Getting one’s life together for them is a difficult task. Especially if one’s life was never put together in the first place. ‘F course, everyone I’ve ever read about has a life that’s falling apart.
Let me get one about our dear Gengar protagonist out of the way: he has constant anxiety. Alright. That’s all you need to know.
Let me explain something about the Pokémon world at this time- Pokémon and people don’t mix anymore. It’s taboo for them to be caught and trained. They’re not mindless animals.
Now, our protag. He’s terrified that a human will kidnap him and make him a slave (aka use him for battling purposes)
He’s in his late teens, and he has a mess of braces in his mouth. Lots of teeth issues. His eyes are a nice soft green, and his body is a heather gray. Not your average purple-and-red-eyes combo. His friend, a Fraxure named Vixey, is always with him.
Oh, what’s our protagonist’s name? His name is Malachite.
A knock at his door startles Malachite out of his daydream. He was daydreaming about having a book introduction written about him. Huhh.. a ghost can dream. “Mala! Whattar ya doin’! Wer’ gon’ b’ late! I don’ wan’ Sluggy onnour tail!”
Vixey came from British descent, while Malachite came from Northern America.. Two different ways of speech and thought, no?
Malachite sighed. Sluggy was a Goodra who was really smart. She helps Vixey with his homework, and Malachite helps Sluggy do that. Vixey isn’t great at anything to do with studying, but Malachite and Sluggy have good marks. “Maybe Sluggy would give you a break if you actually tried to speak around those tusks.”
“Snut mah fult. It’s dees stup’d exthpanders dat’s hindurin’ mah speakin’.”
“It’s also your inability to learn.” Malachite commented. He opened the door.
Vixey stood at 4’2, taller than the average Fraxure. He almost looked eye-to-eye with Malachite, who was 4’4. Shorter than the average Gengar.
“Alriiig’. Les go t’ th’ libary. Sluggy’ll Drg’n Cla’ us t’ th’ moon.” Vixey said. “I don’ wanna get slapped u’side the head.”
Malachite shrugged. “That’s worse for you that it is me, Vix. I think today Sluggy is helping you with your vocabulary today.”
Vixey groaned. “Not agiiiin… we diddit last week… ‘an you c’nvince ‘er to lemme offa hook? Sluggy’ll lis’n t’ ya. She likes ya.”.”
Malachite chortled. “She puts up with me because I listen to her. Anyhoo, we should get going, right Vix?”
The Fraxure huffed. “Fffffoine.”
They arrived at the library a couple minutes later, where they saw a disgruntled looking Goodra waiting. Sluggy was very tall, almost 7’4 when she stood up fully. Like any Goodra, she was purple with a green slimy goo dripping off her arms, chin, and tail. The ground below her looked more like a swamp than a grassy yard. Upon seeing Malachite and Vixey she narrowed her green eyes and said, “You’re late.” in a thick Russian accent.
“I noticed.” Malachite said, fidgeting a bit. “I hope that hasn’t messed up any of our tutoring?”
Sluggy shook her head. “Нет нет. We can tutor Viksi even under rather unfortunate conditions.”
“R’bbish. Th’s ‘snot ‘t all ‘nfurtonate. We c’n st’ll do ur thing, yes?” Vixey said, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. Sluggy thought for a moment. “Da… No plans have been helped nor hindered. Come now, the library awaits us.”
The “library” was more of a shack with books lining every wall.. “Oy, bibliotekar'! Gde nasha bron'?” Sluggy shouted. Malachite knew Russian to understand she was saying, Oi librarian! Where’s our reservation?
The librarian was a greasy-looking Raticate with very long, blunt teeth. Her fur was slicked down and looked wet (it had that damp sheen that hair and fur have after you try to dry it off) and her eyes were a watery blue. “Von tam, u okna.” the rat croaked, which translated to Over there, by the window.
Sluggy nodded and said to Vixey and Malachite, “Da, I did reserve window. Let us go and teach. You, Vixey, will learn,”
Vixey muttered something that sounded like, “B’sh… I culd’ve jus’ red a book...”
Malachite pulled out a chair for Vixey, and the Fraxure sat down. “You.. are not going to be seated?” Sluggy asked him, her green eyes curious.
Malachite shrugged. “I’m fine either way. I could sit on the ground, table, a seat.. Or I could just float. Really, I’m fine either way.”
Sluggy regarded him curiously, then shrugged. “Either way is fine.” She reached for a book, and Malachite sighed inwardly. Another long lecture. It’s not directed at me, but it’s still boring.
The Goodra took in a breath to begin reading, but right before she began, a shrieking alarm went off, and the Librarian hissed. “Rebyata, spuskaytes'! Chto-to probilo bar'yer!” The Raticate rasped to Sluggy.
Malachite lost his balance when he understood what she said. You kids, get down! Something's broken through the barrier!