Chapter Three: The Not-so-Peachy Beach
I burst into the Gym, eyes darting around for whoever the Gym Leader was. "Hello?" I called out, seeing the room empty, save for two statues with names of all who had won there engraved onto it.
"Maybe he isn't here," May suggested. "My dad does stuff like that. Walking out and not telling anyone."
"The Gym Leader's your dad?" I asked, surprised. "That's interesting."
May shrugged. "Well, not really. He usually doesn't challenge trainers until after they've gotten the badge from Flannery, since he thinks he'd be too strong for them."
"Great," I muttered, deciding that there was no reason to be here at the Petalburg Gym. "So, then I guess we head to Rustburo City now?"
Bella nodded and pulled the door open. "That's where Roxanne is, and she's technically been voted the first Gym Leader, since people always face her first."
It was midday in Petalburg, the sun hanging out in the middle of the sky, baring down with all of it's might. It was roasting hot. Flamo was fine, since she was a Fire-Type, and Phil was fine since he was a partial Water-Type, and he could just hydrate himself of something like that.
"Well, why don't we get lunch now?" Flamo suggested. "Something like...beef!"
I rolled my eyes. "What about lunch?" I asked the girls, not bothering to translate. "It's about time for lunch."
Reaching into her pocket, May pulled out her phone and checked he time. "Yeah, I agreed with him. There's a resturant next to the Pokemon Center. They make some great hamburgers there."
"Then, let's go!" Bella shouted, grabbing May's and my wrist, and dragged us behind her as she ran toward the building.
"Well, I hope they have beef there," Flamo mumbled, still riding on top of Phil's water lily.
The building was large, and through the glass windows out front, I could see the countless tables and people dining in there. In one window, there was a flyer for a contest.
The Pokemon 32oz Steak Challenge!
The first Pokemon to finish a 32oz steak will win it's trainer a free meal, and 300 in cash!
Starts at 12:00 sharp!
I read it a second time, a smile grew across my face. "I think Flamo might be able to win this..."
Bella laughed. "A Torchic in a steak contest? Personally, I don't think that would go over well."
"You don't know Flamo like I do," I replied, holding the door open for them. "I think that she stands a fair chance."
The girls went to get a table, and I went to sign Flamo up. The bartender who was running the show must've thought I was on drugs or something, since the other Pokemon entered were two Poochyenas, a Bagon, and someone even had a Munchlax.
When I finished filling out the form, and the bartender pointed at a table where the ggother Pokemon were gathered, and their trainers congregated around them, giving them pep talks.
Picking up Flamo, I made my way over to the table. "All you have to do is completely devour the steak."
"Is that made of beef?"
"Yes," I answered. In all honestly, I wasn't sure. But I knew that the two came from the same place. "If you win this, we'll have some money to get more food."
"Say no more," Flamo said as I set her on an empty spot on the table. "Don't worry, I got this."
Like I once said before, when anyone says they got something, get away from them. It's for the best.
Bella and May were sitting in a booth in the corner, and with them was...when did Brendan get here.
"Hi," I said, sitting down in the available spot next to Bella. "What brings you here?" I asked Brendan.
"You have to come through here to get to the first Gym in Rustburo," he answered. "After all, Norman has quite the personality."
"You two know each other?" Bella questioned, looking up from her menu.
"Sorta," I replied. "We met on route 103, and battled, it was a tie."
Brendan nodded, propped his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. "Yeah, I've never lost before. It was humiliating." The waiter came by with our drinks, Bella getting water, May got tea, and I got a root beer. How they managed to order exactly what I wanted baffled me. "But anyway," Brendan continued, looking up, "I guess it can't really be considered a loss."
"Yeah," I said, and then took a giant swig of root beer. I chugged down about half of it, and picked up the menu. "What looks good?"
"Since May said that the hamburgers are good, I'm getting one of those," Bella stated, folding up her menu and tossing it on the wooden table top. We placed our order, four hamburgers, and the waiter left. "It looks as if that steak contest is about to begin."
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the event you've been waiting for!" the bartender exclaimed from a microphone that was hanging from the ceiling, like they did at boxing rings. In his hand he carried a clipboard with all of the forms.
"This Poochyena, named Chomps, is owned by Angela Murray. He has a history of eating contests, with his last win being a contest in the wonderful Celadon City in Kanto!" There was a small burst of a applause throughout the resturant.
The bartender then waved his hand at the other Poochyena. "And this Poochyena, named Shredder, is owned by Marcus Duncan, and this is his first eating contest!" There was a few claps here and there, but no one was jumping out of their seats cheering. Well, except for the person I assumed to be Marcus Duncan.
"This Bagon, named Drago, is owned by Dan...Kow...willis..." That must be embarrassing. Being unable to correctly pronouce someone's last name on stage. "...is owned by Dan. They've been paired with each other for three years, and Dan claims that Drago likes to stuff his face."
The Munchlax was next. "This Munchlax, named Glut, is owned by Butch Matthews. Not only does he have a history of eating, but his entire species does!" There was a mix of laughter and a loud roar of cheering. This was much louder than either of the first two people's applauses combined.
Then I noticed the person recieveing the applause. It was the same teenager that had beaten me back on route 101. He was standing up next to his table, taking a bow.
Then came Flamo. "This...Torchic...named Flamo, is owned by Trevor White." That was all he said. Not a single person clapped. There was some chuckling over at Butch's table, though.
"Gee," I said, looking over at my friends. "Thanks for your support."
Bella nodded, reading one of the mangas I got her. "Yeah, whatever."
May was looking at herself in a handheld mirror, occasionally brushing some brown hair out of her face. Brendan was eyeing her, and looked as if he wanted to say something, but was too shy.
The waiter came back with our food, and I looked back at Flamo, who had a smug grin on her face. She nodded at me, and then watched calmly as some waiters came out of the kitchen, carrying plates with steaks on them.
I looked away, and dove into my hamburger. They made it the good way, cooking it on a actually grill, rather than just frying it in all that grease. Cheering in the background indicated that the steak contest was underway.
Suddenly, I froze mid-chew, my vison blurring and there was a ringing in my ears. Sound faded and distorted. My hands were shaking. I forced myself to swallow.
There was a faint beeping, and a voice played in the background.
You can find what you need in Sinnoh. Once you have it, you'll need to get it back here to the Slateport Hospital. Then, and only then, you can stop the nightmare...
Fight it.
It was a voice in my head, but much different from the one that I had encountered in Orre. It was more dark and ominous, with a hint of evil in it.
I struggled as I tried to remain focused, and suddenly, all returned to normal. The loud screams of excitement as the Pokemon ate away at the steaks, Flamo refering to the Munchlax as fatass, and much more.
"Are you okay?" Bella asked, grabbing my wrist and putting two fingers on the underside, checking my pulse. "What happened?"
I shook my head, attempting to make sense of it. "I don't know. There was this voice..." I trailed off, yanking my wrist from Bella's grip, since it really wouldn't help. The roar of cheering was dying down, meaning that the stuff your face with steak contest was over.
"Bella, let him be," May ordered. She finished the last bite of her burger, and wiped her face on a crumpled napkin. "It's probably a side effect of...you know."
"Oh..." They were talking about my amneisa. I had no doubt in my mind.
Flamo walked over, grease coating her mouth area. "I did good enough, second place." She belched, and fell on to her back. "That was really good."
"Flamo ate that steak in a minute and a half," May informed me. "That Munchlax just dumped the whole thing in its mouth. Lucky for him it was the boneless type."
I gave a weak smile. "Well, I'm proud of you, Flamo," I said, getting another belch from the Torchic. "And also worried about you."
"Ah, don't be. I'll be fine as long as I have some beef, I'll be fine," Flamo said, burping again.
"Well, then it looks like we have the rest of the day free," I said, walking out of the resturant. Brendan was still with us, apparently he was a friend of May's. "Should we head to Rustburo? I think we can make it there by nightfall."
"Hm." May had her map out, along with her phone. "That all depends on how long it takes us to walk a mile." She pointed at the distance between Petalburg and Rustburo on the map. "It several miles, some along the beach."
"Ooooh!" Bella exclaimed, clasping her hands together in front of her. "I love the beach! Can we go? Pleasepleaseplease? It'll be really peachy!" What does that even mean?
It appears that I was the de facto leader of this little group. Brendan, who I guess was now tagging along with us, was walking along behind May, staring at her or the map, I couldn't tell.
"I guess," I answered. After all, this journey was supposed to be peaceful, and what could be more peaceful than the beach? It took us several minutes of walking through route 104, but soon the sandy dunes were in sight and the crashing of the waves could be heard.
As the four of us peaked the dune, we could see that people covered the beach. Most were the new trainers that had recieved their starters yesterday, and somehow most seemed to be traveling in a large group.
"So, how long are we going to be here?" I asked. "I want to reach Rustburo before nightfall, so we can get a room at the Center."
May checked the time on her phone. "It's about one, so we could stay until three, and we should get there on time. Hopefully, maybe, probaby on time."
"You don't sound all that confident with that answer."
"Well..."
"It doesn't matter, really," I said, changing my mind. "If worse comes to worst, then we can camp out on the beach or something like that."
Bella had already ran off to change into her bathing suit, and May and Brendan went to do the same. I simply stood there and watched the waves.
"So, bro," Phil said, talking almost for the first time since I caught him. "You not much of a water lover, are ya?"
I shrugged. "I'm fine with water. I'm just thinking..."
"'bout what?"
"Stuff."
"What kind of stuff, dude?"
"Stuff like...like...like what's up with her?" I pointed at an elderly woman standing on the beach, wearing a tattered brown cloak, with long, matted gray hair. It really made her look like a witch. She was holding up a cardboard sign that read: The end it near, on one side, and Darkness is coming, on the other.
"Nothing you see is real!" she shouted, waving the sign around at the crowd of onlookers, most of whom were ridiculing her. "We are only fake people in the mind of a single person! And the dark presense is coming! To take over the mind we are trapped in!"
There was a loud chorus of laughter, and some cops came along and took the woman away. Apparently, tons of people thought that she was drunk. Even the two officers were chuckling as they led her back to their unit.
Bella and May appeared, the former wearing a black bikini, and the latter wearing an emerald one, running over and ditching their bags next to me. "Come on, Trevor!" Bella insisted. "Don't be a fuddy-duddy, the water's going to be fine!"
"You say that, and then a Sharpedo bites your leg off," I muttered. "No, thanks," I replied aloud. "I'll stay here and guard the bags."
"Oh come on," Bella protested, folding her arms. "Are you afraid of water?"
I shook my head. "No, I just don't want to swim or anything right now."
"Your loss," she said, and ran into the waves.
I sighed, and plopped down on the gritty sand. My mind wandered back to the event in the resturant. You can find what you need in Sinnoh. Once you have it, you'll need to get it back here to the Slateport Hospital. Then, and only then, you can stop the nightmare...
What did that mean? That the key to my amnesia was in Sinnoh? And what's with the part about the hospital? Slateport City was just a couple of hours crossing the ocean, and I knew that we would be passing through there. I could check then
"I think I might like some swimming, bro," Phil commented, walking over and. sitting next to me. "You know, this beach has some sights. My brother would be after all the chicks in bikinis, and I don't want to say more. There's the crashing waves to inspire some artists, and the sun the sky, and that beer stand, to inspire drunkeness."
"Yeah," I muttered. "So, do you think that you can win against Roxanne tomorrow, if we get to challenge her? She uses rock types, and I think that you could deal some damage with some Grass or Water moves."
"Hm..." Phil thought for a minute, closing his eyes and focusing. "Yeah, I know how to use Absorb. That should help you, right?"
"It should, so I guess you should prepare to face against her," I said, leaning back against the sand dune, and putting my hands under my head. "I think she'll be among one of your first battles."
Phil yawned and streteched his stubby legs. "I've battled before. Gotten my ass kicked each time though, but I've battled."
"Great, thanks," I muttered. "There goes my confidence."
"Don't worry, I won't let you down," Phil assured me, closing his eyes. "I'm gonna take a nap now, dude." In seconds, he was asleep.
I envied him. I never got to sleep that fast. I aways had too much on my mind. Amnesia, planning future routes and Gym battles, money for food, and the guilt of leaving my friends in Orre.
"I wonder how they're doing," I mused to myself, closing my eyes and trying to picture their reactions to the letter I left behind.
David, Luna, and Skyler might have been saddened, while Dawn was probably perfectly happy with it. To make a long story short, she hated me after a certain incident, that, thanks to amnesia, I had no recollection of.
I sighed contently. I didn't care what they thought about me now. I was in Hoenn, far away from Orre, on a beach, just relaxing, with almost no care in the world.
Brendan was standing in the waves, letting them wash over him. From what I could see, he was thinking, just like I was. What he was thinking about, I can't tell.
Bella and May were out of the water now, and were working on a sandcastle. They tried to wave me over, but I shook my head. It had only been a half hour, and I was bored out of my mind.
I began to think about what other Pokemon I wanted in my team, and came up with the following: Salamance, because they are awesome, a Flygon, because the are awesome, and perhaps and Altaria, because they are awesome. Anyone care to guess what type I favor?
Sitting up, I saw the commontion on the beach. There was a large crowed circled around two trainers, watching the last moments of the battle. The winner was an Abra, that defeated the opponets Wingull with a Shadow Ball. The Abra's trainer was someone I recognized, someone in a leather jacket with khaki shorts.
It was none other than Butch, the teenager who beat me on route 101, and won whose Munchlax who the eating contest.
Butch said something that I couldn't make out, and the whole crowd erupted into laughter. The Wingull's trainer ran out of the crowd, and right past me. I could see the tears streaming in her eyes.
May was down there, and she was standing up for the loser, trying to talk some sense into him, but Butch just knocked her to the ground, eliciting more laughter from the crowd. Brendan raised his fist to strike, but Butch hit him first, right in the face.
"Wake up, Phil," I said shaking my Lotad. "We're going into action."
"Awesomesause," he mumbled, yawning.
"Where's Flamo?"
"Last I saw of her, she was taking a hardcore dump in some bushes. I think that she had too much steak."
"Fine, then it's you and me." We ran toward the crowd, and I planned a strategy. Perhaps Phil could use Astonish against the Abra, and make it flinch a couple of times. That might work...unless he used the Munchlax.
"Any one else up for a battle?" Butch asked, overconfidnetly. Before I could volunteer, someone else already had their hand up. "Please step forward," Butch commanded, smirk widening so much I swear his face was stretching.
Pushing my way through the crowd, I managed to catch sight of this new challenger. She was my age, wearing a black bikini, much like Bella's only with bright blue highlights. She had violet hair tied back into a pony tail with a red ribbon, and sunglasses covering her eyes. There was something about her that was familiar.
"Choose you first Pokemon," Butch said, returning his Abra.
The girl simply shrugged. "Okay then. Kip, you're up." A Skitty ran out from behind her, and took up an offensive position.
Butch was trying hard not to laugh, and so were his groupees. "Well, then, I'll use Glut!" In a flash of red, his Munchlax appeared on field, yawning and belching. Nice entrance.
"You can take the first move," the girl said, folding her arms.
"Glut use Scratch!" Butch ordered, and the Munchlax ran at the Skitty with far more speed than something that fat should have, claws ready.
"Kip use Protect!" the girl shouted. The Skitty formed a green sphere of protection around it, and Glut's attack was harmless. "Now use Giga Impact!"
As soon as it registered in their minds, the people of the crowd instantly began backing up, minds set on self-preservation.
The Skitty coated itself in a ball of white energy, and slammed into the Munchlax with a great force, knocking it back several feet before it fell to its side, and rolled to a stop. It was pointless to say that it was still in the fight.
Butch clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth in rage. "Who are you?" he demanded, pointing a finger at the girl.
She smiled, and removed her glasses with a single motion of her hand. "Don't you recognize me?" Butch shook his head. "Nikki Maddison. Unova Champ." Long story short, lots of jaws dropped. There was an utter silence, then everyone crowded around her.
"So, that's why she was familiar," I muttered to myself. I had apparently run into Nikki sometime in the past, and that ended up with a restraining order. I'll tell that story when I remember it.
"Come on, Phil," I said, turning from the scene, "let's go check on May and Brendan."
May and Bella were on their knees next to Brendan, with May moving her finger back and forth in front of his face to see if his eyes could follow it. Bella was watching, still in shock. "What exactly happened?" I asked, approaching the three of them.
"Well, after that bastard hurt that poor girl's feelings, May went up to him and was all like 'that was mean you ass,' and then he like shoved her down, and Brendan was all like 'don't touch her' and went to punch him, but he like hit first, and this happened..." Bella explained.
Phil coughed. "Sad thing is, I understood that."
Brendan stood up, blinking a couple of times. There was a trickle of blood running out from his nose, but other than that, there was no sign of damage. Not even a brusie. "Yeah, the beach was a great idea, Bella," he said, voice dripping in sarcasm. "We should totally do this again."
"Well, I didn't know this was going to happen," she argued. "Let's just get dressed again and get back onto the trail to Rustburo." Bella stormed off to get her bag, and May groaned in annoyance and went after her.
"Well, this has been a lovely episode," I said, trying to think of something else to say. Not being able to think of anything, I simply stood there.
"I have a question," Brendan stated, standing up. "Do you know anything about girls?"
"That depends on what you mean. I know that they're different from us guys, because...you know."
Brendan face-palmed. "That's not what I meant. I meant like, how to talk to them and not come off as an ass." He sighed. "You saw what I said to her. I don't want to do that again."
I smiled. "You like her, don't you?"
"Not her," Brendan admitted, looking over as May and Bella walked by and into the changing rooms.
"Oh, I see. It's May, isn't it?"
He nodded. "Don't tell her," he told me. "But if you do, don't say that I was too shy to say it, okay?"
"No problem."
Brendan nodded and ran to get his clothes and change.
Flamo came running over and jumped on top of Phil's lily pad. "I'm back. And you might not want to walk next to those bushes. Just a warning."
I sighed. "Why me?"
"Where the hell have you been?" I heard a voice say. I looked around, but saw no one. "Down here." Right next to me was the Skitty that had taken out the Munchlax.
"Um...hi?"
"Seriously, where have you been?" the Skitty asked. "You vanish for a whole year, and now, I finally find you."
"Who are you?"
He paled a little. "It's me, Kip. Don't you remember? We travelled through Unova together. With Nikki. You remember, right?"
I didn't remember, but memories came flooding back. Choosing Ivy as a starter. Mespirit forced to come along with me in human form, catching Bark, meeting N, meeting Nikki, getting Aqua, beating the first Gym, fighting Team Plasma at the Dreamyard, Mespirit giving me the ability to understand Pokemon (So that's how that happened!) beating the second Gym, getting shot, dieing, being revived, catching Zen, beating the third Gym, the building exploding in the desert, Nikki being wounded, and finally, facing off against a uber Darkrai with the aide of Giratina. After that, it was all black.
"Oh my God..." I muttered under my breath, eyes phased out and staring off into the distance. I remembered. I remembered something. Everything before that in between the time that I woke up in Orre were still black.
But, I remembered.
Fuck yeah.
And that's chapter three. Leave a review if you want, critisim welcome, as it helps me to improve, or leave a review to tell me hpw you think I;m doing. Thanks. Peace!
