Finding You – Chapter 3

Fly

Luna encountered obstacles trying to bond with her new Pokemon – it was stubborn, mean, and won't even let her get near it! But when Teddiursa went overboard during a storm, Luna recklessly dove in to save it, and as a result, the two have bonded. After the boat ride, Luna starts to say her farewells to Blair before learning the surprising truth…

Journal of Dominic Mond, Second Entry

Why am I even bothering to write in this journal? No one will read it anyway. I will die, and when I do, my thoughts and feelings and ideas will die with me.

I guess I'm depressed, but right now I just feel…numb. My family was my life. Even my research…I can do without it if it just meant being with them. But no. I don't even know where it came from – out of nowhere, Ellen just wanted to divorce. I thought we were happy. But apparently, she disagrees.

I feel like the life I've led so far has been meaningless. I've accomplished nothing worthwhile; my Pokemon psychology research? What does that even matter now?

If I died, it wouldn't even have an impact. It wouldn't even make a ripple in this ocean of a world…

Hmm. Wait. What am I saying? If I make no impact, that's my fault. Perhaps it's my duty to go out and MAKE it worthwhile…

Luna was in shock. Blair is actually...Touya Black, champion of the region?! How...why...

Touya grinned a little. "Surprised, huh? If I don't disguise myself, I get swarmed when I go out in public. Every day I have to challenge Trainers who are trying to take my title, and I like taking a break once in a while. So I headed for Johto for a little vacation, but I guess my bodyguards here didn't like it..."

"Mr. Touya, sir," one of the men said patiently, "you can't just take a break whenever you feel like it."

"Well, I just did, didn't I?" Touya smiled again. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you my real name, Luna, or who I really was. I just wanted to relax a bit."

So Blair wasn't even a real person. Just a cover name.

"It's...it's okay," Luna said, starting to feel shy again. "But what about your Snivy?"

"Oh, him?" Touya patted the Pokeball at his belt. "I caught him wild a little while ago. Even though the rest of my team right now is really strong, this guy is better for catching weak Pokémon."

"Oh..." Luna wasn't sure what to say.

Touya waved as he started walking away, his bodyguards following close behind. "Good luck on your journey, Luna. I hope you find your dad!"

With that, he was gone. She wasn't even able to bring myself to say goodbye. Her shy and quiet personality had once again taken over.

Well, she thought, I guess that's it then... She turned to get a better look at Driftveil City. She felt a little overwhelmed. I heard that Unova was more urban than Johto, but I wasn't really expecting this. In this one city alone there were more people and buildings than she had ever seen in her life.

She straightened her shoulders.

I guess I'll go find the Pokemon Center, she thought at last.

"I'm supposed to meet a guy named Mr. Holden," Luna explained to Chewy as she started walking. "He's going to fly me to Nuvema Town, where I'll be able to talk to Professor Juniper and finally start my journey. I think I'm supposed to meet him at the Pokemon Center, so...let's go!"

Luna started walking through Driftveil City. She held Chewy close to her, as if afraid of losing him in the crowds.

I heard that Driftveil is the third largest city in Unova, Luna thought. So of course it's going to be somewhat big. But I've never seen so many people in my life before!

Luna rounded a corner and immediately noticed the Pokemon Center. She couldn't help gaping a bit. It was so much larger than the one she had been to sometimes in Cherrygrove; it had a second floor and seemed more like a super center than a Pokemon Center.

But that has to be it, she thought. It has the red roof and everything. Well, there's not stopping me now. I'm going in!

Luna walked into the Pokemon Center carrying Chewy, unsure of what to expect. It was a surprisingly nice atmosphere. Straight ahead, of course, was the counter where the nurse would take your Pokemon to heal them, as well as a PC sitting in the corner. To the right was what appeared to be a mini shop, and to the left was a corner for Trainers to relax.

Luna tentatively walked up to the counter. "Um...excuse me," she said. The nurse turned around to her with a smile.

"May I use your computer?" Luna asked.

"Certainly!" the nurse answered cheerfully. "The PC is for any trainer who needs it."

"Thank you very much," Luna said. "And, ah, also, would you happen to know where the PokeMart is? This is my first time in Unova and I don't really know my way around..."

The nurse smiled again. "Here in Unova," she explained, "the PokeMarts are inside of the Pokemon Center. See there in the corner?"

"Oh," Luna said, feeling a blush creep its way into her cheeks. "I-I see. Thank you." She hurriedly walked over to the computer and started it up.

Luna opened up the video chat and called the Cherrygrove Pokemon Center with the computer; that was just one of the many capabilities of the computers at the Pokemon Center. She waited a few moments until the Cherrygrove nurse answered.

"Hello, this is Cherrygrove Pokemon Center, located in Johto...oh, Luna! Where are you?"

"I just got into Driftveil City," Luna explained. She smiled. It was nice to be able to talk to a familiar face again. "I –"

"Hang on a second, Luna," the nurse said. Luna saw her step away from the computer for a moment and heard her voice say something. Soon a whole group of familiar faces crowded in front of the computer. They were all of her neighbors and acquaintances from Cherrygrove.

"Hey Luna!" said one. Luna recognized him as one of the clerks from the PokeMart. "How'd you manage not to get lost?"

"Uh, well, that is –"

The clerk laughed at her flustered expression. "I'm just teasing! You knock 'em dead out there, okay?"

"Whoa!" one of the young boys exclaimed. "You have a Pokemon already!"

"I caught him on the boat," Luna said shyly. She glanced down at him as he growled at the screen and added, "Watch out, he bites!"

The Cherrygrove citizens laughed.

The nurse's face appeared on the screen again. "Take care, Luna," she said warmly.

"Thank you," Luna said. "Um, by chance, is my mom...?"

The nurse shook her head. "She hasn't stopped by the Pokemon Center at all."

Luna felt disappointed but didn't ask further. I guess Mom is still mad at me... "Well, it was nice talking to you guys," Luna said. "Bye, everyone!"

A loud chorus of goodbyes filled her ears as the screen clicked off.

Luna smiled. It was nice to have come from a small community, where everyone knew you and wished you well.

Luna looked down at Chewy, who was still sitting in her arms. "You're getting heavy," she said to him. "Mind if I put you in the Pokeball for now?"

Chewy growled but didn't protest as Luna returned him to the ball.

She started walking towards the PokeMart counter to buy some items when she heard the phone ring – the normal one, not the computer video chat. The nurse picked up and after a moment, the nurse covered the receiver with one hand and called out, "Is there a Luna Mond here?"

Surprised, Luna hurried back to the counter and put the receiver to her ear. "H-hello?"

"Is this Luna?" said a male voice. "Hi, this is Jeremy Holden. I know that I was supposed to fly you to Nuvema Town from Driftveil on my Staraptor, and I was heading on the way. However, poor Star here got injured during the storm and I'm afraid it would strain him too much to try and fly now. I'm really sorry."

Luna thought her heart was going to stop. I just keep running into problems, don't I? she thought wearily. "Um...is there anything you can suggest?"

"It'll be at least a week before Star is fully recovered. You can wait until then or try and find another lift. Again, I'm really sorry about this."

"No...it's okay," Luna told him, trying not to cry. "I-It's fine...thanks for calling."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Click.

I told Professor Juniper over email that I would meet her tomorrow...she's booked with appointments for all the other days.

You've got to be kidding me...my journey can't end so soon!

Luna felt hopeless. Walking there myself would take too long...what am I going to do...?

Out of nowhere, Luna felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She spun her head around. A fairly tall girl who looked to be in her mid-teens was smiling kindly at her. She appeared to be quite physically fit – her arms were lean and tan, strong from years of physical exertion. Her most distinguishing feature, however, was her hair – it was a shocking pink, and tied into a spiky ponytail. Combined with her golden eyes, she looked…different, but not in a way that Luna could really consider good or bad.

The hand lifted from Luna's shoulders. "Sorry to startle you. I couldn't help but overhear your phone call, and, well, you sounded like you wanted to cry. Is there anything I could maybe help with?"

Taken aback by this stranger's random show of kindness, Luna wasn't quite sure what to say other than inform her of the situation. "W-well, I need a flight to Nuvema Town, and the person who I was going with, well, his Staraptor got hurt, a-and…"

"That bites," the girl interrupted, "but if you don't mind, I think I can help." She smiled. "See, I happen to have a bird Pokemon on me, and I could fly you there. I mean, I understand if you wouldn't want to – you don't even know me – but it doesn't sound like you have many options."

Under any other circumstances, Luna wouldn't have even considered it. She didn't consider herself the brightest bulb in the box, but even she knew going with strangers was a bad idea. However, this girl was roughly her age, and Luna decided it was safe to assume that she wouldn't end up kidnapped.

"That would be wonderful," Luna told her gratefully. "Thank you so much."

"No prob. Lemme go outside for a sec, release my Pokemon, and then we'll climb on!"

Luna thanked the nurse again for letting her use the phone, then headed outside after the girl. The Pokemon, a Staraptor, was already prepared and ready to go, with the girl gesturing politely for Luna to board first.

"Your Staraptor is handsome," Luna told the girl politely. She meant it, too.

The girl smiled a kind of knowing smile that Luna wasn't really sure how to interpret. "Thank you, but…he's not mine."

Before Luna could ask what she meant by that, the girl had the Staraptor take off. Luna gasped in alarm and clung to the girl's waist anxiously.

"Relax!" the girl shouted over the sound of the wind as they spiraled into the clouds. "You won't fall. I'm an experienced flier. Just enjoy the view!"

Tentatively Luna loosened her grip a slight bit and worked up the nerve to glance down. The sight was enough to take her breath away. Below her, the scenery flew by in a flow of blurred colors and shapes.

That's amazing, Luna thought. Everything is so small up here, and yet, it makes me feel like the whole region is even bigger than I expected.

"I told you it's cool!" the girl shouted upon Luna's silence. "Now, just hang tight and enjoy the ride!"

When they landed, the sun was beginning to set, causing the trees to cast unearthly shadows on the ground. Luna dismounted dizzily, still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the exciting flight that she had just experienced.

She turned to the girl. "Thank you so much," she said shyly. "I'm really sorry to have made you go out of your way..."

"Don't mention it." The girl shrugged indifferently. "I like to lend a hand sometimes."

"Okay...but really, thank you –"

The girl grinned. "I'm telling you, it's okay. You're welcome. I'm just glad that I could help someone who needs a ride. Now, this is just me guessing, but you're here to get your first Pokemon, right?"

"Ah, yes…"

"Well then, good luck. Being a Pokemon Trainer will be the most exciting experience of your life – heck, even better than flying.

"Anyway, I have to go. Good luck…and who knows, maybe I'll see you around sometime?"

"Yeah, maybe." Luna smiled. "Bye! And thanks again!"

"You're welcome!" With a quick whisper to the Staraptor, the girl and her bird were airborne again, flying away into the sunset. Luna watched them go before she started to walk away, only then realizing that she hadn't even gotten her name.

Way to go, Luna, she thought, embarrassment flooding red into her cheeks. That was rude of me. Oh well…it's not likely I'll ever see her again anyway, right? I guess it's okay. I can't focus on that right now anyway – I need to prepare to meet with Professor Juniper.

"Ah, Luna! You came early!"

"Yes ma'am," Luna said shyly. "I hope that's okay..."

"Of course it is," Professor Juniper said, waving her hand as if to dismiss the issue. They were standing at the entrance of Professor Juniper's lab. "The early Swellow catches the Wurmple, as they say."

"Um...Professor Juniper? I have something to tell you..." Luna took out Chewy's Pokeball and released him into the open. He stood on the floor looking defiantly up at the young female professor. "I captured my first Pokemon on the boat ride over...is that okay?"

Professor Juniper stood studying Chewy for a few moments, a look of surprise on her face. "Ah, he's a Johto Pokemon, right? Well, Luna, technically speaking you aren't supposed to capture a Pokemon without a license..."

Luna paled. I didn't just break the law or anything, did I?

"...but this should be fine. We'll have this little guy registered as your first Pokemon on your license – which I'll give you first thing tomorrow morning!"

Luna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Professor Juniper," she said gratefully. "That means I don't need to take one of the three Starter Pokemon then, right?"

"Not necessarily." Professor Juniper winked. "If you'd like, I'll still give you one of my three."

"Oh, that would be fantastic!"

"Then it's all settled." Professor Juniper smiled. "But the question is, do you have a place to stay for the night?"

"Ah, no, I don't –"

"Well then, Luna, you're welcome to stay in the lab for the night." Professor Juniper gestured towards the rooms in back. "We'll arrange something."

Luna found herself smiling back. "Thank you."

Tomorrow should have been the day I was getting my first Pokemon – but instead, it'll be my second.

Luna sat on the makeshift bed that the Professor and her assistants had prepared, scribbling in her journal. Chewy was curled up next to her, chewing on his paws and letting out little growls occasionally.

Blair – no, Touya told me that the three starter Pokemon here in Unova are called Oshawott, Tepig and Snivy. That last one was the one he had. Wow...it's still hard to believe that I met the Pokemon League Champion of Unova! I wonder what it would be like, having to challenge new Trainers every day to defend your title. I bet it gets tiring.

As of right now, I haven't decided on whether or not I'll be taking the Gym challenge...maybe I will after I get in touch with my dad. I don't know. All I know is that I'll be taking my Pokemon with me to protect me along the way as I start my search. I hope I learn a lot!

Anyway, that's it for now! Oshawoot, Tepig or Snivy...I wonder which one I'll choose?

To be continued...