FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A harsh amount of sunlight seeping into the room through the curtains woke Skye. She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed where her backpack was, reaching down to unzip her bag and sift for her wristwatch. "Got it," she muttered once her hand brushed against it, pulling the watch out and checking the time. "Uh, 9:30? Shit…"

Skye took the watch and slid off the bed, entering the restroom. She grimaced while looking at the tangly frazzled mess that was her hair in the mirror. She had thirty minutes to get ready. "And I need to brush my teeth and shower and concealer and… ughh," Skye grunted and turned to twist the shower's nozzles.

Ruki awakened shortly after she got into the shower. He heard rushing water behind the closed restroom door and sat up. The sun was shining outside, leading Ruki to believe he'd slept in. Skye would have woken him up, though, right? He'd wait on the bed, maybe groom himself and scratch some itches until she got out.

Today should be fun. Ruki would have to be around Sylmi again, but it would only be awkward if Ruki made it so. He could get to know the sylveon instead of avoiding contact with him due to a misunderstanding that wasn't his fault.

Besides, Ruki didn't want to forget how to socialize and end up like Skye's father's lycanroc, who was Ruki's mentor. He was now a recluse and had been for too many years to count, although it was kind of in a midday's nature.

About five minutes later, the water turned off, and some time after that, the doorknob twisted.

Ruki saw Skye exit the bathroom with a towel around her. Her hair looked perfect. It was flowy and wavy, and her face and lips were dolled up. He also eyed her stressed look. They'd definitely slept in.

"Morning morning," Skye said with a glance. "I can't believee I slept in." She went and kneeled in front of her open backpack, taking out a bra, lacy panties, and opaque thigh-high white socks with a cute pink velvet ribbon at the top of them. She also grabbed a bottle of sweet perfume she'd packed and tossed all of it onto the bed.

She had bought the socks last year at the mall since she'd thought they looked cute but never had a reason to wear them, especially since she'd hidden them from her parents. Without a thought, she dropped her towel atop her backpack, revealing her body to Ruki.

He sneaked a few glances at her breasts. He'd never seen them before today—at least not how he saw them after their special night. Ruki hadn't focused on them much two days ago since he was too engrossed in her vagina. He looked away before she noticed.

"Okay..." Skye put on her panties and slid her shorts up her legs, wiggling her hips into them, then clipped her bra behind her back. Afterward, she went to the nightstand where she had set her outfit last night. Skye unfolded her plaid shirt and slipped into it, buttoning it accordingly. "And…" She grabbed her socks and slipped into them. Skye wiped her shirt to straighten any wrinkles and patted her sock's ribbons. "How do I look?"

Ruki's heart could burst from how tight his chest was. The socks made him want to stare at her legs for hours. He watched her spray perfume on her neck, arms, and wrists while holding his breath, as the scent usually made him sneeze.

Skye rubbed the scent in and set the bottle down. "Now, I'm ready." She slumped onto the edge of the bed's sheets and sighed.

She patted a spot next to her and watched Ruki walk over and sit. "I'm beat, and the day hasn't even started yet." She placed her hand on his back while checking the time on her wrist. "9:55. Time to go, baby." Skye's hand slid off of him as she got up. She grabbed the last water from their winnings, slipped into her boots, and went out the door.

Ruki followed her into the sunny courtyard and saw Aaron and Sylmi standing idle by their suite.

A few other trainers were out, some sunbathing or conversing by the pool.

Ruki saw Aaron's cheeks flush upon seeing Skye in her outfit and agreed wholeheartedly. He then looked at Sylmi, and Sylmi at him.

"Hi." Skye smiled.

"Hi…" Aaron replied with a timorous grin. He wore jeans and a sporty black and white unzipped jacket over a long-sleeved shirt. "You look great, Skye."

"Thank you." Her smile grew. "Looks like you're all dressed up too. Floaroma is a bit of a walk, isn't it?" Skye caught a glimpse of the distance when she'd recently looked at her map.

"Four cities and a forest away, to be exact. We can take a quicker route there, though, if you'd like."

"No, that sounds nice. We are touring, after all. Let's get going, then?" She beckoned Ruki to follow, starting the walk to Route 13.

"What made you choose Sinnoh?" Aaron strolled beside her.

She caught whiffs of the cologne he wore, etching itself already in her mind. "It was the first region I fell upon when I started researching due to its popularity. I fell in love with places like Floaroma and Coronet and liked some of their history too," Skye explained. They neared the lobby and were almost out of the courtyard. "How about you? You said you come from Kalos often?"

Meanwhile, Ruki trailed behind with Sylmi and found himself lost in—Skye. He stared at the backside of her clothed legs and thick thighs while she walked, and at her plump rear cheeks moving gently against her steps. Her every step was fluid, without fault, and her skin almost glowed off the sun's mild gaze. It captured him like nothing else, but Ruki began feeling a dangerous warmth stir in his lower regions, and this would be the worst time to show.

He shifted his attention and shot a few glances at the sylveon, whose eyes were on him.

"Yep, but I've been to plenty of regions with Sylmi. Sinnoh or maybe Ferrum has to be my favorite out of them so far. The feel and culture of Sinnoh appeals to me the most, maybe because it was the first region to exist. Food here is great too, but the snappy lifestyle takes some getting used to."

Skye giggled. "First region? That's like a myth, right? But yeah, the dishes here are seasoned generously, to say the least. The chefs don't hold back."

"So you were researching," he said following a chuckle and shrugged. "Yeah, it is, but I like to believe it."

"...To think I've missed out on traveling for so many years. There's an entire world out there. This is my first time away from home; I'm loving it."

Aaron looked at her. "Maybe this is the start of something for you, then."

"Yeah, maybe. I've like especially always wanted to go to Carmonte Island and Unova since I was young. Carmonte because it's a dreamy fantasy full of state-of-the-art resorts... Then I've seen so many shows and films shot in Unova. It was one of the most popular regions in the past."

"I haven't been to that one either. The war really changed things, unfortunately."

"Alola struck first and fought with Galar, Kalos, and Sinnoh, if I can remember," Skye said.

The devastation occurred mainly on Johto, Kanto, and Unova's mainland, although Hoenn had helped them invade opposing regions.

It went on for several years and spread famine and collapse, even involving legendary pokémon that Johto and Kanto had captured and utilized temporarily as a last resort. It caused billions globally to lose all respect for them. Many were against using pokémon in military conflict, but legendaries were sacred entities that every region agreed never to touch, especially to tilt a conflict in their favor. It was a war crime to do so.

The war had affected Alola through severe inflation and loss of resources through halted imports across the board. The economy recovered within a few years following the war's conclusion.

The Accord had targeted Hau'oli for fatal attacks as well, although later into the conflict that gradually spread worldwide.

"I remember the emergency alert system distinctly," Skye said. "Usually tests, but that one filled every Alolan with unimaginable fear."

She remembered the house's structure trembling and power going out after an airstrike hit the Shopping District. A couple more had hit hotels and markets on the strip, making her whimper and squeeze Ruki during the moment.

Fortunately for the world, nuclear properties had been a work-in-progress that first-world regions only now began to master due to advancements in technology, so they hadn't been used in the last war. However, all capable regions were fast-tracking research and development with adequate funding.

Unova surrendered after losing more than half of its military, alongside its allies, Johto, Kanto, and Hoenn. Hoenn had called for peace several times during the war, but they were on the wrong side by the time doomsday was on the horizon, so it wasn't a factor for the SNDA.

After the war concluded and regions rebuilt, Galar, who now had the most powerful military in the world, commandeered the bases left standing surrounding the region that had once belonged to the Accord, and Alola did the same.

Galar had also established bases in all regions in the Unified Accord to ensure nothing close would repeat.

Even with Kanto having been the forefront of technology for as long as the world could remember, Galar had surpassed the Accord long before the war.

As for Unova, it had established a soft autocracy over its remaining masses and did away with its once free economy. While the region allowed citizens' rights to own private property, it didn't allow freedom of speech or assembly against authority; it also allowed human-pokémon relations in every metric other than marriage. It was a world cut off from the modern one for the most part.

"I don't think it would have involved the SNDA so much had Johto and Kanto not mixed native pokémon, but something was bound to happen since they kept funding and working with Unovanish," Aaron said. "I lived in New Bark Town, so we weren't affected by direct attacks like Goldenrod, Violet, and Olivine, but I learned about it all in a world history class. Well... I know the SNDA's perspective."

"That makes sense... attacking the major cities and government facilities. I hate thinking about it, though. So many lives were taken," Skye said.

"Then let's not talk about this. This is supposed to be a bright day, right?" He closed his eyes for a moment. "Uh, so, have any favorite games or movies?"

"That's a tough one." She grinned. "I'm supposedly binging a few series, but I've also been slacking on them. My favorite game is even tougher... Gosh."

Aaron chuckled. "Take your time. I wanna hear all of them."

---

In over three hours with a bus ride and breaks in between, they had made their way through a serene, grassy Pastoria and a much busier Hearthome City. They were now walking down the Cycling Road toward Eterna under a warmer sun since they were away from the coastal areas.

Cyclists passed them by often, and the group kept near the inner railing to avoid accidents.

"I do want another pokémon one day," Skye said. "I caught Ruki as my first when I was twelve, so it may be overdue. I just have to decide what pokémon I want and when I want to commit." Skye stretched her legs after every other step she took.

"Having one or two to give all your care and attention is something else," Aaron said.

"Mhm. There's nothing more fulfilling than having a companion to share life with, and having one or two means you can give them your all."

Ruki looked beside him and saw Sylmi glancing at him while panting a little. Ruki would be doing that too if his tails weren't cold right now. He grinned at Sylmi, and Sylmi perked upon receiving it.

Now Ruki felt even worse about ignoring Sylmi.

"We have two more places to get through, right? Eterna City and Forest?" Skye asked as they approached the end of the road, opening her water to drink some. Aaron had bought one back in Hearthome, as had Skye after finishing her first one with Ruki.

"Yeah, but we can rest if you're tired. Eterna is huge, so it won't be a short walk."

"I'll need to sit for a while. I'm sweating, my legs are killing me, and I'm sure Sylmi and Ruki need a break too." Skye looked up at a soft blare, seeing a passenger plane ascending into the sky from Eterna and another two afar that looked to be descending east. "Where are the airports here?"

"One is in Eterna, another is in Jubilife, and we've got a small one in Veilstone. Jubilife has our biggest."

"Plane culture..." She looked at him. "Have you ever flown on one?"

"I have to now, so yeah. Kalos is far. I was nervous at first, but it's all smooth unless you hit some turbulence, and it's great to see the world move beneath you."

"I kind of want to try it. Maybe next time I travel out."

After twenty more minutes of sauntering along the hot road, they entered Eterna, the city of living history as stated in reverse by its slogan. They sat on a bench under shade.

Aaron was enough inches away from Skye to give her space while Ruki sat between her legs on the ground.

Ruki watched people and pokémon pass by and stroll across busy crosswalks, along with some homeless here and there, sitting on sidewalks or pushing carts.

Cars congested the roads for miles, sitting in heavy traffic and beeping at each other. Vendors pushed carts and sold to people, and cyclists headed toward the Cycling Road.

"I'd hate to drive here," Skye mumbled while watching rows of cars stuck behind red lights and road work blocking lanes and streets. Traffic existed in Hau'oli, but the most she'd ever sat in was roughly five minutes worth.

She stroked Ruki's head while gazing at the modern city and its glossy skyscrapers towering above, along with a few helicopters.

Billboards advertising products were plastered on several tall buildings; businesses displayed items outside of them.

"It's less homey than Alola and Hearthome with taller buildings," Skye said.

Aaron held Sylmi in his lap. "Pretty much. There's a lot more to do here due to its size and the money put into it. I still haven't done everything this city offers."

"Well, do you know any good restaurants around the area?"

"Tons, why?"

"I didn't eat this morning." She looked down. "And neither did Ruki."

He tilted his head up to look at Skye at the mention of food and his name in the same sentence.

She giggled. "You wanna eat?"

Ruki nodded with swishy tails, especially hungry after that long walk. The restaurants here had to be as great as the one in Sunyshore.

"I do know a few reputable places close by. I'd be glad to show you." Aaron set Sylmi on the ground and stood. "There's also a huge plaza farther down with a mall and tons of pricey stores, but that's a full day in itself."

Skye followed with Ruki, stretching her legs again. She frequented the mall back home and had been to a few others in Alola with her parents, but something told her the one in Eterna would blow her mind. "I'm going to assume everything is pricey here." She ventured into the city's northern section beside him.

"It depends on the area, really. We'll steer clear from tourist ones, but it won't matter today."

She smirked. "Mhm, since I'll be paying."

"Huh? No, I meant I was going to pay for us both."

"You're already the tour guide. Let me contribute."

"Alright, alright." He chuckled.

"Good." She grinned, suppressing it with pursed lips.

Ruki was busy looking around and catching children pointing him out to their friends or parents. He also saw adults and pokémon eyeing him as he passed, some shifting to Skye again. Some people even snapped quick pictures, which hadn't happened back in Sunyshore or Hearthome, or maybe he just hadn't caught it.

The novelty had faded; the pride was gone. He'd never get used to this. Ruki was new to being a ninetales, but he was used to being a normal-ish sight back home so far except when excited tourists or pleased locals spotted him. It still wasn't like this.

He tried ignoring it and focusing on other sights, like an odd store that sold pikachu-themed plushies, mugs, keychains, and more.

There were bike and car rental businesses, banks with long lines inside and people talking to tellers, restaurants on every corner, and—a Poké-Doption Center across the street?

Ruki eyed the bold red letters and the common pokéballs replacing the o's in the logo. He hadn't seen one of the stores in years. One used to be in Hau'oli by Skye's school, but the company had shut down the location years ago.

Doption had been in business for over twenty years. They adopted out native pokémon who had been neglected or unwanted, as pokémon that were born into households couldn't survive in the wild. They also kept areas clean of foreign pokémon. Their corporation had made even more money during and after the Unovanish fiasco, so they'd opened locations globally where there was a high demand.

Meanwhile, Skye had spotted an older man ahead standing on the corner of the block they were approaching with a chatot perched on his arm. The man wore a cap, old jeans, and a long-sleeved tee, while his chatot wore small sleeves on its wings.

Beside him was a small plastic table with a sign hanging from it stating: 'Chaddy the Wise!' A transparent and half-full tip bowl sat atop it. The man's mouth moved as people passed by, along with the chatot's beak, causing some people or kids with parents to momentarily stop and exchange words and smiles, occasionally dropping tips.

Skye couldn't hear them among the city ambiance, music, and buzzing.

"Oh, hey, that's Jeffrey," Aaron said, pointing ahead at the table.

"You know him?" Skye asked.

"Me and Sylmi see him sometimes when we're passing through. He makes decent money doing what he does out here." Aaron waved as they closed in; the man double-looked before returning it.

"Ah, been a while since I've seen you two," the man said in a Paldean accent with a smile, looking at both Sylmi and Aaron. "Back for more'o this great region?"

"One of the best out there. I can never stay away." Aaron stepped aside with Sylmi so he didn't block the walkway, as did Skye and Ruki.

"The bestt there is. Sinnoh! Tot!" The chatot raised its wing and cried, which made Skye smile and Ruki stare with the utmost fascination.

Ruki had seen chatot speak on some TV shows and comedy bits that Skye had watched in the past, so it was awesome to see one talk in person. He'd spotted wild ones in Hau'oli and that tourists owned, but never had they spoken aloud.

Meanwhile, Ruki's existence took attention from Chaddy unwittingly. People walked by, grinning or smiling at him, and made remarks among themselves about how cute or beautiful he and his tails were. A few children were dying to pet him, which their parents didn't allow while walking them along.

"Where are you two headed this time?" Jeffrey glanced at Skye and Ruki and briefly peered. "Pardon, but they're with you, right?"

"The girl with cute socks and an oversized vulpix," Chaddy said, crying in a manner that resembled a human giggle.

"Oh my goshh." Skye giggled and looked at Ruki. "How'd it know?"

"Nin," he muttered and squinted at the chatot. Ruki didn't appreciate being called a vulpix. Skye calling him that was okay, but he was a ninetales now.

Aaron grinned at Chaddy's words and looked at Skye. "They are, yeah. This is Skye, and her ninetales is Ruki."

"Ah, you've landed yourself a cute one with a classy pokémon, I see." Jeffrey chuckled heartily at first but saw Aaron's grin fade and face flush.

Skye sucked in her lips to prevent a smile.

"U-Uh, no, no. She's my friend. They're– here on vacation. She isn't..." Aaron trailed. His cheeks were a deep red.

"From Alola," Skye said. "Aaron's just showing us around Sinnoh; he's doing a great job so far."

"I would hope so when this is basically his second home," Jeffrey said and stuck his hand out to her. "Am Jeffrey, by the way, and this is Chaddy." He pushed his arm out that Chaddy stood on. "I caught him back on Route 218 fifteen years ago. He's a wise chatot, watching whatever's on TV. Myself? Almost forty, nearly as smart but not quite."

Skye giggled and took his hand, shaking it and eyeing Chaddy. "It's nice to meet you, and it's so cool that you raised such an intelligent pokémon. How long did it take him to start talking so fluently?"

"I'm the smartest that's ever lived. Smarter than psychic types!" Chaddy stood taller with shut eyes.

"I believe it, Chaddy." Skye grinned.

"He's a quick learner," said Jeffrey. "He was uttering words and small quotes from shows in weeks. I also took him out around people a few months after I caught him. He didn't start understanding and piecing the language together until a year after. Of course, I helped with definitions, flashcards, and had to teach him what to and what not to say."

"That's super sweet, awe. You have a companion you can converse with around the clock."

"It does get annoying sometimes." Jeffrey laughed. "Chaddy loves talking, and by that, I mean he loves it." He nodded at Skye as if to question. "Where are you from, anyway. Alola, I know, but what part?"

"Hau'oli," Skye replied.

He raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't go around telling anyone here that, especially in the big cities like this one."

"Oh, why not?"

"Many here associate Alola with wealth. Some businesses and merchants may take advantage of the belief and inflate prices to squeeze extra bucks out of you." He chuckled. "Best to leave your ninetales behind for a second and check if the store or stand has prices posted first, but you can't avoid it a hundred percent. An experienced eye can pin where you're from from looks and mannerisms alone. Even the way you walk."

"Oh, actually, that's sort of a thing in Alola. They can pin how one talks too from island to island, and they do overcharge if they find out you're from a better one." Skye grimaced a little. "Sorry, not better..."

"No, no, I get it." Jeffrey grinned. "Just avoid walking the inner cities alone with your big fluffy Alola sticker if you can help it. It's not a dangerous region, but I'd ask locals about areas before wandering."

"And where are you from?" she asked. "Paldea?"

"Correcto. I came down here to tour twenty years ago for new sights and made the mistake of falling for the perfect woman."

"The perfect woman?" Skye repeated.

Meanwhile, Aaron had been watching their interaction with a strong focus on Skye.

Chaddy looked down at Ruki and Sylmi. "Nine. Ninetales."

Ruki eyed the chatot and cocked his head. Was this thing mocking him now?

"Sylv sylveon," Sylmi said to reassure him, eyeing Ruki's miffed expression.

Ruki glanced at Sylmi then back up at Chaddy. Whatever. Ninetales. No vulpix.

"Well, it was delightful to meet you, Jeffrey," Skye said following several more exchanges. "We're going to eat somewhere around here and head to Floaroma before dark. I'm excited for it. I've never been."

He nodded. "I envy you getting to see it for the first time. It'll be special. I'll see you two around." Jeffrey poked his chatot's back.

"See you around!" Chaddy clicked his beak.

"Bye, Chaddy," Skye replied and fished ten thousand pokédollars out of her pocket, dropping it in the jar. "And here's for the time we took."

"Much appreciated, Señorita Skye, but you did nothing but make the day better." He raised a hand and watched them begin walking.

"Till next time, Jeff." Aaron grinned while passing.

Jeffrey tilted his hat and glanced to see Skye ahead a few feet, lowering his voice. "And she's a good one. An old hombre like me knows when I see it." He winked.

Aaron blew air through his nose and smiled. "Come on, Sylmi." He caught up to Skye and sighed, crossing the street with her past stopped cars at a red light and others in the crosswalk. "Sorry about that. They're both real jokesters."

"Ah, don't worry. It was harmless. They've gotta be in a business like that." Skye glanced down at Ruki. After that conversation, she now wondered how everyone viewed them. She wished to see through their perspective.

Ruki huffed and saw Sylmi smirking out of the corner of his eye. Oversized vulpix… Chatot were better behind a screen. Ruki would be fine with not meeting another one.

"Soo, what's Kalos like?" Skye questioned while strolling past more people and busy stores playing music.

A man next to a food stand that people lined up at sold slow-roasted rattata spinning on a spit behind an enclosed display.

Skye had never seen that; it probably tasted rich and flavorful, but she wouldn't be able to get past the fact that it was a rattata. Seeing every detail of its impaled body on that stick made her frown.

She kept an extra eye on Ruki while walking to ensure he didn't wander and get lost, as that would be a disaster in this city.

"Plenty of small and cute locations, but the first thing you'll hear about is Lumiose, where I live. It's our huge central metropolis shaped like a spoked wheel with lots of organized stores and a river network spread across it. Also the second-most populated city in the world next to Dahara, which is also in Kalos"

"That sounds delightful. I'll keep it bookmarked... Ever been to Alola?"

"That's one region I haven't visited. Shocks me. It's still on my list."

"I recommend it. It's a warm tropical region with a lot of vivid nature, routes, and beautiful pokémon. I live in Hau'oli, like I told Jeffrey. It's the largest beachfront city there, but it still doesn't hold a candle to ones like this."

Aaron glimpsed at her from the corner of his eye as they walked, at her bright face and pretty blue eyes to her soft, relatively plump lips. It turned into a few quick, cursory glances while she was focused on everything around her and then down at her swaying hand.

---

"This is a nice break from the city," said Skye while walking west along Route 205 toward Eterna Forest beside Aaron.

A stream spread across the center of the path under a wooden bridge, and rocky, smooth hilly terrain lined its outskirts.

She had free hands since she'd finished her water, as had he. She enjoyed herself at the restaurant back in Eterna, but being on a grassy route brought her tranquility the bustling city could never. "And is it just me, or do they really like swinub and goldeen here?" Skye had seen the meat in over ten different dishes on various menus.

She'd also gotten change back that she put in her other pocket so it didn't get mixed with her Alola bills. She had a few with the Super Contest Hall on it and others displaying Oreburgh's mining factory with drawn smoke emitting from its pipes.

"Wait until we get to the forest. Always cold and not that much traffic for the most part," Aaron replied. "And about the swinub and goldeen, it's part of the root culture here. You'll be seeing it a lot more, from fried to baked, and in mostly every cooking show if you turn on a TV."

"I've had both in Alola at restaurants based on Sinnoh, so makes sense. Also, anything I should be aware of in there?" They went across the long bridge and to the other side of the route, where Skye saw the dark entrance to Eterna Forest up ahead.

"Eh, just other pokémon who may want to pick a fight, but we have ours. A wurmple wouldn't want to go up against Ruki."

Speaking of Ruki, he currently trailed behind and watched the route's river on the overpass with Sylmi. There wasn't much to it, but Sylmi was watching as if waiting for some grand event, so he'd stick around for a minute.

"Sylveh!" Sylmi extended one of his ribbons ahead, which Ruki followed to see water splashing and a glimpse of a magikarp's tail.

Yeah, cool, a magikarp. Ruki was more captivated by his innocent-sounding cheerful tone that was twice higher than his voice. He glanced at Sylmi, who was grinning, and Ruki couldn't deny his cuteness. It came with the territory of being a sylveon.

"Ruki!"

He flinched and turned his head to see Skye standing about half a mile down by a clearing of trees. He trotted to her with Sylmi following behind.

"Ruki, please stay by us. We're about to enter the forest."

He stuck by her side and kept at her pace, staring ahead at its entrance.

Their eyes had to adjust to the sudden change in lighting after entering. The smallest strips of sunlight seeped in through the forest's thick foliage, which it had to fight to earn. Ahead were miles of abundant green terrain, moss, and tall grass, which the forest reeked of.

"Kind of eerie…" Skye studied their surroundings. It was silent, nothing but general ambiance and the rustling of bushes sounded throughout the moist environment. Already, she started to shiver and snake her arms around herself.

"We'll be out quick. Sylmi and I have walked through here often, and crime is rare."

She kept close while they traversed it. She didn't dress for this and had gone for the cutest look she could manage. Skye felt vulnerable in shorts and a tee but safe enough since Ruki and Aaron were with her.

Ruki fell slightly behind and strolled with Sylmi, spotting two trainers dressed in expedition wear walking through the forest so far, along with mothim flying aimlessly.

Several cherubi gathered under a large combee hive in a tree, waiting for drops of honey to fall from the hive that they could consume.

Folded-up cherrim in buds sat in clearings of trees and awaited sunlight while some wurmple and cascoon hovered nearby due to their petals' attractive scent. Carnivine spread out and hid among groups of bushes and trees with open mouths. The sweet aroma emanating from them lured prey that they'd abruptly chomp on.

Ruki wore a perpetual grin while watching so many pokémon and their behaviors. He didn't know what he'd do with the information, but it was nice to have.

He still preferred Alola's, but his views could change as he experienced more. It'd take more to budge him from his home region. Ruki wondered how many different kinds of forests and environments there were out there, though. Maybe there were different kinds of malasadas too. He didn't like thinking about it since that implied there were flavors he hadn't tried yet.

A gentle breeze blew past the group, and it caused Skye to hug herself tighter.

Aaron eyed her. "Cold?"

"A bit. I should have b-brought my..." She paused and inhaled, shutting her eyes. "Chih! My jacket, sorry." She wiped her nose with her sleeve. Skye cursed herself again for sleeping in, which had given her less time to think and prepare.

"Here." He stopped to take his off, grinning at her sneeze.

"No, Aaron it's–"

"I can't watch you freeze right next to me."

"Mh… Thank you." She grinned subtly and took it, putting it on and zipping it up. It was kind of baggy on her, and the sleeves covered part of her hands. Skye practically wore his cologne now, which she didn't mind.

"Of course."

In around twenty minutes, they arrived at Eterna Forest's exit. Skye had seen wild pokémon along the way that she pointed out as she loosened up during the walk, including a few caterpie and dustox.

"Do we have to do that again on the way back?" she asked after they left the grim forest behind. She'd taken off and draped Aaron's jacket over her arm to enjoy the pleasant sun.

They were on the last route before Floaroma; ahead was an open dirt pathway atop an elevated hill that led south to its entrance.

"Not necessarily. We can take the Jubilife route back. The slightly quicker way, remember?"

"Oh, right, sounds better." Skye leaned down and patted Ruki's head. "Thank you for listening."

He nudged her palm. Ruki wouldn't dare have left her side in that forest.

They went down a small flight of steps into spacious grassy terrain, crossed a short wooden bridge over a body of water covering the route's west section, and took a right afterward.

"It's up ahead," Aaron said.

They took one final pathway, and beyond a group of trees at the end was the entrance to Floaroma town.

"I see it." Skye stopped after taking a few steps to admire it. The town looked exactly how she'd seen it online.

Slope-roofed homes brightened by sheets of sun were either spread apart by dozens of feet or beside each other.

In front of almost every house lay large, organized, vibrant, and harlequin flower beds. A myriad of them were planted alongside the town's dirt paths and vast grassy fields.

"One of the most beautiful places I've seen." She grinned. The air was fresh and faintly sweet, full of the lingering scent from a wide array of flowers and healthy grass— a pleasure to breathe in.

There was no absence of pokémon either. Burmy wearing colorful grassy and floral cloaks they had gathered from their environment napped in trees.

Groups of roselia stood in flower patches and chatted among each other, and a young girl watched her turtwig eat from said patches. It munched happily under the sun's warm gaze, running from patch to patch after taking a bite or two while the girl giggled and skipped after it.

Ruki sniffed the sweet air and took in bright color after brighter color. The town was full of them, which skyrocketed his mood and filled his mind with bliss. He watched professional gardeners tend to flowers and trim bushes and trees around the city, then looked up at her.

She looked down to meet his intent gaze. "Go ahead, baby, but stay in sight." She watched him trot out to an open field sprinkled generously with flowers.

"You can go too, Sylmi."

Sylmi glanced at Aaron and back to Ruki sniffing flowers and grass, then walked after Ruki to join him.

"This was so worth the walk." Skye strolled off the main path with other people passing by and into the field to the right, sitting in its grass.

Aaron followed and sat beside her but left distance between them again. "I'd have to be bitter beyond repair not to appreciate it. Imagine living here?"

"I'd be smiling every time I looked out my window, but I'm sure the residents are over it." She glanced at him and then at her arm. "Oh…" Skye handed his jacket back to him and hoped he wouldn't mind the scent of her perfume. "I forgot I had this. Thank you for lending it to me."

"My honor." He set it in his lap and looked ahead at Sylmi offering Ruki a picked flower with his ribbon. "So, you told me you caught Ruki six years ago, right?"

"Mhm." Skye grinned at the cute sight in front of them.

Ruki leaned in to sniff the flower. "Nine," he said with an affirming nod, telling Sylmi he appreciated the gesture.

"How'd you first come across him?" Aaron asked.

"Mount Lanakila," Skye replied. "It's the coldest and tallest mountain in Alola. I hiked up there with my father in a few layers of clothing and a fleece hat one day. I was numb and couldn't feel anything on my shivering body, but it proved to be more than worth it. We noticed a timid and curious alolan vulpix peeking from some icy grass during the hike, and this was minutes before we were gonna leave since I kept complaining about the wind piercing my face. My dad used to hike as a hobby and had gone to the summit before, but I was too young, so he wasn't taking me that high. Anyway, I did what any child would and kneeled feet away, attempting to coax it out with my gloved hand while my dad watched."

Skye lay back on the grass and watched the cloudless blue sky. "Of course, it didn't come to me, so my dad proposed we catch it as a remembrance of my first visit to Lanakila and as my first pokémon. We did with the help of his lycanroc, but Ruki didn't put up much of a fight. He tried but was petrified. His opponent was bigger and way stronger."

Skye looked at Aaron, who appeared wholly invested. "My dad let me toss the ball to snag him... I was anxious to let him out and play with him the entire way home. I was smiling and staring at the premier ball in my hand, holding onto it like it was the only thing of importance in my life. As soon as I got home that evening, I let him out in my room, super excited to have a pokémon to myself. While he stared at me with those shy cold eyes, it just came to me… Ruki."

"Sounds like what would happen in a movie."

"I know, and that wasn't how his name happened." She giggled and sat up. "My father's midday is named Ru, and I'm pretty sure I ripped ki from Lanakila. Still, I love it, and I love him. I'm glad I begged my father to take me with him that day."

Her eyes fell back onto Ruki lying beside a group of flowers while Sylmi explored their scents. "So, how'd you and Sylmi come to be?" She turned to him.

"Uh, Sylmi was actually a gift given to me four years ago when I was fourteen. One of my best friends gave me an egg she couldn't keep since she already had six pokémon, but she wouldn't tell me who its parents were. You could imagine my reaction when an eevee hatched from it. I took him the sylveon route the next year. Always found them charming. After I evolved him, I started exploring other regions, and everywhere I went, I took him with me."

"And… what about his name?"

He chuckled. "Sylveon and me."

She grinned and blew air through her nose. "Almost as creative as myself."

"Just about… and I can tell Ruki is happy with you. He has a genuine owner. A lot of them are focused on battling gyms and having the toughest pokémon in the region. I believe they sometimes forget about their feelings."

Skye looked ahead at Ruki following Sylmi to a nearby flower bed. "I try to do the best I can for him." She brought her wrist up and checked the time, taking a sigh.

"We can go whenever you'd like. I know It's been a few hours."

"Soon… There's no rush."