Moving to Johto from Unova has been one giant headache, but he'd been so excited to get his own farm.
He can finally work with more than just Skitty and Glameow house pets; he can finally put his training to actual use!
His family relies on him to eat, and now that he has more room than a cramped house, he can finally earn a decent wage and buy more than discounted food.
Only now that he's finally able to work and enjoy it, his little brother is missing.
And it's all his fault.
If he hadn't lost his temper, if he'd just kept silent…
He's already called the school, but Jace never showed up.
His brother probably ran away again; his backpack is missing. Jace is probably holed up in a nearby city, waiting for his older brother to come get him.
Except this time he can't leave to drag the boy back.
He wants nothing more than to chase down his brother, but he has other responsibilities now. He has a whole farm filled with pokemon and a wayward mother that needs to be cared for.
He's aware his best isn't good enough—that Jace deserves a father, not an over-worked brother.
It's frustrating, but all he can do is wait and see if Jace comes home.
He's brushing the Ponyta out in the field when a postal worker on a gigantic Pidgeotto lands near the house.
"You Roger of Quiet Scene Farm?" The postal worker asks when he approaches.
"Yes," he replies, eyebrows furrowing.
"Letter for you from 'Jace.' " She tells him, pulling a letter out from her messenger bag.
He accepts the envelope with trembling hands. He doesn't hesitate and rips it open. He never notices the postal worker leave.
Hey Roger,
First of all, I'm okay.
"Oh, thank the gods," he breathes.
I was trying to get to the school in Cinderberry, honest, and made it to Olivine City instead.
Pretty crazy, huh?
Some things happened, and I met some new people. I met a Noctowl who might be pretty cool too.
Pokemon are still the worst, though.
They made me realize I've been depending on you this whole time, and I need to learn things that a barely existing school can't teach me.
I also realized I'm still pretty mad at you.
Not that you deserve it, but it's a feeling I can't shake for some reason.
I've decided I'm going to go find you a great pokemon for the farm to make up for it. Maybe I'll find out why I'm the way I am too.
I'm sorry for leaving without saying anything, but I'm not sorry for leaving.
I'll keep sending you updates through the mail, but they might be a bit sporadic since they'll be coming from Kanto.
"K-Kanto?" He sputters.
Love,
Jace
P.S. I'm currently traveling with an Ace Trainer who's been everywhere and knows everything. He's the one with the cool Noctowl.
P.P.S. Did you know Nurse Joys have it rough? Seriously, they have to know how to treat every single pokemon and even people! And there are all these procedures!
P.P.P.S. Did I mention I have a pokemon? It's a Happiny. It's very pink.
He can only stare at the paper in disbelief.
Jace has a pokemon? He's going to Kanto? He has a pokemon? It's pink?
He turns his attention to the only thing he can understand.
"I don't know who you are Mr. Ace Trainer, but if you let anything happen to my brother!"
...
"Achoo!"
Kyle's sneeze reverberates around them, bouncing off stone walls.
"Did you want your jacket back?" He asks in concern.
"Nah," the Ace Trainer says sniffling, "it's just the dust."
For such a sunny day, the castle was unexpectedly cold. It was as if someone had cranked up the air conditioning onto the highest setting.
It was also suspiciously empty for being such an eye catcher.
"We'll get you a wardrobe update when we get to Celadon. They have the coolest jackets—after mine of course," Kyle tells him.
He rolls his eyes.
"No dresses," he says firmly.
"Aw, but you looked so cute—"
"Happiny, Pound."
Happiny leaps from its pokeball, giggling and eager to land a hit. The Ace Trainer dances out of the way, arms flailing.
"You know," Kyle tells him still dodging a determined Happiny, "out of the two of us, it's me who should hate pokemon."
He scowls and crosses his arms.
"If you'd just stop saying stupid stuff…" He huffs.
"But you make it too easy—ah!"
Happiny lets out a happy cry as it finally lands a hit, and Kyle crashes to the ground dramatically. The pokemon examines the fallen trainer curiously.
"You got me," the Ace Trainer tells it gravely.
Happiny playfully bops his nose and they both break into giggles.
It's not cute, he tells himself. He tries to stop the smile forming on his own face.
"Let's just find out what's up with this place," he grunts, turning away.
He freezes when he feels something heavy land on his shoulder.
"You should keep your pokemon close to you," Kyle says gleefully.
Happiny chirps at him, and it sounds way too close.
He glances left, and all he sees is pink.
Yep, way too close, he thinks.
"Onward!" Kyle shouts, clapping his non-occupied shoulder.
The Ace Trainer pushes him down the dimly-lit hallway, and all he can think is—
How is this my life?