Chapter 2: Special Announcements
"Ok, Emma, breathe," I whispered to myself in the mirror as I put on my settin' powder. "It's my last mornin' walk with Yorick. No freakin' out this time!"
I looked at the clock next to the mirror – "6:28 A.M. March 23, 0215" – time to get goin'! I fixed up my makeup bag, that had my name in cute, yellow cursive letters; "Emma T. Turner." When my settin' powder, mascara and lipstick was away, I looked back up at my lighted mirror to double check all my makeup. Lips're bright red and looked big, and I tried to wipe off lipstick with a tissue; nothing came off. All good. Then I checked the contours on my kinda-tan cheeks, brought out a nice oval shape, kept my nose small and even, those were good. Eyebrows, thin and even, all black, good. Eyelashes long, little smoky shadow, made my hazel eyes jump, good. Hair straightened, dark brown all the way through, nothin' stuck in it, good. Ready to go!
I turned off my mirror lamp and spun in the chair, bendin' down to my grey fur boots behind me. I was sittin' in front of the vanity on the main floor of Fairy cabin, just enough light by the sun from the windows to see everythin'. My boots were just in front of a little wood table in the middle of the room. Off to the left was the front door, and some comfy leather chairs sat by 'em windows on the other side of the vanity. By the right of the table was a couch, which was just in front 'a the staircase up to the bedrooms. On the table was my navy sweater, cowl neck and super fuzzy on the inside. It was my favorite sweater, and went perfect with my dark-wash skinny jeans; perfect for our last walk!
After I tied up my boots I grabbed my sweater off the table and threw it over my tank-top. It was still a little toasty cause I just took it outta the dryer; love a warm sweater on a cool day! A big breath filed me up and I let it all out with a sigh. No more dawdlin'. I finally got up, pushed my chair in, and walked to the door.
As I closed the front door behind me I looked around, as I cut straight 'cross the court with the bell in it. The air was garden-fresh and a bit cold; perfect sweater weather! The sun was peakin' out of the clouds high over the mountains around. All the buildings here looked like they were made of logs, but they weren't real logs. Off to the left were cabins Fire, Rock, and Steel, then off to the right were cabins Bug, Grass, and Water. Next to Steel cabin was Dragon's Claw, the food hall where we had all our meals. On the other side of the road from Dragon's Claw was the clubhouse theater, and behind that was the big Claim Jumper swing; I could never ride that thing! By the clubhouse was a trail that lead down to the lake, which went into a little river that led off camp.
I started walkin', past the staff buildin', the bigger two-story buildin' that was next to the lake path and had two little wings on the sides, and went down the road towards Blissey's Clinic, the nurse place. Behind the clinic was a little hill, and you could see all the camp from there. But instead of goin' up there, I went left in front 'a the clinic, to the hiking trail.
Down the path and swingin' right, I stopped when my heart skipped a beat. Yorick was standin' just ahead, lookin' at me with those brown eyes and a grin on his face. He was a whole head taller than me, and he had that light-grey long-sleeve with three buttons runnin' up to his collarbone. Those brown, fancy boots on his feet were neatly laced up, and the ankles on his real-dark blue jeans were rolled up just a bit. He had a buzz-cut 'a deep, auburn hair, a trimmed beard that gave away an amazin' jawline, and smilin' brown eyes, which were right on mine.
"Good morning, Mrs. Turner," Yorick's deep voice nearly made me shiver.
"Good mornin'," I said back with a smile.
I walked right up to him. He turned 'round and we started 'long the path real slow, which went down the mountain and along the river in the valley. I stuck right by his side; my hand was already playin' with my hair. It's a habit I'll never break.
"You've grown greatly as a trainer over these weeks, Emma," Yorick looked at me.
"Thanks," I looked back just for a sec. "You helped me so much with those one-on-one lessons."
"They certainly have been productive," he nodded, still grinnin'. "What is the most important lesson in being a pokemon trainer?"
"Loyalty above all else," I smiled. Didn't even need 'a think it out.
"Correct," he nodded again. "You learn very quickly, Emma. I like that about you."
All I could do is grin bigger. My cheeks were burnin' up. I moved my hand close to his hand but my heart was spazin' out, so it just brushed the back of his instead. Yorick smiled and inched closer.
We got to the bottom of the hill and went slightly right, followin' the river towards the taller mountains. They were beautiful; green and leafy, dotted with all colors of flowers. Bunnelbys chased each other on the riverbanks, and a pidgeot flew over us. It was startin' to warm up a bit, and a tiny breeze blew in our faces, blowin' my long brown hair up behind me.
"…You said you are from Twilight Town, correct?" Yorick asked. "What's it like there?"
"Ehhh," I shrugged. "It's real quiet. Right in the shinin' forest, so we get travelin' trainers sometimes."
"A quiet town? Does it ever get boring?"
"I mean, sometimes. Got Ruva close by though. Best friend of 12 years's bound to keep me laughin'!"
"I suppose so," he chuckled a bit. "Well, if you ever find yourself bored in Twilight Town, you are always welcome here."
"Ya mean that?" I looked up at him.
"Of course," he looked back at me and smiled.
"Oh wow," I just smiled. "Well… I'd help ya out 'round here if ya needed it, I dunno. Organizin', cleanin', anythin' you need, Yorick."
"I appreciate that, Emma," Yorick still had that warm smile on his face. "…In fact, that gives me an idea."
"What is it?"
Yorick stopped on the path, next to a tree right by the river. He turned to face me as I stopped right with him. I looked into his eyes; couldn't help another smile.
"…Would you be willing to extend your visit right now?" he asked. "If it doesn't interfere with-"
"Yes!" I blurted out. "I'd love that!"
"I would too," he smiled back. "Because all I need from you is your company."
I glanced at the ground again, then back at him. My cheeks had 'a be bright red now. He was just lookin' into my eyes, and his head tilted just a bit.
Yorick turned back towards the hikin' trail, still lookin' at me as he reached over and took my hand, wrappin' his fingers in mine. My fingers curled around his; they were strong, but still really soft. I couldn't help but smile even bigger as we started down the trail again, together.
We walked 'round the corner of the path and saw the clinic up the hill. I found a big breath, and let it out again. Yorick's fingers loosened and our hands fell back to our sides.
"I enjoyed that, Emma," Yorick smiled and looked at me.
"Me too, Yorick," I looked back at him. My cheeks had 'a be bright red by now.
"We will be doing announcements before breakfast today. They will be big announcements, so make sure your cabin-mates are present. After that, we may discuss extending your visit here in the staff building."
"'A course," I smiled bigger.
Yorick nodded, as we got to the top 'a the hill and went back towards the courtyard. A stage was set up by the clubhouse, and a whole group 'a people was formin' around it. People from Steel, Rock, and Grass cabins were walkin' into the group in neat lines. Some camp workers, wearin' all dark green uniforms, were lugin' a big speaker onto the stage.
"I will see you in the crowds, Emma," Yorick started 'cross the court.
"See ya up there," I answered, comin' to a stop right in front 'a the main circle. Yorick nodded and turned, passin' the bell in the middle and the stage in front 'a the clubhouse. Some people in the crowd started callin' and pointin' at Yorick, who smiled and waived as he went past them, goin' for the front door of the staff building and walkin' inside.
"Emma!" a gal's voice called as someone burst outta the crowd and started running towards me. She was just a bit shorter than I was, and just a little bit stockier than me too. Her short, curly brown hair bounced up and down as she passed the bell, and she brushed some hair outta her emerald-green eyes with a big ol' smile on her face. Her olivish skin on her face and hands was shinin' bright, and matched well with her red plaid button-down, worn skinny-jeans and brown-leather boots.
"Ruva!" I called back to her and took a couple steps. Her smile only got bigger as she ran across the grass, then the asphalt path.
"How'd it go how'd it go how'd it go?!" Ruva slid to a stop right in front 'a me and started bouncin' up and down.
"Well," I quieted down, puttin' the back 'a my hand under my chin. "He took my hand."
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Ruva could've jumped through a cloud if she bounced any higher. "He likes youuuuuuuuuuu!"
"I knoooowwww!" I whispered loudly. "He even said I could stay here longer if I wanted to!"
"You two are gonna be sooooooooo cute!" she stopped bouncing and leaned in. "You'll go out on dinners in Capitol, and we'll all start some fundraiser battle tournaments, and he'll be there to referee, and we'll donate all the money to the Equal Rights Association of Orryn-"
"Ruva," I put my hands on her shoulders. "Breathe."
Ruva took a big breath, pursin' her lips as she did, her shoulders goin' up and down with her. She stared at me with big, green eyes, before burstin' out laughin' and nearly doublin' over. Another big smile was stuck to my face, and I couldn't hold back a laugh myself.
"You really, heh, heh, had this all planned, didn't ya?" I said.
"Yep!" Ruva stood up straight, just a tad shorter than myself. "It's gonna be so fun! Assumin' he'll keep all those anarchist ideas aside for a bit."
"He's made big donations to the E.R.A.O., Ruva," I smiled a bit. "He just wants to make the world a better place."
"I know, I know, and I like 'em for that," Ruva turned a bit back towards the bell. "But how ya get there's important too. And I don't need to say that getting' rid of ALL government at once is a bad idea."
"Ehhh," I shrugged. "It's a bit different when he says it. Come on, Matt and Blake are probably down in the crowds by now."
"Yeah, let's go!"
She turned 'round all the way, and I got next to her as we started strollin' back to the middle of the court, where the group 'a people had only gotten bigger. More of Yorick's green-outfit people were fiddlin' with the speakers on either side 'a the stage, and Yorick himself was puttin' a microphone in the stand right in front, now wearin' the same dark green uniform.
"Didn't you know Matt and Blake before we got here, Emma?" Ruva asked.
"I knew Matt!" I said. "He and I took some online lessons with Professor Redwood once! Only met him in person here, though."
"That was, what, two years ago? Three?"
"Somethin' like that," I shrugged.
"I wonder if he knows any-"
"Hey Emma! Hey Ruva!" one of the gals was wavin' at us from a small group at the side 'a the crowd, long blonde hair, narrow face.
"Hey Lucy!" Ruva and I said at the same time. Three other gal's stopped and looked over at us; Lindsey with her short, straight red hair, Donna with her awesome leather jacket, and Tina with a really cute red dress.
"Hey girls!" they all said.
"Heeeyyy!" we said back. They all turned back to each other and started talkin' again, as we got to the edge of the people and stopped.
"Anyways," Ruva kept goin'. "I wonder if he knows any more of Redwood's students."
"Still thinkin' 'a that tournament idea?" I asked.
"Yeeeeeah," Ruva shrugged.
"Ya know Blake's one 'a his students. He talked about a charmander he got from Redwood."
"Why's that?"
"Says it was his first time with a pokemon. Somethin' he'll never forget, he said."
"Right, right," Ruva nodded. "He's a good trainer. Bet he'd be strong fighter in the ladder…"
"My gosh, Ruva," I rolled my eyes and smiled.
"I am very excited!" she stomped her foot a bit. "It'd be fun!"
"It would, but we ain't there yet! Maybe a little down the line, we'll see where things're at."
"Okay, I'll let it go for now," Ruva sighed. "But just you wait. It'll happen, I promise!"
I just smiled and looked up towards the stage. One 'a Yorick's guys, one with really short blonde hair, blue eyes and a boney face, walked up to Yorick and whispered somethin' in his ear. Yorick nodded and went to the microphone.
"Testing, one two three, sibilance," Yorick's voice came outta the speakers next to him. His hand reached up to the mic and grabbed it, his bicep flexin' slightly as he pulled it outta the stand, his chest risin' and fallin' with a breath…
Someone pushed my shoulder. I looked back; Blake was starin' at me with those blue, blue eyes 'a his, a little evil grin on his face. Matt was standin' next to him, tryin' not to chuckle.
"What do you want?" I narrowed my eyes and grinned back. Matt couldn't hold a giggle back, and Ruva was quick to laugh again.
"You were staring at Yorick again, Emma," Blake said, still grinnin' just a bit.
"Oh for gosh sake, Blake!" I turned towards him. "Why do ya make a big deal outta this?"
"I think it's you who's making it a big deal," Blake just grinned bigger. "There's really no shame in admitting attraction to an older man, Mrs. Turner."
"Don't you flip this on me," I couldn't help a smile. "Besides, he's 24; ain't that much older."
"So you admit it then!" he leaned in.
"No! Well- Shut up!" I slapped at his arm, hut he only smiled bigger.
"You're carrying this all the way to the end, aren't ya Blake?" Matt grinned.
"You know it," Blake chuckled.
"What are ya so interested for, anyway?" Ruva asked. "Seems like you're always askin'."
"Well, it's not every day one of the biggest names in Orryn starts going out with someone I know," Blake shrugged. "Just a little curious is all."
"Askin' for EVERYTHIN' we do ain't just a little curious, Blake," I leaned in and grinned.
"Isn't it? I'm hard-pressed to say this little affair isn't interesting."
"May I have your attention, please," Yorick's voice boomed out the speakers.
People around us stopped talkin' and looked to the stage. Yorick was standin' over everyone in the middle 'a the stage, with the mic in the stand right in front 'a him. Six or seven of his people in the same dark-green outfits were standin' just by the steps.
"Speaking of," Blake's grin dropped at last, standin' up straight and crossin' his arms.
The whole camp got real quiet. The sun came out from behind a cloud. Yorick's eyes looked through the people in front 'a us.
"…These were fun weeks for all of us, I think it's fair to say," Yorick said.
Everyone burst into clappin' and cheerin'. Some people jumped up and down. Blake only nodded.
"Wooooooooooo!" I shouted to the sky.
"Yeaaahhhh!" Matt added.
Yorick put a hand up, and we all settled down. It got quiet again. The workers shuffled a bit off-stage, they were watchin' Yorick too.
"…I have personally seen many of you grow greatly as trainers at this very camp," Yorick looked left, then right. "It is beyond a doubt in my mind, that every single one of you is well on your way to becoming a great trainer of pokemon."
Ruva, Matt and I started clappin' our hands, joinin' the crowds of campers in applause. Blake just nodded again, and the clappin' died down.
"…It is people like us – trainers, with a passion for pokemon and a drive to change the world – who truly shape this great region of ours. We push for freedom and justice by raising awareness, holding tournaments, and when absolutely necessary, fighting against those who would seek to suppress our rights. Let us not forget the brave men and women who fought against Team Siphon, until the Sagna Power Plant explosion a few weeks ago."
Blake rolled his fingers on his arm. Matt and Ruva scooched over to us a bit, standin' on their tippy-toes to get a bit-better view.
"There have been many before us, but now it is our turn. Even with Siphon gone, there are still many who cause crime, corruption, and fear in our daily lives. Our National Parliament seems more inclined to celebrate the fall of Team Siphon, as opposed to address the issues that we face today. And if they will not do their part, we are left with no choice; we, must, act."
Blake's fingers stopped rolling. His eyes turned narrow. Matt and Ruva looked up quietly.
"As of today, a new organization is born. Those of you here will be the first of many to join. Our mission will be to solve the problems that our parliament has neglected, the problems that we have paid the price for. Once our work is done, we will leave the people to do as they wish, we will leave them truly free. And we will give ourselves a name, one that represents our just and necessary actions; we will call ourselves, Team Gamma."
No one moved. Ruva's eyes went wide. Matt raised an eyebrow. Blake's face went blank, his hands slowly fallin' his pockets.
"…Your current visit here has been extended, at no extra charge," Yorick looked from right to left. "As mentioned the night before, security has been increased slightly. Please keep the camp rules in mind; be open and honest to your cabin mates. Show respect and compliance with all camp staff. And do not leave the camp grounds for any reason. Details of your free extension will be provided later today. Thank you for your time; you are dismissed for breakfast."
With a whoosh of air, five blue dragons with red wings flew overhead from behind us, goin' over the valley and circlin' 'round the mountain, comin' back over again. The people quietly turned, and started shufflin' to the mess hall.
