And so Salazar began to explore the region of Unova with his new team, going through the various cities. Throughout his life, he had never imagined to visit so many places and meet different people one day. It was surely interesting, although sometimes he felt homesick. He thought very often to his mother, wondering if she hated him for what he had done, or if she was missing him as much as he did. Sometimes he even thought of Devin. He no longer felt resentment towards him. After all, how could they continue to be together anyway..? Theirs was a story destined to fail.
Luckily for him just when the melancholy was about to return, Cynosaura used to take him and drag him to do something interesting in each new place they visited. It was obvious that she had taken him under her protection, and he greatly admired her for her energy and charisma. From her part, she seemed to love his ability with needle and thread.
One day, she returned with a gift for him. It was a small portable sewing machine. Salazar eyes sparkled in happiness, since his old adored sewing machine ended up destroyed in pieces. At that time it was Salazar that dragged her to find some fabric to buy, and for the first time since he had left the forest, he felt really happy, like if he had forgot all the bad things.
Salazar gave always his best to be helpful to his teammates, and made friends with everyone, learning a lot more about how to live in those few months than it had previously done in his entire life. He felt really grateful to have found those amazing people in his way.
It had already been three months when they reached Nimbasa city. Wherever there were lights, music and lots of people. Cynosaura was really excited and pointed at each building to Salazar, explaining what it was. "That’s the Musical Theater, the biggest stars perform there! And in that way, there is the amusement park, Elesa’s Gym is located there! She’s a fantastic model, albeit a little too skinny for my taste, and this...” She said, stopping in front of the entrance of a big building “is the Join Avenue! Here there are lots and lots of wonderful shops where you can go shopping!" She gave a delighted squeal and adjusted her hat. Salazar smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Then we’re going to stay here for a couple of weeks, right?" "That is right, my little angel. Tracy is determined to beat the subway boss as a preparation for the league. I wonder if we’re going to pull it off..” She didn’t even gave him the time to answer, that had already dragged him in the Avenue to look at the windows shops.
Cynosaura wandered at full speed from one shop to another, while Salazar looked interested at the clothes, studying the different styles, examining the seams to understand how they were tailored. That never stopped to fascinate him. But when they arrived at a shoe shop was struck by a pair of boots on display. They were certainly showy, of a beautiful leaf green and with vertiginous heels. He must have been staring at them for a while, because Cynosaura went to his side, with a satisfied smile. "Fabulous, isn’t it? Why don’t we go in so you can try them?" Salazar gasped hard in disbelief. “But ... but I can’t!!” she widened her eyes, surprised by his reaction. “Holy smokes, why not?” “Because they’re woman’s boots!” he muttered looking at his feet in embarrassment. Cynosaura raised an eyebrow and put her arms on her hips. "Listen darling, do you like those boots or not?” “Mmmh.. well yes, they’re pretty, but…” “Then you can wear them, period.” she said dragging him again inside the store. At this point Salazar was quite used to being carried around and didn’t resisted. He couldn’t oppose to that that woman anyway.
A moment later he was already with the boots on his feet. He felt really embarrassed, yet both Cynosaura and the clerk calmly looked at him. "So? Aren’t they just adorable! And you look good in it, baby!” squealed Cynosaura giving him a wink. "Yes, of course, but ...” “But! always but! What’s the problem now?” she sighed. "I’m not able to walk with these things on me!" She smirked happily “that’s it? Don’t worry honey; you're talking to an expert in the matter!” Her eyes burned with passion. “Go on and buy the shoes! I will teach you to wear them! Once you’ve completed my workout, you’ll be able to participate at the Pokéathlon with these beauties on, you'll see!”
Salazar sighed and looked back at the boots. He couldn’t hold back anymore. When Cynosaura puts her mind to something, there was no chance to getting her off of it. At least those boots were really pretty. He just hoped that anyone would have mocked him.
So in those weeks Salazar set to work to try his new sewing machine, while in the meantime trying to survive walking on his new stilts. He had already fallen a couple of times, but Cynosaura had promptly raised on his feet again. “You see? These boots are a metaphor for life! Every time it throws you down, you have to get up and keep trying! The only way you conquer the fabulous victory is by never surrender!” Salazar got the dust off him and squinted his eyes suspiciously. Now he knew the woman well enough. "Are you sure that this is a life lesson? It isn’t that you want to dress me up like a girl, right?" she just smirked widely and slipped away.
The weeks passed, and Salazar had improved a lot, not that he had much choice, if he didn’t wanted to break his face by continuously falling. He had to admit that that had been a good purchase. He was already very tall and thin. At first he feared to look just ridiculously long with high heels, but now that he had acquired a little more skill and confidence he walked elegantly, looking like a reed that moved in the wind. Cynosaura was very satisfied too, and keep complimenting, herself of course, for her abilities as a teacher.
