It was dark out when the fighting ended. Pico spent the whole time joining the battle with Nova and Snickers.

He hated seeing all the bodies fall. It brought back the trauma he saw when he was younger with Boyfriend; back when they were technically together.

The moon shone through the chaos as Pico shot at a black frog creature nearby. He could spy the stupid Budew they were following hiding behind a shop with a strange purple Pokémon who looked like a butler.

Fucking cowards. Pico thought with a growl. He didn't pay anymore attention to the dumb thing. If he wanted to waste his life hiding behind some object he can.

But not Pico. Pico would shoot the dumb creatures around him, shoot their brains out, and live life to the fullest: that's who he was. Pico.

The guy with the higher ground. The guy with the deep voice who didn't need anyone but his friends. Who cares if bodies falling was traumatic? He would ignore it. He always did when he took out people for Daddy Dearest.

He had no remorse for villains like the ones in front of them anyways. If anything he would convince himself he was protecting his friend; he definitely didn't need his help, but Pico would keep convincing himself otherwise.

He was sure by now the "Pokemon" he was fighting with were appalled by his choice of "battling." He used his gun. With his tail.

If anything fighting with the actual moves informed by the Pokémon who journeyed with them wasn't an option by this point. It wasn't like Pico could utilize Seviper's moveset's anyways.

Though being a poison type did have it's advantages it seems—Though not having legs or arms definitely felt odd. But Pico would manage it. Couldn't he?

Pico sighed as he missed the dumb black ninja frog once more. There were other enemies. But this frog? She wasn't fighting anyone when Pico came across her and the dead carcass of a light green small crocodile, so Pico decided to give her a run for her money; however way money works in this universe.

He had assumed she had killed the gator—and she seemed like she was killing everyone who came into her path, so he started to shoot at her. Of course, she was too fast for his bullets to hit her.

The very same bullets he was aiming at the frog creature were the very same ones that were keeping her from actually hitting him, as the blast from the water colliding with the gun's ammunition parted the water.

Pico wanted to groan. He didn't like to kill others, but when there's an obvious threat to his friends right in front of him he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Because this stupid black ninja frog could easily kill his friends—Or at least Boyfriend.

Pico continued to shoot at the black frog. Whatever kind of Pokémon she was she obviously had some sort of skills, throwing some strange water weapons with such accuracy and precision that made the Seviper jealous.

At some point Nova's strange wings hit the black frog one last time before the strange ninja frog jumped into a tree nearby and started running away. It appears they had done some damage after all. But it brought Pico to the question: What kind of world was this? Because he wasn't sure just how much he could know—especially currently—about this world.

This world sure does seem complicated. He thought, finally figuring he calmed down after seeing what had happened.

He slithered over to Boyfriend who didn't seem fazed by the gun still in his tail. The whole time neither Boyfriend nor Girlfriend did a single thing. They just watched and sang as if that was going to give him an accuracy boost. Though Pico did enjoy the choruses of his name ringing out throughout the town.

The three friends walked together, joined by their two new friends as they approached a yellow lizard and a gray-black lizard; they both had flames on their tails.

How has this not started a fire yet? These two strangers literally have fire on their tails.

Pico and his friends stopped right before the two as Nova took the opportunity to step forward and clear her throat. Using her purple wing she tapped the gray-black lizard on the lower end of his back.

The black dragon-like entity turned around. He was very cool looking. Was this the Starter Squad that Nova had hyped up?

Seemed more like a dead squad with all the bodies Pico was seeing. Pico almost smiled. This situation was obviously not one to grin at.

"Hello?" The black Pokemon inquired as he looked around before looking down almost immediately. The strange shiny Murkrow was small enough that at first glance the big titan of a dragon-like Pokémon didn't notice.

"Hello, sir. Is there any way we can speak to you? We have something important to discuss with you." Nova addressed.

The black lizard glanced at her for a moment. It was as if he wasn't sure if she was serious or not.

His shoulders seemed tense from battle as he sighed. "Yes you may, Nova."

Since the strange dragon creature addressed her by her name, Pico assumed the two knew each other. At least somewhat for the strange fire tailed lizard to remember her name.

The strange lizard lifted a claw, indicating with a whirl of his fingerish paw for them to go back inside a huge building in the middle of the strange town called Poke Town. Big letters could be made out spelling the words 'Starter Squad HeadQuarters.'

The building was so obvious that Pico was a little disappointed in how obvious and out there it was. He thought a headquarters should be more hidden or more exclusive than the huge building right in front of him.

There were many creatures of a few species that surrounded Pico as he walked inside the Headquarters. He had no idea what a starter truly was—but from the looks of some of these Pokémon who appeared strong in Pico's eyes, they must be some sort of more powerful Pokémon.

Pico and his friends followed the larger black dragon. None of them were instructed on what Pokémon this creature was. They had a lot to learn after all, so knowing every Pokémon here was something they needed to know.

"That there is Paarthurnax. If you're curious he's a shiny Charizard—the leader of the Starter Squad." Snickers informed as Nova puffed out her chest. Snickers rolled her eyes at her friend's actions.

"A Charizard?" Boyfriend asked as he held his tail and microphone.

Pico could hear several of the so-called "starters" talk about them as they followed the "shiny Charizard" to some sort of office. It reminded Pico of how boring life could be. Papers seemed to be scattered throughout the room.

Now Pico had no room to judge, but why was nothing organized? This place didn't seem as hype as Nova expressed it should.

"Now, what do you have to discuss with me, Nova? We've already got a ton of problems to deal with." Paarthurnax reminded her. He seemed stressed. What kinds of problems were they having anyways?

Nova put her purple wing on her chest and cleared her throat before pointing it at Boyfriend, Girlfriend, and Pico of course.

"Uhm, you might not believe it but these three Pokémon besides me and my white-and-black friend aren't actually Pokémon." Nova explained. She rubbed the back of her head nervously.

The black dragon's expression wasn't of shock or of confusion. He just groaned. "I see. Are you guys with that strange Budew—Huh, where is he?" Paarthurnax inquires.

Boyfriend straightens up. He definitely knows him. He looked a little perturbed and beeped slightly before saying, "Yep. That's Senpai." The Charizard nodded as if he heard the name from Senpai himself.

The name just didn't sound right to Pico. It unsettled him greatly. Just like it did with his best friend—if his friend was disturbed, then he felt entitled to feel the same way. He trust Boyfriend a lot more than most people anyways.

"Hmm, he's an interesting fellow. Anyways, why is your Seviper friend holding a gun in his tail? It's a little unsettling." Paarthurnax inquires as he sat down in a nice chair. It was nicer than everything else in the office; it was all messy.

Boyfriend shrugged his shoulders a bit unbothered by the gun in Pico's tail. Pico never thought having a gun in his tail would bother someone so much. It wasn't like he used it for too much evil; he only used it when forced or when he felt like he had to.

Did the creatures in this world use methods other than guns to solve their problems? They did battle, right? Was it similar to Boyfriend's rap style of battling? Pico didn't understand the big deal. Then again, he didn't really understand why running around with a gun was a horrible idea.

"I dunno. I'm not bothered by it, and you shouldn't either, Buddy. He's just used to holding a gun." Boyfriend dismissed with a flick of his hand-and-tail.

The Charizard didn't seem convinced. "Hmm, I suppose he is. Just make sure he knows the difference between allies and enemies." The Charizard grunted as he didn't let his right eye leave the Seviper.

Pico guessed he was suspect number one in any case of gun violence around here.

Pico smirked. Sure I guess you could say I'm number one in friendly fire, but then I'm more about missing than actually hitting someone who I could consider an ally.

The Charizard huffed as he closed a drawer. "The last thing we need is even more casualties due to a careless creature from another world." He eyed Pico who felt unsettled by the powerful aura the Charizard gave off to him.

The snake Pokémon didn't know why this Charizard was deathly afraid of guns and why it bothered him that Pico was holding one, but he did know that he didn't want mess with the Charizard.

"I can assure you I am anything but careless. I've shot multiple times in my lifetime—yet I've never hit anyone I've considered a 'friend.'" Pico proudly admitted. His eyes then widened at his own words. He just implied he shot at multiple friends—which was true. But he never actually hit anyone who he shot.

He was a professional; he would never hurt a friend, especially since he had three of them and they were all cool.

The Charizard shot smoke out of his nostrils. "Mhm." Paarthurnax responds as he jots something down on a piece of paper.

Pico figured since he disliked the 'Mon for being a casual soul he was writing down some notes. He didn't know why he would do that—no actually he did know, he just didn't want to think about how scrutinized he would be here.

So much for the best squad around, huh little bird? Pico thought with another smirk before Paarthurnax continued again.

"Anyways, since you three are here I assume you know about the other, uhm, strange bounty of characters who traveled here via the same way you did?" Paarthurnax asks them.

Pico, Boyfriend, and Girlfriend all exchanged looks before the Glameow, holding the stereo still, walked forward with glowing red eyes.

"There are others?" She asked curiously, tilting her head. Paarthurnax sighed. "Yes. We're still 'dealing with them.' Although, they have been pretty helpful so far. Good at fighting as well, especially the Cubone and Marowak."

Curious. So there were others? "Cubone?" "Marowak?"

"Rap?" Boyfriend inquired curiously and with extreme interest in his eyes as he held out his microphone. The Charizard arched an eyebrow before shaking his head.

At least he understood what rap is. Seems there's some common knowledge after all.

"No, not a rap fight. An actual fight." Paarthurnax explains. Judging by his exhausted expression this wasn't the first time he had to explain their ways to someone else.

Just how many other worldly beings got transferred here? And why would anyone want to put someone in a world entirely different than theirs? Not to mention a lot of them.

A loud beeping sound ensured about half of the Pokémon in the room get jumpscared. Pico looked at his friend who had his jaw wide open. He looked pretty disappointed. "No rap battles?" He whimpered.

Pico pat his back despite not fully understanding the appeal of singing and battling that way. However, he did have an appreciation for the way his friend fought. Instead of hurting others he tried to best them singing—which was a better idea than outright killing some little kids; it even impressed a few big figures here and there.

Paarthurnax gazed at him with an almost irritated expression. "No, I'm sorry little Smeargle." Paarthurnax clapped his paws. "Anyways, as I'm sure you all know by now my name is Paarthurnax. That shiny Charmeleon approaching us is my son, Vesuvius."

The yellow lizard that appeared to be some sort of similar Pokémon waddled over to the group with a huge smile on his face. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties.

"Hi!" The Charmeleon waved and Boyfriend, Girlfriend, and Pico waved back. Well, Pico tried with his gun in his tail. Paarthurnax seemed to hold in a breath.

"Son, I'm sorry to ask you this now—especially since it hasn't been long since our new underground friends have arrived, but can you please find some availability for our new, uhm, singing friends? I'm sure they've had enough excitement for one day." Paarthurnax remarked, his gaze never leaving Boyfriend and his strange dog appearance.

It was like he knew something. It honestly made Pico nervous and angry at the same time.

"Of course!" Vesuvius exclaimed, not seemingly catching Paarthurnax's strange glance over at Pico's best friend. "I would be delighted to. Although, where did the Budew go? Wasn't there another one?" The shiny inquired.

"Yes, yes, but I'll deal with that myself. Now go show them to their rooms. And make sure there's enough room for all six of them. I think Nova and Snickers are too far from their homes now to travel in the night." Paarthurnax explained.

Vesuvius nodded. "Yes, sir! Dad, sir!" With a salute, and indication with his claws, Vesuvius led the three friends—plus their two Pokémon guides—into a soundproof room.

This begged many questions into Pico's mind. Why was Paarthurnax so unsettled by Pico and his gun? Who were those underground friends he mentioned? But most importantly: Why did he have a strange look of knowing on his face when he saw Boyfriend?

Pico settled down into some bedding—they poked his eye a few times—and fell asleep.

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Author's Note: I'm sorry for the wait. I literally was just way too lazy to fully think things out until this point. 😅

Anyways, let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter. I'm actually trying to do things with this story I promise. It's way bigger than it seems right now.

Either way, thanks for reading and that's this seventh chapter done and dusted. XD