Path of Trials

Chapter 2: Step One

Dear Professor Sycamore,

I am writing to you this request. Two years ago my son, Atrii Wils, was nominated to receive a pokedex by you yourself and he gently declined the offer due to family issues. Yesterday evening a wild riolu followed my son home and there is an obvious bond between the two, noticeable by any who meet them. I believe given the opportunity my child will accept a pokedex and the chance to travel, it could be a turning point in his current emotional mentality. If you would be so kind as to request my child to aide in your research I would be most appreciative. I believe you have the code to my holo-caster? I would very much be glad to receive a call from you regarding anything to do with my daughter. She has been uncharacteristically quiet as of late.

Yours sincerely,

Ruth Wils

P.S. Please keep the contents of this letter confidential, especially the last part. Thank you in advance.

Ruth put down her pen and checked over her letter, making sure she hadn't left anything out. After a double check the woman was satisfied with what she had written so she folded the message then sealed it in an envelope that she placed on the table. With this task completed Ruth walked over to the stove, behind the bar, and turned off the heat that had been brewing her morning tea. While she was here in the kitchen, the mother grabbed two mugs from a cupboard and grabbed two croissants from a container on the refrigerator. All these things she set down on the counter connected to the bar from her side of the kitchen before walking off.

Going up the steps quietly, Ruth took the first door on her left and entered her son's room, where the boy was soundly sleeping. His room was unusually neat for a boy's bed room but then again Atrii spent most his time outside in a garden or a forest. Due to this nature his mother was able to walk across the floor without having to worry about stepping on anything. She reached his bedside and checked the glowing digital clock on his nightstand, 3:43 am. He was going to be grumpy for sure but Ruth knew he would never make it to Lumoise City from Camphrier Town and back again in one night, unless he left early.

Rubbing circles on his back Ruth coaxed her child awake. Atrii's breathing ceased its regularity and a tired groan slipped from his lips. His bright eyes opened, unfocused and unseeing, then they settled on his mother's face. He squinted at her tiredly then breathed out a sigh and covered his face with his arm.

"C'mon get up." Ruth laughed, "You've got a long day ahead."

Groaning out his displeasure, the boy dropped his arm from his face and watched his mother from where he laid. The woman shifted through a few drawers of her son's dresser selecting an appropriate outfit, which when she had gathered it, she set down on the foot of his bed. Atrii sat up in his bed, rubbed at his eyes, and then he stretched. This routine done the boy was deemed awake enough by his mother to be left alone.

Downstairs, Ruth was busy at the counter packing food and other sustenance in two bags. She also had two thermoses, one filled with green tea and the other filled with a sweetened black tea. The mother had just finished packing these things away when Atrii came downstairs fully dressed and still half asleep.

"Sorry to wake you so early honey" said Ruth, "But I've got a letter I need delivered to Professor Sycamore. And because I have to work today I won't be able to deliver it myself. So that being the case I need you to go into Lumoise and give the message to the Professor, take Riolu with you too" she said in a rush.

Ruth hung a lunchbox on her child's shoulder and walked him over to the door where he silently pulled on his boots. Riolu having been silently following Atrii all morning simply watched in idle curiosity the mannerisms the older human was showing. Everything in the house done the woman ushered her son and his pokémon outside, stepping out herself Ruth turned and locked the door.

Outside so early in the morning with the sun still down it was cold and mostly dead, though there were a few other people beginning to stir. Ruth gave her son another once over and was glad to see he had a light jacket on, though he was missing his hat and had obviously forgotten to comb his hair. The mother did her best to fix his bed-head with her fingers but Atrii made it difficult by moving away and groaning tiredly. Ruth sighed but let the task go unfinished, the boy wasn't a slob, he'd fix his hair himself before meeting up with Prof. Sycamore.

Ruth and her son walked two streets down to the bus stop where Atrii sat on the bench.

"The bus will be here soon, it'll take a few hours to get to Lumoise. The Professor's lab is going to be on the other side of the city from where you're going to be dropped off so you'll have to walk a bit. I love you honey be safe" said Ruth, placing a kiss on his forehead. She then walked off to accomplish her own agenda.

Shortly after Ruth left a bus pulled to a stop where Atrii sat. The tired boy rose and climbed inside the vehicle, destined for Lumoise City. The bus was pretty much empty so early in the morning only two other people were on board. The child paid his fare and took a seat towards the front, near a window Riolu taking a seat next to him. He was soon fast asleep not caring much for the errand his mother had given him.

The trip went quickly and uneventfully enough for Atrii for he awoke in what felt, to him at least, like minutes. Riolu gave his human friend a rough shake as the bus pulled to a stop in a beautifully cared for city. The boy, now more awake, lifted his head and silently observed the buildings around him.

The ground was cement, though he could see some cobble stone paths further away from the bus station, and hard not his favorite. Tall, brick and concrete, buildings rose high into the sky casting shadows through the streets. And of course then there were the people who lived here and those visiting as well, thousands of people many of whom were crowding the streets, some talking others simply moving on with their day; an example Atrii followed.

A few hours of walking through twisting streets later and the boy was sure he was lost. He craned his neck up to see signs and directions but seemed to always find his way back to the same spot. The people around him were rude too, always bumping up against him and walking on without so much as an apology. Atrii and Riolu stopped by a strip of buildings painted blue, the boy planting his back on the wall of a store and sliding down to the ground with a groan.

"Hey there, are you lost little guy?" said a new voice.

The boy looked up to the woman that had spoken to him, observing her cautiously. She was probably a little younger than his mother with her short hair drawn back, one lone clump hanging out on the left side of her face. Her red and black button up shirt and beige pants were well cared for and so clean Atrii had no doubt that the woman lived in the city. Dare he let this green eyed woman blossom his hope… why not he didn't have anything to lose by it.

"Um maybe… maybe a little bit. Do you know where Professor Sycamore's lab is by any chance?" Atrii asked meekly.

The woman smiled at him "Yep, sure do! I can show you the way if you like, I'm headed there myself anyways" she said with enthusiasm.

The woman held her hand out to Atrii and seconds later the boy took it in his own. She pulled him up from the ground and the two set off, the woman leading the way. Ten steps later and the boy halted, shyly looking up at her.

"What's wrong?" She asked. Confusion fixed her features before a gentle smile lit her face "I'm Alexa, I work for the Lumoise Press. It's nice to meet you mister?" the woman trailed off here.

"Atrii Wils, it's nice to meet you Ms. Alexa. Thank you for the help, I'm not used to the big cities" the boy inclined his head to express his gratitude. When he looked back up to her face she seemed shocked for some reason.

"Wils? As in related to Shalom Wils?" Alexa asked in mild shock or amusement, Atrii couldn't tell which people skills weren't his best field. The boy nodded in conformation "Wow! I can't believe I get to meet a top trainers family member" the woman all but squealed girlishly. "When we get to the pokémon lab do you mind if I get a quick interview?"

"Uh… I… I suppose not, I guess. But it'll have to be quick I've got a time schedule to keep" The boy stammered out sweat dropping at her odd reaction. Alexa only nodded then the two were once again on their way to Sycamore's Lab.

With Alexa's knowledge of Lumoise's streets the two were able to quickly reach the pokémon research labs of Prof. Sycamore. The building was noted for two, poke ball statues placed on either side of a single pathway to a set of double doors. Both the reporter and the boy made a quick entrance approaching the clerk at a counter ten feet from the front door.

"Hello! How can I help you today?" the lady behind the desk asked. Alexa pulled out an ID card and gave it to the clerk briefly explaining that she had a scheduled appointment with the Professor. The clerk handed the badge back to Alexa, confirming the appointment mentioned.

"The boy is with me by the way" Alexa finished. The clerk smiled and waved the two to an elevator fifteen feet away reminding them that Professor Sycamore's office was on the third floor. Both Atrii and Alexa gave a curt 'thank you' then they were off.

Inside the elevator Atrii ran his fingers through his hair, trying to make himself presentable. Noticing this Alexa dug through her purse and pulled out a comb handing it to her young companion who took it gratefully. The elevator came to a stop with a ping, the door sliding back, Atrii returned the comb; it's job done; and he and Alexa stepped out.