The All-Fandom Realm

"I'm sure you'll arrive back home at some point so you can see them all."

Varren let out a soft gasp when the Butterfree took hold of her hand. Amazing that it wasn't afraid of her like the previous Pokemon was.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she laid a gentle hand on Jerry's back. "Your mother sounds lovely. I'm glad she and your Nana introduced you to things that have turned you into the person I see before me." She took a moment before asking, "Can you play for me? Music is lovely, a way to connect with others, but also a form of expression."

Jerry smiled still more. "Sure. I'd love to." The Butterfree flitted back into the air and gave a light cheer at Jerry's response. It seemed to also enjoy his playing.

Jerry rummanged through his backpack and pulled out a small, black hard-case. From it he pulled out three long cylinders and assembled them into a silvery flute. Once it was done, he stood up and took in a long breath. From there, he sighed into the mouthpiece and let out a long, warbling note into the forest air.

One who was sensitive to such things would notice something strange when he played. It was subtle, but the energies around him shifted, altering them the same way as a Power Stone might, though on an infenetesimal level by comparison.

The effects would dissipate once he dove into his melody. It was a simple, childish piece he played, betraying the young man's simple, childish nature. While he played, the Butterfree fluttered around him, moving in time with his rhythm.

Varren sat up straight, all attention on Jerry as he began. Though, she did notice a subtle energy around him when he first started playing. Music is magic, but this was different, this was true magic. As quickly as it showed up, it disappeared.

She smiled when Jerry got into the music. It may have been on the more childish side of things, but he seemed happy playing it so she enjoyed it all the more. Especially with the Butterfree fluttering around in time with the rhythm which made her laugh softly to herself, not wanting to disturb Jerry's performance.

Jerry finished his song, then spun his flute in his fingers and took a bow. "Thank you! Thank you! That was the anthem of my home town, Pallet Town. For my next number—"

His stomach rumbled right then.

"For my next number, I'm actually going to whip up some campfire curry. Want some?"

Varren clapped for Jerry once he finished the song. Though, she burst into laughter upon hearing his stomach rumble.

"Of course," she managed between fits of laughter. After a couple more moments she finally calmed down, wiping away some tears that fell from her eyes from all the laughing.

Her laughter moved Jerry to laugh as well, and his Butterfree drifted around them both, cheering with glee.

"Okay. I'll set up the fire."

He stood in front of the campfire and started erecting the stove frame and pot. It was a large pot meant to fead many people, and once it was all set up, Jerry started filling it with water.

"Okay, while that's getting warmed up, time to let everyone else out!" He grabbed more of those oddly colored balls from his belt, not all of them merely red and white this time, and flung them all into the air. Each one burst open, and in a flash of white released another creature. A six-tailed Vulpix, the blue wablbing Wobuffet, a long tailed Raichu, a fluffy white Togekiss, and a familiar Lucario.

"Everyone, this is Varren!" he declared. "Everyone say hello!"

The various Pokeemon all called out in their own ways, all but the Lucario, who kept its eyes on her and uttered not a sound.

Seeing each and every Pokemon he had in his possession come out was surprising. Jerry truly had a variety.

"Hello!" She greeted them all with a smile.

It didn't escape her that the familiar Lucario from before still wasn't her biggest fan.

Jerry handed Varren a strange paper fan shaped like some kind of fish.

"Here ya go!" he told her. "Curry always tastes better when we make it together!" He took a fan of his own and began waving it at the fire underneath the large pot. "Let's heat this bad boy up!"

His various Pokémon started cheering, all but the Lucario, of course.

Varren took the fan from Jerry with a smile, "Oh, yes, of course! It's always fun to cook together." She followed in his footsteps and began to wave the fan at the fire.

Do these Pokemon ever not seem happy with what their master does? It's quite amazing having such a support system.

The two worked together to make the curry as good as it could be. They fanned the flame together until he roared bright. He then showed her how to stir the pot firmly but carefully so that nothing burned or spilled. Together, they cooked their curry while Jerry's Pokémon cheered them on. Finally, it was complete.

With a plate of rice to serve it with, he set up everyone's dishes and took the first bite of it.

"Oh wow! The dry stuff tastes weird, but it's still so good!"

The flavor had a very gentle bitter taste, but was balanced out with hardy ingredients that brought to it a savory experience. The Pokeemon ate with glee, all, of course, but the Lucario.

Jerry looked over at his loyal companion and sighed. "I don't get it," he said. "He's so on edge. This isn't like him. He loves curry as much as any of my Pokémon."

Varren thanked Jerry before taking a bite from hers. The flavors were good in her opinion. She didn't mind the odd taste of the dry stuff. Food was food and she wouldn't complain.

"I like it! Do you make this most of the time you're adventuring? I'm quite envious if so."

She enjoyed several more bites before perking up at the mention of his Lucario being on edge still.

"I apologize if my presence has upset him." Maybe it was time... "He just wants to be sure I'm no threat, maybe?"

"I only recently learned to make this stuff," said Jerry. "I've been making it about a year. If I say so, I've gotten pretty good at it!"

He shook his head. "Lucarios have the ability to read people's aura. That's, like, a kind of energy that living things give off. They'd be able to tell if you're dangerous."

He looked at his other Pokémon all eating and carrying on. "But if you were really a threat, one or two of my other Pokémon would have picked up on it. Take Jett, for example. Togekisses like her are all about spreading happiness. She doesn't read auras like Riot can, but she has other ways."

"I agree with that! It's quite good. Continue making it!"

Varren hummed softly at that. He wasn't wrong...she was technically labeled as 'dangerous' and 'a threat'. However, he didn't need to know that just yet.

"I can understand why that would put him on edge and I do not blame him." She smiled at Jerry. "Though I think it's about time I told you something and maybe it'd help calm our on edge friend here as well."

Jerry took another spoonful of curry and shoved it into his mouth as she spoke. Her words confused him, but he gathered that she had some secret she wasn't telling him. Maybe she was really a man in drag or something.

He gulped down his curry and smiled. "Sure. Go right on ahead," he told her. "You need me to recall my Pokémon, or are they good to hear the secret themselves too?"

He had meant it as a joke, a tease to keep the mood light. He clearly didn't think anything she had to say would end up being that big a deal to him.