Thank you Madwoman! Edited chapter )
"I'm going to have to let you know in advance that I'm afraid of forests," I told Jack warily as we folded our bikes into our bags, the sun not yet set but hidden behind the trees of Viridian forest. Jack stared at me.
"Are you really?" he asked, surprised. I raised an eyebrow and he shrugged, looking away. "You do just fine in caves," he reminded me. I shrugged.
"Yeah, well in caves, you're protected from above, there are no creepy noises, and most importantly, there are no bugs," I told him with a shudder. I glanced around the forest with eyes narrowed in distaste. "Caves are heaven." He chuckled and, to my surprise, squeezed my hand.
"Come on. I won't let any nasty caterpies hurt you," he crooned. I folded my hands by my cheek and looked at him with a huge, stupid smile and an innocent expression.
"My hero!" I swooned. He laughed and I grinned, resettling my bag. It was starting to get heavy, with the fossil I'd found in Mt. Moon, my bike, my clothes, and my Pokéballs. And my badge. Couldn't forget my lovely Boulder Badge.
"Viridian's not bad. Gideon took me through a few times when I was little to get to dad's," he said. I nodded.
"Whatever. The faster you get me out of here, the faster I feed you." His white teeth flashed in the darkness. I sighed as I was blinded one last time and the sun disappeared. Jack began to walk and I followed him obediently. The path was pretty clear cut, bordered by trees, but it wove and wove, and there were forks everywhere. We walked in mostly silence for about an hour as the moon rose behind us, giving us a little light. Jack seemed to know where he was going either way. I shivered as some kind of night Pokémon crowed a warning and unconsciously shifted closer to Jack.
"Maybe we should just stay at your mom's place for the night," I suggested softly, looking nervously around, waiting for some unknown bug-like assassin to leap from the shadows. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Calm down." He soothed. "I know this path really well." I bit my lip but silenced myself, keeping close to him. "Look, you see that little pouch on that tree?" Jack asked pointing to a tall evergreen. I nodded, seeing the little canvas sack.
"Inside is powdered corn. These little sachets are all over Viridian Forest, because Gideon and Dad use them to train birds to find their way through," he explained. They make a perfect trail into Viridian." I nodded.
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. Now that his path was concrete, I was more comfortable. Suddenly, there was a crash in the brush and I jerked sideways and away into Jack, who wrapped an arm around my stomach, looking ahead of me, waiting. My body against his, I could feel his tense, protective stance. There was a hiss and Jack covered my mouth with his hand as I shrieked. A pinser broke through a small hedge and galloped past us on all fours, closely followed by a ferocious looking scyther, its wings beating furiously, ignoring us as well. When their noise had faded away, Jack slowly brought his hand to his side. He looked at me, trying to breath.
"You okay?" he asked. I realized that he was trembling a little too. I didn't blame him. I nodded, biting my lip as he let me go. "Don't worry," he murmured calmingly. "Scythers and pinsers have always hated each other," he explained. I nodded again, just wanting to take his hand and not let it go until the sun came up and we were out of this place. I hated forests. Absolutely hated them. "Come on, let's keep moving." He pointed to another pouch. "This is the third one. Only three more to go." I nodded and hugged myself as we trotted onward. I was beginning to get cold in my tank top, collared shirt and khakis. We passed the next sack without a hitch and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was the next marker where we ran into trouble.
It was on one of two trees that marked the right path of a three-way fork. As I cocked my head to see it, the moonlight shined on something as Jack pointed it out to me. I narrowed my eyes as Jack strode forward. Following him tentatively, I shrieked and grabbed his arm, yanking him backwards. He yelped and fell as a hiss-click-click sound began.
"Oh god," I whimpered.
"What was that?" Jack asked angrily, brushing himself off and facing me.
"Jack, please," I whispered. His mad expression faded to confusion and I watched in horror over his shoulder. He glanced back and his jaw dropped as he whipped around. The insect on the web that had shined was at least half of Jack's size. He was warningly vibrant, with striped blue and yellow legs- all six of them. The head and body were purple and black, and those pincers could crush me. I swallowed as Jack slowly backed into me. The ariados hissed at him as he reached one arm around me, keeping me in his protection. He calmly reached into his belt, eyes firmly on the attacking Pokémon.
"Storm, ember," he murmured calmly. I watched from under his arm as the little growlithe appeared and barked fearlessly at the ariados, who clicked his pincers in amusement. "Come on boy," Jack growled. Storm yipped and blew fire at the Pokémon, who combated it with small darts. The fire never reached its target. Suddenly, everything flashed, turning negative. Jack whirled around and forced me down, bending over me.
"Shut your eyes," he commanded. I did as told, almost sobbing under his warm protection. Storm whimpered. "Take down!" Jack shouted. The growlithe barked. I heard a yelp and Jack cursed. "Flame wheel! Get the web!" he ordered. There was a tense not-silence and suddenly the ariados made a terrifying scream. I whimpered and Jack wrapped his arms firmly around me. I opened my eyes. "Good boy! Let's see ember again!" he ordered. Storm barked and the ariados hissed in pain. It cried out and Jack held me to him. "Close your eyes!" he roared as everything flashed again. I was sobbing now, confused. Something was messing with my head.
It was like my head was this small empty space, waiting to be filled. Tendrils of black whipped through it, curling and rippling. They widened, exploring the walls of my mind. Then they began to stick. I cried out in pain as the smudges of absolute darkness began to paper my brain. They plugged up everything, blocked light and consciousness. Suddenly, my mouth dried out, the darkness wrapping my tongue and teeth. Then I couldn't breath, whips of shadows plugging my nose. I was blind to the negative world, where the night shined like the hottest day and the moon was a terrifying black. That was my one relief. Sounds assaulted my ears before they, too, were closed.
------
"Come on, wake up. Ari, please. We need to get out of here, and then I'll take you to a doctor. Please Ari," the voice was deep and familiar, but pleading. I managed to open my eyes. It was mercifully dark, and my heart slowed when no shadows blinded me.
"Jack?" I rasped. My mouth was fine too. Dry, but free. My eyes cleared and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank god," he whispered. I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath. He was kneeling over me, knees on either side of my thighs.
"What happened?" I asked quietly.
"Night shade and psychic," he murmured, brushing hair from my forehead. My eyes fluttered shut.
"Where's the ariados?" I asked. Jack pressed something small and round into my hand and I realized it was a Pokéball. I smiled in exhaustion as my eyes opened again. I let him take it and reached up to push his short hair away from his face. Dizzily, I left it there, smiling stupidly. He smiled sympathetically at me.
"I'm going to have to carry you out of here, aren't I?" he asked. I grinned.
"I'll be fine," I said, reminding myself to drop my hand. He nodded and sat up, then stood, holding his hands out to me. He pulled me to my feet and I promptly collapsed again. He caught me and raised an eyebrow. I shrugged.
"It may be a problem that I can't feel my legs," I decided. He smiled and scooped me into his hold. I leaned my head on his torso, ready to go to sleep.
"Don't try pegging this one on me," he warned. It was my turn to smile.
"Wouldn't dream of it," I said with a yawn. I had other things to dream of.
-----
Viridian's Nurse Joy was surprised to see us when we walked in the door of the Pokémon Center at about midnight. Jack had shifted me so that my chin was on his shoulder and my legs were wrapped around his body. He carried me like a father taking his little girl home from a long day of play, except that I'd been mentally attacked where the tendrils of night shade couldn't get to Jack's eyes. She quickly ushered us into a room and left a small draft for me to drink when I woke up. Jack released Flicker and he promptly cuddled up to my sleeping body. Then he went to sleep.
The headache I awoke with felt like a thousand grumpy men were bashing my skull in with leaden hammers. It took all of my strength just to open my eyes and see Flicker earnestly nudging the flask towards me. I dry sobbed as I grabbed it and forced the nasty stuff down my throat. Curling up again, I hid from the world. If hangovers were anything like this, I would never drink in my life.
A few hours later, cool fingers rested on my temples, and I opened my eyes. The concussing pressure had disappeared, leaving me covered in sweat but otherwise unharmed. Jack smiled at me, sitting on my bed. I smiled back at him.
"I owe you." I told him. He smirked.
"Doubly so. I never got dinner." I laughed and sat up, stretching my arms to the ceiling.
"Let me take a shower and you can show me Viridian after I feed you," I told him. He smiled and stood, helping me to my slightly shaky feet.
"I can do that," he replied. I hugged him tightly and grabbed a towel, heading into the tiny Pokémon Center bathroom. Before I could shut the door, Flicker, Saffron, Stella and Aquatrix squeezed in. I glanced at the small, box shower, and gulped.
"You're lucky Spark and Boulder didn't get in!" Jack grunted. "Feisty little rock," he grumbled. I grinned, closing the door and opening the shower. When we were all clean and dry, I returned to the room to get clothes, Jack asleep. I shrieked and he bolted forward, jumping to his feet and running to me.
"What, what's wrong?" he asked, searching me for wounds. I put a hand on my chest, gasping for breath.
"Christ on a fucking cracker, Jack!" I yelped. "Did you have to let him out in the room?" I whimpered. Jack's newest addition was hanging on the ceiling, watching me curiously. I backed into the wall, hugging myself, unable to not look at it. Jack rubbed my arm gently.
"Hey, it's okay. He's tame. I got it covered." He muttered calmingly. I shuddered and looked away. "Come on," he soothed. To my surprise, he ran a hand through my wet hair. I struggled to keep my eyes open and not lean into his touch. "He didn't mean to hurt you." I looked pleadingly at Jack.
"You weren't in my head. I know he didn't, but…" I trailed off, glancing at the spider Pokémon, who clicked his pincers questioningly. I shuddered. Jack sighed. "I'll learn to like him, just give me time," I pleaded. He sighed. "Just keep him in his ball until unless we're outside and we have space." I begged. He shook his head.
"Fine." He muttered. He turned and held his Pokéball out. "Flash, return." He returned to his bed and lay back on it, staring at the ceiling. I sighed and my body sagged. Why was he being difficult? Maybe he was hungry.
"Jack," I whined, hating the sound of my voice. "It hurt, I was… blocked. Everywhere. I was trapped inside my own head," I whispered.
"Look, I know," Jack muttered. I furrowed my brow. "He's been lurking in the forest for years now. He did it to me when I was your age." I bit my lip and slowly moved over to him, sitting tentatively on the edge of his bed.
"I'm sorry," I said, lightly twining my fingers into his. "I'm afraid. I can't help it. Give me some time," I repeated. He sighed and looked at me, squeezing my fingers gently. I smiled shyly and he let go. Wordlessly, I stood and grabbed clothes. I returned, my hair in a ponytail, wearing a plain white tee shirt, my grey vest, and my red tie with a pair of dark jeans. Jack smiled tentatively and I gave him a bright smile of my own, letting him know everything was fine. He stood wordlessly and we collected our things in easy silence, only breaking the quiet to laugh as Flicker excitedly shook himself onto a disgruntled looking Aquatrix, who was fully aware he was her son. She pawed him over and began to lick him as he squirmed. I giggled and Jack smiled. We slung our bags over our shoulders and I returned Aquatrix, who couldn't be out of her Pokéball without water for long. Flicker, however, made it clear he would not be confined. Shaking my head, we headed downstairs, thanked Nurse Joy, and strode into the daylight.
Flicker trotting ahead of us, tail raised high, we walked down Viridian's quaint streets, searching out someplace to eat. Finally, I pointed out a little café to Jack, who shrugged.
"I'll decide when I see how big the meals are," he informed me. I rolled my eyes, smiling anyway, and let him escort me inside. I quickly looked around, relieved by a "Pokémon Welcome Here!" sign. A woman popped up, dressed impeccably.
"Hello, a table for two?" she asked briskly. I nodded. "Outside or in?" I looked at Jack, who jerked his head out the way we had come.
"Outside," I confirmed. She nodded and took our menus, leading us outside to a neat set of garden furniture, a table and two chairs made of lacy iron. There were a few others under a neatly striped awning. A big tulip sat in a vase as Jack and I took our seats.
"Your waitress will be here in a moment," she told us. We nodded and Jack quickly cracked open a menu. Before I had even opened mine, he had snapped his shut, looking pleased.
"They have foot long subs!" he told me excitedly. I laughed.
"I'm glad you're happy," I told him. He was almost bouncing in his seat and I surveyed him over the top of my menu. Suddenly, he pulled a Pokéball from his belt and released it. Lunus appeared and promptly sat in the sunlight. For a night Pokémon, he certainly enjoyed the warmth. We both watched in interest as his nose perked up and he swiveled his head to stare fixedly at Flicker, who shrunk into my ankles. I raised my brows at Jack, who shrugged, before we looked down again. To my amusement, Lunus trotted over and picked up the eevee by the scruff of his neck and promptly trotted away, Flicker disagreeing loudly. I grinned at Jack, who smiled.
"He must have gotten his fathering skills from me," he decided. I laughed as a girl approached us.
"Hi, I'm Jenny, I'll be your waitress." She said, putting two glasses of ice water on the table. "Can I start you off with something to drink?" she asked.
"Diet Coke," Jack answered. She scribbled it down and looked at me.
"Mountain Dew," I replied. She nodded and disappeared. There was a brief silence as we sipped our water and thought. Finally, Jack inquired,
"Now what?" I smiled.
"I showed you what my mom got for my birthday, right?" I asked. He nodded.
"Any day Pallet-Cinnabar tickets?" he said tentatively. I nodded.
"Are you ready to fight Blaine, do you think?" I wondered. He bit his lip.
"Nah, definitely not. Flash is weak against fire, and Storm wouldn't be able to do much." He explained. "Quake and Azure could do some damage, but I'm not confident," he told me. I nodded.
"Well, I do want to go south," I informed him. "I've always wanted to go to Cinnabar, and maybe we could visit the Seafoam Islands?" I suggested. He smiled. "I mean, it just sounds like an amazing place to explore," I told him. He nodded.
"Are there any contests that you know of?" he asked me. "Are you even ready for another?" I smiled.
"Very. I didn't see flyers or notices for any, but I can look if we find the library," I suggested as Jenny placed our drinks in front of us.
"I couldn't help but overhear," she said tentatively, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "But my boyfriend left for a contest in Cinnabar this morning. It's this Friday, I think." I raised my brows at Jack, who nodded. That would give us four days including today. I smiled at her.
"Thank you so much," I said. She smiled back and nodded.
"Are you ready to order?" she inquired. I glanced at Jack, who looked excited again. I hadn't even looked at my menu.
"Go," I said to him, scanning my menu and delighting at the Panini section. When she looked at me, I handed her the menu.
"The chicken pesto Panini?" I requested. She nodded and disappeared. As the door closed behind her, Lunus trotted back, looking pleased with himself. Flicker followed closely at his heels, dirt all over him. I sighed.
"Flick," I moaned. He beamed up at me and mewed, planting his paws on my thigh as Jack laughed. He stroked his umbreon.
"You teach him to be a man," he said firmly. Lunus purred, rubbing against Jack's shins. I sighed and dusted off my eevee, pulling him into my lap. I held up my glass, and Jack copied me.
"Cheers," I decided.
"To what?" he asked. I smiled thoughtfully.
"Everything."
-----
Jack and I relaxed that day. We found a camping spot just south of Viridian (stays of more than a night at the center cost money.) We would spend that day and the next in Route 1, stay in Pallet or just outside the day after that, and take the ferry to Cinnabar the next morning, train on the island for a day, and attend the tournament the next day. From there it was undecided. Our long-term plans always got turned around anyway. While we lazed away the day, Jack made sure to battle a passing trainer so we could eat out that night and buy supplies when we next needed them.
Tuesday, the next day, I managed to call my mom and tell her about my win. She smiled and told me not to let it go to my head, and also that I might pass Sam: he and one of his friends had started from Pallet the day before. While the new additions to our teams met (even Flash, hanging from a tree a little ways away), Jack and I talked and discussed tactics for my contest. It was a good rest day, and I didn't leave the campsite except to find water.
The next day, riding gently down the even Route 1, Jack and I took it easy again. We were in no rush to make a contest or a battle or a birthday. And Route 1 was beautiful.
"How did you catch Lunus?" I asked Jack suddenly, about ten minutes out of Viridian. He cocked his head, and Lunus, running beside him, glanced up at me.
"I wish I could say it was interesting, but I was wandering in Viridian Forest when he trotted out of nowhere and followed me home," Jack said with a smile. I raised my brows.
"Eevee's are like that, I suppose," I mused, glancing down at Flicker, who was thoroughly enjoying his ride at the front of my basket, pause planted on the front. Jack grinned and Flicker looked up at me.
"Wanna run with Lunus?" I asked. He nodded excitedly and I slowed a little, reaching in to pull him out, but he was already leaping to the ground, paws blurring to keep up with his father, who looked as if he would raise an eyebrow if he could. I smiled at Jack, who winked, and I blushed looking down at the smooth path again. We made Pallet town at about two, the route being notoriously short. I hurried to feed a cranky Jack while he ran into town for supplies.
When he was happily munching on a bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, he told me,
"There's this big thing in town tonight." I looked up from my apple, which had been bitten by so many of my Pokémon it was barely mine any more. "Well, it's every night," he explained. "Professor Oak is holding this week-long seminar on Pokémon. The town is absolutely packed. Tonight he's doing a showing on Pokémon abilities. Do you want to go?" he asked. I smiled.
"That sounds awesome." I replied. He nodded.
"They've set up this big stage on his farm and everyone will sit outside and have picnics and stuff," he went on. I was excited now.
"I'd love to go," I confirmed. "Is there an admission?" I wondered. He shook his head.
"You can donate to different charities, but you don't have to pay," he told me. I nodded.
"That's great. I'm excited." He smiled, wiping his hands on his pants. I put Spark on my log, still nibbling his apple chunk, as Jack got to his feet. I broke off pieces for Flicker and Saffron, and stood as well, taking the last bite and throwing it into the trees. I stretched.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Come on, let's get you ready for this competition. You should win this one, now that you've got Stella on your side," he said, beckoning to me. "She can battle Lunus." I smirked.
"You're on." I retorted, pulling Stella's ball from my pocket. As a trainer, I knew exactly which Pokéballs were which. You just knew. I tossed it in my hand as Jack led me away from our campsite to another little clearing, just by the road, and settled himself across from me, pulling Lunus' ball from his belt.
"First KO wins," he said simply. I took an offensive stance, legs spread, feet planted firmly, ready for anything. "Lunus!" he called. The umbreon barked, un-phased by the fact that he was battling me.
"Stella!" I said loudly, tossing the Pokéball into the air. As Stella bristled at her opponent, the ball landed in my hand again. I hoped this would work. I knew my odds though. Lunus was faster than any Pokémon I'd seen, so I couldn't rely on Stella's swiftness. I would have to go on her strength and her ferocity.
"Sand attack!" I ordered. The lavender cat swiped her paws this way and that, creating a cloud of dust that none of us could see through. "Now be ready, know the ground!" I added. She mewed her agreement.
"Lunus, pursuit!" Jack called, voice muffled by the dust. "Find her!" I clenched my teeth. A bark and a yelp were heard as the dust cleared away. Stella and Lunus were facing each other, hackles raised, teeth bared. Neither Jack nor I found out what had occurred. "Quick attack!" I winced as Stella was thrown back, but she landed on her feet, panting hard.
"Swift, then follow with your own quick attack!" I demanded. She barked in recognition and stars flew from her muzzle.
"Dodge!" Jack countered. I smiled. Swift was an infallible attack. The glowing stars pursued Lunus, as did my espeon. When swift locked him against a tree and grazed his side, Stella slammed into him, knocking him against the tree.
"Faint attack!" Jack hissed. Lunus disappeared and Stella looked around, alarmed, before the umbreon tackled her from the side. I gritted my teeth.
"Quickly, confusion!" She glowed all over and a blue light began to surround her foe.
"Confuse ray!" Jack barked. I wondered what would happen as Lunus struggled to shake off the blue glow. A sharp spike of black flared off him and wrapped around Stella, even as Lunus yelped in pain. I gasped as the blue glow grew on her too. She had attacked herself and Lunus. When they were both thrown free of confusion, they struggled to their feet, panting.
"Come on, Lunus, finish off with another faint attack!" the trainer bellowed.
"Tackle!" I screamed, hoping. Stella shook herself off and braced herself. Only when Lunus hit her did she shove back, pouring her strength into the attack. "Swift!" I yelled. Struggling against the stronger Pokémon, she shot stars at him again. Lunus growled and stood through the attack, still pushing at Stella's side.
"Bite!" Jack ordered. I covered my mouth with my hands as Stella cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground. There was a dead silence as I stood there, frozen. Lunus was panting hard, watching her form warily. When Jack straightened and nodded at Lunus, he carefully stepped over Stella and began to lick her face. I hadn't really expected to win, had I?
I had. I was getting cocky.
Jack was bending over my espeon as Lunus nuzzled her, and he scooped her into his arms. He glanced at me and I shook myself awake, hurrying over to them. I pulled her to me and kissed her forehead jewel. She licked my cheek and I smiled.
"Lovely battle," I murmured encouragingly. She mewed tiredly and I smiled, returning her to her Pokéball. I knelt down with Jack and stroked a pleased looking Lunus. "Good job," I said. He purred and rubbed his forehead on my knee. I smiled and looked up at Jack, who smiled back at me. We stood and he hugged me as Lunus twined through our legs.
"Hey, that's my sister!" A voice yelled. Jack pulled away and we glanced to the right, where Sam was dropping his bag, looking angry. The guy beside him, a friend of his I recognized from Vermillion, looked exasperated. I sighed.
"Sam, shut up," I groaned as he stormed up to us.
"No. You said he hadn't molested you yet," he informed me. I couldn't believe he remembered that.
"First of all, he hadn't. Second of all, he still hasn't. Third of all, hugging is not molesting!" I said angrily, crossing my arms over my chest, standing in front of Jack and staring him down.
"Well he doesn't have to do it in front of me," Sam growled. I rolled my eyes.
"Being two hours older than me does not give you permission to be a protective older brother!" I told him angrily. "And he didn't know you were there!" Sam crossed his own arms, trying to stare me down. "Should I beat your ass in a Pokémon battle?" I added dangerously. Jack coughed and I covered a smile. Sam glared at me.
"Not fair," he muttered. I nodded.
"That's the point. Now go have an adventure and leave me be," I ordered. He glared at me.
"As if! I'm not leaving you with him," he declared, jerking his head towards Jack but not meeting the older boy's eyes. Jack cough/laughed again.
"What do you have against him anyway?" I asked, bewildered. "He travels with me! He's done more good than harm. He hasn't done any harm at all, in fact," I added.
"I don't care," he replied, staring up at Jack. "I still don't trust him." I sighed in disgust.
"You're a freak," I muttered. "Dave, talk some sense into him," I whined to his partner. Dave grinned.
"I don't think that's possible," he replied. I grinned in spite of the situation.
"What will make you leave us alone?" I asked Sam, who stared at me.
"Nothing." He answered firmly. I snorted. He'd get bored fast enough.
"If you don't get out of my sight within the next five minutes, I will sick all of my Pokémon on you," I threatened. His stance wavered- he knew I was serious. He poked me in the chest.
"I will, but when something bad happens, don't blame me," he warned. I rolled my eyes.
"Like that'll ever happen," I muttered scornfully. "Four fifty seven, four fifty six," I counted. He glared at me.
"Go lose something else," he muttered, stalking away and grabbing his bag. Dave regained his blank expression but grinned and waved as Sam stormed out of site. I smiled and waved back. Suddenly, Jack had wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"You think he has something to worry about?" Jack murmured in my ear. My heart was pounding and my cheeks were red. Not knowing what to do with my hands, I hesitantly put them over Jack's. Tentatively, I leaned against him, watching the unending road.
"You'd be the first to know," I replied. It was true. If Jack had intentions…
"I suppose I would," he mused. He patted my stomach and pulled away. "You should run to the Pokémon center and get Stella healed," he told me. Biting my lip, I nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be back in a half hour," I replied, heading back towards the campsite and my bike.
There it is. I'm going to say that I lied again in the last author's note, and this should be the penultimate chapter. (Hehe, penultimate.) Um… As a point of interest the ariados in the chapter is shiny, with changed coloring. In all my years, I've caught one shiny Pokémon. I think the statistic is one in 1875? There's one shiny Pokémon in the show, Ash's discolored noctowl from the Johto seasons.
Also, the contest is now posted in my profile! Read the rules!
Yours,
TSL