After the consistently harsh battles with the trainers at the Battle Maison, Wally feels a little worn out. His shoulders are slumped, and his eyes are drooping, but he feels a vivid sense of victory after beating the seven trainers with ferocity. Every single one of them had different kinds of Pokemon, and his team couldn’t always cope up with the severe disadvantage. But Talonflame and Roserade managed to sweep the battle floors with sheer power. For that, Wally is both proud and grateful for them.
“You guys sure worked extra hard this time, didn’t you?” Wally smiles up at Talonflame, the fire bird Pokemon perched up on his shoulders. His long wings are resting on top of Wally’s head, the warm afternoon color of his feathers gleaming under the light of the Pokemon Center. Talonflame peeks at Wally from behind, nodding in response as a tired chirp exits from his beak. There are a few scratches on the fire bird’s curved belly and the disarming sharpness of his feet. But the Pokemon nurse has already wrapped it with gauze to ease out the slight bleeding.
Beside him, Roserade is sitting on the couch, grasping a few uneven breaths. She looks up at Wally when her friend praises them. She beams at Wally, reaching up to carefully point one of her flowers on the tip of his nose. Wally hides his face when he lets out a sneeze, but he pats Roserade on the soft bow of her head all the same.
“It was hard fighting that ice Pokemon, wasn’t it, Roserade?” He tilts his head to the side. “But we still won in the end, and it’s all thanks to you.”
Both of his Pokemon nuzzle him with loving ease. Wally feels a burning flush rise up his chest. Another grin makes its way to his lips, and he has to resist the urge to cry a little in euphoria. Without his Pokemon, he wouldn’t be here today - enjoying the mirages of the Pokemon world, tired and burned out in Pokemon Centers, witnessing every bruise and scar he’s ever encountered. He’d always imagined himself living a mediocre life at Petalburg City, watching Pokemon trainers battle with Norman, the Petalburg City Gym leader. But here he is, and this is the one future he never thought he’d get to keep.
It isn’t until he hears a short rumble that he’s snapped out of his memories. Wally glances up at the sheepish expression on Talonflame’s face, and a gentle laugh bursts out of his teeth. He rubs the underside of his Pokemon’s neck. “I’m guessing you’re hungry now, eh? Are you starving, too, Roserade?”
His grass Pokemon gives him a shy nod.
“Then, let’s go get something to eat.”
But before Wally can get up, a Pokemon approaches him, offering a box. Wally smells something sweet oozing from the edges. He opens his mouth to speak, but the Pokemon - Lucario, it seems - sends him a telepathic message. At first, Wally is taken back, his heart nearly jumping out from his ribs. But the Pokemon is giving him a reassuring grin.
“P-Poffins?” Wally doesn’t believe he’s tried those before. From the looks of it, Roserade and Talonflame haven’t eaten that kind of treat, either. “A-Are you sure i-it’s okay? I’d l-love to try them o-out!”
♔ - } When he heard what he was hoping to hear as a response, the Lucario’s ears perked forward and his smile widened more. Excitement flashed in his eyes as he happily opened the lid of the poffin case, revealing just a few treats inside, ready to be taken and eaten. He took a quick glance over to the Talonflame and Roserade, recognizing only one of the species, but he wasn’t here to learn about other species of Pokemon. < “Of course! Go ahead and take one for yourself and for your Pokemon! I assure you that you will all enjoy it. Besides, my trainer plans on making more. Help yourself!” >
The trainer, meanwhile, shook her head with a hand to her face, feeling just a bit embarrassed by her Pokemon’s actions. Of course, she knew that the Lucario didn’t mean for his actions to embarrass her. He was only sharing something he enjoyed and something she enjoyed making with others. After a moment, she peeked through between her fingers to see the other trainer thinking about taking a poffin. She decided to take this as her cue to walk over and join them.
“I’m so sorry. I hope Duke isn’t bothering you.” Platinum spoke when she arrived, now standing next to her Pokemon. “If you do take one, that I wouldn’t worry about it affecting your Pokemon or even yourself. At least not in a negative way.” She paused on purpose before continuing on, “These poffins are made with the freshest ingredients. Healthy, too, for both Pokemon and trainers alike.” There was a proud look on her face, matching her body’s posture with her hands on her hips.
The Lucario nodded at her words before urging the trainer again to take a poffin, lowering it slightly when Platinum nudged him in the side, giving him a look that was telling him not to be rude.
“I don’t know if you have ever had one of these before, but if you have had Pokeblocks that seem to be more common here in Hoenn, it’s almost like that, but --- in my opinion --- tastes better and trainers are able to have these freely as a treat, too. I like to make mine for specific Pokemon and for certain situations, like contests for example.” She paused, realizing she may have been talking a bit too much. Was she excited, too, about sharing her homemade poffins? Duke wasn’t going to let this down so easily now.