I have to apologize for the error, people. I have the whole fanfic written up in another place, so I decided to share it with a new audience. So every day or two another chapter will pop up. Enjoy!
Chapter 2:
Enter Artemis, Exit Normal Life
I sat in the backseat while staring out the car window, heading toward Professor Cedar's lab in my hometown of Sunflower Town. Just in case you haven't heard of the place, and you'd be crazy if you have, it's just about smack dab in the middle of the Ilex Forest. The only safe access in and out of the town is one main unpaved roadway and smaller pathways for hikers. You could go out there yourself, but unless you have the internal instincts of a migrating Wingull, you practically would be writing your will. But just because the place is hidden in a forest, doesn't mean it's a backwoods village. Sunflower Town's pretty well sized. It reminds you of Pallet town, only with more trees.
My mind was still stuck on the Raikou incident. After it happened, the little talent of mine stayed suppressed. That made it tough to prove that it happened. I told myself that the Pichu did not talk, that the sight of the legendary dog was just a dream. But every time I was close to convincing myself this, the teeth marks on my pencil and the lack of sleep told me otherwise. So I decided to keep silent on the issue, because I knew that my family would throw me in the nearest nuthouse if I kept trying to prove it to them.
I snapped back to reality at the sound of Mom's voice. "Rebecca, which starter will you get?" Chikorita, Totodile, and Cyndaquil were Pro. Cedar's regulars, but sometimes he'll offer something different to test a trainer's flexibility, or just because he's like that. "I don't know. I heard he gave the last beginning trainer a Pidgey because he wanted to see if he could cope," I replied. I secretly hoped it would be a Pokemon that could fit inside the house or refrain himself from terrorizing Rod in the middle of the night, although once everyone sees my brother that's the first thing on their minds.
We passed through restaurants and small apartments, and finally arrived at the gates of Professor Cedar's lab. Since he was expecting us, the gates were already open. Driving up the long driveway, we saw some of the Pokemon that he had in his nature reserve. I could see that Pro. Cedar was comfortable with leaving the gates open as I took a look at was definitely a swarm of Scyther. As we drove by the Scyther, they glared at us as though we were interrupting something personal.
"Hey Becky, wonder what they're thinking?" Rod asked while glaring back at the mantis Pokemon.
"Judging by the way they're licking their lips, I'd say they're thinking 'Wonder how much barbeque we can make with that little porker?'" I joked.
"Rebecca, what have I said about making fun of your brother's weight?" Mom sternly said. I kept quiet while my brother made a face at me while Mom was busy trying not to crash into anything.
I went back into staring at the scenery. There was a grassy field, a clear blue pond, and the Ilex Forest in the background, virtually untouched. Numerous Pokemon lived their everyday lives here, some wild, others trained. I felt like a kid in a Toys-R-Us, hoping I'd get one of the tougher Pokemon out there. Although I had almost no desire of becoming a Pokemon master, I had a thing for tough Pokemon. I guess it's from that close encounter of the legendary kind.
Finally we reached the lab. Professor Cedar was standing outside of the door with a slight look of amazement on his young face. Unlike most of the other Pokemon professors, this guy was young, plus you could tell he had people skills. By his looks, he may not be more than ten years older than me. "Good afternoon!" he said warmly with a smile. "I wasn't expecting you for another hour. Fortunately I always prepare ahead of time. Come inside and we'll give you your first Pokemon immediately if you want to."
He shook Mom's hand, then Rod's, then gave me a more secure handshake. "You're excited, Shonta?" he asked me.
"Not as excited as Mom," I replied, pointing to my nervous parent. "I'm guessing that she's afraid that it's going to be one of those oversized, uncontrollable Pokemon."
"Don't worry," he said to Mom. "I wouldn't be responsible if I gave her something like that."
We walked into the living area of the lab, where I could see that this professor definitely had a life outside of Pokemon. It was decorated with nice furniture, books from all kinds of authors (even J.K. Rowling), and even a Gamecube. We walked past the living area and into the part of the lab that contained hundreds of pokeballs, some empty and others full. "Wait here," Pro. Cedar instructed us while he walked to a shelf and picked a pokeball. He inspected it, probably making sure it was the right one, then returned to us.
"I wanted to give you something to suit your personality, Shonta," he excitedly said while handing me the pokeball. "I think she's perfect for you. I got this Pokemon from a close friend of mine. Go on, open it!"
I pushed the button on the pokeball with shaking fingers and opened it. A big flash of light, and my first Pokemon appeared on the floor: an Eevee. She was small and brown, with a white tip at the end of her tail. The Eevee looked up at me with big black eyes and called out happily. "She's so cute!" I exclaimed, and picked her up. Pro. Cedar smiled at me I while stroked her long ears and the bushy fur on her chest.
"That's it? Man, I hope you evolve it as soon as possible, Becky. This thing's too small and wimpy," Rod said disappointedly.
"Okay, Hot Rod. This is not your Pokemon, so you can shut your mouth until you can get your own! And stop insulting her! Don't judge a book by its cover," I shouted him, so close to his face I could smell his unbrushed mouth. I looked at the Eevee, seeing that she was angrier than I was. She was growling and snapping her teeth at him! "Besides, you better hope that I don't evolve her. Mom might have to take you to the clinic to treat your burns or to thaw you out," I added while trying to soothe my new friend.
"Wow, she obviously likes you! You two most have more in common than I thought," Pro. Cedar said to me.
"You mean we both feel like KO'ing Hot Rod right now?"
"Ha ha, very funny. Why don't you take your new Pokemon outside and enjoy the reserve while I talk to your Mom?"
I set the Eevee down on the floor and started walking to the door, occasionally looking back to see if she was following. And she was, and quite eagerly as it seems. We walked back outside and into a big grassy field where grazing Pokemon were eating. I turned to the Eevee and said, "Don't worry about my brother Hot Rod. He's just jealous. He doesn't like having to wait for anything." The Eevee looked up to me, smiled, and spoke.
"Don't worry. Brothers are supposed to be annoying jerks," she said, and laughed.
I plopped down on the grass, held my hand over my quickly beating heart, and stared at the Eevee like the Pichu stared at me one year ago. Luckily, I managed not to scream. "What...did...you...say?" I asked slowly and quietly.
"I said that brothers are supposed to be jerks. Are you deaf or something, Becky?" she replied.
"No, of course not. Can you understand me?"
"Yeah, and I guess you know what I'm saying too!"
"Aren't you freaked out of something, 'cause I can't believe this!" I remembered how the Pichu reacted, like I was an alien coming to abduct it.
"I guess I am a little surprised, but it's more cool than freaky! Finally, someone to talk to!" the Eevee said perkily, and laughed again.
Now my heart was back to normal. So my talent came back, I thought. No use screaming my head off for something that I was half-expecting to happen. I turned back to the Eevee, my first Pokemon partner.
"I guess I should give you a name." Then I noticed the spot on her head. It was white and shaped like a crescent moon. "What about Artemis? Feminine yet tough."
Artemis blinked at the sound of the name. "Why Artemis? It sounds like something out of Sailor Moon."
"What's Sailor Moon? I read something out of Greek mythology that said that Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. It came to mind when I saw that mark on your forehead."
Artemis rubbed the moon-shaped mark and shrugged. "Oh well, at least it's a better name than Becky."
I almost fell out at the sound of my nickname. "It's not Becky; it's Rebecca. Better yet, just call me Shonta. I like it better than Rebecca."
"Okay! Wait, I hear something." Artemis's ears perked as the sound of soft footsteps grew louder. We both turned around and spotted Rod walking and laughing at me.
"Oh man! You are crazy! What are you doing talking to that runt?" Rod exclaimed while approaching Artemis. "You still think you can talk to Pokemon? You are in so much trouble!"
"Okay, so I can talk to Artemis. That doesn't make me crazy; it just makes you stupid and rude for listening in on our conversation!"
"At least I can have a conversation with someone! This runty idiot probably has the intelligence of a two-year-old." Rod was crouching down in front of Artemis and poking her as if she was a dead Rattata. She responded to the poking by biting one of his pudgy, fat fingers as if she was a dead Rattata that wasn't really dead at all.
"AHH! MOM! HELP ME! SHONTA'S NEW POKEMON BIT ME! I MIGHT BE INFECTED WITH RABIES!" Rod screamed frantically while I coaxed Artemis into letting go of his finger. Rod ran back to Mom who was now beside the car. I calmly walked back to Pro. Cedar with an alibi ready while Artemis trotted beside me.
"Idiot my paw. That guy should stop biting his nails. And since when did someone as cute and sweet like me carried rabies?" Artemis mumbled while going back to the car.
"Shonta, did your Pokemon bite Rod?" Mom asked me.
"Yeah, but Rod shouldn't have been poking Artemis. She's not used to him, plus she's very sensitive." I picked Artemis up and held her like a newborn as Mom cooed and petted her.
"Oh Shonta, I forgot!" Pro. Cedar ran up and gave me a Pokedex and some pokeballs. "I know you're not crazy about being a Pokemon master, but the more the merrier, right?"
"Yeah, and thanks for giving me Artemis." I climbed in the front seat with Artemis while explaining to Rod how taking turns are done.
"Hey, Mom! Aren't you going to tell Shonta that she's in trouble? Her Pokemon just bit me and she's saying that she can understand it!" Rod was desperately trying to ruin my day again.
"Rod, be quiet before I leave you outside with the Scyther!" Mom threatened Rod while giving him the universal "I'm getting a headache" sign. Meanwhile, Artemis and I were laughing at Rod's failed attempt to tattle.
"Hey Shonta, what's my new home like?" Artemis asked me.
"Not very exciting, but you won't have to worry about that," I quietly replied.