The Other Side of the Coin

Carmina’s size did come in handy sometimes. For instance, being able to carry the old hospital chair over her shoulder while pushing the new one single handed.

Hailey thought about trying to push herself, testing the new chair out, but for some reason, her arms felt a bit weak. Well, weaker than usual. Instead, she clutched the new Dex to her lap, didn’t feel right to open it yet, but she wasn’t about to let it go.

It didn’t take long to arrive back at the Center, Gem and Pomona lounging around in the waiting area quickly sprung back up to meet them. Things were a bit of a blur after that.

Gem was cooing over her new chair, though she did think it would look better with some electric blue stripes. Carita pulled Pomona over to talk in a bit of a huddle about something, made her want to eavesdrop but Gem wanted to get her Dex set up.

The little device was… quite different from the old, blocky, beige desktops that sat in the hospitals reading room. The controls were smaller for one, she had to take it slow with all the buttons she was pressing by mistake, but it was so much faster!

The hardest part had actually been setting up the user profile, not the information, but apparently you had to put a picture in it for some reason? She’d planned to just a picture of a flower or something, but Gem wasn’t having it.

She’d snatched the Dex and started hopping around, the shutter blasting. Hailey tried to shield her face through sheer reflex, which only led to Gem laughing more and trying to wiggle her way around.

Eventually the hubub ended with the Minun snuggled up on her lap, Hailey’s chin on top of her head as they scrolled through the pictures. Most were… pretty bad, even without including the subject, but Hailey wasn’t going to say that. They were having a pretty good time going through and roasting them.

Blurry, unfocused, bad framing, focused on the ceiling, it was like a Ratata had spammed agility, downed an entire pot of coffee, then stolen the camera. Eventually, she settled on one that was at least clear, taken from a low angle, that showed the chair in profile, but crucially not her face.

There were a few things already on the device. The camera, natch, a web browser which seemed to already be connected to the Center’s Wi-Fi, and an address book, which already had two entries in it.

Carita, natch. The dragon had somehow finagled it so that there wasn’t even a delete option on her profile. Gem just fanned herself with her hand while looking at the profile pic. An up angle where she was looking down at the camera. Apparently Gem found it hot, to Hailey it was just silly.

And speaking of silly…

“Well, I’ve certainly lost enough time chasing you around, so it’s past due I get back and actually get some real work done.” The words struck surprisingly hard.

Carita was… just leaving? After hovering over her her entire life? After chasing her literally across the region? Just… going back to work? Realistically, Hailey knew she had a life outside of just her, but it still felt weird.

“Ah, you’ve started fiddling with the Dex, good. Remember, I will be calling regularly, so make sure you answer.”

Gem took one last chance to smug directly at her. “Oh? But what if we’re somewhere without signal? What then?”

Carita took the bait, leaning down to pinch one of her long, blue tipped ears. “Well, then, someone better climb a tree and act as an antenna, because my patience has limits.”

Releasing it, she stood back up straight and looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end just muttered “Ok, take care of her you two. Any new symptoms, escalation in attacks, I should be the first one you call. Or… maybe second, if there’s EMT’s nearby.

With that, she stepped back, out the door, and took off with a whump of displaced air, a crack following a few seconds later.

---

*Beep* Minun – The Cheering Pokemon. Minun are almost never seen apart from Plusle. They are known to form Pompoms from showers of electric sparks and tend to take a more supportive role, both on the battlefield and the bedroom. Some historians believe the sport of cheer-leading actually originated with this duo.

Id: Gem (Hoenn, Out of Date by GPS Data, Please see a nearby Center)

Moves Discovered:

-Spark

-Growl

-???

“Oh so you’re ACAB? Assigned Cheerleader at Birth?” Hailey snorted, holding the Dex in one hand. They’d turned in for an early night not long after dinner, now they were all piled in one bed again.

“Not surprising, our Gem is clearly a very supportive and loving individual, positively cherubic.” Pomona was on her left side, it felt like she was half off the bed and just floating, but she kept saying it was fine.

In response, Gem twisted onto her belly from where she was laying, half on both of them, and delivered a toothy bite right to Pomona’s boob. “I’ll support those titties you purple pillow! But geez, those summaries always leave off so much, like how our electricity promotes circulation and health! It’s true, scientifically backed, I read it in a magazine once.”

“Oh, so that’s why you keep shocking me, for my health is it?” Hailey grunted as the Minun rolled back over, snuggling further into her body and the covers.

“Yeah, totally, that’s why you should always trust me without question.” A statement which was promptly followed by another static shock. Hailey was unconvinced to say the least.

Still, it was fun to fiddle around with this thing, lying in bed. She probably wouldn’t have much data when they were out in the wilderness, who knew what Carita’s plan covered.

Of course, that raised another issue. Where… to go?

She was trying not to let it consume her thoughts, mostly through scrolling and randomly poking at the pre-installed apps. Eventually, she came back to the contacts. Carita was in there, but so was someone else, Brigit. Her profile pic was… confusing, eventually it seemed to resolve into someone, probably Thẚo, trying to shove a Nanab into her mouth. Not even in a sexy way either.

Hailey sighed. Logically she knew she should talk to her. They’d both apparently been concerned enough about her to remember she existed, even though they had only met for a few hours. But talking was… well, it wasn’t like she could just yell or snark like she did with Carita.

Plus, Gem was already passed out on her chest, no reason to wake her up. Still, just another thing to linger in her mind, at least till she saw the message option on the contact page.

Messages would work, right? Just drop one off and she’d see it later, barely like talking at all!

H0t_Wh33l5:Hey Brigit, I know we only briefly met but Carita (yeah, she found me, heard she found you too) finally caught up with me. Things haven’t gone quite as I expected, but she said you and Thẚo were worried about me? You don’t have to, I’m… under control now. Sorry about leaving without saying anything, I guess that was a bit abrupt.

Was that rude? Terse? She didn’t know, so after staring at it for a few minutes, she just hit send, before flopping back onto the pillow. Perhaps it was time to stop thinking and get some sleep.

At least until the Dex vibrated.

Now somewhat bleary eyed, Hailey thumbed it back on. A message, from Brigit, she’d already unlocked the Dex before wondering if she maybe should have left it till the morning.

Fru1tiv0ir: Wendy! Or should I say Halcyon! Glad to see I was wrong to be worried, when the Rangers (and then Carita) showed up I was worried they were gonna find you like… passed out in a ditch covered in Combee’s or somethin

H0t_Wh33l5: Oh… just Hailey, is fine. And no, made it all the way to Eterna actually. Uh, perhaps even further, we’ll see, things are changing in ways I did not expect. Sorry if I woke you up

H0t_Wh33l5: Wait, what’s up with the name tag thingies here, I didn’t set that

Fru1tiv0ir: Your… screenname? It’s set when you set up the program? Also, don’t worry about it, it’s not even that late yet cause Thẚo hasn’t come to pick me up and carry me back to bed

H0t_Wh33l5: I don’t remember setting up… Oh I bet Gem did it

Fru1tiv0ir: Gem??? (⚆_⚆) That doesn’t sound like a human name…

H0t_Wh33l5: No she’s… hang on

Fumbling around, Hailey did her best to lift the Dex above her head and thumb the camera button one handed. The flash was a bit… disorienting, but luckily Gem didn’t seem to stir, though red eye did open to her side, but said nothing.

H0t_Wh33l5: She’s this goober. Was messing with the Dex before she started using me as a pillow

Fru1tiv0ir: A Pokémon! I thought you said you didn’t have any partners?!

H0t_Wh33l5: I didn’t

H0t_Wh33l5: Didn’t plan to either, they were both kinda… accidents?

Fru1tiv0ir: Both?!! Wait... that’s not a blanket next to you? OMA! Two of them! Hang on

Brigit certainly seemed more… animated? While online. But then again, she’d only met her once, so who knew.

B1g_N@Nab has joined the chat

B1g_N@Nab: TWO OF THEM?!

Text might have been silent, but Hailey still felt the need to recoil from the perceived volume of it.

H0t_Wh33l5: I… assume that is Thẚo?

Fru1tiv0ir: She wanted to see…

B1g_N@Nab: HAHA, OF COURSE IT IS! WHO ELSE HAS A NANAB THIS BIG? BUT OH, IT’S SO MUCH EASIER TO FOCUS ON YOU THIS WAY. THAT LITTLE HEAT THIEF HAS TO BE AN ELECTRIC TYPE, RIGHT?

Fru1tiv0ir: She also likes typing in all caps for some reason

B1g_N@Nab: IT MAKES IT EASIER TO SEE ON THESE TINY SCREENS!

H0t_Wh33l5: I see… but yeah, Gem is a Minun, from Hoenn actually. Pomona is more local though, a Drifloon

B1g_N@Nab: ALWAYS LIKED ELECTRIC TYPES, SO FEISTY, SO STRETCHY. BUT A GHOST TYPE REALLY SUITS YOU

H0t_Wh33l5: Thanks I think? And please don’t say that to Gem, she’s already plotting to try and climb Carita and I don’t think she’d survive… also I don’t need that drama in my life

B1g_N@Nab: NO PROMISES LITTLE ROOT

Fru1tiv0ir: Mmmmm, the good Doctor certainly is… quite a climb, but you should have more faith in your partners Hailey

H0t_Wh33l5: … ok yeah, just gonna… move past and not examine that

---

Hailey wasn’t sure exactly how long the conversation had gone, she’d finally set the Dex down and passed out sometime between when Thẚo was trying to cajole Bridget into taking another trip, and promising that she would make Hailey real food, unlike some mediocre burger and fries.

Regardless, they were all feeling a bit still stiff the next morning. Her, aside from the usual pains, from holding the Dex at a weird angle for so long, and Gem for sleeping on her bony chest all night. That would surely teach her. And Pomona… well, she seemed to be doing fine actually.

Still, the morning went pretty quietly. Up, bathroom, brush, to breakfast, all ignoring the looming sword, now dangling above her head.

That being, what now?

It had been running through her mind a lot, but SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE’D GET THIS FAR! And that was kinda, sorta, freaking her out.

Still, it was under control. At least until Gem started speaking through a mouthful of cereal.

“So, like, what are we even doing now that big and scaly has flocked off? Cause I vote against going back to live with Pomona’s ‘sisters’.”

“Oh, but I am sure they would love to see you again Gem.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’d need mouth to mouth with a Vaporeon after an hour.”

“You know, I find it hard to believe that would be a downside for you Gem.” Hailey cut in, all while racking her brain over a piece of toast.

She’d planning this one tiny trip for so long, obsessed over it, that suddenly being cut loose, told ‘hey, do whatever’, was kinda driving her mad. A little.

There was always Lake Verity, that had been one of her decoys but still, it seemed nice. She’d have to go back through Jubilife though and… that didn’t feel right. If she went back so soon, would she be able to leave again? Or would fear and anxiety keep her rooted?

In between slow bites she squinted at a map of the region that was hanging on the far wall. Anywhere, anywhere at all.

“… and DO they look really good in a one piece? Yes, but that’s besides the point, I don’t want to be waterboarded several times a day! … once a week is plenty.”

“I want to see the ocean.” It had just slipped into her mind from somewhere, but it was true, she had wanted to visit it. The west coast had been on her short list, but you had to take a ferry to get to any of the good spots and that was money and exposure she didn’t really have in supply.

“Bracing sea air, I have often had to visit the coast for work, it would not be to hard to head toward Canalave City.” Pomona chimed in.

“But the west is all cold and damp, isn’t it?” Gem shot back, “Let’s go somewhere hot, with girls in barely any clothing!”

“Not quite my concern, but… I don’t really want to go back to Jubilife anytime soon.” Hailey added.

“Hmm” Pomona was floating again, “well then, Sunyshore would probably be our best bet. Quite a pleasant tropical climate, from what I have heard, on the opposite side of the region. I have never been myself though, and it is a fair bit further.”

“Yeah! Hot sand! Hot girls!” Gem yelled, more than a few people turned to look at her, only to lose interest when they saw it was just an Electric type. “We should totally do it Hailey, can even get you in a swimsuit!”

Hailey had to rub her head at that one. “Ok, first off, terrible idea, they’ll think something dead has washed up on shore. Second, I can’t swim. No one was gonna let me near the water with legs like this, and the seizures, and so on.”

Gem just waved her off. “So you can attract lifeguards, no big deal.”

“There is another matter.” Pomona said, “I do not think tramping straight through the direct wilderness would be the best plan, so that leaves two possible routes. Either south, along the bike path to Oreburg before we turn east to Hearthome…”

“Can you even take a wheelchair on the Bike Path?” Gem wondered, while Hailey merely said “Hard pass.”

“Or…” Pomona continued, “We could strike directly East through Mt. Coronet to Veilstone, before turning south.”

“That’s my vote.”

“Thought you’d be more scared of tunnels after your last time.” Gem jabbed.

“Just because I got stuck, being underground is fine. Besides, now if I do you’ll just have to use your big, strong muscles to get me free.” It was meant to be sarcastic but Gem looked so pleased to be complimented that Hailey couldn’t bring herself to correct her.

“There is another issue though.” And it had been one that had been stuck even further back in her mind for quite a while. “How are we gonna… eat? And sleep, and stuff? Because, as I’m sure you both know by now, I don’t have any money… probably shouldn’t steal any more either.”

“Well, I still have some savings…” Pomona started.

“And I don’t want to just drain them!”

“But there is another option.” The ghost continued. “While it is not much, Carita did inform me that she intended to set up a small stipend for you, we could get a basic tent, some supplies.”

“Jeez, how much is that dragon dropping on me?” It was a strange feeling for Hailey, and not an entirely positive one. Was she just doing this because she felt guilty? Why else would she? It made her a bit uncomfortable, but you couldn’t look a gift Ponyta in the mouth, so she simply answered “Huh, she didn’t mention this to me.”

Gem concurred with a “Me either.”

Pomona simply hummed, and Hailey felt she was getting a pretty good idea what that actually meant.

Spoiler

minor milestones keep passing, like 80k. Much like Hailey I never thought I'd get this far. has required a bit of thinking on my feet, but stuff like comments and theorizing keeps me boosted. And since you all know who Carita is now, can guess who the next one will be, got them nailed down even though it will be a while XD

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