There is nothing...
Suddenly, the splitting image of a familiar man appears as a silhouette.
"Aadon, my boy!" the voice of Dr. Ronkowski yells out.
"Dad?" the disembodied voice of a child called out into the abyss.
There is nothing...
"Where are you dad?" Aadon cried out. "Please come out!"
Aadon could feel nothing around him...nothing beneath his two cold feet...
"Why did you let them take my husband?" the familiar voice of a women called out.
"Mom?" Aadon gasped. He looked down at his palms...only they weren't there. He wasn't there.
There is nothing...
"You failed me and you failed your father!" the voice shouted as it slowly melted, giving way to a new sound.
"AND YOU'RE NEXT!" a demonic voice screamed from the abyss.
Abruptly, Aadon felt himself being jerked from both flanks. Aadon wailed as the three voices combined into one, being joined by several other voices in the process.
"Look here boss..."
"No...he can't"
"Failure!"
"Cloak..."
"One and the same..."
"Pain..."
"...DIE!"
"Help me Aadon!"
[Unknown Location-4:02 PM]
Aadon gasped as he roused awake from his nightmares, his heart pounding and his nerves unsettled. Aadon stood off of his bed, still quivering from memories fresh in his mind. He scanned his environment.
The golden rays of the sun settled into the room through a window behind his bed. To the right of his bed was a small television set on a table. To his left in the white and gloomy room stood a brown door with a circular glass hole near the top.
In all of his excitement, Aadon dismissed the large area in front of his white bed, where there were several worried faces glancing right at him. Still half asleep, Aadon could do no more than stare blankly at his visitors.
"Are you feeling alright, boy?" the first man inquired. His voice sounded all too familiar to Aadon. It was somebody Aadon's father had introduced him to during a family trip to one of his father's conventions. The man wore a white labcoat, red collar shirt, and khaki-brown pants. His hair was grey but represented a faded shade of white as well.
"Aren't you-" Aadon stopped himself, realizing silently he was speaking.
"Professor Oak, at your service," the elderly man finished, shaking hands gently with Aadon. While making his acquaintance with the famous professor, Aadon couldn't help but notice a man exit the room abruptly. Before getting a chance to analyze the features of the aide, Aadon found himself shaking the hand of another man.
This man looked slightly younger than Professor Oak, but aged and graying as well. He had a light-brown mullet on his head, and a line of grey facial hair passing through his chin. His hair was thinning and greying from several sides. In comparison to Oak, he wore a similar outfit but wore tan shorts instead.
"Professor Birch, at your service," the man said, imitating his older counterpart. "You nearly suffered frostbite! What were you thinking being out there in the open-and with a Pokemon!"
"A Pokemon?" Aadon muttered while rubbing his eyes. To his relief, his bucket hat had been placed on a hat stand near the door he had failed to notice earlier. His clothing had not been replaced with hospital clothes. "What are you talking about-"
"You mean you don't remember?" Oak asked. "You were holding a Clefairy in your arms when we found you."
Aadon's eyes sprang open almost immediately. "What happened to that Clefairy? I know it's not my Pokemon, but I just want to know if it's ok."
"Yes it is," Oak smiled. "We secured the Clefairy in the warmth of a Pokeball and had it taken to the nearest Pokemon center to gather its energy."
"That's good," Aadon said quickly as his thoughts raced once more. "Where am I? How did I get here?"
"We found you and that Clefairy trapped in a narrow cavern. I think you owe Clefairy for your life as well," Birch grinned. "Had it not been for the Ember attack created by your Clefairy, you two would have been frozen shut!"
"Wow-I d-didn't know that," Aadon stammered.
"Your in Viridian City Hospital," Oak stated, which took Aadon back with shock.
"How did I get all the way here?" Aadon shouted in surprise. "I need to get to Saffron City!"
"And why is that?" Birch questioned.
"I-" Aadon stopped.
"Well?" Oak smiled, waiting for an answer.
"If I tell them I'm the son of Dr. Ronkowski, they'll take me right back to Lavender Town!" Aadon thought. "I have to go undercover. Besides, I'm sure they've already heard about his kidnapping."
"I'm...Ilex!" Aadon said quickly.
"Like the forest in Johto?" Oak inquired. "Isn't that a rather odd name?"
"My parents fell in love there!" Aadon responded rapidly, not knowing a thing about Ilex forest.
"How romantic," Birch grinned. "Anyways, there's somebody who wants to see you-and he's waiting at the Pokemon Center."
"How long was I out?" Aadon asked as he put on his sneakers, which were by his bed.
"A day and a half," Birch answered.
[Unknown Route-4:32 PM]
"There it is," a feminine voice said. "Professor Oak's Pokemon-"
"I thought that was his lab," a male voice said confusedly. She slapped the back of his head, making him squeal.
"Ow!" the man cried.
"His Pokemon are behind that big house, you nitwit!" the women said in annoyance.
"Where? I don't see any there," the man yelled in a loud and obnoxious voice.
"Quiet you! We're only a few paces away from the lab! What if the Professor hears us?" the women yelled, shutting her mouth when she had realized her fault.
"Look who's talking, you Slowpoke!" the man stuck his tongue out, only to have it grabbed.
"The POKEMON are behind the lab on the ranch, Blaze, " the women stated as she rubbed her palm through her raven-black hair. "We're not going to get paid unless we bring back someone nice Pokemon to sell on the market!"
"Don't sweat it too much, Ice," the man responded. "We've done this plenty of times. We can always find a better job if the boss decides not to pay us."
"Yeah," Ice grinned. "Mercenaries for hire. HAHA!"
Suddenly, an explosion came out of the lab, breaking several of the 2nd story windows of Oak's mansion.
"OW! NOT AGAIN, MUK! Who's going to CLEAN UP THE SLUDGE BOMBS THIS TIME?" A shrill voice cried in anger from inside the lab.
"Let's do this some other day," Ice shuddered. "I hate Sludge."
"Fine," Blaze groaned. "But I don't wanna-"
"Not it," Ice smirked, walking away.
Blaze grumbled, taking cash out of his pocket. "Always gotta pay for the food...no money to catch a flick or nothing."
"Quit whining! You can always watch The Legend of Sir Aaron some other time!" Ice shoved his shoulder, hinting him to move on.
[Viridian City Pokemon Center-5:03 PM]
Aadon looked upon the large Pokemon Center with awe. The ceiling reached very high up, there were several lounges, and even a Potion mart. Aadon couldn't help but notice that there was only one help desk despite the size of the Pokemon center, and only one Nurse walking around.
Several years before, Aadon visited Viridian City with his father for a conference, but he was too young to be able to remember that now. While gazing at the red and white ceiling patterns, Aadon bumped into someone.
"Hey, you better be careful!" a sleek adult voice grumbled. The brown-haired man turned around to see a 14-year-old standing beside Professor Oak and Professor Birch. "Gramps? Birch? Sorry about that."
"Gary? How's my grandson doing!" Oak reached in for a hug, which Gary received warmly. "It's been quite a while since I've seen you! How's the gym?"
"It's been several months," Gary answered with a smile, "and the gym has been doing fantastic. I'm running a 15 win record right now!"
"You wouldn't want someone to break that, would you?" Birch grinned.
"Not anytime soon," Gary replied with a chuckle before turning over to Aadon. "Who's the kid?"
"This is Ilex," Oak answered for Aadon, who almost spilled out his real name out of instinct. "We found him trapped on the peak of Rock Tunnel with a Clefairy."
"Rock Tunnel? Doesn't your mommy or daddy ever stop you from going to places like those?" Gary said immediately.
Aadon looked down at his palms and turned back up with a slight gulp. "Yes, well I-"
"Never mind that Gary," Birch interrupted. "We're here to get this kid his Pokemon."
"M-my Pokemon?" Aadon said shakily. "But what can I do with a Clefairy?"
"Don't be modest, young lad," Oak smiled. "If you hadn't held that Clefairy in your arms and bandaged it up, something bad may have happened.
"R-really?" Aadon said, still a little shaken up from the fact. "But will Clefairy hate me? What if I do something wrong? What if-"
"Calm down kid," Gary put a finger to Aadon's mouth and grinned. "There's your Clefairy now." Aadon had not seen Birch slip by and go to the counter to pick up Clefairy. Clefairy was looking well-polished, it's bandages now taken off.
"Clefairy!" the Pokemon said, walking next to Aadon. Aadon smiled weakly at Clefairy.
Suddenly, Aadon felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning over to his backside, he saw a young women. She had a kind aura around her, and Aadon suddenly felt calm. She wore her curly pink hair in two cute knots shaped like bunny ears. Aadon smiled when he looked up at her blue eyes.
"Don't worry too much about your Clefairy, Ilex," the women said. "He made a surprisingly good recovery."
"Thank you ma'am," Aadon replied. "Find Clefairy a good home. I can't take care of him."
"But why, Ilex?" Oak asked.
"It's complicated," Aadon said while looking down, not wanting to meet the looks of the others. How could he confide to everyone that he had run away from home to save Dr. Ronkowski? The moment they found out, he would be shipped by to Lavender Town and become the main headline of the media. How could his mom forgive him if he brought shame to the Ronkowski family? What would they say if they found out that Dr. Ronkowski's child had ran away? The media would surely see him as an abusive person!
"What was I thinking?" Aadon mumbled out loud.
"What?" Birch asked. Everyone was now looking at Aadon.
"Oh!" Aadon exclaimed when he realized he had said his question out loud. "It's nothing."
"I don't care it what it is," Gary chastised. "That Pokemon likes you and considers you it's owner."
"Since it is a fairly young Clefairy, it sees you as it's parental figure," Oak explained.
"I see," Aadon nodded. Aadon had to tell them who he was, or at least what he wanted to do. "I need to get stronger."
"It doesn't happen instantaneously," Gary remarked.
"But you don't understand, I'm running out of time," Aadon answered.
"The Pokemon League is still more than 6 months away," Gary responded. "Plenty of time to train and get the badges."
"I'm not exactly sure what badges are," Aadon said in confusion. "My dad used to talk about them. Aren't they those things that gym leaders give out to people for the Pokemon league?"
"Badges are symbols of maturity and strength," Gary explained. "For each badge, you must fight a gym leader. You need at least 8 to enter the Pokemon League."
"Gym leaders? You mean those really powerful trainers?" Aadon inquired as he turned down to see Clefairy touching his leg.
"Yes, those powerful trainers," Gary replied sarcastically with a grin. "You look like you've got a lot to learn."
"I have to get stronger," Aadon thought. "I have to make Clefairy stronger to help me save my dad!" Aadon went a step closer to Gary, holding Clefairy in his hands.
"Can you teach me to make my Pokemon stronger?" Aadon asked.
"I can battle you, I guess," Gary replied. "But then, I am a gym leader."
"A gym leader?" Aadon said in surprise. Aadon came to believe that all gym leaders were the old Professor types, so this came as a shock to the 14-year-old boy.
"Yes, but I'm one of the more powerful ones," Gary grinned.
"Oh, quit bragging Gary," Oak lightly tapped his grandson's shoulder. "Let him fight you. I'm sure you know a thing or two about battling right?"
"My dad used to show me a little battling," Aadon responded with a slight smile.
"Let's take this outside," Birch reminded everyone. "Actually, let's take this on your gym grounds."
"Oh, right," Gary scratched his head. "Ok everyone, let's go to the outdoors arena at my gym."
[Viridian City Gym-5:53 PM]
"Well come on in through the gate," Gary said, opening the gate for everyone.
The field was incredibly huge. There was a track that circled the grass running for at least a quarter-mile lap. Encircling the entire field was a large wooden fence.
"Clefairy!" the Pokemon said, licking Aadon.
"Let's see what you're made of," Aadon smiled, petting his Pokemon. "I know you can beat him."
"Don't be so sure," Gary teased, making Aadon blush. He had been speaking a little too loud.
"This is kind of an unofficial battle, so we don't need a referee," Birch stated as Aadon and Gary walked to opposite sides of the field.
"Go a little easy on him," Oak whispered as he began to walk off the field next to Professor Birch.
"Will try, gramps," Gary smiled as he took off his leather jacket, revealing a brown shirt.
"Try to wrap this up soon, boys!" Oak yelled out from several feet. "It's getting a little dark!"
Oak was right. There were no clouds in sight, and the orange rays of the sun were starting to fade away behind the mountains in the distance.
Gary took a Pokeball in his hand and threw it on to the ground. "You're needed, buddy."
The ball cracked open, and in a flash of light, a Doduo stood on the field. The innocent looking bird Pokemon had two heads resting upon a round body covered with brown feathers.
"Say hello to my Doduo," Gary said happily. "You may have the first movie."
"O-okay," Aadon gulped. He was a little nervous. "I'll just do what my dad taught me. Now what does Clefairy know?"
The breeze began to pick up, making the grass wave in the wind gracefully. Clefairy stood in front of Aadon, waiting for a move.
"Pound attack!" Aadon ordered. Clefairy ran forwards, gripping it's two hands.
"Dodge it and use Peck," Gary commanded. Before Clefairy's Pound could make impact, Doduo swiftly evaded the attack to the right, making Clefairy fall face flat on the floor.
"Get up and try another Pound-" but before Aadon could finish his command, a strong Peck made impact with the Normal type Pokemon, sending it skidding through the Grass.
"Clefairy!" Clefairy exclaimed, quickly getting up and brushing dust off its face.
"You can do better than that," Gary grinned. "Use Peck on Clefairy's legs."
Doduo's two heads leaned forward, using Peck near Clefairy's legs.
"Jump up and use Pound," Aadon quickly ordered. Clefairy made a slight jump into the air before falling over in pain as a Peck made impact with its right leg.
"Keep up the Peck," Gary ordered as Doduo continued its barrage, forcing Clefairy to roll left and right frantically. Doduo jumped out of the way, leaving Clefairy room to get up. "I think Doduo just learned Fury Attack!"
"What other moves does Clefairy know?" Aadon thought. "What about Sing? I can put that Doduo to sleep!"
"Try another Pound!" Aadon yelled. Clefairy pushed forwards, running faster than before. Both Aadon and Clefairy were visibly sweating, but Gary and Doduo seemed calm and normal.
"Doduo, dodge and use Fury Attack!" Gary ordered. Doduo charged forwards, forcing Clefairy to stop.
"Grab one of the beaks!" Aadon shouted. Clefairy managed to secure its arms on Doduo's beak, but the second beak slammed Clefairy in the face, knocking it to the ground.
"Go ahead and try Sing anyways!" Aadon commanded. Clefairy took a step back and opened its mouth, but could not Sing before taking another two blows to the body from the Fury Attack.
"Roll to the right Clefairy," Aadon quickly ordered, guessing correctly. that the beaks were moving towards Clefairy's left flank.
"Try Metronome!" Birch yelled to Aadon, who immediately heard the request.
"What's Metronome?" Aadon asked himself. "No time! Metronome!"
Clefairy dodged to its right side, taking a hit to its leg before grabbing both of Doduo's beaks. The Normal type motioned its left-hand fingers back and forth. Suddenly, they emitted a glow.
"CLEEEE...FAIRRRRRY!" Suddenly, Clefairy shot up, hitting Doduo with a barrage of punches that forced the Pokemon to retreat.
"Dodge to the right and use Peck!" Gary ordered. Doduo feinted to its left before dodging right, making Clefairy trip. The Normal type fell to the floor, hitting its head.
"Quick, Pound!" Aadon requested in panic.
"Peck it's back before it gets back up," Gary calmly commanded. Doduo plunged to the ground with both of its heads.
"Roll left now!" Aadon quickly yelled.
"Fairy!" Clefairy dodged to the left, avoiding the left beak, which stuck beak-first in the dirt. The right head looked up in panic.
"Pound!" Aadon ordered.
"Quick Attack," Gary grinned.
"Quick Attac-" Before Aadon could even ask himself what the move meant, Doduo's left beak shot out of the ground and concurrently rammed Clefairy in the chest with its right head.
"FAAAAIRRRRY!" Clefairy slid near Aadon, now covered in dust and small bruises. Aadon rushed over to his Pokemon's side.
"You did good," Aadon smiled. "You did your best."
"You have a long way to go," Gary said from above Aadon. Aadon looked up to see the gym leader smiling upon him. "Not only did you make mistakes, but so did your Clefairy."
"What do you mean?" Aadon asked with wide eyes.
"Most people assume that if they improve their battling commands and tactics, their Pokemon will follow," Gary explained as he took out a purple bottle and sprayed Clefairy. "This will sting a little, but it'll help."
"Fairy!" Clefairy squeaked in pain, followed by a sigh of relief.
"You also have to train your Pokemon when you train yourself," Gary continued. "They aren't robots that will be as good as your voice makes them. Pokemon can be big,tall,small, fat, weak, old, and so much more. They have all the traits that make them as real as we are as humans."
"I see," Aadon sighed, still down about his loss. "Is there any fast way to get stronger."
"No," Gary chuckled. "It takes time and dedication to become a stronger trainer. Above all that, it takes a heart of fire. You have to find the fire within you and share it with your Pokemon."
"I can't lie to him," Aadon thought. "It will only make things worse for me and my dad. How do I tell him that I'm the son of Dr. Ronkowski?"
"Let's go inside the gym and get something to eat," Gary grinned as he began walking forward.
"Gary?" Aadon said quietly.
"Yo?" Gary turned around.
"I have to tell you something important," Aadon replied as the last traces of orange left the sky and the two began a slow walk to the gym.
Author's Notes [5/13/2012]:
There you go! Another long chapter! I guess my chapter length varies on how much of a story I have to tell to wrap up my plot. 14 chapters to go for Cloak and Dagger.
Your questions for this week:
Q1: Is the character development of Aadon coming along pretty well? (I know much wasn't revealed, but I wanted to showcase his fragile personality and fears some more)
Q2: How can I improve my battle descriptions and make the battles more lively? And did I do well in showing how inexperienced Clefairy is in battle?
Q3: Was there a little too much talking in his chapter, or did the conversations interest you?