Welcome, readers! Please enjoy Chapter Seven of 'Amazing Grace', 'Departures and Greetings'
-=Amazing Grace=-
Cold, morning air nipped at Jeremy's flush cheeks as he stood upon the open boarding platform of Lilyburg's train station, a small railroad town to the north of Twinsport. He exhaled slightly, his warm breath manifesting as fog for the briefest of moments only for it to dissipate moments later as it mixed with the ambient air. His heart beat against his ribcage like a tribal drum as his hands tightened their grip on his luggage. It was quiet for Jeremy, despite the voices that blared over the station's intercoms and the screeching of mechanical train components mere feet away. The boy's mind failed to register any of the noises; his focus was on one and one thing alone, and that was the people in front of him
John, Rosa, Claire, David, and Ashley stood several feet away, all of them with their gazes fixed upon him. Despite their close proximity, Jeremy felt an overwhelming sense of distance between himself and his loved ones. He could reach out and touch them, but doing so felt like an impossibility. This was the day he was fearing; yet at the same time, he had been eagerly awaiting its arrival. A myriad of emotions flowed through his body as he tried to take everything in. Excitement. Anxiety. None of it was a dream. The coldness of the air, the crisp scent of the morning air, the harsh white lights that lit the concrete platform in place of the sun that had yet to rise; all of it, real.
Today was the day of his departure.
September had come and passed far more quickly than Jeremy would have liked. It seemed like only yesterday Professor Oak had called him about the internship at the Goldenrod Pokémon sanctuary, yet in actuality that was well over a month ago. Farewells became more frequent in the weeks leading up to his departure. Acquaintances and friends alike made sure to drop by and give brief, if not emotional, goodbyes along with much well-wishing. To Jeremy's dismay, Ashley had indeed thrown him a going away party, complete with a homemade, oversized cake and practical gifts from all who attended. As much as he disliked being the center of attention, he was more than happy to congregate with the people he had grown up with one last time before venturing out into the world.
"Jeremy?"
A voice. So serene in its nature, it seemed to be able to calm even the most wild of beasts. It possessed a certain beauty that could make one's hair stand on end even at its quietest utterance.
Jeremy shifted his gaze away from the people in front of him and to the figure that stood so faithfully by his side. Grace, in all of her elegance, tilted her head slightly and rapidly batted her lashes as their gazes locked. Her body seemed to be enveloped in an almost heavenly glow as the intense, blinding lights of the train station illuminated her pure white gown. The Gardevoir's soft, mint green hair shifted as a slight breeze raced across the open air platform, prompting Grace to raise an arm to brush away the bangs that drifted into her large, crimson eyes. This being, this person, was responsible for everything that was happening to him right now. From the day he saved her as a small Ralts to this very moment, she had shaped his life in ways unfathomable by him. She was his dearest friend and a shoulder to lean on when things became too difficult for him to bear alone. Now, as he took a giant leap away from the safety net of Twinsport, she would be by his side, as she always had been.
He couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind. Was she as anxious as he was? Was nervousness overtaking her, drowning her in thoughts of uncertainty and wonder? Was that what she was thinking of right now? All of her feelings, her emotions, radiated from the crimson shard that jutted out between her small breasts. The smooth, metallic piece of her anatomy wouldn't allow otherwise, even if she tried to hide them. If his own thoughts weren't so clouded by anxiety and excitement, he would have been able to pick up on Grace's emotions for certain. That was, in his opinion, one of her most wonderful attributes. The boy silently cursed himself for being in such an emotionally volatile state; how he wished for his mind to be calm and clear.
Jeremy shivered as he felt a warm weight gently place itself upon his shoulder. Turning his gaze from Grace's deep crimson eyes, the boy saw his friend's green clad hand resting atop his shoulder. A curious, if not slightly concerned, look covered the Gardevoir's face like a veil as her eyes remained transfixed on the person in front of her.
"Are you okay?"
Are you okay? A simple question, yet one Jeremy couldn't honestly answer. Was he okay? Goodness, how he wished he knew. He was a lot of things right now; apprehensive and excited were two words that came to mind. Who could blame him though? This was arguably one of the most significant moments in his life. He was leaving home for the first time to venture out into the vastness of the world. To sum up his current state as being 'okay' would belittle not only the moment, but his emotions as well.
Jeremy's gaze shifted away from the three fingered hand that rested upon his shoulder and back to the Gardevoir in front of him, his sapphire blue eyes locking once again with Grace's own crimson ones. Confusion and worry persisted on her features as she stared into his eyes; it was as though she was peering into a window, trying to see what was inside. What did she see? Did she see how nervous he was? Were his emotions not making that clear enough? More thoughts than he could comprehend raced through his mind, each one trying to find its place in the violent storm of emotions that swirled around in the teen's head.
Their stare seemed to last an eternity, both Jeremy and Grace trying to delve into the minds of one another in a vain attempt to understand what the other was thinking. After several protracted seconds, the boy's gaze softened, his eyes remaining fixated on his friend's. Raising a hand of his own, Jeremy reached across his body and gently placed it atop Grace's, nodding in response to the question the Gardevoir had posed just moments before.
"I'm a lot of things right now Grace, but I guess 'okay' is a one way to put it," Jeremy smiled softly as he spoke. Grace's lithe hand felt warm beneath his, comforting him with its gentleness and presence. It was a strange sensation but one that Jeremy liked very much. He didn't know why physical contact with another was so comforting, but who was he to question such things? Jeremy inhaled deeply before letting out a deep sigh as he cleared his lungs of air. "Thank you Grace... for everything."
His thanks only caused Grace to appear even more curious, prompting her to inquisitively hum, "Hmm?"
Jeremy let out a short, quiet laugh before shaking his head, dismissing her questioning gaze. "Ah, it's nothing Grace. I'm just thinking out loud." The boy slowly, hesitantly even, removed his hand from Grace's and lowered it to his side. Grace continued to stare at Jeremy for several more seconds, slightly confused, before her face softened and the corner of her lips tugged up slightly into a gentle smile. Even if she didn't fully understand his thanks, she would humbly accept them.
"Okay... Jeremy," Grace said in a voice mere levels above a whisper as she removed her hand from the boy's shoulder. Upon its removal, he couldn't help but feel a sense of yearning, of want, to have it placed once again atop his shoulders; there was something to be said about the comforting touch of a close friend. Jeremy and Grace turned their heads in tandem to glance over at the five who had watched the scene unfold and awaited their impending departure.
John wore a thick grey, wool overcoat that protected him from the cool October weather. By his side, Rosa wore a long, navy blue coat that fell to her knees and shielded her thin form from the breeze. Large, white buttons held the piece of clothing shut and ensured her body stayed warm. David stood next to his parents with his hands dug deeply into the pockets of his sage colored class jacket while Ashley and Claire rested their hands in the pouches of their brightly colored, thick hoodies. Despite the differences in clothing, all of their faces were quite similar in appearance, at least in terms of expression.
"You're going out to face the world..." Rosa said with a melancholy smile. "I can still remember when you were a small child who was discovering the back yard; it seems like just yesterday..." His mother's voice trailed off into nothingness as she looked over her son. A brief moment of silence followed before Jeremy's father began to speak, picking up where his wife had left off.
"But you're not that small child anymore," John said, his voice strong and sounding of confidence. Its deep pitch seemed appropriate given his towering stature. "You're a man, and a good one at that. This isn't goodbye forever, just a brief separation. Stay true to yourself, so that when we do meet again you're that same man."
Jeremy gave a single, sharp nod of his head. He could think of only one thing to say as his father's words echoed in his mind. "I will, Dad."
["Final boarding call for Goldenrod Rails 309. Goldenrod Rails 309 leaving in five minutes. Please have your boarding pass ready."] A female voice announced over the intercom, her voicing echoing in the crisp air. Jeremy looked up at the speaker as it issued the warning, knowing its significance.
"Well, I guess that applies to Grace and I," Jeremy murmured while lowering his head back towards the people in front of him. "I uh... I don't know what to say," he admitted while releasing his breath. What could he say? Farewell? Such a phrase seemed too gloomy –too permanent- for such a situation. If only they could feel what he felt in a fashion similar to Grace; to be able to share and read such significant feelings with another was a gift, and one that he was glad Grace possessed. It was a true blessing.
"Goodbye seems appropriate," Ashley began, her face mirroring Rosa's. "But... goodbyes don't have to be sad. Like John sad, you're only going away for a bit. You'll be back in no time, maybe even for Christmas depending on how things go." Stepping forward, the girl reached out and pulled Jeremy into a hug. Although a bit surprised by the action, Jeremy returned the gesture and wrapped his arms around Ashley's back. Her long, brown hair brushed against his face as a gust of wind blew through the station.
"Goodbye... Ashley," Jeremy said, sadness evident in his voice despite his best effort to hide it. Ashley let out a small chuckle and pulled back slightly, a smile on her face; it was a sad smile but a smile none-the-less. Looking at the teen in front of her, she shook her head in a disapproving manner.
"Hey, that's not right. Remember what I said? Goodbyes don't have to be sad!" the girl exclaimed through misty eyes. "So smile! Say 'hello' for every 'goodbye'! Do that, and you'll be happy wherever you go."
Jeremy blinked several times before a small smile crept upon his face. The boy nodded lightly, unsure of how to respond to such a statement. Even while saying goodbye, the girl somehow managed to retain her joyful spirit; how he loved that about his long time neighbor and friend. "O-okay, you got it, Ashley." The girl could only let out a satisfied sigh as she took a step back and turned to look towards Grace.
"And don't think I've forgotten about you, Grace," Ashley laughed as she reached out and pulled the Gardevoir into a hug of her own. Grace laughed lightly as she returned the gesture and embraced Ashley, taking care not to harm the girl with her crimson shard. "Jeremy's in your care now. Make sure he stays safe, okay?"
Grace nodded strongly, determination burning in her eyes. "I will. I promise."
A tear escaped Ashley's misty eyes as the words left Grace's mind. She would miss Grace, even more than she had realized. The two of them had developed a relationship akin to that of sisters over the years despite their difference in age. Being an only child weighed heavily on Ashley at times; Grace had proven to be a not only a friend, but someone who she could confide in with confidence. Even the upbeat, cheery girl sometimes needed someone to talk to.
The two of them remained in each other's embrace for several more moment more before pulling away. Grace's eyes were beginning to tear up as well. To blame her tears on the feverish emotions of those around here would be a lie; the emotions that caused her eyes to mist over were none other than her own. Grace was trying her hardest not to cry, to be strong in the face of change, and it was an incredibly difficult task. "I promise... We'll come back, safe and sound. You have my word."
Ashley sniffled while raising the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe away the remaining tears that threatened to leave her eyes. Smiling, the young woman nodded her head, saying, "I know you will. Have a good one Grace; I'll see you around." Stepping back, Ashley watched as Claire and David stepped forward together and embraced their elder siblings in a farewell gesture.
"Don't worry, we won't do anything with your room. Mom and Dad won't let us," Claire chuckled as she gave her older brother a brief hug. David joined in on the laughter and nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah, what Claire said," the younger boy agreed. "The same goes for you Grace, don't worry."
Grace smiled lightheartedly as she gently patted the top of her younger brother's head with one hand while wrapping his body in a hug with the other. "That's good to hear; I'm glad you've decided not to turn my bedroom into a trophy room while I'm gone." Smiling, the Gardevoir pulled back and looked at the grinning face of the youthful Benper."I promise I'll watch all of your games online if I can. It'd be a shame if I missed the next rising star of the Johto Gridiron Football Association!"
David let out a hearty laugh and smiled. "Okay, I'm holding you to that…!" Releasing his eldest sister, the young boy turned to face his brother and raised an arm in his direction. Without hesitation, Jeremy took his hand and pulled him into a one armed hug. "Have fun and be safe, Bro."
Releasing David, Jeremy nodded his head while saying, "I will. Follow your own advice for once, yeah?"
David could only shake his head while giving a brief shrug of his shoulders. "No promises there; you know how I am." It was the answer Jeremy expected, but it still got a grin to form on the older boy's face. He would miss his younger brother's faux arrogance and good-humored nature. It certainly made life more interesting. He would miss everybody; these farewells only seemed to amplify the feelings in his heart.
Rosa and John were the last to physically bid farewell to their children. Rosa wasted no time pulling Jeremy into her arms, exclaiming, "You be safe, Jeremy! I don't want to hear any crazy stories from Grace while you're gone…!"
Jeremy laughed while playfully rolling his eyes. "Don't worry Mom, I'm not going to join a gang or anything while I'm there." Looking over at the Gardevoir next to him, he winked while asking, "I can trust you not to tell her anything, right?"
Grace giggled lightly as she nodded her head, playing along with Jeremy's comical question. Rosa could only let out a frustrated if not humorous sigh while pulling back from her son. "I figured as much. I love you two so much; just come home in one piece and I'll be a happy mother."
"That I can promise, Mom," Jeremy gave his mother a warm, comforting smile. Rosa's face shifted to mirror her sons, despite the unshed tears that filled her eyes. No amount of preparation could have readied the woman for this moment, the moment when she would let go of her first child. She was so happy, overjoyed even, for Jeremy. He was doing everything he'd ever wanted; her son was going to make something of himself. The stabbing pain of watching him leave home was a small price to pay, but as far as she was concerned, it was well worth it.
Jeremy shifted his eyes to meet those of the man who influenced and shaped him more than any other person, his father. John stood tall in his overcoat as he took a large stride forward and positioned himself in front of his son. Lifting one of his large, calloused hands, the man placed it on his son's shoulders in a fatherly fashion. Its weight seemed immeasurable –infinitely significant even- as it rested on his shoulder. "Son, no matter what happens, always know that your mother and I will support you, even from hundreds of miles away."
Jeremy gave a sharp nod of his head as his father's word cut through the air. "I know, Dad. I know."
John removed his broad hand from his son's shoulder and moved it over to the Gardevoir standing next to him. Instead of resting it on her shoulder, he gently pulled her towards him and into his large embrace. "The same goes for you, Grace. I wish for only the best of things, my daughter."
Grace melted into the man's arm and nodded against his chest. Her ear clippings brushed against his coat's thick, soft wool as the Gardevoir's head shifted in her foster parent's embrace. This man had taken her in as one of his own and treated her like his own flesh and blood, like a true daughter. The very thought of what he'd done was enough to make Grace weak in the knees. She was so blessed; at times she thought she didn't deserve it, but those thoughts never lasted long. It wasn't about whether or not she deserved the treatment she received from her parents, family, and friends; they treated her the way they did out of love, not out of any sort of entitlement. To question their love was a fruitless endeavor; she had learned to just accept it for what it was in all of its wonderfulness.
"Dad… thank you," Grace whispered as she embraced the man. The hug lasted only several seconds but seemed to signifying a defining point in both of their lives, as though unsaid words were exchanged between them. John and Grace pulled away from one another and took a step back. Just like before, Grace and Jeremy stood side by side while their family and friend stood across from them. The only difference from just moments ago was that there would be no further laughter or conversing. The time had come for Jeremy and Grace to take their leave.
Picking up his luggage, Jeremy let out a deep sigh while staring at those across from him. "Goodbye, everybody…! I'll make sure to call... okay?"
Rosa nodded with smile. "Yeah… that sounds good."
Those were the final words exchanged between Jeremy and his family before he and Grace walked through the ticket booth. Jeremy reached into his pocket and pulled out two paper tickets before handing them to the man who stood by the gate. The employee glanced at their tickets before punching them with his hole punch and handing them back. Jeremy and Grace stepped into the streamlined train car and took one final glance back at the small party that watched their every move.
"I… I have this feeling," Grace whispered. Jeremy looked over at his friend and raised his brow, if ever so slightly.
"Grace?"
"Before we see them again, things will be… different," the Gardevoir said, her tone unreadable. "I don't know how different, but, we will see them again; that's for certain."
The boy stared at the Gardevoir next to him for several moments before nodding his head, a look of understanding on his face. "I don't know what the future holds, but I bet you're right. Come on, Grace, let's get to our seats."
With that said, the two Benpers waved one final time to the group of people who had chosen to see them off as they ventured out into the world. They all waved back and continued to do so until Jeremy and Grace disappeared behind the closing door of the bullet train's passenger car. The loud air horn of the train blew, blaring in the confined space of the station. The sounds of hydraulic brakes unclasping from their respective brake disk reverberated through the air in a series of high pitch clicks. With its restraints unlocked, the train began to creep forward and out of the station. Its acceleration was smooth and nearly noiseless. Its speed began to increase as it departed the station, leaving the concrete platform behind. It didn't take long for it to completely leave its berth and makes its way onto the main line of the Goldrenrod Rail Systems.
Jeremy and Grace had navigated through the train and to their seats. The train car itself was mostly empty, save for a few people at the far end. This was most likely a result of its early departure time. Jeremy placed his suitcase on the floor at his feet and sat down on the soft, cloth seat. Grace did the same and removed the small, yellow backpack that she carried on her back and placed it on the ground next to Jeremy's suitcase. It was the same pack she had worn the day Jeremy learned of his internship; it carried within it the few precious possessions that Grace had decided to take with her. Sitting across from her friend, Grace gently smoothed out her soft gown as she settled in her set.
"Tickets please," a rough voice barked. Jeremy looked up to find a large, if not disgruntled looking, man standing next to his and Grace's seat. The conductor wore a black vest with a 'Goldenrod Rails' ID tag adorned upon his chest. When Jeremy did not immediately respond, the man rolled his eyes and once again impatiently demanded, "Your tickets, sir."
"Ah…! Right, sorry," Jeremy apologized as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets. Handing them to the man, he couldn't help but question, "Why do you have to see our tickets? The man at the train station did before we left."
The attendant scanned the bar code of each ticket with a handheld computer, ignoring the teen's inquiry while he verified the ticket's authenticity. After several seconds, a high pitch tone sounded in confirmation of the tickets' validity; he returned the tickets and responded to the boy's question, saying, "It's so that people don't try to sneak into higher class seating. You and your Pokémon, for instance, shouldn't be in a first class car with your coach tickets." The man didn't even try to hide his annoyance with the question. The conductor's gaze shifted from Jeremy to Grace, her body language speaking volumes; she was clearly quite annoyed by his behavior. The conductor let out a gruff grunt as he eyed over the Gardevoir in front of him. "I'm surprise you don't just keep it in its ball; that would have saved you some money."
"She doesn't have a ball; I'm not a trainer," Jeremy all but spat, his eyes narrowing as he put emphasis on the word 'she'. What absolutely unwarranted behavior and rudeness! He wanted nothing more than to put this man in his place, to make a scene of some sorts but knew nothing good would come out of doing so. The best they would get is an insincere apology; the worst, more strife from the conductor. Is this how they treated all of their paying passengers? Like an annoyance? "Do you need anything else?" Jeremy asked curtly; he was in no mood to try to alleviate the situation.
The man seemed unfazed by the boy's hostile behavior and shook his head. "No, that's it. Enjoy the ride." The comment was insincere, a formality really, but he didn't expect otherwise. Jeremy watched as the conductor walked away and moved to the next set of passengers. He seemed to be treating them in a similar fashion; one could only wonder how or why he had such a job. Perhaps he was having a rough day? That didn't excuse the behavior though; Jeremy didn't act in such a manner while having rough days at Stelar's. It was a simple matter of being professional.
"What a rude man!" Grace exclaimed as she stared at the conductor, narrowing her eyes to mere slits. One could almost see the aura of frustration that engulfed her as she spoke. "I could feel him coming a mile away! He's so… angry!"
Jeremey let out a sharp, irritated huff and nodded in agreement. "I don't get why the railroad company would give a job like conductor to somebody so mean; that's not exactly good for business." He could feel Grace's frustration flowing freely from her as her stare remained fixed on the conductor; they pummeled him like a Beedrill's fury attack, unrelenting. The conductor was out of line, and Jeremy knew it. While Grace had no illusion of being a human, she had been brought up being treated with respect and dignity. To be spoken at, not to, as though she were a dumb animal who couldn't understanding the meaning of his words infuriated her. Despite all of this, Jeremy knew he needed to shift Grace's focus to something else. Nothing good had ever come from the negative emotions that Grace rarely harbored towards others. He needed to switch the topic, for the sake of not only himself, but for Grace as well. The boy hated the sensation he felt radiating from her right now; it didn't fit her wonderfully happy personality.
"Forget about him, Grace; he's not worth our time," Jeremy said while shifting his gaze to the Gardevoir across from him. Grace's eyes remained fixated on the conductor for several more moments before she finally let out a resigning sigh. The Gardevoir closed her eyes for the briefest of moments before reopening them and fixing her gaze not on the man who had so rudely, if not indirectly, insulted her, but on the boy sitting just an arm's length away. Her eyes were noticeably softer than just a moment before.
"I know… you're right; it's just frustrating is all," she said with a small sigh. "But, it's over now; I'm not even going to acknowledge him," Grace stated as a small, if not forced, smile made its way onto her face. Turning her head, the Gardevoir glanced out the window in an effort to shift her focus elsewhere. What she saw surprised her, if only slightly. "Ah! Jeremy, look!"
The boy in question turned his gaze in the direction of his friend's, curious as to what could have caught her attention. What he saw was the fiery orange sun beginning to rise over the treetops of a distant hill, giving birth to a new day. Brilliant, dark purple clouds, a trademark of autumn, dotted the otherwise bluish-orange sky. Though it crept through the sky at a snail's pace, it definitely was moving as it had not been there just minutes before. "Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen the sun rise," Jeremy stated with a smile.
"That's because you usually sleep in late, Mr. Lazy," Grace giggled as she watched the trees outside pass at mind numbing speeds. "Still, you're right. I can't even think of the last time I watched the sun rise. It's such a pretty sight."
Jeremy let out an exaggerate huff as he crossed his arm, pretending to be annoyed by the accusation of being lazy. "Hey, I'm up late every night doing important stuff! Why, if you had the same responsibilities as me, you'd know what I'm talking about." Grace could only laugh at such a response, knowing full well how completely false it was. A wry grin formed on her face as she began to speak again.
"I didn't know watching television or playing around on the computer was considered important stuff," she jabbed lightheartedly. "If that's the case, then I'm one of the most productive members of our family." Jeremy laughed lightly and conceded to the truth. There was no point in trying to keep up the -albeit faux- façade.
"Ah, fine, fine. You win; what can I say, I love my sleep!" the teen said with a large, seemingly forced, yawn.
Grace raised a hand to her mouth and giggled, exclaiming, "Hey, don't yawn! Don't you know yawns are contagi-" The Gardevoir would have continued had she not felt an immeasurably strong desire to yawn herself. Opening her mouth, she inhaled sharply, filling her lungs with fresh air. "See, what'd I tell you?"
Jeremy held up his hands in defense. "Hey, that wasn't on purpose! I really am tired; I couldn't sleep last night. I think I only got three hours or so." Closing his eyes, he leaned back in his seat and let his head roll backwards, limp. "I could fall asleep right now if I wanted," he said with closed eyes and a large grin.
"Then why don't you?" Grace asked curiously as she turned her attention from the rising sun to the boy sitting across from her. Jeremy opened his left eye and looked down at Grace. Her large eyes blinked several times as she awaited an answer.
"I don't know; I guess I could always take a small nap; it wouldn't kill me…" Jeremy trailed off as he once again closed his eyes. Between all of the stops they'd make at various cities and the distance itself, it was going to be a nearly seven hour long trip.
"You should do that; it's not like we have anything else to do," she smiled. "Truth be told… *yawn*, I couldn't sleep either," Grace admitted. Jeremy's eyes opened as he lifted his head from its resting position on the back of his chair. The boy watched as Grace closed her eye and leaned back in a similar fashion to what he'd just been doing, relaxing into the soft contours of her cloth seat. The Gardevoir seemed completely relaxed as she took a deep breath, her chest rising as her lungs expanded.
Jeremy nodded his head and mirrored her actions, once again leaning backwards in relaxation. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea."
The warmth of the rising sun acted like a blanket as it doused the two people with its radiance. Between that and the slight sway of the train, it didn't take long before both Grace and Jeremy fell asleep in their seats. When they awoke, the familiar silhouettes of Southern Johto's hills and forest would be long gone. In their place would be a sprawling city skyline filled with wonders neither could have imagined.
Until then though, their minds would occupy the world of dreams.
-=Amazing Grace=-
"… Jeremy…"
The boy in question felt warm.
And nice. So wonderfully nice.
"… Jeremy…!"
He could stay like this forever, wrapped in sleep's embrace; what made sleep so comfortable anyways? Jeremy couldn't be bothered to ponder such a thing, not in his current state. Right now, none of that mattered. But what was that insistent noise? How could he enjoy his slumber when somebody wouldn't be quiet? Who was it anyways? Didn't they know that he was sleeping?
"Jeremy…! Wake up!"
Wait, he knew that voice…
"I swear…! Wake up sleepy head!"
Jeremy's eyes cracked open slightly as consciousness returned to him. The one calling for him, the boy knew who it was. "Grace…?" His voice was but a croak as he coughed, clearing his throat and expelling the stale air from his lungs before taking a deep breath. The sun was high in the sky and cast its rays down upon him; it looked to be around one o' clock if he had to guess. The boy's eyes fought to adjust to the sudden change in lighting, causing him to wince. "Ah…! Jeez!"
"Well, it's about time you woke up," Grace stated with a satisfied, if not happy, smile. "Sleep well?" Jeremy yawned heavily as his eyes, now adjusted to the light, opened fully, taking in the scene around him. It only took a moment for his memory to remind him of where he was; the train car he and Grace inhabited had grown noticeably busier in the time he had been asleep. Families and businessmen alike filled the car, all of them going about their own business. Several children could be heard a few rows down merrily playing a game of sorts, while a large man in a suit talked on his cell phone across the aisle from him and Grace.
"Eh…? Yeah, I slept pretty good, all things considered ya' know. How about you? Have you been up for long?" the boy asked in part as a polite gesture but also because he was genuinely curious. The Gardevoir flashed a toothy smile, her eyes bright, as she nodded.
"I slept wonderfully! I only woke up about ten minutes ago; we're about a half hour from the train station," she informed her friend. "Look out the window!"
"Out the window…?" Jeremy turned his gaze away from his friend and to the world outside the rectangular window next to them, per her suggestion. What he saw was nothing short of breathtaking. "Grace… that's…!"
Goldenrod, in all of its splendor and glory, lay before them. The train was still a little ways out from the city's downtown, but they were more than close enough to view the enormous skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the atmosphere as they grew from the earth. The sun reflected off of their polished windows like a mirror, illuminating the area with a powerful ambient light. It was like nothing he'd ever seen, at least not in person. Sure, both Jeremy and Grace had seen countless images of the high-rises that made up Goldenrod and other mega city's skylines on the television or online, but to see their imposing presence in person… it was another thing entirely.
"Wow, so that's Goldenrod," Jeremy let out a low whistle. "I didn't think the skyscrapers would look so, well, tall." Grace could only nod her head while marveling at the structures. They were by no means the most interesting buildings, in terms of design and aesthetics, that she'd ever seen, but what they lacked in character they made up for in sheer size and height.
"I want to go to the top of one…! Do you think we can do that?" Grace asked as eagerness began to take over. "I bet you could see for miles if you were on top of one!"
Jeremy let out a short laugh as Grace began to voice her desires. A wave of relief washed over him as he watched Grace admire the view, her eyes in constant movement as they shifted from one sight to another. He was worried Grace would be… anxious when it came to the big city. All she knew was Twinsport and the small towns around it. The change in setting might have been too much for her to handle initially; thankfully, the Gardevoir seemed to be proving him wrong with ease.
"I know as much about that kind of thing as you do, Grace," the boy chuckled as his gaze shifted back to the Goldenrod skyline. "I could imagine some buildings have observation decks for tourist, though. We can check that out once we get settled into the Pokémon Sanctuary; sound good?" The Gardevoir eagerly nodded her head, not bothering to tear her eyes away from the towering steel structures in front of her.
"That sounds great! I can't wait; the city looks so alive, like a living thing! It's so much different than Twinsport." A truer statement couldn't have been made. Goldenrod and Twinsport were two different settings entirely, apples and oranges if you will. In a sense, it made Jeremy curious about what he'd discover in the city. The urban environment was completely alien to him, and the only way to change that was to venture into the metropolis of glass and steel.
"Yeah, you're right about that…" Jeremy stated, awe and eagerness alike still evident in his voice as it trailed off into nothingness. Any anxiety he had about traveling to Goldenrod was quickly forgotten, if only for the time being, as he viewed his new home for the next several months. Instead, he felt a sense of adventure build within him, and it felt grand.
The next half hour went by much quicker than either Jeremy or Grace could have imagined. It didn't take long before the train's intercom system came to life and informed the passengers that they would be arriving in the Goldenrod Central Terminal. The Terminal, as the name suggest, was the end of the line for the high speed transit system. Its main line ran from Goldenrod to Saffron and was known as the Goldenrod & Saffron Rail System, while the branch line that Jeremy and Grace traveled on was known as the Southern Johto & Oceanic.
Branch lines like the Southern Johto & Oceanic were spread throughout the continent like a spider web, providing the backbone of the region's economy and wellbeing. Almost every major city had a train station; smaller cities with much commerce, like the farming town of Lilyburg, also had train stations to allow for quick and easy distribution of crops and goods across the continent; they also become a sort of hub in rural areas because of the railway. While passenger travel and shipping domestic items by means of train was becoming less popular with the advent of the Trans Johto Highway, they were still one of the most popular options for transporting bulk goods and resources such as fuel and crops. In the end, almost every railway that ran across Johto terminated in Goldenrod. The city's position next to the sea and its manmade harbor made it the perfect commerce town.
When the high speed train pulled into the Goldenrod Lines Central Terminal and came to a halt, Jeremy and Grace gathered their things and exited the passenger car. It was difficult to leave, let alone stay together, as the entirety of passenger attempted to funnel through the two doors that were situated on either end of the train car. Being pushed and shoved proved to be claustrophobic for Jeremy and Grace, a feeling neither of them cared for at all.
The time it took them to exit the cramped confines of the railcar and escape into the vast openness of the Terminal seemed like an eternity. Grace took a deep breath as she walked through the small doorway, lurching forward and away from the group of people who had been onboard just moments before. "Freedom!"
Jeremy did the same and came to a halt by her side, catching his breath in the process. "Ugh… What a mess. You'd think the train cars would have more than two doors." Grace nodded her head in agreement. Looking up, Jeremy couldn't help but marvel at the terminal's architecture. The ceiling seemed to stretch up for miles; it was easily as tall as Twinsport's lighthouse.
The Terminal itself was built nearly a century ago when Goldenrod was just beginning to grow as an industrial town. At that time, steam locomotives, not high speed electric trains, roamed the land in a symphony of fire and water. These seemingly living, breathing machines spewed columns of smoke and steam into the air as they operated. This required the builders of the trains' berth to construct tall, if not grand, buildings to allow the smoke and steam to rise into the air and dissipate. This ensured that the air at ground level didn't become a toxic haze for the passengers and workers on the platform. The grated holes in the ceilings, which allowed the smoke and steam to escape, only furthered showcased the station's history. Even now, decades past the industrial age, the building had a certain grandeur that seemed to suppress the modern high-rises just outside the old building's brass lined doorways.
"So, what now? How do we get to the Pokemon Sanctuary?" Grace asked as she looked around. If she recalled correctly, then their final destination was still a fair bit away and outside of the city, not within the city itself. Jeremy turned to face his friend and raised his eyebrows as though he were contemplating her words.
"I suppose we'll take a taxi or something. I have directions on my phone." The boy turned to glance up at the large, brass clock that hung from the wall; the face of the timepiece read one-thirty, give or take several minutes. "If that thing's right, then we still have a couple of hours or so before they expect us to be there, so we have plenty of time."
"Do you want to get there early?" Grace inquired. That wasn't a bad idea; as far as Jeremy knew, the only thing he'd be doing today was getting acquainted with some of the staff and settling into his room. Showing up early could help show just how dedicated he was to the position. It was a thought some would deem as silly, but that was of no concern to Jeremy. He was far too determined to make a good name for himself to worry about what others might think of his reasoning.
The boy was about to answer his friend's question when a deep rumble reverberated through his body. Looking down, Jeremy's eyes rested on the noise's source, his stomach. "That wouldn't be a bad idea, but I think I have another one. Say Grace, are you as hungry as I am?" Well, perhaps there was a little leeway in his determination to make a good name for himself.
Grace nodded her head in response, all too eager to answer. "Yes! I haven't eaten since this morning. Do you want to get something to eat as well?"
"Yeah, that sounds good. I didn't realize how hungry I was until just now. Want to get going and see what we can find on the way?" Jeremy asked. It wasn't a bad idea; they could walk around for a bit and grab a bite to eat in the progress. When they were done eating, they could grab a cab and go to the sanctuary. It was about a half hour drive assuming, of course, that Jeremy's directions were accurate.
"That sounds good," Grace agreed. "I'm not the one who has to haul that thing around after all." A small laugh escaped the Gardevoir's lips as she pointed to Jeremy's large suitcase with one of her dainty green clad fingers. The boy's brow furrowed as he was reminded of his luggage; suddenly, the idea of walking around town didn't seem so appealing.
"Ah… yeah, that. I'd forgotten about that," Jeremy admitted while letting out a sigh. Raising a hand, the teen scratched his head slightly as he reassessed their options; perhaps they could do something else? Something that wouldn't involve him lugging around his heavy suitcase in the process? "How about… we pick up some food from a street vendor and eat on the way? We'll still get something to eat and arrive early as well; it's the best of both worlds."
Grace tilted her head to the side as she placed a finger on her chin in a questioning fashion. "Street vendors?" Jeremy nodded his head and was quick to offer an explanation.
"Yeah, street vendors. There are a lot of people who make a living selling food on the street to passersby and such; it's kind of like what you see at festivals, only year round," he told her. "Big cities have them; I'm sure we can find one nearby; we're at the train station after all! Loads of people come and go from here every day," the boy laughed. "I also heard they have great tasting food, sometimes even better than sit-down restaurants; so, does that sound good?"
Grace remained impartial to any specific idea and simply nodded her head in agreement. "That sounds good; as long as I get some food I'll be happy, hehe!" Jeremy chuckled at the simplistic statement but was all too glad to hear it. Grace was never a difficult person to please when it came to such mundane things like eating out; her easygoingness was part of what made being with her so nice.
"So it's decided; let's get going then," Jeremy stated as he reached down and grabbed his suitcase. The boy let out a muted grunt as he hefted the bulky piece of luggage upwards; he suddenly wished his suitcase had wheels. It'd be much easier to roll his luggage around instead of carrying it. Just as he was shifting the bag to be more comfortable in his grip, Jeremy felt the luggage's weight seem to half itself. Could a zipper have come undone? All of his clothing and possessions would be spilled onto the dirty, concrete platform; oh, what a hassle! When Jeremy looked down, however, he saw that his suitcase was still intact, zippers and all.
"Why so pessimistic?" Grace laughed lightly as a soft smile overcame her face. Jeremy looked over, surprised by the comment, when he noticed the slightest hint of blue glowing around his friend's eyes, a clear indicator of her psychic abilities. "I figured this will be easier for both of us; you'd only slow us down otherwise."
Jeremy was quiet for several moments before he let out a small laugh and smiled in return of the thoughtful gesture; words couldn't express how glad the boy was that his clothing was, as it turned out, not scattered across the dirty floor. That would have been awful. "Thanks Grace; you didn't have to do that," Jeremy said as he took a step forward, his friend following in suit by his side as she helped him bear the weight of his luggage. The two began walking towards the large, arching doorway that separated the boarding platform from the station's main foyer. A wall of solid granite rose from the base of the platform to the arched ceiling above; its white sheen was in stark contrast to the polished brass metalwork that decorated the area.
"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to," Grace explained. "I'm hungry, and you would have been walking slower because of that thing weighing you down." Jeremy let out a sharp laugh, entertained by her explanation.
"Oh? Is that it? Well, thanks anyways. Just remember who's paying for the food." Grace turned her head and stuck out her tongue in a playful gesture. Jeremy rolled his eyes, clearly amused by the childish act; seeing his friend act so carefree made him happy, joyful even. There was something special about Grace and her happiness; as long as she was smiling, he found himself at peace with the world. The teen felt a sense of serenity that he never felt otherwise. Jeremy liked the feeling, and as long as Grace was enveloped with joy, he felt it. At times, he wondered why that was the case; was it simply her carefree attitude, her nature, that brightened his life? Was she sharing some sort of emotion through telepathy without even knowing it? It was a different sensation than joy or happiness, which usually manifested as a warm feeling that enveloped him with its gentle caress; he couldn't even describe the serenity he felt as anything but that, an absolute peace. Jeremy didn't understand any of it, but he didn't care. All that mattered was what he felt, and what he felt was nothing short of wonderful. "You're as 'you' as ever I see."
"Hehe, sure am!" Grace giggled, holding a hand up to her mouth in an effort to conceal her laughter.
Jeremy was in high spirits as he and Grace walked through the historic building together. The Gardevoir was happier than she'd been in a long time. Her delight radiated like a furnace from the crimson shard that pierced her torso. She had a spring in her step, even more so than usual; in all honesty, her reaction was quite different from what Jeremy had envisioned it to be. Perhaps actually being in Goldenrod had alleviated her worries about leaving home; it seemed as though it was the act of leaving, not the journey and destination, that had been the source of her anxiety. Jeremy was glad Grace couldn't hide her emotions, otherwise he would have been convinced her joyful behavior was just a ruse to sate his worrying.
Grace's inability to withhold her emotions was something the Gardevoir both hated and loved. It was, in fact, not normal behavior for members of the Ralts line. Usually, they were able to conceal their emotions behind a mental veil at will, but Grace lacked this ability. As a young Ralts, her ability to convey emotions was limited through touch and touch alone. As she grew older, however, her powers grew as well. By Grace's older Ralts years, those in close proximity could feel her emotions manifest in a variety of sensations, even without physical contact; the intensity of the sensation was directly limited to their proximity to Grace and how close of a bond she shared with them. Strangers could feel a meager hint, albeit a definite hint, of what her family felt during times of emotional highs.
Despite her growing power, the strongest sensations always came through physical contact. No matter how strong of a bond she'd formed with a person, nothing came close to how it felt when physical contact was made, when skin touched skin and a corporeal union was formed. It was difficult to separate which emotions were your own and which ones were Grace's; in a sense, it was almost like becoming a single entity, despite the brevity of it all. Even then, while Grace couldn't outright hide her emotions, she could suppress them enough to ensure that she wouldn't overwhelm the minds of everybody who made contact with her, otherwise she'd be severely limited with her actions.
"Heh, I should get Claire and David a gift from the gift shop before we leave," Jeremy pointed to an upcoming room separated from the main foyer by panes of glass. The words, 'Goldenrod Central Terminal Giftshop' were painted in bright, yellow paint across a wooden sign that hung in front of the room's entryway. "I know Claire and David would like some pressed coins for their collection."
"We'll have to stop by before we leave then," Grace commented while she and Jeremy passed the entrance to the gift shop. As they walked towards the revolving glass doors at the front of the Terminal and into the main foyer, Jeremy couldn't help but be at awe of his surroundings. Suddenly, even the grand space of the train platform seemed bare compared to the extravagant foyer. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their unlit bulbs sparkling in the sunlight that streamed through the windows in the ceiling. The marble flooring shone like a mirror as the great water fountain in the center of it all shot jets of water high into the air. Ornate masonry filled every corner of space, from the handrails of the impressive staircase to the immaculately chiseled Arcanine sculptures that greeted visitor of the Terminal; all of it was truly breath taking, if not reminiscent of a time when such magnificent structures were built on a regular basis.
Grace seemed to take notice of their surroundings as well; she stopped walking and gazed upward with a sense of awe, attempting to take in the scenery in its wholeness."This place is incredible!"
"Yeah, it sure is; I wonder if the rest of the city will be like this?" Jeremy thought aloud. The boy could only imagine how ridiculous he and Grace looked in the eyes of the city's residents as they gawked at the architecture, like tourist no doubt. He didn't care though; as far as Jeremy was concerned, they were tourist. There was no shame in appreciating such a sight. Grace lowered her head to look at her friend.
"I sure hope so!" a giddy laugh came from Grace's mouth. "This is all so wonderful!"
Jeremy smiled at his friend' delight and nodded in agreement. He was about to speak when his stomach roared again, once more alerting him to its desires. "Ah, I think my stomach wants us to shut up and get some food. What do ya' say? Ready to go?"
"Yep, sure am; I was just a little surprised by how ornate the train station is and wanted to look at it for a bit," she answered. Much to Jeremy's surprise, he felt another small wave of hunger wash over him, hunger that was not his own. Grace's cheeks became flush as she looked away, clearly embarrassed and knowing full well what had happened. "Ah… sorry…! I didn't mean to, ah, well –do that."
The boy could only chuckle as he patted his friend on her shoulder. "It's no big deal; I guess we're both really hungry. Let's get something to eat; then, we can take it from there."Grace nodded her head, all too happy to agree to his words.
"Let's."
It didn't take long for Jeremy and Grace to find a street vendor; in fact, the public square in front of the Terminal, aptly named Terminal Square, was filled with them. Food carts containing everything from soft pretzels and pizza to fried fish and rice balls dotted the area. In truth, it was difficult deciding what they wanted, given their options. After much debate, they decided on two jumbo pretzels and a couple of soft drinks to sate their hunger and thirst, although admittedly their thirst was caused by too much salt on their pretzels. What a vicious cycle. It took the two all but five minutes to down the food; while it wasn't a five course meal, it was a meal none-the-less and served its purpose of relieving their hunger.
After eating, Jeremy and Grace hailed a cab and began the short trip from the Terminal Square to the Pokémon Sanctuary. Jeremy couldn't help but notice as Grace's face contorted slightly as she entered the taxi, her gaze fixed upon the driver; it almost seemed like she was in discomfort. The Gardevoir remained quiet, however, so he didn't press the issue. It didn't take long for the cab driver to strike up a conversation with his passengers.
"So, what are you doing going to the Pokémon sanctuary? Are you some trainer or something from out of town looking to nab an easy addition to your party?" the driver, a large, gruff man who wore a dark, leather jacket, asked.
Jeremy gave the cabby a confused glance, unsure of why he'd make such an assumption; sure, Grace was with him but he wore no Poke balls nor carried any gear commonly associated with trainers. "No, I'm not a trainer; I'm an intern.. well, kind of. What gave you the idea that I'm going there to adopt a Pokémon?" the boy asked. The cabby gave a shrug of his shoulder while glancing in his rearview mirror to look at his passengers.
"Well, you were at Terminal Square; I figured you came in from out of town, maybe Kanto or something. You've also got some sort of exotic Pokémon with you; I've never seen nothin' like it before." The cabby's eyes lazily drifted in the mirror until his focus was on Grace. The gruff looking man's eyebrows went up as a lewd smile formed on his face. "Not bad lookin' though; I can see why you keep it out of its ball."
"Excuse me!?" Grace cried out, enraged by the driver's comment, despite the fact that he could not hear her; what shameless words! A sudden chill overcame the car, causing a shiver to run down the spine of the man. Jeremy felt it as well; a violent vortex of anger erupted from the Gardevoir's mind, bombarding all within range of its fury.
"What the…!?" The driver slammed his foot into the vehicle's brake pedal, bringing the car to a sudden, intense stop. Turning around, he yelled, "Hey, kid! Get control of your Pokémon! I-" The man would have continued, but curbed his tongue upon seeing the intense glare Grace was giving him. It shook him to his core as a sense of overwhelming fear penetrated him. The sensation was like nothing he'd ever felt before.
Jeremy narrowed his gaze and spat, "Are you kidding me?!" Reaching into his pocket, the boy pulled out a wad of cash and grabbed several small bills, just enough to cover his, albeit small, fare. "You talk like that to my friend and expect her to take it in stride? Here's my fare; I'd rather walk from here!" Jeremy slammed the money down and opened his door. The boy crawled out of the small car and held the door open for this friend; Grace was quick to follow in suit, all too eager to leave taxi. The Gardevoir angrily adjusted her gown as she exited the vehicle, frustration flowing freely from her shard. Jeremy didn't even have time to shut the door of the car; Grace's eye glowed bright blue as she utilized her powers, slamming the door shut and rocking the car on its suspension. If Jeremy wasn't so upset, he'd have been worried that she'd damaged the vehicle.
It took but a second for the bright yellow cab to accelerate away from them, the driver likely both confused and afraid of what had just happened. Even for Jeremy, Grace's emotions had been overpowering; never before had she been on the receiving end of such behavior, even in the immediate aftermath of her final evolution into a Gardevoir. He could only imagine what the cabby, a complete stranger with no knowledge of Gardevoir, felt even without a bond.
"That, that…- pig!" Grace cried out, still fuming at the rapidly disappearing car. "How…! How could somebody…?" The Gardevoir's voice trailed off, her question remaining unfinished. In the past, several people had commented on her appearance and evident beauty, but never in such a lewd manner; even then, those who had complimented her were friends and bore no ill intentions towards her. Most of the time, it was just playful banter or teasing. This time was different; she felt the man's thoughts and desires, all of them, completely vile. Just remembering the lust filled emotions made her want to vomit; was that how people were outside of Twinsport? Had she gotten her hopes up too soon?
"Hey, it's okay Grace," Jeremy said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The Gardevoir looked at her friend, distraught. The boy cringed at Grace's display of emotion before continuing, saying, "He's gone now, and we'll never see him again. He's just a stupid, ignorant cabby."
Volatile emotions continued to rage through Grace's eyes as she let out a breath. "I know… I just… You couldn't feel it, Jeremy, or see it. He was… his aura was despicable. I saw it even before he began talking… I saw it when we got in...! I feel like I need to bathe," she shuddered. Jeremy frowned, frustrated that he couldn't fully comprehend what she meant; based on her reaction, maybe the boy should be grateful of that fact. He had no idea how different their perception of the world was. What was black, white, and grey for him were vibrant shades of colors for Grace, each with their own meaning. It was moments like these that acted as harsh reality checks for Jeremy. He didn't know what to say; what could he say?
Before he could open his mouth in an attempt to console his friend further, an unfamiliar, feminine voice called out his name.
"Ah… excuse me? Are you by chance Jeremy Benper?"
Both Jeremy and Grace turned to face the source of the voice, the Gardevoir's unease waning as curiosity took hold. To their surprise, a young woman, possibly the same age as Jeremy, stood several feet away, her face displaying a mixture of inquisitiveness and… nervousness? She was pretty; not so much beautiful, but definitely pretty. Long, brown hair flowed freely from her head and cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, only to stop at a taper near the small of her back. Soft, brown eyes stared uneasily at Jeremy and his friend, uncertainty running rampant.
When Jeremy didn't give an immediate answer, the girl looked towards her feet and began to fiddle with her hands in a nervous fashion, pulling on fingers and curling them in response. "I- I'm sorry, you're probably not him. I'll let you… um, get on your way." She spoke with a wavering voice, as though she was unsure of herself. This bothered Jeremy; why was this stranger acting so nervous? More importantly though, how did she know who he was?
"Hey, hey… There's no need to be sorry; yes, I'm Jeremy Benper. Do… Do I know you?" he asked with a friendly smile in an effort to lessen the awkwardness between them. The girl looked up and made eye contact with the boy. Her eyes seemed to light up upon hearing him confirm his identity.
"You are? You're really Jeremy Benper?" she asked again. Jeremy chuckled, unsure of how to respond. Who was this girl? He didn't know many people outside of Twinsport, let alone in Goldenrod.
"Yeah, the one and only, although I didn't think I was well known outside of Twinsport," he smiled. "So Miss, if you don't mind me asking, how do you know who I am?"
"Ah! Not at all, Jeremy; I was worried I had confused you with somebody else. My name is Jasmine; I volunteer at the Goldenrod Pokémon Sanctuary. A lot of people have been talking about the new intern, er… you that is, Professor Oak recommended; I heard he -I mean you, had a Gardevoir and… kind of assumed that you were him," Jasmine explained, her eyes shifting to Grace as she did so. "I-I've never seen a Gardevoir in person before; she's… really beautiful." The compliment came out as a mere whisper; it was as though the girl was afraid of speaking out of line. Perhaps she was just shy? That would explain her nervous demeanor.
Grace would have been upset by the comment had it been said in a lecherous or lust filled tone of voice. This girl was different than the cabby, however. Her heart was pure and showed no hints of such thoughts; it was a genuine compliment of her beauty. Grace's cheeks flushed slightly at the comment as she tore her gaze away from the girl; her words were welcoming, much needed even. The Gardevoir could sense an aura around the girl; it was pure and bright, much different than the dark cloud that shrouded the man who had lusted over her just moments before. "T-thank you," she managed to say, despite Jasmine's inability to hear.
Jeremy laughed at his friend's awkward display, causing Jasmine to stare at him, perplexed. The boy just looked at her and smiled while saying, "Her name is Grace, by the way; she said 'thank you'."
"Thank you? She can talk? You can understand her?" Jasmine asked, amazed by such a feat. Jeremy nodded his head, happy to confirm her inquiry. Her small voice reflected the girl's apparent shyness. She seemed a bit socially awkward, but her heart seemed kind. Jasmine appeared to be genuinely interested in Jeremy and Grace; if these were the type of people who worked in the sanctuary, then he'd have no trouble fitting in and making friends. As Ashley said, say hello for every goodbye; this encounter seemed like a great way to put her advice into action.
"Yes, she can as long as you've hung around her long enough; that's a lot harder than it sounds though, trust me," Jeremy jokingly stated, more or less summing up how Gardevoirs formed bonds with those around them. Grace lightly hit Jeremy in his exposed ribcage, laughing at the jest that he directed towards her.
"Is that so…?" Jasmine inquired, finding their interaction to be curious to say the least; Grace was acting more human in regards to mannerisms than any Pokémon she'd ever encountered, be it in the wild or at the sanctuary. The Gardevoir smiled while nodding her head, slightly surprising the brunette. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you two doing here? The sanctuary is a twenty minute drive south; are you just enjoying some free time before you get there?"
Jeremy shook his head, not wanting Jasmine to get the wrong idea of his intentions; they weren't in Goldenrod to have fun and kill time. Jeremy wanted to work and gain experience; everything else took a back seat to that goal, at least for now. "No, we were on our way there when our cabby said some… inappropriate things," Jeremy said as he lowered his head. He felt a light pulse of anger swell from Grace; it was suppressed, but there for certain. Jasmine must not have felt the suppressed emotion, as she made no motion to indicate so. It was either that, or she didn't mind. If Jeremy had to guess, it was likely the former; not many people could hide their surprise upon feeling Grace's emotions for the first time, let alone her anger.
It didn't take a Pokémon researcher to put two and two together and figure out what Jeremy meant by his words. Jasmine's brow furrowed in unease as she let out a forceful sigh. "Did he? I hope you didn't get a bad impression of the city because of it; most people are actually really nice."
Jeremy shook his head, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. "No worries; I wouldn't make a judgment of Goldenrod based on one encounter. I'm sure most of the people are nice." The boy waited several moments before continuing, saying, "I'm sure the next cab we get won't have such a… crude driver."
That comment caught Jasmine's attention, causing her to perk up. "You know, I'm heading back to the sanctuary right now; my car isn't very big, but you two could hitch a ride if you'd like." She seemed more than happy to offer the service, a very polite gesture all things considered.
Jeremy was taken aback at the suggestion. They had just met a minute ago, and she was offering him a ride? The girl was either very trusting or very nice; perhaps it was a mix of the two? Regardless, the boy had to admit, he'd probably have done the same if put into Jasmine's shoes. Still, he didn't want to impose on his new acquaintance, especially considering they might be working together for the next few months. "I really don't want us to be a bother; Grace and I could always take a cab if it'd be inconvenient," he told the girl with a smile.
"I really wouldn't mind," Jasmine insisted, her quiet and shy voice determined; it was almost humorous to hear her be so insistent considering her unimposing form. "I'm heading back there anyway; how about you ask Grace? What does she think?"
Jeremy was a bit surprised by the suggestion; he hadn't expected anyone to so readily accept Grace for what she was and who she was, that is to say an intelligent being with a voice. Shrugging his shoulder, the boy took the suggestion and turned to his friend, asking, "Well, Grace? What do you think? It's up to you."
The Gardevoir seemed to contemplate their options for several moments before slowly nodding her head. "It's a generous offer and… I think it'd be rude if we turned it down,"Grace stated, slowly at first as though she was trying to convince herself. "Besides, I don't want to get into another cab… not right now."
It was decided then. Jeremy knew just how strongly Grace felt about what had happened just several minutes ago in the cab; he wouldn't put her into a situation she didn't want to be in, not if it was avoidable. She was delicate when it came to matters involving her emotional state. "Well, she seems to want to ride with you. Are you sure we wouldn't be a hassle?" Jeremy asked once again. Jasmine laughed lightly and smiled, shaking her head.
"Not at all; I'd like to help you out if possible. My car is just down the block; come on, it's a short walk." Jeremy and Grace followed the girl for nearly a minute, engaging in idle chit chat, before she stopped in front of a pale blue sedan. The car was, like she said, small, but not to the degree that Jeremy thought it'd be; it could easily fit all three of them inside. Grabbing her key fob, Jasmine unlocked the vehicle and climbed inside.
"I'm sorry about the mess; I usually don't have company." She beckoned for the two of them to come in with an inviting wave of her hand. Jeremy opened the rear passenger door and let Grace crawl inside. Closing it, he proceeded to open the front passenger side door and entered the vehicle himself. Reaching across his chest, the teen grabbed his safety belt and buckled up. The boy could hear as Grace did the same in the rear.
"Thanks for this, Jasmine. I owe you one," Jeremy said with gratefulness. He and Grace both were genuinely thankful for the ride; not only would it save him money, he'd get to know one of his coworkers in the process. It truly was a win-win scenario.
Jasmine smiled as she started the car and shifted into drive. "Hehe, I guess so. It really isn't a problem, I'm going back there right now; I only stopped into town to pick up some medicine," the girl explained while motioning towards her grey colored purse. "I-I haven't really heard a lot about you, just your name and that you have a Gardevoir -um, I mean Grace; other than that, I heard that Professor Oak himself recommended you for the position. That's a great honor."
Jeremy let out an awkward laugh while scratching the back of his head, a nervous tic of sorts. "Yeah, so I've been told. I'm just a guy who's looking to get into the Pokemon field as a researcher or something along those lines," the boy explained. "How about you? What do you do at the sanctuary?"
"Me? I'm a general assistant to the medical staff, although I specialize in rock and steel type Pokémon," Jasmine explained, her voice sounding less shy and more confident as she mentioned her specialty. "I help with everything from rescued Pokémon to surgery. Sometimes I'll run out and pick up items that a doctor request, like the medicine I mentioned."
"You mean you didn't have what you needed there?" Jeremy asked, a bit confused. Jasmine shook her head, although she understood the teen's confusion and tried to clarify the issue.
"We have a lot of medicine on hand for various Pokémon and illnesses, but sometimes a disease from another region slips in and we have to import the medicine. For instance, the magma flu is a rare disease that effects fire type Pokémon, but is only found in southern Kanto in the Sevii islands. It's so rare that we don't have a supply of medicine on hand to treat it; if we get a Pokémon in with that kind of illness, we quarantine it and have the medicine shipped from a Pokecenter in the region via a priority flight."
"Wow, that's incredible," the boy said, clearly impressed by the network they seemed to have. "Truth be told, I really don't know what I'm going to be doing; do you have any idea?" Jeremy inquired, a bit embarrassed to be asking such a question. Even now a month after learning of the position, he had no idea what exactly it entailed other than a chance to work with Pokémon; the Professor insisted he was qualified and that he'd figure it out once he got there.
Jasmine only shook her head and offered a friendly smile. "I'm sorry, I can't say I know. You can ask Professor Cypress when we get there; Professor Oak put him in charge of the sanctuary when he's away in Pallet town," Jasmine explained. "He's a great man who truly cares for Pokémon. I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you."
"Ah, I see," Jeremy stated, satisfied with the answer. Silence befell the car as the girl drove towards the sanctuary. After several minutes, Jeremy spoke up yet again in an attempt to break the silence; it was far too awkward not to try. They were, after all, still strangers for the most part. "So, Jasmine, you said you volunteer at the Pokémon Sanctuary? What do you do when you're not there? Do you work somewhere else or study as a student?"
Jasmine was quiet upon being asked the question; when Jeremy looked over, he noticed the girl's facial expression had changed. She seemed to be racking her mind in an effort to find the right words to say. After several moments, she finally spoke up. "I'm a professional Pokémon trainer," the girl said quietly. "But… I don't battle often anymore; I spend most of my time helping the Pokémon at the sanctuary. It's… a calling, I guess."
"… a calling," Jeremy repeated.
"Yeah, a calling. Don't you feel it too? Why else would you be here? Helping sick and injured Pokémon is what I love to do most, even more than battle," Jasmine explained with a soft voice. "I figured you'd know what I was talking about… otherwise, Professor Oak wouldn't have chosen you; he sees things like that in people, their true potential and character." Jeremy remained quiet as he pondered Jasmine's words. He loved Pokémon, no doubt about it, but did he feel the same calling that she spoke of? He had always wanted to work with Pokémon in some way, but never specifically as a professor or physician. It wasn't until Grace fell ill and he'd met Professor Oak had he considered such a route for his life.
Looking at the car's side view mirror, he saw Grace sitting quietly in the back seat in its reflection. Her eyes lazily watched as buildings and trees passed by, seemingly bored without anybody to converse with. Perhaps… he did feel the call that Jasmine spoke of. From the day he met Grace, the boy felt as though he had been guided through life. Who's to say that guiding force wasn't the call? To heal and restore Pokémon who had been cruelly abandoned or mistreated?
Jeremy's voice was quiet but contemplative as he spoke. "You know, I think I do know what you mean, about the calling that is; I hadn't really considered it before now but… I think you're right."
Jasmine looked over and smiled lightly, nodding her head. "I know; you seem like that kind of person, Jeremy. I have a good eye for people who love Pokémon, especially people who love helping Pokémon; you'll do great, I know it."
Jeremy smiled in return and could only mutter a silent but sincere, "Thank you."
The rest of the drive was quiet as Jasmine directed her vehicle towards their destination. It didn't take long before the trio was in front of the massive, concrete walls that separated the suburban landscape of southern Goldenrod with the reserves of the Goldenrod Pokémon Sanctuary.
They had arrived.
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Have a great day my readers!
-Write by Faith-
