PMDU: The Sixth Hour - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 - The Avalodge, Part 2

The plastic ball blasted through the stack of empty milk bottles, sending them scattering around the booth.  Honey hopped up and down excitedly.  "Wow!  You're really good!"

Tobe sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.  "I g-guess..."

As the Hitmonchan running the booth grumbled about the mess, the Eevee propped herself on the Typhlosion's hip.  "How can you throw so well!?  How strong ARE you!?  Here, bend down."  Tobe complied, wondering what was going on.  The kit attempted to wrap herself around his bicep, without success.  "Whoa you're buff!  Maybe more boys would work on berry fields if they knew they could get as strong as you!"

Tobe looked at Honey and stifled a chuckle.  She looked at him quizzically.  "What's so funny?"

He shuddered involuntarily.  "O-Oh!  N-n-n-nothing...!"

The Hitmonchan tapped the fire type on the back.  "Oi kid, here's ya prize," he said, holding out a stuffed doll of an Audino.

"Oh, th-th-thanks..."

"C'mon Tobers, what's so funny?"

Both Tobe and Honey froze.  "Tobe, I...I'm so sorry, I..."

He sighed.  "...no, it's...it's fine...thanks for the night Honey.  I...g-gotta go g-get my P-P-Pa..."  The Typhlosion slowly stood up and shuffled into the crowd, the doll clutched in his hand.

Honey sat in front of the booth.  "...mon I hate being an Espeon sometimes..."  She stood up and ambled after the towering fire type.

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"Heads up kid!"  Ray kicked the soccer ball to his recently acquired Aron teammate, who deftly began to bounce it off his back as he hovered around Jewel and her own Umbreon team member.

The Umbreon smirked as she pounced on the Aron's rear, sending him tumbling uncontrollably through the air as she began to move the ball back towards Ray's goal.  "Sorry lover-boy, but I gotta get in there."  The Umbreon tried to sweep Ray off his feet, her golden rings glittering in the lantern light.

With his own smile Ray side flipped out of the way, only to get caught in the gut by the flat of Jewel's blade.  Both he and the ball went hurtling into the goal.  On the sidelines the Umbreon's kits cheered, as did the small crowd that had formed as the match of Battle Ball had gone on.  "Anowther point fow'da Bwack Ladies!" the excitable Zigzagoon scorekeeper called out as he put another dash on the score board (with help from his Zangoose guardian).

As Ray brushed off his waistcoat, Peter staggered over to him, wobbling slightly as the dizziness wore off.  "W-Well, that was almost cool."  The Aron shook his head as the world finally stopped spinning.  "Okay, we gotta beat these chicks.  Any ideas?"

Ray shot a mischievous look at his wife and Goldie, who both watched the two of them strategize.  "Well, so fa they've been able ta predict both ewf us, so how 'bout wey do somethin'...different?"

Peter raised an eyebrow.  "Like what?"

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Goldie panted slightly as she watched Ray and Peter strategize.  She arched her back and stretched her legs as her Seviper partner looked over to her.  "Thank you for agreeing to play," the poison type said, again with every syllable artfully articulated.

Goldie huffed and grinned.  "No problem.  I needed a way to keep my furballs entertained for a few minutes, and seeing their mom beat the snot out of two suckers is as good as anything."  The two women chuckled.

"Alright," Ray called to the scorekeeper, "wey're ready ta go."  He and the Aron took position abreast from each-other.

"Okay!  Weady, set, go!"  The Zangoose dropped the soccer ball into the middle of the field and immediately Goldie shot forward, smacking the ball into the air.  Ray and Jewel met mid-air.  With a crashing noise the both flew back, Ray landing face down on the field and Jewel landing half-frozen in crystal clear ice, the ball launched straight up into the air.

Peter swooped in and bopped the ball towards the girls' goal.  "Oh no you don't," Goldie muttered as she attempted to throw the steel type off balance like before.  Only this time as she leaped for his tail she sudden felt a sharp jab send her flying through the air and into the goal, quickly followed by Jewel and the ball.  A flawless sweep win.

The crowd exploded with cries of joy.  "Fwawless victory!  Da White Knights hawf done a fwawless victory!"

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As the Kricetots and Nincada filled the air with a summer buzz, the party continued on, the Avalodge and surrounding streets packed with events and partygoers.  Zaqu surveyed the disgusting display again.  If he was ever going to find the Seviper witch, this would be the place.  The Zangoose reached down and gripped the edge of the roof he was perched on.

In the distance, a bright flash of green light signaled the beginning of a fireworks display.  As the crowd oohed and ahed, Zaqu rolled his eyes.  'Tch.  Self-indulging idiots.  They'll eat themselves out in a month if-'  He lost his train of thought as his eyes fell on a Seviper seated on the front porch of the lodge.  'Immaculate scales...deliberate movements...could be her...'  He leaped off the roof onto a tent bellow.  With one clean motion he slid down the colorful fabric and an anchor line, immediately integrating himself into the crowd.

As Zaqu made his way towards the porch, he quickly grabbed an overcoat and a pair of sunglasses from a vending stall without notice.  After donning his disguise, he swiped a mug of something alcoholic off a tasting table and casually leaned against the side wall of the lodge, listening intently to the conversation around the corner.  There were two voices, both were laughing.  From the sound of it they were both female.  One voice was slightly deeper and more rough, while the other was smooth and very articulated.

"Ah Mew," the deeper voice said, "I must've looked like a moron with my ass in the air like that.  How'd he jump me like that?"

"From what I could tell he played dead and leapt up when you went for Peter," said the smooth voice.  "It was a brilliant move really."

Deeper voice chuckled again.  "Yeah...your man's really something Jewel.  When I was younger I would have killed to marry a guy like that."

"I hate to tell you, but Ray's unique.  I have never met a man like him before, and I doubt I ever will again."

Zaqu smiled as he took a sip out of the mug.  It was her.  The witch was as good as dead.

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"Knowing the concentration of asshole guys in this city," Goldie replied, "I think I agree."

As she and Jewel started laughing again, Goldie suddenly noticed Honey across the way at the drink tasting table.  She appeared to be having a conversation with the biggest Typhlosion Goldie had ever seen.  The fire type was absolutely ripped, with black patches of fur on his arms and chest, and a vest that remarkably was actually a little big for him.  As the Umbreon blinked in surprise, she spied a Pangoro wearing a tattered brown cap who was remarkably actually bigger than the Typhlosion (though distinctly less fit).  The dark type stumbled through the crowd, apparently drunk, with his fists clenched and a deep scowl, and he was headed straight for Honey and the Typhlosion.

"Ah, sorry Jewel but I gotta run.  Honey!"  As Goldie jumped from her chair Honey turned to face her mother, waving her over.

"H-H-Honey, p-please just g-go.  If P-P-Pa s-sees me w-with y-y-you h-he'll-"

"Hello..." Goldie interrupted as she placed herself between the Typhlosion, her voice dripping with venom.

The Typhlosion jumped a bit.  "Oh!  U-U-U-Um, h-h-hello..."

"BOY..."  The Typhlosion froze.  "WHAT'N THE HELL ARE YOU DOIN'?"  Simultaneously shrinking his fame and turning around, the fire type moved to reveal the Pangoro towering over the scene.  "I TOLD YA T'GET ME WHEN YOU WAS DONE."

Behind her, Goldie heard Honey whisper "Oh no, Tobe..."

"P-P-P-P-P-P-P-Pa, I-I-I-I-I-"  Tobe yelped as the Pangoro lifted him up by the scruff of his neck.

Goldie took a combat stance as the crowd around them began to take notice.  "What  is going on here!?" she barked at the Pangoro.

"NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS, BITCH."

"Like hell it isn't!  Your kid here was talking to my daughter in front of a bar!  As far as I can tell they're both under-age so-"

"HE WAS WHAT?!"  With another yelp from Tobe the Pangoro lifted him off the ground to look the fire type in the eye.  "IS THIS TRUE BOY!?"

Honey pawed at Goldie.  "Mom please stop!" she whispered.  "You're gonna make it worse!"

Tears forming at the corners of his eyes, Tobe nodded.

Goldie had a split-second to react as she saw the tan and black bulk of the Typhlosion hurtling towards her and Honey.  With one motion she swept up Honey and dug a shallow hole just deep enough so that the thrown mon only grazed the tips of her ears. With a tremendous crash the fire type barreled through the brewing equipment behind the table.  Various fluids flooded the street, and somewhere in the crowd someone screamed.

By the time Goldie looked up from the hole, the Pangoro had already dragged the heavily battered Typhlosion halfway around the lodge, the crowd parting before him in fear and shock.  As Honey peeked her head up as well, the Umbreon though she saw a faint smile on Tobe's face.