"Treecko, where you at?"

  Under the cover of the night, Harry slipped from his tent. Quickly assembled, with a peg probably loose. But, as long as the tent supported itself enough to last through the night, it didn't matter. Plus, with fatigue setting in, Harry couldn't bring his brain to quite care for the pedantics of tent building. The last thing on the agenda would be retrieving his Grass type. From a field of grass.

  "Great." Harry sighed, dragging himself to his feet. A quick stretch of the limbs later, prepping himself for the ensuing chase, his eyes moved towards the tall grass. Looking for staggering in the forestry, a long tail shooting from beyond the foliage, or any other telltale signs of life. But, his Treecko had adapted to the grass almost instantly. Seemed it would be a game of hide and seek. One Harry had become accustomed to playing over his few days of strolling with his partner.

  "The sooner you come back to me, the sooner you can get a treat!" Harry tempted his partner. Seemed even food wouldn't make his partner bend a knee. It continued to slither through the grass, undetected, like the sneakster it was. Harry tsked, then delved lower down. Crouching, rustling through the swaying grass. Then, stopping. Ears slowly detecting the movement of a Pokemon from underneath the greenery. Just to the left. Careful steps. Then, a sudden grasp.

  "GOTCHA!"

  But, wait...

  This wasn't his Pokemon at all.

  Treecko wouldn't bark.

  A dark furred dog now rested firmly in Harry's arms. Tongue lopped out of its mouth, smiling. Even despite the firm grasp Harry had placed on it. Or, the fact he hadn't even met the Pokemon before. Its ears twitched, as did its tail wag. It let out another bark. No objections, still. No flailing of its dangling paws. Just, blind acceptance.

  "Oh." Harry slowly lowered the Pokemon down to the ground. Setting it amongst the tall grass, he crouched down to its level. "Sorry, little guy, wrong 'mon."

  The pooch let out another bark. Harry'd have really loved that Pokédex he'd neglected to take from the Professor. But, he could still identify the dog good enough. Poochyena, one of many he'd encountered. Although, comparably to the others, this pooch seemed like an angel. Usually, Harry would be met with snarling jaws and angry growls. Then, puppy eyes once Treecko pounded them to the dirt. Seemed, for this doggo, the roles were reversed.

  "Well, I'm gonna...go-" Harry gestured behind himself. Another bark. Poochyena certainly didn't understand what he'd said. But, it was oddly endearing. Harry let out a dry chuckle, then turned. His hand fished around in his pocket, retrieving his phone. Then, with the flashlight turned on, he continued to peruse the grass. Crouching closer to the ground. Moving slowly, listening out for rustling.

  Something sounded right beside him. Harry brushed aside the grass. His face took on a smirk, until it dropped. Just the pooch again. It let out another bark. Even ignoring the harsh light flashing into its eyes. Some perk of being a Dark type, if Harry had to guess.

  "Hi again." Harry's reintroduction seemed a lot less magical. He'd expected it to be a one off interaction. A simple pick up, put down, then run away type of job. Seemed Poochyena was more insistent than that. Harry's eyes traced the surrounding area. Any family, friends, familiar Poochyena's. Nothing.

  "You lost?" Harry asked. Another bark came in response. Identical in pitch. Not a single shift in tone, nor in expression. Right. Useless to ask any questions.

  "I'm just-" Harry took a step forward. Poochyena's movement followed. One paw in front of the other. Another step. Another paw forward. Harry would keep his gaze forward, then turn. It always seemed to know when his gaze fell upon the pooch. Just look up with those same puppy eyes, and that lopping tongue. Another bark.

  A rustling came from the grass. One not of either Poochyena, nor Harry's design. The pooch finally turned. Its paws dug into the earth. Snarling, growling. It seemed the roles truly had reversed. Malice in those growls, completely unknown in its previous barks. Seemed the pooch actually had a bit of fight to it. Harry smiled. Maybe...

  Its nose went sniffing at the ground. Attempting to track the would be aggressor. But, the Pokemon would soon reveal itself. With a dramatic jump into the air, followed by a twirl, Treecko dived towards Harry. Its trainer held out an arm, and Treecko soon met its target. Tail curling around his pale skin, spinning. Then, coming to a stop, like a gymnast after a hard routine. Arms out wide, legs tucked together. And, of course, that sneaky smile.

  "There's my little showoff, now let's get to-

  RUFF!

  Harry's speech was swiftly interrupted. A loud growl, echoing through the woods. Vaguely familiar, however. It didn't take more than a glance to observe where the noise had come from. Laying in the grass, paws stamping against the soil. Another growl, eyes set upon Treecko. Treecko crossed its arms, its smile widening into a smirk. A showoff. Even dangling Harry's open affection in the pooch's face.

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  Only when the smirk appeared did Poochyena decide it'd had enough. Paws went skirting across the grass, before leaping up at Harry's legs. Continuing to growl, as paws dug into Harry's trousers.

  "Hey, come on now!" Harry gently pushed the pooch down to the ground. But, the Dark type continued to repel against the force of his palm. Treecko's position wobbled, Harry's other arm shaking with the strain of handling the two Pokemon. Poochyena's paws were getting dangerously close to scratching Harry, too. Can't have that. "Would you give me a mi-"

  Treecko leapt from his arm, then swiftly came crashing down to the earth. Tail first, whapping the dog right in the face. The dog went flying back, fur scratching against the ground. Harry took a step back. Treecko's tail swished, dropping to the floor on occasion, smashing against the ground. Poochyena growled at Treecko.

  "Hang on a secon-" Harry spoke to put an ease to the fight. But, stopped halfway through. Poochyena seemed well intentioned enough. Perhaps not understanding of Treecko's affiliations. Warm and gentle Pokemon were rare for trainers to encounter. Those Pokemon who'd listen to their human no matter what. Even rarer were those capable in battle, too. Perhaps, Poochyena would be one of them. Only one way to find out.

  "Alright, Poochyena, let's see your audition!" Harry exclaimed. Poochyena still didn't understand. But, his excited chant gave it a reason to smile. Even as that smile soon faded, baring teeth at Treecko. Paws ground into the earth. Treecko's tail laid flat, taking a deep breath. Two ready to tussle.

  "Pound, let's go!"

  Treecko's tail flickered up, as its whole body quickly sprang into motion. Much quicker than Poochyena had anticipated. Soon, it was darting through the tall grass, legs kicking up dust in its wake. Poochena growled again. An attempt to intimidate, that faltered as Treecko pursued its target without any recourse. Moving into Poochyena's range with a lightning fast dash. Then, a smack to the face from its tail kicked off the battle, sending Poochyena tumbling backwards.

  "Again!" Harry called out. Testing out the waters with Poochyena. Couldn't be a part of his team if it didn't even have the capacity to deal with a simple pound. And so, Treecko went speeding around again. Poochyena picked itself up from the ground, dirt sticking to its coat of blackened fur. Poochyena hardly even had a moment to shake it off before Treecko had appeared right in its face. A quick swing of its tail-

  But, Poochyena ground its paws into the ground. Taking the attack. Not to the head, or to its torso. But, absorbing the force through its teeth. Then, once the pain settled, snapping its jaws right around its tail.

  The Grass type yelped. Harry couldn't help but wince too. Poochyena's jaws snatched onto that tail tight. But, that proved only the beginning. One long arc of its head, and Treecko came slamming down to the ground. Then, another right after that, keeping the gecko trapped in its vicious jaws.

  "Leafage, Treecko!" Harry called out. Treecko's yellow eyes squinted, focusing for a moment. Poochyena wound its head for a third strike against the ground, only to suddenly let go of Treecko's tail. Howls of anguish, as sharp leaves cut into its gums, released right from the Grass type's tail. Treecko slipped away with ease after that. Taking space against Poochyena, turning. It smashed its tail against the ground, a show of fight. But, it only led to Treecko wincing. Those bite marks stung. Every movement of its tail a painful reminder.

  "Another Leafage!" Harry cried out. This time, its attack wouldn't come from its injured tail. Rather, Treecko's arms glowed green, foliage forming from nothingness. Then, shooting through the air. Poochyena tanked a few of the leaves, shedding small strands of its fur.

  But, its speed still proved itself not too shabby. Once it had a bit of momentum going, Harry could even see the dog outmaneuvering Treecko's attack. Moving closer, making steady progress. Then, once close enough, its jaws ripped open, diving towards Treecko.

  "Dodge it!" Harry bellowed out. Treecko stopped its attack just in time to match its trainers cry. A quick roll out the way, and Poochyena went sailing past. But, the hound didn't stop just at that. Its paws skidded against the Earth, turning. Then, it charged like a Tauros, head first.

  "Pound!" Harry responded. Treecko planted its feet. Then, a swift hook came barrelling towards Poochyena's head. Yet, the two attacks collided. What should've been a swift win for Treecko, turned into an unexpected struggle. The pooch not giving an inch, a low growl echoing from its throat. Treecko sucking the air between its teeth, breaths heaving as its legs dug against the ground. Finding any piece of leverage.

  There, the two stayed. Eyes locked. Treecko even let out a rare growl. Harry watched carefully, waiting for a moment to step in. But, it seemed the opportunity would soon afford itself. As the battle ended not with a final blow, but a mutual understanding. A wave of exhaustion that blasted the two already weary Pokemon. Treecko's fist wavered. Poochyena's head lowered.

  "You guys all tuckered out?" Harry approached the two. They looked to Harry, then to each other. Poochyena continued to growl. More vainly this time. But, even with all the strength in the world, Harry suspected it'd have been vainer regardless. Treecko answered with a shrug, not giving the pooch a second thought, retreating back to its trainers shoulder with a gentle hop. Harry's hand combed over the top of the Grass type's head. Then, his knees buckled slightly, crouching to meet Poochyena's eyes.

  "Pretty good battler, eh?" Harry smiled. Poochyena panted. But, inbetween those breaths, it managed a bark. Its tongue lopped out of its mouth permanently, saliva dripping onto the grass. What should've been repulsive, however, Harry began to find endearing.

  His hand fished through its comfy fur. Plucking pieces of dirt from its coat, throwing them back to the grass. Brushing his hands against its cheeks, watching Poochyena's face brim with joy. Its contagious. That smile. Reminded Harry of someone he knows.

  "Well, how about this..." Harry picked Poochyena up, just as he had before. Lax paws, beaming face. "You can travel with me? How's that sound?"

  Poochyena let out a bark. It could've been excused as thoughtless. But, something told Harry, the pooch finally understood this time...