"Help!"
The shout came again from the entrance to the town. Ghost adjusted the leather messenger bag on her shoulder and sighed. She glanced at the sky, which was moving towards early evening, then over her shoulder at her house. "I guess unpacking can wait until tomorrow," she muttered and ran in the direction of the urgent call.
Outside of Littleroot was mainly forest, with a single dirt road winding its way to the next town, and Ghost was forced to stop several times to detach herself from thorns as she followed the cry for help, which was growing more desperate by the second. She moved deeper into the trees, leaving the road behind, until she burst into a clearing, coming to a dead halt as she took in the situation.
Then she burst out laughing.
Pinned against a pine was a man in his mid-to-late-forties, dressed in a lab coat. That must be Professor Birch, Ghost thought. What was amusing about the scene was that the creature cornering the professor was a small, adorable, gray canine Pokémon. It seemed to be just out of infancy and was gnawing on Professor Birch's arm with blunt baby fangs. The man was panicking, trying in vain to shake the young beast off of him.
"You!" He cried, noticing Ghost on her knees, shaking with mirth. "Stop laughing and help me! My bag, there, do you see it?"
Wiping tears from her eyes, the teenager rose and looked over at the leather satchel laying near her, a smile still on her face. "Yes, I see it, Professor."
"Inside are three Pokéballs, choose one and detain this villain!"
Ghost instantly sobered at the word 'Pokéball.' She had only had the chance to battle with a Pokémon a few times, during her childhood, when her father was actually willing to play with Lyra and herself. She loved the thrill of the battle, the unity felt between trainer and Pokémon. Even if it was against the puny thing using the professor as a chew toy, she was more than willing to help.
Upon opening the bag she found, as described, three half-red, half-white spheres on top of everything else. The only difference between them was a sticker, placed just above the black button in the middle. The left ball had a leaf sticker. On the middle one was a sticker of a tongue of fire. The one on the far right had a sticker depicting water as three blue wavy lines parallel to each other. With basic knowledge of starter Pokémon owned by the professors in each region, it wasn't hard for Ghost to deduce that these stickers told which Pokéball contained which starter.
Instinctively she reached for the one in the middle, but stopped herself before grabbing it. This is Hoenn, not Johto. That's not Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil was the Pokémon she had decided she was going to choose before learning of her family's moving. She had no idea what any of these three Pokémon were. Looking at her choices, she knew that her fate might depend on it. She would have to choose very carefully, with careful consideration.
"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo!" Her finger landed on the grass-type's ball. Ghost picked it up and examined it. She could see her warped reflection in the smooth, undamaged surface. She could have sworn that when she picked it up there was a flash of warmth in her hand, as well as a feminine laugh that somehow seemed both far away and close, in her ears and in her mind.
Professor Birch brought her out of her momentary stupor. "Oi! I don't know, you might remember why you're holding that thing. Oh yeah, to HELP ME!"
"Don't get your panties in a wad," Ghost retorted, pressing the button on the Pokéball and tossing it. It hit the ground, bounced, and opened. She caught the ball as it sailed back towards her and leaned forward eagerly to find out what she had chosen.
"Tree-cko!" The female Pokémon cried out the name of her species as she appeared. She was a bipedal, green, reptilian creature. Her hands and feet each had three digits, and her dark green tail was separated into two lobes. The eyes placed high on her head were yellow, with narrow pupils. Her wide nose jutted out over her mouth and chin which were pale red, as was her stomach. The small Treecko came up to about Ghost's hip, and didn't seem all that intimidating, which worried the human.
"Um, alright, Treecko. What moves do you have?" Ghost asked. The Pokémon looked into the girl's green-gray eyes with her intense golden orbs.
"Tree-tree." For a moment it felt like she had been struck by lightning, then Ghost heard a female's voice, the same way she had heard the laugh. "Pound and Leer."
What?
"Uh, use Pound." She tried hesitantly.
Treecko nodded and leaped at the animal 'attacking' Birch. The graceful reptile gently knocked it off of the man's arm, sending it flying to the center of the clearing. What she didn't expect was retaliation. Her target jumped up and lunged at her with surprising agility, crying out, "Poochyena!" Rather than using its teeth as it did when playing with the professor it pushed itself full-force into Treecko's stomach, slamming Ghost's new partner to the ground.
"Treecko, are you okay?" Ghost called, her eyes wide. She wasn't sure if such a small Pokémon could take any hit. Her fears were quickly relieved as the grass-type rose.
"Treeck..." Treecko pushed herself up and grabbed the Poochyena by the throat with one hand. She lifted it up to eye level and clenched her other hand into the equivalent of a fist.
"Treecko..." Ghost smiled faintly. "Pound."
Critical hit. Their opponent flew into the trees, and didn't return. Treecko turned to Ghost, grinning victoriously. She seemed to barely notice the few bruises and scratches on her body, a number of which were bleeding slightly. The girl lifted the small Pokémon up onto her shoulder, wiped away some of the blood, and walked over to Professor Birch, who was abnormally absorbed in gathering all of his materials.
"So... Big emergency, wasn't it, Professor?" Ghost said, smirking impishly.
"Oh, hush you," he retorted half-heartedly, placing his bag on his shoulder. He looked around for a few seconds, then turned to Ghost. "Which way is Littleroot Town?"
"This way," she answered, and began leading the way out of the forest. Birch walked beside her, and after a moment spoke up.
"Now, who are you?"
"Ghost Sapphire, Norman's daughter. You may or may not have heard about me. I doubt it, knowing my dad around someone equally interested in Pokémon."
The professor replied slowly, sounding uncomfortable. "He... mentioned you. After I asked about his family. He said that you were shaping up to be an amazing trainer."
Ghost stopped so suddenly that he nearly kept walking without her. "Don't lie to me, Professor," she murmured so quietly that Birch strained to hear her. "My dad doesn't give a crap about me. It wasn't even his idea for my mom and me to move here. He was perfectly content with us staying in a whole other region." She swallowed hard, and forced herself to keep walking, avoiding the man's questioning gaze.
They continued in silence, until they broke out of the trees onto the road. Birch turned to her and smiled, attempting to relieve the tension. "Come with me to my lab, I think I need to reward such brave heroes."
Ghost lifted her eyes, her mouth trembling until finally she gave in and returned the friendly grin. "Oh really, I was just doing the right thing." She responded in a mocking tone.
"Oh no, I think you'll want this."
As the professor took the lead, Ghost heard a voice which sounded so familiar, though she couldn't place it.
"Yes, you will want this."
"Did you say something, Professor?"
He turned and looked at her quizzically. "Why? Did you hear something?"
"I thought I did," she answered softly.
"Well, no. I didn't say anything," he said mysteriously and kept walking.
Soon after they were standing in a standard laboratory, with machines that Ghost didn't recognize and notebooks lying on tables everywhere. And bookshelves. Many, many bookshelves. Also, there were no chairs. All of the lab staff stood while they worked, no matter what they were doing. Professor Birch led Ghost to an empty spot out of the way, then turned to address her.
"Now, I know that you don't have a Pokémon of your own, Ghost, but the way Treecko reacted to you was superb! You definitely have your father's blood in your ve-" he stopped, seeing the indignation flaring in the young girl's eyes, and quickly changed tactics. "I can see that Treecko is already attached to you. So, I would like you to have her."
"Really?" Ghost shouted in excitement, looking at the Pokéball in which she had stored Treecko, which was now resting in Birch's outstretched hand. Hardly daring to believe it, she slowly reached out to pick it up. She felt the same heat as when she first chose it, and as she moved to put it into her belt, the ball opened and Treecko appeared, unbidden, on her new trainer's shoulder.
"See, she does like you!" Professor Birch chuckled happily. "Would you like to name her?"
Ghost considered this for a few moments. She remembered a book that she had her mother read to her when there was nothing to do. It was a guide to the old languages spoken centuries before, a time of which there was very little knowledge besides basic words of the languages. One particular word seemed fitting.
"Her name is Crann," she declared, pronouncing it similarly to 'crown.'
Birch nodded and said, "Well, I can tell you two are going to be a great pair. Now, my son, Brendan, is out on Route 103, studying Pokémon. Why don't you go ask him for some pointers?"
"Okay, goodbye Professor, nice meeting you." She started for the door, then stopped. "Actually, before I leave, I need to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"When I first chose Crann, I didn't know any of the moves she had. Then I heard someone tell me what she knew. But, I didn't hear it like you would think. It was like- like someone else was talking in my thoughts. And then, just earlier, the same voice spoke, telling me that I would like your reward. That was when I asked you if you had said anything. Do you know what's going on?"
Professor Birch smiled calmly, which made Ghost relax slightly. "Some trainers say that, after their Pokémon have bonded with them more, their talk is translated into human speech. But only to their trainers. And supposedly it happens more easily as they progress until they get to the point where they can hear other trainers' Pokémon."
"And you think they tell the truth?"
"I think this just attests to my earlier statement that Tr- er, Crann, already trusts you. Now, goodbye, Ghost." His last sentence an obvious dismissal, he turned his back to inspect one of the machines.
Ghost grinned at Birch, then at her new Pokémon. "See you later." Then she exited the lab, and once again left Littleroot Town.
A little ways down the road, Crann spoke again, and this time it sounded less like it was inside Ghost's mind, and more existent. "Well, I think it's safe to say he wasn't lying."
"Really?" Ghost countered sarcastically. "But, you said earlier that I'd want his reward. How'd you know he was gonna give you to me?"
"I listened. He tends to talk to us – me, Mudkip, and Torchic – when he's working, and he said that a new trainer was moving here, the child of his friend, and that she was due to receive her first Pokémon. So after we saved his life," she paused briefly to giggle, seemingly amused by the professor's overreaction to the Poochyena, "and he said he was gonna reward us, it wasn't hard to figure out what he meant. Now, about my name... What's it mean?"
Dang, she's smart... Maybe she'll help for more than battles... Ghost noted as she answered, "It's a word in an ancient language, meaning 'tree,' which I figured fit you. Do you like it?"
"It's alright," Crann admitted, "but it sounds a bit strange. Are all of our teammates going to have strange names?"
The trainer suddenly froze, turning to look at the Treecko staring innocently back. To be honest, she had not been thinking of new Pokémon during this journey. But when it was brought up, she knew she couldn't make it with just a Treecko. As soon as she got her hands on some empty Pokéballs, she would catch, as dictated by the Rules, the first Pokémon encountered in each area.
As luck would have it, farther down the road they encountered a few Pokémon, eliminating Route 101 as a possible area to catch in. Crann did level up a bit, and learned Absorb. Ghost quickly learned that the little green reptile had the passion to battle well, but the common sense to know when she needed to be healed.
The route ended at the entrance to town that appeared slightly larger than Littleroot, with normal civilian houses, and just a normal Poké Center and Mart. The wooden sign barely jammed into the ground and leaning slightly read 'Oldale Town.'
"Oldale, huh?" Ghost glanced at Treecko and smiled slightly, heading towards the Poké Center. She entered and was greeted at the counter by the usual Nurse Joy, her cheery voice identical to her supposed similar-looking relatives spread throughout the various regions.
"Hello, welcome to the Pokémon Center! Would you like me to heal your Pokémon?" The nurse's pink hair rings swayed as she spoke, a friendly smile present on her face. Ghost put Crann into her Pokéball and handed her over. "Thank you," Nurse Joy said. "It will be a few moments. May I have your name?"
"Ghost Sapphire," the new Trainer answered.
"May I see your Trainer Card?"
Ghost faltered, staring in confusion. "My... my what?"
For a moment the Pokémon healer's smile fell. "You've been traveling without being issued a Trainer Card?" Ghost nodded and Joy gasped. "If you're caught without one, you would be considered illegal! All of your Pokémon would be confiscated and you would be put on a list, never able to challenge a Gym without risking being arrested."
"C-can you issue me one?" Ghost asked quietly, her laurel-colored eyes wide at this shocking news. Birch, I swear to Arceus next time I see you... She shook her head and sighed.
Nurse Joy frowned sympathetically. "I'm sorry, no. Luckily, the closest Trainer Card issuing station is in Petalburg City. It's just west of here. But," her voice dropped to a whisper, "try not to get caught. Avoid Poké Centers and stock up on items you will need. Potions, antidotes, anything you need to heal your Pokémon. I suppose, for now, I can let it slide. I'll heal your Treecko. Just this once." She smiled warmly and then waved her hands towards the young teenager good-naturedly. "Shoo now, I'll call you when she's ready."
Ghost went and sat on a nearby couch, glancing occasionally at the counter. Nurse Joy ran her fingers on the Pokéball affectionately for a moment before placing it in a strange machine near her. Hm... I wonder if all the Hoenn Joys are like her? A lot different than the Johto ones, for sure. Her dad being a Gym leader, she had had many opportunities to travel all over Johto with Norman, and met many-a Nurse Joy. They were common, happy-go-lucky, standard script Joys, unlike this helpful woman.
"Ghost, your Pokémon is ready!" Nurse Joy called, and Ghost immediately jumped up to retrieve Crann. She thanked the nurse and left, immediately heading to the Pokémart.
"We're going to get stuff, like that nice lady said?" Crann asked, placing her arms on the bill of Ghost's baseball cap as she peered at the town curiously. The trainer laughed as the cap was pushed over her eyes and the Treecko jumped slightly, clinging to the girl's shoulder, startled.
Ghost gently lifted the Pokémon off of her shoulder and held her in her arms. "Yea, we're gonna pick up a few potions for now. Then we'll go see Brendan." She spoke softly, as she did when she was thinking. She's still so young... Barely old enough to fight well... Is it fair to drag her into this Challenge? And other Pokémon too, as young or possibly even younger... Am I in over my head here? She paused, her hand hovering over the handle on the Pokémart door. She mentally shook herself back to reality and entered the mart.
She stood in the doorway stupidly for a moment, wondering where the potions were. The lady at the check-out counter looked over and called, "Pokémon are not allowed to be outside of their Pokéballs in here."
"Yes, ma'am." Ghost replied and looked down at Crann, who nodded compliantly. She put the Treecko into her Pokéball and returned it to her belt. Then she walked up to the counter and asked, "Where are the potions?"
"Aisle 2," the woman responded, then added, "I'm sorry for making you put your Treecko away, but it's company rule. We've had too many instances of unruly Pokémon picking fights with other Pokémon or damaging the store goods."
"It's fine." Ghost smiled and wandered down to the aisle that had been pointed out. She located the healing items and grabbed four of the small potion bottles. She turned to go to the counter and pay, when something caught her eye. She turned and saw a light blue bandana, with a Pokéball image on it. She picked it up, grinned widely, and continued to the check-out.
A few minutes later Ghost stood outside the Pokémart, her items placed in her bag. She removed the single Pokéball she owned from her belt and pressed the button, releasing Crann. The young grass-type stood on the ground, her head tilted back fully to see her trainer's face. The human knelt down, smiling. "I have a surprise for you." She brought the bandana out and tied it around her Treecko's neck. "Now we're partners."
Crann smiled and leaped up onto her usual place on Ghost's shoulder. "Yay! Let's go!"
Ghost laughed and stood up, looking around. There were two exits to the town, one leading to the west and Petalburg, the other leading north to Route 103. She thought for a moment, then walked towards the west exit. Brendan could wait long enough for her to get a Trainer Card. However, just as she was about to leave the town limits, something sprang out of the grass and pushed her onto her rear. She yelped and covered her face with her arms, waiting for another strike.
When nothing happened, she moved her arms and saw Crann pinning a man to the ground, beating him viciously as he tried hopelessly to remove her. "Get her off!" The assailant wailed helplessly.
"Crann, that's enough." Ghost called off the Treecko and stood as the man scrambled clumsily to his feet. "What's the big idea, jerk," she asked in irritation, her hand clenched in a fist.
"You almost ruined possible footprints of a rare Pokémon, that's the big idea!" The man ran a hand through his long black hair, inspecting the area leading out of Oldale anxiously. He turned back to the trainer and adjusted his glasses indignantly. "I'm sketching them, and I can't have some brat running through with their Pokémon and destroying this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"R-rare Pokémon?" She echoed breathlessly. "What sort of rare Pokémon do you have here in Hoenn?" Her eyes wide, the young girl looked at the footprint-sketcher expectantly.
The young man stammered nervously. "I'm- uh- I'm not sure. It- uh, might be- uh... A new species! I haven't had a chance to study the prints completely yet. So... don't come through this way yet, okay?" Without waiting for an answer he gently turned Ghost in the direction of the north exit. "Try that way, maybe. Good-bye."
As they walked towards Route 103, Crann huffed indignantly. "I bet he's lying. Did you see him stutter when you asked which Pokémon it was? We should have just beat him down and kept going."
Ghost gently rubbed the Treecko's nose. "I know he was lying, but I don't want you to get into a habit of beating humans who make you mad. Plus, maybe there's a chance Professor Birch was going to say something about the Trainer Cards when we got back. So come on," she turned her face to the new route. "Let's go face Brendan."
Gah I'm sorry I know it's been a while since chapter 1 pleasedon'tkillme! Yea, I'm irritated with myself for the lack of things happening during the second half of this chapter. So boooring. It's so weird trying to figure out your character's choices and translate it into story. That's probably why it takes SO LONG to write a chapter. Plus my chapters are SO LONG. GAHHH!
Sorry, I just had- A little spazz attack there. Perfectly normal. Stay tuned for the next chapter, where things happen!