BEING BOBBY
CHAPTER TWO
GO!
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'Flying...'
Bobby's body drifted in the wind. It flew up high and then down low, then up again. He threw out his arms and guided his movements through the serene night sky. He closed his eyes and let his soul guide him. His broan, unruly was set free as the wind blew it about.
Turning around to have his back towards the ground, Boby slowed himself down so he could pause and gaze upon the heavens. He put his hands behind his head and watched the passing clouds make different shapes. Bobby's body hovered hundreds of feet above the earth. He loved the rush of being in the sky, but there was also a certain fear that was associated with heights that always gave him the heebie-jeebies.
'Falling...'
Bobby could feel his body giving away from it's magical hold on flight. He began to plummit towards the earth's surface at an alarming rate. He threw out his arms and tried to guide himself to safety but he could no longer control his movements. He began to panic. He tried everything he could, but to no avail. Then he remembered his father. He turned his head away from the upcoming ground and looked up to the sky and saw a cloud just like before. He waited for his father to come bursting to his rescue again. But...
'Just wait...He'll be there...'
He waited and waited. No burst of cloud. No Pidgeot. No father. Bobby saw the ground out of the corner of his eye and it was so close. He turned his gaze toward the cloud once again...but...
"...Dad?"
THWUMP!
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Bobby awoke to the sound of his skull cracking against the wooden floorboards of his room. He gave a weak grunt to try and alert someone. The dull pain fell like an anvil slowly crushing down on his forehead. He could glimpse the blinding morning light filtering, no, burning through the curtains.
"Ugh..."
Foot steps started rising from down below. "Bobby! Bobby! Are you ok? I heard a loud noise! Are you ok?" Mrs. Topp rushed in to the bedroom prepared to for another siezure-like episode only to see her son, head crushed against the floor, and his legs still sprawled over the bed, leaving the sheets in disarray.
"What was it this time?"
Bobby let his eyes walk over to his mother and give her an evil glare. "I fell."
"I see!" She chuckled. "Well, lets get you out of here and into some nice street clothes."
Bobby moaned in protest as his mother bustled about his room, picking up random clothes laying all about. She pulled open the curtains to reveal the bright sun of morning. Bobby was temporaily blind as he frantically tried to shield his eyes from the onslaught of color.
"Come on, Bobby! It's time to get up!"
"I don't wanna."
"Well, that's just do bad, isn't it!"
Bobby groaned again as his body finally started functioning. When his mother left, he dressed himself into his normal garb and started his trek down the stairs which seemed to be a lot longer on that particular morning. He entered the kitchen like he always did and sat between Charizard and ... no Tyranitar this morning. Tyranitar's spot was instead taken by Pearl. She turned to him with an ear to ear smile.
"Good morning, sleepy-weepy!"
Bobby didn't respond. Instead, he just gave her a look that said 'what in the heck are you talking about you stupid-'
"Enough chit-chat you two! Eat, eat. You have a big day ahead of you."
The boy sat down at his usual spot and ate his usual breakfast, scarfing it down like it was his last, as usual. Pearl sat in awe of Bobby's eating ability, barely able to keep up even with her ten minute head start.
"This is really good, Mrs. Topp."
"Well I'm glad. Now hurry up and finish!"
The two stowed away and chit-chat they had left and hurriedly finished off their meal.
"Done!" The two chimed together.
Mrs. Topp stood back and watched the two exit to the living room to get their shoes on. She loved it when Pearl was over. She always brought out the good side of Bobby, the happiness. She hadn't seen that in a long, long time.
"Mom, we're ready to go."
Mrs. Topp came back to reality and walked outside to the wonderful town of Twinleaf, a village really. The town was so peaceful, serene, a paragon of beauty. Then there were the charred remains of the Twinleaf Gym. Most of it was intact, but there were holes blown out and debri scattered everywhere. There were various mover pokemon working on repairing the building as best they could, many smaller ones running about picking up the different trash that had been scattered during the previous attack.
Bobby's mother heaved a sigh as she looked upon the once beautiful building that housed her career. "Well, it's gonna be a little breazy, that's for sure."
The trio walked carefully in through one of the larger holes, careful not to step on anything sharp or pointed. "Let's go the class section of the gym, it should still be intact...I think." They weaved their way through the rubbish to find the different classrooms in the furthest area of the gym, it was almost completely untouched. They entered one room labled "Beginners".
"Now," Mrs. Topp spoke as they entered an enormous battling room. It looked like a jungle and had almost every kind of landscape imaginable. It was so big, it was a wonder how it fit in the gym at all! "Let us begin with the Pokemon selection process, Pearl. You need to have a pokemon that best fits you, and that you can easily handle. Go ahead and look around. There are pokemon scattered all over in this room. It is almost like a containment facility."
Pearl slowly began to walk away from the group, just trying to take in the sights of the place. "Wow...this place is so huge!"
"It was meant to relate the real outside world to beginners, so you'd best get used to it."
Pearl nodded and disappeared into a patch of trees. Bobby looked on in curiosity. There were sounds in the distance.
"Hey little guy! Do you wanna come with-AAAAAHHH!"
Mrs. Topp shook her head. "Beginners, eh? They always seem to stumble upon the Ursaring nests...Uhm...Bobby?"
"Yes, mom."
"About last night. I didn't mean to-"
Bobby cut her short. "I know mom, it's just that I saw him! He was the one that saved me! I just know it."
Mrs. Topp raised her hand in protest. "I know, I know. But it couldn't have been your father, Bobby."
"It was!"
Mrs. Topp fell silent. She folded her arms and looked off in the direction where Pearl had gone. Walking off to find Pearl, Bobby grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"He said that he just wanted to make sure that I was ok." He flipped her around and made her stare him straight in the eye. "I know he is out there. I gotta go and find him, mom. I gotta."
A tear formed in his mother's blue eyes. She cupped his cheek then pulled him in to a crushing hug. "If you have to leave me, then you have to."
Pearl walked back in to find the two in the enjoined previously mentioned position. "Uhm...Excuse me?"
The two broke apart slowly, Mrs. Topp wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh hi, Pearl. Did you find one?"
"Why, yes I did!" Pearl gave them all a wink then stepped to the side to reveal her brand new partner of choice. "I want you all to meet my new friend, Shellos!"
Bobby's eyes brightened to the sight of a small, pink, and unbearably cute sea slug-ish creature slide out from behind Pearl. The two matched perfectly!
"Oh, isn't it just adorable?" Mrs. Topp rushed over to give it a good pat on the head. "I'm so glad you picked this type of pokemon, they are just so pretty!"
Bobby blushed at his mother's antics. Pearl hopped about in excitement at her first pokemon.
"Ok, here you go." Mrs. Topp handed Pearl five pokeballs, one for Shellos and four extras. "Now, it probably isn't a good idea to keep Shellos out to much, not only because it is a water type pokemon, but it might not be able to keep up with the group and get left behind."
"Ok." She nodded. "Alright, Shellos, come in to your new home. I promise that it wont be for too long!" The little Shellos complied gleefully and was transported directly into the pokeball.
"Good work, Pearl. I think that you are going to have a lot of fun with that little critter." Mrs. Topp walked over and shook Pearl's hand then pulled her into a big hug. "Twinleaf just wont be the same without you. But we're not done yet."
"Huh?" Pearl gave her a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
"Well, being a gym leader, I have to give you your first taste of battling!" Mrs. Topp clapped for joy. "Don't worry, I'll take it easy on you."
The two turned around to see Bobby standing all by himself, looking at the ground, occasionally kicking away a little pebble. Mrs. Topp walked over and hugged him. "Are you ready too?"
Bobby nodded with a smile on his face. "DO I get to go and pick one out too?"
Mrs. Topp shook her head. "No. I've got a special one for you." The two began to leave and Pearl started to go with them. But Mrs. Topp stopped her. "Pearl, why don't you stay here and start practicing, Bobby and I will be right back."
Pearl nodded and grabbed her pokeball. "Go, Shellos! ... ... oops."
Bobby and his mother worked their way through the classrooms until they came to his mother's office. It was labeled 'Gym Leader Topp's Office'. Once the door was opened Bobby was immediately reminded of his father. The place with littered with his pictures, and medals, and even his giant Elite Four plac. It was almost heart wrenching.
"How long has all of these pictures been here?" Bobby asked as his mother stood in the center of the medium sized office looking at all of the pictures.
"Ever since this place has been built. I always come here when...well." His mother choked up.
"I understand."
Mrs. Topp gave him a smile and then started to walk about the room. "Now, where is he?"
"Where is what?"
"Well," Mrs. Topp said as she started tossing papers aside and looking under things. "I assume that you are leaving soon, right?"
Bobby nodded.
"Well, I'm not letting you leave without a pokemon to keep you safe."
"Really?"
Mrs. Topp grunted in response because she was lifted a heavy stack of book to put them on top of her already cluttered desk. "This pokemon was a gift, from your father to me, just before he disappeared. Because he disappeared, and because I really am a one type sort of gal, I haven't done anything with it. It has just sort of stayed here for the past year. Why don't you help me look for it."
Bobby jumped to the statement and began sifting through various items on the floor. He worked his way to a corner of the room. There was a large stack of papers lying in disarray. They made an almost pyramid shape. Bobby went to reach for it when it suddenely jerked. Bobby's hand shot back in surprise. There was definetly something in there. He reached his hand out once again to try and see what was inside. As his fingertips brushed against the slick surface of the paper, and explosion of sheets blew him right onto his butt. As he flew back a creature pounced on top of his chest and pinned him to the ground. Bobby screamed in fear as the creature started to maul his face with it's tongue.
Mrs. Topp whirled around and laughed at him. Bobby's screams of fear soon melted into giggles of bliss. Bobby opened his eyes to see the most adorable little four legged creature sitting atop his chest. It's fluffy ears twitched with the excitement of child to see it's father. It's big bushy tail swung back and forth in frantic swoops.
"It's an Eevee." Mrs. Topp said as Bobby slowly got up, the Eevee still in his arms.
"I know! How come I never knew about him?"
Mrs. Topp smiled at him. "I wasn't ready to tell you. I figured I know when the time was right. Now, let's get back to Pearl before she gets herself killed in there."
The two went back to the beginner's room to find Pearl sitting down, pokeball in hand. "I don't know how to get her out..."
Mrs. Topp let out a big laugh as she patiently showed the two teens both how to open and close a pokeball. Pearl showed excitement for Bobby's new pokemon as well.
"Alright!" Mrs. Topp shouted. "Are you two ready?"
"Both of us?"
"Yep! Your first battle, mainly for the sake of time, will be a two on two battle. You two against me. Now, I will go easy on you, but that doesn't mean that I will just hand the battle over."
"Mom, you're going down! Go, Eevee!"
"Mrs. Topp, thanks for everything, but now I'm gonna whoop you! Go, Shellos!"
Mrs. Topp laughed at their idle chit-chat. "Ha! Show me what you newbies got! Go, Trapinch! And while we're at it, go, Bagon!"
Bobby and Pearl were both a little taken aback. "Trapinch is a ground type. And Bagon is...a dragon type."
Mrs. Topp laughed again. "Ha! You're not giving up already are you?"
Bobby and Pearl shook their heads and prepared for a battle. No one said anything. There was just the studying of the opponent. Mrs. Topp was very good at this, so she acted very cool. But Bobby and Pearl were focusing very hard on what might be their first move. But Mrs. Topp made it instead.
"Bagon, Tackle Shellos! Trapinch, give Eevee a bite!"
The two opposing moved surprisingly fast. Bagon started charged head first at Shellos. Bobby was lost as to what to do. He had never battle before and he was freezing up. But then Pearl broke in and ordered.
"Shellos, give hima bubble attack then get out of the way!" Shellos shot a big bubble at the charging Bagon that hit him right on top of the head. The water from the bubble covered Bagon's eyes and he lost his bairings, but kept charging. Shellos slowly slid out of the way and Bagon ran right past it.
"Good work Pearl!"
"Bobby! Watch out for Trapinch!"
Bobby whirled his head around just in time to see Trapinch open his mouth for the bite attack. Eevee stood there, bravely waiting for the order. "Eevee, get out of the way!" The Eevee made a quick side step and ended up back to back with Shellos. The trapinch missed Eevee, then stood to face it. The Bagon along with it's fellow team mate, had the teens' pokemon boxed in.
"Wait...water types are strong against ground types..." Bobby muttered to himself.
Mrs. Topp smiled as her son began to figure her strategy out. "Bagon, Trapinch, tackle them into eachother!" The two pokemon began their charge toward Shellos and Eevee.
Bobby turned to Pearl. "Quick! Switch sides with me! Shellos is super effective against Trapinch!"
Pearl nodded. "Eevee! Switch places with Shellos!" Eevee did a back flip over Shellos and turned to face the charging Bagon. Shellos slithered around to face the oncoming Trapinch.
"Eevee, sand-attack!"
"Shellos, bubble!"
Eevee kicked up a cloud of sand that stopped Bagon in his tracks. The Bagon started to sneeze and swing around because it couldn't see anything. The bubble attack struck Trapinch with great force and sent it straight backward. It hit hard against the ground. It tried to get back up, but it just lay there, done.
"Good job, kids! You figured me out."
The two kids jumped up and down, forgetting about the recovering Bagon. As they celebrated, Bagon charged through the sand and struck both Eevee and Shellos, sending then toppling over eachother to lay next to the K.O.'d Trapinch.
"Oh no!" Pearl shouted as her Shellos shakily stood back up. The Eevee soon joined it by it's side. "Are you ok out there?" Bobby asked to the pokemon. They both nodded and looked back at the furious Bagon. It was covered in sand and none to happy about it.
Mrs Topp smirked because it was exactly what she wanted. "Bagon, Rage!"
The Bagon started to turn red as it took off at an amazing speed. Both Eevee and Shellos moved away in opposite directions, the Bagon passed right between them, still running at full speed. The two pokemon turned around to see Bagon just turn around and charge again.
"Eevee, Sand-attack!" Eevee kicked up another cloud of sand right at the Bagon, but it did not slow him down this time, though the Bagon could not see, it just kept on running. "Lay down!" The Eevee fell flat to the floor. The Bagon hit its target just like Bobby had wanted to. Its foot caught underneath Eevee and tripped it something fierce. The bagon was sent careening through the air.
"Hit is with a bubble, Shellos!" The Shellos to aim and then fired upon the flying Pokemon striking right across the face. The force from the bubble attack sent the Bagon flying across the entire battle field until it finally landed in a heap and skidded across the ground, knocked out.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" Mrs. Topp shouted as the two teens hugged eachother and jumped around for joy. Pearl and Bobby ran out to the field and picked up their respective pokemon and hugged them tightly.
"You two are going to make quite the team."
The two teens stopped. "Team?"
"Well of course!" Mrs. Topps said, bring her pokemon back into their pokeballs. "The way you two worked together was amazing! And I just assumed that you two were going to go off together."
"Well, I wasn't planning on it." Pearl said.
"And I need to go and find dad, she isn't going where I should go."
Mrs. Topp frowned. "Well, you aren't ready to find anyone. Those people that attack the gym were very strong. I doubt if I could even have made it any further then when I did."
Bobby looked down. "Well, I suppose you're right."
"Of course I am. Now you two need to travel together, besides, the more the merrier, right? Besides, I wouldn't want any of you two to get lost by yourselves."
Pearl and Bobby looked at eachother. Pearl's eyes brightened. "I'd love for you to come with me Bobby! It will be an adventure!"
Bobby nodded. "Great!" The two put their pokemon into their pokeballs and headed for the door. Mrs. Topp gave them some various materials such as potions and antidotes and stuff. She also gave Bobby some extra pokeballs for the road.
Pearl stopped off at her house to say goodbye to her family and then the two were off. As they reached the main road that led to Sandgem Town, they looked back. Bobby saw his mother waving goodbye with all of her pokemon standing behind her waving as well. Pearl saw her family waving goodbye also. The two turned to eachother and smiled. "This is going to be one fun ride."
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Thank you for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!
