"Hello? Mr. Salandit, are you well?" Simon blinks, confusion dominating his thoughts as he looks around. For a brief moment, he can't quite place where he is. His attention is drawn back to the Pokemon in front of him, a rather curvy-looking woman made of plants with a flower in the shape of a crown. A Lilligant, one that has turned to address the smaller plant-like Pokemon next to it, "Petilil, go fetch Madams Miltank and Chimecho. Mr. Salandit seems to have been struck ill."
Seeing the Lilligant abruptly reminds Simon of what is going on. The black bandit-looking lizard quickly shakes his head, "No no! I'm fine. Really. I- Uh... It's just all this fresh air, you see. It's clearer than back home," as much as he wanted to explain the actual situation, he had already been in a different conversation with this particular Pokemon. No need to make them think he's crazy by suddenly claiming he's actually a human from another world. He thinks, anyways.
Lilligant eyes him for a moment, then waves the Petilil back, "I suppose it is, yes. Your home is unusually smokey, even for being the home of Fire-types."
Simon forces a chuckle, "Y-Yeah. Mistress Salazzle's doing."
"Ah, that's right. Your matriarchs burn their pheromones to better manage their populace. This may be a bit of Grass-type bias speaking, but I can't imagine living in such an environment. Much too much smog for my liking. Nonetheless, let us return to the topic at hand. I wish to formally welcome you to Pastear Town."
Simon does his best to give what he hopes is a genuine smile, "As the voice of Mistress Salazzle of Burnt Mountain, I offer her cordial appreciation."
Lilligant curtsies, a gesture immediately mimicked by their Petilil companion, before turning and striding off, leaving Simon alone in the center of Pastear Town. That's right, they had met Simon as he arrived and showed him around. A gesture he had taken as a show of courtesy at the time. With his head clearer, he recognizes it as the act of placation that it was. They feared Salazzle and rightfully so, in his opinion.
Simon takes a deep breath, relishing the feeling of breathing air bereft of the pheromone smoke that Salazzle seems to produce endlessly. The same pheromones that had turned him and all the other Salandit (as well as a handful of non-Salandit Pokemon) into little more than her love-struck slaves. This clean air is the smell of freedom for Simon.
After a taking a long moment to enjoy his regained sense of self, he begins to look around himself. Now that he can think for himself again, he needs to figure out what to do. Salazzle may expect him to come traipsing back to her, but she isn't stupid. She'll be sending another of her 'servants' to replace him and send him back to her soon. Unfortunately, Simon would put himself as one of the weaker Pokemon under Salazzle's thrall. As such, he strongly doubts he could take most of the other Salandit in a fight and, knowing Salazzle, she'll send two or three just to ensure they can overpower him and drag him back if he resists. He needs help. The question is, where should he go to find that help?
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