Chapter Two - Arriving in Iceland
Jake,
I am writing while on my way to Europe. As I'm not there yet I'm writing on a Canadian postcard. You've probably seen it a dozen times before, hehe. The plane left about an hour ago, and I can just assume that we are flying over you right now. I'd wave but you couldn't see me. ;D
Being here reminds me of the last time I was in a plane-you remember, don't you? You spotted that Absol down on the ground, and moments later we were preparing for a crash landing. Fun times, eh? ;p
I doubt that'll happen again though, thankfully. Shouldn't be too long before we make a landing. I am a little nervous, but mostly excited about what there is in store for me. I might take some time off from battling occasionally....no, make that definitely. ^^
Well, I guess that's it for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
~Sedna (and Houndoom too!)
P.S. the next postcard won't be from Canada. =p
Sedna arrived in Keflavík with no problems. Though when she got there she soon discovered that she was in Reykjanesbær, a recently amalgamated municipality. But this did not change her plans, as she was still as ready as ever to get on her journey.
She reached into her knapsack, grabbing the poke ball that she had left there. "Sorry Houndoom," she whispered into it. "You had to stay in your poke ball while on the plane. But you can come out now," she added with a grin as she pressed the release button. In a flash of light, her Pokemon appeared.
But to Sedna's shock, it was not Houndoom....
"Yanma!!"
The Bug-Type Pokemon appeared on the floor, and looked around. Her wings were beating like mad, as they always did. She then turned her head sideways, giving Sedna what almost appeared to be a grin.
"Yanma...." Sedna began, still surprised at what happened. She thought she had left Yanma with her sister back in Canada. "If you're here, then....Houndoom...."
Yanma took flight, and began zipping around the area like a fighter pilot. She circled around Sedna three times, buzzing gleefully. By now it was obvious to Sedna that it was no mistake that Yanma had come with her.
She was about to recall her, when the Yanma landed slowly onto Sedna's knapsack. She nudged an opening just enough to let a second poke ball fall onto the floor. It landed on its release button, thus immediately causing the Pokemon within it to materialize.
"Houndoom!"
The hound's ears stood on end, and her nose began twitching, taking in all the scents of the airport. She stretched out her claws and tail, letting out a low howl of relief. Out of the poke ball at last!
Then, she turned to see her trainer, awestruck and relieved, with a maniacal-looking Yanma perched atop her head. Houndoom immediately raced towards her, knocking her onto the floor. She then gave her face one giant lick. Yanma was fast enough to buzz out of the way in time.
Laughing, Sedna rubbed her Pokemon behind the ears. "Yes, it's good to see you too, girl. I promise never to leave you in there for so long again, kay?" Houndoom didn't care, as long as she was out.
Getting back up to her feet, Sedna looked at the Bug, still flying around her head. "Now what am I going to do with you?" she said, hands on her hips and with a mock questioning look on her face.
"Yanma....yanma...." she was obviously not falling for the ruse.
"You silly Bug," Sedna said with a smile. "If you wanted to come with me, all you had to do was say so."
"Yanma! Yanma yan!"
"Of course I'm not mad," she said, figuring out what the Pokemon meant. "Now whatcha waitin' for, we got ourselves a world to see!"
And with that the trainer and her Pokemon left the airport. Houndoom remained by her trainer's side, while Yanma buzzed about, sometimes setting herself down on Sedna's knapsack.
Their first stop was a local restaurant, to get a literal taste of what the city had to offer. And of course, they were all a little hungry. All except for Yanma, that is, who decided to re-enter her poke ball the moment they went indoors.
Sedna ordered some haddock and mashed potatoes, remembering hearing that the fish caught in the region were superb. Taking her first bite, she couldn't help but agree. The tantalizing fish soaked in with butter and herbs was amazing. Houndoom had a healthy helping as well, and full-heartedly agreed. Sedna smirked, noting how hard it sometimes was to satisfy the hound's appetite.
She looked around the restaurant, which had some nice pictures of the region. There was one of a volcanic isle with a few Staryu washed up on it; pictures of the city streets, buildings, and people; and one of what seemed to be a mountain of ice. The word "Snæfellsjökull" was written underneath it. She had no idea what it meant, let alone how to pronounce it.
"Just call it Snæfell," she heard someone say. She looked to the table beside her and saw an older man, maybe in his 60's. He was of average height and build, though his piercing blue eyes were nothing but average. He had a short grey beard, and a big smile. He had obviously seen her gazing at the picture of the ice mountain.
Sedna smiled. "Thanks," she replied. "I'd never have been able to figure that out."
"I take it you aren't around here, miss," he said.
"Is it that obvious?" Sedna asked jokingly.
"Well, I just come here often enough to know that I've never seen you around here before."
Sedna nodded. "Yeah, you caught me."
The man looked down at Houndoom, who was now eying him suspiciously. "Never seen one of them fine animals before either, so that was a good hint. You must be a Pokemon trainer, no?"
Sedna nodded. "Yes, just arrived here this afternoon, from Canada."
"Canada, you say?" the man said. "Can't say I've met anyone from there before. You must be here to challenge Vigdís?"
"Vigdís, is he the local gym leader?" Sedna asked.
"She is Iceland's only gym leader, so I guess she is the one you're looking for. But you won't find her in Keflavík, girl. You need to take the road to Reykjavík."
Of course, Sedna thought to herself. The first city I go to, and it doesn't have a gym. But still, she was glad that it meant she got to explore the region a bit before getting into battling again.
"I see," she said. "I did not know that, thanks. Could you possibly tell me in which direction Reykjavík is?"
The man laughed. "You really aren't from around here, kid." He pointed outside the window to a small road. "Just take that until you reach the bay. You should see another road there headed out of the city. Follows the water most of the way into Reykjavík. Not too far to walk for a youngster like you, but you could take the bus I guess."
"Thanks a lot," Sedna said, getting up. "I'd best be on my way then."
"Haha! Children these days...nothing gets in their way of adventure. Good luck against Vigdís though....you may need it."
"I'll do my best, sir," Sedna said back as she put her knapsack on her back again. "But thanks."
And with that, after her first meeting since she arrived, she was off once again.
