The bus wait was chaos. Students shouting, Pokémon zooming and floating, teachers frantically trying to maintain order. I adjusted Ditto, which had already transformed into a pillow around my shoulders and now wiggled in anticipation. Ditto clearly found the whole field trip exhausting—or maybe it was just judging humanity. Either way, it was judgmental as ever.
I glanced down at Charcadet, who had been following me cautiously since our encounter in the ruins. Small, fiery, and determined, it was a perfect bundle of potential wrapped in a coat of orange and red flames. It wasn't particularly large—easy to carry—but the school rules didn't care about size. One Pokémon out at a time, and every Pokémon outside a Poké Ball needed explicit school board approval, which I did not have.
I sighed.
"Alright, buddy," I said, crouching slightly so I was eye-level with Charcadet. "We need to talk."
Charcadet's flames flickered lightly, its eyes darting between me and the chaotic bus scene. I knew it was aware something was coming.
"You can't come on the bus with me," I explained carefully. "It's not about you, not about me—it's the rules. Only one Pokémon outside a Poké Ball at a time, and I don't have permission to let you roam. Not yet."
The little fire Pokémon tilted its head, obviously considering this. Flames flickered as it shifted its weight.
"But here's the thing," I continued, lowering my voice. "I don't want this to be a punishment. I don't want you to feel like you're being trapped. This… is a choice. A part of working together."
Charcadet's eyes narrowed, flames flickering defensively, almost like a question.
I reached out slowly, keeping my hands visible. "We're going to be partners, right? Not just for battles, but… for everything. Trust, teamwork, helping each other out. I can't do it alone, and I know you can't either. This Poké Ball—it's not a cage. It's… temporary. Safe. Comfortable. You're free to come out whenever we can be outside and I can supervise."
The little flames dipped and rose like it was breathing, thinking. I waited, silently, letting it decide.
Ditto, ever the dramatic commentator, transformed into a small backpack and wiggled in agreement. It was practically bouncing in approval, a silent cheerleader of our budding partnership. I chuckled. "Yeah, Ditto agrees. I swear, you're going to like having it around. Probably."
Charcadet's stance softened slightly. The defensive flicker of flames became less erratic. It shifted forward, peering at me with cautious curiosity.
"Good," I whispered, offering my hand again. "We do this together. You trust me, I trust you. Partnership isn't just about battles; it's about knowing we have each other's backs."
A tense pause. Then, finally, Charcadet stepped forward and pressed lightly into the Poké Ball I held open. The device felt warmer than expected, almost alive as it responded to its presence. A flash of red light, a soft hum, and it was inside.
I exhaled, relieved. "See? That wasn't so bad. And look, you chose this yourself. That's important. Trust earned, not forced."
Ditto wiggled, transforming back into a jacket and patting me on the shoulder—or at least, as close as a squishy blue blob could manage. "Yeah," I muttered, "we're already building a dream team here."
The bus arrived with a loud honk, jolting a few Gastly floating nearby. I grinned. Ghost Pokémon drifting lazily around the misty streets were now background noise. Kids piled aboard, pokéballs in hand, some letting their Pokémon lounge on the seat beside them, others keeping them safely tucked away. I felt a quiet satisfaction knowing I had earned Charcadet's trust first, rather than forcing obedience.
As we boarded, Ditto slinked back into pillow mode across my lap, ever-watchful. The hum of the bus engine vibrated beneath us, and the city passed slowly outside the windows. Streetlights flickered faintly through the mist, and for a moment I thought I saw a Haunter peeking from a rooftop, grinning like it knew a secret. Misdreavus wailed softly from a distant post. Even in the mundane act of a bus ride home, the world was alive.
I leaned against the seat, resting my head on Ditto, and watched the other kids' Pokémon snooze in their Poké Balls or chatter quietly. Some were clearly fussing over tiny luxuries or gadgets the kids carried. I snorted softly. "Imagine being so concerned about your Pokémon's Poké Ball temperature when you haven't even been out in the wild. Amateur hour, honestly."
Ditto twitched a small eye at me. Judgmental as ever. I grinned. "I know, I know. You're loyal to the cause of sarcasm, I get it."
The bus ride was relatively quiet after the initial chaos. Most students dozed or stared out the windows, and I found myself reflecting. Charcadet had chosen to trust me today. That meant more than obeying a rule or entering a Poké Ball—it meant the start of a partnership. We would need that trust for battles, for strategy, for whatever challenges this city—or this world—would throw at us.
Even the ghost Pokémon outside the bus windows seemed to nod approval, drifting along the misty streets with a faint, otherworldly glow. Gastly floated in formation with a playful Haunter, Misdreavus hovered atop a lamppost, wailing softly. The city seemed alive, mystical energy humming through the air even in ordinary moments.
I glanced down at Ditto. "Don't think I forgot you're shiny. You still get to come out later. You're the only Pokémon I've got that can transform into a pillow and a jacket simultaneously. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Ditto wiggled in agreement, faint blue shimmer catching the last rays of daylight as the bus rolled on.
Eventually, we arrived back at school. Students filed off the bus, Pokémon tucked safely inside Poké Balls or waiting beside their trainers. I adjusted Ditto into jacket mode again and followed the flow, walking alongside other students while subtly scanning the streets. Even now, ghost Pokémon were present, though unobtrusive: a Drifloon drifted lazily across the sidewalk, Shuppet peeked from a shadowed corner, and a lone Banette dangled from a broken railing.
Noctopolis had secrets everywhere, even in mundane routines. But for the first time, I felt a little more prepared to face them. Charcadet's trust had been earned. Ditto was ever-loyal. And I… I was learning how to navigate the rules of this world while still being true to the philosophy I had formed back on Earth: Pokémon were partners, not tools.
As I walked through the gates of the school, Ditto snug on my shoulders and Charcadet safely tucked away, I whispered softly to both of them:
"Alright, team. Let's see what Mom and Dad think when we get home"
Ditto wiggled, and I smiled.