Enter Rose - Sly, Smart and Fabulous.

It was quite the walk to Union Cave, but I don’t mind. I don’t think Kitty minds much. She hums when she walks, everywhere. Sometimes, I just like to listen to her.

We stopped for lunch today in Azalea town, and while Kitty ate, we all went for a wander, in different directions. I headed off into the forest for a little explore.

I found myself in view of Ilex Shrine. I stared for a little while, sitting in the lovely shade, and a peculiar pokemon came into view. It was green, and had little wings. It flittered around the little wooden building, before spotting me and flying off. I could hear Kitty calling me, so I quickly went to join her. Her egg was hatching.

Before we had left Ecruteak, Arabella had gone away in storage to make room for Claude.  Claude was a friendly girl, and she’s who the little newborn togepi first waddled over to. The little round creature gently ran her little hands over the crab’s big claws. Overjoyed, Kitty named the little baby Aly, and we all set off to Union Cave.

Let me say this: I don’t like Union Cave. It’s cold, and damp, and generally eerie. While Kitty is utterly fascinated by zubats and other creepy-crawlies, I am less than fond of them.

I sat in Kitty’s lap as she balanced on the barrel, towed by Claude, over a little pond and down a ladder (what I want to know is, who installs these?). We went into a cavern and over another patch of water - and a large creature came into view.

He was floating in a little cave off to the side - a long-necked blue creature with a lilac shell. His eyes were beautiful, deep blue as he looked over his shoulder at me and Kitty.

“Well, hello!” He purred softly. Poor Kitty couldn’t understand him, but most of the time, we couldn’t understand her either. He turned around to face us. “Aren’t you two the sweetest things ever?”

“What a pretty, pretty lapras!” Kitty squealed, starry-eyed as usual. “Quickly - Maurice, you have to use your thundershock attack!”

The lapras seemed less than surprised, and simply let himself be captured. Kitty quickly headed back to town and put Aly and Claude away - she couldn’t put one without the other, since Claude had immediately adopted the baby - and withdrew both Arabella, and Rose, our new compatriot.

Rose might have been a strange name for a male lapras, but…suits him, for sure. There is something so sly about him.

We took a quicker way back. through Union Cave and to the Ruins of Alph, where Rose’s personality really started to come out. While Kitty was exploring the ponds and outer caverns, I spoke with him as he relaxed in the water.

“Why  is it you let us capture you?” I asked him.

He looked at me, lowering his head close to mine. I backed off a little.

“Because,” he told me. “That little girl of yours is just so…curious. I took a liking to her.” I felt like I was under scrutiny from him. His blue eyes stared into mine, and I could nearly see all the thoughts processing in his mind. “She does not think, and is naïve. Like that quilava of hers, what’s his name?”

“Naoki.” I replied. I was trying to keep my nerve- not easy when a large marine monster was leering down at me.

“Ah yes.” He pulled his head back, looking at me still. “Here he comes now, in fact.”

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Or, Naoki, in this case. He was as delightful and chipper as always.

“Come on, we have to get going! It’s getting dark!” He was excited. New challenges always excite Naoki.

“Where are we going..?” I asked, a little confused.

Kitty just came running over, returning Rose to his ball. “Come on! I’ve found this hole, and there are weird noses coming from inside. We need to go check it out!”

I’ll record the rest of this adventure when we come out the other side.

….if we come out the other side…

[TRAINER'S NOTES: Don't worry, Maurice. I'm sure we'll be fine. I think I hear some zubats up ahead! 8D]