A/N Well PT2 gets fully introduced here. I know I know, he is a bit Gary Stuish but oh well. I'll try to keep it toned but his GS nature is rather important. Hope you enjoy ^^
Disclaimer: Owning a copy of the newly released HG/SS does not mean I own the whole of the Pokemon franchise. I sure wish it did :( Only things I own here are, as ever, the ocs. Anything else is copyrighted to some very rich people with very high paid lawyers.
"Don't worry, Zenelle. Flare is fully rested and eager to see you," Nurse Joy assured her the next morning as she handed over a Pokéball.
"Thank you very much," Zenelle replied, happily, instantly releasing Flare, who gibbered happily.
"Who is the young man with you?" Nurse Joy inquired, glancing at PT2, who stood silently, Jirachi once again in a Pokéball in his pocket.
"Uh... I just call him 'Oi You' at the moment. He comes from a strange place where you're not meant to give names out until you really trust the person," Zenelle lied quickly.
"It is very nice to meet you," PT2 added, inclining his head slightly. Nurse Joy smiled and repeated the action. Zenelle rolled her eyes. Handsome, complete with good manners. The mothers of the world would all go crazy. He didn't fit well with her. She had okay manners, but she was clearly incompetent with Pokémon and was pretty at best. Not ugly, but not enough to go with someone so handsome. PT2 deserved to go with Cynthia! ...Which was a point. How could she really hope to protect him when she couldn't even catch a Bidoof? Was she making the right decision with this? Perhaps she should turn him over to Roark's care. A Gym Leader could keep him safe and Roark was one of the nicest, not that the rest were particularly mean.
"No! I'm going to do this by myself," she muttered, determinedly, attracting strange looks from PT2 and Nurse Joy. "Come on then, Oiyou. We've got some training to do. He's going to show me how to utilise my Pokédex so I can beat Roark."
"Good luck," Nurse Joy called after them.
"Thank you," Zenelle responded, grabbing PT2's arm and marching him out of there.
"For many years I have longed to set eyes upon a nurse from the Joy family. She was beautiful," he commented.
"Her hair hurts my eyes," Zenelle replied, sounding slightly sulky. Every guy got a crush on Nurse Joy, and it seemed well mannered PT2 wasn't an exception. "Come on, you owe me one Pokédex lesson."
The Pokédex was rather simple to use, once she got the hang of it. It showed her Pokémon types, attacks, average height and weight, the height and weight of her own, whether she owned them or not, the general area they liked to live in, areas of the world they could be found... It was one of the most useful things she had ever seen. The only thing that disappointed her was that the only attacks Flare knew were Scratch and Leer.
"That isn't fair! Senny's stupid Piplup knew Bubble from the moment she got it! Flare fainted almost instantly and I lost my precious!"
"Some Pokémon learn quicker than others. Flare seems to be a slow grower, but I find they usually have the most potential."
"Star's list takes up far too many pages on my Pokédex! She knows millions of moves. I could've said anything!"
"That is a plain exaggeration. She simply knows every single move it is possible for a Jirachi to learn. She has been awake for far too long. Jirachi are only meant to wake for a week every thousand years. She has been awake for at least fifty years," PT2 explained.
"Why's she been awake for so long?" Zenelle inquired, intrigued, staring at the lump in PT2's pocket.
"My father encountered her when he was a little boy. He found her sleeping and he decided to sing to her. Back then, he had a beautiful voice and Jirachi woke up. She had been asleep for a very long time. Now my father had been lonely. He was a bit of an outcast amongst the other kids and he was too young for a Pokémon of his own. One of the things he wished for is that she never had to go back sleep and leave him..."
"But she's with you now, so she's left him."
"Yes. My belief is it has something to do with my blood. I am his son, after all. I believe the wish continued through the bloodline," PT2 replied. Zenelle frowned, starting to add things up.
"Your father... Is he-" She started.
"He is," PT2 cut her off, his voice deliberately neutral. Zenelle looked down at the ground.
"I'm sorry."
"You did nothing."
"And your mother?"
"I don't have a mother. The only one I have left is Star," PT2 responded, patting his pocket and trying not to betray anything in his voice. Zenelle glanced over at him.
"Corny as it sounds, you're my partner now, okay? So you and me, we can be together until we beat the bad guys and I become champion of all, married to Volkner and laughing at Senny. You can have Cynthia. We'll be the best team ever!" she enthused. PT2 blinked at her.
"...If you insist," he replied, eventually. This journey might not be so bad after all...
-
They spent the rest of the afternoon training up Flare, in the hopes of helping her learn a fire move. However, before they managed, Zenelle happened to catch a glance at her watch.
"Oh no! We might miss it! Run!" she cried, instantly getting up and rushing off, leaving PT2 and Flare behind in the dust.
"What's wrong with her?" PT2 asked.
"Chimchar char chim," Flare explained.
"Huh? She's stopping your training to watch some men parading themselves on television!?" PT2 inquired, incredulous.
"...Char chimchar char char!" Flare exclaimed. PT2 sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I guess my secret's out, huh? Well don't tell her, do you understand?"
"Chaaaar..."
"She doesn't understand you yet? Honestly? That doesn't make sense! As far as I can tell, most trainers can understand at least the gist of their Pokémon's speech from the very start."
"Chimchar!" Flare snapped. PT2 held up his hands.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to insult her. It's surprising how close you have grown to her, despite all the losses."
"Chaaar," Flare replied, starting to walk off. PT2 shrugged before getting up to follow her.
Zenelle barely even glanced up as they came in. She was riveted to the television, watching with her eyes wide.
"I have heard if you sit that close, you run the risk of eye cancer," PT2 warned. She waved a hand at him to try and shut him up.
"It's Nando against Wallace, the contest of the millennium! Everyone's been waiting for this! Who's sexier, can we tell? No we can't! Now all we need is a naked Volkner and this thing is set!" she enthused. PT2 exchanged a glance with Flare before he smiled and put a finger to his lips. Flare rolled her eyes and mirrored the action. Zenelle didn't even notice them. No strange wanted men were going to take her mind off her own personal wanted men! Well, not her own personal... They had a lot of fangirls.
PT2 sat down behind her on a proper chair and watched the TV himself, ever mindful of eye cancer. Flare joined him, watching along with them. He found Zenelle's obsession strange at first but soon found himself being drawn in to the world of Pokémon Contests. The way the trainers and their Pokémon interacted, the way they moved their bodies, using attacks to heighten the visual effect, the way they seemed to all move to a rhythm of their own, one that only they could hear, just them and their Pokémon. He longed for an opportunity to work with Pokémon like that. He didn't like Pokémon battles even at the best of times but this... this was something new. He felt a rush of intense jealousy to those on the stage.
Zenelle sighed as the contest ended. She had been so close to missing it this time and she never missed contests when Wallace was on. She stood up and switched the TV off.
"But... But the-" PT2 started, wanting to watch more. Zenelle grabbed his hand and pulled him up.
"I want to teach Flare Ember. Come on," she decided.
"But the contest is still going..." PT2 protested weakly as she dragged him out.
"Chimchar," Flare sympathised.
For the rest of the day, until it got too late, PT2 was only half concentrating on Flare's training. He barely even remembered to crack a smile when Flare managed the tiniest of flames. His mind was fully on the beauty and skill of the contests, unable to get them off his mind. He longed to be like Wallace. Champion, Gym Leader and Contest Master. That guy had been able to do it all... Plus he clearly got all the fangirls. That was completely unfair. At the very least he could have been ugly. That would have made PT2 feel the slightest bit better... Stupid Wallace.
-
For a week, they trained hard, with PT2 becoming more relaxed and comfortable around Zenelle. However, he was starting to get increasingly jittery. Flare's Ember was a lot stronger, but they knew it wouldn't work against the rock types and he was certain their peaceful time was running out. Galactic would come back eventually, and he wanted them to be gone before that happened. They would find a way around Star and they would capture them... and probably kill Zenelle.
"Right, today I'm going to show you how to capture a Pokémon. The Pokémon we're searching for is Machop, a fighting type that lives in this area and is strong against the rock types that Roark uses."
"...You know, for someone who doesn't train Pokémon, you know a lot," Zenelle murmured. He smiled, almost dazzling her. She half wondered how he kept his teeth so white. He drank as much tea as her, dammit!
"Yes. It was another of the wishes Jirachi granted my father."
"Is that the reason the Bowl Cut Brothers were after you?" she inquired. PT2 inclined his head, once.
"One of them. There are many reasons, but I would prefer not to go into it."
"You know, you go all formal when you're trying not to explain stuff to me."
"I do?"
"Yeah, haven't you noticed?" Zenelle asked. He shook his head.
"My apologies."
"Whatever. Let's get catching me a Machop! I know, I'll call him Macho!"
"You aren't very skilled at naming things, are you?" PT2 murmured. Zenelle scowled and punched his arm, hard.
"That's it, I'm calling you Buttface," she hissed, stalking off. Flare watched her leave before repeating her action.
"Char chimchar chimchar chaaar," she scolded before flouncing after her trainer. PT2 rubbed his arm, ruefully.
"Buttface? I don't think I like that name," he whispered to himself, running after her to try and make it up to her.
It didn't take very much to convince Zenelle to forgive him. After all, she still needed him to help her capture the much needed Machop, and she had promised to help him. She refused to drop the 'Buttface', however.
"I heard there's a nest of Machop around here," he whispered to her.
"Right then, Buttface. How do we get them, Buttface? Please do show me, Buttface," she replied. He sighed. Okay, so maybe she hadn't quite forgiven him...
"Stay very quiet and they should appear. Then you challenge one. They get very competitive," he responded.
"Thank you, Buttface. I couldn't do this without you, Buttface. Am I annoying you, Buttface?"
"...They won't come out if you're not quiet," PT2 reminded her, barely managing to keep his voice neutral. It would only make her worse if she knew how much she was irritating him.
"Machooop," something said, dangerously, from behind them. PT2 paled.
"Ah ha! I'm going to capture you!" Zenelle cried, instantly whipping round.
"Zenelle, don't. We have to get out of here. Now," he whispered urgently.
"Shush, Buttface. I want this Machop!" she shot back. "Flare, Ember!"
"NO! You don't understand. That Machop has children and she thinks we're trying to attack them."
"Huh, how would you know that, Buttface?" Zenelle asked, sounding uncertain.
"I'll explain it later. Look, even Flare knows! We have to go!" he whispered. Zenelle gulped, before suddenly falling to her knees in front of the angry mother.
"Oh, my, I'm so sorry, Mrs Machop. We won't hurt your children, I swear. I'm sorry if I offended you," she apologised, surprising PT2. He didn't know she had it in her.
"Machooooo," the Machop responded, still glaring at them.
"She's giving us five minutes to get away from here. I suggest we run fast," he translated. Zenelle nodded and allowed him to take her hand before they ran off together, Flare once more on her shoulders.
When they were safely away, Zenelle turned on PT2.
"Okay, Buttface, you better spill everything, right now, else Flare is going to make you toasty!" she demanded.
"Char chimchar chaaar," Flare added. PT2 glanced around, not liking the number of people around.
"Let's go back to your room and then I'll tell you everything," he decided, reluctantly. Zenelle nodded, arms folded sternly as she led the way back.
She sat down on the bed and watched him closely as he paced back and forth, trying to work up the courage.
"I can understand Pokémon," he blurted out, finally. "It was another of the wishes father asked for."
"Is that it? Your big secret?" Zenelle asked, smiling. "What a big deal."
"You don't understand. There's a reason Galactic want me, and there's a reason I don't train Pokémon," PT2 continued, sitting down on the bed next to her. "If I spent too much time with Pokémon, I would gain the ability to control them. They would be mindless at the sound of my voice. It was another of my father's wishes, bearing in mind he was but a child. It was what killed him in the end. The strain it placed on his body... on his mind... In the end he couldn't cope... But they made sure he had a successor before he died. Everything he wished passed on to me."
"So your mother..."
"She was a member of Galactic. I hate her," PT2 replied, his voice full of loathing. "She did not care for me or my father. She didn't even give me a proper name."
"...How did you escape?"
"Pure luck. Star was allowed out the Pokéball and they had a blackout. Her full power was unleashed and she helped me out. After that, I had no choice but to run. They are going to make me control Pokémon, and they will make sure I have a successor. Poor Star will never be allowed to sleep."
"What happens if Jirachi isn't allowed to sleep?"
"I can only go by what Star told me, but if she does not get to sleep soon, she will most likely turn into a supernova."
"Isn't that an exploded star that turns into a black hole?"
"That is what I was told by Star."
"And wouldn't that engulf the entire planet?"
"That would be a yes."
Zenelle sat back, staring at PT2, eyes wide and mouth gaping. She glanced down hurriedly, as if expecting a black hole to already be forming in her partner's pocket. PT2 shuffled nervously.
"I would prefer it if you stopped looking there," he spoke up. Zenelle frowned, slightly confused, before it dawned and she found herself turning red.
"I was looking at your ball!" she protested. The sentence hung in the air, uncomfortably. She turned an even darker red and had to turn away. "Pokéball! Jirachi's Pokéball!"
"Yes, I understand," PT2 replied, his voice faltering slightly, his own cheeks pink. Zenelle got up and crossed the room, so she could sit on the windowsill and not be next to him.
"S-So how long have we got before the big BH?" she asked, voice cracking. She stared out of the window to avoid his gaze. She didn't see his uncertain look as he tried to decide between truth or lie.
"It could be anything up to a century," he replied, making his decision.
"Well that's fine then. All we have to do is make sure they don't make you have a kiddiewinkle."
"...Pardon?"
"Oh, sorry. Mum always said that. But I swear, Pete, I'm not going to let you get caught again. I'll protect you, I mean it."
"My name is not Pete!" PT2 protested. Zenelle nodded, distractedly, trying to change the topic.
"So, when can we go catch a Machop?"
"It isn't Pete!" PT2 repeated, ignoring her question. Why her? Honestly, why her? Out of all the annoying little trainers he could have handed Jirachi to, he had to pick one that delighted in calling him 'Jerk', 'Butthead' and, worst of all, 'Pete'. Was life still worth living? Was it ever!?
-
"Machoooo," Machop challenged.
"Char chimchar chim," Flare retorted.
"What are they saying?" Zenelle asked, eagerly.
"Machop told Flare to... 'Bite me', whatever that means, and Flare replied 'I'll kick your ass'," PT2 replied in a bored tone. She had been making him translate every little Pokémon noise the whole day as she fought various Machop, trying to find one she had a chance of catching. This one seemed to be the best. It was the least threatening and it had cowered slightly at Flare's challenge. However, Zenelle could do with some already strong Pokémon. She was too ditzy to really train Pokémon well. Her dreams of being a champion were to be crushed early on, he bet. He could help her beat Roark but, if she continued refusing to use Star, she probably would not make it past Maylene. "Can you capture him now, please?"
"Fine, fine," Zenelle agreed, finally, unaware of the reason for his skittishness. Team Galactic could be on their way at any moment! Did she not realise? Did she live in a dream world? "Flare, use Ember!"
"Chim!" Flare replied, instantly breathing out a number of small, deadly fireballs. Machop leapt up into the air, dodging them, but Chimchar followed its path, catching it directly on its belly.
"Machooo!" Machop protested, sounding angrier now. It landed and tensed its whole body before rushing at Flare, kicking her legs hard. Flare retaliated instantly, burning its chin. Machop staggered back, looking much worse for wear already. PT2 winced, seeing just how weak it was.
"Pokéball, go!" Zenelle cried, throwing an ordinary Pokéball at it. It disappeared into it in a red flash and Zenelle clenched her fists as the ball swayed. PT2 looked away, not wanting to will the Pokémon to stay in. He didn't know what it took to gain the ability but he refused. He would not deprive Pokémon of their right to choose. Pokémon didn't have to obey their trainers. That made it a good balance. If their trainer wasn't very good, the Pokémon showed it, so to be able to control them took all that away. It wasn't right.
"YES! I CAUGHT A MACHOKE!"
"You are getting slightly ahead of yourself there," PT2 pointed out. "You might hurt... Macho's feelings."
"Actually, I'm calling him Tyson, so shut it, Butthead."
"Tyson?"
"After a wrestler. Got a problem with that?" Zenelle demanded, ready to have another argument.
"No, I actually like it," PT2 admitted in amazement as Flare brought the Pokéball to her. Zenelle smiled at her and picked it up.
"How long will it take to train Tyson up well enough, do you think?" she asked PT2.
"Not long, if you use Flare to help. Maybe we can use Star as well if we train somewhere private."
"Good. I don't know if you've realised and I didn't want to scare you, but Galactic will come back eventually, when they finally realise that we were in fact stupid enough to stay here," she responded. He gaped at her, having not expected her to actually grasp that concept. He still had a hard time believing she was eighteen.
"You are right. I did not realise," he responded with the slightest of smiles.
"Liar. I told you, you always go formal when you're trying to hide things from me. You realised too, but you haven't tried to hurry me along. Maybe you're not such a butthead after all, Pete."
"Tha- - - Do not call me Pete!"
-
It was very hard work training up Tyson for the first while, as Zenelle had to get used to the different Pokémon, his nature and also get over the fact that he was rather weak. If it hadn't been for PT2's constant support, she would have given up and gone to challenge Roark long before time. Tyson was her surprise Pokémon. If this failed, she was going to have to get out of there no matter what. PT2 had to be got away from here, badge or no badge. She really wanted that badge though. She wanted to continue her own dream. Perhaps she could come back here later... If she lost... Which she wasn't going to.
"Right then, do you think we're truly ready for this?" she asked PT2 for the fifth time that morning.
"Well he has learnt Revenge and he's very eager. It is my hope Roark will be unprepared for a sudden challenge from one such as yourself," he replied with a shrug. "We may have to go dig our young opponent out, though. He does rather like stones."
"Sure thing. I'll keep Tyson hidden. Come on, Flare. We've got a Gym Leader to beat."
"You will have to make it a three on three, though. I told you not to capture that Bidoof," PT2 added. Zenelle smiled, holding up a Pokéball containing her newest addition, Ralten. PT2 had lived up to the oldest promise and helped her catch one after she insisted. Unfortunately, that had only been recently and they didn't have time to train him to use Water Gun. They had to move on. She also refused to tell him just why she had called him 'Ralten'. What sort of name was that? He was only glad he wasn't named by her. Why her Pokémon accepted nicknames, he would never know.
"Ralten won't be a bother. Tyson can take down any comers, can't you, Tyson?" she asked another Pokéball. It didn't answer. "What do you think, Flare?"
"Chimchar!" Flare replied, happily. "Char char chimchar."
"She says you can do anything. You'll beat him for sure," PT2 added.
"They take fewer words than us, huh?"
"It's a lot about body language too. It's hard to explain, so please trust me. The translations aren't completely accurate; they're more like a general gist, as accurate as I can make," he explained with a shrug. Zenelle smiled at him before grabbing his arm.
"Come on then. Let's go fishing for a Gym Leader. I heard they're rare around these parts," she enthused, pulling him up and away before he got a chance to answer.
He hesitated outside the mines as Zenelle moved to go in, Flare by her side and two full Pokéballs clinking in her pockets. She tried to continue walking but her grip on his arm caused her to almost fall at the unexpected stop.
"Wah! What's wrong? Is it Galactic? Are they back?" she asked, alarmed.
"N-No... It's not that," he responded, sounding reluctant. "I just never realised how dark and... Closed in mines are..."
"...Eh?" Zenelle asked, stumped.
"I thought they'd all be open and people happily digging away, like this bit. I didn't think it would be... Cave like."
"I thought you had all knowledge on stuff," Zenelle pointed out.
"No. All knowledge on Pokémon. Ask me anything about Pokémon and I will be able to tell you. Caves, they're a no go. Pokémon trainers and related items, they're a go go. Do you understand?" PT2 replied. Zenelle pursed her lips, thoughtfully regarding him.
"So what's wrong with mines not being all open?"
"They're... Well... I'm slightly... Claustrophobic," he admitted, rubbing his eyes to avoid looking at her. Here he was, a full grown... Well, still growing a bit but nearly a full grown man and he was scared of such stupid things.
"So you're scared of small places?" Zenelle inquired.
"I am scared of places without windows that are dark and scary whether they are underground or not. Being underground definitely does not help."
"Oh come on. How can that hurt you?" she scoffed, trying to pull him in. He resisted, clinging to a nearby pole.
"Do not pressure me. You have no idea about this. Phobias are not reasonable. I did not wish to have this and I will not allow you to take me under there," he hissed. Zenelle frowned.
"Wait, you had to go through the tunnels to get here," she pointed out. "How's that different?"
PT2 relaxed as she stopped tugging him to let him answer.
"I was being pursued, the tunnels were short and I was running very fast. I was out before I knew it. I could see light the entire way. It's slightly different. You find Roark. I'll stay here. Remain on guard."
"I still don't see what's wrong with being underground..." Zenelle murmured, doubtfully, before she shrugged and sighed. "Flare, keep Pete safe. I'll drag Roark out and be on my way."
"Don't call me Pete!" PT2 cried, even as she disappeared into the mine. He sighed. "Oh well. At least she's got Tyson with her. The Geodude down there won't bother her and Onix are rare."
"Chimchaaaar?" Flare inquired.
"You should have more faith in your dear trainer," PT2 replied. "...Although she does have the worst of luck. Maybe I should have given her Star... Yes. Flare, I want you to take this to her, do you understand?"
"Char? Chimchar char!"
"I know. You'll only be gone a few seconds. What could happen in that time, hey?" he responded. Flare scratched her head, trying to weigh up the pros and cons.
"Char," she agreed, reluctantly, taking the Pokéball and disappearing into the mines. PT2 leant against the tower and bit at his thumb.
"I believe you wish for me to follow you now," he murmured, glancing across to where a shadowy figure appeared. "It will be impossible for you to reach her now. A Gym Leader is down there and you do not wish for news of you to be spread, do you?"
The shadow didn't respond, instead letting out a deep, dark chuckle that chilled PT2 down to the core. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
"ZENELLE! GET OUT OF THERE!" he screamed, even as the blast from the explosion knocked him off his feet. His head cracked against the pole and he lay still.
A/n I made this chapter longer to make up for irregular publishing and stuff ^^ PT2's changing speech patterns are meant to symbolise his reservedness around strangers. If you think it didn't work, tell me ^^If you're wondering why I randomly added Nando... He's pretty ^^ I wanna see more of him :D
Who is this shadowy figure? Did Zenelle survive? Will PT2 ever choose a proper name? Find out next *mumbles incoherently* in Unable to Battle!