Leaf ran her fingers through her now clean, auburn locks. Based on the Professor's headlining, his Fearow had been traveling alone for three months to find her. Despite the Professor's reassurance, guilt pulled her stomach down to the core of the Earth. She had won the Pokemon League three years ago and has been a ghost to her region ever since. Kanto would pop in her mind every once in a while during her hiatus, but never did she question herself the way she was now: Was it really feasible to leave?
She gazed intensely at the Fearow's Pokeball. He must be happy in there after that scowl he gave her on Mt. Silver - probably due to the annoyance of having a few extra pounds tied around his neck for a quarter of a year. If she had accepted the fame and the circumstance that came along with her acquired title, Team Rocket would probably not dare to face the wrath of her. She was only able to imagine how much Kanto had altered in her absence.
"Pardon me, Ma'am?"
Leaf snapped out of her thoughts immediately. Standing in front of her was a quizzical man in daring but dashing attire. Must be the newest fashion trend. He was toying with the edge of his curly mustache and adjusted his glasses. She didn't recognize him so she assumed he was the tailor.
"I would like to thank your patience. We have just received shipment of new fabric materials a few minutes ago in the stockroom. I am ready to process your order." He pulled out a pen and paper from the chest pocket. "So tell me, what kind of look are we going for?"
Leaf titled her head downward again. "Nothing fancy. Use my old clothes as reference. I just want better sizing."
"O-oh!" The man stood upright. He was taken aback by the lack of her enthusiasm; normally his customers would be excited to upgrade their outfit after a hot spa bath. But this girl was blunt and seemed to be in a hurry. "I see! Well then, in ten minutes I'll have your order ready, which includes…a black, undershirt topped off with a blue sleeveless shirt, a red flare skirt, and size seven sneakers in the Wartortle style. I also collected your hat and bag."
The tailor handed Leaf her prized possessions. She nodded in understanding, dismissing the him from the room. Oddly enough, she felt a bit relieved from the interaction. If there was one thing that hadn't changed in Kanto, it would be the clothing system. Clothes were usually custom created by a tailor for someone - whether a breeder, trainer, or civilian – and they would wear them until they outgrew the attires. Just about every person in Kanto always altered their clothes, but Leaf has always had the habit to keep a similar appearance overtime since her now dead father created it when she was six years old. Nothing could beat his design.
After fifteen minutes and a clothing change later, Leaf's mind began to race. For the first time in her life she didn't want to be alone and would rather be around people; now that she was returning to Kanto, bad memories were beginning to pop up in her mind that she wanted to shake off and be distracted by. It's okay, you're almost at Pallet Town, she told herself.
"And your total comes to...3500 Pokedollars, please." The cashier lady smiled.
In response, the now comfortable Leaf pulled out 4500 Pokedollars from her washed, pale yellow bag.
The lady scanned each bill briefly with her fingers, and looked up with a puzzled face.
"The rest is tip." Leaf explained.
The cashier's face immediately lit up and accepted the generous offer. "Well, thank you so much for your business and kindness! Come back anytime!"
Leaf nodded again, clutching on to the tip of her hat as she showed herself out of the building she was happy to be free from. Public places full of extraverted people weren't her thing.
"Charizard, come out."
The orange dragon appeared out of his Pokeball, uncertain whether he should be concerned with the unfamiliar scenery. He turned to his trainer to study her behavior. Expecting such hesitance, Leaf knew she needed to inform her team and called out the rest of her Pokemon. They shared similar confusions like Charizard's.
"I know-" Leaf paused, excusing the alarmed faces. "I know this is the first time we've been off the mountain in awhile…years in fact. Right now we're in the nearby outskirts. We are going to head back to Pallet Town now."
Venusaur, Espeon, and Pikachu let out a peppy cheer, Charizard's eyes widened slightly, Blastoise titled his head, and Lapras seemed overwhelmed and look around at its peers to figure out what to feel.
"But this isn't because our training is done," Leaf continued, "it's because Team Rocket has revived itself. And we have to stop them."
Immediately, the atmosphere became serious. The elite team wore their game faces and braced themselves – a quality Leaf had always admired in them. "Everyone, prepare yourself mentally. The next time I call you out might be for battle now that we're travelling around again. Charizard, please stay out of your Pokeball and take me to Pallet."
The gigantic fire Pokemon nodded, trying to get accustomed to his Trainer's voice commanding him again. She had become more silent, almost mute during their time in Mt. Silver. He relaxed his wings and leaned down for Leaf to climb on top before soaring into the skies.
"And that is why I think th-..." Professor Oak trailed off, needing a moment to recollect himself just as Leaf's Pokemon did earlier that day. His assistant that he was talking to wore similar, yet less emotional expressions. Standing in the doorway of the busy laboratory was no other than the former Kanto Champion - the one that claimed her title and then disappeared long ago.
"Professor. I got your message. I'm sorry I'm so late." Leaf held out Fearow's Pokeball to the benevolent, aging man. "Here's your Fearow."
"Ah, hahaha, ahem! Thank you Leaf!" The elderly man decided to dismiss his thoughts and quickly regained his composure. "I'm glad you're here now. We honestly had no idea if you were coming back after a bit there. But since you're here now, let's get to it. Marion!"
An assistant in a lab coat trotted forward quickly. "Yes sir?"
"Please phone my grandson and ask him to come here."
"Will do."
Leaf felt a shiver go down her spine. She had regretted the readiness she had felt to be around people again. Why, just why is he coming here?
"I know what you're thinking, Leaf. But Blue is going to help, trust me."
"Gramps! What's the emer-...gen...cy?" The teenage boy halted in his tracks. Pure shock hit him like a bus. In the split instant of silence, he calmed his roaring heartbeat that leaped to his throat. He would do whatever it would take to have others assume he had a calm composure.
Leaf, on the other hand, was able to attain what he yearned for with ease. Her frustration from waiting was replaced with curiosity. Her eyes scanned each detail of her eternal rival, from his velvet black footwear to his shiny, leather jacket. His face had matured and perhaps his hair had grown out a few inches. She didn't expect to witness the same twelve-year-old boy she saw dashing out of the Pokemon League three years ago, and yet, she seemed to forget one of the most notable qualities about him.
He is loud.
"Oh...my...Arceus."
"Leaf! ...You...you LOOK RIDICULOUS, AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Blue leaned forward into the lab, causing the entrance to slam itself shut. Then, he came to attention and crossed his arms. His cackling gradually turning into a quiet chuckle.
"...You're still the same." She spat out, emotionless. The girl understood that Blue was criticizing her choice of clothing. Did he really expect her to look like one of those lasses that she's seen on her way to Pallet? Not even a minute has passed and the impish boy was already instigating, and it provoked her grudges that were locked in deep slumber from long ago. Is it even possible to work with this guy? She almost questioned the Professor's tragedy.
"Oh yeah? Ask anyone around, because I would think everyone would say that about you." Blue closed a good chunk of the distance between the two of them, resulting in Leaf creating more.
"Blue! Good, now you're both here."
Instantly, Blue's eyes flickered to the man he was just thinking about, whereas Leaf spun around to face him. It was time to get to the business they both have been summoned for.
"Since this...erm, mission," the Professor raised his free hand away from a parcel, creating air quotes, "has been delayed for quite some time now, I can't exactly sit here and schmooze with you two over a cup of tea. Long story short: As you both know, Team Rocket is back." The Professor's eyes turned to Leaf. "As of 65 days ago, there has been complete radio silence of their activity in Kanto. However, there have been multiple attacks in the Johto Region since. I need to send Professor Elm my most formidable trainers. Take this package and these tickets, because as of this evening. you're going to Johto." He tossed the brown box to his grandson in a hurried matter and then shooed them away hurriedly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold it, Gramps!" Blue peeled off two purchased, golden tickets taped on the top of the box. "S.S. Aqua? Going to Johto? What the hell, man? I have a Gym to run!"
The Professor crossed his arms. "Your sister, Daisy, is actually going to be covering your title while you are gone. I have already spoken to her about this awhile ago and she has been on standby since."
Blue hit the box in frustration. His grandfather always had an answer for everything, and now he was being pushed into something he didn't want to even help out with in the first place. "Yeah, okay, whatever. S.S. Aqua is suppose ta' be in Vermilion City, so we're going there now. Come on, Loser." He yanked her wrist and dragged her outside the lab, shocked by her lack of protest. Meanwhile, she had been shocked by his sudden cooperation – a quality she could not previously imagine in her rival.
"Blue."
The boy turned around and raised an eyebrow curiously, as he intended to speak to her instead of the reverse. He tried to ignore the sound of his own name when she spoke, but it was too much of a bittersweet temptation. Deep down, he was thrilled to bits that she had returned. He wanted to hear more of the sound of her voice. "Yeah, what?"
"Why are we walking like a bunch of idiots to save the world when we have our own Flying Pokemon." He scoffed. Her sarcasm was something he disliked more than the fact her questions came out more like statements. "I was GETTING to that!"
Leaf titled her head slightly to the left, much like a baffled Growlithe. In return, Blue shuttered intensely. A deep, peach undertone was revealed on his cheeks.
"Augh! He huffed, then proceeded to pull out a Pokeball that Leaf presumed was his Pidgeot. "Let's get going."
Hey guys! So if you've been on here for a bit now, you might recognize this story. This is actually my third version of an idea I came up with in years ago. I intend to rewrite this story and complete it. Please leave me any feedback and/or reactions as you read along - getting any sort of response is really motivating for me. :)
- Stormshard