A/N: Hey, I have a follower! Welcome, OshawottStream! Just for you, here's chapter two a little earlier than I had intended to put it out :)
The next day I started making my way towards Accumula, befriending a little rat thing along the way, who I named Engelbert. I was almost in Accumula when my phone started ringing. I glanced to my right: Sachiel and Engelbert were safely hidden away and were waiting for me to go into town before making their way to the exit I would be using, there to rejoin me, and thus remaining out of sight of anyone who didn't need to know about them. I would've liked to have kept them with me, just to make sure they were safe, but there wasn't any way to do that and keep them out of sight. Thus, I had to hope and pray they'd be safe as I entered the city and glanced at my phone. It looked like Juniper was calling me, probably to persuade me back. I walked into a deserted alley, leaned against a wall, and answered. "Hello, Professor."
"Oh, thank goodness, you're still alive." The professor's voice came out of the speakers. "Where are you? Your mother's been worried sick. If you like, I can pick you up-"
"No, that will only make matters worse. Or did you think I forgot yesterday? There's nothing left for me back there, and going back will only make matters worse. Tell my mother she can call me if she likes, but I'm not coming back. Oh, and I'm not going to answer the phone if you call me again, Professor. I've gone too far now for me to believe you'd try to do anything but hinder me."
I ended the call, sighed, and walked towards the nearest grocery store. I'd be needing food if I was going to do this.
A while later, I left the store with a full backpack and a feeling of satisfaction, until I overheard someone telling a friend that something was going on in the plaza. Feeling curious, I made my way over there, joining the crowd that had formed in front of the orator, who began speaking just as I arrived.
"My name is Ghestis. I am here representing Team Plasma." he paused to let that sink in. "Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon." Murmurs ran through the crowd at the mention, but Ghestis persisted. "I'm sure most of you believe that Pokémon are rabid beasts that are incapable of rational thought or even docility, and whose only goal is to eradicate any human it comes across. However... is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we only assume that this is the truth? Pokémon are animals just like any other... subject to the same needs as others... and perhaps, even capable of the same co-operation and domestication as any other animal. Can anyone with confidence say that there is no possibility of truth in what I'm saying? Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokémon are, in fact, different from any other animal. They are beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans may learn much. Tell me, what should be our response toward these wonderful beings called Pokémon?"
The crowd murmured, confused. "We must befriend and domesticate the Pokémon!" Ghestis said. "Then, and only then, will the attacks on people stop." He paused. "Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider a relationship between people and Pokémon... one of co-operation and peace. We sincerely appreciate your attention." He and his guards then turned, and left.
"What absolute bollocks." Said a young man standing next to me. "You were pretty involved in the speech, though. What do you think?"
"I... think it has merit." I responded.
He took a closer look at me. "You're a devil's advocate. I like you. My name's Cheren" he said, pushing his glasses up his nose with one hand and offering me the other.
"Leigh" I responded, shaking his hand.
"Alright, well, I've got to go. Maybe we'll see each other again soon." he said.
"Yeah, maybe." I said. He nodded and left, and I turned and made my way towards the next route.
I stepped off the path and into the woods, kneeling as Sachiel and Engelbert ran up to me, sqeaking with joy. As I knelt there, petting them and praising them, a voice behind me said, "Those Pokémon..."
I jumped and spun, standing up to face the stranger.
"Just now, they were saying..."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, adrenaline coursing through my system.
"Oh. Then, you can't hear it, either... How sad." He was tall, thin and all angles, reminding one a little bit of a stork, and from the awkward air he had about him, he wasn't a social person. His hair was worn long and pulled into a ponytail, and he wore a white collared shirt, open at the neck, and grey jeans. When I looked down, I noticed that he was absentmindedly scratching behind a catlike Pokémon's ears. Sachiel came around and held his arms up to me, bouncing, like a toddler wanting to be picked up. I offered him a half-smile and obliged, and he climbed up to ride on my shoulders. I turned back to the stranger, and saw he was now holding the Pokémon and was smiling. He said, "My name is N."
"Mine's Leigh." I said, still a little wary.
"So, what are you planning to do with those little friends of yours?" he asked. "I can hear what they're saying, but I can't help but wonder... what you're trying to do."
"I don't really know. I haven't really gotten that far yet." I said, awkwardly. Engelbert climbed up my back to stand on my shoulder, using my head to balance himself. Sachiel had climbed back down to nestle in my arms as I petted him.
He put the Pokémon he was holding down, and held out his hands. "Leigh, right? May I?"
I nodded and warily let Sachiel climb over to him. They conversed for a minute, which, of course, I couldn't understand, then N handed Sachiel back to me. "I've never heard a Pokémon say things like that about anyone but me..." he said, looking at me in wonder. I tried not to flush as I reached down, carefully so that Engelbert could balance himself, and put Sachiel back on the ground. "As long as that persists... Pokémon will continue to attack humans, and the result will be disastrous for one or both species. I have to change the world for Pokémon, because they're my friends..." He trailed off, and cocked his head like he was listening to something. Then he turned back to me. "I hear my father calling me, so I must go. It's been a pleasure talking to someone who sees Pokémon like I do." He turned, and with his little friend, plunged through the brush, back towards the path.
I'd only gone a few steps towards the next town when my phone started vibrating. I took it out and looked at it: it was my mother. I sighed, then accepted the call.
"Angela, is that you?"
"Yes, I'm here, mom."
"Oh, sweetie, I've been worried sick about you! What are you thinking, running off like that, you could get killed-"
"Mom..." I cut her off. "I won't get killed. I have Sachiel and Engelbert here to protect me." I mumbled.
"Are those friends of yours? You haven't mentioned them before..."
"Yeah, they are. And I met Engelbert recently, but I've been friends with Sachiel for years." I bent down and petted them both, smiling.
"Well... if you say you're okay, I suppose that'll have to be enough. You're eighteen, after all, a woman grown and you need to make your own place in the world without your mother holding you up." I could tell she was on the verge of sad/proud tears, and I hated the fact that I was lying to her. "Well, I'm sure you don't want to spend all day talking to me, so I'll leave you to it. But, sweetie?"
"Yes, mom?"
"Come and see me every so often, please. And maybe bring your friends along? I'd like to meet them..."
"Okay, mom. I promise... you'll meet them someday." I responded.
"I love you, sweetie. Now go on and do what you do." she said.
"I love you too, mom. Bye." I said, and hung up.