard.

Cinder lifted his head from where he had been lying beside Ravina's pack, his longer Quilava body moving with more fluidity than the previous morning. The stiffness in his shoulder from his  Rock Smash practice lingered, but when he stretched, his back bowed smoothly without hesitation, both sets of flame vents remaining dark. He tested his weight carefully, claws making soft sounds against the packed earth as he padded toward the last scraps of breakfast.

Nikola intercepted him.

Not aggressively.

She simply stepped between him and the empty plate, nudged him once in the chest, and then pushed her head toward the water dish.

Cinder stopped.

He looked at the dish.

Then at Nikola.

Then at Ravina.

Ravina covered her mouth, her magenta eyes widening with realization.

"Oh, no."

Cinder's ears tilted, his orange-red eyes questioning.

"She's mothering you."

Nikola made an indignant sound, her tail bulb flickering as if to emphasize her objection.

Victor drifted lower, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical delight.

"Lady Thunderwool merely maintains standards."

Nikola immediately turned toward him.

Victor's grin widened.

"A title accepted without objection. Excellent."

Static snapped through the edge of his gaseous body.

His vapor briefly puffed outward.

Victor froze as Nikola looked pleased with herself.

"...I withdraw nothing."

From his perch on a low branch above camp, Owlbert clicked his beak once. The sharp, precise sound carried a weight of judgment that Ravina had come to associate with his particular brand of silent commentary. She was increasingly convinced it was his version of laughing, though humor on Owlbert's terms was less mirth and more scholarly disapproval.

Cinder finally drank, his longer Quilava body lowering to the water dish as Nikola watched with the focused attention of a self-appointed guardian. Her black eyes remained fixed on him until he had finished, her tail bulb maintaining a steady, watchful glow.

Only then did she wander back toward the grass at the edge of their small clearing, her movements deliberate and dismissive.

Ravina looked down at the brush still in her hand, the wooden handle worn smooth from years of use.

"So I'm not allowed to fuss over you."

Nikola flicked an ear without turning around, the movement acknowledging the statement without necessarily agreeing to it.

"But you're allowed to fuss over everybody else."

The Mareep glanced back at her over her shoulder, her black eye catching the morning light in a way that somehow managed to convey an extraordinary amount of judgment for something with such a round face.

"Got it."

Ravina packed the brush away, her movements efficient as she accepted the current state of their boundaries. She would try again later. Probably. Maybe with food. That might count as bribery, though she decided bribery was an advanced trust-building technique and therefore morally defensible.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.2

They were back on Route 32 before the sun had fully burned the morning haze from the lowlands, their footsteps falling into the familiar rhythm of travel that had become their pattern over the past days.

The road south was broader here than it had been farther north, though "road" remained an optimistic term in places where the earth had been packed down by generations of travelers. Packed earth gave way to old stone near the steeper stretches, then returned to dirt between fields and stands of trees where farmers had left traces of their work in the form of wheel ruts and occasional dropped produce.

Water seemed to be everywhere.

Small streams ran down from the eastern hills, their gentle murmurs a constant backdrop to their journey. Drainage channels crossed beneath the road at regular intervals, the stone bridges showing signs of careful maintenance. Reeds grew thick in the flatter ground, and Ravina occasionally caught the silver flash of something moving beneath the surface—perhaps a Magikarp, perhaps something else entirely.

Nikola noticed all of it, much like how she had the previous afternoon while maintaining a carefully dignified distance from everyone. Her ears would twitch at the sound of running water, her black eyes following the flow of each stream they passed, her head tilting slightly as if assessing the quality and quantity of the water sources they encountered.

Today however, that distance had shortened by perhaps half a step.

It was not much, but enough that Ravina noticed anyway. The Mareep now walked closer to the group rather than trailing at the very edge of their small party, her fleece no longer puffed out with the same level of defensiveness it had carried yesterday.

Nikola positioned herself near Cinder more often than not, her movements carrying a quiet authority that suggested she had appointed herself his personal guardian. Sometimes she walked behind him, her black eyes watching his longer Quilava body with focused attention. Sometimes she moved beside him, her fleece occasionally brushing against his dark teal-blue fur in what might have been accidental or might have been deliberate reassurance. Occasionally she walked in front when she apparently decided the entire group was moving incorrectly and required reorganising, her small body somehow managing to convey the presence of a much larger creature.

Cinder tolerated this with remarkable patience, his orange-red eyes occasionally meeting Ravina's with an expression that suggested he had decided this was simply the price of having another female in his life who believed she knew what was best for him.

Owlbert moved between Ravina's shoulder and nearby trees depending on what offered the better view, his round red eyes missing nothing as he continued to function as their silent timekeeper and lookout.

Victor floated wherever he pleased, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical disregard for conventional movement patterns. Usually directly above the road, where he could observe both travelers and Pokémon with equal interest. Occasionally upside down, a position he maintained with the same dignified composure as his right-side-up orientation. Once backwards for nearly ten minutes, an impressive feat of directional defiance that had caused several passing trainers to stare in open confusion.

Ravina had stopped asking why, and just accepted her Gastly was easily bored.

The Egg remained secured against her pack, its weight a familiar presence against her back.

It had been still through breakfast, the usual gentle adjustments absent as she packed their supplies.

Now, as they walked south along Route 32, Ravina thought she could feel something different.

Not the normal stirring she'd grown accustomed to.

Pressure.

A subtle shift against the padding that was just distinct enough from the rhythm of her own steps to make her hand drift instinctively toward it.

Every time she checked, there was nothing to confirm her suspicion.

"Soon," she murmured, her voice low enough that only those walking closest could hear.

Cinder's ears came forward at the sound, his orange-red eyes meeting hers with questioning.

"I know. You've heard me say that for two days."

Victor drifted lower, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical curiosity as he positioned himself beside the carrier.

"The suspense grows unbearable."

"You're not dramatically announcing the birth."

"Muse."

"No."

"I have prepared several options."

"No."

"One contains thunder."

Nikola looked up from where she had been carefully examining a particularly interesting patch of grass, her black eyes narrowing at the mention of her element.

Victor reconsidered, his gaseous form expanding with theatrical diplomacy.

"Metaphorical thunder."

Ravina snorted, the sound light and amused in the morning air as she adjusted the carrier's straps against her shoulders.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.3

The road began to slope downward, the packed earth giving way to older stone that had been worn smooth by generations of travelers making their way toward the sound of water. Through the trees ahead came a different sound from the gentle murmurs of the narrow streams they had crossed that morning—broader, deeper, the steady rush of water becoming audible well before they reached its source.

The trees opened onto a long wooden bridge that stretched across a river significantly wider than Ravina had expected. It was built from heavy timbers darkened with age and weather, thick posts supporting waist-high rails on either side while stone piers stood in the river below, breaking the current into white curls of foam.

Several people were fishing from the bridge, having arranged themselves at comfortable intervals along one side. Their rods extended over the water while buckets, tackle boxes, and folding stools occupied the space around their feet. One old man had apparently brought enough equipment to establish a small kingdom, his collection of gear spreading across nearly a third of the available space. Another fisherman sat casually on the rail despite the considerable drop beneath him, his legs dangling in the open air as if seated on a park bench.

Ravina decided not to comment.

She had slept on rooftops recently.

The water was clearer near the edges, allowing visibility to the riverbed, but the deeper water between the bridge supports turned a dark green that concealed whatever moved beneath the surface.

Nikola slowed beside them, her movements becoming more deliberate as her ears lifted toward the sound of rushing water.

Ravina followed her gaze, her magenta eyes narrowing as she searched the water for what had caught the Mareep's attention.

A shadow moved beneath the surface, large enough to be more than just a play of light.

Then another, slipping silently through the deeper water between the bridge supports.

"Fish Pokémon," Ravina murmured, her gaze following the shadows as they moved beneath the bridge.

Nikola took another step toward the railing, her hooves making soft sounds against the weathered wood as she positioned herself for a better view.

"Don't fall in."

The Mareep turned her head, her black eyes meeting Ravina's with a look that suggested she found the warning unnecessary.

"I'm not saying you're going to. I'm saying I would."

Victor drifted lower, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical appreciation for her self-awareness.

"Self-awareness at last."

They crossed halfway across the bridge before Ravina noticed one of the fishermen watching them.

He was older than most of the others on the bridge, though Ravina couldn't have guessed by how much. His clothes were practical and weathered: boots, dark trousers, a faded jacket with the sleeves pushed up, and a broad-brimmed cap that had probably survived more rainstorms than Ravina had.

His fishing gear was much simpler than the equipment piled around some of the others.

Rod.

Small tackle box.

Bucket.

Thermos.

Nothing else.

He glanced toward Ravina's badge pinned to her jacket.

Then toward her Pokémon, Cinder walking beside her, Nikola peering over the railing, Owlbert perched on her shoulderVictor floating above.

Then back to the river, his attention returning to the task at hand.

Ravina would have kept walking if Nikola hadn't stopped beside him.

The Mareep had discovered the bucket.

She leaned toward it, her nose twitching as she detected the scent of water and fish.

Ravina caught the back of her wool before her nose reached the rim, her fingers sinking into the surprisingly thick fleece.

"No."

Nikola resisted just enough to make the gesture ceremonial, her muscles tensing slightly before relaxing.

Then stepped back, her tail bulb pulsing once with what might have been disappointment or simply acknowledgment of the boundary.

The fisherman looked down, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners beneath the shadow of his cap.

"Curious one."

"Very."

Nikola gave Ravina a look that managed to convey both accusation and betrayal in a single glance.

"Selective curiosity."

The man reeled his line in slightly, the soft whir of the reel barely audible over the rush of water beneath them.

"You fish?"

Ravina waited, her posture relaxed but her magenta eyes assessing.

"No."

He nodded, his gaze returning to the water where his line disappeared beneath the surface.

"Should."

There was a long silence, broken only by the river's steady rush and the occasional splash from a distant fisherman's catch.

Ravina glanced at Victor, whose gaseous form was practically vibrating with theatrical delight.

Victor's white eyes gleamed with mischief as he floated just behind her shoulder.

Ravina turned back to the fisherman.

"Is there a second half to that argument?"

"Eventually."

One of the fishermen farther down the bridge snorted, the sound familiar rather than surprised.

Apparently this was routine.

Ravina smiled despite herself, the expression genuine and amused.

"Strong sales pitch."

"Works often enough."

He glanced toward the Egg carrier against Ravina's back, his gaze lingering just long enough to show interest without being intrusive.

"Heading south?"

"Azalea."

"Union Cave?"

"That's the plan."

"Road's been decent."

He said it in the tone of someone discussing weather that might change without notice, practical rather than reassuring.

Ravina shifted the carrier's straps, her fingers tightening slightly against the padding.

"That's reassuring."

"Wasn't meant to be."

"Even better."

His eyes returned to Nikola, who was now watching the water with the focused attention of a predator.

"New?"

Ravina looked down at her.

Nikola immediately straightened, her posture shifting from casual observation to proud display.

"Yesterday."

The fisherman studied the Mareep for another second.

Not unkindly.

Just assessing, his gaze moving from her fleece to her hooves and back again.

"Bit soon to put something that delicate through hard travel."

There was a small sound.

‘Tk’.

Ravina's smile vanished as she looked down.

Nikola's tail bulb had begun to glow, a soft warning that was rapidly intensifying.

"...Oh no."

The fisherman raised an eyebrow, his expression curious rather than concerned.

"What?"

"You called her delicate."

Nikola stamped one hoof, the sound sharp against the weathered wood of the bridge.

Static whispered through her fleece, tiny sparks dancing across the puffed wool like miniature fireworks.

The fisherman looked from Mareep to the trainer.

Then back to Mareep, a slow understanding dawning in his eyes.

"Did I."

"You did."

Nikola's wool puffed slightly, her body expanding as electricity continued to build.

Ravina pointed at her, her gesture firm but not aggressive.

"We are not electrocuting people because of adjectives."

Nikola's ears flattened against her head, her black eyes flashing with indignation.

Victor drifted behind Ravina's shoulder, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical appreciation for the escalating drama.

"To be fair, muse, it was an inflammatory adjective."

"You're not helping."

"I rarely do."

The fisherman reeled in his line completely, the movement smooth and practiced as he secured his hook.

A small smile appeared beneath the shadow of his cap, the expression suggesting he found this development more amusing than alarming.

"Ralph."

"Ravina."

He nodded toward Nikola, whose tail bulb now glowed with steady intensity.

"Want to prove me wrong?"

Nikola's entire tail lit, the sudden illumination casting harsh shadows across the bridge as her agitation mounted.

Ravina looked down, her expression somewhere between exasperation and resignation.

"Oh, you absolutely do."

Nikola bleated, the sound sharp with challenge rather than distress.

Ralph stood and rested his fishing rod against the railing, his movements unhurried despite the confrontation brewing.

"Thought so."

- - - - -

Chapter 20.4

Ralph reached for a Poké Ball at his belt, the worn leather creaking softly as his fingers closed around the familiar sphere.

Ravina glanced toward the bridge, her gaze sweeping the wooden planks and the fishermen scattered along its length. "Here?"

Ralph gestured toward the river, his movement encompassing the rushing water below. "Best field I've got."

The Ball opened with a soft click, its red light streaking over the side of the bridge in an arc that caught the morning sun.

Something splashed below, the sound barely audible over the river's steady rush.

For a heartbeat, Ravina saw only ripples spreading across the water's surface, their patterns quickly distorted by the current.

Then a white-and-orange shape broke the surface.

Goldeen.

The Pokémon surfaced with an elegant flick of its tail, long dorsal fin rising like a veil from its back. Its horn caught the sunlight before it vanished beneath the water again.

Ravina looked down at Nikola, whose black eyes were fixed on the river with unwavering focus. The Mareep's tail bulb glowed steadily, the rhythmic pulsing a clear indicator of her determination to prove Ralph wrong about her delicacy.

Nikola's gaze shifted from the water to Ravina, a silent question passing between them that needed no words to understand.

Ravina smiled, the expression genuine as she recognized the familiar stubborn defiance that had characterized their first encounter. "Okay."

She slipped the Egg carrier from her back, setting it carefully beside the railing where it would be safe from the battle to come.

Cinder moved automatically to sit beside it, his longer Quilava body positioning himself as a guardian despite the lingering soreness from his training and battle. His orange-red eyes remained fixed on the water, watching for their opponent's next move.

Owlbert landed on the nearest post, his round red eyes taking in the entire scene with military precision as he assumed his role as observer and timekeeper.

Victor floated higher, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical anticipation as he positioned himself for the best view of the confrontation.

Ravina rested a hand briefly on the Egg carrier, feeling the subtle warmth through the padding. "Everybody stay out of the way."

Ralph gave her an approving glance from his position beside his fishing gear, his expression suggesting he appreciated her practical approach to battle safety.

Nikola stepped forward to the edge of the bridge, her hooves making soft clicking sounds against the weathered wood as she took her position. Her fleece already crackled with building electricity, tiny sparks dancing across the puffed wool like miniature fireworks in the morning light.

Ravina took her place behind her, her posture relaxed but alert as she assessed the battlefield advantages.

Electric against Water.

That part was easy, type advantage was one of the first lessons any trainer learned, basic knowledge that had been drilled into her since childhood.

Nikola's fleece crackled with growing anticipation, the sound like tearing fabric as electricity built within her wool.

The Goldeen surfaced again farther upstream, its elegant form breaking through the water's surface with an effortless grace.

Ravina grinned, her expression sharp with competitive excitement as she recognized the opportunity.

"ThunderShock!"

Nikola charged forward, her small body moving with surprising speed across the bridge planks.

Her wool flashed with brilliant intensity as she released the stored energy in a powerful burst of electricity.

The Goldeen disappeared beneath the water's surface with barely a ripple, its timing perfect.

The discharge snapped into empty air, the electrical current striking the river with a sizzling sound that was quickly lost in the rushing water.

A heartbeat later...

Splash.

"Left!"

Too late.

A jet of water struck Nikola across the shoulder, emerging from between two bridge supports where the Goldeen had hidden.

She skidded sideways, her hooves scraping against the weathered wood as she struggled to maintain her footing against the unexpected attack.

"Nikola!"

The Mareep caught herself, her hooves scraping against the weathered wood as she regained her balance. Her fleece continued to crackle with residual electricity, tiny sparks dancing across the puffed wool.

The Goldeen vanished again, disappearing beneath the water's surface with barely a ripple, its timing perfect.

Ralph had barely moved from his position beside the railing, his expression unchanged as he watched the confrontation unfold.

"Goldeen knows this river."

"So I'm noticing," Ravina replied, her gaze shifting between the water and her stubborn Mareep.

Nikola stared over the edge of the bridge, her black eyes fixed on the rushing water below where their opponent had disappeared. Her tail brightened, the rhythmic pulsing accelerating as determination built within her.

Ravina saw the thought happen, the way Nikola's posture shifted from defensive to offensive, her muscles tensing as she prepared to leap into the water after the Goldeen.

"No."

Nikola's ears twitched, acknowledging the command but not necessarily accepting it.

Ralph glanced toward her, his expression carrying a weight of warning beneath the shadow of his cap.

"Wouldn't recommend that."

"I wasn't planning to," Ravina said, though her tone suggested she was indeed planning to prevent exactly what she suspected Nikola was considering.

Nikola's fleece crackled louder, the sound like tearing fabric as electricity built within her wool, her determination clearly overriding her trainer's warning.

Ravina slowly looked down, her expression firm as she met the Mareep's defiant gaze.

"Nikola."

More static gathered across the Mareep's fleece, the sparks growing brighter as her agitation mounted.

Ravina pointed toward the fishermen scattered along the bridge, her gesture encompassing the entire span of wooden planks.

There were three rods in the water within sight, their lines disappearing beneath the surface at regular intervals.

One man farther downstream had a Wooper sitting on the bank beside him, the small Water-type watching the river with placid interest.

"There are people and Pokémon using this river."

Nikola looked, her gaze following Ravina's gesture as she took in the other trainers and their Pokémon.

The charge faded by degrees, the sparks dancing across her fleece diminishing as understanding dawned.

Ravina nodded, her expression softening slightly as she acknowledged Nikola's compliance.

"...We are now specifically not doing that."

Ralph folded his arms across his chest, his weathered jacket creaking slightly with the movement. "Good."

Nikola made a frustrated sound somewhere between a bleat and a growl, her black eyes fixed on the water where the Goldeen had vanished.

"Yeah, I know. It would work," Ravina murmured, her gaze following the Mareep's line of sight. "But working isn't the only requirement."

Another ripple appeared beneath the bridge, the disturbance in the water's surface catching the morning light as something moved below.

"Now!"

Nikola fired, her fleece flashing with brilliant intensity as she released another ThunderShock.

Again too slowly.

The Goldeen surfaced, twisting in the air with impossible grace as it barely cleared the blast before cutting back into the water with a splash that was barely audible over the river's steady rush.

Nikola stomped one hoof against the weathered wood of the bridge, the sound sharp with frustration as electricity crackled warningly across her fleece.

Ravina frowned, her magenta eyes narrowing as she analyzed the confrontation. Every time Nikola charged, her entire body announced the attack—the brightening wool, the gathering static, the glowing tail bulb.

The Goldeen could see it coming.

And Ralph had probably noticed Ravina's timing patterns before Ravina had herself.

Water splashed beneath them, the sound coming from a different direction than before.

Nikola turned right.

Wrong direction.

Water Gun struck her flank with enough force to make her stumble sideways, her hooves scraping against the bridge planks as she struggled to maintain her footing.

Cinder surged to his feet from his position beside the Egg carrier, his longer Quilava body coiling with protective instinct.

"Stay!"

He stopped instantly, his orange-red eyes meeting Ravina's with understanding. Small flames flickered from his head vents before dimming again as he forced himself back to the ground.

Nikola shook water from her wool, the droplets flying in all directions as she tried to dry herself.

That did not help the electricity. Some of the outer curls sagged beneath the water's weight, their usual springiness lost.

She looked furious, her tail bulb glowing with renewed intensity as her determination mounted.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.5

Ravina crouched, her fingers brushing against the weathered wood of the bridge as she lowered herself to Nikola's level. The morning light caught the magenta in her eyes, making them glow with an intensity that matched the determination in the Mareep's tail bulb.

"Hey."

Nikola didn't turn, her black eyes fixed on the river where the Goldeen had disappeared, her posture rigid with frustration.

"Hey."

One ear flicked toward Ravina, a subtle acknowledgment that she had heard despite her refusal to look directly at her trainer.

"This isn't about hitting harder."

The Mareep's tail gave a sharp flick, the movement sending droplets of river water flying in an arc around her.

"I know you can hit harder."

Finally, Nikola turned her head just enough to meet Ravina's gaze with one black eye, the other still fixed on the water below. Static continued to crackle across her fleece, though with less intensity now.

Ravina pointed toward the river, her gesture encompassing the rushing water and the unseen opponent beneath its surface.

"We need to hit smarter."

Ralph's voice came from behind them, his weathered tone carrying the easy rhythm of someone who had observed many such moments on this bridge.

"First battle together?"

Ravina glanced over her shoulder, her magenta eyes meeting his from beneath the shadow of his cap.

"That obvious?"

"She's watching you more than she's watching me."

Nikola immediately snapped her head back toward the river, her posture shifting with exaggerated focus as though she had never once looked anywhere but at their opponent.

Ralph's mouth twitched, the movement barely visible beneath the shadow of his cap.

"Nothing wrong with that."

Ravina turned her attention back to Nikola, whose black eyes remained resolutely fixed on the water, her posture radiating stubborn defiance.

"Okay."

She straightened, her movements fluid and deliberate as she rose to her full height.

"Then watch me."

Nikola turned her head fully, her black eyes meeting Ravina's with unwavering attention, the intensity of her gaze suggesting she was finally ready to listen.

Goldeen surfaced downstream, its elegant form breaking through the water's surface with an effortless grace.

Ravina didn't call an attack.

Nikola began charging anyway, her fleece crackling with building electricity as tiny sparks danced across the puffed wool.

"Hold."

Nikola froze mid-movement, her hooves planted firmly against the weathered wood of the bridge. The electricity remained trapped in her fleece, contained but thrumming with potential energy.

The Goldeen vanished beneath the surface with barely a ripple, its timing perfect.

Nikola looked back toward Ravina, her black eyes questioning.

"Hold it."

She bleated sharply, the sound carrying a note of frustration rather than defiance.

"I know."

Another ripple appeared in the water, the disturbance catching the morning light as something moved below.

"Hold."

Goldeen's horn pierced the surface, its pointed tip breaking through the water's tension before disappearing again.

Nikola tensed, her muscles coiling with anticipation as the urge to attack warred with the command to wait.

"Not yet."

Goldeen dove beneath the surface again, its movement fluid and deliberate as it disappeared from view.

Nikola's hooves scraped against the timber of the bridge, the sound sharp with contained frustration.

Ravina could practically feel her frustration radiating across the space between them, but the charge remained.

That was something.

Goldeen surfaced again near the nearest bridge support, fired a quick Water Gun toward them, then disappeared behind the stone pier.

Ravina watched, her magenta eyes narrowed with concentration as she tracked the Water-type's movement patterns. The current bent around the support, creating calmer waters behind the pier that the Goldeen seemed to favor.

It wasn't moving randomly.

It kept using the sheltered pocket in the current behind the pier as a turning point, emerging on the opposite side only when it felt safe.

Ravina's eyes widened as understanding dawned.

"There."

Nikola looked, her gaze following Ravina's pointing finger toward the bridge support.

"That's where it turns."

Ralph said nothing from his position beside the railing, his weathered expression unreadable.

Which was confirmation enough.

Goldeen disappeared upstream again, its movement silent and swift beneath the water's surface.

Nikola's fleece still crackled with contained energy, the sound like tearing fabric as electricity built within her wool.

Ravina waited, her posture relaxed but alert as she tracked the unseen movement beneath the water.

"Keep it."

Nikola glared, her black eyes flashing with indignation at being forced to hold her power in check.

"Just a little longer."

The river rolled beneath them, its steady rush filling the silence that fell between trainer and Pokémon.

Nothing.

Nothing.

A flash of orange passed beneath the surface, behind the support where the current created a calmer pocket.

Nikola saw it.

Her head snapped toward Ravina, her tail bulb glowing with intense anticipation.

Ravina nodded, her expression firm but encouraging.

"Wait."

The Mareep trembled with contained energy, her entire body vibrating with the force of the electricity she was holding back.

Goldeen's horn pierced the surface again, its pointed tip breaking through the water's tension as it prepared to emerge.

"Now!"

Nikola released.

ThunderShock cracked across the narrow gap between bridge and water, brilliant and sudden in the morning light.

Goldeen was already airborne when it struck, its elegant body twisting in mid-air as it attempted to evade the attack.

Electricity flashed over its body, the current causing the Water-type to convulse mid-leap before it dropped back into the river with a hard splash.

Nikola bleated triumphantly, her tail bulb flashing with victory as she watched the ripples spread across the water's surface.

"Yes!"

Ravina punched the air, her movements sharp with excitement as she celebrated their victory.

"That's it!"

Goldeen surfaced again almost immediately, its movement slower and less graceful than before.

But not finished.

Ralph raised two fingers, his movements economical but deliberate.

Goldeen turned.

It swam directly toward the bridge, its movement purposeful rather than random.

Ravina frowned, her magenta eyes narrowing as she tracked the Water-type's approach.

"What are you..."

Goldeen disappeared beneath the edge of the bridge, its body vanishing into the darker water below the wooden planks.

Nikola leaned forward, her hooves shifting as she positioned herself for a better view.

"Back!"

She obeyed instantly, her body moving with surprising speed as she retreated from the edge.

A horn exploded upward through the gap beside the bridge, the pointed tip breaking through the water's tension with impossible force.

Goldeen leapt.

Nikola jerked away, her hooves scraping against the weathered wood as she narrowly avoided the attack.

The horn missed her chest by inches, the air disturbed by its passage close enough to make her fleece ripple.

Goldeen landed against the timber edge, kicked off with powerful grace, and dropped back toward the water.

"ThunderShock!"

Nikola fired, her fleece flashing with brilliant intensity as she released the stored energy.

Too close.

Goldeen twisted mid-air, its elegant body contorting with impossible flexibility.

The electricity clipped its tail rather than landing cleanly, the current causing a brief spasm that barely slowed its descent.

It splashed down, disappearing beneath the river's surface with barely a ripple.

Ralph smiled, the expression barely visible beneath the shadow of his cap.

"Better."

Ravina exhaled, the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding escaping in a rush.

"Thanks."

"That wasn't for you."

"Rude."

Nikola pawed at the weathered wood of the bridge, her hooves making soft sounds against the timber as her breathing came harder now, her sides rising and falling with visible effort.

Ravina noticed the change immediately, her magenta eyes tracking the subtle shift in her Pokémon's condition.

So did Ralph.

Goldeen surfaced farther away, also showing signs of exhaustion, its movements losing some of their earlier grace as it struggled against the current.

Neither trainer spoke for several heartbeats, the silence between them filled only by the river's steady rush and the distant calls of waterfowl.

Then Ravina crouched again, her fingers brushing against the weathered wood as she lowered herself to Nikola's level.

"We don't need another big one."

Nikola's ears tilted forward, her black eyes meeting Ravina's with focused attention.

"Let it come to us."

She pointed toward the bridge edge, her gesture encompassing the rushing water below where their opponent had disappeared.

"It's using that jump because we're above it."

Nikola watched the water, her posture shifting as she processed the information.

"You can move better up here."

The Mareep's tail gave a soft pulse, the illumination suggesting this observation pleased her.

Ravina smiled, the expression genuine as she continued.

"And you're heavier."

That pleased her considerably more, her fleece puffing slightly with pride as she absorbed the compliment.

Goldeen vanished beneath the surface again, its movement fluid and deliberate as it disappeared from view.

Ralph lifted his hand, his movements economical as he prepared his next command.

The current rippled, the disturbance in the water's surface catching the morning light as something moved below.

"Goldeen."

The Water-type accelerated, its movement purposeful as it closed the distance between them.

Ravina saw the wake forming beneath the surface, a distinct trail that betrayed the Pokémon's approach.

"Ready."

Nikola lowered herself, her body coiling with anticipation as she prepared for the upcoming confrontation. The electricity around her fleece stayed faint, contained enough not to announce an imminent attack.

The wake disappeared beneath the bridge, its trail vanishing as the Goldeen moved directly beneath their position.

Ravina waited, her posture relaxed but alert as she tracked the unseen movement beneath the water.

A splash.

"Move!"

Nikola hopped sideways, her movements quick and precise as she cleared the area where the attack would emerge.

Goldeen burst upward through the gap beside the bridge, its horn cutting through empty space where Nikola had stood moments before.

"Tackle!"

Nikola lunged, her small body moving with surprising speed across the bridge planks.

Shoulder met Goldeen's side just as the fish cleared the railing, the impact redirecting it away from the bridge deck with force.

Goldeen spun mid-air, its elegant form contorting with the unexpected force of the blow.

Nikola stumbled but kept her footing, her hooves scraping against the weathered wood as she regained her balance.

Goldeen dropped into the water with a hard splash, the sound barely audible over the river's steady rush.

For several seconds nothing moved except the current, the river flowing steadily beneath them as if the battle had never occurred.

Then Goldeen surfaced slowly beside Ralph, its movements sluggish as it struggled to stay afloat.

He crouched, his weathered jacket creaking slightly with the movement as he reached toward his Pokémon.

"That'll do."

Goldeen gave a tired flick of its tail, the movement weak but acknowledging as it accepted the end of the battle.

Ralph touched its head briefly before recalling it, the red light disappearing into the Ball with a soft click.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.6

Nikola stood in the middle of the bridge, her fleece still damp from the river and slightly singed at the edges where her own electricity had scorched the wool. Her head was lifted, her posture radiating an unmistakable pride that made her seem twice her actual size.

Ravina approached, her footsteps soft against the weathered wood as she closed the distance between them.

Nikola turned toward her, her black eyes meeting Ravina's with an unmistakable look of triumph.

"You did it."

The Mareep bleated, the sound sharp with victory rather than distress, her tail bulb pulsing with rhythmic light that illuminated the bridge planks around her hooves.

Ravina reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing through the air toward Nikola's fleece.

Nikola's tail sparked instantly, the sudden crackle of electricity a clear warning.

Ravina stopped, her hand hovering mid-air between them.

"Right. No victory hug yet."

Nikola stared, her unblinking gaze carrying the weight of her refusal as clearly as any words could have.

Ravina slowly withdrew her hand, her movements deliberate as she respected the boundary.

"Working on it."

Ralph clipped Goldeen's Ball back to his belt, the worn leather creaking softly with the movement.

"She learns fast."

Ravina looked down at Nikola, whose posture remained proudly defiant.

"She gets offended fast."

Nikola shook herself vigorously, water flying in all directions as she attempted to dry her damp fleece.

Ravina took most of it directly in the face, the cold droplets making her flinch instinctively.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, blinking away the river water.

"...Exhibit A."

Ralph nodded, his expression unreadable beneath the shadow of his cap.

"That too."

He crouched near Nikola, keeping a respectful distance as he lowered himself to her level.

Not too close.

He waited until she turned her head toward him, her black eyes questioning.

"Not delicate, then."

Nikola's tail bulb glowed, the soft illumination steady rather than threatening this time, more acknowledgment than warning.

Ralph nodded.

"Point taken."

That was apparently sufficient.

Nikola turned away with the solemn dignity of someone who had successfully corrected an administrative error, her movements carrying the weight of her vindication as she resumed her post beside Ravina.

Ravina burst out laughing, the sound light and genuine in the morning air as she watched her stubborn Mareep's victory lap.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.7

They stayed on the bridge longer than Ravina expected.

Mostly because Nikola needed time to recover, her breathing still coming in ragged bursts as she stood proudly in the center of the weathered planks.

Partly because Ravina discovered that fishermen possessed an apparently endless ability to talk about water—river depth, current patterns, seasonal variations, and the particular moods of water that only someone who spent their days beside it could understand.

Ralph checked Goldeen, then returned the Pokémon to the river briefly to cool down and stretch.

Goldeen surfaced close enough for Ravina to get a proper look.

Ralph had been right about one thing.

The river was Goldeen's field.

On land, Ravina would probably have dismissed it as a fish that happened to possess a dangerous horn.

In the water it moved like a knife.

"She's good," Ravina said.

Ralph glanced toward Goldeen.

"He."

"Oh."

Goldeen flicked water at the bridge.

Ravina stepped back.

"Sorry."

Ralph shrugged.

"He doesn't care."

Victor drifted down beside them.

"A consummate professional."

Goldeen stared at the talking Gastly.

Victor bowed.

"Sir."

Goldeen disappeared beneath the surface.

Victor sighed.

"Few appreciate ceremony."

Owlbert did not dignify that with a response.

Ravina found herself sitting on the bridge railing despite having internally criticized another fisherman for the exact same thing just twenty minutes earlier. The weathered wood felt solid beneath her, the river rushing below with a steady rhythm that seemed to match the beating of her own heart.

Cinder positioned himself close enough that his longer Quilava body braced against her leg, the warmth radiating from him a familiar comfort that made the railing feel less precarious. His orange-red eyes watched the water with lazy interest, the flames on his forehead and back remaining dark as he rested.

Nikola planted herself beside him, maintaining a distance that was deliberate and measurable. Her fleece was still damp from the battle, the curls slightly flattened where river water had soaked through. The space between her and Cinder was exactly the width of one hoof—not touching, but close enough that she could clearly benefit from the heat he generated without compromising her dignity.

Ravina watched as Nikola inched closer over the next several minutes, the movement happening in increments too small to be noticed individually but impossible to miss when observed as a whole. She remained silent about this gradual approach, recognizing that some developments were too fragile to survive the weight of her usual teasing.

Ralph cast his line again, the soft whir of the reel barely audible over the river's steady rush. The movement was practiced and economical, suggesting years of familiarity with the rhythm of fishing.

"You really never fished?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the spot where his line disappeared beneath the water's surface.

"No."

"Not once?" The question came without judgment, simple curiosity coloring his tone.

"I've eaten fish."

"Different skill," Ralph replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I suspected."

"Good road skill," he added, nodding toward her pack where the Egg carrier was secured.

Ravina glanced toward the river, her magenta eyes tracking the gentle current as it flowed beneath them. "You just carry a rod everywhere?"

"Most days."

"Why?" The question came out before she could stop herself, born of genuine curiosity about what would motivate someone to carry fishing equipment as routinely as she carried her Poké Balls.

Ralph looked genuinely puzzled by the question, as if she had asked why he wore boots when walking outdoors. "To fish."

Ravina stared, momentarily speechless at the simplicity of his logic.

Victor drifted closer, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical appreciation for the exchange. He whispered beside her ear, his smoky voice carrying an undertone of mischief. "He has you there."

"Quiet."

Ralph reeled the line in slightly, the movement smooth and practiced as he adjusted his position. "Good food if you know what you're doing. Sometimes useful Pokémon around the banks. Sometimes you find things people dropped."

Ravina leaned slightly, her gaze shifting from Ralph to the dark water flowing beneath the bridge. The current caught the morning light, creating patterns that shifted and disappeared in the space between heartbeats.

"What kind of things?"

Ralph adjusted his grip on the rod, his knuckles white against the worn handle.

"Mostly junk…" "Found a watch once."

The line went taut for a moment before relaxing again.

"Working?"

"No."

Ravina laughed, the sound short and amused.

"Excellent."

"Found twenty thousand Poké once."

Ravina's head snapped toward him so fast that a strand of magenta hair whipped across her face.

Ralph's expression remained unchanged, his focus still on the river where his line disappeared beneath the surface.

"Really?"

"No."

Ravina stared, her mouth slightly open as she processed the deliberate bait-and-switch.

Ralph cast again, the movement smooth and practiced as if nothing unusual had happened.

She pointed at him, her gesture sharp with accusation.

"You have the same disease Victor has."

"I beg your finest pardon?" Victor said, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical indignation as he drifted closer to the conversation.

Ralph glanced at the Gastly, his weathered expression unchanging.

"What's his?"

"Drama."

Victor gasped, his white eyes widening with mock offense as his form expanded dramatically.

Ravina smiled, her expression triumphant.

"See?"

Ralph reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his Pokégear, the device worn but clearly well-maintained.

"Give me your number."

Ravina blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the abrupt request.

"That's abrupt."

"I call when fish start biting."

"I don't fish."

"Yet."

"You're very optimistic."

"River teaches patience."

"So does waiting for someone to stop trying to sell you fishing."

Ralph held the Pokégear out, his gesture steady and expectant.

Ravina sighed, the sound light rather than annoyed as she retrieved her own device from her pocket.

They exchanged numbers with practiced efficiency, their fingers moving across the screens with minimal fuss.

She saved him simply as Ralph — Route 32, the designation practical rather than sentimental.

He glanced at her screen, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

"You'll remember me."

"I've known you for half an hour."

"You'll remember."

Ravina looked toward Nikola, who had been watching the exchange with focused interest.

The Mareep immediately raised her head, her posture shifting as if acknowledging the unspoken question.

"Yes. Fine. Fair."

Ralph put his gear away, his movements economical as he secured the Pokégear back in his pocket.

"If the river changes, I'll call. Heavy rain upstream can make some sections nasty before it looks bad here."

That was more useful.

Ravina's expression changed, her magenta eyes narrowing with genuine interest.

"Actually, yes. Please do."

"Thought you weren't interested in fishing."

"I'm interested in not being washed into the ocean."

"Same principle."

"It really isn't."

Ralph gave no sign of hearing her, his attention already returning to the river as another fish broke the surface downstream.

- - - - -

Chapter 20.8

They left the bridge after midday, the wooden planks giving way to the familiar packed earth of Route 32 as they continued south.

Nikola walked differently.

Ravina couldn't have explained exactly how.

The Mareep still wandered when she wanted to.

Still stopped to investigate particularly interesting patches of grass.

Still decided, without consultation, that Cinder occasionally required directional correction.

When Ravina called Nikola's name, she responded more quickly, no pause or hesitation. It wasn't exactly obedience yet, but rather recognition. Ravina noticed this change the first time they reached a fork in the trail.

Nikola started toward a narrow side path, her hooves making soft sounds against the packed earth.

"Nikola, this way."

The Mareep turned immediately, her movements fluid and decisive.

Three steps later she seemed to realize what she had done.

She stopped.

Looked back at the other path.

Then at Ravina, her black eyes met Ravina's with an expression that suggested she was mentally reviewing the sequence of events.

Ravina fought desperately not to smile, the corners of her mouth twitching with suppressed amusement.

Nikola resumed walking with exaggerated dignity, her posture radiating the solemn importance of someone who had definitely intended to follow instructions all along.

Ravina waited until she was facing away, the angle of her shoulders deliberately aimed toward the path ahead rather than at her Pokémon.

Then she grinned, the expression quick and private as it flickered across her face before vanishing again.

Cinder's orange-red eyes softened, the flames on his forehead remaining dark as he returned her silent communication with a quiet chirr that barely disturbed the afternoon air.

"Don't tell her."

The chirr came again, this time with a definite note of amusement that suggested he was entirely on her side in this matter of Nikola's stubborn dignity.

"Traitor."

The afternoon passed slowly, the sun gradually descending toward the western hills as they continued their journey south.

Route 32 followed the lowlands toward darker hills in the distance, the landscape gradually changing from flat farmland to more varied terrain as they approached their destination.

Union Cave lay somewhere ahead.

Ravina could not yet see the entrance, but the land had begun to rise, the gentle slope becoming more noticeable with each step they took southward.

The Egg shifted against her back.

Ravina stopped mid-stride, her hand instinctively moving toward the carrier as she felt the distinct movement through the padding.

Cinder nearly walked into her, his longer Quilava body stopping just short of collision as he adjusted his momentum with practiced agility.

"Ow."

She touched the carrier.

There.

Again.

A firm little movement against her palm.

Not the vague pressure of walking.

Something inside had pushed back.

Ravina's breath caught.

Cinder came close immediately, positioning himself beside her. His nose hovered just beside the carrier, orange-red eyes focused with unwavering intensity.

Nikola turned and trotted back, her hooves making soft sounds against the packed earth as she approached. Her black eyes fixed on the carrier, tail bulb beginning to glow with soft, steady light.

Owlbert descended from a nearby tree, his wings beating with quiet precision as he landed on Ravina's shoulder. His round red eyes took in the scene with analytical calm.

Victor appeared upside down over Ravina's shoulder, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical curiosity as he positioned himself for the best view of whatever was happening.

"What?"

Ravina held up one hand, her gesture sharp with command.

"Wait."

They did.

For several seconds nothing happened.

Then...

thump.

Very small.

Very definite.

Ravina's eyes widened.

"Oh."

Cinder made a soft sound, a quiet chirr that carried both question and concern.

Nikola's ears lifted, her posture shifting as she processed the significance of the sound.

Victor slowly rotated upright, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical awe as the realization dawned.

Ravina pressed both hands around the carrier, her fingers spreading across the padding as if trying to feel more through the material.

"Hi."

Nothing.

Then another little push.

A smile spread across Ravina's face, slow and genuine.

"Hi."

Victor's voice dropped to a dramatic stage whisper that somehow carried over the afternoon breeze.

"The heir stirs."

Ravina looked up at him, her expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.

"Do not start."

"I merely observed…"

"No midwife monologue."

"I have prepared several variations on the theme of impending birth, each tailored to the particular elemental alignment…"

"No."

Nikola gave a quiet bleat, the sound softer than usual as she moved closer to the carrier. Her nose touched the padded exterior with gentle hesitation.

Another movement answered from within.

Nikola jumped back as if she'd received a shock, her hooves making soft sounds against the packed earth as she retreated.

Ravina laughed, the sound light and genuine in the afternoon air.

"Oh, now who's delicate?"

Nikola's wool sparked with indignation, tiny crackles of electricity dancing across her fleece.

"Sorry. Sorry."

Ravina crouched, her fingers brushing against the carrier as she lowered herself to Nikola's level.

It was still a few hours of daylight left, but Union Cave could wait, she thought as Ravina looked at Cinder, whose orange-red eyes remained fixed on the carrier with unwavering attention.

Then at Nikola, who was still watching the carrier with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

Then up toward Owlbert, who clicked his beak once in silent acknowledgment of the changing plans.

"We're finding camp early."

Victor drifted ahead, his gaseous form swirling with theatrical anticipation.

"At last. Preparations for destiny."

"Preparations for dinner."

"Destiny may also require dinner."

"That I'll allow."

Ravina stood carefully, adjusting the carrier's straps against her shoulders as she straightened.

The Egg moved once more against her chest, a gentle push against her palm that was both question and answer.

She rested a hand over it as they continued down the road, her fingers splayed across the padding as if trying to communicate touch through the material.

This time she didn't remove it.