Interlude - Bet (Part 3)
"Is this the surprise you prepared for me?"
"It's where the surprise is. Come on, it's almost time for the appointment."
In front of a high-rise building, Dante and Shinobu walked together, hand-in-hand.
Looking at the girl beside him who was keeping a poker face, Dante kept guessing what she had in store for him. On the way here, she refused to divulge any information on what they were about to do.
However, his intrigue was sparked by her request to leave Pikachu and Teddiursa in the dormitory because of the surprise's private nature.
Dante's only clue was that, for the past few days after class, Shinobu would leave the school grounds. She told him she was meeting up with a female friend she made online.
Now, that had made Dante both curious and worried. If it weren't for Shinobu's insistence, he would have accompanied her once to see her female friend. After all, the internet is the most useful tool to disguise as someone they are really not.
Only when Shinobu told him she would meet up with her friend at the Grass-type Gym did he reluctantly agree. He still trusted that Erika won't let her apprentice meet alone with some dangerous fellow.
"We're here."
Dante heard a slight tremor in Shinobu's voice as she pressed the doorbell. Looking at her pink face, Dante's mind began to come up with various wild conjectures.
"Shinobu! You're just in time. Ahm and you must be Dante. I'm Juniper, it's a pleasure to finally see Shinobu's infamous lover."
A tall woman with fair skin, green eyes, and poofy honey-colored hair opened the door. She was wearing a white blouse and a short green skirt that barely covered her smooth legs.
When Dante saw her, he was slightly surprised. He remembered her. She is the Professor who gave the protagonist their Starter in Pokemon Black and White.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, too. Infamous? I don't know what she's been saying about me."
Dante took Juniper's outstretched hand. He felt her surprisingly calloused hand and firmly shook it. As he was letting go, he felt her pinkie scratch his palms.
"Haha, it's nothing harmful I assure you. But it is a secret among girls, right, Shinobu?"
Juniper gave Shinobu a wink as she let them inside her apartment. Seeing her actions, the green-haired girl's face turned a shade redder.
After they sat inside the cozy living room, the three had a casual conversation.
As it turns out, Juniper is a researcher from America who came to the Philippines to study the country's unique Pokemon. Due to coincidence, she and Shinobu became acquainted.
But in their talks, Dante still got no clue what Shinobu has in store for him. While he was surprised by seeing a familiar Pokemon character, he doubted that was Shinobu's goal.
"Dan, remember what I asked you two weeks ago? Right after our date at Butterfly Garden?"
Shinobu's question made Dante ponder. Right after their date, they had an intense lovemaking session at a nearby hotel. And after that, he remembered Shinobu asking…
"What do I feel about another party joining us?"
Dante's eyes widened. He looked at his girlfriend who had her head lowered, and Juniper who had a smirk on her face.
Dante gulped. Although it was within his plan to have a threesome in the future, he didn't expect his girlfriend to be the one to take the initiative.
When she asked him the question that night, he thought she was testing him. Therefore, he replied that he didn't mind as long as it was a girl, wanting to see her reaction. However, she only nodded and then changed the subject. And due to meeting Uxie after, he forgot all about it.
Now, looking at the sexy, mature woman with a smirk across from the table, Dante wondered how Shinobu convinced her to join in.
"Since you two lovers have sorted it out, shall we move to the bedroom?"
Interlude - Mawile and Riolu
"Wow, there are so many outsiders here!"
Mawile opened her mouth in wonder. Looking around she saw different varieties of Pokemon just talking and laughing with each other as if it were a normal occurrence.
"Grrr, with so many Pokemon, how are we supposed to find them?"
Riolu warily looked around, baring his fangs whenever a Pokemon came close to them. If it weren't because of his sister's persuasion, he would have attacked them already.
"With their powerful strength, I'm sure we can find them by asking around."
Mawile didn't have the same hostility towards outsiders like her brother. During their journey here, she already noticed what Gramps told them about the outside world was a lie.
The Pokemon they encountered were wary of them at first after learning they came from the dungeon. But when Mawile slapped her brother on the head to calm him down, and indicated they meant no harm, they gladly helped her.
"According to Mr. Torkoal, this place is where most Exploration Teams gather. So…"
Mawile looked around, and after finding a pink, friendly-looking Pokemon, she approached and used her most friendly voice.
"Hello~ I'm Mawile, can I ask you something?"
"Huh? Ask away, milady. By the way, I'm Snubbull. Why don't we talk about your problems while eating at Spinda's Cafe? My treat."
Snubbull turned around to look at who was calling him. Seeing the cute Mawile, he puffed up his chest and used his 'sexiest' voice.
Mawile's lips twitched. What was up with this Pokemon, his voice sounds so disgusting. Still, hearing him offer his help, she suppressed her discomfort and continued.
"There's no need~ I'm just looking for an Exploration Team. Do you know of a Pokemon about this big, with white and red fur? Um, he is also with a Pikachu, a yellow Azumarill, and a Sunflora."
During their trip here, Mawile already learned what type of Pokemon the three companions of her targets are. Only him, the one who knocked her out, can she not find the name of.
"Ahh, you are looking for team Omnipotent Travelers. They're the talk of the town recently, graduating so early from Wigglytuff's Guild. If you want their help for a task, I can guide you to their base."
"No. I think we can make it on our own, thank you."
Mawile dragged Riolu and hurriedly walked away. If she accepted his offer and 'he' saw them together, what if 'he' misunderstood their relationship?
Thankfully, she already got the name of their team. After asking another passerby where it was, she soon found herself near the side of a cliff.
"They said Omnipotent Travelers had taken a task and should return shortly. Let's wait for them here."
"Nice job, sis! Hehe, we can set up tons of Blast Seeds here before they arrive. That would teach them to mess with us."
"Orrrr, what about we join their team and act undercover. That way, we can learn about him- them. And then, we can strike when they're unprepared."
"Ehh? But that would take so long. What if Gramps and the others found out we escaped? And I also feel weaker and weaker after leaving the dungeon. If we wait any longer, we won't have a chance at all!"
Mawile hurriedly stopped her little brother from taking out the Blast Seeds. After scratching her head, she thought of another excuse.
"Stupid Riolu, didn't you hear what the Pokemon in the town said about their team's strength? And they even beat Gramps. You think they would fall for something like this?"
Mawile thumped Riolu on the head with her jaw. Seeing him rubbing his head and apologizing, she nodded in satisfaction.
Luckily, her little brother is a bit slow in the head. When she told him she wanted to take 'revenge' on the group that hurt them, he helped her escape from the dungeon. And now, after so many days, she can see him again.
Remembering his handsome appearance and deep, dark voice, Mawile let out a silly giggle.
"Hello, are you here to give tasks?"
Mawile's daydreaming was interrupted by a naive-sounding voice.
She looked back and saw a brown Pokemon, even smaller than Riolu, with a paw in his mouth staring curiously at her.
"No, we would like to join the team here."
"Oh. DAD! WE HAVE ANOTHER POKEMON WHO WANTS TO JOIN US!"
Mawile covered her ears, caught off guard by this Pokemon's sudden outburst. She wanted to curse him for almost making her deaf. However, when she saw the figure of the Pokemon she had been dreaming about in the distance, Mawile swallowed her words back.
"Teddy, I told you, we wouldn't accept more- oh."
He stopped, his face becoming pleasantly surprised.
Seeing his smile, Mawile's heart started to beat faster. And it only quickened further when she saw him walking in her direction.
She shyly opened her mouth, wanting to introduce herself. However, she froze when instead of stopping, he continued walking past her and in front of Riolu.
"Are you the one who wants to join our team?"