September 26, 2014
"Good job, Dash. Return."
The pokémon lay exhaustedly on her side, still panting heavily as Nora returned her. The G-Man stashed the pokéball on her belt as she strode to the sidewalks of Viridian, half a step faster than the people surrounding her. The streets were overflowing with activity, and Nora mixed with it naturally. She only spared a glance or two over her shoulder, incase she was being followed.
The pokémon center wasn't hard to get to. She ambled casually through the back door, and came into the supply room. Glass shelves of pokéballs, all different types and colors, covered the walls from top to bottom.
Mewtwo stood at the room's center, awaiting her arrival. He motioned to a pile of clothes, placed on the floor at the corner of the room- Nurse Joy's dress, hat, stockings and shoes.
((There is her uniform. She's already home, thinking she has the day off.))
"Good," Nora said, tearing off her jacket. "What do we do about these pokémon here, though? Should we teleport them somewhere safe?"
((I already teleported the majority of the pokémon to the spring. These are pokémon due to be picked up today, while the rest are empty pokéballs.))
"Good thinking," Nora praised. She paused, then turned around and unbuttoned her blouse. "Don't look at me."
Mewtwo chuckled at this. ((Believe me, Nora, I have no attraction to you whatsoever.))
"Oh, that's right. Sometimes I forget that you're not a human."
((Why is that?))
"I can hold full conversations with you,"
Another echoing chuckle. ((I see.))
As Nora pulled Joy's dress over her head, she could hear the ventilation shaft cover clack and scuff as it was removed.
"What are you doing?"
((This is where you want me to hide, isn't it?))
"Sure, but the last time I made you go up there, you complained about 'clambering around in the dark like a rebellious teen in a silly movie.' I didn't expect you to be in such a rush to do it again."
((I'm not enjoying this, is that's what you mean, I just-)) but he was cut off by the ceiling's loud, obnoxious creek.
Nora froze, Joy's hat in her hands. "You just what?"
((…Umm, Nora?))
Mewtwo said 'umm', a bad sign. "What is it?"
((Er… don't turn around.))
Nora smirked to herself, placing the hat on the shelf. "Are you getting undressed?"
((This isn't funny,)) he snapped, suddenly tense.
"Alright, are you going to tell me, or should I just turn around?"
He sighed. ((… The shaft is too small.))
Nora turned, and gawked at the sight of Mewtwo's large, kangaroo like legs waving in the air, tail flailing in irritation.
Nora hollered with laughter. She knew this would only annoy him, but she couldn't help herself. An angry growl echoed in her head.
((Will you get me out of here?))
Nora walked up, still giggling. "Can't you just teleport out?"
((Teleporting takes energy, which I'd like to preserve. The last time something went wrong during a mission, I was nearly captured.))
Nora understood this, grabbing one of his now limp legs and tugging sharply.
Mewtwo grunted. ((Ow. Ow! Careful.))
"You really wedged yourself up there, didn't you?"
((Can you keep your comments to yourself?))
"Of course not."
He grunted again, this time at her words.
Nora pulled, and felt him getting loose. Another sharp tug, and she had fallen sprawled on her back, Mewtwo on top of her.
"Damn," she hissed, the rest of her breath flying out of her. She coughed as she took in another breath. "Okay, no more shafts for you… get your ankle out of my face…"
((Get your ass off my tail.))
They detangled themselves. Nora started to giggle again, walking back over to the remaining pile of clothes, picking up some hair bands. "Well, where can you hide now?"
((I haven't the slightest idea. Maybe I can just teleport in when the commotion starts… well, how can I tell when it starts if I'm not watching? I could… no, reading someone's mind could give me away… damn, now I want to fit in the shaft.))
"Maybe you could teleport into a cupboard or something, behind the counter."
((Will I fit?))
"You might."
(('Might' isn't a solution…))
"Do you still 'haven't the slightest idea?'"
((…Yes.))
"Then shut up."
She grabbed the hat, placed it on, and turned around. She felt like saying something like ta daa, instant joy! but was stopped by Mewtwo's grouchy expression.
((Why do I put up with all of this nonsense?))
"Revenge against Team Rocket."
((Ah.))
"Hey Nate, quit walkin' so fast… Natey boy…"
Nathan glanced at the bully tracking him, having to look up far to see his face. "I paid you in advance last week."
"I don' take advances, I just take bonuses. I told you that yesterday."
Nathan stopped walking. Mitch and his goons had him cornered, behind a building and a wire fence. Young fifth graders called this area 'the torture chamber'.
I should have paid more attention to where I was going… how does he always do this?
"Are you going to hit me again?"
Mitch cracked several knuckles into is palm. "I'll prolly hit you more than once."
"I see," Nathan said, his tone casual. He then ran to the wire fence, and launched himself on it, clambering up to the top. One of the goons took hold of his ankle, and he had to kick down with his other foot to free himself.
He pulled himself over the top of the fence a bit too quickly, and wound up falling to the ground on his side. He groaned, staggering back up to find two goons climbing the fence, the rest of the mini-gang running around the fence to get to him.
Geeze, these guys are persistent.
He ran. They chased him. It was very exhausting. Soon he was far from school grounds, but they kept tailing him, for whatever reason. He grew out of breath, wondering if he should just stop now and let them beat him up, just so he might have enough time to get to class. He wasn't outrunning them, that was certain.
He tore himself across a large field, and saw a tree up ahead of him. In this tree sat a snoring girl, one he vaguely recognized.
Yes! I'm saved!
He waved his arms at her. "Hey, over here! Help me out!"
The girl jerked a bit between the branches as she awoke, rubbing her eyes and round glasses. "Eh?"
Nathan tumbled over a rock and hit the ground, groaning again. Mitch and his mini-gang caught up with him, all of them laughing.
"You're asking for help from some nerdy girl?" Mitch asked. "Man, you're hopeless."
The girl glanced over at the bully, pushing her glasses back over her freckled nose. "And what's wrong with asking a girl for help?"
"Girls can't fight," Mitch replied.
The girl snorted. She jumped down from the tree, beside Nathan, brushing her brown hair back over the shoulders. She wore muddy and frayed overalls, though this wasn't as intimidating as her glare.
"I thought the kids in Pallet were more educated than that," she said with a smirk. "I guess I was wrong. Alright, put 'em up!" she said, fists at her chin.
"Alex," Nathan said tiredly, still on his hands and knees, "you shouldn't fight alone."
"Why not? They're not even in middle school yet- I beat them in experience alone."
The boys looked at each other, confused; the girl, Alex, didn't look much older than they were.
"I know, but you're still outnumbered."
Her shoulders sagged. "Yeah, you're right… Ah well, I'll just have to call back up then."
"Back up?" Mitch asked.
Nathan stood up, then gave the group behind him a smile. Alex put her fingers to her mouth and whistled sharply.
There was a pause. A shadow suddenly fell over the mini-gang, beneath a cloudless sky. All of them started to panic, Mitch staring about wildly.
"Man, he's making an entrance," Alex said to herself.
"Up there!" one of the group yelled, and all looked to the sky. A dark figure was growing bigger by the second, then the beast swooped down on them, wings outstretched, the wind that followed him nearly knocking them all over.
It was Alex's black charizard. The dragon type landed a few feet away, a blazing flame flying from his mouth into the air, before he faced them with a snarl. This was more than enough the send the mini-gang tripping over themselves on their way off.
Alex and Nathan laughed, Alex giving him a pat on the back. "Did you see how they freaked out?" she asked him. "I wouldn't worry about those guys for a while."
"Thanks, Alex," he said, "you're a good friend."
Alex wrapped an arm around his neck and gave his a rough noogie. "Oh yeah? What kind of friend doesn't see their friend unless they're being chased by thugs? I've been in Pallet for almost a week, kiddo!"
Nathan yelped, pushing himself out of her grasp. "Well geeze, how was I supposed to know?"
Alex smirked down at him. "What has distracted you so much that you don't even know?"
"Know what? Wait… Oh, you mean…"
She nodded, grinning. "Yup! I'm in this year's Pokémon League contest. Got all the badges and everything… So I'm just hanging out here, since it's close to Indigo Plateau."
"So you're going to be on TV and everything?"
"I sure am."
Nathan smiled. "That's really cool. I'm jealous."
Alex gave him a punch in the shoulder. "Aw come on, it's not that big of a deal. Everyone gets into tournaments at some point when they're training- I just hope I do well. Lets get you back to class, I'll tell you more about it later… Charcoal, return."
As the giant dragon disappeared in a red blaze of light, Nathan kicked at the rock he had tripped on. "Alex, do you think I'll be a good trainer, even if I'm sixteen?"
Alex gave him a pat on the shoulder she'd recently bruised. "Age doesn't matter, kid. You'll do great someday, I'm sure of it."
"But I'll be so far behind…"
"For example," she went on, "look at your mom- she started late too. She's a great trainer, isn't she?"
