A/N: Hey dudes, if you like (or don't like) the story, be sure to leave some reviews. Feedback is awesome. \o/
Lots of thanks to thesuzerain from /r/PokemonInsurgence for allowing me to use some content from his fan-made Pokemon game: Pokémon Insurgence.
I do not own Pokémon.
Chapter 2: "A New Experience"
-Saffron City, Chiura household, approx 4PM
Fate had arrived home after her tedious day at school. She opened the unlocked front door to her home in her peaceful neighborhood situated in a suburb just outside Saffron City.
As she stepped inside the house, she removed her shoes at the designated spot near the front door, and continued into the kitchen, where her father - Norio - was stationed sitting at the dining room table, drinking coffee.
Norio usually gets home before Fate, so he makes his coffee and waits to greet his daughter every afternoon when she returns home from school. Except for today, where he urged his daughter to return home immediately after school.
Fate already figured that something was up, but it couldn't be that bad. She has been passing all of her classes with flying colors, and she trusted her father more than anyone else. What could really go wrong?
"Good afternoon, dear," Norio spoke as Fate entered the kitchen, "did you have a good day at school, sweetie?" He followed with a smile
Fate raised a slight eyebrow when she noticed her father. But him sitting at the dining table drinking his coffee was completely normal, but then reverted back to her normal smiling face, then bowed upon greeting him. "Yes, father."
"Why've you urged me to come straight home today?" She continued.
Norio's previous smile had completely changed. A straight, stern expression now covered his face - he had obviously went into 'serious mode.'
"You know about Pokémon, correct? They inhabit our world, and we live with them side-by-side - but I'm sure you knew that already." He started
He continued, "Pets, lifelong friends, helpers. Pokémon all have a different purpose for different people.."
"Like Meemee, right!?" Fate piped suddenly, causing her father to raise a puzzled eyebrow.
Norio retained his straight face, "Yes, dear. Just like Meemee."
He continued, "But most people keep their Pokémon in a Poké Ball, as it is the standard tool for catching and training Pokémon. I befriended Meemee a long time ago, and he has stuck with me throughout our years."
"That makes sense, Papa, Yuki has a Poké Ball, and the Unovan-exchange-student-boy has three of them. I wonder what kind of Pokémon they have." Fate pondered with an inquisitive look on her face.
"Hahaha, I hope you find this new experience to be something that you can learn from!" Norio had chuckled, easing the mood tenfold, but leaving Fate completely confused.
"Whaaa~?" Fate responded to her father's hopes, unaware of what his plan was.
"Change into your hiking clothes dear, we're going for a stroll in the woods outside of the city." Norio finished.
- About 30 minutes later
Fate skipped into the kitchen, in a button-up plaid shirt that resembled a 'lumberjack' style, and loose blue jeans, along with a pair of boots that she had never worn before, obviously trying to dress for the occasion.
Norio was in his work attire, but this time he had a bag around his shoulder.
"You ready, Fate? Let's go." Norio called out, opening the door and motioning Fate outside.
- Some minutes later,
Fate and Norio - her father - had been walking into a beaten path for a few minutes. Norio was sure that they'd come across some Pokémon here, because this is a common path for first time trainers.
This path was pretty much like any forest, cluttered with trees, rocks, plenty of moss, and leaves.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a few Pidgey had flown in the trees above them. On a nearby tree, a Caterpie had recently evolved into a Metapod, so it remained hanging on a branch. A Pikachu was also nearby eating a berry from a berry tree.
Norio spoke with a low and soft voice. "You see, they're just like any passive animal."
"Today I want you to catch your first Pokémon. Sorry if this is a bit much," Norio retrieved a Poké Ball out of his bag, "but I'll show you what to do. So don't worry too much. Let's keep walking."
Fate just nodded her head in agreement and followed her father, very eager for this learning experience.
"Fate, if you come across something that you want to befriend, just point it out to me as we walk." Norio reassured his daughter, knowing that her first choice would be the most important choice. He seemed to not want to pressure her too much.
Fate glanced at every creature they saw here in the woods outside of Saffron City, all of them looked intriguing. She even eyeballed a Butterfree, but it swiftly took off after it noticed humans nearby.
Oh well, she thought.
A few Rattata here and there, Pidgey of all sorts of body shapes in the trees, even a Spearow flew around their heads for a few moments before Fate finally saw the one that stuck out to her the most.
It took Fate a minute to notice what it was, but the color of its fur stuck out to her.
An orange dog? That looks so cute! Her thoughts immediately got set on that Pokémon.
"Papa I want that one!" She frantically pointed at the orange dog that hadn't seemed to spot them yet.
Norio held a finger up to his closed lips, "Sssssh…"
"Eep, sorry," Fate said in a truly apologetic tone.
Norio examined the Pokémon she was looking at. It was a Growlithe, a pretty rare species, especially for this far into the woods. It didn't have a collar, so it was definitely wild.
"Fate, do you remember the Police Officer's dog? The Arcanine? It liked to eat berries, didn't it? Get one off of that tree, I want to see something," Norio requested of his daughter.
Fate then looked around, looking for a berry tree, then spotted one that had berries of a blue hue on it, her father referred to these as 'Oran berries.'
"Try to lure that Growlithe over here, be really calm and be inviting.. and nice, using that berry. Take this Poké Ball, if it gets near you, press this button here while holding it near it," Norio commanded.
Oh no, this is it, I thought I was okay with this, but I don't think I can do it.
"Be really calm," he says.. okay.. as long as I can do that..
Fate took a few steps toward the Growlithe that was sniffing at a berry tree for food, but couldn't reach to the last few berries near the top.
She got down on one knee, holding the berry in her right hand, Poké Ball in her left. She followed this with a 'kissing' sound that people usually do to call their dogs.
Uh oh. The Growlithe had noticed Fate, and started approaching her in a cautious manner.
"I'm not gonna hurt ya'," she continued with her plead toward the Pokémon, offering the berry with an open hand.
The Growlithe had reached Fate, and started sniffing at the berry in her hand, and as soon as the Pokémon recognized the scent from the berry, it started munching at it. As soon as the berry was eaten up, Fate made a non-violent attempt to pet the Growlithe on its back, as per the usual way to pet animals.
Please don't bite me,
Please don't bite me,
Please don't bite me,
Please don't bite me,
Please don't bite me.
The Pokémon's tail started swinging left and right, accepting the petting while also trying to lick at Fate's hand.
"Hehe! You're so adorable! So I do it like.. this?"
Fate had pressed the button to the Poké Ball, causing the ball to expand while holding it facing the Growlithe, the ball opened and the red aura suddenly took in the Pokémon and it went inside the Poké Ball without any issues, then the Poké Ball returned to its small and normal state.
Norio had a look of shock on his face, "She's a natural. She just caught a wild Growlithe with her kindness more than her ability to throw a ball.."
Fate was holding the Poké Ball close to her, returning to her father's side. "Papa, I really don't want to keep it cooped up in this thing for so long.
Her father had a reassuring look on his face, "I'm not too sure how they make these things, but I'm sure it'll be fine until we get home. I'm sure you're drained already," he then motioned for the two to return home.
- Some minutes later, around 6PM, in front of the Chiura household
Fate embraced the Poké Ball the entire way home, it was late and she was exhausted from her learning experience today, but something came out of it.
Norio unlocked the door and opened it, removing his shoes before entering the kitchen, Fate followed suit, since now her boots were no longer brand new.
"Papa can I look at it? Can I?" Fate pleaded in a childish manner. Knowing that she sometimes forgets to refer to him as 'father' and gets the childish instinct to say 'papa.' One of these days it'll let her get her way.
"Of course," Norio responded in a very soothing manner, knowing that his daughter and himself were home safe, "it is your Pokémon after all, you caught it yourself."
He went off into the living room with a smile, and came across Meemee, who was sleeping.
Fate went into the living room after her father, and held out her Poké Ball, facing toward the floor. She pressed the button on the front, the ball expanded and opened, the same red aura from before then brought her beloved Pokémon into their house.
Arf! Arf! The Growlithe responded in happiness from seeing Fate, but didn't look so impressed with Meemee.
"Here, Fate. Take this Pokédex, you might need it. It's a device that records info on Pokémon, even tells you what their common names are. This one is a Growlithe."
The Growlithe was wagging its tail intensely and leaning on Fate's standing leg, hoping to grab her attention.
"Let me take a look, sweetie. I'm sure you want to name it." Norio began examining the Growlithe in an odd manner, but it didn't take him long. "It looks like you've got a female, sweetie, want to give her a name? I'm sure she'll learn it soon, Growlithe are very intelligent Pokémon."
Fate gave it some thought for a few moments, then conjured a name immediately after.
"Aha! I know! I'll name her… Lola!" Fate cried out, then kneeled to pet Lola. "Yeah, Lola!"
Norio laughed under his breath, impressed by his daughter's natural talent and creativity. "That's my girl."
My girl.
"That's my girl…"
Even though…
Johto region, unknown time or place.
"You don't fear for her upbringing, Mr. Chiura?" The man's voice was recalled once more into Norio's memory - still haunting him.
"No, I have pride that I can raise a girl on my own, since you cannot, " Norio immediately responded.
"But she's so different, can't you tell? I can find another adoptive parent if you're not up to it."
"Quiet, fool. Once the adoption process is finished, I'll be taking her back to the Kanto region with me, where I can raise her properly."
"Heheh, you can tell can't you? Why I named her 'Fate'? You can see it. There's something special about her, and I'm definitely not the person you'd want raising such a special child. Fufufu."
Of course that evil man was right, there's something special about her. That's why he passed her on to me so easily, in hopes that she'd grow up being oppressed. But she hasn't even cause a glimpse of being oppressed, though she doesn't know the truth.
How do I tell her?
I raised her,
I comfort her,
I make her safety my number one priority,
But she deserves to-
"Papa! Papa! Take a picture of me and Lola, please!" Fate cried out impatiently to her father, handing him her smartphone with the 'camera' app already opened.
"Of course, dear," Norio reassured, taking his daughter's smartphone and snapping a few pictures of the pair - Lola was trying to lick Fate's face in all of the pictures, "you two look cute. I'm sure she'll make for a lifelong companion - Growlithe are known for being defensive of their owners and families. Don't take that for granted." Norio had returned Fate's phone to her.
"I sure won't, Papa, I love her so much already," Fate had the side of her face facing Lola, letting the Growlithe lick her cheek, "she's so adorable."
Norio headed for the kitchen, "I'm going to start on dinner, we'll have steaks with broccoli so Lola can eat along, I'll just cook extra."
"Yay!" She had cried out, hugging her new companion.
Yeah, that's my daughter.