Will finished vomiting, after a few minutes. All of his dinner littered the grass and moss surrounding the enormous tree, and slowly he began to lean back against the tree. His face still hadn't reverted to its normal, healthy shade, which had me worried. Would he continue to be this weak from shock? I needed to get him somewhere safe quickly. If we could use our Trainer Cards, we could at least go into a nearby Pokémon Center, assuming there was one in the vicinity, and at least get a good night's rest. First, though, we'd need to get out of wherever we were. I stepped daintily over a puddle of what was once meatloaf to Will, and wrapped an arm around his back. Funny, he didn't even grumble or chastise me like he usually does. Plus, he's gone limp on me as well. This is more serious than I'd thought.
When most of his bulk was comfortably on my right shoulder, I tentatively stepped into what seemed to be a trail through the forest. It was thin enough for our small caravan, with vines creeping in on the sides, caressing our faces. Any effort at avoiding them was futile. If I moved to dodge a particularly large one, Will's face would be smacked with several smaller, but more durable vines. In the end, I was stuck with having my face slapped by the occasional lengthy growth, trying not to imagine all the Pokedex entries that described carnivorous plant Pokémon that enjoyed snatching unsuspecting prey with innocuous vine appendages. Better yet, what if, in this unknown region, there were threats I was not aware of? It was suddenly clear that every inch of this forest presented a threat to me, in the form of Pokémon, in unstable ground, in potentially deadly flora. A slight sound to my left made me flinch in terror, yet it was only a gentle drip of water that was the noise's source. This entire forest was working me up!
Out of the corner of my right eye, a light flashed. Was it a Pokémon? I froze, afraid to breathe. There had to be a hiding spot somewhere, somewhere in this god-forsaken undergrowth. I had to at least protect Will, in his salient state of paralysis. The light was flashing again, this time more brightly. There were no trees around wide enough to hide either of us, only small saplings near this trail. In desperation, I dove into the solid earth, feeling my jaw rattle with the force of our impacts. The forest surrounding us became eerily quiet, and I hoped to whatever was watching over us that the monster had left already. Just as I was about to get up and attempt to book it, a methodical shuffling to the right prickled my eardrums. My muscles went rigid, holding me up in an awkwardly raised plank as they balanced the sliding weight of Will. Time stopped. The light flashed, bright as the sun, into my eyes.
"Are you whippersnappers okay?"
Time Break
His name was Ramos, and he was quite the nice old man. Ramos had heard a rumor about a strange hybrid flower that grew in a certain forest not too far away from Geosenge Town. It was said the flower, instead of having a normal cellular structure, was composed entirely of tiny crystals, and could be used by psychic Pokémon to record events. Of course, he told me this after he had fretted over Will. The little hotel room we had been allotted (read: forced into) in the neighboring Geosenge Town was rather quaint, with a well-polished, antique-flavored bathroom and maybe the comfiest bed I would ever know. It was a little dazzling for me to have an old man who I had barely met buy me and Will a room on a whim, even if he seemed to be a rich old grandpa. Huh, grandpa. I think that term suits him. I would love to be his grandkid, getting spoiled beyond belief. Lying on this bed, those treasonous thoughts seemed not quite so dangerous right now. Ma would forgive me, I guess, and I could have college all paid for, and she'd never have to worry….
Mmhmm? I'm drifting off again, it seems. It's too hard to stay awake on this thing, to make my consciousness indurate. Sleep would be nice, but there's still Will to look after. He's settled down a little, going from the level of zombie to a rusty senior, with a little bit of his natural pink in his cheeks. Funny, it is, when a six foot two hundred pound man is horrified by something you're not. It could be he's too worried about Ana. How could I forget Ana? She's the love of his life, and confined to her little apartment space because she's mostly blind. She would also be much lonelier without him. Their relationship is a little strange lately, I have to say. Will clenches his jaw and his fists more, when he thinks I'm not looking, and stares out the window in school, pointing his gaze toward her apartment. Is being the caretaker too much for him now? Would he be able to back out, when he's promised her his life? Speculation is all I have, but… He agreed to go with me that one night. It's me that's imagining this, I think, but was there a wish he could have wanted something to grant? No. This is Will—logical Will—we're thinking about here. He is content with his life, with his dream job, with his porcelain doll girlfriend. If he wasn't he would change it himself, right?
Yeah. Don't doubt him. Will is the resolute rock in a sea of change, Maya. I can't doubt him.
Speaking of which, Will's breathing is petering out. He's asleep now, and I need to tell Ramos. Can't have the old man worried all night. Gradually, I slide across the floor to the doorway, and turn to find the grandpa in question. Ramos' expression is the pinnacle of concern, but my own face seems to soothe his anxieties a smidgen. "How is the boy?" he rasps quietly.
"Fine", is my terse reply.
Satisfied, Ramos nods, then turns away from me to his own room. "Wake me if you need anything", he whispers with a deliberate stare.
I'm too tired to respond, and find myself, in the morning, with drool dripping down my cheek into the soft cotton material over Will's stomach.
Time Break
The journey to Ramos' home is uneventful. We're stuck on a train, for most of which I read various maps, travel brochures, and the occasional donated history book I find in the stations' libraries. Ramos, likewise, reads, but instead burrows himself into a Gardener's Digest. Will alternates between reading over my left shoulder and staring off into space, both off which annoy me, though I cannot decide what action does more. Instead of whopping him one unfairly, I decide a better plan is to entangle my fingers through my long, thick hair.
As we approach another forest, Ramos pipes up unexpectedly. "So", he drawls cautiously, "Where are you both from?"
The question is extremely unwelcome. Will noncommittally grunts, and I look away after giving Ramos a please-we-don't-like-to-talk-about-this look. Thankfully, he gets the hint and continues on. "I noticed you kids were trainers. You don't have Pokemon."
Well, this conversation has gone farther downhill. Will ducks his head, and my scrambled brain presents me with an undercooked explanation. "They were taken from us. Didn't see the thieves."
I must be hitting a lucky streak and a half, for Ramos buys my half-assed explanation. He nods thoughtfully, twirling his artfully arranged beard in his hands and humming in contemplation. His face show a mix of curiosity and puzzlement, from what I could observe behind his hands. At least, that's what I think it is. A short pause, and then he begins to speak again. "Well, you whippersnappers", Ramos drawls slowly, in a more apparent accent," Would you be alright going home with me to Coumarine Town? I would like to help you in any way I can. Maybe find your Pokemon."
Oh dear. The lie's getting harder to manage now; if I tell him we don't really want our Pokemon back, we'll be slime in his eyes. "That would be great", I choke out, smiling. "I'm worried, though, that our Pokemon might not come back to us. We just got them, you see, and they haven't really had—had time to bond with them."
Ramos again ruminates over my statement. "If they don't, I'm sure I can help both you and your friend get s'more. The forest near my town's full of 'em.
Mission successful. Asses saved: two. Score one for us, zip for the red herrings. Hey, are we near Ramos' place? Off to the upper left corner of our window, there's a crescent of coast visible already, almost eclipsed by a sea of trees. The beach moves in and out of my focus ever so swiftly, and I can barely tell if it is just a route or a small town. Ramos notices yet again my curious expression, and nods to the unsaid question. I can feel a slight blush and a widening of my eyes, and before I can stop myself I clap my hands together, grinning ear to ear; I'll be catching real Pokemon! My childhood is coming to life! Embarrassment rears its ugly head in a millisecond, and I tuck away my traitorous hands. I'm nearly an adult. I shouldn't be acting like this, for goodness' sake. Ramos grins complacently. "It's alright for you to be a little excited, even though you went through such a terrible experience with those thieves. You're only, what, a pre-teen? Don't be so serious."
What.
What.
I'm a what.
A raspy sound to my left startles me, as Will hasn't made a peep the whole ride, yet now he chooses to snicker not quite subtly behind his meaty fingers. So he thinks it's hilarious, now does he? I oughta show him—
"She's about seventeen, you know."
Ramos' jaw nearly unhinges from its socket.
Author's Note:
Hi everyone! Nice to meet the Pokémon community here! This is, very obviously, my first story, and I was a little anxious about going ahead with this crazy idea. Tons of people have already done the "insert self into Pokémon world" theme already, so I assumed my story would NEVER get read! But... I got my first favorite! Thank you thank you thank you Storm's Shadow!
Should you be so kind as to read and review this story, it would be awesome for some constructive criticism. I have no clue what I'm doing writing a story, but I will milk this plotbunny in my head for all she's worth. For those that believe this will be a happy story... No. While the games are all sugar and spice and everything nice, I have a hunch that, if the Pokémon world really existed, that in no way, shape, or form would it ever be this kind to its inhabitants (and that isn't marketable to ten year olds). Expect violence. Expect cruelty. Expect rumination in the oddest moments. Expect deaths of characters that you thought would never, ever, actually die. I will do my damndest to make all of you laugh, cry, and beat the screen in anger. Maybe even vomit, though that's not a new reaction that I've elicited.
Love much! Maria.
Oh, and if there are any eligible beta readers out there, would you mind giving me a hand?
Recent update notice- Sorry about the weird time breaks, this document manager does not allow any lines.