Pokefiction
You know Hoenn is the most peaceful of regions. This comes from a little boy who had travelled around the world and had seen every single region there is to explore… Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, even Fiore. But despite the Indigo's many sublime villages, it doesn't compare to home. The harmony that the volcanoes and oceans colliding create, the sound of wild Taillow and Wingull flying towards the sunset and most of all the jolly woods near Petalburg, teeming with lazy Kakuna and agitated Wurmple fighting with Nincada all while Shroomish were bathing in the glorious sunlight, it truly was marvelous. However, in his travels, his father being a world renowned diplomat and negotiator, never had he really grown roots in one place. Being always with a suitcase at the door ready to embark on a plane leaving for another corner of the world, it's pretty hard to find a school or friends. However, using the professors' encyclopedia over the Pokemon life, written by people like Oak, Elm, Birch, Rowan, Juniper and Sycamore, truly gave him insight over all that is Pokemon… However this is only practice over theory…Having grown to almost ten years old, he was ready to go and embark on my journey, this being the bitter half of his dreams from childhood. Needless to say he had a mother who was severely worried and convinced his already overbearing father to become a supernova…
"No, for the thousandth time you are not going anywhere…"
"But, mom come on… It was the only thing I've asked of you for the entire life…"
"What do you mean? You asked for tons of stuff and we delivered immediately…"
"Such as? Give me one example and I will walk away."
"Umm…. Umm… Horace what did we buy our boy?"
"Nothing dear, we never could really find what he asked, so it was a shot in the dark."
"See? Now may I at least make my point across you please?"
"No, Blaise, I won't listen to any word you'll say anymore. You have got no experience with Pokemon and they are dangerous creatures, this is why you've never been allowed to ever have one…"
"You can't stop me," Blaise said." I will never renounce my dreams…"
"Bark a lot but you won't bite, my dear. Now get ready for our late evening stroll…"
"Ugh, fine he sighed," desperation slowly sinking in his small being. It's funny how rich people always make such pathetic mistakes, that they literally cannot afford to happen. They think they are open minded but they are so absorbed of themselves , to the point where it leads to an unhealthy delusion… It's only a dream of perfect parenting… No one understands that If you'd let people make mistakes they learn from them, rather than prevent any sort of mishap for the so-called sake of the child…
Horace and his lovely wife Mindy were quietly walking on the main street of Petalburg, astonished of its emptiness given the time. I think everyone got the hang of watching gym battles so much, it became a city wide hobby. They didn't enjoy such frivolous activities…For them, a silent stroll under the sunset's glow was all they needed to be entertained. It's the mere enjoyment of spending time with your loved one that fueled their happy marriage. Their little kid, Blaise, was mentally banging his head on the steel cold pavement. He hated this. He would much rather spend his time reading alone at home than sitting in the company of two self obsessed people. It was as if you're going to the puppet show and you are the only live prop surrounded by marionettes. This is how you can see the world when you've been grown only to a glance of what it truly is… Surveying the world with wooden eyes… But it wasn't until something violently entered their lives, that their perspective were to be turned upside down…
A wild Growlithe appeared out of nowhere and tackled Blaise so hard that he fell on the street. He got up right in time, but it wasn't done with the attack. As if it were rabid, the pup jumped over the helpless boy, biting him hard on his wrist, ripping off his suit, blood dripping from his hurt hand…Horace rushed over and grabbed the light Pokemon and threw it over on the pavement. It was hurt and in tremendous pain… It curled up and started squealing scared of us…
On the other side, Blaise got up and was nothing short of bravely enduring his little pain and tried to slowly recover from his shock. Coming back to his senses, he slowly paced towards the wounded pup, trying to gently comfort it. His attempt of petting the almost fainted Growlithe resulted in another bite, but the boy was brave and perseverant to the point of stubbornness. He hugged it so hard, that its muffled barks turned into yiffs, then into drowsy growls. It fell asleep.
"What are you doing touching that infested pest, which, more importantly, tried to kill you!" Horace flipped.
"Drop that Pokemon right this instant and come here!" his mother yelled almost breaking the glass windows behind them.
However, Blaise didn't even flinch. As if in a trance, he walked away with short stubby steps towards the Pokemon center from down the road. It was a short road, but it seemed to be a lot longer for an injured little boy. Turning his head he could still see his parents angrily throwing gestures at him, while he completely ignored them. All he could think of was the seemingly newborn pup, whose breath was coming out in heavy pants. From all his readings he knew that, if left alone, all baby Pokemon were completely helpless should they faint and not be near their parents. This is why he completely ignored his pain and couldn't think of nothing else but the health of his companion.
Barging in the Pokemon center , he shouted at the nurse to swiftly take this wounded Growlithe and heal him up.
"Ok, ok, calm down. Put him on this plate and we'll take care of him in no time."
Joyfully, nurse Joy and Chansey accompanied the fainted Pokemon in a back room where they seemingly got fixed up and healed up. However, he needed medical care too. Nurse Joy wasn't trained to look after wounded people, but as all grown-ups, she could give basic first aid.
"Hey, you…"
"Oh, hello, answered the little boy a bit shook up."
"My name is Joy, what's yours?"
"I'm Blaise…"
"That's a very nice name. Now how about you tell me what happened to that Growlithe while I bandage your arm?"
"Sure. I was walking on the street with my parents, when it came out of nowhere and pounced me, biting my arm. My father panicked so hard that he grabbed it and threw it as if you'd throw a rock in the ocean. Growlithe hit the stone wall hard and almost passed out. I rushed to help it as fast as I could, but I was hurt by it, and he bit me again, after which it fainted. Then I came here…"
"But why would you come if it attacked you?"
"Well, hard to say… I think it's because I knew it didn't mean it. Probably the Growlithe got separated from its parents and, scared and alone, thought we were threatening it…Plus I've read that they can apparently smell people's emotions and thoughts and it may have read my parents' dreadful ones…"
"Well, I've got to say that you are very brave, young man, a manly voice rung past them."
It was Norman the gym leader of the city.
"Norman, what a pleasant surprise… Another victory I assume?"
"Sure thing. I just need you to take care of my Pokemon so I can be on my way. But while you do this I will want to have a little talk with this boy…"
"OK, I will bring them in no time," the nurse said as she left and entered the same back room she came from.
"So, I've heard your story and I've gotta say the most cliché way, but you remind me of someone I once met. It was a trainer who clean swept me with one Pokemon. He impressed me a lot, that day, but he told me that it was going to be his last gym battle… That was because he had to go away from Hoenn to take care of his family's old Miltank Ranch… He was desolated that after he was so hyped to follow his dream, family matters had to interfere and cut it from its roots. Even though apparently unrelated, it is…"
"How come?"
"Well, I know about your parents and how strict and against Pokemon they are. Therefore, I am sorry for you, but I will offer you a deal…"
"A… deal?" Blaise stuttered.
"Yes… I will speak to your parents, try to loosen them up, but in return you must take care of that Growlithe you brought in."
"But, if they don't let me have Pokemon, how am I going to even take care of it?"
"Easy. I will take it and you will always come to visit. Sounds good?"
"Perfect. Thank you, he said hugging Norman. You've made me an offer I can't refuse…"
"Here it is, completely healed up and rejuvenated, said nurse Joy from behind us."
On a tray, the Growlithe in question was sleeping tired after a possibly full day.
"You should let it rest, for a little while, and when it wakes up try not to approach him suddenly. He was just born yesterday so he is still very scared and since Growlithes leave far, far away from here, his mother is probably never going to find him soon, so it's possibly it will need a lot of care…"
"There's no problem, we'll take care of him, right, Blaise?" asked Norman. more rhetorically than seriously.
"Sure thing, sir."
His parents just walked in, figuring out after a long round of fighting, that their boy was missing and was headed for a Pokemon center…
"Oh my god, here you are. We were so worried…"said Mindy visibly concerned.
"Oh, Horace and Mindy, exactly the people I was looking for. I wanted to step by and invite you to dinner tonight. I've got a proposal for you…"
-" am not sure that we can," said Horace sharing his wife's state. "I think Blaise needs some rest after what happened…"
"I can go, dad, jumped Blaise," trying his most convincing glare, looking healthier than ever…
"Should we go?" asked Mindy still not certain of the good it could do to their hurt son…
"Ok, since he wants it, I don't see why not," sighed Horace defeated by his son's burning gaze.
"It's 7 o'clock now, so let's say 8 at the gym?" asked Norman, secretly exchanging glances with Blaise.
"Sounds fine…"
Needless to say that driven by their son, the couple were there on the dot, Horace trying his best to hold Blaise from breaking the door with border line abusive knocks.
"Hold it in, for goodness' sake. I am coming," said a woman from beyond the locked wooden " door" as it was more of a gate to a dojo. A young woman opened their way. It was Caroline, Norman's wife.
"Oh, it was you…"she said embarrassed. "Sorry, I thought you were some late contestant. Come in , Norman is in the garden. I'll get him then we can talk. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable in our home."
They entered the dining room which was beautiful at least in their view. The mahogany was emanating a musky scent which made us feel as if they were about to dine in the middle of the jungle. Bamboo drapes combined with the oak table really completed the image of a rustic home, as if it were built in the nineteen century by a lumberjack family. Blaise couldn't really taste this interior design. Half was because he didn't like it, half because he didn't care about his parents' blabbering, he was here only for what Norman told him…
Speaking of which, the proud gym leader just entered the room, after yet another day without defeat. He was the best gym leader of Hoenn, having lost so few battles in the last year.
"I am so glad, that you were able to come, Horace and Mindy. Hey, Blaise," he said kneeling down so he can be on the same level as the kid. "Why don't you go play in the garden with my children. Don't forget about what I told you, ok?"
"I won't sir," he said as he swiftly left the room to enter the seemingly empty little forest.
It was close to the Petalburg forest, actually it was an enclosed parch of the woods. This is why wild Budew and Wurmple were all around the place, along with the leader's many Pokemon. Slakoth, Vigoroth and Slaking were… slacking off. However, Blaise was looking for his new friend, quotations marks not included. Impatiently he wandered about the garden searching every possible hiding place, but to no avail…
"You're looking for something" asked a young child's voice.
It was Max, Norman's only son, who, completely incidentally, was also a Pokemon genius. He was 2 years younger, but could rival every professor in knowledge.
"Sure," Blaise said recollecting himself from his seeking trance." I want to know where a new Growlithe your father brought today. You know where he is?"
"Sure thing, my sister's playing with him, but she doesn't like dad's new finding very much… He bit her so much, that her arms are filled with bandages."
"Well, can't say I had a different experience," Blaise said rubbing his wounded arm…
Max soon lead him into a small room in the middle of the garden, which was labeled as some sort of nursing home.
"This is where dad keeps his very young Pokemon, until they grow enough to be trained and obedient. May usually hangs around here because she loves the cute little guys that usually get lost in the forest and are being taken care of inside."
After entering the small cabin, the two boys were greeted by the smell of burnt wood, as May was lying on the ground unconscious from the smoke. Growlithe was sitting on top of a sort of stove, exhausted seemingly, steam coming off his mouth. Scared bug types were taking refuge in a lonely corner…
"What's going on?" Max yelled scared.
"I think the only fire type in this room is responsible of this…Do this Pokemon know to listen to commands?" Blaise asked calm as ever.
"I don't think so… "the other boy responded in shock…
Blaise was not surprised of this… Wild Pokemon were known not to be obedient but it was the only thing that could save May and the helpless bunch hiding in the corner… This is why he slowly and carefully approached the little bugs, hands tucked in to not scare anyone as the breeding manual said, then in a very calm and soothing voice he asked:
"Look, guys, I know you're scared, but if you want to make it out we need to work together…"
He was cut short by one of the Beuatifly, scared out of its mind swiftly attacking him with a fierce Air Cutter. However, since his iron will was still in place, and his mind was set on two things now, he took the blow and shrugged it off as if it were nothing. In a bit of pain, he found the strength to breathe through the now thick smoke and, softly, yet firmly, put the enraged Beautifly on the ground, where it instantly calmed as if she a heard a soothe Chingling…
"Now how about you clear out the smoke, using Gust," he continued smiling.
Using its majestic wings, the three Pokemon have cleared the haze in an instant, but they did nothing but the fire was now stoked… just in time for a Lotad to be noticed by our young aspiring trainer… Oops spoke too fast.
"Well, hello there… You can help too," Blaise continued with the same calming smile. "How about you aim a good Water Gun there…"
With a few joyous croaks, the Lotad put out the fire and now the first problem was assessed… Now for the unconscious girl. It's amusing how much upper body strength can a 10 year old have. He carried May all the way from the garden to the house, without letting out even the smallest sigh. Max was freaking out still from what he had witnessed, but Blaise was calm as a stone as if this is just mundane, everyday stuff.
"How can you be so calm?" Max asked all of a sudden.
"I have absolutely no reason to panic. It makes bad decisions happen and significantly lower focus. Don't worry, you're going to get here some day. You're an insightful little man and I could see that panic blocked genuine care for your sister, he added smiling for himself seemingly."
"Thanks, I guess… I think we should get rid of that Growlithe…"
"Don't you even say that. He's just a young pup, possibly scared. I know it bit me and your sister, but it's not his fault. I am certain that with training he will become a good Pokemon."
"Well, my father once had a troublesome little Taillow. It destroyed a lot of our gym and continuously harassed any grass type which sought refuge here… However my dad didn't lose hope and eventually, it became a very powerful Swellow. By the time it came to us for the first time, it could barely fly, but then it was like an arrow piercing the sky with immense speed. That was the moment when dad decided to release him into the wild…"
"That is a nice story… Thanks for sharing… It gives me a little bit of extra hope for my little Growlithe," he said, sarcasm flodding his speech.
They've reached the dining room's door and barged in… It was an instant eye catcher. Norman jumped from his seat and immediately took his daughter, while Caroline didn't worry at all. Strangely enough, Horace and Mindy didn't flinch at all. They were pretty selfish, and since their kid was completely unscathed they could do nothing but show fake concern for May…
"What happened?" Norman yelled breaking free from his usual persona.
"A fire broke out in your nursing home, probably from that Growlithe you have. Max and I, along with the help of your Pokemon, put it out, but we found May unconscious…"
"Oh… I was scared that she really passed out…"
"What?"
"Oh, May is pretty sensitive when it comes of fire, and that little pup is pretty much a biter. Whenever a lot of stress comes onto the plate she loses it. Thankfully it happens so rarely that we don't need to worry a lot… Caroline, mind if you do your thing?"
"Right away," she said while freeing her Chimecho. "Chimecho use Healing Wish!"
Her beautiful Pokemon fainted almost instantly, but his energy was transferred to May and without any delay she woke up. Yet again, another person was briefed of the events, but Blaise refrained from taking any credit from rescuing her from the extinguished building. Max noticed this, but remained quiet, for now.
"So your daughter has been almost killed by Pokemon and you expect us to let our boy to go alone and fight with and against these dreadful things?" Angrily asked Mindy
"Yes, of course."
"Do I have to point out how wrong this is, Norman? "Horace jumped in.
"Yes, because, and I was hoping not to do this in front of him, but you can't just leave your son to live his life into fluff and butlers. He must live outside a crystal bowl…"
"What do you mean? He lives enough… He has friends, he has activities and most important of all he has fun…"
"Yes, but you forget something. You live in a world vastly inhabited by Pokemon and sooner or later your son will find his way to them. You may have both have bad experiences with them, but look around.. . so did we. May is deadly scared of Tentacool, but this didn't make her hate them all…"
"My opinion stands, Norman and it won't change either way you look at it…"
"How about a wager then? A new voice chimed in to the party." It was Max.
"I am sorry, young man? What wager you think of?"
"Sir, your son has a great talent with Pokemon, that I have witness and it would be a complete waste if it would not be put to work…"
"It would be no shame, but still, I appreciate a quirky young man… Name your demand…"
"You and your son had no proper Pokemon training, so how about you two battle… Should you lose you let Blaise follow his dream and should you win, he quits and becomes what you want. Is that a fair deal?"
"It sounds so, but there is a simple flaw. I don't appreciate no one deciding for anyone else…If Blaise wants this he should speak up. Besides, we don't even have…"he didn't even finish that sentence, when Norman cut him off.
"You can choose from anyone of mine," he said while freeing all of his Normal types.
"Let's do this, father," said Blaise completely hyped to battle for the first time in his life…
"You mean it, son? You realize what losing means?"
"I do, but don't worry, it's not an option for me, right now," Horace's son responded swiftly with a flame burning in his eyes…
"Fine, then I choose this one, "Horace said pointing at the strongest looking Pokemon from the bunch. Vigoroth quickly joined his side as Norman instructed him.
"Your choice now, son," continued the gym leader after leaving his Vigoroth in the diplomat's care.
"Do you even have to ask about my pick," answered the kid, smiling a little wickedly.
"Not really. He's been following you after all."
Blaise suddenly turned around to have Growlithe jump on and knock him over. However, what it was different was that this time, there was no biting. The puppy was now playfully licking his apparent new owner. The boy got up, petting his new companion on its white tuft of fur. Then after raising to his feet, he proudly admitted:
"Yes, this is my choice."
"I will be your judge," said Norman calmly. "Come to the arena…"
The gym leader lead the two combatants to a big hall, scarred by the battles of today.
"Sorry for the mess, I didn't have time to clean up the battlefield, from the last battle. Hope it's no problem. Without further ado, contestant 1 take your place," he said pointing to Horace as he quickly stepped in the white square, while his Vigoroth swiftly took his position as he did all the previous times.
"Contestant 2 take your position," Norman continued as Blaise was already in his place, his Growlithe instinctively growling to look fierce.
"As you both are new, I will give you each a piece of paper containing your Pokemon's possible move set. Good luck to you both. I will tell you when the battle is over, but now you…may… begin," Norman yelled as he accentuated each of his last words.
"Well, this may be easier than I thought it would be…"Vigoroth use Slash, Horace began forcefully.
His Vigoroth, dashed around the battlefield with immense speed, blinking from one point to another, until it came one inch from Blaise's Growlithe.
"Growlithe, jump back and use Bite!"
Vigoroth slashed the air, as Growlithe swiftly hopped behind and bit the now exposed flank of the normal type. It was a very effective move, due to the attack coming by surprise, but Vigoroth was no easy opponent.
"Vigoroth, shrug it off then use Fury Swipes!"
Vigoroth shook hard and Growlithe was thrown across the arena, but landed on his feet. His opponent however charged him with relentless attacks as he was slowly chipping the puppy's resistance away…
"Don't take this Growlithe! He's hitting high, duck and use Ember!"
Recovering from the flurry of blows he received, the pup managed to duck in time to dodge another swipe, making the Vigoroth lose balance… Fire came out of Growlithe's snout hitting his opponent with a full blow. He recoiled and jumped back on Horace's side of the arena.
"You know son, I may have underestimated your toughness, but still I can't let you get hurt… You know I love you, but if I've got to beat you to protect you, then this is how it will be… Vigoroth use Focus Punch!
"That's a mistake, father!" Yelled Blaise from across the arena.
"How come?" Asked Horace confused.
"That's a move that takes time to charge up, so now your Vigoroth is completely exposed to an attack that I can unleash… Sorry, but this is where this ends… Growlithe use Flame Wheel!"
Before the Focus Punch could even be charged, Growlithe was already rolling towards him, but Horace didn't think fast enough to order Vigoroth to stop… The force at which the newborn pup hit the trained sloth has been unrivaled… He was truly born a warrior…Vigoroth fainted…
"Vigoroth is unable to battle, Blaise wins!" Screamed Norman, pure joy resonating in his voice.
"Looks like I lost," said Horace disspaointed. "You beat me with a newborn Growlithe against a trained Vigoroth… Wait, Norman did you order your Vigoroth to hold back?" the defeated father asked rasing an eyebrow.
"I am an honest man, plus the boy won fair and square,"responded Norman calmly.
"Does this mean I can go on an adventure?" asked Blaise eager and unable to wait anymore…
"Yes, son this means you can go," said both his parents in unison, fear and despair flowing off their faces.
"But you'll go tomorrow, "Mindy jumped to stop Blaise who was getting ready to jump from his happiness…
"That's nice, since May is also going to embark on her journey tomorrow morning alongside her brother. You can both go together… Also take these," Norman continued as he handed Blaise a bunch of Pokeballs. "I assume I don't have to tell you what this means, right?"
"Of course not… I'm guessing it's getting late. Shouldn't we go mom?"
"Yes, we will in an instant…"
"Ok, then. Come on Growlithe, Blaise said as he grabbed his new companion and started petting him," while praising him for the win against Norman's Vigoroth.
They've reached their home at around 11 in the night… Blaise was put right to bed by his mother…
"What about Growlithe?" he asked worried for his Pokemon's safety
"Oh, he'll sleep outside, in the backyard… Don't worry we tied him up to a pole so he won't get away…"
"Ok, sounds good," responded her son placid, hiding his subtle anger as an actor would do.
Two hours have passed and the house was quiet as a graveyard… Only tiny muffled footsteps were breaking the unsettling silence. The door creaked as a small silhouette sneaked out of the giant mansion. Swift hand were now untying the noose on the little pup's chain. It awoke and would have started barking were it not to see the comforting gaze of his master.
"A Pokemon should not be trated like this," Blaise said. "Come, you're sleeping with me tonight."
The bedroom was quiet and the big bed looked threatening. The boy let Growlithe roam free, until he curled up on the big cotton filled pillow. He then laid down next to him and they fell asleep at the same time. Tomorrow was the beginning of a new story…
