Pokemon: Conflicting the Backgrounds (Private for me and Asterisk*)

Charise glared at Amy as she stood at the back door. "Wha' ya'll want city slicker? Cause us hardworkin' country folk gotta get the table ready fow dinner." She snapped, Max frowning as he watched the two girls, ready to separate them if need be.

Amy cringed clearly apologizing wouldn't work. "Your mom asked me to help you set up the table." she said matter-of-factly. "So I came to help." she said hellbent on disproving her city slicker talk once and for all.

Charise merely ignored Amy and dhe stomped outside. Max sighed as he gently patted Amy's shoulder, a knowing look in his eye before going out to help.

The machop Amy had bandaged soon joined Amy, carrying a glass of Pecha Juice.

"Is she always like this?" Amy asked taking some plates and beginning to set them up with the help of Marcus.

Marcus sighed. "Charise 'as been curious 'bout City folk since she turned 10 and listen' ta a story of one's journey, Some Ash Ketchum bloke. I think she jus' annoyed tha' ya'll won't let her learn 'bout yer way o' life." He said as an older man built like a Machoke kept shouting at Amy's Grimer.

"I don't think we live that different from you. I mean other than the obvious." amy explained hearing the shouts. "Hey, Sludgy!" she cried trying to get the grimer's attention.

Marcus sighed. "To be honest, Charise 'as been harborin' a desire ta leave tha ranch an' see tha world, bu' feels obligated ta stay. I wanna ask ya'll. When ya'll leave in a few days, Will ya'll take Charise with ya'll?" He asked as Max and Marigold brought out the food.

"Um well... I was thinking it would be just me and my pokemon... but I guess it would be okay." Ay said "I mean you guys did give me a ponyta." she said returning her grimer to her pokeball so it didn't cause anymore problems. "But she's gonna have to bring these along with her." she said "Juju will have difficulty carrying all of her pokemon if we have to cross water." she explained just as her manectric came out following the group with the food.

Marcus Smiled. "Jus' ease her inta the city customs. SHe's a good girl, jus' curious." He said as everyone starts to get their food buffet style, picking what they wanted. Charise got a Magikarp filet, a Tauros steak with Sitrus Berry Sauce, and a cocktail of Wacan, Pecha, and Watmel Berry juice and sat down next to Max, who had a steak with Tamato berry sauce, and seemed to be laying on the spice with a cocktail of Occa, Cheri, Tamato, and Figy Berry Juice, while Spark ate with the other Growlithe pups.

"I'll try." Amy said heading to the end of the line and starting to gather a small portions of the fillet and steak and just pouring herself a small glass of oran juice. Not familiar with everyone she just sat by Marigold while her frillish and manectric settled themselves behind her chair.

Marigold frowned when she noticed amy's depressed look. "Wha' happened dearie? Ya'll look like somethin' tha persian chewed up an' spit out." SHe said as she cut into her steak with Watmel berry sauce.

"Huh, uh it's nothing really, Charise got made at me cause I wouldn't let her watch me change." she said cutting a bit of her steak and feeding it to her manectric.

Marigold sighed. "Dearie, ya'll have ta get used ta changing around Charise. SHe's jus' curious an' means no harm, bu' she's stubborn as a Tauros." She said as she offered Juju some Watmel Juice.

"I didn't want her to see that I was wet." she whispered low enough so Marigold was the only one to hear. She blushed even more remembering that she still was and hoping that no one else could notice. Juju floated over to the juice and drank it making a few delightful noises as a response to the taste. "She likes it." Amy explained daintily eating her steak.

Marigold frowned. "Ya'll have ta rememba tha' Charise won' say anythin', 'cause she's curious 'bout ya'll." She said as she watched her father-in-law and a Machamp arm wrestling. "hoo boy, Pa's at it again." SHe said as she ate her steak.

"I guess you're right." Amy mumbled picking at her food. "Um is that alright?" she asked watching the arm wrestle with some concern.

Marigold sighed. "Pa Does this ev'ry dinner. Bu' he mostly stays dead even. Now then, if ya'll wanna get Charise on yer side again, i sugges' ya'll let her watch ya'll change. Knowin' ma Husband, he prob'ly asked ya'll ta take Charise with ya'll when ya'll leave. This will get ya'll use to changing with each otha." She said as Christopher managed to beat the machamp.

"Yeah he already requested that I do that." Amy said surprised to see the elderly man beat the machamp. "I do have to ask though.... Why are you guys being so kind to me? I mean we only met each other a few hours ago, I could be a murderer for all you know, and you're acting like you've known me for years." she said to the woman while feeding her pokemon some more from the table.

Marigold smiled. "Tha Pokemon trus' ya'll, an' their instincts are rarely wrong." She said as she gently ruffled Amy's hair as Max seemed to challenge another Machoke to a wrestling match for spilling his spicy cocktail. "Ooh, a Wrasslin' match. This is a popular activity 'round here. Wha' say we watch?" She asked with a smile as she stood up.

"good point." Amy giggled fixing her hair. "Huh? Um okay." she said just giving her pokemon the rest of her food and getting up to watch the wrestling match, mostly to see why it was such a big deal.

The human Ranch Hands had set up a crude Wrestling ring with fenceposts and rope, with Max in one corner, and the opposing Machoke in another. Marigold groaned. "Oh boy. It's Brutus again. That varmint's always stirrin' up trouble." She said as the Machop who had befriended Amy tugged gently on her dress, offering her some Watmel Juice.

Max was glaring angrily at Brutus as a Machamp rubbed his shoulders to loosen him up.

"And, uh this is how you handle it?" Amy asked curiously with her frillish floating behind her, and her manectric circling the area trying to figure out what was going on.

"This is 'ow tha pokemon solve it." Marigold said as she smiled at the Machop. "I think Mary's taken a Likin' to ya'll." She said with a smile.

Max stood up glaring at Brutus as he cracked his knuckles.

(Mind doing Brutus?)

"You think?" Amy asked waving at the machop while Elec started barking in the background, obviously feeling the tension in the air.

Brutus stood up next waving the machamp off. He began to flex his muscles in an attempt to intimidate the elderly man.

Christopher Was having none of Brutus' intimidation. "Keep it clean boys." He said as Max met Brutus at the center of the ring and took a traditional Boxer's stance, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Mary smiled as she camed to stand next to amy and Offered a glass of sweet Watmel Berry Juice, just as the bell rang and Max open up with a left jab towards Brutus' jaw.