Surprise! It's another chapter of BAFF, sorry for not posting anything in, lets see, FOREVER! But between the spell checking, story approval, and character development process, it's been kind of difficult, anyway, at least this chapter is longer than what i have usually been putting, plus i found something to do with that snivy, but I'm not going to spoil anything yet, you'll just have to read :3. So anyway, i plan on finishing up the new story, then i'm going to get back to work on RBW, enjoy the new chapter.
Mike's eyes slowly opened as he heard a sound illuminate through the hallway outside his room. It sounded like a door closed, and it sounded like it came from his parents room. Mike scooted up until he was at a sitting position on his bed, at first Mike kept feeling he was forgetting something. "Was there something i was supposed to do?" Mike thought groggily. "No, it wasn't something i was supposed to do, it was someone who i was supposed to remember, but who."
Mike continued to search his thoughts but came up short. "Malina do you remember who I'm supposed to remember?" Mike asked, then face palmed himself. "That's who i was supposed to remember." Mike said out loud. "Malina, are you in here?" Mike whispered, noticing his partner wasn't on his bed. No response came.
"Malina? Are you in here?" Mike whispered a little louder, still no response came. At this point Mike climbed out of bed and searched his room. No sign of the absol could be found, and Mike was starting to get worried.
"Nothing to worry about." Mike calmed himself. "Im sure Malina is just having problems outside, I'm sure once i go out there she will be right there." Mike thought.
Mike walked back out into the hallway where he met his first concern, the door leading between the kitchen and the living room was shut, he had left it open so that Malina could retrace to his room. Someone had already been through here.
"Wait." Mike thought. "Maybe mom or dad saw the door was open and just closed it, I'm sure Malina is fine, there is no way she could get in trouble and not tell me."
Mike opened the door and noticed Malina wasn't in the living room. "Ok, that is slightly less reassuring." Mike thought. All the doors leading to the front were closed, and Malina wasn't in any of them. Mike rushed to the front door and threw it open, Malina was nowhere to be seen, Mike's heart was pumping at this point.
"Oh Arceus, what if she ran away, she is still too undeveloped to live on her own, but she only went outside a couple minutes ago, she couldn't have gone far." Mike thought.
Miek ran back to his room to change clothes as fast as he could, once he was set, Mike dashed out the door, there was no way he was giving up on Malina that easy.
Malina slowly dragged her way through the street, wet streaks down her cheek had shown the paths the tears took down her skin. Another tear took one of the paths of it's predecessors before hitting the ground. Despite how late it was, people still wandered the streets, but if they came near Malina, they moved away from her, Malina knew the reason why, they hated her. They all hated her. Malina continued to drag herself, ignoring the looks of humans. She didn't want anything to do with them, she didn't want anything to do with anything. Malina knew what was going to happen next, she was going to get pushed around, she wasn't going to find another home, humans would be too afraid of her, blaming her for their problems when something went wrong. Pokemon would take her food, just like in the park, it was useless, Malina gave up. There wasn't much to live with anymore, not without Mike. Malina dragged herself down an alleyway, before reaching the back wall and flopping to her side. Malina had decided she wasn't going to move, no matter what happened, she was just going to lie here and take it.
She was finally putting an end to her life.
Mike finally made his way to the small town's center. This is where most of the people were during the late hours of night. Mike went around searching for the absol, but it would be hard, even if it was a small town, she could be anywhere.
"Come on Malina i know you're here." Mike prayed.
Mike ran down streets, constantly searching paw or horn of Malina, but wasn't getting very much info on where she was.
"Then there was that absol..." Mike heard as he ran past a late night restaurant.
Mikes feet stopped instantly skidding along the pavement until he came to a complete stop, Mike ran back to the table where two women were having a conversation.
"What was that about an absol?" he asked.
The woman looked at Mike confused. "Earlier, when i was walking down valor avenue i saw an absol walk down one of the alleyways, do you know it?" The woman asked.
But before she got a reply Mike dashed off. Running as fast as he could for valor avenue, even if his legs were screaming for him to stop and take a breather.
Mike ran down Valor checking each and every alleyway. It wasn't until he got to the fourth alleyway did he see a familiar pokemon. An absol was lying on it's side, not moving whatsoever.
Mike moved closer, fearing the worst, but let out a slight breath of relief when he saw the absols sides were still moving.
"Malina?" Mike called out.
Malina's eyes slowly opened, she sighed. "It's just my imagination, there is no way Mike could have found me way out here, he probably doesn't even know im here." She thought
Mike moved closer. "Malina?" Mike called out a little louder.
Malina was still certain that Mike wasn't really there, but something in her brain kept telling her to look. Malina reared her head and looked to the front if the alleyway and couldn't believe her eyes. Mike was standing right there, she wasn't imagining it. Malina got up and ran to Mike, mike got down on one knee to greet her, but was surprised when she stopped just short of him. Sitting down, there was still one thing she was wondering.
"Why are you here, why did you come looking for me?" Malina asked.
"Malina, what kind of question is that, i came looking for you because i was worried about you, were partners, i could never leave you to fend for yourself like this." Mike replied.
Malina felt tears fill her eyes again, no one had ever told her this before, and she never expected someone to care this much. Malina felt arms wrap around her.
"Malina, this is what i've been trying to tell you this whole time, i'm here for you, I'm not going to leave you ever." Mike continued.
Malina couldn't hold it back any longer, pushing her face into his shirt she let the tears roll from her eyes, drenching Mike's shirt. Mike continued to embrace Malina as she continued to cry into his shirt, he didn't mind. She probably was just as scared as he was. Eventually Malina calmed down, but she didn't move away from Mike, the comforting she was receiving made her feel "special" in her own little way, another thing she had never felt.
Mike at this point spoke up. "Arceus Malina, what where you doing out here, you had me scared to death, if you got locked out, you could have just called for me instead of just running away like that." Mike asked.
Malina was silent, the options of her next answer weighed down upon her. "It's been you're mother this entire time." Malina spoke up softly.
"What?" Mike asked.
"It was you're mother, Mike, she hates me, she is the one that gave me this head wound, she is the one who forced me to come out here." Malina replied. "I never told you because i couldn't, she would kill me, she even threatened that if she saw me after tonight she would personally kill me herself, I'm scared Mike, i don't want to go back, but, i don't want to leave you."
It was Mike's turn to be silent as the Absol drew a few more tears from her eyes. Miek sighed. "I guess i should have seen this coming." He whispered.
"What are you going to do now?" Malina asked. "I can't come home, and you don't have a partner." Malina pointed out.
"Don't say that." Mike responded. "Just because my mother doesn't want you as my partner doesn't mean i'm going to give up on you, i just need a way to trick mom so that i can bring you along the journey." Mike replied.
"But how, there is no way to get past her, unless you brought a pokeball." Malina replied.
Mike held Malina in silence for a little bit, then a grin came across his face.
"Malina, I'm not giving up, and i know just how i can trick mom." He replied.
"Breakfast is ready." Martha called.
Mike slowly crawled out of bed, he hadn't got much sleep last night, but he knew what he had to do, and he needed to do it quick. "Alright I'm coming, just give me a second mom." Mike replied.
Mike quietly opened the door from his room and slipped out into the hallway, right next to his room was his parents, Mike opened the door a crack and looked inside, right on the nightstand was what Mike was looking for, the Shiny's pokeball.
It had been a couple minutes since Martha had called Mike, and she was growing suspicious, Josh was getting a little curious as well. "Mike, is everything ok up there." Martha called.
Mike almost dropped the pokeball he was holding. "Uh, yeah, just give me a second."
Mike replied. Mike took a deep breath and headed downstairs, time to put the plan to the test. Mike walked down the stairs with his best depression face.
The instant Josh looked at Mike he knew something was up. "Is something wrong Mike?" He asked.
"Malina ran away last night." Mike replied solemnly.
"She did?" Josh asked, knowing Martha was somehow behind this.
"Yeah, but she didn't even leave a sign, she didn't tell me, she just left." Mike replied.
"Well honey, I'm sure there is another pokemon that you can find, one that is better." Martha replied. Josh threw a look at Martha, knowing full and well she was behind this.
"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to take that snivy with me." Mike replied opening his hands to reveal the pokeball.
Martha's face brightened up upon hearing this, there was no other pokemon she would recommend. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry, I'm sure you would have loved to go on that journey with Malina, but maybe it's for the best." She replied
Mike didn't respond but instead, just decided to take his seat at the table.
"Don't you want to pull out you're snivy to eat?" Martha asked.
Mike gulped, he needed to think up an excuse, fast. "I think, i would rather feed it something i cooked, but on the journey rather than here." Mike replied, still trying to keep his depression face on.
Martha just looked at her son, Mike never cooked before, why would he be so urgent to feed the snivy his own cooking? "Alright if you say so." She replied suspiciously.
It wasn't long before noon had struck, the hour Mike was supposed to begin his journey. As Mike slipped on the last of his clothing, he checked his book bag. Spare clothes, some basic food, water supply, all the necessities, and the pokeball. Mike picked up the pokeball, pushing the button a quick blast of white lightning burst out. Malina flopped on the floor of his bedroom.
"Did she buy it, are we in the clear?" She asked, picking herself off the floor.
"Well she bought it, i think, but we're not in the clear yet, I just wanted to let you stretch your legs." Mike replied.
"Well, i like the consideration." She replied, stretching her legs making them crack. "But i would prefer to get out of the house before you let me out."
Mike was about to reply but a rumbling caught his attention. "Let me guess." Mike assumed. "You're hungry?"
Malina just slightly smiled.
Mike chuckled and pulled an apple out of his backpack. Malina tackled the apple like it was a worm on a hook. Mike chuckled, she always had an adorable way of eating.
"So, when do you expect to leave?" Malina asked, Apple bits falling from her mouth.
"In a minute, i just wanted to savor the moment, i mean, it's going to be a long time before we come back." Mike replied.
Malina observed the room, Mike did say they were going on a journey, it probably would be a long time before she would sleep in another comfy bed.
"So, this is it, we are really going through with this?" Malina asked.
"Of course, i've wanted to do this "journey" thing ever since i was a kid." Mike replied, sitting on the floor.
Malina sat silently for a moment, she had something she wanted to tell Mike, but it felt hard to say it. "Mike." She began, catching the boy's attention. "I just wanted to say thank you, for, well, all of this, for what you've done for me. If it weren't for you, i probably would have been dead in that cave, you showed hope in me when nothing else did, and..." Malina tried to continue but the lump in her throat blocked the words.
Malina felt Mike pull her close. "You don't have to say more, i get it, and in a way, i have to thank you as well." Mike replied, earning a curious look from Malina.
"You do?" She asked.
"Of course, if it wasn't for you, i would probably be stuck with that stupid snivy my mother tried to give me, the reason why i picked you was because i wanted a Pokemon i would have had a connection with, i helped you because you needed it, but also because i saw the potential in you." Mike continued.
Malina stared at Mike, then she nuzzled up against his shirt. "Thanks Mike." She replied.
The nuzzle was broken when footsteps were heard coming from the hallway.
"Oh no, it's probably mom, quick get back in your ball." Mike panicked grabbing her ball. Retracting her into a red beam, Mike hopped up and quickly dusted himself off, right as the door opened.
"Mike, if you want to get some distance before dark you should get going now." His father advised upon opening the door.
Mike breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, just let me grab my book bag." Mike replied.
"Don't forget that apple." His father advised, pointing at the half-eaten apple on the floor.
"Oh, right." Mike chuckled nervously.
"You know you shouldn't really waste an apple like that, you might need it later on the journey." His father advised.
"I won't." Mike promised. Mike's father nodded and left the room. Mike grabbed the pokeball and tossed the backpack over his shoulders. He was all set, he just hoped he would get past his mother.
Mike headed down the stairs and went to the front door where his parents where waiting for him.
"So it's finally happening." His father greeted.
"Yep, i guess you could say it is." Mike replied.
Mike felt his mother wrap her arms around him. "Oh, I'm so proud of you, i'm sorry Malina couldn't come along with you."
Mike could feel a small rage build inside him. "It's alright, i'm sure she will be fine." Mike replied.
"Would be better if you actually had a challenge than that perfect pokemon." Mike's father commented.
"Oh please honey, It's not going to make a difference what pokemon he has, just as long as he has fun right?" Martha asked.
"The challenge is what makes it fun." Mike's father replied.
"You know, i think i would like to start this journey while it's still light out." Mike jumped in.
"Oh, right, guess we just got carried away." His mother replied.
Mike gave both of his parents a quick hug before he finally stepped out the door.
"By the way Mike." He heard his father call. "Make sure to tell the elite four i said hi."
Mike laughed a little before continuing his walk, it wasn't long before he was out of sight.
Josh closed the door and looked at Martha. "You better not have anything to do with why Malina is missing." He warned.
"Oh trust me, i didn't." She lied.
"I find that hard to believe considering you're the same person who gave that poor pokemon a concussion and bribed our own son to get rid of her with a shiny snivy." He replied.
"Would you let go of that already, Mike already said he is going with that snivy, so just let it go, it's done." Martha argued, walking off.
Josh let out a sigh of anger, Martha has changed, more than ever.
Josh stomped into his memorial room, and sat in the chair.
"Arceus, what has happened to you Martha." Josh thought rubbing his eyes.
Josh laid back on the chair and started to remember the times before he met Martha, his team, especially his zangoose. A smile came across his face at the thought of her. "Oh! Zangoose, why did i not listen to you, maybe if i did, you wouldn't have hate me, we wouldn't have had that stupid fight. I just wish i could return to the past, before it became this."
"Zangoose use revenge." Josh shouted. His companion following up quickly with a red aura claw striking an opposing blaziken, her sharp claws digging through the red bird's feathers. The Blaziken flew back, landing hard on the dirt road.
"Come on Richard, i know you can take more hits than that!" An opposing trainer shouted at his pokemon, though it was obvious the Blaziken wasn't getting up.
The blaziken tried only once to get up before flopping back on the ground. "Forget it, im done with this crap." The bird replied. The trainer let out a frustrated groan and retracted the bird.
"Well, thats it, you win." The trainer confessed sadly.
Josh grinned. "You know, yelling angrily at you're pokemon isn't exactly the best strategy, you should probably go easier on them." Josh advised.
At this point in time, Josh had been a trainer 7 years in the making, and his relationship with his pokemon was closer to none.
"Oh please, what could easing up on them do?" The trainer asked.
"Well, i didn't yell a single time and only one of my pokemon kicked all of your's butts." Josh replied.
"Well, that and i'm really strong." The zangoose commented.
Josh smiled and ruffled the pokemon's hair. "Yeah, i keep forgetting that." Josh joked.
"Whatever, heres your stupid money." The other trainer groaned handing over 1'500 pokes to josh.
"I thought you said the payoff was 2'000 pokes?" Josh asked.
"Well i'm a little short!" The trainer shouted before stomping off.
Josh just smiled. " and i thought sawsbuck was a sore loser." Josh commented. Josh continued down the road with Zangoose by his side.
"Soooo, we doing anything in the next city." Zangoose asked in a flirty voice.
"I thought we would take a break, i mean, i have worked you guys pretty hard lately." Josh replied.
"Well, why don't we leave sawsbuck and audino at some spa place, and you and me can do something together, just the two of us." Zangoose offered. "I've heard of this really great creamery."
Josh smiled. "You do know what we humans call that right?" Josh asked.
"What?" Zangoose asked.
"A date." Josh replied. Zangoose groaned, she knew where this was going as Josh got down on one knee. "Look, i know that you and me have... Feelings for each other, but you know what i've said about our relationship." Josh reminded.
"I know, humans and pokemon can't have relationships or we risk a great danger, but i'm just tired of hiding this, i don't want my feelings to be ignored anymore josh, please, just for once, please, one time is all i'm asking." Zangoose begged.
Josh sighed, when zangoose begged, she wanted something BADLY. Josh was also getting tired of hiding these feelings for her. "Alright." Josh replied. "Just one date, then will you be happy?" Josh asked.
"Oh yes, i would never ask you for anything else again." Zangoose replied excitedly.
Josh chuckled. "Alright, we will do what you want when we get to the next city, just you and me, alone together." Josh replied.
Zangoose gasped excitedly and hugged Josh. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She replied excitedly.
Josh chuckled. "Alright, that's enough, don't want you slicing my neck off with those claws."
"Sorry." Zangoose replied, breaking from the hug.
Josh would have stuck to his promise, saying there wasn't a slight mishap in the city, that changed everything.
Josh was browsing his bag looking for his wallet, when Zangoose came out of the bathroom.
"You know, you didn't have to take a bath." Josh commented.
"I know." Zangoose replied cheerfully. "But i wanted to make a good first impression on our date."
"Zangoose, i've known you 7 years, i think we have already made the first impression a long time ago." Josh replied. "By the way, have you seen my wallet?" He asked.
"Check the nightstand." Zangoose replied.
Josh walked over to the night stand and right as he opened it up, he saw his leather wallet. "How do you know where all my stuff is?" Josh asked.
"Because unlike you, i keep track of stuff." Zangoose replied sarcastically. "So, you ready to go to the creamery?"
"Yeah, but i got to run an errand first." Josh replied.
"You do?" Zangoose asked, slightly disappointed.
"Yeah, we're low on potions and i need to make a run to the store, just go on ahead and i'll meet you at the creamery." Josh replied.
"But you don't know where it is!" Zangoose pointed out, as Josh walked out into the hallway."
"Don't worry ill just ask for directions." Josh replied as he entered the stairway.
It didn't take long for Josh to find the pokemart. "I'll just take a second." He thought to himself. Josh browsed the isles looking at all the pokemon related things on the shelfs.
"Let's see, berries, sprays, toys, powerbands." Josh would have continued, saying her hadn't hit something and stumbled over on his side, followed by a shatter of glass.
"Geez, whats the rush pal?" A female voice asked, slightly annoyed.
"Sorry miss, i'm kind of in a rush." Josh replied as he got back to his feet. Looking down at the floor, he noticed a broken potion on the floor. Being polite, Josh bent down to pick up the shattered pieces. The girl was probably thinking the same thing she at the same time as she bent down to to pick up the potion bits as well.
"You don't have to do this you know, i mean this is my fault after all." Josh informed, looking up at the girl.
"It's alright, you're not the first guy to knock me down." The girl replied looking up at the boy. This was the first time the two got a good look at each other. The boy couldn't believe his eyes, she was beautiful, it was then that Josh started to become nervous.
"Uh, no really it's alright, i can handle it." He replied trying to be gentlemanly.
"It's alright, i don't mind." she replied.
Josh and the girl picked up the rest of the pieces, not talking until it was finally cleaned up.
"You know, i can pay for this." Josh offered.
"No, it's alright, not like this isn't the first time this has happened." She replied.
Josh was scrambling for something to say.
"So i guess you're a trainer?" The girl asked.
"Oh yeah, how did you know?" Josh asked.
"Well, you are dressed in a jacket even though it's hot out, your badge case is showing out of you're pocket, and you have a pokeball belt." She replied.
"Oh, i guess it would be easy to come to that conclusion then would it?" Josh chuckled.
"I wish i could have become a trainer." The girl thought out loud.
"Wait, you're not a trainer?" Josh asked.
"Unfortunately no, i have... Difficulties with pokemon, and i was told in order to become a trainer you would have to be able to work with pokemon, which i never really did." She replied.
"Oh, what problem did you have?" Josh asked.
"I have this, thing, where i see the flaws of pokemon, and i can't help but point it out, it's minor at first, but over time it grows annoying." She replied. Josh just remained silent, he had never heard of a condition like this before.
"So, does that mean you live here?" Josh asked.
"Yep." She replied cheerfully. "I've lived here since i was a baby, not much has really changed except for some of the businesses." The girl replied.
"So, what is you're name anyway?" Josh asked.
"Oh right, i guess we haven't properly introduced ourselves have we?" She asked. "My name is Martha." She replied sticking out her hand.
"Josh." He replied, grabbing Martha's hand and shaking it.
"So i guess you haven't seen some of the sights?" She asked.
"No, not really, but i wouldn't mind, i mean, i'm not really doing anything important." Josh replied.
"Alright, well, i'll meet you outside, and i think i will take up your offer for paying for that." Martha replied pointing to the broken potion.
Josh finished his shopping and met Martha outside.
For the rest of the day, Josh was shown around the town with Martha, she told him the history of some of the sights, told stories of her childhood, chatted the time off with small talk. The day would have gone off without a hitch, saying Martha had not shown him one specific place.
"Hold on, i think you're gonna love this place." Martha giggled, pulling Josh along with her.
"Well, i probably would say i knew where we were going." Josh pointed out.
"Here it is!" She exclaimed.
"What is this place?" Josh asked.
"It's the only creamery in floaroma town." She replied.
"Really?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, but it's really good, can't find anything like... Uh, is something wrong?" Martha asked, noticing the weird face on Josh.
"I can't help but remember that someone else told me abut this place." Josh thought, then in a split second, like his face hit a wall of bricks, he remembered.
His heart skipped a beat. "Oh no, Zangoose!" Josh thought out loud running in.
"Zangoose?" Martha thought walking in behind him.
Josh ran into the creamery, but didn't see eye or hair of the pokemon, Josh knew he was in big trouble.
"Excuse me?" Josh asked running to the cashier. "Did, you happen to see a zangoose walk in here earlier this morning?" Josh asked.
The cashier thought about the people who came in that morning. "Come to think of it, i did remember seeing a lone Zangoose enter the store, she took a seat at one of the booths, but after a while she got mad and left." The cashier replied.
"Something wrong Josh?" Martha asked.
"Uh, look, Martha." Josh replied, turning back to her. "I really enjoyed our afternoon together, but something just came up and i really need to go, maybe we can do this again sometime." Josh replied.
"But i thought you said-" Martha began, but was cut short when Josh ran past her.
"Don't worry, i'll come back sometime." Josh shouted as he ran out the door.
Josh ran as fast as he could to his hotel room, not bothering with the elevator since it was slower than a slowbro, he darted up the stairs, until he reached his level. Josh ran to his door, but stopped at the knob to catch his breath. "Please be in here, please be in here." Josh thought.
Josh pulled out his card and inserted into the electronic lock, when a beep was heard, the door unlocked and he pushed it open. There were mixed emotions when Josh saw Zangoose on the bed. Joy, that she didn't run away, and fear, that she was going to rip out his intestines with her claws.
"Hi." Josh greeted shyly.
Zangoose was sitting on the bed, cross legs, and arms folded, giving him a dark stare. "So, you can meet me here in the bedroom, but not at the creamery?" Zangoose asked.
"Look, it's not what you think, there was a big crowd at the store, and i got distracted, then there was a pokemon battle, please tell me you're buying this?" Josh asked.
"I would saying you hadn't added in the part about the pokemon battle, since you didn't have your pokemon on you." Zangoose replied angrily, making Josh gulp. "And also if i hadn't spotted you with "Martha" the whole freaking day."
"You know about Martha?!" Josh asked.
"Oh don't act surprised, when you didn't show up at the creamery you knew i would come looking for you." Zangoose replied.
"Well- i mean- it's not like- it's not what you think." Josh replied.
"Oh is it, the laughing, the chatting, how close you two looked, thats not what it looked like?" She asked.
"Well- it might of." Josh replied sheepishly.
"You know, i thought you had feelings for me Josh, and then suddenly, i see you with some random woman walking around town, like you're on a date, the date you and me were supposed to be on." Zangoose replied furiously.
John didn't reply, there was nothing he could say at this point.
"Look, just say it, this whole time my feelings have just been a joke to you haven't they?" Zangoose asked.
"That's not true-" Josh protested.
"7 years!" Zangoose interrupted. "I have been trying to establish a new relationship for us, 7 years, i have begged you on dates that you rejected, and after 7 years, you finally accept, only to blow me off for another human, how can you sit there and tell me that your innocent when it's been 7 years?" Zangoose asked angrily.
"Look, zangoose, i swear, it was an accident, just give me another chance, and tomorrow we can try again, i just got side tracked, that's all, i swear." Josh begged.
Zangoose was quiet for a minute. "Fine, but I'm not going to forgive you just yet, and tonight you're sleeping on the floor." Zangoose replied.
"What? What makes you think you can make me do that?" Josh asked.
"Who has the sharp claws that can pierce the skin and internal organs?" Zangoose asked waving her paw in the air.
Josh sighed. "You do."
The next day Josh did exactly as he promised, he took zangoose on the date, though she wasn't quite ready to forgive him, it took some time, and sawsbuck and audino were confused about the sudden distance between hem, but eventually, all was forgiven, but then Josh came back, and the rest is history.
Josh sighed, leaning back on the chair. "Ugh, why did i leave her, why!?" Josh thought out loud, before flopping back into the chair, letting out a deep sigh. "Well, no point in wasting time thinking about it, i got to get to the park in half an hour." Josh thought to himself. As Josh got up he was about to head to the door, when something caught his eye, the pokeball he had on the memorial, it seemed... Different. Josh took the ball off and took a closer look at it. It was then that he noticed the difference, the dent was gone. When Mike was about 5 years old, his dad let him hold the pokeball, as he explained the story of his pokemon, then somewhere in the story, Mike dropped it, causing a dent on the top portion, it was a small one, but visible none the less. It took Josh a minute to put the pieces together. A smile came across Josh's face.
"That clever boy." He thought, but then a new problem occurred. How would he keep the snivy from his wife, more importantly, he would have to feed it, speaking of which, when was the last time it was fed?
Josh popped open the pokeball, expecting the worse. When the Snivy came out, it surprised Josh, it seemed perfectly fine, Martha must have been feeding it behind his back.
The snivy looked confused. "Where is the lady?" The snivy asked.
"You're female?" Josh asked surprised, Shiny pokemon were rare, but shiny female pokemon starters were even more rare.
"Yes, where is the lady?" The snivy asked again, growing worried.
"Uh, about that." Josh replied picking up the snivy. "You see, the lady, thinks that you went off with another boy, and is now on a journey."
"So the lady doesn't know I'm here?" The snivy asked.
"Well, no." Josh replied.
The Snivy took the situation in for a minute. "Can i stay here?" The Snivy asked.
The Snivy's question surprised Josh. "Well, were still in the same house." Josh replied. "Why do you not want to go back to Martha?" Josh asked.
"The lady never let me out of my ball except when she feeds me, i'm bored, and she doesn't feed me very good food, she keeps feeding me something called, herbal strength roots, everytime i eat one, i don't feel good." The Snivy replied.
"That sounds like Martha." Josh replied.
"Does this mean you're going to give me back to the lady?" Snivy asked.
Josh looked at the snivy, a small smile came across his face. "No, i don't think it would hurt anything if we hid from her, though there will need to be some rules." Josh replied.
"Like what?" Snivy asked.
"Well, unless if i say so, you need to be quiet, and try not to mess with things in the room." Josh instructed.
"Ok." Snivy happily agreed.
Josh thought about how long he had until he had to go to work. "Say, have you ever been to a park before?" He asked the pokemon.
"A park?" The snivy asked.
"Oh sure, it's a place where pokemon and humans play together, but this is a special kind of park, it's a park just for pokemon." Josh replied.
"Really?" Snivy asked.
"Oh sure, in fact, i work there, i can take you if you want, but there will be some rules." Josh replied.
"Ok." Snivy replied.
Josh smiled, even though it had been ten years, the feeling of having his own pokemon light something in him, and this time, he would make sure Martha wouldn't get in the way.
"Alright, here is your trainer card, and your pokedex, we hope you enjoy your journey across the region." The professor stated as Mike was handed his items.
"Alright thanks, i will" Mike replied as he walked out the door. Mike was still in the city, he had to grab some items from the local professor before he could continue, now it was just the matter of where to go. Mike walked to the center of the town, which seemed emptier than normal, and pulled out his pokeball. Clicking the button a white flash occurred and Malina was standing in front of him.
"Where are we?" Malina asked confused.
"We still haven't left the city, i just wanted to stop by the square so that i could have a look at the map." Mike replied sitting on the rim of the giant fountain.
Malina stretched her body, being in a pokeball was going to take some getting used to.
"I'm so glad we are out of your mothers house." Malina commented.
"Yeah well, at least it was a house." Mike replied staring at the routes on the map.
"What do you mean?" Malina asked.
"Well." Mike replied, putting away the map. "When night falls, we are probably going to be sleeping in a tent."
"A tent?" Malina asked. "What's a tent."
"You'll find out once i set it up." Mike chuckled. "Well then, with that out of the way, it looks like were going to be heading northeast from here."
"Does this mean i have to go back into the ball?" Malina complained.
"Well, no." Mike replied. "But you will probably have to walk several miles."
"On second thought, i think i will just stay in the pokeball." Malina replied.
"I knew you would." Miek chuckled, grabbing her pokeball, in a red beam, Malina disappeared. Mike put the ball in his belt and continued towards the edge of town.
As Mike reached the gate he looked back at the town, this would be the last time he would see it for a long time. Mike smiled, memory's of his childhood came to mind, but Mike shoved this aside, the time for memory's would have to wait until later, for now, it was time to get moving if he wanted to make progress before nightfall.
Mike walked down the dirt road, his journey finally beginning after delays and disasters, now he could focus on the long road ahead, the friends he would make, the pokemon he would collect, heck, the places he would see, and all with Malina by his side, he knew she had potential, it would just take some time to get it out of her.
So deep in thought, Mike didn't notice the figure swooping down from the sky, ducking down right on time, the figure whooshed past his head, blowing off the cap he was wearing. Mike looked at his attacker, hovering low to the ground, a bird type pokemon was waiting for Mike's move, Mike was familiar with this pokemon.
"A pidgey, huh?" Mike thought. "Looks like you'll make for great target practice."
Mike grabbed the pokeball in his belt.
"Come on out, Malina!" He shouted throwing the pokeball.
To be continued...