The cold stirred violently calling on its worst, it truly was the beginning of December. Battling the frozen winds was probably the dumbest idea we've ever had, my ears stung and I was ready to cave into the snowbank behind the worn bus bench. Each second longer we had waited felt like an eternity, I was quickly losing patience. I wrestled my moist plaid red scarf over my face restlessly attempting to shield myself from being frostbitten. Vicki was besides me sitting impatiently shivering in her thick white jacket paired with white laced boots that had been stained a muddy color. We both had forgotten to bring hats and mittens, this was a horrible mistake and I kept wishing I had brought them.
My best friend sighed in a loud frustration, her dark brown hair was furiously flying with the 'breezy' air. Unable to focus on a conversation we waited in silence for transit to finally come to rescue us in the wonder of warmth. Snow blew so harshly that is had faded any clear vision, it was like a sand storm raging in a relentless desert. However at this point I would have preferred the searing heat boiling me to death than to continue sitting here like a stuffed doll."How much longer?" Vicki stuttered at freezing point.
I checked my Smart Phone and clicked the screen hoping it was soon. When the light flashed and reflected off my glasses it had been 2:45pm.
"It's 2:45pm, it's ten minutes late I'm going to punch someone for the love of god!" I howled at the phone jamming it back into my pocket.
She crossed her arms and sighed "Ugh, why can't it be here sooner! I'm freezing to death!"
As soon as we both finished our childish complaints onward we saw the city bus trailing towards us. Seeing the simple over-sized bucket roll by seemed more like watching a golden chariot finally here to save us. Vicki's solid brown eyes glittered making them seem more like a golden shade, she was clearly thinking the same as I. The transit wagon stopped letting various pedestrians off as Vicki and I lined up to get on. It smelled like farts and drunk old people, but we were both elated to finally be in warmth so we didn't have to endure the cold any longer. Strolling onto the steel flooring I plopped my butt onto a faded and torn bus seat; Vicki followed letting out a huff of relief. The bus hummed loudly as it began to speed off again sending my thoughts into a mess.
A young man sitting across from us called out to me "Hey Vicki!"
I met his eyes with an annoyed glare "It's Britney, Vicki is right here."
"Oh sorry, you guys just look so alike!" He claimed.
I was annoyed at the fact we were constantly being confused with one another even though we both had things that made us drastically different. Sure we both had long brown hair, black square rimmed glasses, and even both were on the thinner and shorter side, but that wasn't it. I had sky blue eyes, she had dark brown, my hair had bangs cut straight across my forehead, and she wore hers down with none, my cheeks were also more round; I did not like that feature about myself. Our styles also varied, I was a little more on the wild side wearing black dresses and stockings to hoodies and chains; meanwhile Vicki wore cool and calm attire that suited her nicely, hoodies and jeans of the likes.
However even though it had irritated me that this young male made such a mistake, I would not deny we were fairly alike as well. At the same time I was a bit amused, it was also great that people confused us as sisters as well. A lot of times we would use these little things as excuses or ways out of difficult situations.
After ignoring him I reached into my cute blue dinosaur backpack brushing the little styled spikes on the zipper end. I swiftly pulled out a black 3DS that had been hiding inside the front pocket. Inside was a copy of Alpha Sapphire, I had beloved the game ever since I had bought it I was enveloped in the story line. I tapped the screen gently and lowered the volume to not disturb the others contained in the bus as well. "Britney come on stop being obsessed with that game!" Vicki yelled loudly teasing me.
"No, I can't I must has it!" I responded sarcastically.
She tried to wrestle the game system from my clinging hands but like a zombie attached to flesh I refused to let go. She raised her brow at me and called "You're fangirling, aren't you?"
"I am not fangirling! I just like playing against the villains!" I screamed in defense.
"It's okay Britney, join the dark side" Vicki said in an accepting tone.
I sighed closing my 3DS, she had me I had been obsessing awkwardly over all of them. I had always been completely in love with Pokemon since I was a child, I was always privately hoping that in some way I would be able to go on Pokemon journey. As I grown older the harsh realities set in, I was abused and criticized by my peers in school, and now being twenty one still living with my parents I felt a cold defeat. I would never be anything, I would never achieve a goal or purpose, I would always be nothing. I was just a regular grocery clerk, and so was Vicki, we had aspired to be so much more in previous years but had not gotten anywhere yet. Though the two of us continued into college, I still had hopeless attitude and I was too shy to stand up for myself.
As I was spacing out the bus keeled at a halt, Vicki was completely aware that we had to leave and pulled me out of my seat. We were on the way to my home, and luckily the stop had been directly in front of my house. The sheer cold pierced through the once warm atmosphere making me relieved that we had finally completed our day long journey. I dug into my pockets with frozen hands and pulled out the front door key, unlocking the door I felt the freezing steel click and I pushed through into my comfortable home.
Suddenly while unzipping my ink black boots I heard a crash from the basement, it was unmistakable. It could not be the pug, my cat, or even my clumsy rabbit, there was someone else in this house. I became cold and froze in fear as I slowly stared at Vicki with solid fear, she returned my stare with an expression of worry. More noise continued and I heard a few collected voices from below, there was more than one, how many, three, four? I took grasp of a sharp hunting knife I had hid in my pocket in case of such emergencies and approached the black staircase to the basement, which I had slept. First in the way was a single plain white door, I opened it and walked slowly down. A creak escaped the step I had put my foot on, the noises persisted and I heard arguing I sighed in relief that they had not heard me.
I delicately opened the last door at the bottom of the dark wooden staircase, carefully it made almost no sound but through my end was a burst of commotion. Vicki was not far behind me and as we both entered the expression we both wore was one of complete and utter confusion. In front of me were eight villains from all the Pokemon games I could remember playing Giovanni, Maxie, Archie, Cyrus, N, Ghetsis, Colress, and Lysandre. It was a clump of chaos as Maxie, Archie, Ghetsis, Lysandre, and Giovanni argued; Cyrus was staring into space angrily; N and Colress both sat dazed and confused observing the argument. "Vicki what is going on, is this a joke, did you do this?" I whispered frightened of what was going on.
She shook her head slowly half paying attention as she spoke "I have no idea what is going on here..."
"What do I do?"
"Uh... I don't know..."
We both stared off like mindless cows trying to take in what was happening. Still not noticing us they continued to ramble and yell, I was unable to make out anything as they all were speaking over each other like children. However our cover was not long held as Cyrus Glared right at me, his eyes widened with discovery and he spoke confidently "Someone has arrived..."
The air was shot into silence and I could feel my stomach churn, what if they were here to hurt us? One after another the men laid their eyes on us in a menacing but questioning matter as if I knew everything. My mind raced in stress cause all reason to flood away, what kind of sick joke was this? "What are you doing here?" I asked shaking from fear.
Giovanni was the first to speak, he slicked back his black hair and approached me in a professional way "I should ask you the same question, I wake up expecting my grunts, and here I am in this room with these idiots!"
"Who are ye' calling idiot!" Archie roared ready to smack him.
The violence was followed by Maxie but he was more calm "Obviously you, but I do abject as I'm probably more intelligent than all of you."
"You're all idiots..." Cyrus complained.
With that the tension burst into another argument and they were all at each others throats, at least they were too proud to team up against us. I took a minute to let out a nervous sigh, I had to be assertive and brave. "Okay well I don't know how you all got here, I don't know why you're here, and why you're magically in my basement; but I need you just to listen!" I yelled trying to sound confident then settled into a softer voice when it grew quiet "my name is Britney, and this is Vicki and as weird as this sounds I know who you all are. You don't know me because you're all actually from a video game series. I'm just as confused as you all are, so can we try to sit here and figure out what the Hell is going on here?"
"Like we're going to believe that crap, I suggest you start talking before I slit your throat pretty little lady..." Ghetsis spoke up with a sinister and cold voice.
I grew extremely fearful starting to break sweat, but Vicki decided it was her turn to step in. Defending me she spoke loudly and confidently "She's being honest, we don't have the slightest clue of what's going on!"
Everything grew quiet after she said her piece but not soon after I heard a beeping sound. It was coming from my black tablet that had been plugged in to charge. I shot a stare in its direction to find an entertained yet curious Colress poking around on the invention. "What a lovely and peculiar invention!" He laughed as I watched him poking the screen
"That's a tablet don't touch that!" I screamed frantically and embarrassed.
He stared up at me raising his eyebrow in a devilish way. Colress continued to scan through my tablet, I couldn't see the screen and I had began to worry at what they may dig up. What if they had found pictures of me, or the dumb comics I had found on the internet of them? Unable to allow my privacy to be invaded I tackled him trying to take the tablet away, however he was much taller in person making me feel rather insignificant. The man chuckled lifting my tablet out of my reach "What's so interesting about this invention that you can't possibly have anyone use it? Can it control Pokemon? Is it the key to something powerful?"
"It's nothing of interest! It's just a thing that plays games and saves pictures and stuff! Besides in this world there is no Pokemon!" I hissed at him.
"No Pokemon!" The bulk of them screamed.
"Yes, no Pokemon..."
"Well I saw a rather interesting looking squishy creature over there isn't that a Pokemon?" Maxie asked piping in.
I turned my head at my adorable fat pug curled into a ball on the black leather sofa at the edge of the room. "No, that's a pug. It's an animal, animals are kind of like Pokemon but don't have special powers and they don't battle" I cooed passionately at the little creature.
"Intriguing..." Maxie responded glaring right through me.
"Yes indeed, I guess we really are in quite the bind then..." Colress added.
"Yes, yes you are now can I please have my tablet back!" I flailed.
Colress snickered while tapping the screen again "No, I'm even more curious now."
"Give her back the tablet!" Vicki piped in attempting to help.
"Nope!"
In defeat I plopped down next to him wondering what he had even found in his searches. Noticing my acceptance to my failure Colress sat down next to me on the cool carpet allowing me to keep a close eye on his observations. Vicki was next to follow and squished into my side to peer at the screen, then pretty soon we had a complete huddle over us and the air reeked like men. I would have never guessed that such a simple device would keep a room full of power hungry fools quiet for this long, it was astounding. Colress flipped through the apps finding my gallery for all the little photos I had collected. In his hunger for knowledge he tapped the icon lightly to see what it was about. "Colress I think that's enough that's private!" I squealed cover the screen.
"Now, now, I'm only curious to see what this strange place is all about! Why don't you be kind to your guests?" Colress replied politely.
"Guests, I didn't invite you!"
"Well we're here aren't we? So that makes us guests!" Lysandre finally chimed in, in an evil tone.
"Guys stop I think you're embarrassing her..." N spoke meaningfully.
They seemed to ignore the boy and out of the corner of my eyes I watched a frowning Ghetsis roll his eyes sarcastically. Colress then proceeded to click on the gallery releasing a barrage of what would be a profile of a video game freak. He scrolled through to find millions of pictures of dumb little things that I had found funny or cute, he then stopped at what had been a picture of Vicki and I in a hot tub drinking at her place. We were both drunk beyond belief with wide smiles on our pale faces, Colress gazed at me and then back at the picture. "What is this?" He asked inquisitively.
"That's a picture of Vicki and I at her hot tub party she had..." I squeaked with a red face.
"Not really anything special you've seen hot springs right?" Vicki spoke clearly.
"Yes, I was asking about your expressions and those drinks though..." Colress persisted.
"Oh... Uhm, you can take that one Britney!" Vicki yelped.
I glared at her in pain then began to explain "It's called alcohol, it's a beverage you can get in our world gives you a strong out of body feeling. It relaxes people for the most part... When you drink a lot of it, you get drunk and do fun but idiotic things out of your control."
"Epic I want to get drunk, let's get drunk!" Archie screamed.
Realizing nobody was with him he piped down with sorry blue eyes. Again the blue and blonde haired man proceeded to flip through pictures even finding some of his own artwork. The embarrassing show went on for what seemed hours and by the end my face was beet red. As the others completely proceeded to invade my personal things there was a thundering slam from above. My parents had gotten back from work and were yelling for me expecting me to run upstairs this very second. Stress jetted through my veins and I held my head wanted to kick these sorry assholes straight up their butts, but instead I felt a deep pity for them as they had nowhere to go.
Quickly devising a plan I spoke softly "Okay here's the plan! You guys better stay freaking quiet or you're all going to take a one way trip to prison. Vicki please, please, please, stay with them and make sure they don't mess anything up I'll be right back."
"Don't worry I'll just keep them entertained with your embarrassing secrets!" Vicki claimed proudly.
"No, why would you do that?" I asked furiously.
"Do you want them to stay quiet or not?"
"Okay fine... Just don't tell them too much!"
I raced upstairs my feet making the stairs creak obnoxiously. My head pounded with worries, I wanted to be excited with all this attractive company but instead I was frustrated I couldn't keep them here. My mother had arrived she was a rather sweet lady who appeared to be quite young for her early forties. She grinned and gave me a suffocating hug, she was always rather kind unless someone pissed her off then she was damn scary. After many simple and boring questions of asking how my day was I urged to get a word in.
"Vicki is here right now, I was wondering if she could stay over tonight?" I asked politely.
My mother gave me a curious stare and spoke "Sure haven't seen you have anyone stay over in a long time..."
"Well I'm just a little bored with life is all... We'll be downstairs, knock if you need me! Love you, bye!"
With that I dashed away towards the basement again causing loud stomps as I ran down the stairs again. I sighed in relief as they all stopped to stare at me, their gazes telling of wonder. The basement had been my room for a long while, it had a pretty well sized flatscreen television hooked up to mutliple game systems. Along with this was a solid black computer and desk in one corner of the room with my rabbit in it's cage next to it. The little rabbit was a solid chocolate black, it had perched in a curious way from all the commotion. On the far right corner was my queen sized mattress which was two big for just myself; it had purple and red blankets along with soft memory foam pillows and billions of plush animals. Lying on my bed was a comfortable Archie and I felt a sudden jolt as I had realized it.
"Archie get off my bed you don't own the place..." I spoke firmly.
He stared up at me with innocent blue eyes and spoke teasingly "I can share this with you it's not like anyone else is."
"Wait, what!" I blushed hiding my face.
"Vicki told me that me and Maxie are yer' favorites! So technically I get first dibs on furniture right?"
"Vicki! Why did you tell them that?" I squealed in shame.
"Hey, they asked!" She replied innocently.
"What makes you think you get to pick whatever you want, I'm her favorite too imbecile!" Maxie scowled.
Archie lifted himself from his relaxed position "I'm cooler, sexier, and water rules that's why!"
"No, no! Stop it, stop it right now!"
"Nope!" Archie yelled trolling his opponent.
I approached Vicki as the two argued and sighed "Vicki they're driving me crazy please help me!"
Darting my eyes around the room I examined the activities of the crazed men. Maxie and Archie as always were arguing relentlessly, Archie tackled him to the ground and they began to fight each other. Cyrus was tearing all the books I had from its proper bookcase, he began to read one of the textbooks I used for my biology class this year. Giovanni was attempting to rest in the black leather couch I had in my room but the creases on his head indicated his irritation. Colress continued to use the tablet probably playing some of the apps as I watched his face in a focused rage, Lysandre was hovering over his shoulder watching contently. Ghetsis was also on the edge of the black couch with a sour expression, I was sure he was about to murder everyone. Lastly N was peacefully playing fetch with my pug.
"Britney I don't think I can help you with, with... This!" She whispered placing her arms in front of herself.
"Well I can't have them wondering around with their outfits it's a dead give away people would get suspicious!" I responded.
"Yeah too bad you can't tire them out like people do with children..."
"Wait that's it! We can take them to the mall, it's going to be dead because of the harsh weather and I can make them tired while hopefully finding something more decent for them to wear..."
"That's pretty good... Well better get leaving sooner than later you better tell them!"
I nodded collecting myself getting ready to gain their attention. With a deep breath I spoke clearly "I've come to a decision and I think it would be good if we took some time away from here and out there! I can't have you running around in your team outfits it would be too obvious people would know who you were and probably kidnap you or something weird like that so I'll be taking you to the mall to pick up something to wear until further notice!"
"I'm not taking this off! Nobody would kidnap us anyway!" Ghetsis protested.
"Ghetsis please, you don't even know sit down and calm your crap. Just trust that if I know who you are and so does Vicki, and a large percentage of those artists who drew you do, that I know what I'm talking about!" I shouted impatiently.
Colress rubbed his chin thoughtfully "She has a point..."
"I don't wanna!" yelled Archie.
"Archie stop acting like a mere child in front of this lady, she is offering her help..." Maxie hissed at Archie.
Lysandre spoke as well "I think I can speak for everyone but, do we get to choose whatever we want?"
I sighed lightly "Yes you can pick out whatever you want, can we please go now?"
"Well I would be honored then, I don't turn down such things!" Lysandre said joyfully.
The others reluctantly nodded and I was finally able to simmer the alpha men down. They all battled for some sort of supremacy over one another as if they constantly had something to prove, it wasn't surprising that they acted this way but it sure was irritating. Signalling them to be silent I rushed them upstairs to the kitchen which had light wooden flooring and cabinets that matched. Passing through we were able to reach the front doorway, it was rather compact but we managed to all stuff in. Before being able to leave I heard a voice from the higher levels of the house calling "Where are you going?" It was my mother.
"Vicki and I are going to the mall don't worry about us!" I shouted to her.
"Oh okay have fun!"
Vicki looked at me and smirked a devilish grin, she knew I was enjoying this far more than I should be. I met eyes with the others and left twitching my hand to signal them to follow. The winter winds pelted our faces and I could tell that the majority of the group did not find this a pleasant feeling, all of them except Ghetsis. My mind pulsed, what was I getting myself into?
*****
END CHAPTER
Authors Notes: Hi there, I hope you liked this stupid little novel I started. It's a bit of a test run so I'm going to wait for some feedback before continuing. I'm sort of worried about how this one will go with others so I'm thinking I'll only continue this if people actually like it. I enjoyed writing it myself so I probably will, I just want to make sure this is something other people can enjoy too and not just me. If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions please do leave a review and thank you for reading!
