(Do not favorite my work if you are not going to decently comment, it's disingenuous to artists/writers who like positive feedback on efforts.)

Well, also for Pokemon Day, if anybody's still gives a flip about the series, here's a nice chunky chapter for waiting three months.

Chapter 2 Levels of Connecting

Sol ducked behind my shoulder for a split second, gripped it with both hands, and then raised his head, taking a short breath. Right, he had never been here before and, I was aware, there would be other Pokemon. Whenever we went to a new place, he was always cautious at first, but it seemed he resisted the urge this time, though he was still gripping a little harder than normal.

"It's ok buddy," I told him, reaching behind with an arm to pat his...I guess it was his neck, I couldn't reach back too far. He just kept glancing around the room, taking in the residents before calming down.

It hadn't changed, not at least anything I noticed at first, the place was still the same as it was years ago. The wooden floors, the braziers, the natural looking aesthetics. It was actually kind of reassuring, that things hadn't changed...but I had.

I noticed the Seadra in the jacuzzi again, but this time, instead of sleeping, the jacuzzi was on. The water was bubbling and seeming to flow in a direction, to which the Seadra seemed to swim against. He---wait, what was his name again, swear he had one uhh....Ri...ptide? Ripper? No...Ripple! That's what it was. It seemed like Ripple was...training or something? Swim training? Whatever it was, he seemed to be concentrating and didn't pay attention to us.

My wandering gaze went over to spot a padded Dragonite---Gunny, I remember you heh---was kind of pacing at the balcony, tapping his blunt claws together. I smiled a bit, noticing a bit of a sag to his diaper, though I'm pretty sure it was just a wetting. I dropped the smile though as I watched, as he seemed...kind of concerned about something, given the expression on his face, if I was reading it right from this distance.

The Scyther, off to my right, was here too. But he---Snut? No, Swit? No...Snip! That's what it was---was not working on anything right now. He seemed to be sitting on his padded rump on a stone bench, limbs crossed, head down, eyes closed...almost like he was meditating or something.

I glanced at his topiary work. The horse one I vaguely recalled wasn't there, but the human-looking shrub was still around, or at least a different version of it was. There also seemed to be a lot of duplicate ones around as well, all of the same Pokemon in different ways...I think...they were Mew?

I turned my attention back to Sol, seeing him looking the direction I was a moment ago. I guess he was following my glances, as if to take my lead in observations. He glanced to me when I looked back. I gave him a light smile and held up my hand lightly toward him. offering it in case he needed reassurance. He looked at it for a moment, mouth opening a few inches, but then closed it and looked ahead.

"And," he grunted, looking ahead, as if saying to get on with things.

Well, at least he wasn't uncomfortable...

I looked ahead too, and started walking that way. Ripple seemed to be working at something, and Snip seemed to...be taking a break maybe? So, in the initial group, it seemed Gunny was the best choice. As I made my way over to him, I slowed at the sitting area where Wyatt had told me he was Pokemon Trainer, of all things, and the story of how he started Poke Poofs. If this meeting went well, and he was ok with it, maybe I could tell Sol one day.

Obviously, in the side my mind, I WAS wondering...where WAS Wyatt?

Maybe I could get that answer from the diapered dragon...

"Hey Gunny...Gunners...Gun-mon---er, never mind on me trying nicknames," I started off, stupidly. I was better at approaching than I use to be...still working on impressions; good for me, I already met Gunny once so...

Gunny, though, turned attention to me immediately, claw tips together in mid-tap from his pacing. His brow furrowed slightly, as if he was trying discern me from memory. Couldn't blame him, haven't seen in years. Honestly, I could be doing the same thing but...ya never forget helping a big orange dragon get his diaper changed.

"Drago!" he exclaimed, claws spreading against his chest as he seemed to recognize me. Then he outstretched his arms further with a similar call and, my eyes growing wide at the impending action, embraced me heartily in a bear-hug...er, dragon-hug.

I smiled and cringed at the same time, feeling this large Pokemon pressed against me, so close, I could feel the heat coming off his soaked diaper against my pants. It felt nice to get the hug, sure, but it was kind of tight, and he was basically pinning my arms at my side.

Erm! I think the big guy doesn't...know...how strong he is...

"SAL."

I stiffened, or think I did, considering I had when Gunny came to hug me. Looking ahead, I saw Gunny's head pull away, and his expression paling as he looked to my side. On my right, I saw some red coloring, and my eyes spotted the small departing glow of fire, making me suspect what Gunny was looking at to my left.

Slowly, like that 'possessed' human in that Haunter Horror film series, I turned my head in the direction of where he was looking.

I remember hearing the crinkle of a diaper behind me, and some more pressure on my shoulder, but I didn't fully expect this. Sol had come out of the bag, COMPLETELY, and was draping his body over my shoulder, steadying himself with one foot snagged against my bag, and another on me. His other hand was raised in a kind of arch, and his claw-like fingers were...weird. He had them tightly together, each digit almost melding together to form a faux spear-like point.

Uh oh. I think I remember him doing something like this. I don't know if it's a Move or what but---

Oh yeah, I could see it on his face. Sol was growling, but lightly so, his teeth locked against each other tightly in preparation. His eyes though, were locked onto Gunny, narrowed threateningly. I imagined his tail was sparking up a bit too, I felt heat against me, but it definitely wasn't Gunny's diaper (granted, maybe this made him go again) since it was behind me.

We all kind of stood in our positions for about a minute there. Sol, ready to Move on Gunny. Gunny, looking at him like a deer-Pokemon in headlights. And me, in between them, trying to think of how to diffuse the situation. I don't remember seeing Sol act like this since...

My face twitched, and I almost moved, watching Sol's steely gaze.

He didn't know Gunny. And a Pokemon he didn't know was placing its arms around me tightly. For all he knew, unused to this situation, he was showing the apex of concern for my well being...

...he was protecting me.

"Sol," I started, very, very slowly. "It's ok...Gunny's a friend. Like Rattler and Monte, remember? Hey."

His eyes darted to me, then back to Gunny, then both a second time, but he didn't relent. I was going against some kind of...knee-jerk reaction that he was on the edge of committing to.

"...ok, um, look...Gunny's gonna let go now, alright? Let him ok? Ok?"

His spear-formed claw-fingers waved a bit, then steadied. Eyes darting to me, the slits of them narrowing slightly, then opening. I took me a moment but...I took it as a sign of him nodding without moving his head. So I turned my attention to Gunny, who's own eyes were darting between the two of us. I was so glad he didn't make any motions until now...I don't know if that's in spite of the Trainer experiences or because of them.

"O-K Gunny. D-don't worry, that's just Sol," I told him, looking up at his eyes, trying my best to smile in the tense moment. "He's my buddy, like Wyatt is yours ok? Thanks for the hug...but um, you can leg go---slowly though, ok?"

Gunny stiffly nodded to me, so brief it was hard to notice. Then, VERY slowly, pulled his arms away from my sides. I kept my stance for now as if nothing happened, as I didn't want to ruin the progress. As Gunny brought his arms closer to himself, his hugging hands slowly went up in a non-threatening manner as he took a few steps back, his sagging diaper swinging with his movements.

Now with a distance away, I relaxed myself. letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding throughout that pullback. I looked over at Sol, still staring in Gunny's direction, but his raised hand wasn't a spear-form any longer, instead he was flexing his fingers like tree branches in the wind, then squeezing them toward his palm a few times before lowering it completely to rest on my shoulder. He finally closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath himself and let it out silently, me feeling the heat at my back dissipating.

I didn't notice at first, but now that it seems like it was over, I could actually FEEL the lessening of tension from Sol against my body. I don't know if it's because he was mostly against me or it was...just some kind of wavelength thing or what, but it...made me feel better that he was calming down.

"It's ok buddy, that was good," I told him, a bit in praise for him not taking things farther. I brought my right hand up beyond him, slowly resting it on the side of his head, again, noting his loss of tension. His eyes glanced to me, mouth unclenching, before they went, slowly, to Gunny.

I kept my hand where it was, having the physical touch to keep Sol settled, and looked to Gunny. The Dragonite had his knuckles together, close to his chest, some digits rising and falling tightly against each other, as he seemed nervous of what to do. Well...I guess up to me.

"Um. Sorry about that Gunny, I should have...made introductions first," I said awkwardly, slowly rubbing the side of Sol's head and neck as he still stared Gunny down. "Um, well, this is uhh...Sol, my partner heh," I told him, pointing at the lizard on my shoulder that had threatened him, smiling just as awkward as I was speaking.

The Dragonite glanced between us, as if discerning similarities or differences or...something else.

"...nite," he said cautiously, head slightly turned with a small nod. I guess that was something akin to 'right' for him. Gradually, his hands and arms lowered, and his glance shot down when he seemed to feel the front of his soaked diaper. His eyes darted up to us, face flushing with a red tint.

I blinked, confused considering he was wet before we got here. Wait...DID he actually wet himself again when Sol---?

"Sa aa aa aa a..."

I glanced to Sol, who had his mouth open a little wide, stretched upward against his cheek, eyes narrowed. He was chortling. I guess, regardless of everything, I think HE thought that GUNNY thought that he had wet himself in fear at Sol's threatening stance. Now that I thought about it, I think a few more of those Normal wetness indicator orbs on his diaper had faded since last I glanced at it.

"Uh...heh heh..." I half-heartily, briefly, joined in with him, before turning my attention to Gunny, who had grabbed the sides of his diaper and tried to pull it a little up from its sag. It should have been fine, but I guess...Gunny really was self-conscious...at least he was just wet. And if Sol was coming off a bad mood, it was a win that he was taking humor in having a third-stage dragon Pokemon soak himself.

"Ok, ok," I said, patting my lizard, not wanting Sol to drag it on TOO long. "Um, sorry about that Gunny. He's...protective, I guess," I said, my lips pursing at the term.

Honestly, there aren't many...threats at all really in Berryton. Believe it or not, unless they were troublemakers from tourists or new off-landers, there wasn't even any real crime that went on, as far as I know. Sol had never done that threatening stance before, though I have seen him prepare some kind of Move like that in the early years. I mean, with Rattler and Monte, it was a gradual process, nothing close or abrupt like this.

Looking at Sol, who was still looking at Gunny with a self-satisfied smile on his face for making a big dragon wet his padding, I'm not sure he noticed it himself. It was...almost like a reflexive action to him, doing that...

...he really was protective of me? He did care about me that much...wow that...that makes me feel...

"Drago?"

I looked up at the blushing dragon, who was trying to focus on me and not the lizard grinning at him, being shook from my realization. Right...I was...here for something. Sorry Mr. Wyatt, I was just feeling so...oh wait.

"Um, Gunny...where IS Mr. Wyatt?" I asked, though it was in a bit of a daze, glancing Sol's way, still coming off how he acted in my defense of possible harm.

I caught the end of Gunny's look, but I think I got enough of it to get a bit...concerned. His eyes had widened, looking left and right as if he was uncertain of how to respond to that, if he would say something...he should. His clawed hands were gripping the front of his soaked diaper...kind of like how Sol did with his before we came here.

Gunny was nervous about something...

Sol seemed content to grin at the wet dragon and stay partly wrapped around me like a kind of scarf---funny image, but I think it works---but I gave the dragon a concerned look of my own. It wasn't Sol he was being nervous about, he was looking far too to his right for that, inside the...

"Ah! There you are my boy!"

All three of us turned to look back within the building. There, stepping out of a side room---oh, right, that was the room where Gunny had been changed before---was Mr. Wyatt, with Care the Chansey at his side, and Gleam the Jolteon on the other. Not just her though, also stepping out was that Magmar of his---don't recall his name, did I even get it?

I was going to wait for Wyatt to come over but...he was moving a little slower than I remember, making more adjustments with his golden-rod cane with Care keeping close to him, arms to his front and back as if she was expecting him to fall over. As his Magmar came around, I noticed his hands seemed to be glowing a bit, though the brightness of it was fading quick till they went normal.

Reminding myself, I looked over to the head of my lizard-scarf, seeing Sol looking at the newcomers suspiciously. He seemed to take in Wyatt first, expression becoming less stiffened as, I guess, he didn't think of a human as much of a threat---well, of course buddy, he was an old man, no offense Mr. Wyatt.

Then his eyes went to Care, and he seemed to flinch a bit, his tail knocking against my arm lightly as he seemed to forget what he was doing. Oh, that's right, probably remembering the Chansey at the Poke-Centers, maybe specifically the one he was first brought to way way back. I guess he didn't see her as a threat, but I guess it did bring up some memories of one caring for him, sedating him, and diapering him. I...get it was confusing to figure out how to react to another Chansey for him.

Then they went to the Magmar, who he narrowed his eyes at. It wasn't as...aggressively as with Gunny...but maybe that was because of distance, or because, maybe, they shared a Type in Fire. Not sure how much credit 'camaraderie amongst Types' gets, but if it was in practice here, I'll take it.

As for Gleam, Sol gave him a cautious look, as if sizing up the Jolteon to be a capable danger to me. He almost seemed to think so before Gleam went over and sat his pampered bottom in the sitting area, waiting for the others.

Still, just in case...

I brought my hand back up to Sol, going a little higher to pat his head. His attention went right to me as, I guess, there weren't any immediate threats in a few feet at the moment. "It's alright buddy," I whispered to him, not trying to be loud enough that it seemed like I was lightly ordering him to be.

"It's like everybody out in the street...the centers, the Poof Places...I mean, heh, if they're wearing a diaper, probably not a threat either of us," I told him with a smile. His eye slits straightened, a dull expression as if to say 'you saying I'M not a threat?' in regards to ALSO being one with a diaper on.

"Come on, that's not what I meant," I said, reaching a hand back and...trying to figure out where his diaper was behind me. Surprisingly, he must not have used it further throughout things. He saw me fumbling, maybe guessing what I was trying to do, rolling his eyes at my failed effort.

"Sa al..." he said, bouncing his head a little as if 'ok, ok' to me. "An...dit," he added, making a gesture with one of his hands, particularly with an index and thumb claw. He put the tips together, and then moved them apart, repeating his words a second time, then gave a terse nod in the direction of those approaching.

O...K. I think...he's talking about the distance thing.

As if to test the theory, I saw Wyatt stop a little ways from me, turning to sit down in the area I remember he told me his back-story heh. But seeing as Care didn't have to...steady him for whatever reason, she made her way toward me, blubby hands in preparation for a hug herself.

"Chan-sey!" she said delightfully as the Magmar stopped behind her, arms folded, blowing out a mini-flame out the side of his mouth. Apparently he was use to seeing Care hug people too and it was just not a thing he did himself.

"Uh---whoa whoa whoa!" I said, backing up, putting my hand out and stopping Care before she got too close. "U-uh C-care, I would...like you to meet Sol, right here, on my shoulder, right here."

Care stopped, arms still out stretched, looking to Sol with her pupils a bit wider. Sol stared right back, his upper half raised upward in some kind of warning gesture, though it wasn't as harsh as with Gunny.

"It's alright Care," Wyatt's voice sounded in the back. Eyes went to him as he looked over the headrest of his chair. "That there is our prime-candidate Salandit from a few years ago! If that little fellow had remained out in the wild, we may never have gotten a custom fit done for one!" he said, chuckling a bit...which was accompanied by a cough that caused Care to abandon coming to me and moving over to him instead.

He waved her off though, but she remained beside him as he looked back again. "I told you all we were having guests, but I guess I should have taken into account that only one is familiar with us, even if only just," he said, tapping the floor with his cane two distinct times. I noticed that Ripple and Snip had paused in their respective actions and looked Wyatt's way along with the others.

"Remember back when you all first joined?" he started, looking over and placing a hand on Gleam's head. The Electric Pokemon seemed to look off to the side, though I couldn't see his possibly 'here we go' expression. "It was difficult to adjust at the start. I had to break up a couple fights here and there if I remember right. But I gave you each space, and slowly but surely we all became friends didn't we?"

"Mar," the Magmar said in an almost 'if you say so' kind of way.

"Oh Boomer, that was your own fault you know it," Wyatt chuckled. "Point is, our new friend here would like some space I think. Please do to accommodate them just for now, till he's comfortable. Remember how protective you all were of me?"

Wyatt's Pokemon each looked off in different directions simultaneously, as if they were aware of this concept. Then...I realized what he said. How protective they are of him? Was that because of the Trainer thing? But I'm not a Trainer, don't aim to be. Or...was it because he somehow knew what Sol had done earlier...?

"Well, come now young man, let me get a look at you both," Wyatt eventually said, holding up a hand and waving me over.

I glanced at Sol for a moment, starting to walk forward. I kept my hand on his left side for extra balance, and watched as Care and Boomer gave me adequate berth as I slowly sat down opposite of Wyatt. Sol gave them each a glance, then to the floor, as if gauging his own reaction time if any of them made a Move. Then he focused on the Pokemon closest to me, as if realizing Gleam had not left his position at Wyatt's side. He kept watch, but didn't make any aggressive motions, aside from the slight sway of his tail across my back.

Wyatt leaned forward a little, resting both hands on his cane as he looked at us, or more specifically, at Sol. "Well look at you. Seem so far gone from that Pokemon we saw in the Center all those years ago," the old man said, smiling with a light chuckle.

Sol narrowed his eyes a little, turning his head a bit away from Wyatt, as if he was wary of this man for that knowledge. I was a bit too I admit, as I don't remember thinking of how much Wyatt knew of Sol back then...not sure if it was just by something on paper or some video or if he went in person.

"Do you mind if I see him closer lad?" Wyatt asked suddenly, getting a surprised look from the both of us. "I haven't seen a Salandit in a very long time, and they aren't exactly native to the island either. But! I won't insist, this is merely a request, you don't have to."

I blinked, trying to think of how that would go, looking to Sol, considering it was about him. He looked at me with a tight expression and even tighter shake of the head. "Uh, I don't think he would like that," I said honestly, grimacing. "He's not exactly good with other people he doesn't know well enough. I-I don't want him accidentally hurting you or something," I added, hands up and open in a lower version of shrug, since I couldn't do it regularly with a lizard on my neck.

"Sa," Sol scoffed, looking off as if he was insulted.

"Well I don't know how you'd react," I told him honestly, trying to give a little smile, reminding myself the last time he did it was in defense of me.

"Sa al," he told me rather snippy-like, as if to say 'like the way I want' or something.

"Oh, heh heh, sounds like a handful he is," Wyatt chuckled, turning our attention back to him.

"You have no idea," I found myself saying before I could stop. I grimaced at that response, realizing it was something I've answered in the same way before.

"Sal AN dit?" Sol questioned to me, poking the front of his snout in my face.

"Didn't mean that! USED TO BE, that's what I meant," I told him defensively, a hand raised in defense.

"Sal al it!"

"Honestly? Yes, you were," I argued, but lightly so.

"An-Dit!" he told me in a defiant way, as if to say 'I'll show you handful', tail up and starting to spark a little, worrying me a bit. I think he felt he had to display some bit of intense independence in the current situation, but I didn't want him burning the furniture to do it.

"S-Sol, don't do tha---"

I didn't finish, because two things happened. One, I felt a weird sorta...wind or something. I don't know what it was, but I felt SOMETHING 'wave' over me, causing the hairs on my body to tingle a bit. It was very light, but it was enough to notice the strangeness of it.

Second, I was looking at Sol at the time, and saw him freeze. Not literally---as some cases may be for Ice Pokemon---but he stopped moving. Or at least ,any other action he had been doing had dropped, his tail going limp, mouth closing, and he partly fell move against my back as he lost grip.

"Whoa, Sol," I exclaimed, reaching around to pluck him from around me and bringing him up in front of me. He felt...relaxed, but at the same time stiff. It was like everything he was in the process of doing had ceased, and now he was stuck in a position when he wasn't doing anything other than some twitches at the corner of his mouth and his eyes looking around all rapidly.

"Whoa! Buddy are you ok!?" I asked, looking him up and down more fully. He didn't seem injured from what I could see, and nothing had touched him. It wasn't some kind of shock either, considering his diaper hadn't changed either from any reaction to something. He didn't look at me with fear with his still-moving eyes, more like frustration at being...

"Oh Gleam, why did you have to do that?"

I looked past Sol at Wyatt and his Jolteon, the later having the various pointy bits of his body relaxing from some kind of raising...almost reminding me of the feeling I had with that invisible wave thing. Gleam seemed to sigh and shake his head, as if to confirm that he HAD done something.

"I appreciate your concern for the decor, but that was rather abrupt for our guest," Wyatt mumbled, looking to me.

"W-what did he do to Sol!?" I exclaimed, looking more shocked than angry. I felt that Gleam hadn't HURT Sol but...

"My apologizes," Wyatt grunted, shaking his head. "But do not worry, your Salandit is fine. He is simply experiencing a bit of Paralysis from Gleam's Thunder Wave."

I knew the name, but my concern for Sol was a bit more relevant than Pokemon Moves right now. "B-but he's never been---" I started, till Wyatt signaled Care over.

"Could you get me some of that Parlyz Heal for me?" he whispered to her. The Chansey went off immediately...and returned just as fast with a yellow-colored, spray medical bottle like those I've seen in the Poke-Center.

"Ah thank you Care," Wyatt told her, setting it to the side and gesturing to me. "I take it you've never had to deal with this Condition before, no worry, I'll fix him for you."

"U-uh," I stammered, looking at Sol as he narrowed his eyes at me. It was hard to tell what expression he was trying to make, as everything was locked in place. I wanted to do it myself, but Wyatt was right, I never had to deal with this Condition before...

With slight reluctance and a facial twitch from Sol, I handed him over to Wyatt's out stretched hands, being very careful to make sure he wasn't dropped or his tail hit against anything. I noted that, in this state, it seemed he couldn't spark his tail, which was a good thing I guess...

"Ah there we are," Wyatt said, having my Fire-Poison lizard across his lap, looking down at him admiringly. I had come out of my seat and was now crouching in the space between mine and Wyatt's, not wanting to leave Sol's eye line, letting him know I was there still.

"Well now, lets see what the damage is---and by that I mean effect," Wyatt chuckled, though I gave him a very not-amused look. Slowly, he started petting Sol down his back, my Salandit's eyes darting to a side, mouth twitching as if wanting to arguing against it.

"Ah yes, he hasn't experienced this before it seems," Wyatt noted, other hand with a raised finger. "Generally Pokemon can garner more resistance to a debilitation after multiple applications, something I learned being a Trainer."

I paused in my disgruntled-ness at this situation as Wyatt spoke...it was as if he was trying to teach me something here.

"That said, being surprised by one also improves the Move's effectiveness. Again, I apologize for that," Wyatt said, reaching over and taking the yellow bottle...before spraying some on Sol's back, and starting to rub it in with the other. "Moves like Thunder Wave seize up a body's limbic system, Pokemon AND Human, but it's not harmful. It just takes an application of good ole' medicine and some manipulation of the afflicted areas."

I watched as Wyatt applied more of the spray, mostly at Sol's back, before putting it off to the side gain. "It will take a little bit to work. Funny enough, I think just enough time for that closer look!" Wyatt said with a chuckle.

I gave a wry look to Wyatt and Gleam at that, almost thinking this may have been planned out...

"Well now, young man, I have to say, he has improved considerably since last time I remember!" Wyatt announced first off, getting my attention again. He was moving one of Sol's limp hands, checking a digit or two and nodding. "Claw tips look to have a good sheen, but little use, so it's good to see he doesn't get into actual fights that often."

"Not really, no," I admitted, getting a look from Sol with a slightly more noticeable twitch of his mouth as if to say 'don't tell him that!'.

"That's good to hear," Wyatt seemed to whisper as he leaned a little to Sol's head, my lizard staring at him disapprovingly. "Though he does have some fire in his eyes, that I can see. Along with you, I suspect that is how he reached the point he has today since you found him in the woods."

I blinked at that statement. I think I've heard 'fire in the eyes' before somewhere. Was it something people said in Pokemon Battles or something?

Slowly, with the hand nearest to it, Wyatt raised Sol's tail up, my Salandit's eyes darting back with slight alarm, glancing at the red-line strip down it. "I must say that Salandit are unique in several ways," he began, slowly running a finger down the line, me cringing a bit at the thought of Sol igniting then and there. "They are the only Pokemon on record with the innate ability to use Poison and Fire, an interesting combination. Only their females evolve, and their males are noticeably weaker than them---"

Sol audibly growled at that. seeming to get some feeling in his mouth again.

"Sorry, it's simple fact," Wyatt explained, moving his finger away as he glanced at Sol's expression. "Oh! Speaking of such," he started again, digging out something from his pocket. It looked to be some kind of CD case, which he handed to me. "I made a copy of some data from my old Pokedex on such Pokemon. Maybe you can find it useful in the future."

I looked down at the unassuming disc, wondering what was on it. Pokedex? That's the thing Trainers have that...either has information, or collects it about Pokemon. So this thing has information on Salandits? I mean, I did look up what I could...but maybe some...'expert' stuff straight from priority tech on the subject wouldn't be bad to have. I secured it in my bag where I knew it wouldn't get damaged.

"However, I will say, from what I just see here, you are in quite the fine shape," Wyatt continued, still observing Sol. "Sharp, unblemished claws, a fine scale coat, and a reflexive nature in defense of another...your partner has definitely helped you achieve a much better state than any Salandit in the wild ever could. You should both be proud."

I recoiled a bit at that comment, surprised a little. Sol ceased his growl then, his face contorting a bit into a 'what?' expression, before looking at me as if for some kind of confirmation. Honestly, I had looked up what I could on Salandits early on in my efforts of taking care of him...but I guess with them not being so native, the knowledge wasn't too in depth. I mean, I knew females were stronger, and males were weak because they served them or something...but was Wyatt saying I made him better than a Salandit normally is...?

"DIT!?"

I looked up, realizing I was looking down at the thought of the praise I seemed to have gotten from an experienced, if retired Pokemon Trainer. I winced with surprise as I saw Wyatt had hiked Sol's tail up and was now looking at his amply padded derriere.

"I can see our custom-fitted Salandit diapers are doing fine for him as well!" Wyatt commented, poking the butt of the garment as my Salandit's tightened exclamation was muffled by the crinkle noise. "Clean for the moment, though, a little under...you're a bit damp dear boy," Wyatt informed, poking the wet spot once, probably becoming aware just then that Sol WAS indeed a boy.

"Not surprising," Wyatt continued. "As when a Pokemon goes into a 'fighting mode'---if I use the kids' terms these days---they don't tend to use their diaper until a crucial hit to themselves or afterward, as Gleam can attest to---"

"JOLT!" Gleam exclaimed, his fur bristling up as he looked at Wyatt with a blushing face.

"Oh, sorry my dear friend," Wyatt chuckled. "That kind of slipped out. It's a compliment really, and our guests don't seem to be the battle-know=how type."

I glanced between the former-Trainer and his own partner, feeling a bit aware of how me and Sol sometimes acted that way. But, that was interesting...I guess when a Pokemon is fighting, things like using the bathroom kind of shut off. I guess that makes sense...I mean you don't see Pokemon Battles with a contender wanting to pause for a potty break.

"I'd wager he goes through quite a few a day!" Wyatt continued, patting my lizard's diapered butt. "What would you say he is? Heavy wetter? Or does he make a habit on the filling end?" he questioned, raising Sol's tail again to look, much to his agitation.

"Probably heavy wet---wait! What!?" I exclaimed, caught a bit into Wyatt's amusement over my lizard's diapered rump.

Wyatt continued a rancorous round of laughter as he slowly lowered Sol's tail, my lizard growling himself and turning his head stiffly toward the old man. I was pretty sure he was making those comments in good humor, but in Sol's position, it sounded like some teasing he really did NOT want now.

"Joooolt," Gleam mumbled, glancing Wyatt's way.

"Oh you're no fun sometimes," Wyatt replied, chuckling as he looked to me, resting a hand on the back of Sol's diaper, still getting a growl from him. "All in all my boy, this Salandit here is a very healthy one. You've taken care of him well over the years, and I can understand
it may have had its difficulties."

Couldn't argue that one but...

"That said, you continued on, and stuck with it," Wyatt continued, that humor of his seeming to have moved to the side as his hand slowly rubbed the bit of Sol's diaper above his tail. "I knew you had that 'special something' my boy. It's not a common thing for one to take in a Pokemon from the wild, with few aspirations to being a Trainer or the like, and do such a fine job," he told me, placing his hands under Sol and gesturing for me to take him.

I was a bit bewildered by things going on now. My lizard was being handled by somebody else and I was getting praised at the same time. It kind of conflicted me to the point of inaction for a few seconds before I noticed Mr. Wyatt was done with Sol, and I eagerly took him up.

In the transfer, I ended up turning him onto his back in my hands, holding him by the back of his diaper and his neck, between his spines. He still felt stiff, but his head had some movement to it, and he was looking at Wyatt with a bit of disdain. Couldn't blame him, being handled like that...

"Apologies for that, again," Wyatt said, hands with cane up in defense. "But I did want a closer look at him to see how he was doing. As I expected, rather well. He's in good hands."

"Um...thanks?" I said, a bit unsure if I should respond that way.

"You're welcome hm hm."

"Ssssaaaalll...."

"Whoa."

I had to adjust my hands and arms a bit as Sol practically went further limp in them, every limb of his moving at once, fingers and toes spreading as it seemed the Paralysis wore off. I propped up his head a bit as, transferring most of his body to my lap as my other hand lightly held his tail...in case he decided to start flaming off.

"S...al..." he groaned, as I felt the muscles in his back flex and it seems he was internally trying to get feeling back.

"Alright there buddy?" I quickly asked him, moving my arm to keep his tail aloft, just in case, moving the hand to his stomach.

"Annnn," he groaned again, flexing again against my lap.

"Ok, ok...here let me get you up a bit...."

I went slow, putting my hand under him and propping him up into sitting position, his diaper crinkling against my knees as I turned him a bit so that he could lay against my chest, his protruding head going over my shoulder. I kept one hand to his neck, the other on his diaper above his tail. He sighed in annoyance as he made fists and opened them, trying to get feeling back in everything.

I set to rubbing his back, seeing if that helped. I'm glad he didn't notice the slightly babyish-way I was holding him here...but then again, who said holding someone that way was automatically that anyway?

"Hm hm, seem to handle him well," Wyatt observed, pointing at me hunkering my lizard against myself. "And from what I hear from around town, you two have enriched each others' lives for the better."

"Around town?" I asked, a bit confused by that.

"Why yes," Wyatt chuckled, pointing backward to the balcony, and I guess the town. "While I do hear from your mother on occasion, you do realize, you're the only one with a Salandit on the island."

"I am?" I inquired, blinking. I realized that seemed to be the case from when the subject came up, but it really was true?

"That's right. Especially the only one brought into the fold---or padding as the case may be," the old man said with a little laugh and point to Sol's diapered bottom.

"And DIT," my lizard muttered real loud, hand squeezing my arm as if telling ME to tell HIM to quit it. But Wyatt went on before I could.

"From what I've heard, you've been a little more active with others," Wyatt started, nodding with approval. "Those boys with the Seviper and Zangoose for instance, prime examples of how Poke-Poofs have brought even rival Pokemon species into...roughly healthy friendships," he said, with another chuckle.

"I guess that's accurate," I mumbled, reminding myself that, yes, Rattler and Wily were 'technically' friends...when they got along.

"I had considered them as candidates as well, but, honestly, I believe you two embody the purpose of Poke-Poofs more than anyone."

"We...wait what?" I asked, a bit confused. The purpose of Poke-Poofs...right, it was about humans and Pokemon connecting together, and I can understand that with me and Sol, in more ways than one. But what did he mean by 'candidates'...?

"Well," Wyatt started, coughing a little. He got a look from Gleam, of slight concern, but Wyatt waved it off. "Ahem. I'm sure you've seen that everyone is getting ready for the Mew celebration and, though I say to be discreet with this, I have it on good authority that Mew may very well come this year."

I stiffened, Sol stiffened, and I felt a slight warmer squirt in his diaper. Mew? Did Mew meet...does Mew meet with Wyatt before the celebrations that he comes on...?

"And I think we 'both' are in agreement that...you and your Salandit be there for the Flute Ceremony. To be on that stage where Mew will appear."

*

"You want us to...what?" I nearly stammered, eyes so wide I thought they would pop out of my head.

I could feel Sol move against me, his diaper warming as he began wetting it at the mere idea of seeing Mew again; now that the Paralysis had lifted, it was a full stream. He scrambled in place, making me sink deeper in my chair as he fumbled onto his back against me, the back of his head hitting my chest as he pulled his upper body up a little with the armrests. He was still wetting his diaper, the hissing noise being quite audible to all of us.

"S-S-S-and!?" he exclaimed, more in shock than anger now.

"Teon," Gleam mumbled with a slight laugh behind a paw.

"I can see I surprised both of you," Wyatt chuckled, glancing at the fading Poison orbs on Sol's diaper front.

"Y-you want US...in the Flute Ceremony?" I asked again, holding Sol by the sides of his torso, trying to make sure he didn't start flailing a second time. I can understand why he did so, as I mean...Wyatt was suggesting we see Mew again...in public no less.

But for me...the Flute Ceremony? That was like the most important thing that happens in the celebration! It was when Wyatt and Gleam would return to the same park at their first meeting with the mythical Pokemon, and Wyatt would play this special Pokemon Flute...and some strange song, always the same one...and if Mew was around somewhere near the island to hear...he would show up.

In some ways it was like a summoning ritual that...only worked if the person was nearby heh. But the point was, whether Mew showed up or not, it was the significance of the moment. That Mew had showed up, in OUR town...and not only that, had taken to liking, and appearing in, Poke-Poofs diapers...the symbol of our town, the symbol of what it, of what Poke-Poofs, was about.

That itself was actually another part of the ceremony as well, since Mew usually turned up with his own multi-type diaper, custom-made by Poke-Poofs for him, which is usually a little beaten or tattered up with whatever places he's been to with it in the year(s) he's been away. But every year he showed, Mr. Wyatt would change Mew's diaper---though, it seems Mew never actually used them at all, apparently having no real 'functions'---and supply him with a couple spares in a parcel before he decided to leave.

But...Mr. Wyatt wanted US to be in it? Something THAT important?

"Hm hm, in case you haven't notice, I'm getting old," Wyatt said, spreading his arms and looking over himself.

"Jol..." Gleam mumbled, getting some kind of look from Wyatt that looked almost...stern coming from him, before looking back to us.

"I will be there to play the Flute of course, it takes time to...learn," Wyatt grunted, nodding to himself. "But of course, I need helping changing my dear friends, though thankfully Care helps me with that quite well. But for the occasion of Mew, I would like a human to perform the task instead of a Pokemon..."

Me and Sol looked at each other, me down, him up. We had MET Mew, we both knew it was real. Now, the day right after, the head of Poke-Poofs wants US to be in the Flute Ceremony, the most important thing in the celebration...and he wants ME to be the one to change Mew as part of it!?

"I-wha--I--" I stammered, uncertain how to process this.

"An Sssaland!?" Sol stammered himself. Thankfully, I guess he was overloaded enough to not spit flame or poison around...

"Jol-te," Gleam murmured, rolling his head and looking at Wyatt as if to voice his opinion on the 'choice' that was made.

"Oh they're perfect Gleam," Wyatt said, patting his head. The Jolteon did not look amused, looking at us, the stammering fools. "Of course it's up to them whether they want to participate, I won't force this matter."

"B-but us?" I managed to get out, shaking my head in disbelief. So many things were going through my head. Celebration, crowd, people, looking at us, Mew there, changing the diaper of a mythical Pokemon---it was a bit much to take in.

"Yes my boy, you," Wyatt clarified, pointing at us. "I believe that you two show the fundamental principle behind what I show Mew at every appearance. And I have a feeling...Mew does too."

"So...what do you say?"