So Christmas is over. The New Year has come. Think of this as a Christmas present; a late one. In any case I assume your all too busy to read this, so I'm writing as though nobody is reading this.
But I usually do that. So would I do the reverse? Actually talk to my audience? Sure, yes, it's already happening. I'm asking you all these questions.
… I blame the season for my careless behavior.
Chapter 7: An Old Friend and Amity Square.
It was dawn…
"Well, that was slightly annoying." Wes said.
"I agree! That Spiritomb, right?" Miles guessed.
"No… well, not exactly." Wes looked down at the ground. 'I couldn't do anything back there. Miles and Miu did all the fighting. I just fainted.' Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miu.
"What's wrong, Wes?"
"Nothing… it's nothing." Wes lifted his head up. "Hearthome is just up ahead." They approached a regular-sized city with tall condominiums and small houses. "It looks the same as it has always."
Miles asked him, "Have you been here before?"
"Yeah, I usually pass by here on my way to Route 208."
"Hey Wes," Miu said, "What's that big domed building over there?" As they entered the city, they saw it.
"That's the Super Contest Hall." He answered. "I probably don't need to explain, but Contests are held there."
"What sort of contests?"
"Pokemon contests. It's a demonstration of a Pokemon's physical attributes to the Contest requirements, how well dressed they are, dancing moves, and technique usage." Wes sighed. "It's a lot more complicated than battling, and I don't think it's worth the hassle."
"It definitely sounds that way." Miles said. "I can't even begin to imagine what they're like."
"I've seen a few actually." Wes added. "It seems that how the contestants appear and what techniques they used are based on the category: coolness, toughness, smartness, cuteness, or beauty." He shook his head. "Really, just how far will trainers go to make themselves look good? It's just another way to inflate a trainer's ego… huh?" He looked at his friends. Their eyes suddenly had color.
Miles: "Coolness?…"
Miu: "Beauty…"
"Um, guys? What's wrong?" Wes asked nervously.
"Do you think we could compete Wes?" Miles said, stifling his excitement.
"Well, uh…" He didn't know how to respond.
"If you want… we could maybe… you know…" Miu stuttered. "We don't… really, um, have to…" She obviously wanted to.
"Sigh. Fine then. I'll see if we can arrange for that."
And inside the Contest hall…
"I'm sorry, but we are not taking any more participants this time around." The woman at the reception said.
"Okay, sorry for bothering you." They exited. "Sorry, but we can't participate now."
"Oh, that's alright." Miles replied. "I'm sure there's a lot more we could do!"
"Well, there is the Gym, but I wouldn't know what to do there. I don't own you two, so I can't battle."
Something caught Miu's eye. "Wes. What's that gate over there for?" She pointed at a gate not too far from the contest hall.
"Oh, that's Amity Square. It's where people go to walk their Pokemon."
Miles tilted his head. "But don't we do that anyways?"
"No, you see, Pokemon are normally carried in Pokeballs. Most trainers don't actually walk around with their Pokemon, so this park promotes the idea… sorta."
"Sorry, but you may not proceed." Said the woman at the gate.
"Sorry you two, but we can't go on." Wes apologized.
"Aw, why not?" Miles whined.
"This is the one thing I don't like… you see, if a Pokemon does not match everyone's definition of, 'cute', they aren't allowed in."
"What! They're saying we aren't cute? How rude!" Miles squawked out loud. He intimidated the gatekeeper.
"Sir, is your Staravia okay?"
"Y-yes, he's just hungry is all!"
Miu sighed inwardly. 'Cute?'
"Let's just go." Wes started out the door with them.
"Hold on then." Called out an unfamiliar voice. "Why not let them in, just this once?"
Wes turned around. He saw a woman in a purple dress with an X on it. She had long purple hair, let down from a previously uncomfortable ponytail.
"Oh, of course!" Agreed the gatekeeper. "Anything for you Miss Fantina!"
"Fantina?"
"At your service. After a three-year absence, I have come back to grace the contest hall…" She took a bow. "… and the city I have missed so much."
"I've heard of you. You were the queen of the Contest Hall. Three years ago, you announced a leave of absence to perform in contests in other regions. It was all over the papers."
Wes, his friends, and Fantina took a walk around Amity Square. "So tell me young man… you aren't a trainer, correct?"
"How did you know?"
"You don't have any Pokeballs to put those friends of yours in. I don't see anything in your pockets either."
"Yeah that's right, I don't actually own these two here."
"… Before asking anything more, what is your name?"
"I'm Wes. Wes Himuro." He said reluctantly. He didn't like using his last name so much.
"Himuro? You… Your parents own the department store chain, yes?"
"Yes, that's me." He didn't like it when people recognized him either.
"What brings one such as you to Hearthome? I thought your family was cruising in luxury around the world?"
"Just my parents. I was left here."
Fantina looked up at the Staravia on his head, and the Mawile walking by his side. "And your friends? Who might they be?"
"The Staravia is Miles. The Mawile is Miu. They're both very close friends of mine." He wasn't about to tell her about his special ability yet.
"I saw you walk into the gate. You were… talking to your Pokemon?"
Damn it! "Um… doesn't everybody?"
"Maybe, even me, but they responded to you, and you to them, as though you were having an actual conversation."
"I-I get the gist of what they're saying is all. Can't a lot of people do that?" He really didn't want her to find out.
"Hm… sounded to specific to be…" Fantina gave up. "Alright. I can see you don't want to talk about it."
"So Fantina, what are you doing back in Sinnoh?" Wes tried changing the topic.
"I went to Hoenn to participate in all the Contests. It was a year long event, and I even made a little stop in Johto. Funny thing, I ended up traveling from Johto to Kanto. I had so much fun traveling, I lost track of time!"
'So she originally planned a year-long trip, but ended up staying away for three years.'
Miu tapped Wes. She whispered, "Do you know this person?"
He whispered back, "No. But she is very famous. I've actually seen her perform in contests before."
"Are you speaking to your friends again?"
"W-whatever do you mean!"
They continued walking in silence.
"Heeeyyy… yyyyou theeeere… with the faaace…"
"Huh? What about my face?" Wes replied to the creepy voice.
"Nah, I'm just kidding. If all ghosts spoke like that, wouldn't we just be creepy?" It was a Drifloon.
"It would, wouldn't it?" Wes told the Drifloon. "What brings you to Amity Square?"
"Huh? Oh, my friend Fantina let me out to stretch a little and play with other Pokemon."
"Oh, okay. Fantina, huh…"
"I see you've been speaking to my Drifloon, huh?" Fantina asked him.
He had forgotten she was there! "Um, I was just inferring!"
"Yes, of course…" Her Drifloon drifted toward her. "Hello, hon! Did you play nice with the others?" He nodded. "Good, good!" She turned to Wes. "I'm glad I was able to meet with you Wes. You and your friends." She rubbed Miu's head, and pet Miles' beak. "I'll be off now." She walked out toward the gate.
"That was close…" Wes sighed a breath of relief.
"What's the matter, Wes?" Miles asked.
"Well you see… I know. I know she's a Gym Leader and top Coordinator, so she wouldn't think any less of me if she found out I can actually speak to you two. But… I guess I'm not ready for anybody to know." He sighed again. "Judging by the expression on her face, she may already have found me out."
"Um, Wes…" Miu started. "Miles and I were talking…"
"Yes?" This suddenly sounded serious.
"We were talking a bit and we were wondering…"
"Yes?"
Miles cut in. "Er, um, we wanted to play in the pond over there!"
Wes released his held breath. "Yes of course. Go on, go play!"
"Yay!" Miles flew to the pond and Miu followed behind.
As they were splashing in the water…
"Miles…"
"Yes, Miu?"
"Well… that wasn't really what we were talking about…"
"Hm? Yeah, I know. It wasn't supposed to be." Miles continued splashing as Miu had stopped.
"But… we were talking about how much easier it would be if he could open up to at least one other person."
"Yeah." Miles stopped and looked over at Wes who had sat down to rest a bit. He spoke seriously. "But I didn't want to push the issue if he didn't want to."
"Neither did I. Honest, I just want him not to feel that way…"
"I know. After hearing him speak, you were hesitant. Maybe it would be better. But he needs to think so for that to work."
Miu was astounded at this spectacular feat of logic. "Miles, you're really smart."
"Meh, I don't like thinking. It makes situations complicated. But after hearing him speak…"
'Miles… you…'
"Besides," his voice had went back from serious to goofy "it's much more fun going through life as carefree as I've been doing!"
Miu laughed. "Miles, you're so funny!"
"I sure hope so!"
After half an hour, Miles and Miu returned to Wes's side. "Oh, you're back. You guys sure took a while."
"Well, you know."
"Yes, you know."
"Hm? Ah, okay." He had no idea what they were talking about.
They walked out their gate and made their way back out to Hearthome. Waiting for them there was a girl.
"Who's that over there?" Miu pointed.
"Who ever heard of a girl with pink hair?" Miles pointed out. "Ah well. You can't change how you were born I guess."
"Wait a minute…"
"Wes? What's wrong?" Miu asked him.
"Maylene?" Wes asked.
"Wes! It's been too long!"
Hello. Me again. I've not much to say except: One month until I get Black version! Woo! In the meantime, I'm sorry this chapter took so long.
Gym leaders! Will we be meeting more? Yes. I hope to incorporate as many characters from the games as I logically can. And considering my main character grew up in Veilstone, it'll just happen to be Maylene and the other Gym leaders.
Meeting her will bring up a good point, but I won't say anything else.
Sayonara!
