Hoenn, Route 119, 14:33
The sun rose high in the sky, and it shone brightly and burned hot. It was the beginning of August, and many Nincada chirped and droned in the trees to herald in the last, and hottest, month of summer.
„Water…" mumbled Sprout, stumbling across the raised bridge. „I'm so thirsty." He knew that he should have saved that bottle of water he used to water the pinap berry. It would probably die from this intense heat, anyways.
Sprout hated the summer. Detested it with a grudging passion. It as all just sweat, skin cancer, and everyone crowding into any body of water they could find. (The ones that weren't infested with Tentacool, anyways.) No, he loved the cold winter months, especially on sunny days when there was a fresh layer of powder snow on the ground.
„Snow is made of water…" he sighed. He lazily held his bag at his side as he walked his bike across the bridge. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and he felt sticky and disgusting. He just wanted to hurry up and get back to Mauville so he could take a shower.
As he was thinking of how nice it would feel to be clean after so long in the hot sun, he heard a rumble of thunder off to the south. He looked in that direction, and dark gray clouds were looming. It seemed a summer storm was heading this way, and quickly. „Damn it, Arceus," he said under his breath, hopping onto the seat of the bike and speeding towards the city.
Hoenn, Mauville City, 15:46
‚Damn, I should have figured I would get caught in that stupid storm. Oh well, at least I don't feel so gross anymore,' Sprout thought as he pulled up next to the apartment he was leasing for the month. ‚At least my camera is safe, thanks to my new bag.'
Just yesterday, he had heard of some storms coming and decided that, since he needed his equipment with him all the time now, it would be a good idea to invest some extra money into a bag that would actually protect his stuff.
He stepped through the door and took his wet clothing off in the foyer, immediately hanging it on a coat hook and going to the bathroom.
…
After his shower, Sprout decided to go to the game corner down the street and play some slots. It really wasn't like him, because he normally was conservative with his money, but he felt like blowing some after he won all that money off of some Ace Trainer earlier.
He walked to his closet and grabbed his gloves. He was already in his normal attire of a black and white striped shirt, a white jacket with a large collar, and a pair of white pants with black cuffs at the bottom. He walked through the door and locked it behind him as he placed his gloves on.
Not long after leaving, Sprout heard a large commotion in front of the city's Gym. As he got closer, he could see that there was a young green-haired boy in a battle with an older-looking one, maybe by a few years, with silver hair.
‚Who battles in the middle of the city? I mean, couldn't he have moved his battle at least a short way out of town? Some people are so inconsiderate.'
„I won't go easy on you this time, Wally!" the older boy shouted, gripping his Pokéball in determination.
„I hope not," the green haired boy, that he now knew was known as Wally, responded softly. He followed with a slight grin, and Sprout couldn't tell if it was out of smugness or contentment. „I choose you, Ralts."
„Go! Grovyle!" shouted the other, releasing a seemingly grass-type Pokémon that I'd never seen before. Sprout pulled out his Pokédex.
It's monotone voice comforted him in a way, he guessed it was the positive association of always gaining knowledge when it was heard.
„Grovyle. This Pokémon is the grass-type evolution of Treeko. Mainly living in forests, it is rare to see. No further data available," it told him.
‚Well thanks a lot,' he thought.
„Grovyle, use pound!" shouted the boy to his Pokémon, and it moved blindingly fast at his command.
„Dodge, Ralts!" Wally raised his voice this time, and Ralts tried to dodge the Grovyle's pound, but it moved too slowly and clumsily, and took the hit almost head on.
„Now! Use absorb and finish him!" With that, the Grovyle began to glow and Ralts collapsed, nearly fainted. Wally looked slightly hurt, although his face never showed much expression. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't, and didn't, just until the other boy's Pokémon was about to use another pound.
„Ralts! Confusion." He said sternly, his voice laced with sullen pain. The Ralts, though, was too weak, and the Grovyle's last attack fainted him before it could execute the move.
„Yeah!" the older boy cheered, and Wally merely flashed that same confusing grin yet again.
„You were right, I do need to train harder and get better. Thanks, Ruby, for showing me the drive of a great Pokémon trainer."
‚So that was his only Pokémon, and it was that weak?' Sprout thought to himself.
„Wally, here. I wanted to give you this." Ruby said softly. He handed Wally a small blue and red orb. „I found it and thought you could use it to catch your next Pokémon, you know, after you train with your Ralts some more." The boy smiled as Wally took the ball.
‚Wow, those two must be really close if he's giving away a great ball like that.'
Wally smiled, more wholeheartedly this time, and thanked Ruby, bowing slightly.
„Until we meet again?" he added before he walked away towards route 18.
Ruby nodded, determined, and waved. „And you better give me a decent fight next time." He shouted.