Chapter 3
Leslie
Viridian City is where Leslie when to school, though I doubt I'm going there anytime soon. It was divided into three districts, the most notable is the well-funded Pokémon League, which included the Trainer Registration Office, which is also the Pokémon Gym and where I need to go; Victory Road, fully accessible to qualified trainers; and Indigo Plateau, where the Elite Four reside. All of it and the various pokémon related facilities are located on the western part of town.
The second, the size of which rivals Saffron, is the residential district, which is the pride of West Kanto. In fact, it was cleaner than Celadon and more economically powerful than Saffron, since it was the central hub for trainers.
However, despite the grandeur of the main part of the city, Old Viridian, which hides in the northeastern forest, is more of a ruin than a district, as it was a section of Viridian that was cut from the city's budget. While the move was successful in maintaining, boosting even, the city's finances, the city forgot about it.
Blake and Zach opted to stay outside while I entered the Pokémon Trainer Registration, and was greeted by a cheery girl who had too much coffee. She turned to a computer and then to me, and in a singing voice, she began.
"Hihello howareyou? Are you here for pickup of your ID card or are you a new one?" she said as fast as she could without trying.
"I'm a new trainer..." I said.
"Alright." She turned toward the computer and, without me saying anything, started typing. After a minute, she pointed a camera at me and took a picture.
"Do you want to join in on the research project?" the woman asked.
"No," I blurted, before continuing. "...Could I join at a later date?"
"Sure," the woman said, and after another moment the card was being printed. I didn't ask her what information she had put on the card when she handed it to me, but it definitely didn't seem right since it was blank. I thanked her, paid the small fee and left. Blake and Zach didn't say anything when I walked out, but I noticed that there was another person with them.
"Ah, the trainer appears," the man said, announcing my entrance. He was slightly taller than Zach, though he looked no younger than my own mother. He had orange red hair and brown eyes, eyes that were sharp and sinister. It didn't help him that he was wearing a leather tunic lined with pockets and knife loops, viewable from an open trench coat. "Though she leaves the appearance of any skill to be desired."
"My apologies for being a beginner," I retorted. "Might I ask who you are?"
"I am in search of some assistance in Old Viridian regarding an old goat. If you help me, I will be in your service for as long as you need me," the man said.
"Could you spare a few minutes? I have to make a quick trip to the Research Lab and I will be able to help you," I told him, and the slight smile faded.
"I'll be waiting at the Huntsman for two hours, and if you don't show, tough," the man pointed out, then turned and walked off.
"Let's not waste time," I said offhandedly, and didn't wait for Blake or Zach to respond. The Lab was just down the street, and it was lively with action. Once again Blake and Zach opted to wait outside, but I wished they had came with me as Josh greeted me just beyond the door, with a friendly smile.
"I'm here, just like you asked," I noted,
"Yep. So, how's the ID you took from me doing? Still in one piece?" Josh asked crudely.
"If you want it back..." I fetched the blank ID that I got from the Registration Office and tossed it to him. "Now, what do you want besides to waste my time?"
"Well, I thought maybe you'd like to join the research project. It at least offers reduced cost for lodging and healing pokémon," he noted.
"If you insist," I said, and he led me to one of the professors that was peering over a sizable tome and was writing notes into a well-used notebook.
"Professor Oak, this is the girl I was talking about earlier," Josh said, catching his attention.
"Ah, yes. I do remember her from one of the schools. However, I have a slight suspicion that there's more than research you're interested in," Professor Oak noted, which caught me off guard. I didn't really have a reason to join the research project, but it'll be something to think about while I'm hiding from the student council.
"There's nothing else I'd rather do than to help as much as possible, and this research project has my interest peaked," I lied, and he clearly fell for it, as he quickly put the book away and pulled out registration papers. I filled out the information as instructed and turned the papers in.
"Alright, you'll be in the system by the end of the day. Take this." Professor Oak handed me a PDA. "Record your findings on here and upload them. Just... keep it professional."
"Of course," I agreed, and Josh led me outside, and like I guessed, Minorin and Josh's team were talking and playing with Blake and Zach. "Where are you headed from here, Josh?"
"I'm headed toward Pewter, for the Gym that's there. Since you're a trainer as well, you'll want to check it out," Josh said, and he waved for his team to start off. I felt there was something I needed to tell him, but I resisted the feeling and started off toward the Huntsman.
Located on the border between Old Viridian and the Pokémon District, the Huntsman was a hangout for the darker side of Viridian. The man in the thief's garb was waiting at the bar, idly drinking. Blake and Zach followed me in this time, and took up a booth nearby, while I sat next to him.
"Would you like some milk, girl?" the bartender joked, laughing to himself.
"Sure, why not," I said.
"That's the spirit!" he went on, turning to collect a glass.
"Your offer still available?" I asked the man next to me, and he turned back to look at the other two, then back to his glass.
"Yeah, I guess so. Not like I asked anyone else, but you're lucky that I turned down that silver dollar gal to your nickel. Would have had left on a date by now, but I want that damn goat dead. Are you ready for this?" he asked.
"Don't have much else to do, and you could tell me more about yourself and the goat."
"The goat is a stray absol called Phinney Jack that took over a gang of spearow by force and took Old Viridian near twenty years ago. I didn't have a problem with him, and actually liked him for the few years my girl and I were down there trying to get back on our feet. The place is better than it used to, and it's more livable now, partly thanks to the goat, but a girl showed up, not a trainer mind you, and mucked things up. The goat tried to oust the girl, anyone would have but he had a rep to boost, but she broke his mind and he's been striking out on the rest of us.
"The gangs have been unruly since, but that's not what I'm interested in. About a month ago, the goat retook the streets and gained a hair-trigger. We had a mutual friendship throughout the whole ordeal, everyone did with the goat, but...
"Yesterday morning, rather the time 'fore dawn, Isa and I were at the Skeever Hut, the bar in Old Viridian, and the old goat walked in. It was calm as could be in a bar, and some of us, including me, greeted the goat with a toast, and it was nice for some time. The goat came to the bar, ordered a drink, flirted with the girls, and joked with the guys. Now Isa and I didn't grow up in the old place, so when the goat flirted on Isa, he went all in. Naturally Isa didn't like that, so Isa called the night off and we left despite his protests.
"That jerk must've took it to heart since I woke later that morning to his gang busting down the door and taking Isa, and naturally I tried to go after her, but I had to go through his gang and when I got to her at last, she was dead, with that damn goat trying at her from behind. I didn't like that and was going to take him there, but he had the whole of the district on his side so that's where you come in.
"As you know, trainers are exempt from battle and you twats can, being indiscriminate of course, take care of us with no penalty. I know you might be... morally wronged by being asked to, deal with someone, but I will say this is a moral freebie."
The sun was still in the air when the group entered the most feared place in West Kanto. Bugger led the way through the cluttered streets and I saw the Skeever Hut toward the top of the run down city,. Places high and low were dotted with idle residents, with little they could do to make their lives better. There were no children, no happiness, but as my group passed them on our way, the shine of hope, or maybe just interest, but each one shifted.
Soon, Bugger stopped before the building that the old goat live in, a deck high off the ground made of rusted scaffolding. However, there was something that bothered us. It went unspoken, and as we entered the building, the feeling deepened. At first glance, there wasn't anyone here, so we split to search the house. Bugger went with Zach to search the bottom half of the place and Blake led the way through the upper. The place was small but had plenty of cubby holes, and the clutter showed that it was lived in by more people than it would bear.. The fact that none of them were used but filled instead with expired. food and cleaning supplies.
We hurried downstairs to find Zach and Bugger headed our way. Bugger looked at us expectantly, but I shook my head. Only, when I looked back at them, I saw the old goat lunging, knife in hand, at the closest person, Zach. Blake sprinted past me, shoving me and Bugger aside to get to Zach. Bugger drew one of his larger knifes and followed her.
I started late, reaching for something to grab, all of which I missed or dropped, but it mattered little as Phinney's knife struck a lethal blow on Zach. Blake knocked Phinney back and caught Zach and pulled him back. Bugger slashed at his arms and nimbly maneuvered around him to score his legs, then held him on his knees. I slowed to pull the knife from Zach and put my hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye.
"Where is Isa?" I asked, and Phinney flinched.
"He took her. The boy has her. Normal day, out playing with her, when he wanders by. Isa shouted help, so I took her here to hide from him, have my men deal with him, but he just walked her and took her. Black hair and blue eyes, with a strong group of pokémon. I couldn't do anything to stop him," Phinney whined, but I wasn't in the mood for pity.
Despite his age, Phinney was fit, and could easily pass for an athlete. However, his graying hair and broken horn showed his age, and it was time for him to go. I gave the old goat a smile, then thrust his knife into his chest and carved out his heart. I savored the pained screams until they faded, and when the heart was exposed, I tore it out and shoved it into his mouth.
I didn't have to turn around to know that Zach was dead. Blake's cry was more than I ever wanted to hear, but I turned around anyway and solemnly said goodbye.