A/N: Ok, first off, we would like to thank everyone who has favorited, followed, reviewed, or even just read The Poké Storm Diaries. The reviews mean a lot to us and we're glad that people are enjoying our story. Not much else to say, but since I haven't done so in a while...
DISCLAIMER: We don't own Pokémon. We don't own any references you may, and probably will, see. Bottom line, if you recognize it, we don't own it. Astoria and Phoenix are property of their real life counterparts, so we can't even claim we own them; how sad is that? However, their real life counterparts love this story (as they better since this story started off as a request for them), so all is well.
November 21st 20XX
So, I think it's time for a bit of a recap. There I was, Phoenix back on my shoulder, the two of us walking beside Brock. After having put our Pokémon back in their pokeballs, we had made a swift exit out of the alley seeing as the lecture was starting in half an hour. We were making our way back to the lecture with Brock in the lead, which was desperately needed as my sense of direction was all messed up from my Team Rocket escape attempt.
I had a very surreal feeling, like it was all just a very odd dream. I knew it wasn't a dream, but considering events I was allowed some weird feelings I think. Brock, leading us around a corner smiled at me and said "So Astoria, how did you and your Pokémon end up coming to the conference here in Goldenrod?"
I smiled and answered "Well, Nix and I actually met Professor Oak the other day and he gave us tickets. Professor Juniper and Professor Rowan were there too." I pointedly did not mention that Phoenix had pied Rowan at said first meeting. It made me cringe just thinking about it; especially the part where Phoenix pied then mauled Professor Rowan. Yes, the pieing was embarrassing enough to be mentioned twice. "Juniper also gave me my first pokedex xtransiever. See?"
I held up my wrist showing him. "Wow, so if you just met the professors and got your pokedex does that mean you're a new trainer just starting your journey?"
Phoenix, adding in her commentary, said "Is he basically saying we scream 'noob'? Damn, no wonder we got jumped. If that's the case, we were practically Team Rocket bait. I blame Celebi. Then again, James was honestly not too bad looking. If not for that harpy Jessie I might have stopped by to say hello at the absolute minimum. Oh, tori? Please remind me to check the bag for some rope a bit later on. There are some other things I want to see if the bag is willing to provide and the rope, which I also want, will be a good prompt."
I had to ignore Phoenix ,but patted her on her head to let her know I was hearing her. Phoenix plus James and some rope, not to mention whatever else was crossing her mind, would make an interesting problem I had no doubt and I planned to discuss it with her at a later time.
Replying to Brock, I said "Yes, it's my first journey. But Nix and I have been um... training together a lot longer." Not a total lie. I thought to myself.
He grinned and took my hand. "Oh Astoria, it really must be fate! Because Professor Oak gave me my ticket too, it must be a sign! We were meant to meet at this conference. Our passionate love will echo throughout the ages- ack!" Brock cried out in pain as Phoenix bludgeoned him with a large and heavy looking stick.
"No touchy! My Tori-twister! He never learns does he?"
Grateful for the save from Phoenix, but curious I said "Nope, he never seems to. Where did you get the stick anyway?"
She smirked at me, her Ditto eyes sparkling with maniacal glee. "There are many fun toys in the bag of holding, although I can't believe I forgot to check for some rope and- never mind, back on topic. I found this one the other day after our encounter with Manny the Moron."
I chuckled and said "Thank you for again giving me a reason not to ever leave you alone with the bag. Knowing you, there would be an automatic weapon of some kind in there."
She placed what I assumed was a hand over where her heart was and gasped in a dramatic manner, "Now really, Astoria, you wound me! Automatic weapons are so impersonal, and I prefer a much more personal and hands on approach. Like knives. Or swords. Or axes. Or simple household tools that can be remodeled for much more creative and violent uses."
I shook my head at her, chuckling slightly as Brock groaned, signaling his imminent recovery. Before he regained consciousness again though, Phoenix tucked the stick away back into the backpack. I was looking down at Brock contemplating about how he was so frequently injured but had such an amazing recovery time. Perhaps his body had built up a resistance to injury? Interrupting my thoughts, Phoenix made a sound that sounded very much like a squeal of glee.
I looked up as she said happily "Holy crap, shiny ADHD factory of distraction! Toriori? It's shiny, I wanna go over there. Dear gods, the shininess beckons!"
I looked in the direction she was pointing and saw bright, neon lights of the eye eating variety flashing on and off for a Pokémon themed gaming place. I shook my head as I looked at my watch, "Not now, Nix. I'm sorry but the lecture is starting soon we will be late if we go. Maybe we can go later, ok?"
My eyes caught on a prize in the window that looked like some kind of Pokémon. I felt my heart seem to skip a beat seeing that Pokémon, it looked like a Dratini but something was off about it. The color looked wrong to me and I felt the egg against my stomach wiggle as if telling me to go closer and get a better look.
Phoenix nodded, "Right, forgot about that. Sorry, I had an ADD moment; you know how it is."
I did know exactly what she meant, however I seemed to have a bit better control than Phoenix did. Just then then though, Brock made one of his fast recoveries and sprung up. He checked his watch and with a groan of dismay, he grabbed my hand before I could say one word and we were off running.
"Astoria, we have to be there in five minutes or we'll miss the start of the lecture! Come on, it's so close that if we hurry we'll make it in time." Brock exclaimed.
"Hey you annoying jackass, slow down! If you make us trip and either or both of us face plant, your ass is mine!" Phoenix snarled at Brock as she clung to my shoulder for dear life, the gaming store and strange Dratini forgotten for the time being.
We ran most of the way back, but thankfully the conference center was really close so we actually did make it on time and I saw a blur of the Gyarados fountain as we flew past it. Brock seemed to know where he was going, so I let him continue to lead us and focused on not tripping and, as Phoenix had so eloquently stated, face planting into the rug. I didn't see much of the inside of the building, just a blur of white and colors that I assumed were professors and trainers as we raced past them towards our destination.
This speed was making me dizzy as heck though and I was starting to fear I would fall for real. That or the sheer velocity and momentum when we did finally stop would send me flying into a nearby wall just like in the anime. That would really hurt me, right? Or smash my poor little egg, wouldn't it? I wasn't some cartoon character who could survive serious injury, right? I shut my eyes tight in fear and yelled "Brock! Please for the love of everything good in the world, slow down!"
Brock chucked and replied to my closed eyes "Astoria, why are you shouting? We're already here. "
I tentatively opened my eyes and blinked at the sudden theater lights in pure shock. We were already sitting in a room that looked like a lecture hall or a play theater. In fact we were sitting in plush, red theater seats. Brock was distracted for the moment, talking excitedly to the person sitting next to him.
I blinked stupidly in complete and utter confusion. "Nix, how did he do that? I didn't even feel us stop moving."
She looked at me, a mix of confusion and puzzlement on her own Ditto face. "Tori, I'm honestly as surprised as you are. Not to mention a bit creeped out and disturbed. Maybe it's a weird physics law here in Poké Earth? Cause this seriously defies the laws of physics back home in major ways."
I paused and laughed, relieved, before I replied. "It's a good a reason as any."
She snorted, "No kidding. I'm going to need some serious therapy and medication after this fiasco. I can see it now, 'What made you come to see me today?' 'Oh nothing much, my best friend and I just got sucked into a video game.' Yeah. Because that wouldn't get me a nice white jacket and one way ticket to the local funny farm.'
I chuckled at her comments before going back to my thoughts. I was constantly amazed at the things that kept happening to us. If I didn't know better, I would think I had lost mind, but I figured it was easier to go with it than to get my head examined. Brock suddenly turned to me excitedly interrupting my thoughts. "Astoria, I want you to meet someone. This is Max, an old friend of mine. Max, his sister May, my friend Ash, and I all traveled together for a while. Max here is finally starting out on his journey. Max, it's only been a few years, but boy you really grew. It's really good to see you. "
Max chuckled and rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed look, "Aw, Brock I didn't get that big, but it's nice to see you too. If Professor Oak had told me you were gonna be here I would have tried harder to get May to come here with me. She went to another competition with her Pokémon. Oh, and it's nice to meet you, Astoria. Brock was just telling me he met you a little while ago?"
I nodded and replied "Yeah, he helped me and Nix out a lot. By the way, this is Phoenix, my ditto. "
He smiled at the two of us in a friendly manner, "It's nice to meet you both."
I took a moment to look at Max who I knew from the Pokémon anime as a very smart, good hearted, Pokémon loving little boy. Only he wasn't really a little boy anymore, although he was still young, Max had definitely grown some. He looked more like a preteen now around eleven or twelve years in age and he still had that earnest smile that made me like him in the anime. He looked at me for a moment a smile on his face then his eyes looked down towards my chest. For a moment and just for a second I thought I had another Sparky/Brock problem to deal with. I was so glad I was wrong because as Max's eyes lit up and he said with happiness in his voice "Wow! Is that a Pokémon egg? I've never seen one with that color and pattern. Do you know what it is?"
I shook my head, answering "No, some nice people at the daycare gave it to me. They didn't know what it was either, but hoped I could help it hatch."
Brock, looking curious, in a professional sounding tone stated "You know Astoria, I'm training to be a Pokémon doctor. If you like, after the lecture, I could examine it for you and try to see what it is. And if you want, I can give your Pokémon a health check too, especially since they just had that battle with Team Rocket."
I smiled and replied, "Thanks Brock, that would be really wonderful and I would so appreciate you taking a look at the egg and my Pikachu, Sparky. Nix though... um well..."
Phoenix, who had buried herself in my red hair at the very mention of the words 'health check', growled angrily while glaring at Brock between strands of hair and said "I'll kill him. Tori, if his hand touches me I swear by all that's holy I will rip off the arm it's attached to and beat him to death with it."
I finished my speech as diplomatically as possible. "Nix doesn't like anyone touching her without her express permission. And even then, that's only to people she trusts." There that was a very good response.
Brock, with an understanding look, nodded at me and a hissing Phoenix saying "That's okay, some Pokémon only trust their trainers. When I was a breeder, I learned not to take that kind of thing personally. Maybe someday Nix will consider me one of those humans she trusts, but for now I'm perfectly happy to help you however you want, Astoria."
Phoenix blinked, "You know, I know he's being sincere, but I can't help but think 'kiss ass'."
I didn't give her a reply seeing as Max, looking at both of us, said "Hey, if you guys want, I was gonna go to this great restaurant around the block from here after the lecture. I heard they have this amazing homemade Combee and Miltank ice cream dessert. We could all grab a bite together, my treat."
Phoenix enthusiastically poked her head out of my hair and said "Tori! Real food! Not that noxious, disgusting, abomination known as Pokémon food! And ice cream! Say yes, damn it, yes!" She gently thumped her jiggly ditto fists on my head with excitement in such an obvious manner that it made both Brock and Max laugh at her antics
"I think Nix wants to go." Said Max.
Chuckling, I agreed. "Yes, I do believe your right, Max. We accept your generous invitation."
Phoenix happily waved her hands in the air "Woot! I get real food! …Don't judge, Toriori. I know you've tasted the Pokémon food too." Just then the lights dimmed
"Oh, it's starting. Look there's Professor Oak and Professor Juniper." Brock pointed and I looked seeing the two Professors walking up the stairs and then across the stage together.
Behind them, in the middle area of the stage, was a giant white screen that I assumed was for image projections. Standing behind the podium together Professor Oak started to speak first. "Good afternoon my fellow Pokémon professors and Pokémon enthusiasts. Today Professor Juniper and I would like to discuss with you our recent research and theories about Pokémon and their relation to human beings."
Juniper chimed in "Yes, according to our observations and research we have a discovered that some Pokémon may actually have come into being thanks the evolution of mankind and to our technology."
Professor Oak clicked a button on the podium and three pictures of Pokémon appeared on screen, Pokémon I knew fairly well. One was Grimer, second was a Voltorb, and the final one was a Porygon. "These Pokémon are from the Kanto region and are prime examples of our theories today. Grimer could not be found at all before human waste production and population increases caused more pollution for the Pokémon to feed on. Voltorbs were discovered roughly ten years after the invention of today's modern pokeballs. And Porygon a mere five years after the creation of the world wide web."
Juniper clicked the button this time and three more Pokémon appeared on screen as she dictated "And here are three images of Pokémon from the Unova region. We have similar theories about Klink, Trubbish, and Foongus. These three Pokémon were discovered after certain points in human evolution. Ergo, our main topic of this lecture and the surprise theme is that Professor Oak and I believe that humans may be a direct link to the creation of some Pokémon!"
I heard the awed gasps of surprise and shock from the audience as well as one or two exclamations of disbelief. Phoenix, amused, said softly to me "Hey Tori? Do you think it would blow their minds if they knew about how humans basically did create Pokémon and their whole world?"
Whispering back, I said "Yeah, it probably would, but the exploding heads would be messy so let's keep it to ourselves."
"But the colors, Tori! I could make a beautiful mural out of the resulting gore! Not to mention the pictures would be perfect to add to my scrap book!"
I resisted the urge to face palm. "And what happens if something horrible, like the world imploding, happens because you broke the fourth wall?"
I swear I could hear Phoenix pout as she replied "Damn it, I hate it when you're right. Tori, just so you know, you really do spoil my fun sometimes."
I snickered and replied "Yeah, it's what I'm good at."
And so I spent a pleasant hour and a half with Phoenix, Brock and Max learning more about Pokémon courtesy of listening to Professors Juniper and Oak.
