Ferno16: I own absolutely nothing. And let's start this read with a quote.
"You know what I've been through, but you'll never understand what I've been through." - Ferno16
A Pokémon Traveler
"God damn it, my head."
How did he get a headache? And more important how did he fall asleep in a plane?
Sure he closed his eyes and laid his seat back, but he never fell asleep pass afternoon.
Okay, lightly apply pressure to both sides of his head, breath in… and out.
Breath in… and out.
Ahhh, much better. Now he can let his hands rest on the… grass?
Brown eyes slowly open, sitting up scanning his surroundings.
What…
The…
Hell…
This wasn't the plane he was on… it sure as hell wasn't a park either.
He let his back rest on the ground again, rubbing his eyes recalling his last memories.
He remembers getting on the plane, he definitely remembers feeling the plane take off.
He read fanfiction on his phone for about an hour. Played Pokémon X hatching eggs to get a shiny pokémon, then…
…
…
… he couldn't remember.
"Plane crash?"
If it was he couldn't believe he survived.
He took a deep breath… and let it out calming his nerves.
Getting scared and panicking wasn't going to help him, he was 16 about to turn 17 in four months he knew better.
"Alright, now where's the plane-"
No. First he had to call 911.
He stood up, pulling his… now busted beyond repair cell.
Bits of the screen fell off, showing how everything inside was burned.
Ugh, he lost $300 dollars right there.
"Shiiiit."
He pocket it, hoping it came to some use later.
He felt his other pocket and cursed feeling it empty.
There goes $200 dollars for his 3ds.
Finding the plane it was.
Thankfully there was hill in site not to far from him.
Once he made it to the top, he didn't find the plane or the smoke of a crash.
He found something even better.
A town.
A small but real fucking TOWN!
There was a bit of a distance, but that wasn't what was going through his head.
A town meant people, and people meant help!
He was already running down the hill in a straight line to the town, breaking a smile with hope overflowing.
He kept running pass the trees, his focus solemnly in getting to the town ignoring everything else.
But abruptly came to a screeching halt, staring at the animal that crashed his brain by looking at it.
"Bunnelby?"
"..."
What. The. Fuck!
Ch.1 How..?
"Mom, why is he dress like that?"
"I don't know sweetie, it's probably his style."
"Why is he sitting in the bench like that?"
"He must want to rest sweetie, why don't we let him rest in peace?"
"Okay."
"Is he alright, he came out of nowhere and sat there for… how long?"
"Ten minutes brother."
"You kept count?"
"I simply did it because you're incapable of doing it."
"Hey!"
"Shouldn't we give him something, he appears to be having a break down."
"Maybe we should dear. Kind and passionate to others, that's what I love about you."
"Oh honey."
So many voices around him, yet he did not hear them rubbing his eyes. Soothing the migration building up.
The gears inside his head had gone overdrive for a good amount of time, processing, organizing and come to terms with everything he saw on his way here.
Pokémon.
That was the only word that came to mind every time he saw them pass by.
Yes, them as in more than one.
Breath in… and out.
Breath in… and out.
Breath in… and sight.
"Alright. Okay."
He… for some unexplained reason was in the pokémon world… or universe.
Was this for real.
He brought his hand up and bit down, flinching from the pain leaving a bite mark.
Yup, this was real. Pain didn't lie.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
He sigh again, but more relaxed this time as facts suck in.
"Excuse me, are you alright?"
The voice belong to a woman in her... late thirties maybe?
She was wearing a light violet sweater, blue jeans, and white shoes.
Black shoulder length hair, with a green hair clip on the side.
"I'm… much better than before. Just needed to sort some thoughts really."
While he did answer her question. His eyes were focused on the Starly on her shoulder.
Something she caught.
"I see you're interested in Starly here."
"I've… always wanted to get close to them."
He raised his arm inviting the pokémon to perch on it, which surprisingly it did.
Using his other hand he scratched it below its beak, getting a happy chirp from it.
A smile tug his lips. No words could describe the emotions going through him.
Having to feel something that should be fictional alive and breathing was... simply out of his world.
No pun intended.
The woman giggle seen the look of wonder on his face.
"You really like pokémon, don't you."
His smile turn to a grin, increasing his efforts of making the bird chirp louder.
"More than you can imagine."
"I can see that. My name's Eliza, what's your name?"
"Marel, and… could I ask you a few questions?"
"I don't mind, could you move. I would like to sit on the bench too."
"Ah yeah sure."
Starly whined losing the hand scratching him to move, but chirp happily getting it back a second later.
"So what do you need to ask me?"
"Could you tell me where am I?"
Eliza and Starly look at him like he grew a second head.
"You don't know where you are?"
Mare scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I… woke up with a headache and… feel a bit disoriented honestly."
Woman and pokémon nodded in understanding, if a bit sceptical.
"I see, this is Vaniville Town: A town whose flower is about to bloom. In the Kalos region."
"Kalos."
Echoed Marel tasting the word in his mouth, making himself believe where he is.
"Did you remember something?"
"More like recall something."
Knowing where he was always gave him comfort.
"What's the date?"
Eliza looked confused by the question, but an answer nonetheless.
"May 19."
That started Marel.
19? The plane took off on the 17, so he's been out for two days?!
"Pardon me, but I can't help but notice your… taste in clothing is… quite dark. Excuse the pun."
Ah yes his taste in black and dark colors always brought attention.
"Does it bother you?"
Eliza shook her head.
"Oh no, it's just makes me curious really."
He didn't blame her.
He was wearing a sleeveless black sweatshirt with two red lines running down.
Matching sweat pants.
Black sport shoes with red laces.
And a black hoodie with thin dark violet checker pattern strips.
Combine that with his white skin and brown hair, he looks like a trouble maker.
A trouble maker not a delinquent, there's a difference.
"I like black and dark colors, other than that I don't have a reason really."
Eliza raised an eyebrow.
"I'm serious."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking something else."
She tapped her chin faking to be in deep thought, which earn her a deadpan from Marel.
Sadly that only made her giggle.
"Sorry, sorry, it's been a long time since I enjoyed a chat like this."
That got his curiosity to spark.
"What do you mean by-"
Growl.
Ah, he hasn't eaten in two days. He probably didn't feel the hunger do to how confused and scared he was.
Then it hit him. Everything he had aside from his dead phone was gone and lost, for good most likely.
"My… that was quite loud, almost like you haven't eaten in days."
"No kidding… say Eliza…"
"Yes?"
"Do you know of any berry trees or bushes nearby."
His wallet was in his backpack, not that it would do any good. For all he knew the currency could be different.
Until he manages to get money he'll have to live out of-
"Oh don't worry about it, why don't you come and have dinner with Starly and I?"
That threw Marel for a lop, much to Eliza's amusement.
"What?"
"Did I stutter?"
"N-no, and is that okay? I mean you're inviting a complete stranger for dinner..."
Dinner? What time was it?
A quick look up showed him it was evening approaching nightfall. Follow by a mental curse for forgetting the time.
"Marel?"
Said boy blinked and shook his head.
"I don't really mean to impose."
"Impose? You're won't be imposing us, and give how Starly is on your shoulder I say he agrees."
Marel blinked feeling Starly rubbed his head against his cheek.
He didn't even notice it move.
Any protest he was going to make died when his stomach growl again, it made his sigh in defeat.
He didn't have a choice, did he?
"Can I-"
"Marel I told you 5 times already. I can take care of the cooking."
"But-"
"Why don't you take some time and explore the house."
"That's… considered rude back where I'm from."
"Well I'm not letting you cook anything."
"I actually know how to cook for myself."
Eliza blinked from the info she got and hummed.
"Hmm, maybe I'll let you cook tomorrow. Now shu, talking and chopping aren't a good mix."
Marel couldn't help but sigh. There was simply no way to deal with her.
Exploring the house it was.
The house was a two floor average size for a family of four.
The living room was the biggest one in first floor, with a couch in front of a plasma tv.
There was a table with four chairs. Nothing unique except for a bowl fruit in the middle.
Article fruit, much to his disappointment.
On the bright side, this told him berries weren't the only fruit or vegetable here. Thank god.
Eliza was in the kitchen, second biggest room of the first floor. Other than food and cooking utensils, that was it.
He found the laundry room. Followed by a closet contains numerous of clothes and… a small number of shoes?
There were only four pairs but they were the same size and there was little to no design.
He shook his head. He was just over thinking, and it wasn't his place to question.
Moving on.
The bathroom… was third biggest room, due to its bathtub that could fit three adults.
He never saw one that big before.
Upstairs he found another bathroom but smaller than before.
Three bedrooms, but one thing to stood out to him was that only one bedroom appeared to be use.
Conclusions started to form in his head, but shook them off.
He was shocked when he pulled the last door open.
It wasn't a room but a small balcony.
There wasn't much save for a chair and a round table.
"Starly!"
His head snapped to the side, finding the Starly from before nested in a birdhouse.
He immediately made his way to it, smiling happily.
"I was wondering where you went before. How are you?"
"Starly!"
Marel chuckle, scratching Starlys favorite spot chirping happily.
After a moment he made his way to the balcony edge and rested his arms on it, gazing at the town.
He spare Starly a glance when it perched itself on his shoulder, then back to the town before stopping at the gates.
He knew what those gates lead, he completed the story in Pokémon X after all.
But also couldn't take everything the game showed him for granted.
He counted 12 houses here, but the game had only 2.
He'd better keep an open mind, if he wanted to survive in this world.
He wasn't planning on staying here forever, he doubted Eliza would let him.
And he was honestly stumped. He had wish that pokémon existed many times, but never honestly believe that he would getted it granted.
He was also standing in a reality that doesn't revolve in a turn base system. There were far more factors to be concerned about than leveling up and choosing an attack.
"Ah here you are."
Starly and Marel turn to see Eliza resting on the edge next to them.
"I call out for you but you didn't answer, so I looked for you."
"Ah, sorry."
Eliza shook her head.
"You don't need to apologize for something that was out of your control."
"I wouldn't say it was out of my control."
Grunted Marel, making Eliza giggle before looking out the balcony.
"Did you enjoy the view?"
"I like it."
"Glad to hear it."
A moment of silence went bye.
"What will you do tomorrow?"
Marel hummed, thinking what was his course of action will be.
Seconds of silence pass bye. Starly and Eliza focus their attention on the boy that was in deep thought.
"Hey Eliza…"
"Yes?"
"Could you tell me, what a person needs to become a trainer?"
The question took both human and pokémon for a spin.
"You're not a trainer?"
His outfit made them think he was a Dark or Ghost type trainer.
"I… wanted to become one, but… it wasn't within my reach."
"Not within your reach?"
Eliza eyebrows knitted.
"My… parents didn't believe this was the path for me."
The woman blinked then frowned.
"You… ran away from home?"
Marel scratched the back of his head, sweat dropping at her… conclusion.
"No. Both of them are business employees, and were selected to go on some long term business trip."
"So…"
Eliza started looking at him in the eyes.
"Your plan on taking a chance from their absence?"
Starly tilted his head, curious himself. Making his sweat drop double in size.
"In an… unique way… do you think it's wrong?"
He mentally kicked himself for the last part.
There was a pause of silence in the balcony.
"No."
Marel's eyes widened, not believing what he heard.
"Why?"
Eliza giggle at his reaction and set her gaze above the gates.
"I experience something like that back then. So I can understand where you're coming from."
A sad smile spread on her lips her voice drop to a whisper.
"And… you remind me of someone I knew of."
It was only because it was so quiet he managed to hear it.
" Someone you knew of?"
"Ah."
Eliza shook her head.
"Don't worry about it. We should go inside for dinner, you too Starly. It's going to rain awful tonight."
Human and pokémon blinked, then looked up.
"I don't see any any clouds."
"Starly…"
Eliza remain quiet, mentally counting down until.
Throuuum!
Starly squeal in surprise, and Marel flinched at the sound of approaching heavy thunder storm.
"Never mind."
"Starly."
This made her giggle again.
"Let's go before I need to reheat dinner. Not to mention we still have to go over everything you need to become a trainer."
"Right behind you."
"Starly."
Marel watch Starly play with the water in the bathtub they were in.
The dinner was good and Eliza showed him all he needed to, it was simple too.
But that wasn't what was going through his head at the moment.
It was what he told her on the balcony.
He didn't lie about his parents taking a trip, or that he wanted to be a pokémon trainer.
He didn't lie at all. He simply kept details out of the conversation. He wasn't sure why, but it bother him.
And he couldn't comprehend why.
They only meet for, what? Three hours? And he felt… some odd bond?
…
Sigh. He couldn't make any sense of it all.
He was glad he close to curtain when he heard the door open.
"I got your sleepwear for the night Marel."
"..."
He still can't believe this woman force him to take a bath as well as take his clothes.
Do not ask why or how it happened, he won't answer.
"Not to sound ungrateful or like dick. But could you tell me why you're helping me? I mean we only meet for three hour."
Eliza giggle from the other side of the curtain.
"Oh a few reasons, but I think I'll keep it for myself. And it's been almost five hours."
Marel twitch, but change the topic.
"Is this really okay? I mean will your family be alright with this?"
Eliza made no movement and sound. It confused Marel until he heard Starly chirp quietly and sadly.
That's when he realized he might have stepped on a touchy subject. He didn't get the chance to avert the topic before Eliza's voice reach his ears.
"I suppose… that I'll have to tell you one of my reasons."
He heard her sit on something, taking a deep breath and sigh.
"... one thing you should know is that… I live alone with Starly."
Marel remain silent, sparing a glance at Starly who nodded.
"A few years ago I use to live in the Kanto region."
Marel blinked. Huh, who knew.
"My husband... has a high position in Silph Co. The leading company developing pokémon technology in Kanto."
Shock spread on Marels face. He knew that company, after all who could forget the location the Master Ball from the original pokémon games.
"Because of his position rarely comes home. He comes… or visits… at least six times a year."
Marel cringe. That was not a good devotion the husband was giving her, assuming they're still together.
"It didn't bother me that much thanks to my two kids, but… time passed bye and soon enough they grew up and…"
"They when on pokémon journey?"
The silence stretch and broke by a sad giggle.
"No, they followed their father's footsteps and join a business school."
That confused Marel. Business school over becoming a pokémon trainer?
"They… didn't want to become trainers?"
"I confronted them about it and apparently they inherited my husband's personality of doing something productive."
Her voice was cold as ice, effectively making both bath occupants shiver.
"After some time, one of my friends call me to come visit her in this town. I liked the the atmosphere and decided to live here. Thanks to my husband sending money every month, I had enough to buy a house and settled here. I meet Starly a month later and here we are."
Dripping water was the only sound echoing in the bathroom.
Wow, that's, he… he didn't know what to say.
He didn't have to when Eliza stood up and head out, but stop before closing it.
"Both of you should get out before you catch a cold. I prepared a room for you to sleep in, and Marel."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for listening. Doing that much helped me a lot."
Marel let his lips for a smile.
"Any time."
"Oh and before you go to sleep, think of you want to do when you become a trainer. Okay?"
That was the last thing she said before closing the door.
The sound of rain hitting the glass gave Marel a soothing Feeling. He felt relaxed lying on the soft bed, up to the point he believe it was a dream.
Sadly it wasn't when he bit his hand again.
The pain was real, and so was this.
"Think of you want to do when you become a trainer. Okay?"
Challenge the Gym Leaders followed by the Elite Four and the Champion. That should be the most obvious thing all trainers would do.
…
Fuck no.
He didn't want to challenge any of them, he never did.
The main reason he love pokémon games was because of the story, as well as collecting pokémon.
And let's not forget beating your friends in a battle. Oh the satisfaction of making them rage makes it worth it.
But getting back on topic. Why did he want to become a trainer?
Shouldn't he be focused on finding a way home? And if so where to start?"
…
…
… sigh.
If he ignored all logic, motives and was honest with himself.
He simply wanted to become a trainer to experience it himself.
Not to be the best.
Not to be the strongest.
He just wanted to experience it.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Not exactly a plan. No actually, that was just him been honest with himself.
… you know what he'll cross the bridge when he gets to it. His eyes felt heavy, and he'll worry about it another day-
…
It just hit him that Eliza told him a bit of her life story, but never told him the reason why she helped him.
…
She played him like a violin. Tch, damn woman.
Eliza's mouth twitched into a smile and dropped a second later. Not affecting the sleeping Starly laying on the pillow next to her in the land of dreams.
The rain was blinding and nasty to all of those unfortunate souls that couldn't find shelter.
One of things that many people didn't know about Vaniville Town was that the forest behind the wall was a pokémon reserve.
But because there weren't that many rare pokémon around no one really bother to look deeper into it.
Do to this. People didn't bother to patrol the wall. And maintenance was reduced to a small section.
Thanks to this, small openings were formed by time or effort by pokémon.
That was how this pokémon manage to squeeze through out at high speeds.
But lost its footing, making its momentum bounce on the muddy ground.
And stop, his body hitting a tree.
Shakingly it raised its head, looking at the hole it came through and chuckle before it collapsed in exhaustion.
"Shinx…"
To be continued.
Ferno16: And done! Tell me what you think in a review, and I apologize for all grammar mistakes. But no flames please.