Finally it's done! It took me forever to write this chapter because of my lack of motivation to write anything!
It was a bit awkward waking up in someone else's house but Wally and his mom quickly made me feel comfortable. Wally really goes out of his way to make sure I'm comfortable and prepared for my journey; he's so eager to please, it makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of him, even though I'm not. I'm not sure how I can be a good friend to him, when he's so good to me.
It sucks that he has to move away but he tells me that he still will be in Hoenn and that's a relief. The town he's moving to, Verdanturf, is next to Mauville, a city with a gym. He promised me that he would come to see my gym battle when I finally get there. His new town is a little out of the way for me but I'm still going to visit him; might as well explore while I can.
It's time we say our goodbyes. Wally and his cousin are going to Oldale town where they will have a ferry take them to Slateport city, while I'm going to Rustboro city, the site of my first gym battle. So we must part, for now at least.
"Well Wally..." I try to say but I just can't bring myself. Well, what do you know I suck at goodbyes.
"Until we meet again!" he says with ease. That's a surprise, I was sure he was going to struggle too. I'm a bit jealous.
"You bet! And the next time we meet I shall have the Rustboro badge!"
He chuckles lightly. "You better. Well goodbye."
"Goodbye..."
There's the sound of the car door slamming shut and the sound of the engine starting. I bet he's waving to his parents and me, so I wave back. Even though we will meet up again I still feel like I'm losing a friend; this sure does suck. I've messed up my friendship with Brendan by running away and now Wally is far away. Can't I keep a friend?
Torch rubs up against my right leg while Grace pats the other. I still got these great guys. I scoop them up to give them a hug. I really do love them! And I'm sure they will stay with me forever. I'm glad they like their names.
The sound of the car is getting quieter and quieter, now it's my turn to leave. I turn to leave when a hand on my shoulder stops me. The softness of the hand and the nice scent of perfume could only belong to Wally's mom. "Are you sure you got everything sweetie?" she asks. She is such a nice lady. She and Wally have already done enough for me.
"I'm very prepared now, thanks to you," I say gratefully. She gave me an old jacket; some food (that isn't junk food), a blanket, she even bought my Pokemon some food, good food at that, and she even went as far to organize my backpack so that I can carry more things. "Please let me pay you!"
"That's alright sweetie. You helped Wally greatly. This is the least we can do."
I didn't do anything for Wally! He caught his Pokemon on his own! "But-" is all I get to say because her patting my cheek shuts me up.
"Go and win all the Hoenn badges and become the champion." Grinning from ear to ear I just nod yes to her, without a word.
Again I'm about to charge off when she stops me. Now she's wrapping a cloth around my head. Brushing my fingers against the cloth I realize that it's the bandana that I stuffed into my pocket. She pats my head when she's done.
"Good luck."
"Thanks! And goodbye!" This time she lets me leave so I do, all while running and waving. Torch and Grace are struggle to keep up.
In order to get to Rustboro city I have to pass through Petalburg Woods. I've never been to a forest before; I wonder what it's like. My dad told me Petalburg Woods is where he caught all his Hoenn Pokemon for his gym. There's also supposed to be some dangerous Pokemon living there that often sprays dangerous spores when startled or pissed, a shrewmash I think that's what it's called.
I know back in Johto the Ilex forest has a shrine dedicated to the legendary Pokemon that can travel through time, Celebi. I wonder if the forest here has a shrine for a legendary Pokemon as well? Or maybe does Celebi also visit this forest? It is believe that the time traveler visit very green places and what better place than woods? It would cool if it did and I ran into it that would be some story to tell.
I wonder if Hoenn has any legendaries and what legends go with them. Are they like the majestic Ho-Oh, flying all around the world from above the clouds? Or maybe they're like the powerful Lugia that swims in the ocean's depths because it can't control its power? I shouldn't be thinking about legends, I need to learn about the common Pokemon here because right now the only ones I know are torchic, ralts, mudkip, slakoth, and slakoth's evolved forms that my father has. I know very little about them too. A Pokedex or a teacher would be very helpful.
"To bad you guys can't tell me anything," I sigh. Torch stops to ruffle his feathers but continues on, he doesn't care. Grace, on the other hand, teleports onto my shoulder and places her small hand on my cheek, at least she cares. Wally told me that ralts are feeling Pokemon and they are in tune to others feelings, especially their trainers. She's a Pokemon I needed long ago but at least I have her now. I pat her head, just before the horn (she doesn't like her horn touched), and satisfied she returns to Torch's side.
This scent...It's the smell of the ocean! I didn't know I was so close to it! I love the ocean so long as I don't have to go in the water. Can't believe how much I missed this smell in such a short time. Run faster legs!
Splash! Splash. Splash...
"Thanks for the warning, guys..." I mumble a bit bitterly. My biggest pet peeve is having my shoes wet and right now they are soaked.
I can just feel Torch shrugging his shoulders but Graces apologizes. Quickly, I rush out of the water and pet their heads. They wouldn't know what I hate and I don't know what they hate. We're still getting used to each other.
Slipping off my shoes I lay in the sand with my partners. We've walking for a couple of hours now we deserve a break. Feels like the sun is right above us so it has to be around noon. Torch has got a lot of experience from battling both wild Pokemon and trainers but Grace hasn't done any of that. Does she know any attacks besides teleport? Please don't tell me she's like the wild Abras back in Kanto and Johto!
"Grace, you need training!" I shout as I suddenly sit up starting the two Pokemon.
Before my little psychic can say anything a deceleration for a battle from a kid stops her, talk about perfect timing. Right when I accept he tosses out his Poke ball, not giving me any chance to get ready. The Pokemon that pops out makes a similar cry to the one that attacked professor Birch. At least I have some idea of what it can do.
Reluctantly, Grace stands in front. I guess she doesn't want to battle but if I'm going to be the champion than I'll have to battle, a lot. I'll talk to her after this.
"You ready poochyena?" the boy encourages and his Pokemon barks back. I wonder if that's a nickname or if that's really what the species is called. Either way, it's kind of a cute name.
"We can do this Grace!" I encourage back but it doesn't do much.
Which move should I go with? I should see if Grace can use the most basic psychic attack, Confusion. "Grace use Confusion!" She hums as she does the attack...I hope. Okay...nothing is happening...Maybe she doesn't know it…
"Hah! Don't you know that psychic moves have no affect on dark types!" the boy shouts cockily. Dark type? Oh, come on! That's no fair! "Poochyena use bite!" And he's using a dark move? This just keeps getting better and better.
"Grace use teleport and come to my side." Grace successfully dodges by the sound of teeth colliding with teeth. Well it's time for my back up. "Torch you're up!"
"Hey! No fair!" my opponent briefly complains and just for fun I smirk at him. "It doesn't matter! You're still going down! Poochyena, bite again!"
I don't even have to issue the command of dodge for Torch to be already out of the way and poise for attacking. The moment the word, "Ember" leaves my lips he's already spewing the fire. Either we are in sync or he just doesn't need me; either way this battle is over. Torch is so strong!
Quickly, the boy scans my card (to give me my earnings) and storms off. He mutters about me cheating, which I didn't! He should have specified a one on one!
I need to address the issue of Grace. I love having her but I need battlers. Wally is probably the better trainer for her..."Ral!" she shouts as she slaps my legs with both her hands. She really can read my mind. I bend down so she doesn't have to stretch her neck too much.
"Grace, can you battle?" A slap to my leg, so I guess it's a yes. "Will you battle?" Another slap. "Do you want to battle?" Several more slaps. Well, there are my answers.
I hug her and whisper a thanks and she hugs back. Okay, I've wasted enough time. Time to get going. Hopefully my shoes are dry...Sweet! They are! Petalburg Woods here we come!
A forest is so completely different from everything else I've experienced. It's almost like I'm in a whole other world. The air is so crisp, so clean, with the hint of rotting leaves (at least I hope it's leaves). There are so many strange sounds, mostly cries of Pokemon I don't recognize. The best part so far is that it is really cool! Ever since I've moved to Hoenn I've been sweating like crazy, I miss the cool breeze of Johto. It's probably so cool thanks to the tall tress that are blocking out the sun because I hardly feel any sunlight on me.
Torch is cuddling up to my leg and is whimpering. "What's wrong, boy?" I ask as I pick him up. This brings him no comfort as he shoves his face into my armpit. Patting his back isn't doing anything, either. Maybe he doesn't like this place. I unclip his ball from my belt (the first time since I've attached it) and hold it up to him. I don't get to say anything as his beak collides with the button causing him to return to his safe haven. His ball is a lot heavier now that he's in it. The sound of feet dragging across the ground is the answer to my unspoken question to Grace; she is fine.
Thanks to a bug catcher, I battled and won with just Grace (she's good), I've learned what some of the cries belong to what Pokemon. Wurmple, a popular choice for bug catchers, is Hoenn's version of a caterpie or maybe a weedle. The cool thing about that Pokemon is it can evolve into two different Pokemon, silcoon or a cascoon, it's like tyrogue. The trainer told me that it's random for what Pokemon the wurmple will evolved into; I don't think so, it's probably has something to do with stats or whatever. Anyway, the second stage isn't the final stage they still evolve, beautifly if it's a silcoon or a dustox if a cascoon. Pokemon are so cool!
I haven't run into any shrewmash yet... I get the feeling that's not what it's called...But I don't want to ask any of the bug catchers because I've already embarrassed myself enough for today. To put Grace against a dark type, while my feeling Pokemon only knows psychic movies. I shall not repeat that mistake again, hopefully...I wish I had something that could teach me about the Pokemon here.
That ignorant mistakes is going to gnaw at me all day and then some. My poor ego but I should be aloud to mistakes or two; I'm a rookie trainer after all. Like my dad will accept that excuse. Besides I've been studding Pokemon for as long as I can remember, I already know that psychic attacks don't affect dark types. Why does poochenya (or whatever it is called) have to be a dark type?
Hmm? Sound of crunchy leaves someone is coming towards me. "Excuse me miss, but have you seen any shroomish around?" a man asks once he approaches. Shroomish! That's the name. I wasn't too far off but I'm glad that I didn't say my wrong version out loud.
"They're my favorite Pokemon," he goes on to say. He just placed something down, wonder what it is. To big for a Poke ball and why would he be placing one on the ground in the first place? Anyway, I shake my head no and he sighs. "I haven't been able to find any at all today."
"I'm sorry," is the only thing I can think to say and I get the feeling that he's smiling at me.
"It's no your fault. Isn't it a bit too dark to be wearing sunglasses?" Gah! Someone finally pointed it out and I still haven't thought up a good excuse.
"I...uh...I just really like to wear my sunglasses..." I don't sound convincing at all. I need to get better at this if I plan to hide my identity and disability throughout this whole journey.
"Alright." Really? He bought it? Well, that's good for me. "Now if I were a Shroomish where would I be?'
For some reason Grace is gripping my leg. What's bothering her? Just like with Torch holding her is bringing her no comfort. She'll probably feel more comfortable in her ball but as I reach for it she grips my collar.
Fear? Am I afraid? No. This has to be Grace's fear that I'm feeling. But why? Wait, maybe she senses someone with ill intentions? I guess by the way she's shaking my collar that it's a yes. Is it the shroomish guy? She's not doing anything so it's someone else. Yup, it's someone else and whoever it is, is rushing towards us.
"Finally, found you!" a man growls as he walks towards us. Is he looking for me? Did my secret get out already? No fair! Well whatever, I will not go back until I achieve my goal! "I was going to jump you outside Rustboro but you're taking to damn long!" That doesn't sound like he's going to take me back home. "Devon researcher! Hand over the papers!" I should be happy that he isn't here fore me but my ego still has been hurt.
"Nooo!" screams the shroomish guy. He sure sounds tough...Quickly he picks up, whatever he placed on the ground, and runs behind me and shoves me forward. He plans to sacrifice me? "You're a trainer. Protect me!" A real macho man, having a girl fight his battle.
"Huh? What do you think you're doing? You're going to protect him? Ha! No one who crosses Team Aqua gets any mercy, not even a kid!" Team Aqua? What a dumb name. Tossing out a Poke ball a poochyena pops out and growls. Great another one, Grace can't handle it and the thug knows this by the way he's snickering. Well, I'll show him! I still have Torch! Hopefully, my chick is up for it.
Torch bursts out of his ball but quickly starts to whimper. He's running towards me but quickly stops when the thug and his Pokemon burst out laughing. They shouldn't have done that because my starter is now angry. We'll teach him a lesson about mocking us!
"Torch use scratch!" I order and my obedient little fire bird complies. But my opponent counters with a tackle and just like with Brendan's mudkip the light torchic is sent flying. "Growl and follow up with Ember!"
"Dodge and use Howl!" Dang! It's fast but Torch is faster!
"Ember!"
Just as we expected the dark type dodges. The cry of pain fills the forest as Torch scratches away at he poochyena and finally finishes it with Ember. "Damn, useless Pokemon!" How dare he talk that way!
I'm going to give this jerk a piece of my mind! "Stupid bitch!" He roars as he grabs my neck and slams me against a tree, very hard. Gasping for air my tiny hands clasp around his arm. I'm not strong enough to pull him off. "You shall pay for your insolence!"
"L-l-let go of her!" the shroomish guy begs but my attacker isn't listening. The thug increases his grip and causes me to gasp out harder. I don't want it to end like this so I start kicking at him but he's not letting go. "S-stop!"
Huh? His grip is loosening. Growling the man desperately fights against the force that's pulling his fingers off of my neck, I think it's Grace's Confusion because I can hear her humming. Finally free I collapse to the ground, chocking for air. My Pokemon immediately jump between us for protection. Torch lets loose a barrage of embers, forcing the man to back up.
"Whatever! We'll get those papers later. Team Aqua still has business in Rustboro!" And with that he's gone.
Satisfied with the distance the man created my Pokemon turn to me, seeing if I'm okay. I don't know if I am... Realizing that I'm not they cuddle up next to me. They are so sweet. With them I'll get better.
"Oh my god! Are you okay?" the shoroomish guy asks as he hovers over me, unsure of what to do.
"I will be," I admit and this comforts everyone. The man releases a large sigh of relief.
"Didn't that thug say they were after something in Rustboro? Oh no! It's a crisis!" And now he's gone. He didn't even apologize or thanked me for saving his ass. Jerk! Well good radiance! I don't want a man like that around anyway!
I was really naive to think that I would be perfectly fine on my own on this journey. That no evil organization, like Team Rocket, would be terrorizing Hoenn and that they would attack me. But I can't-I won't- let this hold me back! If Red could defeat Team Rocket than I'll take out Team Aqua! After all, it's a champion's job to protect her region!
I know I've been a bit to descriptive for May and making it seem like she can see, and for that I'm sorry but I do have my reasons (cough-excuses-cough). First up I haven't really gotten used to my protagonist (I know I fail as the author right now) because one I'm not blind and two I don't have an overprotective mother so I can't really relate to May. And my second reason is I don't want to have you readers in the dark with May as well. So hopefully I will get better but if I can't I apologize.
Oh, and one more thing, Team Aqua and team Magma are going to be violent and dangerous. Because let's face it, they're only weak and pushovers because Pokemon are kids games and my story is rated T.
Anyway, please tell me how I did on this chapter!
