I will give it all back to you, Mewtwo

Chapter twelve

Cubone kept his paws clutched to my shirt, whimpering profusely as I put one foot on the route.

There were tons of trainers.

Was I even ready to face them?

Bohdi placed a hand on my shoulder. "You've got this." He told me.

Cubone shivered as I held on to him.

"I won't let them hurt you or touch you, I promise." I whispered to him as I stepped around a trainer, trying not to engage in a battle. I doubt I would win anyways.

I wasn't the most skilled when it came to Pokémon battles anyways. I was more of a caretaker than a trainer, even though I was a trainer in most of those games.

And now it's real.

Cubone settled in a bit in my arms, barely content with what's happening.

I pat the bone on his head.

The trainer seemingly noticed me trying to be sneaky, but didn't seem to care about battling.

Odd.

Or maybe the trainer just didn't want to battle like in the games.

I snuck past more of the trainers.

None of them tried to even engage me in a battle.

"Don't the people around these routes usually want to battle?" I wondered aloud as the sun trailed towards the west.

"I think. Have they seemed off to you too?" Bohdi wondered as he passed a trainer, giving them a glance.

"Have you—"

"Battled them? Some of them. I've lost many times to a couple of them, but none of them seem to want a rematch with me or a match with you."

"That's not—"

"Normal? No. Sorry I keep interrupting you, but there's something weird going on today that hasn't happened the last time, or even the last few times I came by here."

Odd. They seem to be acting aloof, not how the game would have them at all. Then again, this might be an open, free world where they can talk and battle as they please. But then again what Bohdi told me makes it seem like it shouldn't be this way, I thought as we continued to walk.

"Ah." I commented.

It became quiet after that, but our footsteps continued anyways.

We walked until we hit a patch of grass.

I spied a Jigglypuff in it, moving his stubby paws around like he was conducting a marching band or along those lines.

The Jigglypuff stopped for a moment and waved at us.

Some of the other Pokémon ran away, while others waved at us as well.

"What is going on?" I wondered.

"I don't know. First the trainers are acting off and now the Pokémon?"

Have the Pokémon and Trainer's brains switched around like some sort of brain swamping movie? It's definitely weird.

The sun lowered even more as Bohdi and I settled by the tall grass.

The Jigglypuff was nice.

Unlike the ones in the anime, this one wouldn't sing at the sign of a human. He was just there, enjoying the feeling of the tall grass on his bouncy body.

I bent down next to the Jigglypuff.

"Hey, can I ask you a question, Jigglypuff?" I wondered, speaking to the male softly.