Pokemon Next

Round 9:A trip to castelia

Hanna awoke to the whimpering sounds of her audino being crushed underneath her weight, a slanted eye and a half snore later she jumped awake to realize she was crushing the poor creature and quickly jumped off of her "Sorry about that." she mumbled underneath her breath.

Dinah sat across from her head facing the ground rubbing her tummy for dear life a voice inside of Hanna's head conveyed her woe "Yeah, well that really hurt trainer Hanna." she whined still holding her tummy. Hanna crawled over on all fours and poked her with a weak smile "I'm really sorry, I had kind of a rough night."

"Really? I had a very uncomfortable morning."

"I understand your point. How about breakfast to make up for things?" The attempted bargain seemed to catch Dinah's attention as the long extensions straddling her ear raddled intensely enough that they stalked above her head like horns before she could finish nodding with a smile.

Hanna quickly put on her shoes and headed downstairs with Dinah the center was quiet, now that people weren't stuck there and trainers could get their badges and move on it had returned to being a sleepy building worth no second looks and a short footnote en route to pokestar studios. The quiet was enjoyable but Hanna could not help but miss the occasional gossip that would float across the tables at any given eating period.

Wheat toast with cinnamon and peppered eggs were on the menu this given day. Hanna ate slowly pondering her next course of action Castelia city was her obvious destination but whether or not to embark that moment was a concern. At this time Hanna had never truly won a battle and her experience had to be brought into question, she had just enough money to make it to Castelia and pay for two meals, she would have no way of returning to Virbank to train.

"Something on your mind?"

Lora came to sit down across from Hanna at the table and saw her staring at her plate chewing on the same piece of toast for too long to be considered healthy, a delayed reaction of what trickled from Hanna's lips to be reciprocated with a human response "I asked what you were thinking about."

"Nothing important."

Lora put a sly finger to her lips remembering the last time Hanna had remarked such a thing was when she had first considered becoming a trainer, now was her time to pry "What exactly entails 'nothing important' if I may ask."

Hanna's eyes fluttered for a moment looking up at the half smirking Lora a topic of divergence would need to be her course of action to get the girl off of her back for the time being.

"I was just thinking about Patrick and how cute you two would look together." stated the girl through her mouth full of toast.

Lora's expression remained the same and she simply said back "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I mean you're rich, and he seems to have a bright future ahead of him, I think it would be best for you to find someone you like young so it won't be a problem for your family warming up to someone new."

"I'm ten years old."

"Three more and you'll be ready for children."

Lora gave an amused laugh before shooting back "I didn't know you had those sort of things in mind already, you and Jack really must have had a special relationship."

Somehow the topic that Hanna had made for the sole purpose of using to embarrass Lora backfired greatly and left her in a seemingly new and awkward position that she would not quickly get used to. Her face burning bright red she did her best to drop the topic.

"So what's next for you?"

Lora blinked twice "For me? Aren't you the one deciding where it is we go?"

Hanna was to the say the least startled by this abrupt notion of her leading some sort of group with someone she sincerely considered to be an enemy, this was a matter that needed to be cleared this instant.

"We are not traveling together." she said coldly.

The same face of unequaled comfort rest with Lora as she gave her simple reply "But at this point wouldn't you say you need a little help?" Hanna did not like the implications this was leading toward.

"Excuse me?"

"Currently you are too frightened to face the gym leader of the city and lost a battle against an opponent who you had a type advantage over from this wouldn't you say you are in need of a traveling partner? I myself am not an amazing trainer being just as new as you but I think us complimenting each others weaknesses is an important thing to look into."

There it was, just when Hanna had figured Lora wasn't so bad her patronizing holier than thou attitude returned full force. Nothing new, but that was what made it so annoying she had been this way since she was able to crawl and Hanna was none too fond of it all.

"Not going to happen, I think you doing me any favors would give a bad result. If you think I'm not doing a good enough job as a trainer then letting me figure out my own way is best." Hanna did her best to speak without growling.

Lora sighed and continued "That's fine too. The offer is always open though, the ship leaves at eleven just a reminder." the girl yawned and walked back upstairs. Hanna was happy to see her gone and swallowed what remained of the toast on her plate.

Coming to the conclusion that the showers would be occupied for a while Hanna quickly called out to Dinah who preoccupied herself with serving food to other trainers.

"Trainer Hanna?"

Shaping her right hand like a fist Hanna returned the prodding of Dinah s psychic link in a loud voice "Today is our last day in this city lets try to get as better at thunderbolt as possible."

Dinah nodded and smiled "Yeah! Oh uhm don't forget Mr. Marlon either."

Hanna gave a dumb smile and shot off the comment "You didn't think I would forget my other loyal Pokemon did you...wait Mr. Marlon?"

Dinah put a finger to her chin and nodded again "Yes he said to call him that from now on."

A light smile came over Hanna as she snapped her fingers "That's right a translator! I definitely need to get a translator."

The split second it had occurred to her that she had forgotten this translator she made it her highest priority to get one for Marlon. Stepping out of the center Hanna quickly realized how cold it was outside, above her the sun was sparse appearing through heavy black clouds that blanketed the sky leaving the whole of the city aside from the docks remain in a constant state of twilight. Still wearing her pajamas the cold was getting to her quicker than she thought it would and began rubbing her arms for warmth.

Making it to the pokemart was a welcome surprise of indoor heating that fought off the cold coming from the outside as best it could. Inside the store behind the counter was an aged man with a large build reading a magazine, Hanna approached and was received warmly.

"Hey there."

"Uhm hello sir, do you sell translators here?"

The man scratched the stubble beneath his chin "You want one for her?" the man asked pointing to Dinah who cowered behind the young girls leg.

"No I need it for- how did you tell Dinah was a girl?"

The man continued stroking his stubble before smiling at the young girl "Anyone on a journey wouldn't think of taking a male audino around as a companion."

Hanna blinked twice before noticing Dinah attached to her leg and gently pushed her off of it "Why is that exactly?"

A flushed face followed by a moment of pondering led the man to his half shaken reply "It's a double standard thing you know? Like a stereotype, most trainers have audino on their team specifically as medics. The common thought is that a male would be more likely to want to battle instead of being a second fiddle team member."

Hanna could feel Dinah's head lowering and gave her a brief pat on the head to reassure her what the man said was only public opinion, she did her best to take no offense to the previous statement and grabbed Marlon's pokeball from her side "No I need one for him." she said releasing Marlon slightly damp onto the counter top.

The man took a step back as Marlon flopped around the counter with a snide smirk "Tympole!"

"So you want a translator to go on him?"

"Yes. Those are cheaper right?"

"Well yes, collar or headset translators are much cheaper than universal translators that humans wear, the only thing is collar are fitted depending on type and a Pokemon with a finned body type might be harder to place, I'll check the back to see if we have any."

Hanna returned to Dinah and grabbed her face communicating via psychic link "Remember what that man said was only the opinion of a select few older trainers it's got nothing to do with you, you're plenty tough."

The small audio's face showed signs of her being slightly distressed but she spoke as calmly as she could manage "I know." she mentally murmured. The whole thing confused Marlon who thought the two of them were staging yet another staring contest.

After the sound of falling cardboard subsided the man returned with a small device that looked like a pair of headphones coated in a hardened gel substance. "It just so happened we had one more left in stock."

"Tym, pole." Marlon cheered in a low voice as the man fit the small machine to his round head, the man did his best to adjust the machine to the small creatures slippery body "There!" he said happily.

"Tym...huh?"

Hanna approached slowly to pick up Marlon who looked at her confused "I can...speak human?"

The girl gave a large smile and pulled Marlon closer "We call it English around these parts."

Marlon grumbled "Ah, stop it hugging is not manly."

Hanna held him away from her and smiled again "How can you talk about manly with a cute face like that?"

"Ahem." the man pretend coughed in order to regain the attention of the young girl "The collar will be forty-thousand pokedollars."

"Ah OK." Hanna set Marlon back on the counter before reaching into her wallet to hand the man the money.

"You're a pretty new trainer I take it then?"

"Yes." Hanna mumbled blinking once again.

The man pulled out from underneath his counter a small bag "Take these, a few spare vitamins and berries free of charge."

The way the man handed her the bag felt as though it was meant to be an apology for the earlier comment that left an obvious mental bruise. Hanna did not feel entirely better about the situation but the sentiment was kind enough for her to return it with thanks before she left the store still wearing her pajamas.

A short ways down from the pokemart was the entrance back to the route that led into the city, sadly it was still considered restricted due to the thief fiasco,and so the border would have to do. Same as before she set up discarded bottles and cans along the fence post separating the city from the route.

"OK. Dinah we are going to try this one more time-" As energetic and steadfast as she was Hanna was still caught off guard by Marlon shooting out from his pokeball and appearing infront of her still swearing his translator "Give me a chance boss." he squeaked.

Hanna put her right palm to her forehead, looking at Dinah it was obvious there was a lot on her mind and even morose she was obviously tired, Marlon's moment of selfishness may not have ever come at a better time, the only problem was Hanna was selfish too and felt that having an electric type attack would help more than training Marlon.

A fight between the three of them was deemed a meaningless effort in the end and Marlon got his wish of his own training session.

Two hours passed before Hana returned to the center showered and retrieved her clothing in time to head for the dock. Without Lora of course.

The ship was crowded with trainers and travelers all headed for Castelia, along the docks several frillish waved happily as the passengers boarded the vessel with happy smiles.

Hanna herself was just as happy as anyone, the stagnation that had overcome her journey up to this point was annoying, even more so was having Lora by her side the entire time, oddly she had not spotted the girl since boarding the ship.

The ship was full of eager trainers happily chattering with each other and their pokemon and even more eye-catching was the gambling room at the center of the vessel with slot machines lined against the walls and tables covering the floor, the bright lights of the room mesmerized her almost instantly.

Before she could gamble all her money away however she needed to place her belongings in what was known as the luggage bay, a small steel room with small cubbies that held all of the traveling items of the passengers along for the ride as they enjoyed the boats services.

Along the hallway that lead back to the hall a graceful swanna danced through the skies outside the windows, for just that moment Hanna really wished she could have afforded a camera.

Returning to the gambling hall with nothing but her wallet and pokeballs Hanna found herself itching to throw her money away. At the moment she had singled out a nice slot machine away from the crowd of gritters selling pristine she sat down with a cup full of coins and just as she prepared to insert the first coin a voice as angelic as humanly possible with a tone as wicked as any demon devoured her from behind "You ditched me just to gamble?"

"No I ditched you so that I could have fun gambling."

"Only ten years old with a habit that dangerous already. They really should enforce laws on things like that."

Hanna finally turned to face her assaulter Lora stood hunched behind her with their faces a mere inches apart from one another, so close it was hard to tell that she was now wearing glasses, and as far as back as she could remember Lora did not wear glasses.

With a frown Hanna clicked her teeth and said as plainly as possible "New fashion choice?"

Lora smiled eagerly and adjusted her glasses doing her best impersonation of a secretary "These are all the rage in Castelia city. A gentleman I met on the boat told me so."

Watching someone she knew so well who was considered as ever intelligent be scammed by a grifter gave Hanna a small sense of bitter comfort that she did her best to make unapparent as she turned to place a coin in the slot machine "Yeah...they look great on you."

Lora giggled before sitting in the slot machine next to her turned to face Hanna's machine "You know I think that's the nicest thing you said to me. Ever."

Hanna grumbled "That's not true I said I really liked the ponyta you got for your seventh birthday party."

"The one you attempted to steal and lead into the forest on a rampage?"

"That's the one."

A click resonated as the slot machine began to tumble and before long each and every slot landed on an ekans, this was wholly discouraging, oddly though instead of being tempted to leave or switch machines Hanna was eager to enter more coins.

Lora sat legs crossed chin and hand with a disappointed frown "If you put any more in your just going to keep losing until your dry of assets."

"Yeah I know, casinos must be twice as fun." Hanna scowled back.

Hanna reached into her pocket and grabbed another coin still agitated and prepared to insert it into the machine when her hand shook wildly and she dropped it onto the ground.

"Am I going crazy?" she asked looking down at the dropped coin.

Lora next to her on high alert frowned and said "No. The ship shook."

Just as she finished speaking another wild thump resounded from outside the ship followed by another shake.

"Damn. Why now? I was going to win big."

Lora grabbed her hand and dragged her outside to the deck of the ship. A group of large dark blue giant dancing snowflakes surrounded the ship flying around shooting out ice beams that crashed into the sides of the ship.

"Those things...are they making miniature icebergs?" Lora asked frightened as she looked up at the creatures dance around the sky.

Hanna clenched the pokeballs at her side and bit her lip "This is going to get really annoying."