<Are they still arguing?> Buizel leans forwards to whisper to Mudbray, but Sprigatito flinches where he’s hanging limply off Mudbray’s back, so it’s a moot effort.

<Mm.> The donkey continues walking, glad to have piled more layers of dry mud on her hooves. The sharp edges of stone and the occasional flying ember don’t faze her as she follows her trainer, who is skulking around like some kind of goblin for the next pokemon to traumatize. <Pansear would not join us again unless called by our trainer. They have not talked since the fishing trip.>

Buizel sighs, sitting back. <But it’s so silly!>

<It’s not silly!> Sprigatito interjects, or whines, rather. <I’m the first member of the team! And I’m the strongest.>

<Mudbray’s the strongest,> Buizel corrects. <And I don’t know, I guess you could be leader by seniority, but we wouldn't vote for you. No offense.>

<A leader can’t be chosen by strength or seniority. We are all young and weak.> Mudbray points out. <If there is to be a leader, that will be assigned by the human.>

Sprigatito raises his head to look past Mudbray, watching the back of his trainer as the man scales the jagged rocks. Swirling tattoos stare back at him, a single symbol he doesn’t understand surrounded by camellias and dragon scales stretched atop muscle.

—Or maybe not. Instead of moving past them, the slugma shoots a volley of fire their way. Mudbray manages to out-speed it, but only just so. The flames collide against the basalt floor, rebounding against smooth tile in a fountain. Sprigatito and Buizel yelp as Mudbray takes cover behind a rock, her tail lightly singed.

When they emerge, they see Kazuki haphazardly patting himself down, cursing under his breath. He looks ready to take back his orders, but the slugma has already disappeared from view.

<That’s who you want to impress?> Buizel asks Sprigatito once the team recovers its pace. <I know he’s our trainer and all, but he doesn’t seem very… good. At the whole training thing.>

<He’s abysmal,> Mudbray agrees.

<He’s our trainer.> Sprigatito says, not raising his voice. It’s small and resolved. <There’s no changing who our trainer is. It’s our job as his team to be tough.>

Buizel laments the expression on his face. <So, I feel like you guys have a fucked up definition of personal responsibility.> Actually, the whole team vibe has been off since she joined in, but she’d been under the assumption it was just a ‘we’re arguing’ thing and not—y’know, budding psychological issues.

Mudbray scoffs. <You don’t even know.>

<—and that is the kind of trainer we should have.> Buizel declares, taking full advantage of the fact she could now open her mouth and not immediately perish.

Sprigatito stares at her. Mudbray doesn’t pause as she’s busy keeping up with Kazuki, but she does ask: <How do you know all this?>

<I- well, I had a trainer before this one! Just one, and she was everything I said a trainer should be. She worked at the beach saving people and pokemon.> Buizel looks quite proud.

<Why aren’t you with her then?>

At this, Buizel deflates. <She had to move away and couldn’t bring pokemon with her, so she released me.>

Sprigatito frowns. <A good trainer shouldn’t just leave you like that.>

<What do you know!> Buizel snaps. <You’ve only had one! My first trainer was looking out for me. Our trainer is currently dragging us across a volcano.>

<Why are you being so mean!> Sprigatito snaps back.

<Both of you quiet down back there, or I will turn myself around and jump into the magma,> Mudbray huffs. She's already got her hooves full climbing up a steep crag.

Kazuki stands at the top of the crater mound, waiting for his pokemon to catch up. His team's moving slowly, but they are making a lot of noise. He would be more irritated were it not for the fact the commotion is helping attract some wild pokemon.

He has to admit, for what the little thing lacks, it’s definitely got energy in surplus.

Superheated kicks are delivered wherever they can reach—from knees to legs to stomach and whatever arms he uses to block. They sizzle against his skin, but don’t leave him with burns, instead focusing on pure impact. It’s the first time a pokemon has actually wanted to fight instead of just, y’know, kill him.

“Alright,” Kazuki grins. “Let's have some fun.”

He has to be a bit careful, swiping away and leaning from certain hits to prevent them from hitting soft spots. One particular kick he has to grab, causing the bunny to yelp as it wiggles helplessly in the air. “Damn, haven’t you heard of ‘no hitting below the belt’?” Kazuki tuts.

The scorbunny sticks its tongue out at him with a pbbbbt! and tries to smack his face with its paw, only to end up spinning around.

Kazuki chuckles, enjoying the rabbit's attitude. Maybe it could become a good fighter. But not now. “Down and out.” He tosses it back to the edge of the ring.