Like it says in my first chapter, I don't own Pokemon. If I did, I very much doubt that I'd be writing fanfics about it.
I stepped off the train, my suitcase in my hand, and my best friend Piplup by my side. Hunter and Ivana had decided not to come with me, since there was a contest in a nearby town that both intended to enter. Hunter entered contests so that he could work on his training technique.
I carried my suitcase outside of the train station, and Brock was waiting there in his truck. He waved to me, so Piplup and I hurried over. Another train was pulling into the station, and after a moment, Zoey and her Glameow joined us. After both Zoey and I threw our luggage in the back of the truck, we got into the cab.
Zoey sat in the middle, while I sat by the window with Piplup on my lap. Zoey's Glameow leaped up onto the dashboard in front of me, and lied down in the sun. Brock got into the driver's seat, and started up the engine after the three of us had buckled our seat belts.
"Hey guys." Zoey greeted us with a smile. "Thanks for inviting me Brock."
"No problem." Brock smiled back as he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
"How have you been?" I asked nobody in general.
"Good. Autmun and I have been working on plans. She's going to have her own cafe, and I'm going to breed Pokemon and give advice to all the young trainers I can, in the same facility." Brock replied after a moment when Zoey did not.
"I've been contemplating whether I should start a summer training camp for Coordinators. I've been discussing it with Mr. Contesta and he seems to like the idea." Zoey nodded. "How about you Dawn?"
"Well I went down to Kanto for a bit and acted as a Guest judge in some contests there. Spots as a Guest Judge were easy to come by since they already know my mom from the Sinnoh Grand Festival. After the Grand Festival in Kanto, I came back and worked with Lila at her Pokestylist shop in Celestic town, but after awhile, I got bored with it and started to travel again. That's when I met up with Ivana and Hunter, and I had been traveling with them since. They're sweethearts." I replied with a smile.
"I saw your Kanto debut on TV. The other judges seemed to love you." Brock complimented me, not commenting on why I had given up being a coordinator.
"I didn't see your debut as a Kanto Guest Judge, but I caught a few of the other contests that you were judging." Zoey added with a smile.
"So, Ivana and Hunter, tell us about them." Brock prompted me.
"Well they're both thirteen years old. Ivana is a coordinator like I used to be, and she's always trying to dress like me. It sometimes gets annoying, but I'd never tell her that. I'm sure that she'll find her own style eventually. And Hunter is a trainer like Ash. He enters a few contests every now and then, but his goal is to eventually challenge the champion. They're best friends and pretty much inseparable." I explained.
"Are they hotheads like you and Ash used to be?" Brock asked teasingly, making Zoey smile and laugh at the thought.
The comment was only said in jest, I knew that, but it still hurt like a bee stinging my heart. Nobody had known what had happened between Ash and I for us to go our separate ways. It upset me to think about it, so I avoided thinking about Ash.
"Earth to Dawn!" Zoey's familiar voice pierced my thoughts like a pin in a balloon. My bright blue eyes wide, I realized that I hadn't answered Brock's question.
"I said 'Are they hotheads like you and Ash used to be?' You guys used to fight all the time when you first started travelling with us." Brock's eyes were completely focused on the road now.
"No. Hunter is really mellow, but he's focused, and Ivana is quite.... energetic, and she gets distracted all the time. Their Pokemon are exactly like them. It's quite funny to watch them at times. It's like watching them with the Pokemon versions of themselves." I continued, smiling because they were interested in what I had been doing. "Now Zoey, tell us more about this summer training camp for Coordinators."
"Oh, it's nothing really. Mr. Contesta loved the idea when I suggested it to him. He told me that the younger generation would benefit greatly from having an older mentor to help them with their contest skills. That way, with every generation, the contests get more and more exciting." Zoey smiled. Most likely she was pleased that we were interested in what she had been doing, just like I had.
"I agree. So many young Coordinators just need the confidence of an older Coordinator telling them that their combinations are good enough. Or even if you could work with younger children who want to become Coordinators. It would help them decide thats what they want to do, and give them experience. I think it's a great idea. If you decide to do this, then give me a call. Autumn has a little cousin who would love that, and I know a bunch of other kids who would too." Brock replied.
"Yeah, we were thinking of doing a week long program for those who already have started their journeys, and then a longer program for the younger kids. We were going to provide the Pokemon, and they have to choose a random Pokeball, and they will have to work with what they choose, without seeing the Pokemon first, to show them to make the best of what they've got. We would hold miniature contests, and give out ribbons to the winners." Zoey continued.
"I've got some baby Pokemon that would benefit greatly from working with the younger children. Blissey is great with the baby Pokemon, and children too. I remember when she was just a little Hapiny. You were there when she hatched, and Ash too. Remember that Dawn?" Brock asked.
"Yes. And you had Sudowoodo, and Croagunk. How is Croagunk nowadays? Is he keeping everyone in check?" I laughed at the memories, which were washing over me like a wave. I missed the days when it was just me, Ash, and Brock. Those were such fun times.
"Croagunk is fine. Our neighbor's Croagunk has a crush on him." Brock laughed, clearly thinking about the days when he used to ask every woman to go out with him, and Croagunk used to keep him under control with a quick poison jab.
"And how's Autumn?" Zoey prompted.
"She's great. Ilta's three daughters follow her around like a lost Poochyena. She's having fun drawing the plans for our Cafe, but she's under a lot of stress from the wedding. She tries to hide it from me because she doesn't want me to worry, but I know that she's stressed. I've been told that the most stressful event in a person's life is their wedding day." Brock finished.
As we sat silent for a long moment, I looked out the window and saw a blond girl on a Ponyta racing through the field that ran parallel with the road. It took me a second to realize that she was racing the truck! Her Ponyta looked like it was having a blast, and the running was obviously doing the Ponyta good, as it's mane and tail were a massive banner of flames, and it's tail stretched more than the entire length of it's body behind the pair. I wondered why there was a vacant field in the middle of the city.
"Here we are." Brock spoke quietly as he slowed the truck down and pulled into a short driveway on the other side of the road as the vacant field. After parking the car in the garage, Zoey and I lugged out our luggage from the back of the truck. Glameow and Piplup were standing together, looking around and smiling like old friends.
"This is a pretty place you've got, Brock." I said, and Zoey nodded in agreement.
"Thanks. Your rooms are right this way." Brock answered, starting towards the house.
"Don't be silly Brock! I don't want to put you out. I'll stay in a hotel. Any that you would recommend?" Zoey and I said in unison.
"You wouldn't be putting us out. We have enough room for you guys." Brock replied, turning around.
"No Brock, as much as I appreciate your very thoughtful offer, you have enough going on, so you don't need to add a house guest into the mix." I said firmly.
"I agree." Zoey added, her voice equally as firm.
"Alright then. The hotel next door is a good place. They always have rooms to spare, and their breakfast is delicious. Autumn and I stayed there for a couple of nights, and that's when we found out that this house was for sale. We love the town. Everyone is very friendly, and a lot of people are going eco-friendly if they haven't already made the switch." Brock explained.
"Great. I'm going to go and check in. Are you coming Dawn?" Zoey asked me. I nodded. Of course I was coming.
"Are we sharing a room?" I asked her once we were out of earshot of Brock.
"Well, it depends. If they have enough rooms and the prices are reasonable, then we should have our own. We can always share later on if need be." Zoey answered logically.
Of course, Zoey was always the logical thinker. If the hotel ran out of rooms, then we could double up with other wedding guests. But then again, we were also limiting the amount of rooms available for wedding guests.
We pushed through the spinning glass door, and entered the lobby. It was brightly painted in a lemony-cream color, and was very bright. There were many windows which gave scenic views to any that entered the lobby. There were three platinum colored elevators on the far side of the east wall, and a check in/out desk which was also platinum colored, with glass, at the center of the back wall.
Zoey and I walked up to the check in/out desk, and waited. There was a small line. There were three other people in line, and the line moved quickly. It appeared as though the other people were wedding guests too.
"Dawn?" I heard a familiar female voice behind me. Zoey and I both turned around.
"May!" I replied. "It's good to see you!"
"Back at ya!" May smiled.
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