Destiny is found on the road one takes to avoid it. Embrace uncertainty, for there is nothing without it. - L.A.


Two

Oak's Farm

"Easy there, Tauros!"

Charlie's words were lost in the deafening rampage, spinning adrift in the cavities between the ears of the bull-shaped Pokemon stampeding nearby. The warning was meant for the elder members of the herd, who were presently reveling in trampling every blade of grass that laid in the way of their destructive path.

For any passerby who dared to walk in the dusty lanes adjoining the fields of Professor Oak's farm, they would assume Charlie was a dead woman. It was only fortunate she had gained the trust and respect of the Tauros over the last two years, solidly establishing herself as the de-facto leader of the herd. And, honestly, even that relationship was being tested as the Wild Bull Pokemon barely stayed out of her way.

Even now, Charlie knew it would be difficult to restrain the fifteen Tauros thrashing about in front of her by physical means. It was the height of the breeding season, and the bulls were displaying as much prowess as possible in order to attract the attention of the Miltanks mulling on the other side of the farm. For all their brute strength, Tauros could be incredibly stupid when it came to mating, which was an unfortunate testament to their currently declining population in the wild. Births were becoming far fewer and longer in between.

Only Arceus could possibly know why Tauros sucked so much with their part of the reproducing job, Charlie speculated. Her thoughts were interrupted by the constantly clopping hooves of the species in question, slowly wearing down the grass underneath into flattened pieces of earth. The woods nearby shook, a testament to their mighty strength. Pastel-colored leaves drifted down from the treetops one by one, littering the borders of the fields with the hues of summer.

"Alrighty. This has gone on long enough," Charlie sighed, wringing both her hands and flexing the calloused knuckles embedded within. "Y'all are going to kill me one day, but it ain't today. Butterfree, help a girl out."

As she uttered those words, Charlie looped out a Pokeball from her belt and tossed it in the air. The capsule expanded, opening outwards in a flash of white light and depositing a rather large-looking butterfly into the sky above.

From a distance, Butterfrees looked unintimidating, but Charlie knew better, having one herself. Their potency could not be understated, having access to a wide range of powder and spore attacks. What made those moves even better is how they could inflict a number of status conditions on virtually any type of Pokemon out there.

With Confusion to boot.

The Tauros continued to stampede, each one growing considerably more agitated by the purple butterfly-looking creature hovering above reach of their horns. Either they knew the Pokemon was a female, or they really hated bugs in general.

Charlie opted for the latter, planting both her feet firmly in a battle posture. "I suppose it'll be the hard way for y'all, then. Butterfree, you know what to do. Sic 'em."

In response, her beloved companion chattered a cry, spreading the finely-laced wings Butterfrees were well known for. Mists of light blue powder emitted from the delicate sacs contained within, slowly expanding to cover the entire width of the Tauros herd. Each of the wild bulls stopped in their tracks as the powder sprinkled on their foreheads, much like the snows of deep winter. Falling one by one into a deep slumber, the Tauros collapsed onto the ground as Charlie's Butterfree emitted wave after wave of Sleep Powders from her wings, fluttering in the breeze that continued to blow strongly across the ranch.

After the last of the herd had succumbed to whatever Tauros dreamt about, Charlie heaved a sigh of relief. Granted, it was much easier than most of the things she had to do as a breeder-in-training, but it could've been worse.

"Free!" cried the Butterfly Pokemon, taking advantage of the lull and slowly circling a loop of victory around the field.

Charlie laughed. "Now that's what I'm talking about! You did great, Butterfree."

As soon as she had appeared, the Pokemon disappeared back into her crimson-white Pokeball with a snap, indicating a job well done. Charlie tucked the capsule around her belt, adjusting the fitness as she admired the Tauros, whose snores nearly rivaled that of a Snorlax in its hibernation cycle.

"Quite persistent, aren't they?"

Charlie whirled around, reflexes ready to spring into action. Fortunately, they weren't necessary after recognizing the figure of the man who was watching the scene unfold with an intense gaze.

"Oh, hey, professor!"

Oak smiled, positioning himself straight from the fence he was leaning on. "Charlie. I see the Tauros are getting rather... accustomed to you."

The breeder-in-training glanced back at the bulls. "Uh... I guess you could say that."

Charlie wanted to slap herself silly for talking like an idiot. Professor Samuel Oak was one of the most well-respected researchers in the world, holding an incredible amount of power and influence in his home region of Kanto. Hundreds of people every year fought to get into the coveted spots he had open in his lab here in Pallet. Breeding, Pokedex registry, PC storage components, Pokemon field research, you name it- Oak had positions available to help him investigate the mysterious natures of the beings known as Pokemon themselves. There was no telling how many papers, grants, and untold discoveries had come from the man over the years.

And here she was, talking about sleeping Tauros.

Charlie wondered whether it was luck or pity she was one of the select few employed as a farm hand in the complex, albeit confined to working on the ranch. And, if she was being honest, being friends with the Oak family as a longtime native of Pallet Town didn't hurt her chances either.

But the professor was far above playing favorites. Usually.

Oak continued, noticing Charlie's struggle to grasp at words. "All is well with the herd, I hope? If I do say so myself, your solution may have been simplistic, but effective."

"They're as dandy as a spring barn," chuckled the girl, thankful to Oak for breaking up the conversation. "You know, when you asked me this morning to try this, I thought you'd be at the end of your rope already. But naw, you wanted to test 'ol Charlie, didn't you?"

"I'd wager it depends on how you see it, my dear," the professor answered, clasping both hands behind his back. "Tell me, what is the job of a breeder?"

"To ensure a healthy balance in the Pokemon population, sir," Charlie began, obliging to take a step closer. "To take care of, and if necessary, provide for a Pokemon's needs. It is our duty as breeders to maintain consistency, and, if, needed, help keep wild hordes under control should they threaten balance in both the wild and at home in any way."

Oak nodded, bowing his head deeply. "Right from the textbook, word for word. I had thought you'd refine the idea of a what a breeder does by now. What has two years taught you, Charlie?"

"With all due respect, sir, I've learned to stay away from breeding mineral egg groups. I can handle a Tauros, but ain't no way in hell are you getting me to breed a Minior and Sudowoodo again. It sucks."

Cackling, the professor's body shook with mirth. "It was an interesting day for our research, I'll admit, but no. I don't believe you've learned anything of true value, unfortunately."

"Professor?"

"You're the brightest we've had, Charlie. There's no denying that. No doubt you've been an enormous help to the lab."

"But?"

Oak heaved a sigh, his feet moving back and forth into the shuffling pace he was so famously known for. "My assistants love you. Most of the Pokemon around here respect you. Therefore, I had assumed when you asked to undergo your certification here, there would be rhyme or reason for your decision."

"I had to do something, Professor," Charlie cried. "I think I can swing something out of breeding. It ain't bad at all, honest. Other folks manage with worse. Hell, you saw how this gal wrangled the Tauros- I'll be fine."

"And that's why I can no longer allow you to take the necessary examinations."

"WHAT?!"

"Charlie. I only agreed to let you do your training here under employment if you could make a commitment. You have words, my dear, but your eyes speak otherwise. You're not committed to the path you've undertaken."

"We're not all god-honest saints, professor! You know I can't give you what you want so badly. Not all of us are Red!"

Charlie regretted what came out of her mouth the moment she spoke them.

Oak's eyes flashed in a rare display of anger. "Red spoke little, but his actions said more than words ever could. You think so little of me I aspire to compare everyone to Red?"

"O-of course not," stammered the breeder-in-training, running a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry. It's just... I don't know what you want from me, professor. It ain't the end of the world."

"Why do you think I want you to stop? You could so much more, Charlie. Something's holding you back, and your years here have only made it worse. Red knew from the very start what he wanted to do. It only takes a bit longer for other people, and that's perfectly okay."

"I've read every word in the breeder texts. Okay, maybe not all of 'em," Charlie offered, "but I've memorized just enough to have a swing at it. Professor, you and I know there're tons of breeders out 'en about who ain't up to doing those things."

Offering a smile, Oak relaxed his demeanor. "Breathe, Charlie. You're letting the accent slip again. Do you think I expect subpar quality like some other breeders you see out there?"

Charlie loosened her posture, only now realizing how stiff it was after her little exchange. It took a lot to anger the professor, but holding grudges wasn't his type, she knew. "No, sir. I ain't... er- I want the best for every Pokemon out there."

Even with Oak's usual kindness, his words still stung all the same.

The girl continued. "It's just... jeezums, two years? I put a lot of time in this stuff. Why now, professor?"

"Call it intuition, Charlie. Sometimes the right moment is simply... there."

"Y'know, I get the distinct feelin' you're up to somethin', sir."

"I do believe," began the professor, turning his gaze to the silhouette of his lab in the distance, "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. That being said, I'll be heading back now. Get everything finished up here and take some time to think about what you want, okay? I'll draw up your discharge papers later."

"Alrighty," said Charlie, raising an eyebrow. It was pointless arguing with the professor, anyway. "Leave it to me one last time, sir."

Nodding, Oak turned away from the wooden fenceline and began walking at a leisurely pace back up the trail. His white lab coat swayed in the breeze, a testament to the many years of life he had devoted to the research of the beings known as Pokemon.

It was why Charlie couldn't blame him. She couldn't bring herself to be that angry, what with how many people had gone through his doors at some point in their lives.

She only regretted not being one of those individuals sooner.

~~~0~~0~~~

Tck. Tck. Tck. Tck.

Charlie rolled her eyes, stopping her task of chip-tagging the Tauros and turning towards the clapping sounds emanating behind her. "You got some nerve, Roddy."

"Technically speaking, the human body has up to 100 billion nerve-"

"Oh, save it."

Roddy raised his hands in surrender. "You did mention nerves."

"Bullshit. You just wanted to watch me, Jones, and you know it."

Never before had high noon been so unbearable in the middle of summer, Charlie thought. Besides putting the Tauros to sleep to prevent their hormone-induced rampage, she had the duty of placing trackers on them pending their release back into the wild. So much for funding migration-based movements across Kanto.

"As entertaining as that would be," Roddy began, continuing his irritating onslaught, "that's not why I'm here. You don't remember what day it is, do you?"

Charlie blinked. "It's Tuesday."

In response, her proverbial archnemesis and the bane of her existence folded his hands behind his back, strolling twenty feet closer with an unusually sage grin on his face. "You've been sniffing too much Tauros dung. Seriously, Charlie. It's the Tuesday we've been talking about for, I don't know, two years?"

Charlie racked her brains, searching for an answer. "Taco Tuesday?"

Roddy facepalmed with the vigor of two Slakings in heat. "No."

"Two-for-one Tuesday?"

"No."

"Taillow Tuesday?"

"You're screwing with me, aren't you?"

The soon-to-be ex-breeder-in-training chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. "Of course I know what day it is, dunce. Those two wouldn't be here otherwise."

"Those two-" Roddy started, his confusion slowly turning into understanding as he gazed down the trail, following the imaginary line Charlie was tracing with her finger. "Oh, there they are."

"Having fun without us?" Iddy chuckled, stopping to a halt in front of her friends. She dragged a boy who was red in the face, opting to let him go at the last moment. "Looks like Charlie's been putting you through the paces."

"Hell yeah, I have," barked the girl in question, fist-bumping her companion.

"F-f-for... for the record, I'd like to say this was a terrible idea," Arkie panted, collapsing to a heap on the ground. "Couldn't Oak have installed a chairlift? Where the hell is the research money going?"

"To your safety and welfare," Charlie retorted, hopping the side of the fence she was on. She extended a hand out, helping Arkie to his feet. "Lazy ass."

"You can add vase-breaker to the list," Iddy interjected. "It's as dead as that Tauros over there looks."

"Eh. Butterfree has them all knocked out right about now. They'll be good to go in a couple hours," explained Charlie, punching Arkie in the arm.

"OW! Was that really necessary?"

"For the vase? Yeah. I kind of told her where to find it."

"That's fair."

"Before you people let this devolve into another one of your sparring sessions," Roddy butted in, twitching his neck ever so slightly, "I think we should, like, get to the point."

"Y'know what? The pipsqueak had a good idea for once," Charlie laughed, knowing that the best way to keep her friend focused was to throw a little heat on him. "Y'all best hurry on before the starters get snatched."

"Wait, wait, wait. Hang on a damn minute," Iddy exclaimed, grabbing both Roddy and Arkie by the neck. "Since when were other people coming to claim theirs today? I thought we were the only ones."

"You three? Please. Oak never succeeded in throwin' hundreds of trainers out there 'fer nothing. Man's got a reputation to upkeep."

Arkie narrowed his eyes, twisting himself out of Iddy's grip. "You're bullshitting us, aren't you?"

"I think she is. Look at her face!" Roddy exclaimed, doing the same. Iddy was left empty-handed as a result. "I was watching her for half an hour. Never saw a bloody trainer walk up this way."

The mood darkened as the other three teens turned around to stare at Roddy.

"You... you were watching Charlie for half an hour?" Iddy asked, a puzzled expression crossing her face. "I dunno about you, man, but that's a little fucking creepy."

Charlie was grateful for the scorching beatdown of the sun, masking the slight blush that threatened to crawl across her face. It had never occurred to her to pay attention to her surroundings while tagging the Tauros, considering the activity would quite possibly be the last time she'd ever do it. That aside, she wasn't sure if she should be flattered or weirded out Roddy had been effectively taking his sweet time before making his presence known.

Yeah, in hindsight, she was only a year older than the rest of her friends, but there had always been some sort of unspoken thing between them. It was the same way with everyone moving on while she stayed behind as a breeder; those plans would have to be changed in short order, though.

"Dude," Arkie sighed, clucking a sound of disapproval. "There are rules. Boundaries, man. Boundaries."

"Can we forget about this?" Roddy pleaded, his face aghast. "Reset. Forget everything I said. Ever. It's just a tic. It happens."

Charlie was grateful for the distraction. "Really? You lettin' a tic get the best of you now? 'Fer all I know, the great Roddy Jones never let that stop 'em. Still remember the summer of '10?"

"The fucking summer of '10? Do I ever," Iddy cackled, slapping Arkie across the back. "You damn near scared half the class off, Jones. Even the kid with the defect sprinted half a mile out of the way."

Roddy and Charlie locked eyes for an instant, both glad the original topic had been skirted successfully.

"You're going to kill me someday, Iddy," Arkie muttered, rubbing his back. "Arceus, my spine."

"Your spine'll be fine. It's this heat that'll kill you," Charlie chirped, feeling way too peppy for her own good. Her friends tended to have that effect. "Though this gal could go for a drink. I'll join y'all on the way up."

"Wait just a second," Roddy moaned, brushing a few glistening drops of sweat out of his jet-black hair. "Charlie, the Pokemon earlier. You really were bluffing, right? Nobody else came to get a starter today, didn't they? I'm pretty sure we're the only ones who even bother setting an appointment with the professor on a Tuesday."

The girl smiled, reclining back on one of the nearby rail fences. "Oh, I don't know... might've checked the books earlier, but everything's electronic these days, ya know? Maybe this gal overlooked a slot or two."

Roddy's face paled. "We're so screwed. I really need that Bulbasaur."

"Naw. You're screwed."

"How?"

For the second time that noon, Charlie pointed a finger at the horizon. "'Cause the others just bailed ship without ya."

"WHAT?! Oh, come on. Fuck you guys!" screamed Roddy, shaking a fist at the quickly-disappearing figures of Iddy and Arkie, who had elicited to slip away in the midst of their friend's tirade. "Damn it. They've beaten me, anyway."

"Eh. I think they'll find themselves waitin' a 'lil while," Charlie chuckled. "Oak won't play favorites. Y'all haven't known him for as long as I have."

"Yeah. Guess it could be worse," Roddy sighed, scuffing a bit of dirt with his shoe. "Hey, Charlie. Speaking of favorites, your certifications are tomorrow, right?"

The rancher went for a white lie. "Um, I guess. Tomorrow'll be exciting, 'fer sure."

Dammit. It should've been so easy, especially since her friends weren't ones to judge, Charlie thought. She guessed it was because she hadn't even had time to process her own thoughts about the situation yet. Hell, stopping yet another wild herd of Tauros would be better than having to think about it, as Oak had advised. What would she say to Uncle Kris? Her godmother, Daisy? How was she even supposed to support herself now? Mareep wool only sold for so much, sadly. What was Oak even doing, booting her out so suddenly?

Roddy rubbed the back of his neck, the motion snapping Charlie out of her stupor. "Listen. You're gonna nail this breeder stuff. I know we don't see eye to eye on everything, but I'll miss you bad. Iddy and Arkie will too. Maybe we'll see each other on the road sometime?"

"I-it ain't going to be the end of us, y'know?" Charlie stammered, mentally cursing herself for not coming flat out and saying it. "You can always call. Yeah, you're annoying, but you've got my number, don't cha? You can't beat the Kanto circuit without a 'lil help from this gal, can't ya?"

"Ha! You wish," Roddy laughed. "But seriously, I've got this whole plan going on. I mean, I thought about circulating over to Johto too for the full sixteen, but it's not real affordable in the long run. If you think about it, any self-respecting trainer would start with the Pewter-Cerulean leg and go from there. Boom, grass-type starter. Boom, victory. Yeah, it'll be harder on the second leg, but-"

"Roddy," Charlie shushed, clamping a hand over her friend's mouth. "You're yammerin' on again."

"Oh. Sorry."

"It's okay."

"So... uh, about that help-"

"You'll hafta earn it," smirked the girl, turning Roddy's head to face the glittering steel of Professor Oak's laboratory in the distance, "but I think you need your Pokemon first, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's right."

"I wasn't lyin' about needin' a drink, too."

"Yeah. Wanna walk together?"

"You make it sound weird, Jones."

"I make everything sound weird, if we're being honest."

"You're not wrong," Charlie laughed, taking a quick glance back at the herd of Tauros who remained passed out on the ground. "Besides, the 'lil guys can wait for a while. They'll be fine."

Even still, Charlie wasn't sure if she would be fine. Nor did she think Roddy would be fine, especially if he thought the first leg of the gym challenge was really going to be that easy.

Indeed. Few survived to face the Beast of Pewter and lived to tell the tale.

~~~0~~0~~~

Chapter Two End

~~~0~~0~~~