Thanks again to everyone who favorites or follows my stories! Additional thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on the last chapter. It's great hearing from you!
I plan to keep posting new chapters about every two-three months until I complete the first draft, which is about 90% at this point. Yes, I'm a slow writer. :)
Chapter III: A New Home and Life
Skyarrow Bridge. Although I had never been on any of the famous bridges such as the Golden Gate or Brooklyn, I imagined this one would have ranked up there with them! Not only long, it was novel for a suspension bridge in that it had two decks, the lower for vehicle traffic that zoomed below us, with the upper, narrower deck, seemingly reserved for pedestrians and bicycles. And over the long crossing, I had plenty of time to enjoy it's elegance as well.
Which reminded me I missed having a watch.
Being almost evening on arriving at the other side, Gale handed me a snack since she didn't want to stop until we got to her home. Fortunately Castelia City had a subway system, allowing us to get from the bridge area to the other side of downtown rather quickly. But even with the few minutes I got to see the city before getting on, its impressiveness was hard to miss, being stacked with the tall glassy buildings of a major metropolis. The length of the subway ride revealed it wasn't very large though, area-wise. From near the downtown where the bridge put us to the suburb, was perhaps fifteen minutes, including stops. Indeed, even from the supposed outer ring of the city, the buildings of the center were still visible down the straight streets as we emerged back up to ground level, amid an area of mostly three-story houses, a few small corner stores, and much higher apartment buildings mixed in.
The particular one Gale's apartment was in actually looked pretty nice, despite her saying it was an older one. With light-colored brick facing, it was three stories with every unit appearing to have a patio or balcony. Even the carpeting in the hallways looked in great condition, and by the time we made it up to the second floor and to her front door, it was more than evident the place was well-kept. Of course, this planet being a different Earth (one way or another) than the one I was born on, I simply couldn't comment on the styling, but it wasn't anything I would call tacky.
Once inside, Gale flipped on the lights before letting her pack drop on the long counter by the door. "Well, this is home."
It was sparsely furnished. The living room, which had a set of patio doors leading out to the balcony, had a couch, coffee table, side table, and a small cabinet on which there was a television, and little else. Only one small, lonely photo adorned the white wall over the couch, that being of some beach scene with a sailboat. The kitchen area was just straight ahead, containing only a table and three chairs. Even the counters were bare. Two doorways seemed to lead to a bedroom and bathroom.
"I make sure everything was cleaned up before I left a couple weeks ago, but there's plenty of food." Almost to prove the point, she opened a cupboard, revealing many cans.
"Looks nice," I replied. It even smelled clean. I actually did like a place that wasn't all cluttered up and didn't have every conceivable space filled with something. The less you have, the less you have to keep track of and worry about. Up to a reasonable point, of course.
"OK, let me unpack and take a shower, then I'll fix something for us. Then you can have the shower. Um...oh, I assume you're familiar with one, right?"
"It has a faucet, I assume?" I asked, feeling slightly insulted. Of course, maybe the ones in this apartment were completely alien to me, but if they were like the ones at the Pokécenter, then they were like the ones on my Earth.
"Yep," she replied before hauling her pack into the bedroom.
"If these cans just have stuff that needs to be heated, I can do that," I called after her, staring up at the closed cupboard, my stomach growling.
"There's more stuff in the freezer. Are you familiar with microwaves too?"
"Yes." Spotting the one over the stove, it didn't seem very different from what I was used to either. Perhaps some things were just universal! Now reaching it from my three-and-a-half foot height, however... I found I could only just touch the bottom of the cupboard with a good deal of stretching on tip-toes (three in my case). And the first couple cans I could reach with a short jump were some kind of soup I'd never heard of. Hell, I couldn't even pronounce it! And 'Poké Soups' brand, made with real Poké berries? But the picture looked good. Alright, so some of the food was definitely different. Not to say I was familiar with every soup on my Earth either.
I managed a pan from a lower cabinet, but a can opener eluded me until Gale came back out of the bedroom. She stuck the cans against some thin plate thing under the bottom of the cupboard that I would have never guessed was a can opener! It seemed to simply punch an almost complete circle in the top, and raise the barely connected lid at the same time in less than a second. I was impressed.
Watching me dump the contents into the pan over the gas stove: "Huh, watching a Pokémon cook sure is weird. I've heard there are some Pokémon chiefs out there, but generally Pokémon don't do anything like this. But then, you used to be human, right?"
"You're catching on," I teased. It may have seemed odd, but my biggest fear around food had become getting my green or white hair in it. And I did shed, I discovered.
"OK, I'm taking that shower now. Don't burn yourself. You're a grass-type you know."
Same thing she told me around the camp fires. By the time she was back out, I managed to use a chair to get a couple bowls and even found animal-shaped crackers. I wolfed my bowl too, since the last meal was way back at around noon with only a small snack after, and the sun had already set. Then it was my turn in the shower. It was about to be my first with this new body, and the first problem presented itself when I hopped into the tub stall: did I use bar soap, or shampoo for all my extensive body hair?
"Well, you look cleaner...and wet," Gale commented from the couch while watching television after I got out.
Although the woman had laid out several towels for me, "Towels only get hair so dry. Um, where are my shorts?"
"Oh, I peeked in to grab them. They're in the laundry. I assumed you'll want them clean when we go shopping tomorrow for more clothes. And a hair brush and any other…personals." She was snickering.
Looking down, I noticed the green hair on my legs was drying funny. Some quick work with my hand fixed it. "Maybe a hair dryer too."
Television was how we spent the rest of the evening. Judging from the prevalence of Pokémon in every program I had watched so far on this world, I had to conclude they were as integrated with human life as regular animals were on my Earth. More so actually, since Pokémon could do so much more than regular animals, like a multitude of tasks in addition to battling. Finally at some point, my eyes closed and I woke up against Gale when she stirred.
"OK sleepy thorn monkey, time for bed. I'll make yours out here."
I watched while half out of it as she threw a blanket and pillow on the couch. Then I was out again after collapsing on the nice, soft cushions. After three days of walking, I must had been pretty worn out as I didn't remember any dreams at all.
Save one.
Again I was in some swirling dark blue/purple/grey tunnel, slowly tumbling with a sensation of falling but not reaching a bottom. Ahead of me appeared the light purple dragon like before. Its mouth moved, and I heard one word: "…must…" Everything else was too soft amid some ambient noise of maybe wind. With its two large arms, the dragon made some sweeping gesture…and I woke up.
It was morning and Gale was just leaving the bathroom.
"Oh, did I wake you?"
Frankly, I didn't know if it was her, the morning sun hitting the patio door blinds or the dream that woke me. I shrugged; didn't matter. My need for the bathroom did.
Breakfast that morning was the most leisurely since I had arrived on this version of Earth. Without having to hit the trail, we spent a good deal of time just eating oatmeal and looking over the morning's paper which Gale had run out to get. News wasn't the only thing she was after, but any news about companies that might be hiring as well. After shopping, she planned to hit the internet as well. Maybe.
The paper proved more insightful for me, being the first real comprehensive news about this Earth I got since arriving. There were the things I would normally expect, such as government budget issues, foreign affairs (all about countries or regions I hadn't heard of before) and stock market reports. That was about half of it. The other half of the news involved Pokémon. Pokémon tournaments, contest outcomes, current research, Pokécenter budgets, trainer tips, invitations for university studies, travel opportunities for trainers and their Pokémon, a Pokémon health care bill for those used as unpaid labor…
One thing was becoming quite clear by this time: Pokémon on this planet were very, very important.
Hearing a soft noise from the other side of the table, I found Gale staring with a bemused look. "What?"
"Just you, sitting at the table with a cup of tea and reading the paper. Very human. Except you're a simisage. It's just…still really weird for me."
I supposed it would have been like me watching a monkey on my Earth doing the same thing. "I'm usually in a rush to get out the door for work in the morning, having breakfast once I get there. So this is a treat." Not what she was getting at, but it was weird for me too for multiple reasons.
"Well, let's get to the shopping area and find those clothes you want. Most of the morning rush should be over by now. But I just need to let the others out to eat and use their bathroom."
I had been wondering about that. But after she let out everyone in the hall, I found out Pokémon in Pokéballs don't just save energy, but their bodily functions slow down as well. The apartment building also had a special Pokémon bathroom on every floor, since each apartment was too small to devote that much space to such facilities. Once again, I was glad I had a more-or-less human form and was able to use normal human bathrooms! Just needed to learn better control my tail, least it go 'fishing'…
The morning was darn near perfect. Nice sunny sky, a few gentle gusts for wind, and comfortable temperature. I did miss my shirt; being as torn and stained as it was, I was forgoing it for this shopping trip. The shorts, there was no way I was going without them in town!
Just a block from the apartment, we walked by a large city park. What caught my interest was the two partly fenced-in fields, in one of which two Pokémon were battling, a small blue and white otter-like creature called an oshawott and a pidgey, their trainers standing on opposite ends.
"Pokémon battle fields," Gale provided. "Most parks in this city have a few. I've done a lot of training at this one. We can work on your moves here too."
The pidgey trainer called a Gust attack, while the other commanded Water Pulse. The end result was the pidgey hitting the ground after a wall of water impacted it in mid-air, and it didn't get back up. "Powerful oshawott," I commented, and got a slap on my bare back.
"Heh, you're learning."
Compared to the stares I got on the subway the day before, the few I got over the twelve block walk to the clothing store I hardly noticed. I just assumed by now people weren't used to seeing Pokémon in clothes. Back in Nacrene City where we had bought my shorts and shirt, no one really saw Gale hold them up to me, so no explanations were needed. But in this much larger store and buying several shorts and shirts, I needed to try them on. For that, I needed a fitting room.
"Oh, entering the musical in Nimbasa City?" the attendant asked as we walked past, her giving the mended shorts I was already wearing a critical eye.
"Nope," Gale answered with a quick smile. "He just likes wearing clothes."
"How unusual!"
I made a conscious effort to whip my tail behind me, giving some kind of signal I heard. I couldn't imagine the scene if I had said something!
After an hour, we left the multistory store with a pair of modifiable sandals, and four each of shorts and tank tops, one of the latter I was already wearing. After a stop at an adjacent department store for things like a hair brush, toothbrush, paste and shampoo, it was near lunchtime. Hitting a fast-food place, people around pointed out the 'cute' simisage next to the pony-tailed girl. I had to whisper to Gale what I wanted for food, and even that raised some eyebrows around us. Maybe if I had just got up on one of the tables to shout to the entire world that I could speak, I could get it over with once and for all. Alas, I didn't have the nerve. As it was, just acting human in sitting at a table and eating a burger with fries and a soft drink (of some unfamiliar berry flavor) like everyone else, got me a certain amount of attention.
We took a different route home as a result. A route that just happened to have...
"A camera store!" Thankfully no one was in earshot on the lightly populated street that early afternoon. Behind the glass of the storefront, I easily recognized not just digital point and shoots, but SLR-like cameras too! I planted my nose against the glass for a better look. Hoping for some familiarity, I was a little disappointed to not find the brands I knew. But...the cameras appeared to have the same basic features: large LCD on the back and various controls I could guess the function of. There was even a selection of professional-looking lenses stacked nicely in their own little stacked display, both prime and zooms. I was beginning to drool...
"Your Pokémon there sure seems interested in cameras."
Glancing up, there was an old man standing beside Gale looking down at me, as if he just stumbled upon something of great interest.
"Um, yeah," Gale replied. "I think he actually knows how to use them."
"Really?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow. "He'd be one really smart Pokémon then! There are a few rare ones that can use human technology as well as any of us. If it's one of them, I encourage you to indulge it."
At that point, the man launched into a story about some other Pokémon he once ran into that had a knack for using human technology, a swampert or something, to which Gale at first seemed interested but obviously was wanting to get going. I helped her out by grabbing her hand and pulling her into the store. She and the man exchanged a hasty farewell.
Gale sighed after we got inside: "Thanks!"
"I'm sorry Miss, but Pokémon cannot be brought in here, for obvious reasons," a shirt and tie salesman 'greeted' from behind the glass counter. "Especially simisages, since they can have such violent tempers..."
"Oh don't worry, he's really well behaved," Gale pleaded. And nearly in the same breath: "And he's really interested in cameras. He knows how to use them."
The fact she was remembering what I had said a few days before about being an amateur photographer was surprising me, and I smiled back.
The man's face was at first unyielding, but changed to astonishment as I hurried to the used camera counter. In fact, as I kept my hands behind me while looking up and down the row of cameras and lenses to zero on one nice-looking one, Martin, according to his name-badge, actually brought it out.
Holding it almost protectively over the glass counter, "Alright, this I have to see," he said. "You think you can take some photos with this, simisage?"
I nodded with confidence. At least, the camera sure looked to have the usual basic controls, despite being made on a different Earth.
"Then take a photo with this. Please don't break it, otherwise it'll come out of my salary. In fact, I'm already going to get seriously yelled at if the owner finds out I'm not kicking the two of you out." Even at that, he hesitated, nearly pulling it back before finally handing it over with a grimace.
The camera had a different, heavier feel in my smaller hands than what I was used to, but it still fit decently. Finding the power switch took a good few seconds, as did figuring out the exact controls for getting the aperture and focus point I wanted for the indoor shot. But the autofocus worked just like I guessed through the viewfinder, and taking a wide-angle photo of the man with the counter in front for a good composition after that was a snap. While getting used to the different feel of the camera against my changed face, I took a few close-ups of various objects around the counter for good measure, even using the built-in flash and getting down on one knee for a small item in a display near the floor, before handing the camera back.
Martin seemed impressed with the results as he went through them on the built-in LCD. "You aren't kidding, Miss. Your simisage doesn't take half-bad photos! Did you train him?!"
"Well, he already knew how before I met him."
"Oh! Well, he's the first Pokémon I've ever heard of that can use a camera, I mean, beyond just being told to press the shutter button." Waving his hand over the entire counter, "I think you more than qualify to use any of these, Simisage."
I beamed a smile to Gale, only to watch her sigh.
"Well, unfortunately, I can't afford anything right now. But thank you very much for letting us in and try one!" She ended with a bow that let her pony-tail flop around her shoulder.
"Well, whenever you're ready to buy, I'll make an exception for you: your simisage is welcomed back anytime!"
"Thank-you!"
Despite all the turmoil I'd been through the last few days, the photo bug was now biting. But to replace what I had lost was going to take money, a good deal of it. Gale was already doing more than enough for me so…I needed a job! I had started to guess Pokémon didn't really hold jobs per se, although one of the newspaper stories that morning implied Pokémon did work for money…on behalf of their owners.
Still, unless there were some programming jobs available (what kind of computer languages were used on this world?!), I probably would end up with some low-wage manual labor one. Unless a talking Pokémon could do better…
The kind of attention I imagined I would get really turned me off to the idea, though. I really was an introvert…
Our different route looped back to take us by the park again. Unlike that morning, both the battle fields were being used by trainers and their Pokémon now. A sudden thought came to me: "I wonder if any of them would like having their pictures taken, like when they're battling? Maybe even printed on the spot."
Gale stopped on the sidewalk, giving one of the battles a little more attention. "There have been a few times when I wouldn't have minded a few photos myself."
Doing some fast thinking: "I wonder if I could make some money at it. Take several photos during one of these battles, show them on the camera to the trainers, then print off ones they want for a few bucks."
"Bucks?"
"Yen," I corrected. The lingo for dollars apparently wasn't common here. "Does someone make small, portable printers here?"
"I think so." She suddenly looked down at me, smile creeping across her mid-twenties face. Somewhat thoughtfully: "Photos taken and printed by a simisage…that would be unique. No other Pokémon anywhere in the world does that that I've heard of. You could charge a premium for those, I think!"
"Huh." Clearly, this idea was taking off with her too.
"I could help you get set up; I do have a degree in business after all. But…we'll need to earn money to buy the equipment first."
Also clearly, I couldn't ask her to do anymore. She simply didn't have the funds. "But once I do, then I could, well, pay back a loan, though. Think I can get a bank loan?" The women laughed, immediately killing my hope.
"Sorry, but banks don't lend to Pokémon, and I doubt any bank will believe you used to be human, despite being able to speak." Then pausing, she gave every sign of cooking something up. "But…we could earn money by doing more battling. If you were willing to learn and do some, I could take on more trainers and earn more money. I'll give you a cut, and you could save that to buy equipment! Depending on how much we earn, I might be able to help you out some beyond that."
Yep, she was cooking something.
"Professor Juniper?"
I watched the televideo screen in Gale's apartment as a middle-aged women replaced the younger man who had answered the call a few moments before.
"Yes, hello Ms…"
"I'm Gale Ablon," Gale filled in. "We met a couple years ago when you gave me my tepig as my first Pokémon."
"Oh, I think I remember you! I do get a lot of trainers for that, so please forgive me." Chuckling, "but not usually ones starting out as late as you did. How's he doing?"
"He's doing great. Hammy's an emboar now, and I couldn't do without him."
"Good to hear Gale! Now, my assistant mentioned you're claiming you have a…talking Pokémon?" Her expression conveyed extreme doubt, though perhaps with a touch of curiosity.
Gale's hand on my back pushed me more into the view of the phone's camera. "That's right. Alex here can talk, and that's just for starters."
"A simisage?" The Professor frowned.
"Hi," I greeted with a wave. "I'm Alex. Nice to meet you."
Juniper froze as her black-haired Asian assistant shot back into view. "Did that simisage just…"
"Yes, I can talk."
"Hold on, is this a trick?" the Professor asked, scowling as her assistant gaped.
"No trick!" I defended, coming closer to the eye-level screen. "I can talk, and read too for that matter." Man, I felt a blow to my pride having to say that, but thought it wise not to go on to mention I could do programming. Least not yet.
"And that isn't the only thing special about him," Gale continued. "He…" Facing me: "Well, why don't you tell her your story?"
Running fingers through the green hair on my arms in fidgeting while fearing I was going to be called crazy (again), I launched into a quick recap of how I used to be human, was from what I thought was a different Earth, one without Pokémon, and the scant detail of how it had happened involving the flash of light before waking up on Planet of the Pokémon.
Gale picked up from there, going over how she found me and a summary of the days since. "So, I was wondering if you wanted to have a look at him, and possibly uncover some clues about how this might have happened to him."
The Professor put us on hold for a moment. On reappearing, her assistant was gone from view, although there was a new sparkle about her eyes. "Do you think you can bring him by? I would like to have a look at him, at first just to confirm what you…what both of you are saying."
"Well, it'd take a while for us to get there by foot," Gale replied with a grimace. "I'm in Castelia and don't have a car."
"I see. Well, I can send Derek, but it'll be a couple days until he's available. Just tell me your address. If he confirms everything after checking, er, Alex out, I'll definitely want the two of you to come here to my lab…"
After the Professor 'hung up' a few minutes later, my hopes were elated. "Maybe we might actually get to the bottom of this. You said she has an impressive lab?"
"If it's something to study Pokémon, she has it," Gale replied, sounding almost as excited as I felt. "And from what I've read, the study of Pokémon involves a lot of different things including all sorts of medical scanners and even things you'd never think of. It's all supposed to be the most advanced available…or even just prototypes."
More promising still! If anything, the technology on this Earth in some areas appeared more advanced then on 'my' Earth. And if not, than it certainly was just a bit 'different'. Like the cameras.
It was mid-afternoon, and I was suddenly too excited to do anything but think about going home. OK, that was likely jumping the gun by a light year, but at least my hope wasn't based on nothing anymore.
"Alright, since we have the rest of the afternoon, how about we go to the park and work on your moves? After all, we still have money to earn."
I sighed as my heart skipped a beat. If I ended up going back to my Earth soon, there wasn't any need. But if I was still stuck for a while… I guess I wasn't all that opposed to practicing though; the remembered feeling of energy while trying to do a 'move' before in Pinwheel Forest, and the promise of what I was capable of, suddenly gave me a different form of excitement. It'd also serve as a distraction until the Professor's assistant arrived.
After giving Hammy, Serenity, Bolt and Lilly their lunches, Gale absorbed them before clipping their balls back to her belt. Apparently they were to serve as practice partners once I was able to master one or more moves.
"Alright, just like before, focus your energy, then release it. But this time, let's try a simpler attack, like shooting a slow stream of seeds from your mouth. It's a move called Seed Bomb. Focus the energy into your mouth, then let the seeds form and shoot out. Don't know if you can do it, but most pansages and simisages should know this lower-energy move."
We were in a corner of the park away from the battle fields…and everyone else. There were just a bunch of trees around us, giving us a measure of privacy and which suited me perfectly. It also served to protect others, in case one of my attacks went where it shouldn't. And like in Pinwheel Forest, the smell and 'feel' of a lot of green surrounding me again was uplifting in some manner I couldn't explain.
I made a mental note to ask Gale to get some planets in her apartment…
Rubbing her hands briefly up and down my arms: "OK, now give it a try."
I did as she coached, gathering what I thought was energy up into my mouth with nothing more than conscious thought, then imagining it to form into small seeds shooting out. And…
Holy crud…it worked!
Well, mostly. Luminous green seeds did shoot out. All two of them, several seconds apart. They fell short of the tree I was aiming at, hitting the ground and dissipating into nothing. At least some grass got disturbed...slightly.
"Not bad at all for a first try!" Gale praised, rubbing my back through my new shirt, even giving the stiff hair on the top of my head a ruffle to force a giggle out of me. "Let's try it some more."
For the next while, I practiced this Seed Bomb attack. By the time we were done, I could generally hit a tree at some fifteen meters with a whole stream of seeds, and with only a little sweat covering my chest and back on this warm late afternoon, though it did feel draining. The poor tree though would've likely preferred I had chosen some other target if it had a say, seeing as some of its bark was now stripped off. But I appreciated its sacrifice, for I was feeling amazed at what I had done!
"We should probably stop damaging that tree now," Gale said, supporting my observation. "The parks department has to replace enough of them as it is. So…let's have Serenity be your new target!" As quick as she finished, she was throwing one of the red and white Pokéballs into the air, the red beam shooting into the air where the female unfezant materialized above us. "Serenity, Alex is close to mastering the basics of Seed Bomb. We need a moving target now. Will you help?"
Landing before us, the grey pheasant-like bird gave a nod. "I would be happy to! Alex, you're actually learning an attack?"
She sounded surprised, but I still smiled at her otherwise cheerful demeanor. "Seems like it. This is actually kind of fun, you know." It really was; I felt like a sorcerer using magic!
"Since you say you used to be human and not even familiar with Pokémon, I can't imagine!" She gave a low, throaty chirp that was her form of laughter I'd learned.
"But are you sure I won't hurt you with these Seed Bombs?"
"So long as you don't go overboard, I can handle it little guy!"
So, she was now using Hammy's name for me…
"Don't worry," Gale reassured. "I have plenty of recovery medicine with me," giving her backpack on the ground a nudge with her foot.
With Serenity doing both low and high-speed passes just meters in front of us, I again practiced the next while by trying to hit her. I even learned to scale back my attacks so as not to hurt her as much, but only managed to hit a fraction of the time anyway. Then it was passes from back to front and the reverse with her charging in, which I did much better at. After a whole series of hits, the bird Pokémon finally landed in front of us, panting heavily and looking a bit ragged.
With a pained cry: "Enough! I need some healing."
"She needs healing," I passed on, although Gale was already pulling something out of her pack. "Got it," bringing out a yellow sitris berry and something in a small squeeze bottle.
I felt bad; I obviously hadn't scaled back my attacks enough! "Sorry if I overdid it."
Between pants: "No, your attacks…are quite weak against me…since I'm a bird…but after so many…I need rest." She eagerly took chucks out of the offered fruit with her sharp beak as I thought on that. Gale hadn't fully explained yet the relationship between the many different types of Pokémon. I'd already figured out that my 'grass' type attacks wouldn't work well against Hammy, who was a 'fire' type, but it seemed that was also true against Serenity, a 'flying' type? (How all this worked into a nice scientific and biologic explanation felt so far out of my grasp, I had to just accept it without thinking how crazy it sounded!) I finally asked Gale to confirm my conclusion.
As she gave Serenity a sip from the squeeze bottle: "That's right. Grass type attacks have reduced effect against fire and flying types, whereas fire and flying type attacks are going to have great effect against you. For instance, if I had Serenity do Aerial Ace, you might not still be standing afterward."
An oddly wry look about her face, Serenity perked up. "It'd help you learn to avoid attacks," the unfezant added with a certain tone in her squawk, like she was looking forward to the opportunity.
"Hey, come on!" I cried with hands up. "I'm just first learning all this stuff!"
With a minor flap of her wings: "Exactly!"
Clearly she was well on her way to recovering her strength.
"Don't worry," Gale piped in with a pat to my arm, "we're just going to focus on practicing your attacks first. You're doing pretty well with Seed Bomb now, so we'll try a different one next. But it's almost dinner time, so let's call it quits for the day. We can practice more tomorrow." She handed me what was left of the sitris berry while letting Serenity continue to sip carefully from the bottle.
Taking a few nibbles around where Serenity gouged out her chunks, I felt the near-instant rush of energy. Holy mackerel, that felt good! Got my heart going again too.
Gale released Hammy, Lilly and Bolt, giving them some time to relax around the park as well as nibble on some snacks. Serenity took the opportunity to tell them about my new attack, eliciting some congratulations and hearty back-slaps from Hammy, then it was back to the apartment for the evening. I had to admit I was feeling pretty good, and not just from the sitris, but with a sense of accomplishment and amazement. After all, I learned how to use my body's energy to form seeds in my mouth and fire them out considerable distance at whatever target I saw fit! How cool (and logic defying) was that?! Being a human again was starting to look a little boring by comparison.
"So you think I did pretty well?" asking as I sat with Gale on the couch that evening, helping to modify my four new pairs of shorts with tail holes. I hadn't ever done much sewing, but after she showed me, it wasn't that hard. Again, she thought it intriguing that a Pokémon would do such a thing.
After drawing the long thread through that would fold the cloth back: "Yep. Although you were learning Seed Bomb for the first time, you had it down pretty good after only a couple hours. That's some fairly quick learning. Maybe having been human has something to do with it."
I smiled. My personality was never one that allowed me to brag or anything, so I played it low-key: "So you weren't that impressed then."
She let out a stifled laugh. Reaching to gently grab my closest ear and give the large lobe a mild shake, "Are you kidding, you little talking grass monkey?! You've been impressing me ever since we met!"
After releasing my ear, what followed was a playful poking, tickling and wrestling match, one that ended up with her firmly on top and me with my face planted into the seat cushion, almost panting after all the exertion. Although she was an average woman in height, build and weight, I was like an seven or eight year-old. In other words, she was double my weight and size. OK, so by now I had figured out I was pretty strong physically, much more so than a human eight-year old. But ever try to get good purchase on a couch cushion when you're pressed flat into it?! I swung my tail around in trying to get out from under her, only to feel that get grabbed too.
"Watch that thorny tail tip," she warned, but set in with tickling my sides again.
"I give!" I cried into the cushion, unable to withstand the renewed assault.
She giggled in getting off me, then brought me in close as I got up for a strong hug.
"It's so nice to have a Pokémon I can really play with, not to mention being able to really talk to. I mean, I do love my other Pokémon and I still play with them, but they're so big and strong now, that an accident would leave me with a broken bone or worse."
"And I'm just the right size and shape, huh?"
"Exactly! Like a little brother I never had."
"Actually I would be more like a big brother, since I'm older than you," reminding her that I was indeed thirty-two.
"Details."
"Try these."
Gale had finished breakfast before me, quickly getting to work on my sandals. It hadn't taken her long, since the soft soles could be cut quickly and the straps easily refitted. After a minor adjustment, at last I had some footwear!
"But you probably shouldn't wear them when battling."
I could see that. If they were full shoes, it wouldn't have been a problem, but full shoes would require being custom made by a shoemaker, which meant expensive, assuming we even could find one to make them for a Pokémon, according to her.
In the week I had been this Earth, my feet had toughened up, not that they weren't already so to some degree. Perhaps more accurately, I had become used to being barefoot. But having something between my feet and the bare pavement as we walked to the park that morning as very welcomed! Even so, I felt like ditching them upon reaching the grass again just for the feel, especially with it being freshly cut and releasing it's wonderful smell that I thought was damned near intoxicating.
As usual now, there was a battle going on at one of the fields, although the other was empty. Well, the sun was only half up.
"Alright, let's try a new move this morning," Gale started as soon as we arrived at our semi-secluded training spot. "Let's see if you can do…"
We ended up going through several different ones until we found the next one I could actually perform some semblance of. Turned out I was capable of something called a "Focus Blast". To me, it was just a bunch of energy I built up between my hands and shot forward. But she pointed out it had certain property making it a 'fighting' type attack.
Gads, another type property! "Just how many types are there anyway?!"
"Seventeen Pokémon types and moves. Grass, which you are, fire, which Hammy is, flying for Serenity, electric for Bolt, water and ground types, which Lilly is both of, then there's ghost, dark, normal…"
And so it went.
"So for you, as a grass type, just remember you're weak against flying, poison, bug, fire and ice, and strong against ground, water, and electric," ticking them off on her fingers. Then with a single finger: "But, since you can wield a fighting type move, that means that particular attack is very effective against normal, rock, steel, ice and dark types, but not very effective against poison, flying, bug and psychic types. Got that?"
I gave her my best bewildered look for a second. "Uh, yeah, sure, I'll certainly remember all that, no problem," somewhat sarcastically, hands on my hips. It was coming a little fast!
The woman smirked while adjusting her ponytail. "Alright, sorry, I keep trying to rush things a bit. But you'll learn it as we go along. Now, since fighting type attacks aren't too damaging to flying types, guess who'll be your practice partner for your Focus Blast this morning?"
No sooner had I answered then Serenity materialized in front of us once again. "Sorry, I seem to get to pick on you again today," I said apologetically.
"Sorry Serenity, but you're resistant to his next new move again," Gale added.
The female bird visibly sighed with a heave of her wings. More neutrally: "Which move today?"
"Something called Focus Blast," I answered. "I've already damaged another tree this morning."
She seemed to perk up at that. "Oh. Well, I'm going to be harder to hit with that!"
Which I could see. Instead of a string of seeds, like with a (very slow) machine gun, I had only one shot, like with a black-powder rifle. But it was a more powerful shot according to Gale…and from the damage to the unfortunate tree.
And…she was right. Out of more than three dozen passes, I managed to hit the unfezant exactly once. It sent her reeling in midair to be sure, though!
"OK, that's enough," Gale called to Serenity. To me: "We just need to work on your aim, but like with Seed Bomb, you have the mechanics down, and in remarkably short time!"
"You're looking good!" Serenity called in gliding in to a landing in front of me. "I felt that hit pretty good, too!"
I replied with a thanks. And now that I was on a roll: "How about that other attack I almost pulled off when we were back in the forest?" I was getting curious about it; I remember Gale saying it was pretty powerful. Admittedly, I was starting to become addicted to this stuff! Didn't mean I was going to give up trying to be as human as I could, though.
"We can certainly try that one again if…you…"
She was standing somewhat in front of me when she trailed off, fixing her gaze behind me as Serenity also reacted to something there. Whipping about, I noticed the grey-suited man by one of the trees a few meters behind, looking wide-eyed.
So we all stood, staring at each other for a moment, my thoughts racing in wondering if he heard me talking. Other people had heard me, particularly back in Nacrene City, but I was trying hard not to let happen anymore because of the attention garnered.
The man took a couple steps forward. "You…simisage, you were talking!"
"You were imagining it," Gale lied.
"Oh no, it was talking, no doubt!" the middle-aged man returned, rubbing his brown haired head. "I was here long enough to hear it say several things, like quote 'How about that other attack I almost pulled off when we were back in the forest'. And I saw its mouth move while saying it!"
I exchanged glances with both females. The man had us. Our mistake, really, as although this part of the park was partly secluded, it was by no means private or abandoned. Guess it had to happen eventually. After a sigh, I folded my arms across my chest. "Alright, I can talk. What of it?"
Which triggered a smile as he quickly came to stand before us. "You are…incredible! I've traveled through many regions over the years, and being able to speak without telepathy is something I've heard only one other Pokémon do! Not to mention it's rare for Pokémon to wear clothes too."
"There's another that can talk?" Gale asked.
Suddenly I was intrigued also. The thought of someone else in my situation crossed my mind, to be sure!
"Oh, un, it was a swampert in the southern Hoenn region a few years ago. Even helped place third in a regional battle tournament there a couple years back, acting as a trainer of all things. I was there at the time and watched it. He disappeared right after though, and I never thought I would encounter another Pokémon who could talk, much less personally meet!" Kneeling in front of me, "A simisage, huh?"
"Uh, yes. What else do you know about that swampert?" I pressed. "How did he disappear?"
"Now that you mention it, I might have heard something about that, but don't quite remember," Gale piped in.
The man fixated on me for a moment, but in answering Gale: "Well it was regional, and Unova is pretty far from Hoenn. Even so, I'd be surprised if it hadn't been in the papers here. But as far as I know, no one knew where the Pokémon went. Anyway…" With a grin spreading across his face, "…how about a battle? Having one against a talking Pokémon has to be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience!"
Already I could see the man, who I guessed in his late forties to early fifties although acting almost like a kid now, to be fingering something behind his back.
"Well…" I started to say before Gale interrupted.
"He isn't ready yet. He's just learning some moves and doesn't have any battle experience."
"Then this'll be a good chance to earn some then," the man countered, looking back up to her before standing. In a more business like tone, "I won't go real hard on him, and I'll make it worth your while. Say, ten thousand yen?"
I coughed as Serenity's beak came open. Though I was used to dollars, I already had a decent grasp on how much a yen was.
After a gasp, "Oh…I can't afford to lose that kind of money!" Gale exclaimed.
Holding up a hand, "Oh no! I mean, if you win, I'll give you that. But if I win, then you don't have to give me anything. After all, you'll be paying me with the honor of battling your talking simisage!"
A battle in which we wouldn't have to pay if we lost, but stood to gain a lot if we won. Except…I still wasn't overly keen on battling, particularly since I had a long way to go in training yet! I felt Gale's hand on my arm before she pulled me back a ways.
Whispering: "If we win this, you'll get a good start on that camera fund, and I'll have a nice chunk of next month's rent."
My heart starting to race at the possibility I really was going to be battling now, "You're going to accept?!"
"Only if you want to. He's right in that it'll be some good experience, but you really only know two moves right now."
I balled a fist. "I can punch too," trying to add humor to offset my nervousness. She was right: I did need the money, and I would only get a share for those battles I participated in. Which meant sooner or later I would have to do it, unless another money-making opportunity came up. So a no-risk battle logically seemed the ideal opportunity for a first time, whether I was ready or not. Already breaking into a cold sweat, I sighed, giving a nod. With a lump in my throat: "Might as well try."
Patting my white shoulder hair as we walked back to the man. "OK, we'll battle you, but with a condition: you can only use a type-neutral Pokémon against Alex."
Quickly adding a condition of my own: "And you can't tell anyone I can talk. I prefer not to have the attention it generates."
The man didn't act surprised by Gale's condition, but definitely at mine. "You're taking the fun out of it, um, Alex."
I shrugged, "I don't like a lot of attention."
"Wellll...if you insist, I'll do my best to not yammer about this. But boy, you drive a hard deal! By the way, name's Gerald."
"Gale," Gale returned, "and you already know this is Alex."
"Human name for a Pokémon is also unusual. Bet you're full of surprises!"
Serenity gave me a wink.
If only he knew…
As we watched the man move to the far end of the open area among the trees and shrubs, "Alex, you should strip out of those clothes," Gale advised. "Otherwise they could get torn up again."
I looked up with alarm and ready to argue, but she was right once again. Considering how much they cost and the amount of effort to modify the shorts, I had to do it. Which made me realize how much I had gotten used to the 'luxury' of having clothes the last few days. Damn, it got cool in certain spots…
"You still look nice, Alex," Serenity squawked in a light-humored way, giving another wink.
Which I'm sure made me blush harder. I had no idea what I'd have done if it wasn't for the thick green hair covering me from waist down!
"Here," Gale said, handing over a slice of a sitris berry. Then: "Oh, right." Grabbing the other Pokéballs, she released Hammy, Bolt and Lilly. "OK guys, Alex is going to battle for the first time. He needs a cheering section!"
Oh great. Nothing like a little additional pressure of performing in front of an audience!
"Hey, we can give you advice, little guy!" Hammy shouted.
Flying back to join them, "Great idea!" Serenity supported. "Alex, just listen to what we tell you…after Gale, of course!"
"A cheering section?" Gerald asked from the other side. "You have some fine looking Pokémon there, lady! Allllriiiiight, now here's my Pokémon who will be your opponent today!" In one smooth and deft motion, the man brought out a Pokéball from a pocket in his suit jacket and released it. The creature at the end of the beam took on a fat, red and green two-legged form, about the same height as me. With a large tail and long tusks out the sides of its mouth, I didn't know what to make of it. Like most Pokémon I'd seen so far, I'd never seen anything like it.
"Oh…a fraxure."
A…fracture? I glanced at Gale in confusion. "What do you mean; what fractured?"
"No, that's its name, silly. It's a dragon type. Definitely type-neutral against you, but grass-type attacks won't do much. Be prepared to use your new Focus Blast a lot."
The phrase 'one-trick pony' came to mind. Looking at its body, I seriously doubted this Pokémon would even feel any 'regular' punches I managed to land. And after further looking, my body already started to hurt… Those tusks! My nervousness doubling, I swallowed hard. "Gale, if I die here, please give my clothes to a good cause."
Which earned a good, hearty laugh from Hammy and a stare from the fraxure. "You…talked in human…!"
"You aren't going to die!" Gale whispered back loudly.
"You don't sound real confident there, Alex," Gerald called over. "Like I said, seeing as this is your first battle, we'll hold back some."
The fraxure wheeled about, barking at him: "Hey, we fight battles all-out!"
"Take it easy," Gerald replied with a hand up. "We don't want to injure such a unique Pokémon…too badly."
So maybe I wasn't going to die. But it sounded like it sure was going to hurt.
"Just do what she tells you," Bolt neighed. "Especially dodge when she says to."
Dodging. Now there was something we had yet to talk about…much less work on. Yep, this was going to be fun. Hell, I was shaking! And oh…suddenly that sitrus berry wasn't sitting too well… I waited while Gerald mumbled a few things to his Pokémon before the fraxure moved away from him. It didn't look as upset as before, but there was a certain friendly determination in its eyes now.
"How can you talk in human?!" it asked.
Of course, if I told it, Gerald would understand me too, and that was also something I didn't want to advertise widely. "I…learned to."
"I not hear of or battle any Pokémon that can do that." Then pumping its arms like a body builder: "I'm still going to win, human-talking simisage."
"Yeah, you probably are," I returned over our perhaps ten-meter separation.
Cocking its head: "You need better attitude if you want to win."
"I'll settle for surviving," I retorted, hoping for a little humor to settle my nerves.
"You can start with the first attack," Gerald called out, apparently ignoring my banter.
I looked behind to Gale, who returned a smile as she repositioned her pony tail behind her before crouching a little. "Come on Alex, this'll be fun! Just wait until you get into it."
"Says you." She wasn't facing some weird dragon-like monster who looked like it could snap me in half!
"Confidence, Alex!" Lilly shouted.
"Remember that we were all beginners at some point," Gale encouraged. "Just have some confidence and some faith in me as your trainer."
"That's right, Alex, you can do it!" Hammy shouted, fist into the air.
"Go for it Alex!" from Bolt.
Well, it did feel nice to have them cheering me, actually.
"Now, use Focus Blast!" Gale called.
I did as I had been doing much of the morning; I formed the light green ball of energy between my hands and managed to launch it at the opposing creature despite my shaking hands and arms. How I achieved god aim mystified me under the circumstances.
"Dodge it, Dino!"
Cool name I thought before the creature shifted to the side, dodging my attack just a fraction of a second before it closed the gap. It looked surprisingly close…
"Dragon Dance!"
It's going to dance?! Instead, I watched the creature raise its head up to the sky and roar...just before glowing. Glowing?! What the heck did that mean?!
"Look out, Alex. He just got stronger and faster!"
I glanced back, wondering what to do.
The woman grimaced. "Seed Bomb!"
"But you said that wouldn't have much effect!" I countered.
"Do it!"
I did do it. Even as Dino came charging at me under Gerald's orders, I still did it, landing several hits before I had to start running, beating any forthcoming dodge command. And yet I wasn't fast enough. If I had thought the fraxure was slightly slow before, I didn't any longer! In just the couple steps I managed to get to the side, I felt one of its long tusks score a glancing blow to my left shoulder...almost sending me to the ground. My shoulder erupted in pain, like someone taking a baseball bat to it! I took a knee, holding my shoulder.
"Damn…" I gritted out.
"Dino, Incinerate!" Gerald commanded.
"Hurry, Alex!"
"Move, Alex! Get some distance and dodge!"
The urgency in Hammy's and Gale's voices ripped my attention from my seriously smarting shoulder and looking up on hearing a soft roaring, saw a wall of flames just leaving Dino's mouth! I jumped up and ran like my life depended on it; for all I knew, it did! With new adrenaline shocking my system, I managed to outrun the attack although I still felt some heat.
"Focus Blast!"
I did my best, but after gaining so much distance from the fraxure, it was easily able to dodge my energy ball, especially with its quicker speed. Of course, I was able to almost as easily get out of the way of another Incinerate. I then noticed Gerald shaking his head off to my side.
"Alright Dino, charge and use Dragon Claw!"
"Now what?!" I shouted. The creature didn't look to have much in the way of claws, I thought. But it did have those huge tusks!
Sounding strangely confidant again, "Seed Bomb, break up his attack!"
I did what I could in response to the woman's command. I landed a few hits at first, but as quickly as Dino was moving with a suddenly glowing hand I swore had grown claws, I had to get moving myself. But since it was charging in, it occurred to me Dragon Claw had be a close-range attack, which meant…
I heard Bolt scream and Gale shout "Dodge" just as I jumped and ran at what I thought was the last possible instant. I was rewarded with the feeling of air brushing across my bare back. After another second of running, the lack of pain told me it was a clean miss. Ending up on the other side of the field and right in front of Gerald, I still looked over my shoulder to make sure there was nothing cutting my skin.
"Good move, Alex!" Serenity called.
"Well, you sure can run and dodge nicely," Gerald complimented.
"Amazing what you can do when you think your life is in danger," I returned, feeling a little short of breath. And my shoulder was still smarting.
The brown-haired man laughed for a good moment. Finally: "Yes, that incinerate would have done you no favors."
Rubbing my shoulder with a grimace, "Yeah, I've been warned fire wouldn't be good for me." Not that getting hit with a wall of flames would have been particularly good for me when I was human either.
Chuckling this time, "You're funny, too! You are a pretty amazing simisage, though you don't look real comfortable battling yet. You're not in good sync with your trainer either, but you aren't doing bad at all for your first time. It is really your first time, right?"
I nodded. I kept working my shoulder, which surprisingly didn't hurt that much when I moved it. Sore to be sure, though.
"Don't think I've ever heard of an evolved pansage that had never battled before."
"Some Pokémon go all their lives without battling!" Gale shouted over.
"Those are merely pets," Gerald replied. "Wait, were you…"
"I was never anyone's pet," I said firmly, cutting off the question with my tail whipping in response. Best to dismiss that theory immediately! Certainly wasn't something any self-respecting human would like.
Over to the side, Dino jumped, his thick tail thumping the ground. "Can we get battling?!"
"What's wrong with a break?" I countered, spreading my arms in question.
"He's getting impatient, I think," Gerald said. "Alright Dino, use…
"Seed Bomb again, Alex!" Gale shouted first.
This time, I resolved to start dodging just a bit sooner, but Gerald quickly changed his command for Dino to dodge as I started forming the seeds and shot them its way. I landed maybe one hit before the man shouted for another Dragon Dance.
Facing him: "Oh, come on!" By now, I knew what Dragon Dance did and when Dino glowed, feared how much faster he was going to be! A new pit grew in my stomach.
Gerald smiled as he stood up straight, giving his grey suit coat a straightening tug. "Sorry, Alex. Dino and I want to win. It'd look bad otherwise." To his fraxure: "Now Dino, Giga Impact." His command came in a clam, normal voice, suggesting this was going to be a certain, final blow, which only added to my dread.
"Focus Blast, Alex! You can do it!"
"Watch out Alex!" Hammy yelled.
That kind of warning from Hammy only added to my nervousness as I started gathering the slightly warm and electric-feeling energy for the attack, but the one second I had before Dino was bathed in a yellow-orange light and then bearing down on me just wasn't enough time. Aborting, I started running to the side yet again, even leaping when it was obvious I wouldn't be able to dodge. Even so, Dino still managed to alter his course…
"Alex!"
The sensation of impact didn't register at first, as I was too busy watching the sky and ground alternate while I was somersaulting in mid-air! Hitting earth definitely did register, as did the air completely leaving my lungs. A few seconds later was when I felt the pain in my legs where the attack hit. Balling up into a fetal position and clenching my jaw, I could only wait for it to pass.
"Alex?!" Gale shouted. "Get up, Alex. You need to get out of there!"
Hyperventilating through gritted teeth, I stared at the opposite side to her. She looked very insistent…even fearful…
With something bad obviously about to happen, I braced my arms against the ground and managed a hands-and-knees position, but whatever that Giga Impact was, had left one hell of an impression on me…in multiple ways! God, my legs…
"Get up!" Gale screamed, now waving her arms.
Serenity said the same thing, flapping her wings and rising off the ground. Even Lilly was jumping as Bolt reared up on his hind legs.
I tried to stand, only for my legs to collapse under me. "I can't!" It wasn't lost on me that Dino was now standing right over me...
"Incinerate," Gerald said, very calmly, almost whispering. The man's eyes looked almost apologetic.
With widened eyes, I looked up as the creature inhaled deeply, opened his mouth, the yellowish light of a fire erupting... "I give uuuup!" I felt the first searing blast hit my face and chest, and it couldn't have been any worse if I had fell into a lake of lava. But it stopped almost immediately, leaving me feeling 'only' slightly burned. Looking at myself, some of my hair seemed a little singed at the tips, but that was it. Well, other than smelling singed too.
Panting, I fell to my back with relief, my tail complaining a bit at getting pinched at its base again. I watched Gerald join his Pokémon in looking down at me, Gale, Serenity and the others seconds later. "I guess this means we don't get the money, huh?"
The man smirked, giving Dino a pat as the fraxure shook its head. "Nope. Good job, Dino, you looked excellent!"
"You need more practice," Dino quipped to me, folding his short arms across his chest.
"You're preaching to the choir," I returned, noting with some satisfaction the confusion on the creature's pointed red and grey face.
"You OK?" Gale asked, looking and sounding concerned as she kneeled, hand instantly feeling one of my legs.
Her attention caused me to grimace slightly. "Tired, and that Giga Impact or whatever really hit hard."
"I'm good!" Dino crowed.
Gale quickly handed me a small bottle of…something, telling me to sip it.
"Say, let me buy you guys lunch," Gerald offered. "We can talk some more; it's great having a two-sided conversation with a Pokémon."
"We talk all the time!" Dino complained.
I decided to translated that.
Patting Dino's head, "I mean, where each one understands the other word for word, buddy." To us: "After you recover a bit, there's a hamburger stand on the other side of this park. We can come back here to eat if you're concerned about being heard."
"I know that place," Gale replied, absorbing the others into their Pokéballs. "That would be great, thanks!"
"You, uh, eat hamburgers?"
I nodded while still sipping the sweet liquid. Whatever it was, it was already making me feel better, although I couldn't describe exactly what it was doing. It wasn't quite like sitris berries, but my energy was coming back and my pain lessoning. Soon enough, I was up, walking, and wearing my clothes again like nothing happened…except for my slightly singed hair. Man, I was starting to really like the medicines available on this Earth!
After returning with some wonderful-smelling hamburgers, fries, soft drinks and salads (we needed something healthy, after all), Gerald pressed for the reason I could speak. With no one else around our isolated bench and swearing the guy to secrecy, I took a chance and told him I used to be human and from a different Earth. Sitting next to me on the ground, Dino's mouth fell open in mid-chew. That, naturally, got me into what I use to do for a living and in the end, I thought I made a little headway on getting the fella to at least believe I used to be human. Eating my salad with the provided plastic fork also helped.
"It does explain why as even a simisage, you didn't have any battling experience...I guess," Gerald said, definitely not sounding convinced. "You sure can tell a story in any case!"
Thinking the man satisfied with all my explaining if not necessarily with my explanations: "OK, it's my turn to ask some questions," I said.
Finishing his last fry, he nodded. "Quite right, Alex. Shoot away."
"I want to know everything about that talking swampert you mentioned." If a Pokémon being able to talk was an indication of someone else who used to be human and from my Earth, it was something I needed to pursue!
"Yeah, I want to know more about that too," Gale added after downing a fry. "It sort of rings a bell, but I can't quite remember. The last few years I was busy with either college or traveling, so I might have only heard it in passing somewhere."
"Ah," the man sighed. "I really don't know that much more. The papers never gave much information about him. That swampert seemed to break onto the battling scene out of nowhere, acting as trainer of all things. He had a human co-trainer and they commanded the same team, but he was quite competent by himself it seemed. Together, they placed third in the South Hoenn regional Tournament, although from all the media attention, you'd think they won the whole thing! Anyway, the swampert disappeared right after as quickly as he had appeared. No one has seen him since. Or at least, no one's saying anything. In short, there's still a bit of a mystery around it all."
"Did he use to be human?" I asked point-blank.
Gerald leaned back into the bench like one does after a filling meal. "Ah well...I have no idea. Like I said, there's almost no information at all about that Pokémon's history. Even his co-trainer said little right after, and then the story faded. Kind of disappointing, if you ask me. Such a special Pokémon would have had an enormous future. True talking ability is even rarer then legendary Pokémon." Reaching, the man patted the top of my stiff head hair. "Perhaps you will have such a future. A talking Pokémon has such an unlimited potential, greater than those who can speak telepathically to humans."
It was a nice thought, but I still just wanted to get home.
Gale nodded while sipping her soda. After a quick swallow: "Funny you should mention potential. Right now we're saving up for Alex to buy a camera. He wants to take photos of trainers and their Pokémon in battle and sell prints to the trainers afterward."
"You…can use a human thing that makes pictures?!"
Facing Dino: "Yes. I used cameras when I was human, back on my Earth." I went into my camera store visit from yesterday as proof that I could use the ones on this Earth just as well.
The man laughed, slapping his one knee. "So you're already looking to go into business!" At that moment, his watch beeped, causing him to glance at it. "Oh, the time has flown. Sorry, but I have a meeting I need to get to. This was my reminder to get going. But I would certainly like to run into you two again sometime."
Both Gale and I stood along with Dino and Gerald. "So would I. This was fun, even though I got beat pretty bad," speaking as I rubbed my shoulder yet again, which still had a touch of soreness, as did my legs.
"You be better next time!" Dino said, touching my arm.
Gale bowed. "You've been very generous in buying us lunch. Thank you very much!"
I mirrored that, even though bowing felt awkward, but it seemed to be the custom.
Holding up a hand, "Oh, no!" Gerald countered. "It was a privilege to battle and spend time with you. I never, ever thought I would have a nice conversation with a Pokémon before! And in fact, please accept this as a small gesture of my gratitude…and as a start on your camera fund, simisage Alex."
Before I could say anything, a folded bill was being handed to me.
"Five thousand yen?!" Gale gasped.
"Of course you didn't win the ten thousand, but I feel compelled to thank the both of you with something more than just cheap food."
Gale and I both bowed, and after a few more thank-you's and well wishes, we parted with the man and his fraxure.
"I don't think he really believed half of what I said," I commented right after when we were out of earshot.
"All that is hard to believe, you know?" Gale pointed out. "At least you have a good start toward that camera."
"And you have a good bit toward the rent, right?"
She nodded almost double. "Well, with some more training, the six of us might be able to make enough this week already, assuming there's enough trainers around here."
Looking up, I found her already surveying the part of the park we could see.
"But, we need to figure out what other attacks you can do first. So let's get back to training!"
My, someone was fired up. OK, I was feeling enthused too, but still didn't relish the thought of battling. Actually, even less now since I had done it once. Seriously, the entire experience was painful, on the order of getting beaten up, which I supposed I had been in some manner.
The woman seemed to sense what I was thinking in patting my back, "Don't worry, you'll toughen up the more you battle, and having four moves will greatly increase your odds."
I nodded, hoping she was right. I really couldn't get that camera and my own income going fast enough…assuming I wouldn't be getting back home for a while, that was.
Trying to learn Leaf Storm was far more difficult than either Seed Bomb or Focus Blast had been. It was hard to say exactly why, but controlling my energy was simply harder for this attack for whatever reason, although I guessed it was due to all the leaves. By late afternoon, I had at least got a reasonable handle on it, along with raging hunger and exhaustion. That evening I wolfed dinner like a starved…well, wolf, before conking out on the couch. It was going to be a big day tomorrow, with Professor Juniper's assistant arriving in the morning to examine me, and hopefully a trip to Nuvema Town where we would likely overnight, so I needed a good night's rest.
Surprisingly, I had a number of dreams despite my exhaustion, including one where I was being chased by Hammy. He was angry at me about something and wanted to fry me up alive, with searing flames licking at my back to prove it! When the now familiar dream involving the light purple dragon-thing came, I was starting to feel a certain familiarity with it. But this time was a little different. Now, the dragon got closer and used one of its large clawed hands to grab my entire arm. I felt an odd sensation of disorientation as its head came near mine.
Its strange mouth moving: "…sorry… …didn't… …can't…break…"
A terrific force akin to a massive ocean wave hitting broke us apart, and I felt its large claws rank across my skin as we separated. The dragon quickly faded through the tunnel wall and I woke up. With morning light seeping through the patio door blinds, I instinctively grabbed my right forearm protectively in remembered pain. On an urge, I started to feel carefully around through my hair, and abruptly froze. On my skin were what felt like five long, yet slight scars, four on top and one underneath...exactly where in my dream the dragon had clawed me!
