"There is only one thing I can think to do in this situation. I know you might not like it, but I need to bring you down to the station and get you a sketch done, then we will send a few calls out. Your relatives are probably looking for you and can identify you through the sketch."

"What if nobody is looking for me?"

"Welllll... let's not ask that just yet. People don't just pop up out of nowhere. Somebody. will. recognize. you."

Jared knew for a fact that nobody would be looking, and he didn't much like the idea down to the police station either. However, refusing in his situation would be too suspicious.

After wearing some of Richard's old clothes, and taking a warm shower, Jared looked almost normal, besides his shaved head.

Jared was somehow relieved by how small the police station was, but he still got goosebumps when standing right before it. Perhaps he imagined it would be big and imposing, or perhaps he just didn't like the idea of being near one. Either way, he was here whether he liked it or not, so he was making the best of the situation.

The ranger gave three knocks on the door, and a few moments later a fat-nosed man stepped out. Suddenly something big bolted out of the station and began running circles around Jared and Richard.

Instinctively Jared flinched back. When he got a good look, it looked like a big stuffed toy at first.

With its round eyes and harmless-looking paws, the creature looked like a parody of a real-life ferret, only larger. However, it was lightning quick, which was in contrast to its large size.

Soon Richards Growlithe had enough, and with a growl, it began chasing the slippery six-foot-tall Furret around.

Exasperated, the big-nosed man cursed, "Damit Furret, I know you're bored, but you have to stay inside and guard the police station with me!"

Turning around, the man suddenly recalled he had guests.

"Can I-"

He cut himself off when he recognized Richard.

"Oh, heya Richard, did you just get back?"

"I did, can we come in?"

"Uh, suuure, just let me return Furret to his Pokeball"

However, each time the man tried to point the ball at Furret, it would dodge to the side.

Seeing Richard groaning facepalm, Jared became a bit more curious about the relationship between the two officers. He hadn't seen him so short-tempered recently.

Finally, Furrets luck ran out and he was returned to his Pokeball.

Leaving the door open, the man walked in with a huff, "Sorry about that, I'll get you two some tea, just sit anywhere."

"Wait, Dillan, we just nee-" but Richard was cut off, "The tea's already done, I don't want it to get cold."

Jared looked inside before stepping in. Besides a reception desk, there were half a dozen chairs lining the walls.

Picking a random one, Jared sat down reluctantly.

Shaking his head, Richard sat down right next to Jared and began petting Growlithe.

Richard tempted.

"You want to touch him?"

Growlithe watched Jared expectedly, his tail wagging.

"I'll pass."

The ranger seemed to be bad with small talk, and Jared was generally not one for idle chatter. This perfect storm led to an awkward two minutes.

Finally, Dillan was back with a tray of tea.

"I forgot to ask how much honey you guys wanted, so I just did a few spoonfuls in both cups."

"I want to get home, so I'll make this quick."

With tea in hand, Richard spent a quick minute explaining the general situation.

Dillan looked Jared up and down with some pity, "Amnesia huh, that sucks man. You don't remember where you lived?"

The ranger was getting annoyed now.

"Dillan, focus, I just told you he doesn't remember, now bring out your smeargle already.

"ye ye one sec"

Dillan grabbed the second Pokeball on his belt and tossed it.

"Go smeargle!"

In a flash of red light... there it was. With its tongue hanging out, a goofy-looking pokemon appeared.

After a moment, the pokemon began holding its green-tipped tail like a paintbrush, which made it seem even sillier.

Richard facepalmed for the second time.

"Can you please not yell that every time?"

Crossing his arms, Dillan was clearly unconvinced.

"But smeargle likes it."

Seeing the pokemon in question shaking its head in denial, Jared was beginning to realize that there wasn't something quite right about Dillan. To say it nicely, he was unprofessional and hyper. To say it another way, he had a few screws loose.

"Smeargles just being shy"

Smeargle shook its head again.

"Yes you are"

Meanwhile, Richard had gotten up at some point and swiped a long sheet of paper from the reception desk.

When the Smeargle began denying the accusation for the 5th time, Jared saw Richard's right eye twitch.

"Focus Dillan! Focus! Now, tell Smeargle to sketch Jared's appearance!"

.

With the sketch done, and the call sent out, they began walking back to Richard's home. The stoic ranger was moody all the way, which Jared found quite amusing. Strangely enough, his Growlithe seemed to share the same mood. I mean, it was difficult to tell if a dog pokemon was annoyed or not, but Jared still had the feeling that it was. He wasn't going to say it, but he wondered if perhaps the smeargle was the reason Dillan antics were tolerated.

Once they were back home, Richards's mood improved considerably when he got a chance to sit down.

Breaking the silence, Jared asked, "What now?"

Richard exhaled his last bits of annoyance before looking over at Jared. "Now we wait."

.

Jared was used to spending long hours staring at a cell wall, so boredom was nothing new to him. He figured that he'd be forcibly locked inside for a few boring days to prevent him from running away, while Richard went off to do whatever it is he did while he wasn't working.

This, however, did not happen, and Jared was glad for it.

A crowd of farmers cheered, while two pokemon were locked in fierce combat.

"Growlithe, Bite!"

As Growlithe charged in at insane speeds, a Pikachu disappeared into a thick swath of shrubbery.

Growlithe, losing his target, stopped in his tracks, and began sniffing the air.

"Growlithe, don't just stand there, you're in the open!"

His opponent, a shirtless teenager named Rikar laughed, "Too late, Pikachu, Thundershock him!!"

Then it happened, from not more than two meters away!

Before the Growlithe could react, white light erupted from the bushes and passed directly through Growlithes chest.

Jared watched as the poor dog pokemon had an epileptic fit.

"Holy shit", Jared couldn't help but mutter, his voice drowned out by the twenty or so people cheering.

Pumping his fist, Rikar yelled, " Awwww yeaaa, you got 'em good Pikachu!"

The electric stream ended after three seconds, and Growlithe was back on his feet. Growlithe howled furiously, and his face warped with the same fury.

Seeing so much fight left in his foe, the teenager yelled, "Let's do it again, get back in the bushes!"

However, when Growlithe tried to give chase, it faltered after a few steps.

The teenager didn't miss this opportunity, "Pikachu, he's paralyzed, get out here and thundershock him again!"

However, unbeknownst to the boy, the ranger was faintly smiling.

"EMBER!"

Bursting from the bushes, and charged with electric energy, the confident Pikachu was suddenly met with an ember to the face. With Pikachu's focus lost, the electric attack fizzled out. While still reeling from the hit, the chubby mouse pokemon felt himself gripped by sharp teeth.

"NOO! Pikachu, get him off you, use another thundershock!"

Pained, the electric mouse gritted his teeth and began charging another attack.

"PIII KAAAAAA"

but just before Pikachu could discharge electricity into his foe, he was thrown in the air!

Disoriented, and without a target to fire at, Pikachu's attack struck nothing.

Nodding, Richard commanded, "Blast him out of the air with an ember!"

Pikachu was now five feet in the air, but just as Pikachu began falling, a small clump of molten fire clipped Pikachus leg. The momentum from the blast and Pikachu's lightweight had turned the poor creature into a spinning top.

"Ahhh, nooo!"

As gravity intervened, Pikachu spiraled downwards and landed headfirst into the dirt.

"Ember!"

Before he could get up, Pikachu was met with yet another smattering of painful flames!

With half of its fur burned off, the pokemon mascot finally went limp before Growlithe could go in for another bite.

Stopping halfway, Growlithe howled victoriously and returned to his trainer's side. If one looked closely, one would see the pokemon was trying to hide a small limp to its step. However, this didn't matter, as the winner had been already been decided!