A/N: Hello all! I've been toying with this kind of story for years now. I've always wanted to do an OT fic, even though I know there's a lot of them around. I've been struggling with the genre for a long while, but every version of this story in my mind just felt... tonally wrong?
I think now I've found an approach that I'm more at peace with. I hope you enjoy the first chapter :) It's been a while since I posted here, but I think I'm ready to embark on my second Pokemon fic.
My mom always told me that Unova was a region of dreams... A region where, if you were broken and weary; whether by your own mistakes or the world being awfully cruel, you would be taken in with open arms. You could change yourself to whoever you want to be if you work hard for it. We make it here, we were set as long as we put ourselves in that hard worker mindset.
One of my dreams was to well... like any other person my age. I wanted to be a pokemon master too. I wanted to be like the trainers on TV, the people like the Elite Four... the Champions... I wanted to be like Iris, the way she just gracefully moved with her dragons. I wanted to be like the hero of truth that saved Unova a long time ago, saved Unova from that evil man named Ghetsis. I wanted to be like Alder; who was always held up as this man and champion of compassion from every time I would hear about the best of the best pokemon trainers in Unova.
Above all... I wanted to mean something, you know. I wanted my family's struggle to mean something. I wanted our first days in Castelia, seeing my Mom having to beg for cash to get us a meal to mean something. I wanted to be somebody... For someone to say my name, Alexandra, and to say 'you know... maybe she did good after all.'
I wanted to make those dreams reality.
I wondered how camping was going to be when this journey was in somewhere near Opelucid or something... It was pretty surreal that I wasn't going to be too far from Aspertia for my first 'camp,' which was more going to be a practice thing to help myself get prepared for the really spooky ones later on. I think I judged my distance correctly from my starting place... Just a 30 minute hike, hopefully.
I had that gym battle with Cheren to worry about... I was still sticking with my starter, a tepig. who I named Victor. I smiled at the thought of him. We'd really only had each other for two days, but I think I could get around to the idea why the trainers before me were so excited to have their trainer. I couldn't help but have a good feeling every time I think of him... From the way I just immediately picked the name to the way I clicked with him.
I was able to get a fire going (thankfully, no need for an ember) when I finally finished setting up. I let out Victor from his pokeball, and he immediately went for my hand for a pet. I smiled and softly rubbed his head with my hand. I got out my bag and gave him a few blocks I got from my mom as a parting gift, which he was more than happy to chomp on. As he was eating the pokeblocks, I decided to lie against the tree I camped next to and stare up at the Unovan skies.
"It's nice out here, huh..." I whispered, more to myself than to Victor.
I thought that camping wouldn't be this liberating, or feel so right. I was so used to focusing on being with my mom before all of this that sometimes just... I guess this kind of calmness I wasn't used to. All the downtime, just feeling the Unovan air surrounding me. I couldn't deny it though, there was something good to just letting the sounds of all the pokemon around here play through instead of having to worry about surviving in Castelia for one more day.
What was it called? Relief... respite... something like that.
I still had to get used to hearing the occasional purrloin or patrat behind the trees, or either of those tho staring at Victor and I from the distance. I felt Victor poke at me, looking at me to be pet again.
I lay my head down and set my hand on his head gently, rubbing his head again. I started to think... How were the other trainers doing? What happened to the ones that weren't able to get the traditional three Unova starters? I know that you didn't really need those three starters to get anywhere... Some of the bird catchers I saw were content with pidoves, with none of those fire, grass, or water starters in sight.
It worked for them though.
I felt my sight and head go drowsy... Two days as a trainer and I felt kinda beat from all the things I needed to do. From all the caretaking I had to learn to some of the more basic battles, or just even going back and forth from Aspertia to Floccesy... It was a good kind of exhaustion though, the kind of exhaustion that makes lying against the tree worth it.
Yep, definitely time for some shuteye.
"Victor... do you want to stay in your-"
That one shake of the head said it all. I silently giggled and put the fire out. I set up the tent, which took some difficulty as this was first time I was able to put one together. I did some practice tents in trainer school, but the real thing was a bit more finicky and a touch more frustrating without Cheren, the instructor, to help us. After some struggle, I finally had a workable tent that I could sleep in. With a smile, I crept inside and let Victor in first.
Definitely lights out... I couldn't fight off exhaustion anymore. Tomorrow was going to be quite the day for both of us.
I'd only ever fought just regular trainers, most of them younger than I was. Victor himself was a pretty capable one too, already having learned a pretty nifty move in ember. However, there was something in me that was immobilized at the thought of challenging Cheren.
Everyone goes through this, Alexandra...
With that, I closed my eyes.
"Let's go."
I gripped my backpack tight as I made sure that Victor was right behind me for the hike back to Aspertia. The night went by calm, with nary a rogue pokemon having rummaged through my limited supplies and thankfully, neither Victor or I felt disturbed. I saw Victor near the ankle of my foot, following me dutifully with his determined eyes towards Aspertia's direction. I smiled and kept walking, making sure to be careful that I didn't accidentally collide with him.
I think way too much... I'm not going to do anything, I'm not going to be clumsy.
The closer we walked to Aspertia, the more I felt that rush of feeling go through my chest. It wasn't long til we reached Aspertia, and the thought of having to challenge Cheren became more real. It was weird, I know... it's just the first gym. Most, if not all trainers, went through that kind of rite of passage if they wanted to make it to the pokemon league. It was a rhythm I needed to get used to, albeit it wasn't one I was fond of...
The way it all worked out was that the journey would have this certain rhythm per gym up til we all got 8 of them for Victory Road. Explore the town first, do some battling out in the local routes, meet a rival or two that will hopefully provoke the pokemon to learn some moves, and then do some research on what the gym leaders are and what moves they will use. That was only like... scratching the surface of what I heard when my trainer 'peers' were planning out their journeys.
Simple, easy, repeat this 8 times... nothing should go wrong. Everyone goes through it...
But what happens if you fail? Don't think about it now... You're already on this.
Not sure if the veterans would say the same thing... I guess I'll ask Cheren if things go well or not.
I reached the border of Aspertia City, seeing a few trainers run out onto the opposite side of me all excited and hyper. I let out a breath. It was good to see people, or civilization I guess. Soon, I was back into the city itself, seeing that familiar road network that led to the center and the trainers' school. Did I need anything from the mart?... I felt for my bag; feeling and hoping that what I was feeling in my hands was the familiar contours of the potions I needed just in case things went wrong.
I made my way to the trainers' school, glancing downwards and backwards from time to time to see if Victor was there the entire time. One of these days I'll be able to confidently walk forward with that kind of paranoia... I know Aspertia was a calm town and that there wasn't some sort of menace like Plasma that was gonna kidnap pokemon. I saw Cheren standing in the entrance, looking like he was expecting challengers.
"Alexandra! It's nice to see you and your pokemon with you. You look petrified, you alright?"
I nodded shakily, only now realizing I was holding in my breath for that long. I finally let it out, letting some of the skittishness go.
"I-I'm fine. Just nervous."
Cheren smiled good naturedly at that. He crossed his arms and gave me that reassuring look, as if things were going to be okay.
"Ah, don't be so nervous. I understand why you are, most beginning trainers like you tend to be. If you need some time to collect yourself, feel free to. It's good to see challengers taking this seriously, just don't be too nervous."
"Of course," I quickly nodded.
He always knows what to say... I nodded and smiled back. Cheren was kind of a mentor figure to me when my mom and I moved to Aspertia a few years ago. He'd just become the gym leader and I was too young to be trainer-legal. With what little funds my Mom had, she enrolled me into the trainer school while she worked to pay for the residence she could afford.
On that topic... I should pay her a visit before I challenge Cheren.
"Anyway, I got one challenger waiting. I best be off. Be around the back of the school in an hour?"
"Absolutely."
"Alright, see you then Alexandra."
Talking to him about the battle made this whole trainer's journey feel a lot more real. Sure, obtaining Victor was fun, and setting out to Floccesy was just as exciting, but to be able to undertake my first real gym challenge in the matter of an hour?
I really, really, really hoped that I wasn't going to screw anything up.
I turned around to Victor with that realization and nerves probably written on my face. He looked to be getting a bit tired, even if he was looking at me with slight concern.
"Victor, you wanna head back to your pokeball to rest up? You heard the man, we have a battle in an hour, and I want you to be in top shape."
I couldn't deny that it was great to have Victor walking around with me. Even if I felt glued to my head, at least I felt like I wasn't alone as long as he was by my side. However, all of this thinking and anxiety was not going to leave me too attentive to him, so might as well keep him safe lest I tire him out from wandering around. He was hesitant to do so, but eventually kinda agreed when I waggled his pokeball in front of him. I fiddled around with it a bit and pointed it towards him, that weird red energy spouting out from it as it opened and closed in almost an instant. Before long, he was quite literally in my pocket again.
That is still way too cool...
I decided to take Cheren's advice and visit my Mom. We lived in a little section of Aspertia where it was common for people to rent houses in. We, more she really, rented a house from this woman that wasn't really there all the time. She was this executive that often stayed in Castelia. If anything, the house was more for the woman's relatives as well as an easy way to get out a few pokebucks from people that wanted to live here. Albeit, it was a nice house my mom and I lived, almost but not quite a villa.
It was a fancy townhouse however. Before I knew it, I was right at the footsteps of the door until I felt my back being nudged.
"Mom?" I nearly gasped.
"Back so soon, Alex?"
From there, I was enveloped in a tight hug, exchanging a ton of I missed yous and how are yous. It'd only been a few days, but I didn't realize how... I couldn't describe it. I missed her.
"Cheren told me to come see you before I had my gym challenge with him, that's why I'm here... After this though, I'll be off..."
"I shouldn't be so surprised. Cheren's always been good to you and I ever since we enrolled you into that trainer academy. I can't believe it, it's paying off."
"Not just yet, Mom, the battle..."
"I know, but even so. Come on, let's get you inside."
With the way the whole journey thing was set up, I didn't really know when or if I was going to be back home again. It always got a little fuzzy when people told me what I'd do after the league, or after I get all my badges, stuff like that... It was dizzying to think that far ahead, as there was a lot that was implied that often left me wanting to take a deep breath than actually think about some sort of battle plan.
Either way, it felt good to be back in the room that my mom and I shared. I plomped down on my bed, closing my eyes slightly and feeling a little bit teased from the way my mom chuckled at me. I just rested earlier sure, but wow this is way too comfy...
I'm definitely gonna miss this.
"Focus Alex. Cheren's not gonna battle you with your eyes half-closed," I heard my mom say.
I rolled my eyes, but she had a point.
"Can't believe it... In just a few, you'll be battling. I wish I could be there, but I gotta be at Renzo's to work my last shift, right around the same time as your battle. Wish I could be there to support you..."
I sighed. I didn't really have anything to say to that, knowing throughout my whole life that she was the one that pulled everything for not just herself, but for me... She spent so much of herself that sometimes, even if she was there, she wasn't... I didn't really have an elegant way of describing it, but I always knew that she needed her rest and her distance, I guess. Mom was always so busy tending to things, worrying about the bills, worrying about the food... Even with a more stable job, much better paying for the pokebuck than our stay in Kanto, she always tried to remain one step ahead.
I was grateful to have her, but was it possible to miss a person even when they were right there with you? And have to understand why they had to not be there, but still feel... empty about it?
"There's a couple of things I wanted to tell you, actually, before you left... Figured it was now or never," she suddenly told me.
"What is it?"
"You know that... I keep forgetting if I've ever told you this but you know, or remember, that I told you I was once a trainer, right?"
I nodded... She's definitely told me before, at least once or twice if I remember. She doesn't bring it up that often however. The last time she did, that was in the final months of me being in the trainer academy. Even if she did, there wasn't any sort of story to it or some grand thing to it... She just kinda vaguely mentions it, dances around the topic, and then talks about other trainers or her work instead. I also always notice a pained look in her eyes whenever she talks about it too and why she was always so insistent I got one of the traditional starters instead.
"It's... it's definitely time for me to tell you everything at some point, Alex. I've... realized with you gone for a few days that... you know I can't help worry, so I have a bit of a favor to ask before I let my emotions take the best of me."
I nodded... What was she going to ask of me? And she looked like she was about to cry too... She was usually stronger than this, even when we said our first farewells when I went to get Victor for the first time.
"Could you... ask Cheren about where to get these Xtransceivers from? I know it's random but there's a reason."
"I can do so Mom, but... why?"
"All this time I've been thinking about what happened when I went on my own journey just like you and... Well I figured the best way for me to tell you is to tell you in chunks. I haven't... really told anyone about how it went. Not even your dad knows..."
Dad... I felt mom grip my shoulders when she said that.
"Alex... You don't have to call me every night, and I promise I'm not gonna... worry too much. If you can get these things or tell me where to get them, I'll work to get one on my own. I think I have an idea of how these things work... Anyway, all I'm asking is for you to call me after every gym challenge. That way, I'll know you're ok, and I can tell you more about my journey as a trainer. Does that sound good?"
I nodded... I was too overwhelmed, way too many feeling running around my chest. It didn't help that she enveloped me in a tight hug, and all I could do was just hug her back. I buried my head in her shoulders, feeling scared, feeling relieved, feeling... everything all at once. Eventually, we broke off the hug and it was pretty awkward, with the only thing making me comfortable was staring at the floor.
It wasn't until I noticed the time that I realized... Cheren's battle was gonna be happening soon enough. I also saw mom curse under her breath as well, gazing at her watch.
"Duty calls. Good luck. I'll always be here," she kissed me in the forehead before running off for work.
I... I... Was I even ready? I took a deep breath and made a mad dash for the gym. Thankfully, the trainer academy wasn't too far back and I think I had 10 minutes on the clock to get there. However, gym battles were always a little bit unpredictable... and for all I know, Cheren could suddenly be gone off somewhere and I'd have to wait until tomorrow (which would both be good and bad) or some other time to challenge him.
I was out of breath by the time I made it to the academy, so I stopped to take a few seconds. I didn't see Cheren or anyone else walk in or out that indicated a battle... I remember Cheren telling me to go at the back, considering that's where all of the gym battles were. I did so, finding the very end of a gym battle right before my very eyes. I saw a trainer, not that much older than me, seething and looking disappointed all at once.
"The challenger's oshawott has fainted! This means that Cheren is the winner of this gym challenge!"
I gulped, staring agape at the scene before realizing how rude it looked. I decided to make myself scarce, moving out of the way of the angered trainer who didn't even want to look at Cheren. He ran over to his oshawott and was trying to nurse it back to consciousness. I saw Cheren walk up to him with that compassionate and cool look he pulls off on everyone, especially to younger trainers.
"Hey..." Cheren tried to start, but I could see him struggle to get the trainer's attention.
"You did really good out there. Not everyone wins their first time... Not even I did when I started out," I heard Cheren say, before his voice got too muffled for me to make out anything.
Luckily, I saw the scene get defused and the young trainer leaving was pretty peaceful. However, I could see Cheren's eyes having that insanely weary look where he looked ready, for a split second, to collapse to the ground and just sleep. Or at least... maybe even forget about his duties for a day.
I caught his attention with a wave. That seemed to jolt him awake for now, thought I wondered if now was the right time...
"Hey Alexandra, sorry about that. These first challenges can go either way for new trainers. It can get a little bit... tricky being generally the first gym, but anyway. Are you ready?"
"I think I am but... are you? After the whole?..."
Cheren was confused for a second, but then realized where I was getting at.
"No need to worry, I always have to be ready. Don't worry about my pokemon, a good gym leader always has multiple teams at hand. Now, let's get this started?"
I nodded. I was excited, but that little thing with that trainer... I hadn't suffered a loss to anyone yet, but I know if there's anything to lose to, the first gym would probably be the most obvious one outside of challenging a veteran by complete accident. I've trained Victor enough, I think.
Alright Alexandra, just clear your mind... Clear your mind...
"If you want to postpone, feel free to. I saw you looked at that trainer. There's nothing to be afraid of... everyone goes at their own pace, remember that."
"No, it's fine. I think I'm ready now."
"As you say so, Alexandra. I can't wait... From seeing you enroll as a young kid to where you are now. It's pretty amazing what a few years will do."
I smiled back. I held Victor's pokeball in my hands, closing my eyes and taking another deep breath.
It was time... Cheren took his position, the referee took his, and I took mine.
I'm ready...
A/N: Feel free to drop a review, fav, or follow
