Some Things Just Can't Be Understood

"And I like you the way you are too," Maple answered, resting his arm on her shoulders. "If everyone else saw it that way things would be much easier. Or maybe harder. I dunno."

Pheobie blushed slightly. "What do you mean?" She asked softly. "How would it be harder?"

"Well, then we would have paparazzi following us everywhere, and they'd never leave us alone," Maple replied simply. He switched over to a nasally voice: "Mr. Maple, what is your opinion on world peace?" He switched to a deeper voice: "Mr. Maple, will you please sign this checkbook?" Then a snooty voice: "Mr. Maple, will you please appear on our commercial for anti-fungal cream?"

Pheobie burst into giggles. "Maple you're so funny!" She cried, tears of mirth in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug, burying her face in his chest.

"Ah...welcome," Maple answered, a bit surprised by the sudden hug. After a little hesitation he then rested his arms around her.

Pheobie giggled and nuzzled her face into Maple's chest.

His GS rang. Maple became annoyed.

"What now?" he grumbled, taking out his earbuds and listening to the message.

Pheobie looked up at him curiously. "What is it?" She asked

Maple sighed. "Orders from HQ. They want me to check out things in another world. We'll have to leave soon."

"Oh..." Pheobie murmured. "I'm sorry. At least we have till the ship's fixed right?"

"Yeah. Boss can't do much about that," Maple answered with a slight smirk. "That should leave us with a few hours then. What do you want to do while we're still here?"

"Whatever you want to do" Pheobie replied with a smiled. "Except get into trouble."

"Well I can't guarantee that," Maple replied jokingly. "Well let's see...we should get you a Pokedex from Professor Oak so that we don't have to worry about that the next time we come. And for that we need Ka. So back to the lab then, at least briefly."

"Okay" Pheobie smiled.

Maple turned back and soon entered the lab.

"Hi! You have a good make-out session?" asked one coworker.

"Very funny," Maple growled. "Anyway, I'll be borrowing Ka. Where is he?"

No sooner had he asked a humanoid creature appeared before him, levitating with its legs folded in the lotus position.

"Ah, Ka! There you are!"

"Alakazam," it responded.

Pheobie peaked out from behind Maple. "What's that?"

"Ka the Alakazam," Maple answered. "He tends to appear out of nowhere like that. Ka...well, you're psychic so probably already know this is Pheobie and where we want to go, right?"

"Ala," her replied, nodding sagely.

"Know-it-all," Maple teased. "Alakazam have minds equivalent to super computers you know."

Soon after the three of them disppeared from the lab, and found themselves in a grassy fields. A few houses were scattered among the plains.

Pheobie looked around in aw. "Where are we?" She whispered.

"This is Pallet Town," Maple explained. "Well, 'town' might be a bit loose. There aren't many houses, and most are spread apart by the grasslands. This is Professor Oak's turf." He pointed to a house with a windmill in the distance. "He lives in that house over there."

"And he's the one we need to see, right?" Pheobie asked

"Yep," Maple replied, marching ahead. "Just make sure not to step on any Rattata on the way there. They're a problem around here."

Pheobie nodded quickly. "I'll watch my step!"

No sooner had he said such warning words that Maple inadvertently stepped on the curly tail of one such purple rat. It hissed and bit him on the ankle.

"Yow!" exclaimed the brunette, reflexively lifting his foot and releasing its tail. The little rodent soon ran away.

"... Maple. Didn't you just get done telling me to be careful?" Pheobie asked, tilting her head questioningly.

"Yes, and this is why," Maple replied, referring to his bleeding ankle. He knelt down and began to wrap it some bandages from his backpack.