CHAPTER 2:PAPARAZZI
"I'm home! I brought a guest with me!", Birch called as he unlocked the front door and entered.
"Welcome back, honey.", his wife greeted him warmly.
"Hey, pops! How'd it go with the pickup? Can I meet the starters?", a boy the same age as Havoc asked as he descended the stairs.
"Well, kiddo, that depends. You'll have to ask Havoc here. He's their new trainer."
"All three of them?!", his son asked, incredulous.
"Yep, all three of them. Havoc here is an excellent trainer, from what I saw. I was about to be robbed by some pokemon thieves when he showed up and got me out of that jam."
Birch told the whole story to his family.
After hearing the tale, the boy turned to Havoc.
"If that's the case, thank you for helping my dad out. Arceus knows he needed it."
He offered a handshake, adding, "My name's Brendan. Professor Birch is my dad. Nice to meet you!"
"Likewise."
Proffesor Birch's wife spoke up,"Come in already! Lunch is ready and its getting cold."
The meal was sumptious. Freshly made tortillas, served with lemonade was as close you could get to heaven on earth, Havoc thought to himself as he dug in.
"Havoc, I'm going to go program your dex and fill out the details, so I need to know if I should classify you as multi-region or single-region. Do you plan to visit other regions as well or will you operate within Hoenn itself?"
"I hope to travel beyond Hoenn, so please, sign me up for the Multi-region Pass."
"Great! Do you have a plan for how you're going to do this?"
"Not entirely. I intend to take the League Challenge, so I'll be going through the cities with Gyms; that'll take me all over Hoenn. I've figured out how I'm going to play this out, though. I'll head to Rustboro, then Dewford, Slateport, Mauville, and so on till I get to Ever Grande."
"I see. You'll be taking the standard Hoenn Gym Route then."
"Yep. I plan to train for a bit first, though. I need to get used to and know my new Pokemon better.", Havoc said, fondly patting his pokeball belt.
"Why not stay with us for a bit, then? We have an extra room. Brendan here intends to take the League challenge as well, you know. You could help each other develop your skills further.", Birch offered.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, husband.", his wife agreed.
"I think it'll be a great chance for me to improve my abilities!", Brendan added.
"I won't be imposing on you, then?", Havoc wondered uncertainly.
"No! We'd be glad to have you with us!"
"It's settled then, I'll be staying with you guys for a while, then!"
A week later
Havoc had settled in comfortably at Littleroot. He slept in the guest room, ate dinner with Birch and his family. The Professor's wife was a great host. He had made a routine for himself. He'd get up early every morning at five, freshen up, and train till breakfast. Brendon usually joined him. After breakfast, he'd get back to training. After lunch, when it was too hot outside, Havoc would join the professor in the living room, where he worked. As Birch worked on his research, Havoc would generally read the paper or one of the books from the Professor's collection. He would bounce off ideas and questions pertaining to pokemon and their moves and abilities, which Birch was more than happy to answer. Havoc's ideas and doubts were refreshing and insightful, and sometimes helped make connections or raise new questions in his research. Birch's wife and Brendan would join them sometimes too. Evenings meant more training till night fell. After dinner, Havoc would sit with his pokemon in a circle in the guest room. They didn't talk much during this time. They just sat their, enjoying each other's company. It felt nice just to know that they were there, together, and that they were going to set out on a journey soon; new people, new pokemon, intense battles against powerful opponents! The possibilities were endless!. Sometimes they'd play games like Ludo or Arboks and Ladders, to let off steam. It was a good routine; but both him and his pokemon were beginning to get more and restless. Havoc took this as a good sign. The more restless they got, the more it meant they were ready to set out. It was clear that the time to leave was fast approaching.
"Hey, Havoc! You seen this yet?", Brendan called as he came to where Havoc was finishing up his pre-breakfast training. Breakfast was good. Breakfast was better with good company. Breakfast was the best after a hard morning of training.
"Seen what?", a distracted Havoc inquired. He was watching Treecko fight Torchic while Beldum and Mudkip cheered on the sidelines. He was teaching his pokemon how to put up with type disadvantages today. His pokemon were maturing and growing more powerful at an alarming rate. The intense training regimen was really paying off. They were nearing evolution. Havoc was sure of it. He was able to beat Brendan consistently. Even when it was Brendan and his dad against Havoc, he generally prevailed over them.
Brendan came to him with a tablet. The web browser window showed a video with the caption 'LONE TRAINER TOTALS POKEMON THIEVES'. Havoc recognized himself in the video. It was a video of his confrontation with the hooligans and their leader!
"It's the second most watched video on the threads right now, and the most talked about thing in the media!", Brendan informed him, laughing. "I've heard dad tell me what happened so many times, but wow! This is so cool! You're a badass!"
"I guess?"
"You guess, my foot! You're a badass through and through!"
Brendan's praise made Havoc uncomfortable. He wasn't used to compliments.
"Thanks, Brendan.", he managed.
"Mom's saying we need to come inside for brekkie now. Race you?"
"You're on."
The two boys ran off towards the house's porch, with the pokemon in hot pursuit.
"Havoc, you hear about the video of you and those hooligans being all over the news and social media?", Birch asked, as he dug into his pancakes, which he washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice.
"Yep. Brendan told me about it."
"Don't be too surprised if a news crew pulls up here to interview and such."
"Why would they? It's not such a big thing to help people out if they're in trouble, is it? "
"Well, for starters-", Birch looked at the two of them, grinning expectantly.
Brendan just shook his head.
"Four out of ten, professor.", Havoc commented. "You were saying?"
Slightly crestfallen, Birch pressed on, "Pokemon theft and illegal sale has always been a strongly spoken against issue. Your stopping them is seen as an effort to end pokemon theft and sale. That's why it's kind of a big deal."
"Plus, not a whole lotta exciting things like botching a pokemon robbery go down around here, especially not at this end of the region.", Brendan added."So the media getting riled up isn't really that big of a surprise."
"I'm not very good with Q and A's or at socailizing.", Havoc admitted.
"That's all right. You can simply say 'no comment' and get it over with. Although, it isn't entirely a bad idea to give an interview, you know. It can help build connections and a good image which can prove to be very helpful."
"Maybe I'll give this interview thing a whirl. What should I say?"
Birch was about to go into a long and overly descriptive rant discussion about body language, vocabulary, wit and whatnot when his wife, who had figured this might happen, cut in before Birch could start, "Just be honest, kiddo. That's all. Isn't that right, honey?"
She gave her husband pointed look.
"I agree. Totally!", Birch agreed hastily.
"You'll be fine, Havoc. You won against eight pokemon with four! If you can pull that off, an interview should be a cakewalk for you!", Brendan quipped.
"Mmm."
As if on cue, a news van pulled up in front of the porch where Havoc and Co were having their breakfast. As the dust cleared, a woman, a cameraman and a mic operator stood before them.
"Good morning, Havoc!", the reporter began cheerfully, flashing her even, white teeth.
"I'm Gabby! I'm here from Hoenn Now, and we would like to ask you a few questions about you and your pokemon!"
"All right.", an uncertain Havoc replied.
"Fantastic! Ty, get rolling! Mick, that mic better not be visible on-screen!"
"3, 2, 1...we're live!"
"Good morning, Hoenn! I'm Gabby , and I'm here today at the household of the renowned Pokemon Professor Birch, where the young trainer Havoc currently resides. Havoc, as many of you may know, is the trainer, who just a few days ago, helped the Professor out by fighting off some thieves looking to get their hands on some starters! He has agreed to an exclusive interview with us."
Havoc nodded at the camera, a nervous smile upon his face. It did not help that a small crowd was watching him as his interview was being conducted.
"All right, let us begin!", Gabby exclaimed.
"You have a peculiar name."
"So do you."
"Not the point. What's the origin story behind your name?"
"I was a pain in the neck to put up with in the nursery of the orphanage. Apparently, I used to rile up the other children. The floor watchman gave me that name. I liked it. I kept it."
"How old are you?"
"14. Ish."
"That's pretty late to start a journey. In Hoenn, a trainer sets out at age 10! Why did you not start earlier?"
"I was homeless, more or less penniless and had no parents. I had no one to vouch for me or guide me, growing up. An opportunity for me to undertake a journey of my own arose recently, when Professor Birch kindly offered to procure a pokedex for me and sign me up for the League, after the run-in with the thieves."
"What happened to your parents?"
"They left me at an orphanage near Oldale."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Why are you not at the orphanage anymore?"
"No comment."
"Okaaay. Your brawl with the thieves tell us you are a pretty powerful and knowledgable trainer."
"I'm all right, I guess."
"What's the secret to your prowess?"
"You flatter me. I'm just your garden variety trainer."
"Any tips for trainers out there?"
"I'm not even a trainer in full yet. What tips could I possibly give?"
"What are your hobbies and interests?"
"I love the world of pokemon and pokemon battles. As for hobbies, I like to read, so I go to the public library and read a lot of the time. I also enjoy music, so I play the piano, or my flute. I watch all the league Battles on a TV or listen to them on the radio."
"Do you have any favourite battlers?"
"Of course. Non-League wise, I'm a fan of Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Tyson from Mauville. Did you see how Ash dealt with Gary Oak's Blastoise at the Silver Conference while having a tired Charizard? Freaking brilliant! League-wise, I think my favourites are Steven, Alder, Koga and Flint."
"Interesting choices."
"Trainer's got to have role models."
Havoc wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Had he said anything wrong so far? This interviewing business wasn't really his thing.
"You seem to be uneasy, Havoc. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thanks. It's just that I'm not all that comfortable in front of a camera."
"You need something to take your mind of things, don't you? And I know just what it is that you need!"
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. Havoc, I challenge you to a battle!"
Havoc's demeanour changed completely. His fidgeting stopped, his eyes that had been darting about nervously stopped darting and became clear and focussed. The nervous-smile-that-was-beginning-to-resemble-a-grimace-with-each-second was replaced by a grin. His hunched shoulders relaxed and he stood taller, to his full height.
"Bring it!"
"I certainly intend to!", Gabby replied as she threw a pokeball with her first pokemon. Out came a snarling Loudred.
Gabby paused. "Aren't you going to bring yours out?", she asked, puzzled.
Havoc's grin widened.
"Oh, he's out, allright."
He snapped his fingers. "Night night."
Beldum came hurling out of nowhere and got Loudred smack in the face with Iron Head. Loudred crumpled, out cold.
"Damn it!", Gabby shrieked. Her head was in the game now. A noob ten years younger to her had just knocked out one of her pokemon in one hit, on live TV!
"Magneton, time to rock the boat!"
Magneton entered the field, but Beldum was nowhere to be found.
"Beldum, return! You were great. Let someone else join in the fray now! Torchic, let's do this!"
Torchic came out of her pokeball, growling defiantly.
"Mirror Shot!", Gabby ordered.
"Double Kick the ground."
Without hesitating, Torchic obliged, chirping, on it, boss.
The kick shot Torchic off the ground. While she was in the air, Havoc shouted, "Now! Ember! As hot as you can make it!"
Torchic obliged, giving the Ember everything she had.
Magneton was cooked by the attack. It fainted, and lay there, smoking.
Gabby was knocked to the ground by the force of the attack. She sat there, staring at her defeated partner.
Who the heck is this guy? His pokemon didn't even take any damage!
Havoc walked over to her, Torchic in his arms(he had run forward to catch her as she made the landing apprach). He offered her a hand, and said, "Good battle. You were right, it's just what I needed."
Gabby took the hand and was helped up.
Looking at him blankly, she asked,"How?"
Havoc understood what she meant.
"Trust, understanding, training. That's all there is to it.", he replied.
"I see."
"I'm glad you do."
She regained her composure, and turned back tot he camera, wearing the smile she did for the camera.
"There you have it folks! You don't have to interview this guy to get to know him! A battle's all you'll need! Gabby out!"
"Holy shit, Havoc! What was that? You trashed a Magneton with Ember? And at the same time, you scored with Gabby from Hoenn Now ?! What, what?", Brendan cried as he followed Havoc back inside after the reporter had left. Gabby had left her phone number with him.
"Language!", Brendan's mom called from the kitchen.
"Sorry, mom!", Brendan called back.
"I did not score with Gabby, idiot. She gave me her number if I ever felt like giving another interview.", an amused Havoc explained.
"Oh, so you do want some more with one-on-one with her, don't you, playa?"
"Oh, shut up."
"Well Havoc, that went pretty well. You handled yourself very well out there today.", Birch said as he looked up from his work, a thesis on the territorial behaviour of pokemon.
"Thanks, Professor."
"You're going to train now, I presume?"
Havoc usually followed his routine to the T. Just not today, though. Havoc shifted on his feet for a bit, and then replied, "I've decided it's about time I got going. I feel like I'm ready to set out. Battling with Gabby made me realise that I'm capable enough to venture out now."
"Darn it..", a crestfallen Brendan, moaned. Then he brightened up, back to his usual self.
"Don't think you're rid of me just yet, Havoc! I'm going to train harder than ever! I'm gonna get as good as you, and then some! I'll catch up with you, just you watch! Then we'll travel together, bringing Elite Four and Champions to their left, right and centre!"
"You've got yourself a deal, Bread On."
"It's Brendan, and you know it! Also, I find it disturbing that that's all you could come up with for my name, Hammock. Boom!"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll see."
"Well, it's about time you got going. You're going to shake things up in the world of pokemon. I know it.", Birch said, offering him the pokedex he had kept at the ready for when Havoc would finally set out. He also handed him a leather case with the dex.
"Something I think you'll find useful out there in the field. A small token of my appreciation and gratitude."
"Professor, I don't know what to say-"
"Then don't say anything.", Birch's wife walked into the room, holding out his backpack in one hand, while she held his green and grey jacket, freshly laundered and druy-cleaned in another.. She had packed everything he'd need on his journey.
"This isn't goodbye forever. We'll see each other again. We'll be rooting for you and Bread On here."
"Mom, not you too! Noooooooooooooooooo!", a stricken Brendan wailed, falling to the floor clutching his heart and swooning.
They all shared a laugh at that.