Chapter 1: Why the Battle Subway is the Most Awesome Thing Ever


"So you're a pretty accomplished actor, huh, Nate?" Isabella asked.

"You could say that," I said. "I've acted with Sabrina and Brycen, and they're pretty big-name. I think this'll be my last one, unless they make some more Brycen-Man sequels."

"That's a shame."

"Yeah, well, it's not really by choice. If more movies wanted to hire me, then I'd do 'em. As it is, though…" I shrugged. "The list is clear. Nothing left to do."

Isabella crossed her arms. "Well, that's lame. This was a fun shoot, Nate."

"But what more is there for me to do?" I continued. "I've done horror… robot… sci-fi… fantasy… so many others… and now romance. What more is there, besides more sequels and cash-ins? No, I think I'm done." I grinned. "But an Ace Trainer like you, you have roles ahead of you. You're talented. You chilled me with that last performance."

"Oh, please. You were dead all along, too." Isabella smirked. "But thanks. So, you've acted in… how many movies?"

"Just a sec." I stepped back to let a moviegoer pass by. "Thirty-nine, with this."

"Thirty-nine?! Geez, Nate, I knew you were pretty famous, but that's a lot."

"Yeah." I thought for a moment. "I could probably get a new color for my trainer card for all this."

"Well then—which one is your favorite?"

"The one we just left," I said. "Love and Battles 3."

"Nooo," Isabella giggled.

"It's true. The ending blindsided me. Plus, that's, well, life, you know? Things don't really make sense, but doesn't it all… give you a good feeling?"

Isabella bobbed her head. "Yeah, I suppose so."

"'Scuse us." A pair of men passed by, carrying large film equipment.

I coughed. "It's kinda crowded here," I said. "What do you say we continue this over some Casteliacones?"

"That sounds—Wait." Isabella frowned. "Are you… asking me out?"

I grinned. "Yeah, I guess so."

"I, ah…" She scratched her head. "Listen, there's no easy way to say this, but…"

My heart fell. "Oh."

"…But I don't really… you're not really my, uh, type, you know?"

"Oh." I blinked. "Oh!"

She nodded, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah. Sorry. But I will take you up on that cone."

"Y-yeah," I said. "Tonight at seven?"

"Sure. See you there, Nate." Isabella left.

I took a long breath, disappointment etching my every line. After I had my fill of self-pity, I walked down south to Virbank and slid into the Pokémon Center. It was pretty empty in midafternoon, so there wasn't a line for the PC, which was great. Getting recognized is just the worst.

So I checked over each shoulder, signed in, and withdrew my Braviary. I needed some time to think.

Thinking back, I don't remember where I flew. Probably Humilau, at least for a little. That place is relaxing. Undella Town is peaceful in the spring, so I probably took a little break there. Basically, what I do remember is that I ended up in Nimbasa.

I'd never beaten the Multi Train before, so I decided to give it a try.

"Would you like to link up with a friend, or go it alone?" the subway man asked.

I frowned at him. "I'm alone, man."

"Very well, we will give you a random ally to battle alongside," he hummed. "Please select your two Pokémon. No legendary or mythical Pokémon allowed. Soul Dew and the move Sky Drop are banned. If you are a Dex Holder, please check your Pokédex here; no unfair advantages allowed."

"Whatever." I shuffled through my bag, picking my Pokémon and Pokédex out. I presented them to him, and after an inspection, he stood up, a stupid, self-pleased grin on his face.

"All is in order! Your ally will meet you on the train. Good luck!"

"Hmph."

As I got on the train, I felt bad for my rudeness. He was just doing his job. He wasn't even being a jerk about it. I was the bad guy.

I scowled. Stop being so self-absorbed, Nate. Just win some battles. Hopefully my partner isn't incompetent.

"Keep frowning and your face will freeze like that, Nate."

I was taken aback. "Rosa?"

Rosa grinned at me. "Glad you remember me! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, a few weeks at least, maybe months," I said, remembering our double battle in front of the subway. "Thank goodness, a good partner."

"I was thinking the same thing," she said. "Enough talk. We've got a subway to conquer."

"Yeah."

It was… exhilarating. We powered through them, trainer after trainer. She still had her Serperior I had battled alongside back when it was a Servine. I never even found out what her second Pokémon was; her Serperior, and my Braviary, were unstoppable.

A few battles in, we both stood, panting and sweaty, as the last trainer's Boldore fainted.

I glanced sideways at Rosa, grinning. "Yo."

She nodded back. "Yo."

We returned our Pokémon and healed them at the PC. "Next battle, I'll lead with Bulk Up," I began, "so I'll need you to cover me for a turn."

"No prob—Oof!"

The train skidded to a halt. We grabbed onto rails for support.

"Oh," Rosa said. "That was battle seven. Break time before the next train arrives."

"Ah," I said, feeling stupid. "Normally I keep better track."

We disembarked and sat at a bench as we waited for the next train. Rosa gave me a quizzical look. "So you've done other trains?"

"Uh, yeah," I said. "One or two."

"I've gotten to twenty-one on all of them," she said, deadpan. She usually talked like that, even when emotional, seemed like. "And farther on most. I never did well on this one, though. It's way too easy to get matched up with somebody who doesn't know what they're doing."

"I hear you. That's why I've avoided the Multi Train."

"So, whaddya say?" Rosa asked, grinning. "The night's still young. Seven more?"

Seven. Isabella. "Sorry," I said. "I've gotta be somewhere by seven o' clock."

"Bummer. Well, I'm not doing this with anyone else. Same time tomorrow?"

"Ah, actually, I'll probably be busy this time tomorrow. A little earlier, maybe?"

Rosa smirked. "Seven?"

"Heh. Like I'll be up that early. Eight."

"I'm down." She offered her hand. "Tomorrow at eight."

I smiled, shaking her hand. "It's a date."

"Sick rhyme." She stood, shouldering her bag. "Train's here."

I ended up back at Pokéstar early, so I waited by the Casteliacone stand, tinkering with my Xtransceiver. No missed calls. Understandable, since nobody was really up to anything anymore. Even Hugh, who used to call me all the time, was always busy in Driftveil, doing… wait. What did Hugh even do? Loiter?

"Hey, Nate."

I snapped awake. "Hey! Hey, Isabella."

She smiled nervously, holding a Casteliacone in each hand. "Sorry about turning you down earlier."

"Pff! That? I just—I already forgot about it." I hate myself. "I mean, um. Don't worry about it. Extenuating circumstances, and all."

She giggled. "Hey. I hope we can still be friends. You're fun to talk to." She offered me a Casteliacone of peace. "Hm?"

"Yeah—yeah, definitely." I accepted the gift. "I'll pay you back."

"Darn right you will."

I chuckled.

"There's a hill over on the south side of campus," she said. "Great view of the sunset. We should eat these there."

"Yes," I said emphatically. "…And that is not romantic. In any way."

"Nope." She bobbed her head slowly. "Not… at all."

"So I'll lead the way," I said hurriedly.

"Yes! By all means."

So I did. It was so awkward. I don't really have to explain why, but geez, every step was painful.

After two or three eternities, we finally got to the hill and sat in the grass, watching the sunset for another eternity or so.

"So, thirty-nine movies, huh?" Isabella icebroke. "And of all of them, was Love and Battles 3 really your favorite, or were you just trying to impress me?"

"Oh, it was," I said. "I acted in tons of predictable, two-dimensional movies. It was a lot of fun being the Riolu Kid, but I have to say, I didn't know how Love and Battles would end until I saw it in theaters, and that makes it the most memorable."

"But you said you acted alongside Brycen," she said. "He's an accomplished actor. And—And Sabrina, even? She's famous internationally!"

"Yeah, well. Stars don't make the movie. Even my own horror outings didn't exactly break records." I wiped some cream from my lip. "What's the deal with Sabrina, anyway? She didn't seem to act much better than, say, the girl from The Giant Woman. How'd she get so famous?"

"Probably because she's an active Gym Leader, too," Isabella said. "She's not like Brycen, who retired from Gym Leader-ing… leading? Gym leading?"

"Being a Gym Leader?" I offered.

"That's the ticket. Where was I?"

"Sabrina's in the PWT," I added, ignoring her. "She's in the Kanto Gym Leaders division."

"I've been meaning to follow that," Isabella said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Gym Leaders from all over the world, battling to see who's the best of the best. No monetary prize, only glory. I respect that."

"And we all know Kanto is only famous because of Red and all his heroics. But I dunno," I said. "It's just like the Battle Subway, but it's not open to everyone. Except for the local division." I coughed. "Rather, it seems just like the subway."

"You've done the Battle Subway?" Isabella asked.

Nuts. "Um… yeah. I've been there a couple times."

"What's that like? I've never really been that far from Virbank."

"Well, it's…" I thought for a moment. Rosa popped into mind. "It's just about the most awesome thing ever."

She crossed her arms, surprised. She got a little bit of ice cream on her sleeve by accident. I wanted to tell her about it, but—"Really? That's quite a claim."

"Well, just think about it," I said, my enthusiasm building. "The various trains travel all across the continent. You pick up people from everywhere—Opelucid, Undella, Mistralton, Anville, you name it. You meet all these people, learn about them, battle with them. And then they're gone, and more people are there. You see people at their best, and it just—it makes me happy."

There was a long, poignant pause, giving me plenty of time to critique my whole rant and feel like a horrible person.

"Wow," Isabella said at last. "I had no idea. That sounds wonderful."

"Really? I mean, thanks." I messed with my hair.

"So you like it so much that—"

She was interrupted by loud beeping.

"What on ear—? Oh!" It was my Xtransceiver. "Sorry, Isabella. I'll be quick." I tapped the screen to answer. "Hello?"

A beaming, pink-haired girl popped up on the screen. "Hi! Ahaha!"

I choked on my ice cream. "Y-Yancy?! Hi, hi! How are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" she giggled. "How is your evening?"

"Wonderful," I said. "So good to hear from you, Yancy. This is a rare treat."

"I know, and I'm sorry," she said, her face falling. "My work is so time-consuming, though. I hate how rarely we get to talk."

"Yeah, I understand," I said. I noticed Isabella's eyes burning into the side of my head. "So what do you want to talk about?"

"Actually, I only have about a minute," Yancy said. "But, but! Tomorrow, I have a whole hour free!"

"An hour? Wow." I kicked myself for jumping to sarcasm by force of habit.

Luckily, Yancy didn't notice. "Yes, a whole hour! I wanted to meet you face-to-face again."

"R-Really? Face to face?" I sat up straight. "Yes, sure, what place, what time, what should I wear?"

She giggled. "Nimbasa City in front of the Ferris wheel, nine o' clock in the morning, and I guess your usual clothes are fine?"

"Yes, yeah, yup, uh-huh!" I took a breath, calming myself. "Sorry, about the rambling, I just, uh… don't… have an excuse. I'll see you then!"

She giggled. "Bye, Nate! Tomorrow at nine. Don't be late!"

Click.


Chapter 2 coming this Saturday at the latest.