Chapter Three: The Price of Trust
Note:
….. - Pokémon Speech
No Mongles, trainers or walls were
really harmed in the production of this chapter. All violence was
performed by trained, professional stunt doubles and understudies.
Believe it…
"G'Morrning, Mrs. Kent," Carla greeted cheerfully, her hands clasped neatly in front of her red and white vee-neck shirt.
"Why hello, Carla! And Chaz and Dex too! How're you all?" Mrs. Kent, that day in a luxurious red and gold kimono and her luxurious black hair held up by a large, traditional hair clip that matched her kimono.
"Fine, thank you, Mrs. Kent," Dex answered for them all.
"Is Kamren ready?" Carla asked the older lady, looking around as she adjusted the thin straps of her blue denim shoe bag in which her possessions were currently kept.
"Oh, he should be along soon," Mrs. Kent assured the group. "Lucinda, could you please tell Kamren his friends are here waiting for him?"
"But of course madam," Lucinda replied as she set off for the foot of the marble staircase and passing Haley on her way up as Haley tugged down her mid length Red Indian outfit and straightened her hip pouch in which a small notepad, pencil and her newly cleaned pokéballs resided.
"Morning, Lucinda! How do I look?" Haley said cheerfully, twirling around on the spot to give the maid and her childhood nanny a good look.
"Positively radiant, Miss Haley," Lucinda said cheerfully. "Your father would be so glad to see you now…"
Haley smiled a sad smile at this. "Yeah, Lucinda, you're right," she said quietly.
Lucinda mentally smacked herself on the head for her insensitivity.
Haley however brightened as she spoke again. "Anyway, I'm sure I'll see Father along the road to being a great researcher!"
"Yes, I'm sure you will see him again! And be a great researcher," Lucinda said confidently.
"Bye Lucinda," Haley said, hugging her maid tight.
"Stay safe, Miss," Lucinda whispered, a tear trickling down her cheek as she hugged the girl back.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Chaz longingly stared at the toast and bacon Mrs. Kent ate with reserve. Noticing this, Mrs. Kent looked up and smiled in an amused way as Haley made it to the dining room for her last breakfast at home for a while and into an intense staring contest with Carla.
"Haley! Good morning! Where's your brother?" Mrs. Kent said, looking up to smile at her daughter.
"Good morning, Mother. He should be getting ready, I guess," Haley said, tearing her electrifying eyelock with Carla.
"Would you three like to join me?" Mrs Kent asked graciously, gesturing towards a morning meal that could've sat fifteen.
"It would be our absolute pleasure, Mrs. Kent." Dex said politely as Chaz greedily tucked into the pile of pancakes at the oaken dining table.
"I'll just take some of it to go, Mother," Haley said swiftly, reaching for some bread, salad, cheese and ham to make some sandwiches.
"I'm alright, Mrs. Kent," Carla said primly, a nasty sneer on her face as she watched Haley fill a thermos with cold orange juice and place it in her hip bag. "A real lady must watch her figure," she added, staring pointedly with smug contempt at Haley's petite and slightly stocky form.
The boys in the room went stock cold as Haley turned to Carla with death etched in her silver grey eyes. Mightyenas seemed to howl into the suddenly frigid air as Carla returned her cold stare.
Haley opened her mouth wide…
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"Master Kamren, your friends are waiting for you in the dining room," Lucinda said to Kamren as he pulled the zipper on his black tracksuit up.
"Yes, yes, very well, Lucinda," he said indifferently, without looking back. "You may go."
And with a casual wave of his hand, brushed the maid off as he passed by her and down the corridors.
I really don't know what to think of you, Kamren Kent. Your mother and sister aren't nearly as rude as you, Lucinda thought sadly, watching the back of the young boy's reddish blond head as he moved towards the staircase.
"Oh, yeah? Say that again you…" Haley's voice stormed from the lower story, a barrage of insults rushing forth.
I'll take the second part back, then, shall I? Lucinda thought tiredly, returning to her dusting.
"Now, now girls, no fighting in the house, please!" Mrs. Kent said sternly. "Haley, where did you pick up that language?"
"Most likely from Sapph… hey guys, ready to go?" Kamren said coming down the stairs with a one strapped bag slung over his left shoulder.
"I so did n…" Haley started furiously but at Mrs. Kent's quelling stare, stopped cold and strode to the door. The group she'd left behind heard the door slam loudly.
"Dear me, she is in quite a bad temper today, isn't she?" Mrs. Kent said ruefully to Carla. "I'm really sorry about her attitude, Carla. I apologise on her behalf."
"It's OK Mrs. K., "Carla said cheerfully, fingering the red hairpin that held her long blonde hair back.
"By the way, where is Sapph?" Mrs. Kent wondered, looking around as she set her cup of tea back onto its saucer with a gentle tinkle.
"Must have left already," Kamren said shrugging.
"Ah, an early Pidgey! Someone could learn a lesson or two!" Mrs. Kent said slyly with a sideways glance at her only son.
Kamren blushed, and decided to ignore his mother's smart remark.
"Well, shall we?" Kamren said in a take-charge sort of voice rising from the table as he and Dex managed to pry Chaz away from the dining table.
"Yeah," Chaz said, giving the food left a mournful, longing look as he heaved his forest green duffel bag up his shoulder.
"Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Kent," Dex said politely, standing up and straightening his shirt and adjusting his wire rimmed glasses.
"So, how'd it go last night?" Carla whispered as they made their noisy way out of the room.
"Smoother than a Squirtle's underbelly," Kamren whispered back with a grin.
"Kammy?" Mrs. Kent called uncertainly as her son reached the door.
Kamren went rigid as though turned to stone. The others sweatdropped and turned to stare.
"Yes, Mother?" Kamren said uncertainly.
"Aren't we forgetting Mommy's little goodbye hug and kiss?" Mrs. Kent said sweetly.
"Mother!" Kamren moaned as the others s******ed. "Don't you think I'm too old for that?"
"Yes, you're right I suppose," Mrs Kent said, slightly crestfallen.
My little Kammykins is all grown up! She thought fondly, as she watched her son and his friends leave.
"Don't tell me she still calls you that," Carla laughed under her breath.
"Oh, shut up," Kamren hissed back.
"Awww, Kammy got a boo boo," Chaz chuckled in his usual low grunt.
"I said, KNOCK IT OFF!" Kamren yelled as the made their way into town.
"Have a safe journey dear… call once in a while…take care!" Mrs. Kent called after the group's retreating backs.
I so wish you were here, Remy, Mrs. Kent thought wistfully as she watched her children make their way down the hill and into the world. You'd be so proud of them both…[/i]
Just then a loud blood curdling yell that seemed to come from one of the upper stories filled the air.
"Good Lord! What in heavens' name was that noise?" Mrs. Kent started, staring at the ceiling above her head.
Outside the Yew Observatory, which doubled as the Olville Research Lab and Prof. Theodore Yew's home, Haley looked up as the sound of a disturbance reached her ears.
What was that? Haley wondered. Shrugging it off, she raised her fist to knock on the blue painted door.
A youth of medium build opened the door. With his neatly cropped black hair and radiant ruby red eyes, the boy was adorable. His name was Kyle and he was one of the reasons Haley chose to be a researcher.
"Hey Haley, ready to start the day?" He said jovially, tweaking his white lab coat which he wore over a green sweater and neat blue jeans.
"H-h-hi, Kyle," Haley stammered in reply, a faint blue tinge forming in her cheeks. Kyle had come as a researcher all the way from Cliffrock City to study under Prof. Yew four years ago and had melted Haley's (then premature) heart into a fizzle. Unfortunately, he unconsciously managed to attract Carla's attention too, and the two had duked it out for years to see who Kyle really liked.
"The professor is inside his office now," Kyle went on, slightly bemused as to why Haley looked so flustered. Kyle though he was many things, wasn't too sharp in these affairs.
"Um…uh...O-o-OK," Haley finally managed to blurt out.
Lame Haley! Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, LAME! He'll so think you're a total nerd! Ohhhhh, Haley moaned inside as she followed Kyle into the observatory.
"Nervous?" Kyle asked kindly, looking back to see Haley looking somewhat diminished.
"Don't worry, all new trainers are," Kyle smiled as they took a right turn into another corridor.
"Um, Kyle?" Haley stuttered.
"Yeah?"
"I-I-I'm not going to be a full out trainer," Haley stammered.
"Really what do you want to do then?" Kyle asked, stopping to turn and look at her.
Haley's feet suddenly felt three sizes too large as she shuffled them.
Time to come clean, I guess, she thought, readying to spill one of the two secrets she had kept from her childhood crush for four years.
"I-er, you know, wanted to be a…a researcher," Haley went on, not making eye contact with the sixteen year old lab assistant.
"R-really?" Kyle asked in some surprise.
He probably thinks I'm stupid lame, Haley thought crushed.
"That's so cool! Congrats on your choice! I'll be looking forward to hearing of your findings, Haley!" Kyle said sincerely.
He thinks I'm cool?!
"R-r-really?" She gasped, looking up so fast she almost cricked her neck.
"Sure! It'd be so rad!" Kyle went on, beaming slightly.
He thinks I'm rad??! Hot DOG, love wins out! Cha cha cha! Haley thought fanatically.
On the outside, though, all she said was, "Thanks, Kyle,"
"Here we are," Kyle said, reaching another blue door with a white and blue name plate on it reading 'Head of Facility' and under it a smaller sign which read 'Professor T.T. Yew, Pokémon Professor.' Knocking twice, the assistant opened the door a bit, poked his head in and said "Haley's here to see you, Professor."
A tall yet slightly built man opened the door wide and beamed down at the pair that stood before him.
"Thanks so much, Kyle," the professor said with a glowing smile at the young man and girl. "Hi, Haley! Ready to begin your journey as a trainer?"
"Yeah, Professor! Well, see ya Kyle!" Haley smiled, following the professor into his office.
The professor's office was decorated in a highly Spartan manner with two filing cabinets, a computer desk complete with a white flat screen PC blinking on and off. As Haley walked in, her eyes were drawn as always to the large cylindrical device in the far corner. Made primarily of transparent Plexiglas, its bases were red and white. At the lower half was what looked like a six pack egg tray, but larger and with four of the six ports already filled with gleaming snow white orbs with a black line dividing it into two halves.
"Dear me, I'm rather disorganised this morning, aren't I?" Prof. Yew said with a chuckle.
"Gee, I guess you are," Haley said, smiling back. Prof. Theo was like a second father to Haley and one of the few adults she knew who'd acknowledge their mistakes to her.
"Please, after today, you can call me Theo as well. After all, we will be fellow researchers," Prof. Yew said seriously, pulling three pokéballs out of the device and setting them down on the computer desk.
"Really? I still think Prof. Yew would sound cooler," Haley went on cheerfully, glancing at an email that the professor was reading as she made her entrance.
"Well, this is it! Which starter will you choose?" Prof. Yew said, clasping his hands together with a loud clap.
Striding towards the white top table, Haley reached out for a pokéball with a light blue tear drop embossed on the upper white half of the pokéball.
"Come on out, my Aquari!" Haley chirped, enlarging the pokéball with a squeeze and pressing a small black button on the back of the lower half to release the sphere's contents.
The flash of bright white light that rushed forth filled the whole room. At the same time a streak of blue light bounced playfully around the room before coming to a rest on the table, where it took shape.
Its fur a light shade of blue with a white underbelly, Aquari had white and black paws which upon seeing Haley hid its face from her with a squeak.
"Don't be scared, uh..." Haley started to say, suddenly noticing that she didn't even know her first Pokémon's gender.
"Girl," Prof. Yew said smiling slightly at Haley.
"Yeah, girl! I'm your new trainer now, so hi!" Haley said oblivious to how lame she sounded.
The Water Hare kept its face hidden.
"Hmm, how about nicknaming your Aquari?" Prof. Yew suggested, his hand rubbing his clean shaven chin thoughtfully.
"Great idea, professor! Thanks!" Haley said cheerfully. "So! How's Bubbles?"
The Aquari, finally coming out of its guise of shyness looked up at her new trainer with a puzzled expression. Had some one else with a bubble entered the room? Unsure, she looked up at the smiling girl and pointed a finger at herself to ask if that was her new name.
Her smile even wider, Haley nodded and said, "Yes that you, little Bubbles!"
Me? Bubbles? the Aquari squeaked, looking into Haley's silver grey eyes as Haley looked into her brown ones.
"That's right! And I'm Haley, pleased to meet you!"
Hewo, Hawey! I'm…pweeased to wheat you tooo! Bubbles said cheerfully.
Haley laughed at her Pokémon's comment and then suddenly noticed something weird.
"Hunh? Professor, we aren't really communicating are we?" Haley said, scratching her head as she turned to the professor.
"It does normally take a few days, but judging by how fast you two are able to understand each other, I suppose you two are really meant for each other," Prof. Yew said thoughtfully.
"Reeeally?!" Haley squealed happily. "Hear that, Bubbles? We're going to make an awesome team! Yes we will, yes we will!" she said, tickling the Water hare's fuzzy underbelly.
Giggling, Bubbles accidentally released a couple of large bubbles which hit Haley and popped. Suddenly looking aghast at what she'd done, she fearfully looked up at Haley, who she noticed was laughing.
"Gee, Bubbles, that tickled!" Haley said with a laugh.
Bubbles smiled and sneezed, releasing a few more bubbles into the air.
Haley, giggling some more at this and scooped up her new Pokémon into a hug.
"Well, I guess I'll get your Pokédex ready," the professor said with a smile as he headed for his desk drawer to pull out a light brown flip calculator that was about two thirds the size of Sapph's broken one with a dark blue pokéball symbol opposite the flip hinge's side.
"Hmm, that reminds me… Kyle chose one of those too when he was younger," Prof. Yew said thoughtfully he rummaged in the filing cabinet for new pokéballs.
"Kyle chose an Aquari?!" Haley gasped.
"If I recall correctly," Prof' Yew said with a casual shrug as he straightened up and handed Haley her brand new Pokédex and five regular pokéballs.
Kyle chose an Aquari too? Once again, fate shows we belong together! Haley raved inside.
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Fifteen minutes ago…
The guest room was already filled with light when Sapph woke up abruptly to the sound of his alarm clock blaring. Peering blurrily at the digits on the clock face, Sapph's mind awoke as sharply as though shocked by a pack of Pichu.
"9:45! How'd the **** did that happen? I set it for…wait! Kamren! " Sapph yelp turned to a growl as he dressed at warp speed. As he barrelled down the stairs, cussing under his breath, he met Mrs. Kent, who said in some surprise, "Sapph, I thought you'd left before Haley and Kamren…"
"Kamren left?" Sapph asked in disbelief.
"Why yes," Mrs. Kent went on in surprise. "He said himself that you'd already left…"
Sapph swore under his breath.
"Sorry, Sapph…what was that?" Mrs. Kent asked suspiciously.
"Nothing, nothing!" Sapph said hastily, sweat dropping.
"Anyway, would you like some breakfast before you go?" Mrs. Kent asked politely.
"Sorry, Mrs. Kent…got to go…thanks for the book and everything…bye!" Sapph cut in hurriedly as he pressed the book into a bewildered Mrs. Kent's hand and ran out back down to Olville.
Sapph shot into town like a missile gone wild. Just as he past the shop, Sapph suddenly remembering his Pokédex at Gus's. Cussing some more, he turned down to the main street and burst into Gus's Speedy Repairs like a hurricane where Gus was waiting.
"You're late!" Gus began reproachfully holding the repaired encyclopaedia in his hand. A split second later, it was gone, replaced with some money.
"Sorry, Gus, I've no time for this now! Thanks for fixing it for me! Bye!"
Sapph was out of the shop and out of sight in the next three seconds.
That's your son, Justin? Gus thought, scratching the back of his head. I see no resemblance, my friend, none at all…
Looking into his hand, Gus stared at the currency in his slack hand. As though a light had just gone on in his head, the repairman's eyes widened as he steadily turned Tamato-red in rage as a shocking realisation hit him.
"OI! YOU LITTLE PUNK! YOU F******* STIFFED ME! GET BACK HERE, YOU RETARDED, STINKING THIEF! OI!" he screamed, his fist clenched tightly enough to crush a Gyarados's jaw.
"I take it back," Gus snarled. "He is so your son, Justin!"
"What d'you suppose that was?" Carla asked, watching a flock of Flying Pokémon take flight in alarm at the sound of Gus's harsh words.
"Ah, who cares?" Kamren said with a shrug. "Let's go get them Frygers, shall we?"
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Sapph tore into the Olville Research Lab, frantically thinking: Please don't let Kamren be here, Please don't let Kamren be here…, winding up running right into Kyle, Prof. Yew's assistant and Haley, who had her small cerulean bunny with a really large bubble for a tail in her arms, said "Sapph! Where have you been? I thought you'd already left! Kamren's getting his Pokémon now…"
Sapph was out of sight before she could finish.
"Wasn't that Justin Manson's son Sapphire? Is he a friend of yours?" the assistant queried.
He a very funny friend of yours if you ask me. Aquari piped up in its baby voice, looking up innocently at her new trainer.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOO! Sapph screamed in his mind as he dashed into the Professor's office to see him giving an extremely smug-looking Kamren his Pokédex and first five Pokéballs.
Both Prof. Yew and Kamren looked around at the source of the commotion. "Sapph!" Prof. Yew exclaimed in surprise, "I was expecting you soo…" but Sapph cut across him.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY ALARM CLOCK, YOU-"
"Sapph, please don't shout." Prof. Yew said with only a touch of impatience.
"Yeah, Sapphire, you're freaking my Fryger out with your, ah, rude entry and false accusations." Kamren said, not even hiding his smile.
"WHADDYA MEAN, 'YOUR FRYGER'!"
"SAPPH! SETTLE DOWN NOW!" Prof. Yew yelled angrily.
Sapph was too incensed to say more, but turned on his rival and ran towards him with his fist cocked back, a blind urge to make him feel a hundredth of the rage filling him in pain.
He never made it. A black-and-orange blur appeared in front of him and showered him with small, red-hot flames. Sapph yelled in pain and fell back onto his bum.
"Wow, Ember already! Thanks chump! Didn't think you have that much experience to give! Later, Professor!" Kamren chortled, returning the small Fire Tiger Pokémon to its Pokéball and striding out of the lab, turning back to sneer at Sapph's stunned figure curled up against the wall as he reached the doorway.
"Awww, don't cwy, widdle Sapphire. Mongles make such lovely, loyal fans! For a total loser!"
And with a cruel laugh, he closed the door with a loud snap that reverberated deep in Sapph's shattered subconscious.
Sapph was in so much shock he never noticed his stinging hands and face where the Fire Pokémon's attack had hit him seconds earlier. He'd missed getting a Fryger. His family would never let him live this down. Never. Especially his dad…
Sapph never felt or looked any
older than he did now. It seemed as though the wind had blown away
all his youth as he lay slumped against the wall, his dark hair
seemed to grey right before the professor's eyes and his hands
appeared to wrinkle at a superhumanly impossible speed.
Prof. Yew
had watched the scene in numb horror. He now cleared his throat
tentatively and said hesitantly. "Erm, Sapph? Are you OK?"
"Is there another Fryger?" Sapph asked at once, praying deep inside that the answer was yes.
"Well… there was the one I had left over from last year…" Prof. Yew began slowly, scratching his clean-shaven chin in thought.
Sapph's heart inflated so fast it looked as though he'd explode from the overdose of happiness.
"REEEEEEEEEEEALLLY??!" Sapph squealed, his eyes looking like blue lakes of watery joy as he clung onto the front of the Professor's lab coat.
"I'm sorry Sapph, Carla took it just before Kamren…" Prof. Yew said sadly.
If you'd ever seen a more crushed face those words, you haven't been around many face-crushing plants. Sapph swayed like a leaf in the wind, his mouth opening and closing silently in a manner that would recall a particularly clueless Magikarp.
"I'm sorry, Sapph," Prof. Yew said again.
Sapph cussed loudly. Very, very , loudly.
"…I'm really sor… hey, did you just cuss?" Prof. Yew said, surprised at how seriously Sapph was taking this.
"Sorry, Professor." Sapph mumbled numbly.
"It's alright. I quite, erm, understand…" the Professor said calmly "…however, I do think you're overreacting. Mongle is a fine starter too…"
"I don't WANT a dumb Mongle, got it? I. WANTED. A. FRYGER! I SET MY FREAKING ALARM CLOCK FOR FOUR A.M. TO GET ONE! AND THIS HAPPENS!" Sapph yelled.
"I know, Sapph, I know." Prof. Yew said evenly. "However, this laboratory is not a Fryger factory."
"Do you really think I give a …" Sapph bellowed, but the professor decided to put his foot down right there and then.
"Sapph!" he said in an unfamiliar commanding voice that shut Sapph up abruptly. "Listen to me, the only way you'd get a Fryger now is to wait till next year, and I know for a fact you wouldn't want to do that seeing as you're already one year behind Rubin as it is…"
Prof. Yew's cut into Sapph's rage like a knife. As much as he hated getting stuck with a Grass starter, he hated living in Rubin's shadow even more. Everyone always talked about and liked Rubin more than him since their got their first report cards at Earl's Pokémon Academy in Violet City… he could still hear Earl saying in his mind '…A weak student you are. Make a better trainer than you Rubin will...' His old teacher's voice still haunted him to this day, but now he was feeling too cold inside to care. After all, he reasoned, he could always trade it off for a stronger Fire Pokémon than Fryger later…
Prof. Yew was still speaking and holding out Mongle's Pokéball, "…Losing your temper won't help either. Besides, Mongles are very strong, brave and loyal Pokémon too… I'm sure you two will get along fine."
Sapph reached out for it indifferently. "Whatever," he said glumly.
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Fifteen minutes later, during which time he was getting his Pokédex upgraded and his burns treated, Sapph was standing outside the doors of the lab with his head bowed down against the now harsh winds. He still held the shrunken Pokéball in his tightly clenched fist. It was a cloudy day but Sapph was too sore to think about the weather. Deciding to get something to eat first, he headed for the Pokémon Centre.
As he entered, the first person he saw was Kamren, showing off his new Fryger to Carla and Chaz. Averting his eyes from the foot- tall cat, he moved to the vending machine to get some food for himself and Mongle. "After all," Prof. Yew had reasoned back at the lab "you are its trainer. I guess you might as well care for it till you find it a trainer that'd want it if you find that you don't when that time comes."
Like I'd care for a Mongle, Sapph thought. After buying some cans of Pokémon food, a couple of sandwiches and some apples, he wended his way to a secluded table. Just as he sat down, the front door slid open revealing Haley with her Aquari and the fact that it had started to rain. Great, Sapph thought, now I'm stuck here with Kamren Kent!
The baby Aquari saw Sapph and cried bouncing up and down, Hawey, Hawey! It's your funny friend in the conner there!
Haley spotted her trainer friend, bought some food too and progressed to sit there. "Hello, how're you doing?" she asked kindly.
"Fine," Sapph muttered moodily.
"Look, Sapph…" Haley began, but Sapph cut her off.
"That's your Aquari, hunh? He's pretty cute. What's his name?" he asked, hitching a smile on his face. Unfortunately, Haley was nobody's fool.
The bunny, however, was and started bouncing up and down, piping He call me cute! He call me cute!
Haley said" She's called Bubbles as of now, Sapph. But please don't change the subject. How's your Mongle? Can I see him? Or is it a her?"
"Yeah, Sapphire, let's see your widdle wood rat!" Kamren had come over with Carla, Chaz and a bespectacled nine-year old boy. His Fryger was there too, an identical smirk on his face that rendered his golden yellow eyes cold. Its eyes shifted to Sapph's lightly bandaged hands and smiled in a very self-satisfied way.
"Actually, Kamren, it's the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon…" The boy had a voice that seemed to belong to a textbook.
"Who cares? Gee Dex, for someone who's meant to be my brother, you're such a nerd!" Carla said scornfully.
"Carla's right Dex, but don't worry about being too smart. It'll come in handy when we're on the road." Kamren said in what he assumed was a calming voice. "Well, Sappy, let's see it, after all Burner needs a new playmate seeing as you can't-ah- hand le the heat."
Sapph furiously hurled Mongle's Pokéball at Kamren, who ducked. The orb hit the wall behind them, enlarged and burst open, a beam of green light expelling from within. The light momentarily formed a green spiral which shot to the ceiling and fell down the middle to form a shape which stood on all fours with a large, leaf shaped tail and short, stuck up ears raised erect. As the light died down, Mongle was revealed to possess blood red eyes ringed with black and viridian green fur. It rose into a form of crouch on its hind legs and peered curiously around to see who had released him.
He noticed three people and a pair of Frygers he recognized from the Professor's Lab laughing at him. Another one in spectacles was making comments about him being a fine specimen of the Pokémon family Rodentia (Whatever that means , the Mongle thought, rolling his eyes. That nerd is so not being my trainer! ) One of the two at the table seemed to be comforting the other, who seemed too ashamed to look at him. The girl suddenly seemed to get mad and hit the guy across the face quite hard. She then got up, grabbed her bag as she returned the Aquari to its pokéball and ran out into the rain, pausing briefly to stroke his fur and throw an extremely dirty look at the boy who glared right back at her defiantly.
That's him, hunh? The Leaf Squirrel thought as he watched the boy run out of the room after the girl. Mongle watched him leave with a puzzled expression on his face. Was he meant to follow? He continued to debate this question for a minute and reached a decision.
Picking up his pokéball, he made to dash out after the boy when a voice rang out and broke his focus.
Hey!
Mongle span around to see who'd spoken and never noticed the glass door hiss shut in front of him. The result was Mongle running smack into the closed glass door and sliding down it with a funny squeaking sound.
So! How d'you like your new trainer? Another voice said, similar to the first but definitely more feminine.
Rubbing his smarting nose, the Mongle turned around to face the cat Pokémon, who had spoken.
That's my trainer? he asked them.
Yep, the male said.
For real? Mongle asked again.
Uhhh, hunh! the other said dully, as though the conversation was a waste of her time.
No joke?
NO! No bloody joke already! the two bellowed in unison.
OK, OK! Just checking! Mongle squeaked. And those guys are yours?
Yup. I'm Burner. the male said.
And I'm Vulca. the female added.
I suppose we should ask you your name too. So, what is it? said the orange cat called Burner as the duo circled him appraisingly.
Oh. Well, I'm… uh… the Mongle began, realising that he didn't have a nickname. Burner and Vulca seemed coldly amused at the Mongle's awkwardness.
Really? Swell. Listen, uh, why don't ya find your trainer and ask him? I mean, what trainer leaves his Pokémon behind after seeing him for the first time? Not that you can call what he was doing back then seeing you. Burner reasoned playfully.
Seeing me? Mongle said nonplussed.
If you want my opinion, I'd say you're unwanted. Vulca shrugged, a cold, taunting glint in her golden yellow eye.
Un-unwanted? Mongle said shakily.
He a regular light bulb, isn't he, Burner? Vulca said dryly.
That's not true! Mongle cried out, a little flustered.
Think so? Go find your trainer and ask him if you don't believe us. Burner sneered, turning around to leave after his departing trainer. Vulca followed suit after Carla.
Mongle watched Burner and Vulca leave with some apprehension. Even though he didn't want to believe Burner, he did see the boy throw him a cold askance look as he passed him to the door. He trotted over to his Pokéball, picked it up and left the building to follow before the glass slid shut behind the Fire Tiger's group.
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Sapph ran blindly up the main road until he reached the outskirts of Olville Town where he collapsed onto a rock, hot tears streaming from his unfocussed eyes down his cheeks.
"Why'd I have to get that stupid Pokémon? It can barely stand up straight! Damned Grass type! I hate him even more than that stupid Kamren and his freaking Burner! 'Burner'? Hah, what a stupid nickname! He steals the only Pokémon I wanted to get and has it attack me? That stupid idiot couldn't even train him up to learn Ember on his own! I'll never get one now because of him! And that so-called Professor lecturing me on a Grass type being strong! Freaking idiot! It's as if he can't tell how much I despise weak Grass Pokémon like that dumb rat…"
Unfortunately, he wasn't aware of who was behind him…
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Mongle had a tricky time following the boy's scent because of the rain. Just when he was about to give up and got back to the Centre, he looked up and saw the boy sitting on a rock about 12 yards away. He walked up to his trainer, holding up his Pokéball hopeful that it would be taken and he returned. About ten feet away, he stopped dead, catching words that stung more than the cold winds and rain, "…lecturing me on a Grass type being strong! Freaking idiot! It's as if he can't tell how much I despise weak Grass Pokémon like that dumb rat…"
He does hate me… Mongle thought dejectedly, dropping his Pokéball with a clunk.
The boy seemed to hear. He spun around, glaring at him with pure loathing in his blue eyes.
"Get lost," Sapph said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Mongle took a step back at the coldness in the boy's face yet held his ground. Stepping forward to pick up the pokéball, he lifted it up to Sapph with a silent plea to be returned.
"Beat it, rat," Sapph said, even more quietly.
Why? Mongle asked tremulously.
"Just leave, alright? Go back to the lab and stay there," Sapph said, his voice growing harsher with the syllable.
But, what did I do? Why go back? Don't trainer and Pokémon travel together? Mongle said uncertainly.
A few tense minutes passed between the duo.
"What are you still doing here?" Sapph said, icicles almost literally forming on his words and in his stare.
Mongle felt as though the floor had been pulled out from under him from on top of Mount Silver.
Wh-what does that mean? Hey, wait up! Mongle cried out, grabbing the pokéball again as he gave chase to the fleeing trainer.
"JUST SHUT UP, YOU MANKY FLEABAG! GO AWAY!" Sapph yelled, quickening his pace.
Mongle didn't stop or go away.
Hey! Can't you see I'm the one with shorter legs here? Wait up! the Mongle yelled, starting to get mad.
As they rounded the corner into a dark, muddy alleyway, Sapph stopped and swivelled around to see the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon standing about three feet away.
"Why…why…" the boy said, getting worked up into a frenzy of rage.
Why? Mongle asked, cocking his head to one side questioningly.
"Why… won't you… just…LEAVE ME ALONE?!" Sapph roared. Blinded by fury, Sapph ran up to the little Pokémon and kicked it away. The Mongle squealed in pain as it flew back into the mud, the pokéball landing with a wet thud about five feet further away where it was half hidden in the shadows of the walls.
"BEAT IT! LEAVE! STOP FOLLOWING ME ALREADY!" The human bellowed, picking up a rock a chucking it at the Pokémon. The rock hit Mongle, who turned tail and ran back into town, tears blinding it.
Mongle ran blindly down a random alley. Worn out, he curled up in a box, thinking miserably as he sobbed, He hates me …he hates me… but I thought… Burner and Vulca can't be right, they just can't!
He never noticed the blinking red and gold lights until it was too late…
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Sapph had to hit something. Turning to the nearest thing in the vicinity, he proceeded to mimic Haley's punching the wall thing with hateful vindication until a glint of green flashed in the corner of his eyes. Snapping out of his tantrum, he stared at the ball his Pokémon had dropped, his mind travelling back to his conversation with Haley back at the Pokémon Centre…
-Flashback-
"Why me?" Sapph groaned into his hands.
"Look Sapph, it's not so bad. Mongle's really nice…cute too!" Haley said quietly.
"Great! I'll just have him stare at all his opponents till they crack up!" Sapph said snidely. "I mean, what can that thing do, Sweet Kiss 'em dead at the league?"
"Latias, you are impossible! Is all you wanted a powerful Pokémon?! Pokémon are more than what they are on the outside, it's what's inside that counts! Look at Bubbles! She's not very strong yet, but I don't mind because I know I can improve her and make her stronger!"
Why should he look at me, Hawey? Is there a something on my face? Aaah, pwease get it off me! Bubbles piped up, feeling her face with her little paws.
"Easy for you to say, you two got what you wanted!" Sapph retorted angrily.
"No, Bubbles, there isn't anything wrong with your face. Damn it, it's not Mongle's fault you're its trainer! If it's anybody's fault, blame Kamren! You wanna be a greater trainer than Kamren and that Rubin guy, prove it! Train Mongle to be stronger than Burner! Even if you don't want to be its trainer, it wants to be your Pokémon! Isn't that enough for you?"
Sapph looked amazed at Haley's outburst and felt rage welling up inside her. How could this idiot understand what I feel, Sapph thought viciously. The selfish, self-centred cow!
"You don't understand anything do you, you mad cow infested…" Sapph began to yell, winding up with a red hot slap connecting with his cheek.
"You heartless, immature, hopeless, nonsensical, worthless insect!" She breathed furiously, her eyes full of tears.
"Who're you to talk? And what the hell was that for?!" Sapph added as an angry footnote, rising to his feet in a towering temper.
Haley stood up too and was giving off an aura of fury so intense only a guy as stupidly fearless as Sapph wouldn't get scared.
"I guess pity and kindness would just be wasted on you," she said slowly and deliberately, returning Bubbles to her pokéball. "I thought you needed a friend. Now that I take a step back and analyse the situation, I feel Mongle needs one more. One who cares."
With that, Haley turned and ran out of the Pokémon Center after Kamren and the others, pausing to pat the Mongle on the head kindly. She then turned to look at him coldly for a moment before she left Sapph staring after her with his hand on his stinging cheek.
-End Flashback-
'…it's not Mongle's fault you're its trainer! It's Kamren's!'
Sapph's hands curled into fists against the wall.
'Even if you don't want to be its trainer, it wants to be your Pokémon! Isn't that enough for you?'
Sapph shut his eyes and turned away.
'Is all you wanted a powerful Pokémon?!'
Sapph pushed himself off from the wall and scooped up Mongle's Pokéball. Looking up into the stormy clouds, he said," I've gotta go find him!"
Running back into town, a flashing light caught Sapph's attention. Turning right down an alleyway, he saw several Meowth and a Persian beating up a littler Pokémon. "Mongle, hang on! Hey, break it up, you!" he yelled, picking up a piece of pipe. The cat Pokémon left the Leaf Squirrel and closed on him instead…
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Mongle remembered the bright flashes he saw as larger tan bodies attacked him. He knocked the first two away with his tail but was felled be a mighty sweep of what appeared to be their leader's paw. The attack left gash marks on his belly. The others then proceeded to slash at him too. Just as he began to lose consciousness, he thought he heard a voice say 'Mongle, hang on! Hey, break it up, you!'
Ten minutes later, he dimly felt himself moving as someone ran into the Centre, calling for help. He heard Nurse Joy ask what happened as he was loaded into a gurney by a pair of warm pink hands. Then his world went black.
Several hours later, the Grass Pokémon awoke blearily to see the boy from before staring at him with tears in his eyes. Noticing he was awake, Sapph rubbed his eyes and turned to stare at him.
"It's OK, buddy, I won't hurt you anymore," Sapph said in what he thought was a reassuring voice.
He's shaking, Sapph noticed. What the hell happened to me back there? What have I done?
A few long hours dragged by, the Pokémon stirring restlessly. Sapph soaked a new towel and sponged the Leaf Squirrel's forehead. Mongle tried to shift away but at the soothing sensation of the towel, held still long enough for Sapph to rub him dry. Nurse Joy then came in and seeing what was going on, said softly, "Don't worry, Sapph. Mongle will warm up to you."
"If only I was there…" Sapph began croakily.
"It wasn't you're fault, Sapph," Nurse Joy said gently.
Sapph told her what he'd done to make Mongle run away.
"That was harsh, Sapph," Nurse Joy said quietly as the Chansey nurse waddled in to look for her trainer. "What made you do it?"
"I dunno," Sapph whispered. "I just snapped. Some Pokémon master I turn out to make…I beat up my own Pokémon the day I get them! I mean, what will he think of me?"
"I guessing he needs you, which is why I haven't thrown you out yet," Nurse Joy went on patiently.
You better believe it, buster! Chansey chirped happily.
"How can you say that? He clear can't trust me now," Sapph said hoarsely. "I mean which Pokémon would?"
"See for yourself," Nurse Joy said with a small smile nodding towards the bed.
Sapph turned to see Mongle crying out feebly in discomfort gesturing towards Sapph with his now dull red eyes pleading with Sapph's blue ones. Sapph quickly wetted the other sponge and used it to cool his Pokémon down and soothe its wounds. Mongle snuffled softly and stop its feverish stirring.
"I have to see the other Pokémon, Sapph," Nurse Joy said, turning to leave. "Keep him cooled down, alright?"
"Sure thing, Nurse Joy," Sapph said with a smile.
As the door closed gently behind the two nurses, Sapph felt something push its way into his hand. Looking down he noticed that Mongle had snuggled up to his hand. Sapph's smile faltered.
Mongle, Sapph thought sadly. Could you really need me? Like I need a Pokémon like you…
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Mongle awoke feebly two hours later to see the young boy still there. Mongle tried to hastily get away but couldn't stray far enough and flinched, ready for the blows he was sure would follow.
"Still can't trust me hunh?" Sapph said sadly, trying to smile. A cracked sob issued from his mouth instead and he started crying again.
What's with this guy? Mongle thought. Wasn't he gonna hit me again?
"Are-are you OK?" Sapph asked, taking his hand out of the water that he had used to sponge his Pokémon through the night.
Why is he here, though? Did he tend to my wounds all night? I thought it was the nurse! Does he really care now? Mongle wondered.
"I'm… so …sorry! I'm sorry… I promise I'll… I'll never abandon you again, if you take me as your trainer… after… after all, it's what you think that counts. D'you… d'you reckon you could forgive me? After all I did?" he ended, a pleading look in his watery eyes, tears dripping down his scratched and burnt face.
Mongle looked deeply into the boy's eyes and saw nothing of the cold stare he received hours earlier. He saw in his earnest eyes a fervent desire to keep his promise and leave what had happened today behind. Mongle's face relaxed into a smile.
The boy trainer's joy was beyond words. He hugged his Pokémon, whispering words of profound thanks. Guess those two were wrong after all Mongle thought.
A couple of hours later on their night time rounds, Nurse Joy and Chansey looked in to see Sapph asleep in the chair, leaning over onto the bed hugging his Mongle. Both trainer and Pokémon had looks of content upon their faces. Nurse Joy smiled down at Chansey, who smiled back and gently closed the door.
Maybe he'll make a great trainer after all, they thought. He's begun on the right step…gaining Mongle's full trust. They started rough, but the best of friendships always have their rough patches…now theirs are out of the way, they can truly be a strong team!
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How d'you like Chapter 3? Emotional, wasn't it? Just wait things will really heat up soon! ; P
Where have you heard that one before?
Anyways, please review! i'll be on hand to recieve them through the exams, so i'll be close. Thanks!
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