Chapter 21: Journey to Marigold City

Tuesday, April 12th 9:12 am

"Your brother is being extremely irresponsible lately," sounding and looking very irritated with the current situation, my mother griped endlessly to me over a video phone. "He hasn't called for a week, and he promised me-promised- that he would never abandon a chance to let us know what's happening. I swear, sometimes I do not understand all of this journey hype."

I found myself feeling very puzzled, trying to keep track of what we were talking about. "Well, uh, didn't you ever go on a journey, Mom?" I held my breath in anticipation for the answer.

"What? Well, yes. For about a year I traveled. But, I grew bored eventually and settled down and I got a nice steady job. But, we're not talking about my childhood, Gwen. We're talking about your brother. Did this gym leader explain what he did to upset her exactly?" Mom looked serious now, eyes narrowed.

"No."

"Nothing at all? Do you need me to drive out there and speak with her? It just doesn't seem reasonable or professional to bar a child from having gym battle simply because one disagreed with a sibling or relative." She shook her head with disapproval. "Do you need me to write her a letter?"

Knowing where this was going, I vigorously shook my head. "Don't!"

My mother has the strangest ways of dealing with people. When I was six, Aaron and I were sent to this week long summer camp where several older kids took to teasing us and our cabin mates. When Mom found out about the situation, she sent countless letters to the kids, counselors, and parents telling them off. When that didn't work, she drove out to the camp and told them off personally with Granny backing her up the entire time.

Did it show how loyal she was as a mother? Yes. But, did that keep it all from being utterly embarrassing? Um, no!

Right now in the present, Mom was regarding me with a very serious expression. "Understand this, Gwen. No one messes with my kids and gets away with this. If this issue isn't settled by the end of April, we're all coming to Goldenrod City, understand?"

"Uh, okay…" I picked at my nails absently, feeling a lot like Julie. "So, you have no idea where Aaron is?"

Mom shook her head again. "No. Have you tried calling him?"

"I lost his number."

"Fine. I'll give it to you. He might not answer the phone, but it's worth the try."

Five minutes later, I was pacing around the Pokémon Center lobby, listening intently while my Pokégear rang. Aaron had to pick up. Aaron needed to pick up. I needed him to pick up. So, why wasn't fate making him pick up? Wasn't I asking the universe politely enough?

Finally, someone picked up on the other end. "Hello?"

"Aaron! Where are you?" I asked immediately.

"Oh, Gwennie! My little sis! No, how are you? Or, how's life treating you? You're just jumping in and questioning my current location! My Arceus, it's as if you need to send a hit man to me immediately." Aaron sounded like his usual cocky self. I had to wonder if this was why Whitney hated him so much. "Now, explain, sis. Explain."

"Tell me where you are first, Aaron!" I made my tone as urgent and serious as possible, hoping to get the info that I needed.

Aaron began chuckling, and I seriously felt like throwing my phone across the room. "Chill! I'm in Marigold City right now. I'm participating in a tournament; a seriously epic one, too! There's no doubt about it. I'm making it to the finals!"

"Good for you!" I said as sarcastically as possible.

Aaron's voice sounded a little hurt now. "Geez! Who poured salt in your cereal?"

"No one…" I mumbled nearly inaudibly. "But it's thanks to you that the Goldenrod gym leader refuses to battle me. What did you do to get her so pissed off? She's been calling you a jerk, and because of you she won't battle me or Sam."

There was nothing but silence on the other end for nearly twenty seconds. Eventually, Aaron chose to speak up. "Wait, you're in Goldenrod City? Oh, great…"

"What did you do?" I demanded.

"Nothing!" Aaron sounded uncomfortable for once, which pleased me. "There was just an, uh, misunderstanding…And, anyway, after the tournament, I'll come to Goldenrod. I'll convince her or something..."

"Will that work?"

"I don't know." Now it was Aaron's turn to mumble. "The tournament will be over in a few days, Gwen. When it is, I'll be in Goldenrod, I promise! Now, I've got to go." There was a single click, followed by an inevitable silence.

I closed my Pokégear and stuffed it into my pocket, still unsure of what to do.

Tuesday, April 12th 9:30 am

I joined the others in the cafeteria with a bowl of cereal. I told them everything, ending my explanation with Aaron's promise to show up at the end of the week.

"And here I was hoping to get my battle with Whitney over and done with." Sam looked thoroughly annoyed as he chomped on a piece of toast. "Instead, we'll all be pinning our hopes on your hotshot brother. What a great plan!"

I glared at him. "Don't steal my sarcasm, Samuel." I sighed though, understanding his frustration. "I have a plan, but it'll take longer and you guys might disagree with it. Why don't we just travel to Marigold City, and get Aaron ourselves? Nurse Joy told me that it's a four day trip. That's plenty of time to train and catch more Pokémon, right?"

"I can't." Shaking her head, Mallory immediately spoke her thoughts. "I'm sorry, but I'm not missing the Pokeathlon this weekend."

Julie gazed at us with very serious green eyes. "Well, I can't either. There's going to be a Carlita Simeon sale this Thursday!" In a giddy way, Julie began gushing and giggling. "I can't wait!"

"Who the heck is Carlita and why should we care about a sale?" I asked, not bothering to conceal the trace of viciousness in my tone.

"She's a very well known designer with plenty of expensive accessories to display!" Julie was still giddy, too giddy to speak seriously. "Everything will be twenty five percent off! I'll buy things that cost a thousand dollars for only seven hundred and fifty!"

What was more surprising? The fact that that was considered to be a sale or the fact that Julie knew how to do math?

But, moving on, already two of my three friends were against the plan, and only one was left. I looked Sam directly in the eye, but he seemed to be deep in thought.

"I'll just go alone." I sighed deeply, and my words seemed to break through Sam's mind.

He looked up quickly and frowned. "As if! I'm going with you. There won't be anything for me to do here."

"Really? You'll come?" I was more than surprised.

"That's what I said. And, I hope we're leaving soon. The sooner we do, the sooner we can get your brother back here."

I nodded. "We'll leave tomorrow."

Wednesday, April 13th 8:02 am

As bright and early as we could manage, Sam and I awoke with our bags fully packed and stocked with needed supplies. All five of Sam's Pokémon were fully healed, as were my three current ones. The cafeteria was just beginning to serve food, but we managed to nab a few waffle sticks and orange juice before departing to the lobby.

Looking tired and slightly cranky in a dark gray nightshirt, Mallory gave us both angry looks. "You guys want me to babysit Julie alone?"

"If you do I'll give you money to buy a track outfit for the Pokeathlon." I pushed a wad of cash into her open palm. "Get what you want. It sucks that we won't be here to see you perform."

"I'll get the blonde to videotape it." Mallory said, counting out the cash. "Call us when you get to the city, kay?"

"Right!"

We were soon leaving Goldenrod City, departing on the very right of the metropolis with the aid of Sam's Pokégear. Just the two of us, trying to find my brother so we could calm a bratty gym leader down. Who would've known that that would be us?

As I really thought about it, a month ago I would've been just turning ten. I had been ten for an entire month. A month ago, I probably didn't know what I would be up against in a Pokémon journey. I wouldn't expect the psycho starter that was Zorro. I wouldn't expect the ease of having two gym badges. I wouldn't know the spunkiness of Levina or the adorability of Spykes. I would never expect that I would be turned into a Pichu. I wouldn't expect getting lost in Union Cave and coming across a mystery girl.

A month ago today, I was probably still trying to figure out a way to convince my mom about Pokémon journeys and adventures. And, now, here I was; on a journey and encountering craziness at every corner. Unexpected craziness, but pretty regular stuff nonetheless.

In a matter of ten minutes, we left Goldenrod behind with a new city and goal in our mindsets. Did I know what to expect along the way. Not at all.

So, here's to the future!

So, Sam and Gwen have now gone in their own direction for the time being, hoping to locate the cocky Aaron. And, Mallory and Julie have been left behind in Goldenrod. What will come out of this new dilemma?

Yeah, I'm not the best with ending words…

Mallory is not being shoved aside for any real reason. I'm actually hoping to make her a major character in my other story, Struggles: Hopeful Aspirations.

Why? Cause that story focuses on coordinators, as well as the Pokeathlon.

To be honest, I really needed Sam and Gwen out of the way. Sending them to go get Aaron was the perfect way to do so, besides killing them off, which I'm totally not planning on doing any time soon…

Anyway, as always leave a review, yada, yada…

Au Revoir, readers!