After Years of Solitude

Omega instinctively rested her hand on Paradox’s ruff of leaves and fur as they entered the town proper. Finally, they’d made it. They’d made it to Murkhaven. Tary, the Wishiwashi/Tirtouga fusion she’d caught earlier in her trip, clung to her shoulder, the pressure of the plastron against her shoulder oddly comforting compared to what she was seeing. She’d heard of shadow Pokemon, but this… this was something else. People seemed coated in those same shadows and murk. They wandered aimlessly, paying her no attention. As they’d approached the town, the Dewgong had vanished into the gloom and muck of the surrounding marshes, leaving Omega alone with her Pokemon.

Now, she slowly walked the streets, her heart breaking as Pokemon, both pedigree and fused alike, nudged at who she could only assume were their trainers, trying to elicit any sort of response or even just a reaction from the shadowy husks they poked at. Some looked disheveled, some thin and gaunt, but they still tried. Her heart twisted in her chest and she nudged Paradox toward the buildings so they weren’t in the middle of the road. Naturally, the Pokemon stood between her and the others, his sharp eyes scanning everything around them as they walked. 

An idea began to coalesce in Omega’s mind as she took in everything. She didn’t know what she could do to help the people, but the Pokemon… As they walked, the young woman tested doorknobs, and surprisingly, a lot of the doors were unlocked. She’d open each door, scanning the interior before moving on. She was looking for something in particular, and none of these homes met what requirements she had in her mind. As they walked, she tried to ignore the husks in the street, going about something vaguely reminiscent of routine. Finally, she found what she was after: an empty house. Dust and debris cluttered the ground, and she entered, gently closing the door behind her. 

Omega gently took Tary off her shoulder and set him on a counter, turning to Paradox. “Can you look for a broom or something? I want to clean this place up some.”

The Pokemon’s eyes narrowed some at her, before he merely walked off into the dark house. Omega pulled her lantern-shaped beacon off her belt and put it on the counter, eyes narrowed as she watched it flicker and threaten to go out. Don’t you dare. After a moment, the beacon lightened again, shining bright as if it hadn’t just threatened to plunge her into darkness. Satisfied, the young woman set about her plan. 

It took time, but she cleaned the bathroom, living room, and kitchen, and she struck gold when she’d opened some cupboards and found blankets and sheets left behind by a former owner. After that was done, she started cooking up a basic soup recipe she knew, using her rations and snacks she’d made before setting out to flavor it. As the smell filled the air, she became aware of eyes on her. She looked over and blinked at her new companion. It looked a little strange and glowed with a warm amber light - in particular, its horn glowed gently, pushing away some of the darkness that hung in the house. It looked like somewhere along the way, a Reign’s Rest Seel had fused with a Raylite. She smiled. Her first ‘customer!’

“Hey there…” She scooped some of the soup she’d made into a bowl and set it down for the Pokemon to enjoy. “Enjoy!”

The bowl was quickly emptied, and it wasn’t long until other fusions had peeked in, enticed by the food. As the evening wore on, she fed them, groomed them, and cuddled with them, and they welcomed the company. Still, that Seel fusion stayed nearby, curling up against her side as she took her own rest, leaning against a wall. It looked like she had a new friend, though she couldn’t be sure if he actually was free to adopt or not. Still, she ran her hand along his back, and the light that filled its horn faded and brightened in time with his breathing. Slow, calm, and relaxed. He wasn’t the only one, but there was something about the Seel/Raylite that had her heart. Other Pokemon cuddled her, practically clinging to her. She didn’t have the heart to move, to disturb them, and she soon fell asleep.

The next morning, she woke slowly, only to find Paradox with his head in her lap, Tary curled against his leafy ruff, and… the Seel still curled against her. A soft smile twitched at Omega’s lips, and she pulled up her wrist to trigger a scan to see if he was owned. After a moment, it beeped, the display indicating no trainer information was found. That solidified her decision. She couldn’t just leave him all alone like this… He stirred, lifting his head to look at her, and her smile widened at his tongue sticking out. She tapped him with a Pokeball, letting him out after the registration was completed.

“Welcome to the team, buddy.”