Underdog
A Slight Change
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the wait, got a little stumped on how to continue from the first chapter. I've decided to upload chapters in short parts, so that it's easier for me to continue writing.
As the glare from the white light faded, I finally got the first glimpse of my new Pokemon. It was a small black Pokemon, in the shape of an icicle. A yellow layer covered its entire body except for the face, and it had hands in the form of two small black balls surrounded its small body. Its eyes were a light shade of blue, and an enormous smile was plastered upon its face, nearly covering half of its face. I scrutinised my new Pokemon, as it did the same back to me. Its body emanated a strange coolness, that dropped the room's temperature a notch, leading me to conclude that it was some kind of Pokemon affiliated with the element of ice.
" Sno?" It said inquisitively.
"Uhh… Hi?" I wasn't sure how to reply to it, my experience with Pokemon limited to chasing the Bidoofs away from the back garden, and a few small nuggets of information from Lady Maria.
Just then, there was a sharp tap on the door, and Professor Rowan's voice could be heard from beyond it. My Pokemon jumped up onto my bed at the sudden noise, and began shivering. I found that rather ironic.
" Miss Cornelia? I would like to have a few words with you."
I hastily unlatched my door, allowing Rowan in. He sat himself in an old rickety chair in the corner, and began to speak.
" Now, I'm sure you, along with everyone else, has been wondering what compelled me to give a Pokemon to you." He began.
I nodded in assent, as he continued to speak.
" I chose you, because I'm tired, so very tired of the monopoly that the Berlitz family has on Pokemon training. Every year it's the same old story; the champion is likely to be a Berlitz. Only recently has an outsider won the championship title…" Rowan ranted.
" Really? Who?" I asked.
" That's not important at the moment miss. I also would like to give you a Pokedex, it is a device that records and stores information about Pokemon. "
I took the Pokedex from Rowan, and examined it closely. Suddenly, it gave a loud 'BEEP'. I nearly dropped it on the floor in shock.
" Snorunt. The Snow Hat Pokemon. In the snow country, certain folklore says a house will prosper if a Snorunt lives there. This Snorunt is female." The Pokedex announced.
Oh well, at least I knew the identity of my Pokemon now.
" As you have just witnessed, the Pokedex has the capability to analyse Pokemon within a 5-metre radius, and to expel the information gathered at you." Rowan said.
" Well, that's one way to put it…" I replied.
" My hope is that you will find as many Pokemon as you can, and record it down in the Pokedex for me. Also, I don't think it will be wise to share this news with the other trainers, as it might err… injure their pride even more."
I rolled my eyes, Rowan was making understatements again.
Just as Rowan was about to continue, a servant ran into the room.
" Lady Agatha calls for you both. She says she would like to speak to Cornelia."
Rowan shot me a worried look. This couldn't be good.
" Please hurry. She says it is a matter of great importance." The servant said breathlessly.
" I shall come with you." Rowan said to me.
I nodded, and followed the servant out of the door.
We ran toward the Great Hall, where the entire Berlitz family was assembled.
" Took you long enough." Lady Agatha said coldly.
" What is the meaning of this Agatha?" Rowan questioned.
" I called for the servant girl because I was going to announce a change in the traditional journey around Sinnoh."
"A change?"
" Yes Rowan, a change. I have decided that instead of having all four of these trainers undergo their journeys in the Sinnoh region, each of them will be delegated to one of the five regions, excluding Unova."
" You can't do this Agatha. Cornelia has next to no experience with Pokemon, to send her into a foreign region alone would be suicidal!" Rowan exclaimed.
" Well perhaps you should have thought of that before allowing a mere servant girl to partake in this tradition Rowan!" Agatha shot back.
As the two elders engaged in this back and forth argument, I stood still and contemplated my fate.
" Alone? In a foreign nation? Could I do this?" I pondered.
"Now, if you will be so kind as to allow me to continue Rowan, I will explain this to the trainers. Oh and to the servant girl as well of course." Lady Agatha added as an afterthought.
" Three of them will go to foreign regions, while one of them will remain in Sinnoh. We have decided not to include Unova in this, as travel there will be undoubtedly difficult to conduct. In about a year from now, the World championship will be held, and the four will take part in it. That is, assuming they get past the National and Regional stages of course." Agatha gave a rather nasty look at me as she said the last part.
" We have decided to leave Lucas here, in Sinnoh. As for the other three, Caden will be going to Hoenn, Anya will be going to Johto, and the servant girl will be going to Kanto."
" Kanto?" I wondered out loud.
" Yes girl, Kanto, birthplace of legends, home region of the legendary Red." Lady Agatha said, once again emphasising just how inexperienced I was.
" Anyway, the departure for the regions will commence the day after tomorrow. Meeting adjourned!" She declared.
I shuffled back to my room, deciding to take the opportunity to make a quick escape, before anyone else decided to draw me into one of their crazy plots.
Before I could reach my room, Anya and Caden accosted me; this could not be good.
" Well, well, well, if it isn't the little servant rat. Professor Rowan must be losing his touch, that old duff, if he chose someone like you." Anya said.
" What do you want Anya…" I said coldly.
" You watch your mouth filthy peasant, you're not allowed to say our names." Caden spat.
" It's ok Caden, what does a street rat like her know about manners. Anyway, I just want to say that there's no chance of you succeeding, so you might as well give up now. Goodbye." Anya strutted off, with Caden following closely behind.
" Why that little…" I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, my anger threatening to explode out. Instead, I walked off back to my room, intending to sleep everything that that had happened today off…
The glare of the morning sunlight permeated my small dusty room, waking me up from my sleep. The Pokeball containing Snorunt rolled over as I rubbed my eyes, suddenly bursting open on contact with me.
" Ahhhhh! Cold, cold cold cold." I shrieked.
" Sno-Snorunt?" My bewildered pokemon inquired.
Just then, the door swung open, and Lady Maria appeared, looking equally bewildered at the strange scene that met her eyes.
" Uhh, perhaps I should come another time?" She said.
" No-no, it's perfectly fine," I said, after wrenching Snorunt back into her ball.
Lady Maria smoothed my bedsheets over and sat down, ignoring the column of dust that erupted the moment she sat.
" Congratulations Cornelia, on becoming a trainer." She said, with a smile.
" Do you think Professor Rowan might have made a mistake?" I asked nervously.
" No, of course not! Professor Rowan is an excellent scientist, and in all my years, I've never seen one so certain about anything. Anyway, I came here to tell you that you should probably train, and also get ready for your journey."
Lady Maria saying it out loud really brought it home to me. All my life, I had wanted to escape from this miserable life, and now my dream would be coming through.
"Where do I start training?" I asked.
