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Chapter Two: Where the Worlds Converge
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Two months had passed since her visit to Sinnoh and life had resumed just as it had always in the mean time. She enjoyed her little time off while the pokemon league was going on. She and Whitney spent a good portion of it at Whitney's vacation house in Palm Hills, treating themselves to manicures, pedicures, massages and other luxuries.
She hadn't heard from Volkner since she left Sunyshore and truth be told, she hadn't been expecting to. It wasn't as if the two owed each other anything. And aside from the gracious hug goodbye, he really didn't make much of her coming to his city.
The days after Volkner left his post as gym leader were fueled by a media frenzy. Rumors swirled around the how's and why's, and reporters concocted the most outrageous stories. One of Jasmine's personal favorites was that Volkner was being investigated by the board of ethical conduct for allegedly giving his Electivire illegal muscle builders—steroids.
It made her laugh and surely if Volkner knew, he would too. It was preposterous, as if anyone of his caliber (or any gym leader at all, for that matter) would stoop so low. Electivire, was alarmingly powerful but it was a hundred percent due to Volkner's skill and his pokemon's dedication. Nothing more.
Currently, it was Sunday. The one day out of the week just about everyone had off, even Lance. Whitney and Jasmine usually spent Saturday night into Sunday evening together. Today, they were adamant on visiting their old friend Falkner in Violet City. They hadn't seen the navy haired bird expert in weeks.
Falkner and Whitney were the two people Jasmine loved the most out of the entire world. They were her best friends, the people that understood her better than anyone else. The three of them grew up together, started their journeys together, raised each other. Saw each other through the worse times but were also there to enjoy the really great times.
When each of them became gym leaders in their own right. That was probably the proudest moment any of them had till this day.
"Falkner!" Whitney's bubbly soprano rang around the living room.
Falkner had a very…interesting architecture to his house. More specifically, he had very high ceilings, for obvious reasons, which caused the slightest of sounds to echo for ages.
The boy came down the steps moments later, one of his many carrier pidgey perched on his arm. His grin was unmistakable at the sight of his two favorite girls. "What do I owe the pleasure?" He laughed, reaching the bottom of the steps.
Jasmine threw herself into his free arm. "Missed you, Falk." She grinned.
He hugged her, "You too Jazzy." He said affectionately, letting pidgey down so he could hug the other girl in the room. "Whit." He smiled into her hair.
"Where's your better half?" He asked the incredibly pretty girl.
Whitney hid her pink tinged cheeks. "Doing his usual mysterious burned tower related duties." She gave a shiver for emphasis.
"Have you ever actually been, Whit?" Jasmine asked as they seated themselves in the navy haired trainer's living room.
Whitney shook her head. "No way. So not my scene." She said adamantly. "I can barely handle Morty's Pokemon." She admitted.
"His ghastly's kinda cute." Jasmine gave a shrug.
"Oh, Jaz. I never got to ask. How was going to visit Cold, too cool to battle, Volkner?" Falkner changed the subject.
It caught the brunette by surprise, "It was okay." She wondered why he was asking so late. It had been almost two months since she'd been back.
Then again, Falkner was a bit of a recluse. Him and his birds, all the entertainment he needed. He didn't keep up with the gossip news or rumors. He spent most of his free time in the air, traveling great distances mounted on his trusted Pidgeot.
"Really detailed explantion."
Jasmine rolled her eyes playfully. "He isn't all that bad, you know. Just a little distant. But anyway, it was okay. He lost his passion to be a gym leader, Falk. He didn't wanna do it anymore." She told him. "I think he's traveling now, he had someone take his place in the meantime." She shrugged a shoulder.
"Any idea who?" Whitney piped in.
Jasmine shook her head honestly. "Not a one." She told them. "As if it really matters, don't we all have our hands full with our own gyms anyway?"
They both nodded in unison. "That's for sure." Whitney said tiredly. "Anyway, we came to kidnap you, Falky." She turned to the bird tamer.
Falkner gave a chuckle. "Another shopping date in Goldenrod is a bit more than I can take today, Whit." He told her with a smile.
"Not this time." Jasmine laughed with him. "Surely you know what time of year it is."
He gave them both inquisitive looks.
"The Sunflora Contest!" They said excitedly. "We're going to Bloomingvale, get a move on!" Whitney said with a squeal.
-x-
"Okay. Does anyone else find it super odd that Erika wins this contest every time." Whitney complained the second they got into Falkner's car.
Jasmine laughed. "Oh come on, Whit. What do you care?" She asked from the front seat.
"Well, I'm just sayin' the thing seems rigged." She shrugged a shoulder. "Like every year for the past seven years. Something's fishy about it…" She trailed off.
Falkner just chuckled along with Jasmine, as far as Whitney was concerned—everything was drama.
"I like Erika, she's sweet." Jasmine smiled. "Besides, who would you rather win. Since you feel so strongly about all this."
Whitney crossed her arms over her chest, "Well, I don't know. Gardenia's Sunflora was pretty impressive." She mumbled, clearly offended by how unserious they were being.
Falkner shook his head. "I don't know about you two, but the aroma ladies coming around every four seconds annoyed the crap out of me." He changed the subject.
"Ugh and the Kimono girls intermission performance." Jasmine rolled her eyes. "They're normally so good."
"Yeah, they really are. Morty took me to see their show once at the Ecruteak theater." She got all glossy eyed at the mention of her boyfriend.
"I don't know, I didn't mind their performance at all." Falkner grinned.
Jasmine gave his shoulder a small nudge. "You wouldn't. You're a guy."
Whitney laughed, her mood perking up. "Hey, wait. So quick non-sequitur but did you guys get the invite?" She asked, her voice channeling excitement.
Falkner and Jasmine exchanged confused glances.
"Oh come on. From Cynthia. The one about the annual retreat?" Whitney said, giving an exasperated sigh.
"Oh that." Jasmine said once she realized what Whitney had been talking about.
"Well, why wouldn't we. It happens every year." Faulkner said, less than enthusiastic about it.
He wasn't much of a socialite. He liked his birds more than he liked people. The steady influx of trainers was enough public contact for him.
"Don't sound so down on it, Faulky." Whitney rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, cheer up." Jasmine echoed.
"I don't really care for these things, you guys know that." He said honestly. "I go because it looks terribly rude not to, doesn't mean I can't wait till the weekend is over."
Whitney sighed. "Well, look. This year you and Morty can like go off train together or something. He isn't a slosh like most of the guys."
The gym leaders really took the annual retreat as a way to see the people they hardly ever saw or kept in contact with during the year (save for Christmas parties) and get horribly drunk and out of hand. Misbehave and do naughty things that they otherwise couldn't because they had an image to uphold.
"Speaking of training though, you think our young will still attend this thing. Given that he isn't exactly a gym leader at the moment." It was entirely obvious who Whitney's question was directed towards.
Jasmine tried not to blush at the mention of his name. "I, don't know, Whit." And she really didn't have a clue.
He didn't seem like the type to enjoy these events in the first place, she imagined most of the time he came out of obligation but also because Candice dragged him. Now neither were in his life, what reason did he have.
"The invites show up at the gym. I'd imagine whoever took his place is the one invited." Faulkner supplied sensibly.
Both Whitney and Jasmine took that as the answer to the question.
"You think Lance is gonna be there?" Whitney asked dreamily.
She always had a crush on the dragon tamer.
"Why don't you ask Morty." Jasmine giggled.
Whitney felt her face get a little hot. "Oh come off it, Jazzy. Morty doesn't get jealous." She said. "Unless of course it was his Gengar trying to go off with Lance." She rolled her eyes.
"Oh so now you wanna go off with him, do ya?" Faulkner teased.
"Ugh, I so did not say that!"
Faulkner and Jasmine laughed, Whitney took everything so seriously.
-x-
Somewhere on the edge of Mt Mortar, Volkner Denzi looked up beneath twinkling stars and covered by a blanket of night. In the dead silence, where nothing moved, not a rustle, or a stir, he allowed himself a small luxury. To think of a certain brown haired girl from a glittering port city in Johto. He let himself, travel back to the first time he ever laid eyes on the timid little thing.
About two years back now, at a inter regional gym conference, held by none other than the notorious and revered Lance Draco…
…It was not news to anyone, especially those known to Sinnoh, that Volkner Denzi the Sunyshore gym leader, the shining shock star, absolutely abhorred social gatherings. Especially those that required a shirt, a tie and dress pants. The royal blue fabric around his neck was positively infuriating and practically suffocating. It was all he could do to stop himself from tugging at the offending garment every few minutes.
But each time his hand twitched towards it, an icy glare from his date would set it back in place.
At this very moment, he wished he'd brought anyone other than the girl beside him. But she had asked, and when she did they had been on civil terms.
Now, however, her company was downright irritating at best. He imagined she felt the same for him.
She was on her third glass of punch, he knew from prior engagements it happened to be spiked. She was about get even more annoying in a few minutes, so he quietly lifted himself out of the seat beside her, ignoring the questioning glance she was sending him.
Quickly, he excused himself through his various colleagues, on a mission to find his friend. Not that the oaf would be hard to miss, considering that ridiculous red afro he sported.
He caught a glimpse of said afro retreating out of the ballroom, Volkner decided to follow him out. If Flint didn't feel obligated to stay any longer, neither did he.
In his haste to exit the almost claustrophobic ballroom, he didn't look neither left nor right. And it would be his luck that he tripped into someone the moment he's out of the room.
On instinct, he catches himself just inches from the ground, the person under him however wasn't so lucky, she was flat on her back, her head hitting the ground emitting an unsightly thump.
He went to apologize, his eyes meeting the girl beneath him. "I…" He lost it, what was he going to say again?
It was as if for that moment coherency eluded him, he had never seen such a perfect face before. Her eyes were wide in surprise and what looked like the beginnings of contempt. Her mouth parted making a small "O" and her hand frozen against his chest.
She was, for lack of a more original word, beautiful.
And it was the kind of innocent beauty that rendered the normally cold and impassive Volkner Denzi completely speechless.
"Do you mind getting off me!" She pushed his chest, bringing him back to their current position, with his body hovering over hers, supported only by the strength of his arms.
He quickly shook his head, feeling a rush of heat creeping up his neck, he got to his feet. He held out a hand for her, which she hesitated to take.
"Just take it." He muttered, wiggling his fingers for emphasis.
She sighed, putting a dainty hand in his bigger one, allowing him to help her to her feet. She dusted of her baby pink dress, which was demure yet attractive.
"Volkner—
"I know who you are." She eyed him wearily.
It was kinda cute.
"I'm sorry but I can't say I know your name." He admitted.
She shrugged a shoulder. "Jasmine Mikan, from Olivine." She said, without the slightest bit of offense or anger in her tone.
"Johto, huh?" No wonder he didn't know who she was.
She gave a swift nod, "I should be off then." She made a motion for him to move aside.
"Yeah and maybe also watch where your going." He chided.
Her eyes narrowed up at him, "You bumped into me!" She gesticulated between them.
He only just smirked. "Not the way I saw it happen."
"You obviously didn't see anything at all, considering you rammed right into me!" She glared.
He wanted to give a laugh, but he held it in, something told him she wouldn't quite appreciate him laughing at the moment. "Right, but you admit you saw me coming." He said, his smirk growing triumphantly.
Jasmine could've strangled the man in front of her with her bare hands, but she knew better than that. She fixed him with a particularly nasty look before ceremoniously rolling her eyes and brushing right past him and back into the party.
He chuckled, folding his arms behind his head and strolling over to the exit of the Regal Plaza. This is had been quite an interesting conference. As he left to find his car, his mind registered the fact that he would be getting an earful from the Snowpoint ice princess in the morning.
He tried to convince himself it would be worth it…
And an earful he did get, but that was neither here nor there considering they officially ended everything a month or two after that.
Truth be told., he held no ill will towards Candice. She was a fine young woman capable of making any man happy. She was beautiful, intelligent, funny and sophisticated. But there were things about her he couldn't understand. Her materialistic side, her snobbish attitude, her spoiled habits, her bratty tantrums and unbearably high expectations.
They lived in two separate worlds, the gap between the two became more and more prominent as they grew up.
She grew into someone that he couldn't be in a relationship with, given her current engagement, Volkner figured she felt the same.
He hoped she was happy, because he was finally learning how to be. And that felt great.
The last few months had been exhilarating, he was beginning to remember why he loved battling and pokemon so much. Because they filled him on edge, kept him on his toes, kept pushing him further and further, finding a new personal best.
He knew that even if she hadn't come along, he would've eventually found this. But he still felt gratitude towards the pretty girl from Olivine city. She'd done him a huge favor the day she stepped on to the shores of his town.
His cell phone going off shook him from his thoughts, it also helped him realized that so lost in his rapture he didn't realize that it was dawn…
"Hello." He answered.
"Volk… it's Cynthia."
There was a voice he wasn't expecting to hear. The dragon expert herself, what an honor.
Cynthia commanded almost as much respect as Lance did around the world, her control over her pokemon was legendary. But while he had no doubt she could wipe the floor with him in a battle, he didn't fawn over her the way most guys did. She was a good friend and a fierce trainer.
So for that, he held the utmost respect for the young woman.
"What can I do for you, Cyn?" He asked, tucking an arm behind his head.
"Wow… someone's in downright jolly mood, what gives?"
He heard her chuckle on the other end, "Can't a boy be happy?" He smiled.
"Sure, but not you. I feel as though that particular emotion isn't in your repertoire."
He chuckled along with her. "It's getting there though. Now to what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked earnestly.
"I hear you traveling again, is that true?"
He sighed, he hadn't kept any contact with tabloids or news reports, he could only hazard a guess as to what they must've said about his abrupt departure. "I am, and it's amazing. Things have changed since we were young." He admitted.
Her laughter trilled through the other end.
"Just figuring it out now, are you? Jeez, Volk, did you ever get out of Sunyshore?"
"Not often enough, evidently." He said sourly.
"How is it though, traveling, I mean."
"Better than being a gym leader." That much was certain.
"Well, I'm glad. You've been pretty down on the gym the past year."
That was an understatement. "Yeah well there wasn't much left for me in Sunyshore at the moment." It had been his home since he was a boy, then he left to hone his skills and he hadn't seen for a while, after which it became his home again and he scarcely left since.
This had been a much needed and refreshing change of scenery.
"Lance said it was Jasmine that delivered the news to him, never said who your replacement was though."
"Well, when Jasmine was leaving Sunyshore, I didn't have a replacement. Just assured her that I would find one before I left." He explained.
"I see. The young girl did well for herself, we thought surely she'd come back in tears."
Was his reputation really so bad. "Who could make Jasmine Mikan cry?" He wondered out loud.
The girl was practically a saint.
"Careful there Volkster, you're beginning to sound like you might actually like the girl."
Volkner chuckled. "You know me Cindy, I haven't been down that road in a while." He didn't hold any romantic feelings towards Jasmine, of that he was almost certain.
He held her in warm regards nonetheless.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your crush."
She was teasing him, he hated that. She'd always lorded over him like an older sister, it was really frustrating.
"I'd say I would do the same about you shacking up with Lance but I figure most of the world already knows about that."
He could practically hear her embarrassment.
"I am NOT shacking up with Lance!"
She shrieked so loud he had to pull the phone away from his ear.
"Right, right." He murmured patronizingly.
"You're insufferable!"
"Of course by which you mean irresistible." He was only ever this candid or playful with Cynthia.
At one point it Candice as well, but that ended.
"Ugh, get over yourself Volky, you know you aren't actually hot stuff, right?"
"Tell that to my fan base." He complained.
He really hated the notoriety.
"When yours gets as big as mine, we'll swap stories. Anyway, there is a reason behind my call, shock-star."
He rolled his eyes at the nickname, another thing he absolutely deplored. Why did the league insist on giving them monikers and tag lines, it was too much for him. "Well get to it then." He insisted.
"I'm hosting our league retreat thing this year. I've never been given the honor."
Her voice dripped sarcasm and annoyance, she didn't like these things much herself, but unlike Volkner she had to attend things of the sort all the time.
"Impressive." He deadpanned.
"Point is, I mailed your invitation to the gym. As it is, you aren't there. Nevertheless, you must come, okay."
"Cyn, I'm not a gym leader at the moment, shouldn't the guy running the place get a chance to go?" He asked hopefully.
He knew she wouldn't let him out of this one because she was hosting it, she would be furious if he didn't attend. Especially since she went to the trouble of personally calling him.
"He can come too. But you're coming, Denzi. I don't wanna hear two words about it."
"Come on, Cindy." He never whined, ever. Not even with his mother. But if it would get Cynthia to change her mind, he would do it.
Evidently, it did nothing to deter the blonde.
"Not two words, Volkner. I'm gonna see you there."
There was no arguing with her.
Cynthia Davis was the only person who could tell him to do anything.
Well her and Lance, but Lance wouldn't ask him to do anything abhorrently difficult.
"Fine. But I'm not staying overnight. I'll make an appearance, but that's the most you'll get out of me." He stipulated.
"Whatever, just know that you aren't leaving till that night is over."
That went pretty well. "Sure. Fine."
"And you're getting here early to help me set up."
He knew it was too easy, "Cynthia, no." He tried to be stern.
"Volk, I'll see you here at three, bring your dress clothes, you can change before the party."
"Remind me next time not to take your call." He grumbled.
"I'll find other means of communicating, little brother. If nothing else, I'd send you mail via carrier pidgey and for those to reach you it wouldn't matter where you were."
Pidgey never lost their way.
He shook his head. "Whatever."
"I'll be seeing you soon, yeah? And make sure you pick up something pretty for me on the way. You know I love presents."
Leave it to her to find any excuse to get a gift. "Don't get your hopes up, I'll see you in a few days." He muttered.
"All right, Volk. I'll talk to you soon."
"Always a pleasure, Cyn." he said dryly, though he did mean on some level.
"Don't sound so enthusiastic. Bye now."
He mumbled a quick goodbye before hanging up the phone.
He absolutely hated the blonde dragon master at the moment, he didn't feel any inclination at all to integrate back into the world he had just left. But as much as he tried to escape it, here he was again being thrust right back in.
-x-
There on the shores of a very famous city, quite possibly the most famous city, in Sinnoh stood a raven haired pokemon trainer who had been making a name for himself since he was barely eleven years old. The boy, now a man, had taken the place of a dear old friend, as the temporary head of the gym.
He realized that most trainers came expecting Volkner, but he also figured they didn't have very high hopes of beating the blonde brooder. So he didn't feel as bad when he sent them packing. It wasn't as if there was a huge difference between him and Volkner's strengths as trainers.
He was only just slightly better…
And the electric type trainer would certainly agreed to that.
Because while it seems the Volkner couldn't give a damn about his gym, he still knew it had a name to uphold. And if there was one thing he wouldn't let happen, it was ruin the reputation he had spent so many years building up.
Which is why he chose the only man he could think of and hoped to God that this man would accept.
Ash Ketchum.
Lucky for him, Ash had been looking to settle down for a little while before beginning another adventure. The opportunity came at just the right moment. But, he made sure to give the blonde a time length. Six months, six months and he was gone. Back to Kanto or off on his new adventure, but after the sixth month was over, Volkner would have to make other arrangements.
It did however, leave a certain redhead from Kanto very, very displeased.
"Misty…" Ash gulped, seeing his girlfriend's face through the video phone.
She was beautiful, as always. But angry.
Also, as always.
"Don't speak to me." She hissed, turning her face the other way for good measure.
Ash pulled a hand through his hair. "Mist, please. I'm sorry. Volk asked, I couldn't say no. He's an old friend, we keep in touch and c'mon you should've seen the look on his face. I know if I needed—
"You chose to be the Sunyshore gym leader, over spending this time with me!" She cut him off, her voice rising a decibel with each syllable.
He shook his head frantically, "Sweetheart, you know it isn't like that." He continued to defend himself.
They'd been fighting about this since he came to beach town almost a month and a half ago. The gym had been closed from the two weeks the league had been in session.
"And now our one year anniversary is coming up, Ketchum." She growled. "Or did you not remember that either?"
Again, he began shaking his head. "Misty, of course I remember. I'm going to make it back for the day, I promise." He swore.
She rolled her eyes. "You also swore we'd get some time off after you were done with that Unova league or whatever it was." She bit back.
"It's only a few more months, Mist. Then I'm yours for as long as you'll have me." He'd put everything on hold for this girl.
Just so she'd stop yelling at him. And smile.
He did love her smile…
She shook her head, she was tired of fighting. "Whatever." She murmured.
It was the best he could hope for.
"But listen, I have to tell you something. It's the reason I called." He confessed.
She nodded. "What?"
"Cynthia, the dragon master. She's holding a retreat or something. She wants the attendance of all gym leaders and since Volkner is unavailable I guess that means me." He scratched the back of his neck.
"Yeah so?" Misty raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I was hoping you'd come." He said brightly. "It's being held in Johto, I'm pretty sure. I only skimmed over the invite but, anyway, it's weekend—
"Ash, I'm a gym leader. I got the invite too." She smirked.
He grinned sheepishly, forgetting that for a moment. "A damn good one too." He tried to amend quickly.
She let herself smile at his attempt. "As for the offer, of course I'll come with you." She beamed.
He let himself smile too, resisting the urge to pump his fist. Who knew getting your girlfriend to agree to be your date would be so difficult?
"I'm sorry we're so far from each other. I know I told you it would end, I did mean it. It's just a little bit longer." He hung his head.
She looked at him sympathetically. "What's five months after fourteen years, Ketchum." Misty admitted.
He laughed. "Has it been that long?" He asked.
She nodded. "Give or take a few months since the day I fished you out of a lake." She chuckled.
He looked at her adoringly. "Luckiest day of my life." He said honestly. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Ash." She smiled sincerely.
-x-
A/N: Sorry if this is too OoC or A/U, and also if there are too many characters to keep up with. I just wanted to introduce some that would have an impact in the story later on. Obviously, Whitney, Falkner, Cynthia, Lance and Morty are going to be important so if you aren't familiar with them or what they look like I hope it's not too much trouble for you guys to look it up. Again, my apologies.
For those of you reading this, I appreciate the reviews and hope that the second chapter does not disappoint. I'm going to try to fit in more jaz/volk scenes in the next chapter, promise. It's gonna be a slow build up but I will try to make sure they have constant interaction.
Reviews mean everything, I'd love to know your thoughts on this and if there is anything you would like me to change/fix/add. Any ideas are also welcome, feel free to PM me, I try to check my inbox as regularly as I can!
Thank you all for your support this far!
-Christina.