The first days of bad luck
«Alright! Today's the day. » I exclaimed as I got out of bed.
There was no way that I was going to be late on the day I would receive my first pokémon. I had made plans this time. First, do not rely on one electronic device that is sure to backfire on you. No, use the great, foolproof, idea of a doduo singing.
I looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it worked.
«I am a genius. » I grinned.
My happiness went on for a little while, mostly the time I took to eat breakfast and take a good shower. It just happened that I stumbled onto a note wearing my mother's handwriting.
I'm sorry for leaving so soon on the day of your departure, my little farfetch'd, but you know how work is these days. Since I know you can be quite the air-head, I prepared your backpack in advance. There are a few changes of clothing in it, some snacks, two or three things you might need for your pokémon on the road and an advance of your monthly allowance. Be careful and remember to write me often. If you don't, I will send Big Eyes on you.
I couldn't help but smile at her message. For a split second, I wished not to leave. Then I saw the last line.
P.S. Your bus leaves at 8:30! Don't miss it!
Loves, Mom.
Oh, yeah, there was that part too, I forgot that. I shot a look at my watch. Five minutes…
Maybe I wasn't as much of a genius as I thought I was! Here I was, in the middle of the kitchen with only a towel around my waist and the bus was going to leave in five minutes!
I ran through the house, barged in my room like a donfan, grabbed a pair of shorts like an ambipom, tripped twice while putting them on like a… whatever! , blessed my mother a thousand times for her insight with my backpack, picked up an apple that was resting on the counter (which surprised my mother a lot, seeing as I was not a fan of fruits and veggies) and ran faster than the time I stole a bone from an houndour.
I was not going to be late! I was not going to be late this year too!
Because I'd be damned if I let another year go by before I could become a pokémon trainer! Anna and Allan had already left with their starters last year and I was supposed to be with them. I barely could stop myself from crushing my cellphone between my fingers when Allan called me when he bragged about that fifth gym badge. This time, I know that I will trash the house if I have to wait another year.
I was eleven, which meant that I was one of those odds ones that left for their pokemon journey late!
It was humiliating enough to wait at home while everyone else got to travel around the world by themselves; I was not going to do that for another twelve months!
I could see the bus from there. I had to make it!
I was not twenty meters away, running like a madman, when the wheels started to move.
«No! » I screamed, desperate, one arm reaching forward.
Not this year!
I could feel my eyes watering already. If my dream had to wait again, then I'd… I'd…
…bumped in the bus?
I opened my eyes in surprise. The bus had stopped.
«Huh? »
Before I had the time to process what had happened, I saw a man wearing a blue uniform and a cap towering over me. He was wearing a mustache that clearly was the mark of secret monsters and I couldn't help but notice how buff the man was. I didn't shriek at his stern look, I swear.
Almost…
«Do you want to hop on? » He told me, his gruff rough voice definitely putting him in my mental category called: SCARY!
«H-Huu… Y-yes! » I stuttered.
«Then get on the bus now. I have a schedule to follow. » He ended the conversation (read: one-sided interrogation) and turned his back on me.
Despite the fact that my legs were jelly and my brain was nothing more than pokefood at that point, I managed to follow him. In my mind, there was just one thought: «I made it, I made it! ».
Swablus were barely on as much clouds as I was. I was going to be a trainer after all!
«Sit somewhere so we can get going! » The bus driver's voice blasted away my bliss and I (didn't ) shrieked (again).
Alright, here was my second challenge as a trainer: find a place to sit in a crowded bus.
…not quite what I had in mind…
I walked through the alley, hoping to see an empty seat. I wished there was an empty bench altogether, but that was asking for way too much.
Instead, I saw someone wave a hand toward me. I did not know that person, but the friendly smile on his face was enough of an invitation.
As I sat next to him, the voice of the bus driver came from all directions, as another proof that he was a servant from hell ready to get back at me as soon as I let my guard down.
«We're now leaving Mahogany Town and we will arrive at New Bark Town tomorrow around 2 in the afternoons. Our next stop will be Goldenrod City, at five this evening. Now departing. »
The passenger next to me chuckled when I jolted in surprise. «Well, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you are one nervous kid. » I turned around to take a good look at the guy that had dared mock me.
It was a man that looked just over twenty. How could I tell? Don't ask me, but there was this air of false maturity to him that gave the feeling of an adult, but not quite. That was his most noteworthy feature. Other than that, he looked like an everyday man, with brown wild hair long enough for a ponytail, clear brown eyes, clothes that had to be a uniform for some jobs, because they were hideous (pale green and brown, really? ) and a cardboard box on his knees.
«I'm not scared! » I protested.
«Who said anything about being scared? » His mouth made the most annoying grin I ever saw. Even Allan couldn't piss people off that much with just a fake smile!
«I… URGH! » I groaned, my hands curled into fists on both sides of my body.
«Precisely. » He happily agreed.
Have I said I was happy earlier? Scratch that. HARD.
«Alright, I've been teasing you enough for now. Let's go with the formal introductions. I am Martin Slyder. What can I call you? » He said, very politely, with his eyes shining with interest. To be honest, it reminded me of a pokemon running after a prey, a tasty prey. Though his name did ring a bell…
«You can call me Champion. » I did my best to stop my voice from shaking. It came out as a strong, impressive and self-confident affirmation.
«So you're a pokemon trainer then? Perhaps a fire-type trainer? »
«Huh? Why do you say that? » I tilted my head in confusion.
«I'm referring to the lack of shirt, sock and shoes. That's because of the heat of your pokémon, am I wrong? » I blushed from head to toes. No, I was definitely not a genius.
«Oh, I guess I am wrong, if only from the way you turned into a tomato. » Martin continued, his amusement evident in his eyes.
The next minutes were spent with me searching from the items I was lacking in my backpack. Thankfully, my mom had put more than enough change of clothes for a few days in there.
Then, I faced my third challenge as a new trainer: I had no shoes.
I suddenly found myself trying to look for something blunt to hit my head with. After a while, I decided that Martin would have to do. Killing two fearows with one stone and all…
He did not protest at my unconventional use of his body. That much was a surprise. Then, he proceed to definitely throw me off my game. He looked through his own backpack and gave me a pair of brand new shoes.
«Here, take those. » He said as he handed them to me.
«Huh? …but… how the… why… why do you have those? » My mind was stuck on the fact that a total stranger had given me a pair of shoes out of nowhere.
The fact that they did fit make me think I was facing a stalker.
I distanced myself from him really with a subtlety only an eleven years-old future champion like me could have. Have I mentioned he caught my movement immediately?
«Don't worry, I'm not stalking you. They're just the most common pair of shoes I have to deliver. » Well, I think I can be certain now. I won't be a subtle champion… Then, I caught up what he said.
«Deliver? » The cardboard box made a bit more sense now.
«Yes, I'm a delivery man. I'm supposed to go to New Bark Town to make a special delivery to our dear Professor Elm. Don't even bother asking what it is, I don't know. »
«Oh. » I had wanted to ask… « Wait… are those shoes even yours? » I said, suddenly worried. I did not want to get a pair of stolen shoes out of the blue like that…
«Nope, they're yours now. » Martin replied with a warm smile.
«I'm serious… I don't want a… » I started, before he cut me off with a movement of his hand.
«Don't worry about that. The companies lose merchandise all the time during deliveries, thieves and all. It will just come out of my pay and that's that. » That only made me feel halfway better… I was indebted to someone when I hadn't even received my first pokémon.«Hey, don't make that face. I like you, that's all there is to it. »
«Thanks. » I resolved not to look at him in the eyes for a moment.
«Won't you tell me about your pokémon then? A future champion like you must have a nice team, even if you're not a specialized trainer. »
«Hum… » I blushed again. I had blurted out my dream of becoming champion when he laughed at me, just to shut him up. I had not actually intended to reveal that yet. I was planning to at least have a pokémon before I said it… Then again, he had given me a pair of shoes. I should be grateful. «I'm not a trainer yet. » I admitted with a tiny voice.
«Well, that seems like an important detail. I take it you're going to New Bark Town too then? » Martin smiled again, but, this time, it was not mocking in the least. There was even something warm in his features.
«Yeah… » I hesitated.
«Have you chosen what pokémon you're going to take as your starter? »
«Totodile. » I answered immediately, sure of myself.
«Oh, why is that? »
«Because I need to beat someone. »
«Who? »
«My friend. He's my rival and he chose cyndaquil. I must get a water type. »
Martin suddenly had this knowing smile that made me falter. «Are you going to meet him in New Bark Town? I bet you can't wait to get your first battle together. »
«N-no… he's already a trainer… » I could only say. I was ashamed. I knew that Martin would realize it and would mock me again. Without thinking, I found myself on the verges of tears.
«He's already a trainer? …and Elm only receives starters once a year… How old are you? » Martin wondered, my face hidden by my bangs.
«I'm… eleven. » Here comes the teasing.
Or not.
To my great surprise, Martin did not say a word. Instead, he looked lost deep in his thoughts. When I shot a glance at him, there was not an ounce of mockery in his eyes. I must have appeared surprised, because he ruffled my hair like my dad used to when he was proud of me and spoke with a warmth tone.
«Hey, not everyone starts at the same time. There's nothing wrong with that. So, why don't you talk to me about your rival? How far is he in the circuit? » The change of topic made me flinch, but I answered nonetheless.
«The last time I talked to him, he had gotten his fifth badge. »
«Not bad. » He commented, with a tone that gave me the distinct feeling that…
«You're a trainer. » I said, pointing at him like I had resolved a great mystery.
«I was. Now, I'm just a delivery man. »
«Why did you stop? »
«I was bored. » He said as a matter of fact tone.
I froze. Wait… had he said he had quit being a trainer because he was bored? And now he was a delivery man? Unconsciously, I shuddered, earning another ruffling of my hair. Thank Mew I hadn't brushed my hair this morning. At least, I hadn't lost any time with that.
«Thank you, champ. For the record, I like my job. » I rolled my eyes to that. «I'll have you know that I travel even more than I did as a trainer. I meet lots of people every day. I bet I have met that rival of yours at least once. What does he look like? » Martin ranted, apparently annoyed that I dismissed his job.
So much for repaying his kindness…
«He's got this scar on his chin, right here. » I pointed with my finger. « He got that when we were caught by an ariados three years ago. He also likes to wear dark clothes, says it makes him look cool. He used to have blond hair, but Anna told me he dyed it red to match his typhlosion. According to him, it is «blood red, a fiery mane that keeps his enemies on their toes». According to her, it makes him look ridiculous. I can't wait to see that. » I started.
From the looks on Martin's face, he hadn't met him. He seemed a bit too skeptical for that.
«Before you ask, yes, he's a bit of a narcissist. »
«You got me this time. » Martin turned a bit moody. «So you want to get a water-type to be sure to beat your pal, that's not very nice of you. You should not choose your pokemon to fit your situation; you should choose the one you like. »
«No, it must be a water-type. » I insisted, all hesitation and sadness left my voice. «We made a promise. The three of us together would take on the league with one pokémon each. We decided that our journey would be different from everyone else's, we wants our journey to be special. Allan chose the fire-type, Anna took the grass-type and I have to get the water-type. »
«It is an unconventional way to go through the region, I'll admit, but you will have to face many trials this way. In your case, that won't be so bad. Your biggest trouble will be grass and electric pokémon and some totodile can learn some ice moves, but your friend, Anna, will have a lot to watch out against. » Martin pointed out, his speech reminding me of a teacher.
«We knew that, but we believed that we would be able to overcome any obstacle that we'd face. » I replied, but even to myself, it sounded hollow. What use were plans when the first step went utterly wrong? I had been unable to get a starter last year and that had been the end of all this careful planning. Now, here I was, in a bus with a delivery man, one year late, waiting to get my first pokemon, instead of beating gyms after gyms like Allan.
We went on to talking after that, but it was mostly about the stuff that was everyone's daily life. Nothing too interesting. Believe it or not, but when we reached Goldenrod City, I felt like I had known Martin forever. The bus driver, whom I know was secretly after my soul, said that we'd take an hour long break, him to get more fuel for the bus, us to prevent being too antsy when we would be on the course, others had their own reasons for getting off the bus.
Martin, for example, said he needed to stop at the pokémon center of the city, to fill some papers and break out a misunderstanding (apparently).So, judging it would be boring to follow him there (and sad because I still didn't have my starter), I decided to visit a little, this time putting an alarm on my watch fifteen minutes before I would need to go back to the bus. There was no way I was going to mess up now.
I walked up the main street, not wanting to get lost. That would be just as stupid as being late.
Soon enough, I got a glimpse of the gym. At the sight of the building, I felt a brutal spike of jealousy against Allan and Anna, both of which I knew had already won here. It was not fair! It was also my own fault, last year, but still… How I longed for the feeling of a pokéball in my hand, just as I would get ready to trash the place and get my badges. That kind of desire… it was almost violent. It was also extremely obvious, if I was to believe the girl that walked up to me from the gym.
«Are you going to challenge Whitney or not? » The gym trainer looked at me in annoyance.
Wow, was that normal or did she just have a bad day?
«I… I don't have any pokemon yet. » I admitted reluctantly.
At that, she frowned and judged me from head to toes. That look really made me shiver.
«Then why are you here? » She all but snarled at me. I swore I saw her nostrils fume.
Note to self: stay away from crazy girls. They're scary.
Other note to self: make sure to completely trash her in battle.
I left the place with an uneasy feeling, even with all my determination to later come here and win. Really, I did not like what I saw here.
«And another trainer has now been declared missing. » A voice came from my left. When I turned around, I saw an open television behind the showcase of a nearby store. Miss Adler, the famous reporter, was hosting her talk show. The images of Allan and Anna floated in my head at the mention of the phenomenon. There hadn't been a lot of coverage in the local newspaper at my hometown, strangely. I had not thought about that for a while. Miss Adler now had my full attention and a tiny part of my mind was praying. «This brings the total of disappearing trainers to twenty-two. The training government has declared today that new measures will be taken to ensure our youth's safety. The nature of such laws is currently unclear, but what is certain is that they must be drastic. Parents are yelling their disapproval at the previously passive government. » She then turned to a man in a dark purple tuxedo. I thought it looked ridiculous and, clearly, Miss Adler too, if only because of the small twitch I saw on her neck. «Do you believe that this decision is only political, Mister Bryan? » I could not quite catch the man's answer, as Martin had startled me by silently sneaking up behind me and grabbing me in a headlock.
«Surprise headlock! » He yelled, just like a regular trainer.
«Let go of me! » I shrieked (I am not proud of that… stupid pre-puberty! ), waving my arms wildly.
In retrospect, perhaps I should have phrased that better.
He did let go of me, literally. My balance being stupidly bad, I promptly met the ground. The pain was less than I thought it would, but I nevertheless let a groan escape my mouth. The positive in that was that Martin's enervating grin faded a little, which was good to know. At least, he didn't enjoy it when I was suffering.
«Are you alright? » he asked, with real concern to boot.
«…I'm not sure… » I said, doing my best to sound wounded, as I massaged my nose. My little plan to guilt trip him backfired spectacularly when he sat on me, grabbed my right leg and pulled.
«You little drama queen! » He snorted. «You're not even bleeding, how can you say you're not alright? »
«Uncle! » I hastily exclaimed.
«What was that? » He asked, loud enough for a few strangers to turn around and look at my public humiliation.
«I give up! » I said, feeling my cheeks heat up under the amused stare of a few witnesses.
Martin decided that it was enough, as he stood up, and offered me a hand. «Let that be a lesson, champ. Drama queens don't become trainers, they become coordinators. Their job is to make the show, not you. » He declared and it was hard to tell if he was serious or not. I decided that he wasn't when he snickered with me. «Alright, champ. Let's head back to the bus, you don't want to almost miss it again, do you? »
With that, he put an arm around my shoulder and dragged me away from the store where Miss Adler had finished her interview with a frown.
I thanked Martin profusely when we arrived just five minutes before the departure. I definitely would have been late if I had waited for my alarm to ring.
Mentally, I smiled. Fourth challenge, not being late again, completed.
All that was left was to wait until the soulless creature with a bus driver uniform drove me, not to hell, like it obviously planned one day, but to New Bark Town. Martin and I continued to chat for a while, mostly about the things a new trainer needed to know about water-types pokémon.
No, you could not drink the water they produced with Water gun unless you wanted to be sick. Yes, that same water could be filtered and then drank, but it still tasted horrible. Yes, water-types in general could survive on dry land, but that's the same as a human in a desert. Possible, yes, pleasant, no. Yes, they were most likely going to goof off in the first poodle, river and lake they saw, no need to be surprised when it happened for the first time. Yes, they were useful when you wanted to take a shower in the wild. No, they usually didn't mind seeing you in the nude (why I even asked that baffled me…), after all, they were pokémon, but they were some exceptions (wow, that was way too much information). Yes, it was wise to carry a greater amount of water than general when traveling with water-types. No, they did not automatically won fights when pitted against fire-types (that one made me pout…).
When I fell asleep, I, of course, dreamed of a totodile singing perverted songs under a shower in the middle of a volcano.
It was the last time I listened to Martin when he was speaking of pokémon. I woke up late that day, which was weird when you considered that most of yesterday consisted of running after a bus, sitting still for hours, walking for less than an hour and then sitting in the same bus again. If that was enough to make me oversleep, I predicted great trouble for my future pokémon journey.
Martin thought it was the excitement of the day that tired me. I latched on that explanation gratefully, though I still had doubts about it. I think I almost forgave him for the dream when he offered me my favorite snack for breakfast, but the images came back and I sulked some more.
I'd like to say that the ride to New Bark Town was not a torture, but now that I knew the moment I'd be given my first pokémon was coming, every minute was a torture. Yesterday, it wasn't so bad since it wasn't the day. Today was a completely different matter.
So, as a little vengeance, I played the very mature game of «Are we there yet? » with Martin.
He didn't last more than ten minutes before he started asking other passengers if they could switch with him for just a moment, but, seeing me, they certainly didn't.
It was fun to be the one doing the teasing.
It was less fun to be stuck in a headlock.
Again.
Though, this time, the term «less» was used loosely. I still laughed when Martin begrudgingly grinned at me, calling me a smartass. Needless to say, I was less nervous, just as excited, but much more happy.
I had a feeling this would be a great day to start my journey.
Sometimes, you just get the most blatantly obvious false impressions…
After one last stop for lunch in a lone pokémon center on the road, during which I ate like an ursaring (according to Martin and three other of our fellow men), I waited impatiently for the time I would arrive in New Bark Town and get that totodile. I had already chosen his name, planned where he would evolved, what moves he was going to learn and was currently lost in my dreams of extraordinary victories over the league (the gyms were not even worth mentioning to a team like us). Martin had taken to write something in his diary (yes, a diary, I think I rarely teased someone that much) while I continued daydreaming.
My heart skipped a beat when the bus finally stopped and the bus driver announced with a creeeeeeepy smile: «New Bark Town, professor Elm's lab, end of the road. This bus leaves at four this afternoon, do not be late if you wish to get to Violet Town. »
In any other circumstances, I would have shivered and felt the cold down to my bones. Right now, I just jumped out of my seat and ran.
This was it. I was going to become a real pokémon trainer. I was going to get that totodile and start my journey toward championship. Professor Elm was outside his lab and I lost no time to get to him.
«Professor Elm! I'm here to get my starter! » I practically yelled at the scientist. I was a bit too excited, some would say. Others would take into consideration that I waited a year longer than everyone else and shut those insensitive know-it-all's mouths.
I had not reached him that I saw him look down.
«Professor Elm. Do you not recognize me? I'm… » I started.
«Yes, I know. » He cut me off with a sad smile. «This is the second time you sent me a subscription for a starter, right? »
I nodded, fighting the sickening impression that he should not look like that.
«I'm sorry. » He said, his voice breaking.
It was as if my heart stopped beating.
«I received this letter from the government this morning. » I saw him show me a sheet of paper, but I could barely see. His voice was distorted at this point. « I am forbidden from handing starters to any trainer until I receive new instructions. » No... «I tried calling you, just like the others, but I only reached your voicemail. » He explained, disheartened as well, but to me, he was just like someone that had just gotten a shiny Legendary.
«No! » I yelled. He could not do that… he just… couldn't do that… «It's not fair! This is the second time! I already failed to leave last year, I can't postpone it again! »
I was crying and I refused to care for one second about others' opinion. I had waited a year, because I was late last time, but now that I'm on time, that I finally reached the place, the stupid government prevented that stupid professor from giving me my starter!
I did not stay to listen to his excuses. I did not slow down when Martin passed me by with his cardboard box. I did not stop until I was out of town and in the woods. It did not occur to me that I should not go out by myself, without a pokémon with me. That would have made me cry harder.
It was not fair.
«Hey… champ… » Martin waved at me softly.
I barely looked up to see him. I didn't want to see anyone. Not that he would let that stop him.
«You should not be here by yourself, champ. You could get hurt… » He continued.
I could just feel it that he was trying not to say it: «Without pokémon to protect you. » It was so obvious. I wanted to punch him for that…
He sat by me and I turned my back on him.
Couldn't he see that I wanted to be left alone? He ignored my glares and went on, still talking so softly. Why did he even bother? He had done his stupid delivery, why did he stay?
The injustice hit me even harder when I remembered that he had been a trainer and had stopped, because it bored him.
«WHY? WHY DO YOU GET TO HAVE POKÉMON WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE A TRAINER? » Something sad appeared in his eyes, but I ignored it. He was not the one that had been hurt, I was.
«…you only need to have a water-type pokémon, right? » He asked, like he didn't know that already!
«Yeah, but thanks to that stupid letter, I can't have one! » Yelling made me feel slightly better. It was as if it gave me power over my bad luck. That was just an illusion of course…
Then again…
«Would you still want one if I told you that it would be a lot harder for you than the average trainer? » Martin looked at me directly in the eyes.
I was so taken aback by his question that I stopped talking altogether.
«The letter only prevents Elm from giving out starters. It doesn't stop you from becoming a trainer. The traditional starters are bred specifically to be easy to train for newbies and having good fighting potential. They're the ideal choice for a new trainer. »
I looked at him with round eyes, hurt by the reminder of what I had been refused.
«W-what are you getting at? » I said, voice breaking.
From his backpack, he took out a small blue box and handed it to me. Shaking, I opened it and, to my great deception, it only contained some sort of stick and a rope.
«This is not funny. » I growled at the delivery man.
«Good, because this is an old fishing rod. » He pointed out, taking the stick and stretching it into a cane.
I blinked. A fishing rod?
«There is a small lake not far from here. Do you want to go fish your first pokémon? »
I hugged Martin so hard he swore I broke his ribs.
«Steady… » He whispered to my ears.
On that, Martin needed not to worry. I was holding the fishing rod like it was my lifeline. Honestly, this was not far from the truth. I dreamed of becoming champion for years. If I couldn't train, I knew I would break down. And to think I had been excited this morning…
«Remember, I only have enough bait for one shot. You have to catch the first pokémon that bites the line, alright? » Martin reminded me.
«Beggars can't be choosers, right? » I replied without looking away.
Yeah, that was another reason I was so tense. One shot at this. Knowing my luck, I was not going to succeed and I would have been given false hopes again.
In the water, we both saw a faint shadow get closer to the line. I stopped breathing, hearing only Martin's repeated «…wait… ».
The forest around us had gotten quiet as well. Great… Was nature going to screw me at the last possible moment?
I saw the line go down slightly and I tried to pull, only to be stopped by Martin.
«It's testing the bait. It will let go if you pull… »
Thank every possible thing in the world for Martin's experience. By myself, I would have screwed up.
Not that this was a reassuring thought.
«Be ready for when it pulls… » He told me.
I think my heart was about to explode. Who the heck said that fishing was a relaxing activity?
I suddenly felt the pokémon pull on the line and I nearly fell in the lake in surprise. Martin's arms were all that prevented me from slipping on the spot. I think I never used that much strength in all my life, even when I had gotten in a fight with Allan. That was not even close…
Already, I could catch a glimpse of my pokémon's tail over the splashes of water. My strength doubled and I wondered for a split second how an old fishing rod could support that much tension without breaking. Whatever water-type it was, that thing packed muscles!
When I think back on that moment, I know that Martin was the one that did the most of the work, but, right now, it was my fight for my first pokémon!
One year of waiting. One year of mockery from the rest of the town as the others left before me. One year of dreaming, of biding my impatience to get the starter I wanted… One year wasted by the decision of a bunch of fat people writing stupid laws!
I pulled so hard that the pokémon was thrown in the air, just over our head. Water splashed our faces as it was sent flying outside the lake onto the land. I did it! I had gotten my pokémon, the one that would allow me to take on the Elite Four and the Champion himself!
My thoughts came to a brutal end when I saw it, my first pokémon, the one that was my last hope… A magikarp.