Winter in Nuvema

[Riley]

((Semi-private RP, please ask before joining! BD I'd like to limit this thread to particular Unova canons at the moment. uwu Thank you~<3))

It was only snowing very lightly in Nuvema this morning, but the air was frigid and unwelcoming enough to keep everyone inside their warm beds a little while longer than usual.
N, on the other hand, was always one to rise early no matter the circumstances.
He had quietly left Black's house before anyone else living there had woken, and headed immediately to the nearby forest around the town's edges. Flanking him was a tall black and red fox, and trailing not far behind them was a pale but elegant figure that followed like a ghost.

A week had passed since they'd all been invited by Black to come and stay with him and his family for the winter. Though N had been unsure about accepting the generous offer at first, the boy had been insistent since N would otherwise be spending his nights in some sort of cave or makeshift shelter outside in the snow. At that, likely in the very same town, seeing as N had been spending a good amount of his time around Nuvema ever since he and the hero had reunited about a month ago.
Up until recently, N and his Pokémon friends had made do living without a home, but sleeping inside was a far more comfortable option than that of the cold ground during freezing nights, so he agreed both for himself and for his companions.

Reshiram, however, would quite obviously not fit inside such small house, (which N found quaint in contrast to the castle he was raised in,) so the dragon was staying just outside town. It wasn't a worry of his in the least, as the Pokémon was practically a living heater and would do perfectly fine on his own coping with the weather. Much preferable to keeping the dragon cooped up inside a pokéball, in N's opinion.
Reshiram could have gone further from Nuvema, as the man allowed him his freedom, but the Pokémon's attachment to his trainer kept him close by. Thus, N could visit him regularly, as was his intention this very morning.

With Zoroark and his sharp sense of smell, in addition to Clarice the Gardevoir's ability to detect presences through emotion, it didn't take long to locate the legendary at all. Not to mention his massive size gave him away, despite the fact he could blend in surprisingly well against the snow-coated landscape for a giant dragon.
They found Reshiram in a large clearing, leaning against an oak tree with his eyes half shut and the snow all around him melted. As soon as the dragon noticed their arrival, he livened instantly and stood up straight, giving his wings a stretch.

"Good morning," N greeted him, and Reshiram snorted gently in response. The trainer approached him and leaned into his fur, wrapping himself around the dragon as far as his arms could extend. "I'm glad to see you've been doing well." It had been a couple days since N had stopped by for a visit, but they were both used to being apart for small periods of time. Reshiram never minded as long as he knew that his friend had not left the area, which N wouldn't even think of doing without informing him first.

Reshiram rest a wing on N for a moment, as the man nuzzled into his warm coat, before speaking up. According to the dragon, he had noticed there were several wild Pokémon in his vicinity since last night due to the heat he was giving off, but they were too terrified to come very close to him and remained hidden.
"I see. Let's invite them out, in that case," N replied with a small smile, lingering a moment longer against Reshiram before drawing away. As he looked around, his gaze fell on Clarice, who was already slowly moving towards some nearby bushes and kneeling down. "It looks like you found them," he commented as he joined her, making sure not to move too quickly and startle whatever Pokémon were concealed there.

A small group of three purrloins looked up at the both of them with huge eyes. "There's no reason to be afraid; we're friends," he coaxed, reaching out to offer a palm for them to scent. At first they all flinched away, but then the smallest cautiously crept forward to smell his fingertips. She paused, then glanced up at N again, this time her eyes filled with curiosity rather than fear. N scratched the feline's head as she stepped closer, and the Pokémon chirped in delight. This appeared to ease the other two, as they were now willing to approach N as well.

Clarice smiled and said hello before getting to her feet and moving around the clearing, checking for any more wild Pokémon about. There were several; among them pidoves, a lillipup, and a patrat. They were all eventually persuaded into showing themselves, but kept a wary eye on Reshiram and Zoroark, the latter of whom was watching intently with a quiet, intimidating air.

N and his Gardevoir made them feel as welcome as possible, however, and Reshiram even made an effort to let the bite-sized creatures know that he didn't plan on having them for breakfast. It wasn't long until the small group they had collected around them were more at ease. A few were brave enough to approach the dragon with N at their side, tempted by the waves of heat radiating from him as he increased his temperature.

It was over an hour they all spent together before N decided to head back into town after Clarice she admitted she was starving, and he realized he was as well.
"You should come and join us," he told Reshiram cheerfully, and the dragon responded that he would stop by later in the day after he had found his own meal. Most of the wild Pokémon around had decided they would prefer to follow N for a while longer than stick around the fire-breathing carnivore after that comment. And so N gained a small troop following him on his trek back.

It had been an easy twenty minute walk from Nuvema to Reshiram, but the wind and snow were picking up fast on his return journey. N continued to push through despite the harsher weather, but stopped when he noticed several Pokémon falling behind.

"Come here," he spoke gently to the shivering purrloins huddling together. The man had unbuttoned the large coat that he wore, offering the Pokémon the option to slip inside. He didn't have to ask twice; the cat Pokémon crawled in and allowed N to hold them against himself to warm them.
Then, just as he was about to close it back up, a pidove in their company fluttered over and asked if it could join, (regardless of the purrloins' antagonistic tendencies towards its species.) N, of course, would never say no. And that was how he eventually ended up with the entirety of his crew of new friends inside his jacket and scarf as the rest came to him asking the same.

Clarice giggled. Zoroark remained unamused. After N was buttoned up once more, now with an armful of Pokémon, he continued to move onwards until a half hour later, he had arrived back where he had begun.

[Kibi]

Black awoke fairly long after N had left, stirred by the light filtering through the window blinds. It didn't take long for him to realize that his houseguest was gone, after some groggy wandering through the otherwise sleeping household. Anxiety that the man had disappeared again occurred to him only briefly; after all, he didn't expect N to alert him every time he decided to venture outside.

Not seeing any reason to go back to sleep, Black set to getting himself ready, not bothering to make himself breakfast. Not yet, at least-- It wouldn't surprise him if N had skipped it himself. The Pok?mon scattered about his house began to stir as well in response to Black's movements (the walk to the bathroom, his room, then back to the living room), and he did his best to assure them quietly that they didn't have to wake up just yet, that he'd only be out for a little while. He pulled a coat on over his sweater, wrapped a scarf around his neck, and cautiously made his way outside, careful not to shut the front door too loudly behind him.

It was still snowing. The air was definitely brisk-- he pulled his coat tighter around himself-- but he couldn't help but take note of the snow with a hint of glee. Frigid air or not, unlike the cold-hating Cheren, he had always loved seeing the winter mornings in Nuvema. He would have been content enough just to wander through the snow and silence alone, but noticed a familiar figure in the distance, approaching the outskirts. His face lit up with a smile, and he promptly began to trudge through the snow to close the distance between them.

As he got closer, he raised a hand to wave. He was about to call out to N, but stopped and lowered his hand when he took notice of the way N's coat seemed to be bulging, something-- apparently several things, actually-- underneath it moving about occasionally. The sight was only a bit alarming; he had an idea of what it could be, but picked up his pace, stepping into a jog.

"G'morning," he greeted, stopping a small distance away (in case whatever was underneath N's jacket decided to jump out at him, and in case Zoroark didn't approve of the proximity). He regarded N's troop first with curious surprise, then with a somewhat nervous chuckle. "Looks like you've found some more company, huh?"

N had only been staying with him for a week, but there had already been one instance of N bringing wild Pok?mon into the house to take them out of the winter cold. Black didn't mind, but then it had been one or two small Pok?mon. Looking at the shapes beneath N's jacket, it was easy to tell that there were more this time.

Black's gaze moved from N to Clarice to Zoroark before settling back on N's face. "Well... How many are there this time?"

[Riley]

<Someone is here to see you,> a voice informed N telepathically. He had been preoccupied making sure none of the Pokémon were slipping out of his coat as he made his way into town, but looked up at Clarice's notification.

Black was finally out and about N saw, as the boy was heading towards him now. Though his face felt as if it had been frozen by the cold wind, he managed a genuine smile as soon as he caught sight of the other.
"You're up," he observed aloud once they were both within hearing range. Glancing down to the shifting bulges in his jacket at Black's clearly uneasy laughter and inquiry, he readjusted his grip to hold them better and answered immediately. "They were drawn to Reshiram's warmth," he explained quickly. "We found quite a few of them around when we came to visit him." He was interrupted as the wild Pokémon squirmed again, this time against him in such a way where he couldn't help but laugh quietly, which was quickly suppressed.

"Six decided to come back with us," he replied, fidgeting slightly. It was more than could fit completely into his jacket, apparently; a pidove was hiding under the wraps of a scarf he wore.
"Lillipup, two Pidoves, three Purrloins," he listed their names. As if on cue, a purple and cream nose poked curiously out near his neck to take a look at who N was speaking to. The little cat eyed Black with a mischievous glint before drawing back inside. "They're becoming restless, so I want to get them indoors." He obviously had no intention of asking permission, as he was already beginning to walk in the direction of Black's house again, expecting that the boy would keep up.

Clarice brushed past Black and flashed him a small smile with a pat on the shoulder as she followed N. They could speak more once they were inside, she was trying to tell him. The gardevoir was surprised N had managed to keep holding all the Pokémon for as long as he had, already.

[Kibi]

“Reshiram?” The dragon must have been nearby, then. Black wondered briefly if Reshiram’s presence would lure Zekrom back (his own dragon had been away for some time-- longer than it had taken for Reshiram to return to N), but pushed his own musings aside when the Purrloin’s face appeared from N’s coat. Black tried to offer the Pok?mon a reassuring smile before it hid again.

“Six...” He almost missed N’s answer to his question, but promptly began to try wrapping his head around how he’d manage to keep track of six more Pok?mon, on top of the others already occupying his house. A large amount of Pok?mon was rarely a problem, but he knew one error-- or one misbehaving Pok?mon-- could start up a domino effect and turn his house into a battleground. And there was always the matter of explaining things to his mother...

Before he could even think to say anything more, N was already on the move. “R-right. Okay.”

He worried at his lower lip for a moment, uncertain, but seemed to understand and be somewhat reassured by Clarice’s gesture. He returned her smile and began to follow N himself, taking long strides to keep up with him.

“Uh-- Do you need help carrying them all, or anything--...?” he began to offer, but cut himself off as he noticed that his house would be close enough. “Oh, hang on...”

He picked up his pace as they neared the porch, jogging ahead of the rest of the group. Once he reached his destination, he reached for the door and held it open for N. “Louis might bark at you a little, but you can probably just tell him to calm down.” Like most of the rest of Black’s Pok?mon, the Herdier had grown fond of N, after all; Black didn’t doubt that N would be able to keep things from getting out of hand.

[Riley]

N was about to respond that he could manage the rest of the way, but Black seemed to realize they didn't have much farther to go and instead ran ahead to get the door. Once N reached him and came inside, he immediately went to the nearest piece of furniture he could rest against with an outstretched arm and gave a sigh of relief. The combined weight of the Pokémon he carried really added up, and had become more apparent the longer he had been holding them.

"Thank you," he said to Black after both Clarice and Zoroark had entered as well. "We'll let him know that these Pokémon are our guests, not intruders." Naturally, any canine Pokémon would be protective over their home if they felt something or someone didn't belong, but N was confident in his ability to make sure Pokémon got along with one another.

As the wild Pokémon seemed eager to get a breath of fresh air now that they were in a warmer environment, N made his way over to the couch and began to unbutton his coat. The first to pop out were the purrloins, shoving their way past the other Pokémon and bursting out of the opening they were provided with. They landed on the couch nimbly, tails flicking, eyes darting curiously and cautiously about their new surroundings. Next, out fluttered the pidove, though the one on N's shoulder seemed content to remain where it was.
Finally, the lillipup squirmed out near the bottom of the jacket and landed on the floor, ears perking up immediately and tail wagging excitedly. It had scented the other Pokémon in this house, and gave a loud bark before dashing off into another room.

"He smells your Herdier," N told the boy with a glance back in his direction and a smile. He followed the Pokémon, not prompted by the thought that the lillipup could wake someone up or knock something over, but because of his curiosity to see how the two Pokémon would interact with one another.

[Kibi]

Black slipped quickly through the door after N and closed it silently behind him. He stayed in the doorframe for a moment longer, watching as woodland Pok?mon burst forth from N’s coat. Black knew he probably should have been more concerned about the new additions, but couldn’t hide a small, baffled chuckle. The sight reminded him of something he’d see in a movie, but he kept that comment to himself.

He stayed where he was, apparently content to watch, until the Lillipup gave a yip and rushed into the other room. Black cringed slightly when he heard Louis give another, deeper bark in answer.

“Guess so,” he laughed, trying to keep his voice a bit hushed. Probably for no reason, though, he thought. If the barking didn’t wake up the other dwellers, his voice definitely wouldn’t.

He trailed after N to find his Herdier facing the smaller Lillipup, bringing his snout forward to sniff at it. Nearby, a few of his other Pok?mon had clearly been awakened by the commotion as well: a Cubchoo and Audino stood side by side as they watched the two canines, and an Emolga poked his head out of one pantry.

“Be nice, okay?” Black said gently to the Herdier. Louis gave a low growl as if in reply, and flopped onto his stomach before the Lillipup. His tail drummed a quick rhythm against the floor as it wagged.

Black smiled a little and turned his attention to the Emolga, holding out an arm for it to perch on once it leapt from the pantry and glided toward him. It climbed up to his shoulder, nestling against his hair as he turned to face N. “Are they, uh... hungry? I can get everyone some food, if they are."

[Riley]

The lillipup scrambled to meet Louis upon hearing a bark in return. After racing up to him, the smaller Pok?mon stilled itself in the presence of the herdier as he was scented. Though clearly brimming with energy and excitement, he contained it as the larger canine took a moment to judge him.
When Louis seemed to have accepted him, the puppy perked up again jumped a foot in the air before moving around his new friend, curiously sniffing.

It was only the word 'food' that managed to redirect his attention, to which he immediately replied with another several yips.
"He would appreciate the meal," N said, though he knew that Black could probably assume this from the lillipup's response. The pidove shuffled on his shoulder, shying away from all the Pok?mon that were suddenly appearing, but gave a soft coo. "I believe they all would."

[Kibi]

Black’s smile brightened at the response, and gave a quick nod. “Alright!”

He took a step in the direction of the kitchen, but stopped himself briefly to recount the Pok?mon. “Okay, hang on-- Might have to make a couple trips, heh... You guys just sit tight.”

With that, he disappeared into the next room. He was then thankful for the standard Pok?mon chow his mother had kept in stock. It might not have been the best food ever, but Black’s Pok?mon seemed to enjoy it at least, and it was plentiful. He hurriedly filled six bowls, scattering in some oran berries that were within reach in the pantry.

He returned minutes later with the bowls in hand, stacked carefully atop one another in his arms. The Emolga had moved to perch on his head.

“Here you go...” Black said, wobbling a little when the stack of bowls swayed somewhat in his grasp. He stayed nearby the doorway, not willing to risk carrying the load any further than that, and set each bowl on the floor. Each was cautiously moved closer to the Pok?mon, one by one, as Black addressed N again:

“So,” he started, looking up after placing a bowl near the Lillipup. Though enthralled with his new fellow canine friend, Louis took a moment to acknowledge his trainer, placing a paw on Black’s bent knee. Black scratched behind one of the Herdier’s ears as he continued. “You said Reshiram’s here?”

[Riley]

While Black left to fetch food for the Pokémon, N turned back to gather the purrloin that had remained in the front room. When he arrived, he found them spread about and exploring their new surroundings. One had disappeared beneath a couch, only its tail left sticking out, while another was trying to figure out how to climb some shelves. The third was around the curtains, eying them in consideration of what it would feel like to run her claws through them.
When N informed the felines that they were all about to be fed, however, that was enough for them to abandon their investigations for the time being, and they all trailed after him.

Though initially wary of the herdier, all three purrloin were hungry enough to get right in there and claim some food for themselves. Once N made sure all the wild Pokémon were situated, (he had to put some of the food in his hand for the timid pidove to eat,) he looked to Black as he was addressed.

"Yes," N replied happily. "He's staying in the forest just outside Nuvema." He stooped down to gather another small handful of food for the pidove on his arm to peck at. "I expect he'll be around these parts during most of the time I stay here." Reshiram preferred remaining nearby N, as they had both grown accustomed to being close together during their time traveling. With his thoughts on this relationship to his dragon, Zekrom occurred to him as well.

He hadn't seen the black dragon, still, since two years ago. He'd asked Black before about this, and it appeared that the two were comfortable with remaining apart for long periods of time. Though happy that the legendary was allowed such freedom, it had left him curious about how the boy's own relationship had developed with his dragon partner.
"Perhaps if that is long enough, Zekrom may come as well. I imagine she must be drawn back to you as Reshiram is to myself."

[Kibi]

“You think so?” Black pondered the idea for a moment as he took a seat on the floor, letting Louis climb into his lap. His Emolga hopped from his head to his shoulder and curled up atop the Herdier. Black smiled faintly at the two before his gaze wandered to the other scattered Pok?mon.

“Maybe you're right,” he started. “It’d... be good to see her again, I think! She’s been gone for a long time. I wonder what she’s doing...”

He worried at his lower lip, puzzling over what the dragon could be occupying herself doing. He knew chances of her getting into trouble that would require his assistance were slim (and a part of him was strangely sure he would somehow be able to tell if such a thing did happen), but his mind wandered over the possibility. He looked back up at N, a bit of sudden urgency in his expression. “Um-- What does Reshiram usually do, when he leaves?”

[Riley]

"Reshiram travels here and there, but I don't believe he ever strays outside the region," N began. The pidove on his arm had finished eating and fluttered back to his shoulder. "He's curious to see every bit of how the world's changed since he was last awoken, and he appreciates any chance he can get to stretch his wings." N smiled.

"Zekrom must have that same curiosity after existing in a dormant state for so long. We could ask her about it, whenever it is she decides to return. That is, unless you feel it is time to seek her out yourself."

[Kibi]

Black began to idly stroke Louis’ back as he listened to N explain. "Oh... Yeah, I guess that makes sense! And when we were other places-- Johto and Hoenn-- she seemed pretty interested in technology. Machines and things like that seemed to get her attention. It was a little like what Alma does... So what you’re saying would explain it. It’s all new to her."

He chewed at his lip for a moment, his eyes downcast. For as attached as he felt to Zekrom, he still felt as if there was much about her he didn’t understand-- or maybe couldn’t without N’s help.

He looked up suddenly at N’s suggestion. "Do you think that would be okay? To... seek her out like that?" It seemed like a good idea for a moment-- now that N was here to translate, it could be helpful-- but then he chuckled, embarrassed. "I don’t even know where we’d start looking."

[Riley]

"What wrong is there in hoping to reunite with a friend?" Black was unsure of himself, but N did not understand why. For a moment he was reminded of each of their own decisions to find one another again, and wondered if Black had experienced similar doubts. But it was for this reason he believed that Black would go through with the idea to locate the dragon despite whatever these doubts may be.

"You do know, but you're not trying," N stated plainly in response, as if the answer were obvious. "You're closer with Zekrom than any other human alive. The two of you share a special connection, as do I with Reshiram. You may not be able to speak with her directly, but you know her better than anyone. Surely you have some idea about where she could be?" He spoke with just the slightest tone of judgement, but felt strongly that Black was merely underestimating himself.

[Kibi]

Black winced. He knew N had a tendency to be blunt, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit ashamed and more embarrassed than before by N’s wording.

"I-- don’t know, N," he replied, nervous. "Maybe I am close with Zekrom, but... Even if I had a better idea of what she'd be doing today, she could be anywhere by now."

But maybe N was right-- maybe he just wasn't trying hard enough, or not trying the right thing. "Am I supposed to just know?" He looked up at the man, still biting his lower lip. "Sometimes I feel like I can... sense her, I guess-- Like if she was in trouble, I'd know, and the other way around. That's why she shows up when I need her, I think. But that's in the back of my mind. I don't know how to... access it. It's not like we're telepathic or anything. I can't just ask her where she is and get a sure answer."

He furrowed his brow in thought, starting to feel a bit desperate. "What am I doing wrong?"

[Riley]

"That's a start. I don't expect it will come to you right away." N mindlessly stroked the bird Pok?mon that huddled against him as he spoke.

"You'll have to try searching for that sense inside yourself. Explore this connection you have with Zekrom, and in time it will strengthen." He tilted his head, expression softening a little. It was surprising to N how uncertain Black could be of himself at times, but he had seen in the past that the boy had remarkable capabilities when it counted. "Concentrate on it today. Perhaps you won't know Zekrom's specific location, but I bet you'll find you have a feeling for which direction to head. Act on that feeling."

[Kibi]

Black exhaled, inwardly relieved that N seemed willing to be patient with him.

“Search for it,” he mumbled, rolling his shoulders for a moment before closing his eyes. Maybe if he just tried to focus on it, something would pop up in his head? Sure, he didn’t have to get anything done today, but he could still try. Maybe he could grasp something...

Emptying his mind wasn’t exactly easy, though, filled with a few swirling anxieties as it usually was. When he tried to reach out to Zekrom, he found nothing-- other than the typical calmness that told him she wasn’t in danger.

Slowly and in a somewhat defeated manner, he opened his eyes again and glanced at the door. “I thought I’d try calling her here, but I guess that’d be sort of mean. She’s not a big fan of snow.” He laughed a little, then paused. Maybe that could be a hint?

[Riley]

N allowed for a moment of silence as Black shut his eyes in an attempt to concentrate. He watched the boy with interest, glancing briefly about at the Pokémon, until he was spoken to again.

"It would be difficult to do so successfully anyways if you cannot yet feel the connection clearly," N commented. "Unless you had a great need for her help, that is." This sparked another thought in him that lit his eyes. "Think back to when you first awakened her; it's one of the moments the two of you were most strongly linked." Recalling his own extraordinary first encounter and connection with Reshiram, he could still remember everything about it in vivid detail. This was easily the same for Black.

"If you struggle to find anything still, Reshiram may be of help as well. He and Zekrom are strongly tied in similar ways that we are to them."

[Kibi]

When he first awakened her...

Black could remember it very clearly-- How Zekrom had burst forth from the small, lifeless stone just when he had accepted the prospect of facing N without any sort of divine help, how she had unleashed such power that he had found it difficult to keep standing. And when the Pok?ball closed around her successfully-- miraculously-- he could almost feel that power surging through him too, a link like electricity through his veins, exhilarating but terrifying.

He hadn’t felt anything like it since then, but that connection was still a comfort in the back of his mind underneath the insecurities. Thinking about that first linking conjured a vague fear in Black, but also a curiosity. It was definitely interesting to imagine himself as close to Zekrom as N was to Reshiram. The nervousness he felt aside, he wanted to keep trying.

“I-- want to try everything I can,” he said eventually, with more determination. “I want to be the hero she woke up for.” Even if he felt he wasn't capable of it. He nodded emphatically. “N, uh--”

His eyes wandered past N just in time to see one of the Purrloins taking the opportunity to investigate the nearby curtains-- with its claws.

“Ah! Oh man, p-please don’t do that--!” he started, making a move to get to his feet. His Emolga clung to his jacket and scrambled up to his shoulder with a dismayed sound, and Louis leapt out of his lap to bark discouragingly at the Purrloin.

Whatever else Black had wanted to say to N was cut short.