Okay, it's done! The prequel to "It's Their Wishes that Matter" is complete. It was quite a lot of work, but it was also fun writing it.
I should mention beforehand that the tense will be changed with this chapter. So far, the story was written in past tense, but it is changed to present tense now.
Well, you could say that the previous chapters were like a retrospection, summing up the most important events of the past. The beginning of the main story marks the present day (so to say), which we reach now. Hence, the tense changes from past tense to present tense. Well, you get the gist.
There is also a timeskip of a few years.
Anyway, let's start the final chapter of the prequel.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
A few years have passed since the events at Adriana's first contest. We're finally reaching the present day. It's a nice spring day.
Marc and Adriana are currently 16 years old. They live pretty ordinary, peaceful lives in Fallarbor Town.
Marc and Phire spend their afternoon lazily… on watching the clouds on their "special hill". They've been there by themselves for an hour or two when Adriana shows up. Naira accompanies her.
Marc and Adriana's relationship has indeed become much friendlier since their last heated quarrel at the Contest Hall. Marc treats her considerately now, and Adriana accepts Marc's antics. Well, at least to the greatest possible extent.
After learning about Marc's own special circumstances, she actually wishes for him to get along better with others in order for him to find happiness. She sometimes scolds him for his antisocial attitude, similarly to Lanette.
It should be noted that Marc may not exactly appreciate her attempts, but he understands her intentions just as he understands Lanette and her… "teachings". At the very least, he appreciates Adriana's concern and sympathy.
To be honest, she is the closest to a friend he has ever had. However, he hesitates to actually call her "a friend" because he is generally wary about using this term. In his opinion, this term should be very meaningful and thus used with utmost care. Adriana's experience with her so-called "friends" many years ago strengthened his opinion on that matter… probably more than it should have.
Anyway, let's see what kind of business Adriana has with Marc.
Adriana [slightly excitedly]: Oh, there you are. Hi, Marc!
Marc turns his head to Adriana. He was so absorbed in the clouds that he didn't notice her before.
Marc [slightly curious]: Hey, Adriana! Do you need something or…?
It's not that unusual for Adriana to pay Marc a "surprise visit", but she usually doesn't go through the trouble of searching him on Route 114. Although… She already knows of this particular spot and that Marc often goes here during his free time, so she probably didn't have a hard time finding him.
Anyway, Adriana shakes her head.
Adriana: No, actually not. It's just that some people from the Contest Hall invited me to fishing with them. [slightly awkwardly] It's just… me and fishing… [calmly] But I thought you might be interested. So… How about it? [slightly apologetically] To be fair, I think they just need someone to take care of wild pokémon, but it's not like that would be a problem for you, is it?
Truth be told, Marc has engaged in fishing as a hobby for a while now. Actually, it's just that he couldn't withstand the combined efforts of Lanette and Adriana when they forced him to do something that involved dealing with people at least occasionally. However, Marc has taken a liking to it, it was a nice, calm sport.
However, he doesn't feel like it right now.
Marc: No, I don't want to. It's just so nice and comfortable here right now.
Needless to say, Adriana won't give up that easily.
Adriana [slightly huffily]: Oh, come on! That's just an excuse so you don't have to go with them, isn't it?!
Marc [dryly]: Well, now that you mention it, it's a nice side effect.
Adriana sighed deeply in exasperation. Dealing with Marc when he is like that is surprisingly debilitating, so she has to sit down for a moment.
Adriana [exasperatedly]: You're not even trying to hide it! You seriously spend enough time being cooped up in these caves and digging up fossils, so why do you have to avoid others like that even in your free time?!
Marc glanced over at Adriana slightly exasperatedly.
By the way, Adriana refers to Marc's vocational education. Just as he announced to Lanette once, he worked with his uncle at the northern mountain range, looking for fossils.
Marc [slightly annoyed]: Could you leave my choice of profession to me, please?
Adriana [slightly annoyed]: I'll leave it to you if you leave this damn cave more often in return!
The two of them go silent for a moment, mainly because neither of them knows what to say right away.
Adriana [softly]: Look, don't you think you spend too much time alone?
Marc thinks about it for a moment. To be honest…
Marc [flatly]: No, actually not. Not at all. I mean, I'm not even spending time alone right now.
At first, Adriana thinks that Marc is just nitpicky and refers to her presence. However, he points at Phire, showing that he actually refers to him.
Adriana isn't happy about Marc relying on his pokémon's company, but she can't really blame him. She understands why he prefers spending his time with them.
Phire [cockily]: Yeah, why would he need some lousy fishers if I'm here? I'm way more awesome company!
Naira [huffily]: Tch, now you even brag about that?! You're so haughty for literally nothing but being with your trainer!
It should be noted that, while Marc and Adriana are on good terms now, their bagons are a different matter. They still don't get along at all.
Phire's bragging and cocky attitude infuriates Naira.
Phire [annoyed]: What do you want from me? Leave me alone and… What do I know, play with your pitiful flames at these contests!
Her complaints annoy Phire. With respect to her… not-so-great battle prowess, he usually doesn't take her seriously and retorts by mocking her.
Naira [upset]: Hey, that's no joking matter! This is important to me, so take it seriously! Even your trainer knows his manners by now, so why don't you try to follow suit?
In return, Naira gets even more upset. They continue to bicker...
Phire: Why don't you follow your trainer's example and stop nagging? Geez, you're annoying as hell, so you don't have to be surprised that I treat you like the plague, you obnoxious cow! In fact, you should be happy that I'm actually holding back!
Naira: How can anyone be so insensitive?! You're even acting as if I should be thankful for your insufferable attitude! I can't believe you're conceited enough to say that! Although… No, I absolutely can believe that, you arrogant bragger!
Phire: You better do, you nagging wimp!
Naira: Mindless brute!
… and reach a point at which they just throw more or less random insults at each other.
Phire: Luckoticious varp!
Naira: These aren't even real words!
Phire: There you have it! You're so annoying that real words can't describe it!
Let's stop at this point and sum this up as one of their typical arguments.
On a related note, Adriana is quite concerned about their constant bickering. She can't understand what they're fighting about, but she certainly sees clearly that they are yelling at each other.
Adriana: Ugh, they're at it again… [slightly exasperatedly] Why do they keep fighting like this? [slightly determinedly] Well, I guess I have to try to reconcile them with each other.
She wants to break up their fight, but Marc holds her back. When she looks at him, he returns her look calmly yet sternly.
Marc [dryly]: May I remind you of the last 18 attempts to do that? The 18 attempts that, obviously, failed?
Marc sure knows how to damp someone's spirits. However, Adriana has to admit that he has a point. She has tried to reconcile them multiple times, but the pokémon haven't listened to her.
Adriana [dejectedly]: What shall I do in that case? Are you telling me to just let them keep fighting? It did work out for us once we've talked things out, why not for them?
Marc: Because they're different. You don't even know what their fights are about, do you? So what could you do to stop them? They do what they do. Why does it even trouble you so much? I mean, why that much?
Adriana [slightly huffily]: I want them to get along! I mean, they're the only two bagons around the area. Shouldn't they… I don't know… be best friends? [dejectedly] Actually, I've always hoped they'd get along and maybe… [slightly awkwardly] you know… do male-and-female stuff.
Marc raises an eyebrow. Male-and-female stuff?
Marc [dryly]: You really have a way with words.
Adriana [slightly upset]: Come on, don't be like that! You know what I mean! [slightly sullenly] Don't you ever wish they would be… like that?
Marc thinks about it for a moment. In all honesty…
Marc: No. Not really. I mean, if Phire would want to, sure! But that's his decision. And Naira's. Don't you think? Leave this to them.
Adriana stares at the bagons in exasperation. Marc has a point. She can't control how they feel about each other.
Nevertheless, it pains her to see them like this. It certainly would be better for them to get along. It would bring them more… happiness.
Marc also contemplates on the situation. He doesn't like to see his brother so upset.
However, he knows how hotheaded Phire is. He doesn't know what makes the two bagons fight that often, but Phire gets worked up easily if he dislikes something, so it could be minor issues. On top of that, it's hard to stop him once he…
Just as Marc thinks about Phire's stubbornness in fights, he suddenly stops yelling at Naira. The sudden change irritates all of them.
However, it doesn't come without a reason. Something else draws his utmost attention in an instant. Something as urgent and important as…
…a flying flock of swablus passing by.
Okay, it's not really important at all, but Phire immediately switches into dream mode nonetheless. This makes Marc think.
Marc [contemplatively, to Adriana]: Hey, what do you think? Of Phire, I mean. He does that a lot, doesn't he?
Adriana thinks about it for a second. Well, she saw him behaving like this before on multiple occasions. He really seems to be taken in by the sight of flying. However, she hasn't had that many opportunities to watch this behaviour.
Adriana [doubtfully]: I don't know, does he?
Marc figures that Adriana hasn't seen him doing this often enough and that she doesn't want to make any hasty judgment. However, he has seen this often enough to judge.
Marc: He does. I've been thinking… Why? Why does he do it? I've seen him stare at the sky, at flying pokémon or whatever else, but I never thought that much of it. Actually, I thought nothing of it. Recently, I've started to wonder if that was the right thing to do.
Adriana tilts her head in confusion. What is he getting at?
Adriana [curiously]: What do you mean?
Marc: I doubt that pokémon do anything without a reason. In fact, I'd rather believe that humans do dumb stuff for no reason than that pokémon do. Well, doesn't matter. It's just… Phire is doing that for a reason. But what reason? And what should I do about it?
Adriana looks at Phire and thinks about it.
Adriana [flatly]: Flying. I mean, what if he's fascinated by flying? I've heard of people dreaming of flying, so I guess it wouldn't be too farfetched to think that pokémon might dream of that, too.
Marc [contently]: Well, it's nice to hear that you agree.
Marc stands up all of a sudden. He walks over to Phire and nudges him softly with his foot. This makes Phire snap out of his trance. He turns around to face Marc.
Marc [softly]: It's that, isn't it? You want to fly?
Phire drops his gaze slightly. How is he supposed to react?
He does. He absolutely does. He wants it so much that simply admitting it doesn't feel right. It doesn't seem to be… enough.
Phire [contemplatively]: I've dreamt about it for as long as I can remember. I wonder… what it feels like.
Phire turns around again and gazes after the swablus, which are actually out of sight now. However, Phire is strangely content with staring at the sky for now.
Phire: When I look at the sky and… see a pokémon or just anything fly… I get this feeling that… that should be me. [dreamily] I want to feel it, experience it! I want to know what it's like to watch the world from the sky, because… I feel like I'm destined to do so.
Well, nobody except for Naira can understand what Phire says, so Marc just waits for him to show his intentions comprehensibly.
Speaking of Naira, she is (coming as no surprise) indifferent to Phire's passion. If anything his obsession with flying annoys her, although she welcomes the fact that he went silent and doesn't bother her now.
Anyway, Phire turns to Marc again and just looks up at him. Oddly enough, Marc is able to read his expression. To be fair, Phire's dreamy-eyed expression earlier, which is still present on his face to some extent, indicates clearly how he feels about flying.
Marc: Well, sorry then that I've been so oblivious for so long. [determinedly] That's over! [clenches his fist determinedly] I'll tell you what, it doesn't matter what, it doesn't matter how, I'll work towards this dream with you! And I guarantee you that you'll fulfil this dream!
At first, Phire is taken aback by Marc's sudden proclamation, but his bewilderment promptly turns into excitement. After all, he knows that he can rely on Marc.
Meanwhile, Adriana is just dumbstruck because of this turn of events.
Adriana: W-w-wait, WHAT?! Aren't you rash? You've just figured this out and now… That's way too sudden! W-what are you even going to do about it?
Marc turns to Adriana with a confident smile. She immediately calms down when she sees him like that. She doesn't know what it is, but he apparently has something in mind already. She can tell.
Marc: Sudden? Not at all! I've been thinking about this for a while now. It's just… I couldn't bring myself to verify my thoughts. Anyway, I could at least come up with a plan for this by now. [looks at Phire] What I'm going to do is making Phire evolve!
Adriana stares at Marc in bewilderment.
Adriana: E-evolve?
Marc: Yes! You still remember, do you? What they taught us about pokémon evolution: When pokémon become stronger, they eventually change into a new form that befits their increased power. [contemplatively] I've been wondering if… Say, do you still remember that old man we met about six years ago?
Adriana tries to remember who Marc might be talking about. She faintly remembers a rather unusual encounter around that time. To be fair, her whole life was frantic and riddled with strange encounters at that time.
Adriana [contemplatively]: Wait, let me think… [slightly excitedly and curiously] Do you mean this sailor-like man?
Marc [determinedly]: Yes, I guess you're thinking of the right guy.
Adriana: The one with no shirt?
Marc: With absolutely no shirt!
Adriana [hesitantly]: Well, I guess I remember…
Marc: So… Do you also remember his pokémon? The one he showed us?
Now that is something she definitely remembers. To this day, this was the most impressive pokémon she has encountered.
Adriana [slightly excitedly]: Yes, I remember. It was… fascinating. Such a strong and majestic pokémon. I'm still astonished that I got to meet such a pokémon! Even at the Contest Hall, I've never met anything quite like that!
Marc: And… it could fly! Now, do you also remember what he told us about it?
Adriana [contemplatively]: Um, yes… I think he called it a… [insecurely] salmince? Was it that?
That isn't what Marc is thinking of, but he gets distracted for a moment and responds to the thought.
Marc [contemplatively]: Actually, I think it was saltymute.
Adriana [slightly annoyed]: No! If anything, that would be a name you would come up with, which automatically means that nobody else would ever call it that way!
Marc is taken aback by Adriana's harsh remark. Okay, he isn't good at naming stuff, so what?
Marc [defensively]: Okay, okay! It doesn't even matter anyway! [calmly] What I'm actually speaking of is that he told us that our bagons can evolve into that kind of pokémon.
Now that he mentions it…
Adriana [slightly surprised]: Oh… Yes, you… You're right, he said that. What about it?
Marc [slightly annoyed]: Come on, it's not that hard to figure out! Do I really need to spell it out for you?
Believe it or not, Adriana has no clue. To be fair, her mind still has to process the chaos of Marc's outburst, shirtless sailors, horrendous names and evolving bagons.
Adriana [slightly annoyed]: Marc, just get to the point already! What do you plan to do?
Marc [determinedly]: If this pokémon, this flying pokémon, is an evolved form of a bagon, it becomes awfully clear how to make Phire's dream a reality! I'll make him evolve!
Step 1 of Marc's plan: figuring out what it takes to evolve Phire. That turns out to be… surprisingly difficult.
Marc basically raids the bookshelves at home. As already mentioned, Lanette and Brigette own a lot of books about all kinds of pokémon due to their work. They need the information to adjust the PSS according to the pokémon's needs.
Most of these books are actually guidebooks for trainers and contain information on pokémon evolution. However, none of these books even mentions bagons.
Marc closes the last book exasperatedly and leans back in his chair.
Marc: Ugh, this isn't helping! Why can't any of these books be about bagons for a change?! I swear, if I read anything else about ralts and its evolutions, I'll…
Marc stops mid-sentence and slumps completely into his chair. He just sighs. How comes he found a whole essay about feebas evolving into milotic but not a single sentence about the evolution of bagons?
On second thought, it's not really a surprise… His aunts need information on popular pokémon for their work. Rare and exotic pokémon (with regard to Hoenn) simply don't matter that much.
Marc remembers something else the old man told him about bagons years ago. These pokémon live with a tribe that cares for them… very strictly. Judging by the old man's attitude and what he said, bagons are rare in Hoenn. Even information on them is…
By the way, Phire keeps him company. He is very excited about the prospect of flying, so he is eager to learn what Marc finds out.
Or rather he was… Phire has noticed that Marc can't find any information on his evolution, which has damped his spirits. However, he tries to play it cool and responds nonchalantly to Marc's last remark.
Phire: Well, you certainly won't read more about them. I mean, [looks around] you've read every book we have, haven't you? Eh, well, can't be helped, Bro.
Anyway, Marc easily sees through Phire's facade. There is no way he could trick his brother so easily at this point.
Marc [reassuringly]: Hey, don't hang your head like that! It's anything but over. Okay, those books didn't help [pushes a book away], so we just have to figure it out ourselves.
Marc thinks about it. What to do in order to make Phire evolve?
Well, most pokémon evolve at some point while growing stronger. Knocking on wood, he hopes that this also applies to bagons. If not… they'll have a problem.
However, the old man mentioned something about "bagons evolving when they are trained with utmost care" or something like that as far as Marc remembers. Regardless of the specific phrasing, he seemed to imply that bagons evolve by "leveling up".
Marc recalls the "level scale". He has never cared about this particular… system until now, but now…
Anyway, the pokémon analysis performed by computers also measures the pokémon's relative strength and displays it as a "power level" or "level" for short. On a scale of 1 to 100, the power level indicates to what extent a pokémon has exploited its full potential.
At certain points, which depend on the kind of pokémon, pokémon become so strong that they change into a new, stronger form in order to "contain" their increased strength. In other words: They evolve – exactly what Marc wants.
It comes as no surprise that pokémon get stronger through training. Even an "ordinary workout", such as using moves on lifeless objects, can make pokémon stronger, but that only worked to some extent.
No, in order to grow very strong, pokémon have to push themselves to their limits. The harder the challenge, the stronger the pokémon gets. The most effective way for pokémon to become stronger is battling.
This gives Marc a good idea what to do.
Marc [contemplatively]: Well, I suppose we have to train harder. If you become stronger, you might evolve. We've been a bit lax about it so far…
Marc takes his pokémon to regular training sessions, but they train very casually, even more so since he is busy with his vocational education. Marc realises that he has to put a lot more time and effort into training Phire.
But even if he does… Pokémon grow with their challenges. The harder the challenge and the stronger the opponent, the stronger a pokémon gets. Easy challenges hardly make a pokémon become stronger.
With that in mind, training Phire as he used to do would hardly get him anywhere. The wild pokémon and trainers around Fallarbor Town are simply not strong enough. After all, the old man said that training bagons successfully is quite hard. Phire would probably need to reach a high power level in order to evolve into his flying form. Could he reach this level around here?
Marc [contemplatively]: You know, I think we have to approach this completely differently. I mean, we have to train differently. It's not just a question of how many time we spend training. We need a completely different challenge.
Marc thinks about what might make for such a "completely different challenge".
Marc: Hm… [excitedly] I think I know!
Marc remembers a certain book. He searches his stack of books for this particular one. There: "The Guide of the Pokémon League – Hoenn"!
He opens the book and flips through it until he reaches the part about "training support". Apparently, the Pokémon League offers challenges that are meant not only for assessing a trainer's skill and prowess but also for training. Perfect!
Phire comes closer and jumps onto the table. He takes a look at the book, too.
Marc: That's what I'm talking about. The "League Challenge". Well, keeping their overly dramatic advertisement as the "ultimate challenge" aside, it's exactly what we need: a challenge that pushes trainers and their pokémon to the limit, allowing them to become stronger than ever.
Marc continues reading about the League Challenge. Apparently, it's like an open tournament for all trainers registered with the Trainer Association, the branch of the Pokémon Association which is mainly in charge of professional trainers of all kinds.
Well, that's not what he is interested in. However, he is getting to the interesting part.
Marc: There we have it! [contemplatively, keeps reading] Let's see… Hm… I see… Okay, apparently, the central challenges are the Pokémon Gyms at some of the major towns. Trainers battle the leaders of the Pokémon Gyms to prove themselves worthy… [slightly annoyed] Who cares, I'll skip that! [calmly] Anyway, these "gym leaders" are said to be powerful trainers, exactly what we need. The most efficient way to increase your power level should be to challenge the Gyms.
Marc leans back. It's a plan. It just comes with a drawback…
Marc [slightly dejectedly]: However, the Gyms are all over the region. We have to travel through Hoenn to do that. It will take a lot of effort and time to reach our goal!
Phire hangs his head, being disheartened. So much for getting his hopes up…
He knows that Marc doesn't like travelling, dealing with all kinds of random strangers and such stuff. Travelling all across the region would certainly be a hassle in his opinion, a hassle he probably doesn't want to put up with.
Marc notices Phire's distress. He pokes his snout almost playfully to catch his attention and to make him stop moping.
When Phire looks at him in bewilderment, Marc just smiles in response.
Marc: Why the long face? Don't just assume that I'll break my promise just because of some minor inconvenience!
This lightens up Phire's mood drastically. Does that mean…?
Marc: We'll do this, Bro. We'll go on this journey… and fulfil your dream!
Two days later, Marc wraps his travel preparations up. It's around noon when he packs the last things.
Thankfully, he has a high-tech bag of Devon Corp. The famous corporation from Hoenn developed this bag using its research on the move Minimize.
Each pocket has a sensor and an emitter. The sensor scans for items that are put into the bag. Those items are irradiated using a special radiation which has been discovered to be the key to Minimize. An isolating layer envelops each pocket to prevent the Minimize radiation from spreading.
The radiation causes objects to shrink, reducing their size and, as it turns out, even their weight. This way, people could store a multitude of items in the bag, even bulky equipment which would normally be hard to transport. Thus, this bag is an essential piece of travel equipment.
After taking something out of the bag, the radiation diminishes quickly and the object turns back to normal.
By the way, the sensors also scan for living organic matter and disable the emitters as long as this organic matter is detected inside the bag. After all, the bag is not supposed to shrink the owner's hand when he takes something out of it or puts something into it.
Long story short, it is an astonishing piece of technology and surprisingly sophisticated for a bag.
Thanks to this bag, Marc can transport everything he needs. Well, at least everything he has got for his journey.
His aunts have been incredibly generous. To be fair, they sometimes get pokémon-related items from the Pokémon Association as a bonus, but they never need this stuff. Moreover, Marc has accumulated a small stock of certain items over the years, such as a few potions, his fishing rod and a set of glass flutes from the glazier's workshop on Route 113 (he worked a lot over the years to collect ash to manufacture these flutes).
However, his aunts have still bought a lot stuff to support him. For instance, they've got him some Ultra Balls and more healing items for his pokémon. They've also given him a remarkable supply of non-perishable food and an old, small camping set.
He also takes all their pokéfood with him. Well, his aunts won't need it when he and his pokémon are gone, will they?
His flute case, which contains a yellow, a red and a blue flute, is the last item he puts inside the bag. He becomes a bit sentimental while he looks at it. The other items are mere tools to help him and his pokémon on their journey, but he has a connection to this flutes.
He made the flutes specifically to help his pokémon in battles. How fitting that he'd use them on this journey he goes on for his brother's sake.
As soon as he places the case into the bag, Lanette enters the room.
It goes without saying that Marc's decision to go on a journey has stirred her up. She has quite a broad spectrum of feelings about it.
On the one hand, she is a bit proud that he makes such a decision and that he is mature enough to go out into the wide, wide world. She is also happy that he goes on this journey for someone else's sake, even if this someone is a pokémon. After all, it shows how much Phire means to him and how strongly he feels about his pokémon and sworn brother.
However, she is also worried that something might happen to him on his journey. Anyway, her biggest concern is that she'll probably miss him very much.
Regardless of her personal feelings, she has accepted his decision.
Lanette: Hey, you're done here? Got everything?
Marc nods and puts on the bag.
Marc [slightly uneasily]: Ouf, with that weight, I have no doubt that I have!
Despite the weight reduction thanks to the Minimize mechanic, the sheer amount of items comes with an adequate weight. Marc can handle it, but the bag is pretty heavy.
Lanette: Well, that's good. [slightly panicking] I mean, it's good that you have everything with you, not that it's heavy!
Lanette chuckles nervously. When she regains her composure, she holds two pokédolls, which she has brought with her, out to him: a seedot doll and a lotad doll.
Lanette [happily]: Anyway, I hope you still have room for one of these! You know, a little keepsake from home if you ever feel lonely. Pick one!
Marc looks at the dolls in annoyance. What ridiculous things! He certainly doesn't need (and doesn't want) either of them.
Marc [dryly]: How about I pick the one that doesn't exist?
Lanette was taken aback and, to be honest, slightly hurt by Marc's swift and cruel refusal.
Lanette [disheartened and slightly upset]: Don't be like that! Why not?! Aren't they cute?
Marc sighs in exasperation. Sure, Lanette does this out of consideration, but it bothers him more than it helps him.
Marc [flatly]: Auntie, please! What would I do with them anyway? I don't need them!
Lanette sighs and gives up. So much for these dolls. Just what is she supposed to do with them now? Giving them to a random kid passing by on Route 114 or what?
Anyway, she puts the dolls aside, but only to give Marc something else. It's some kind of electronic device this time.
Lanette [happily]: Well, okay. Maybe you'd take that instead.
Marc takes the device. To be honest, he has no clue what it is.
Marc [at a loss]: Um, thanks. W-what is this?
Lanette: It's a PokéNav. Well, a new version, I think it's called "PokéNav Plus". Anyway, it's a useful device that has features such as a map or a calling function. [slightly awkwardly] I've actually bought this for you a while ago, but you never needed it before, so… It took some time to find it, [proudly] but I managed to find it before your departure!
Marc smiles. This might actually come in handy.
Marc: Thanks, Auntie!
There is something else Lanette wants to say, but she hesitates a bit.
Lanette [awkwardly]: Um, I've registered our phone number, so if you… miss us or something… or just want to tell us something, [softly] just call, okay?
Marc thinks about this. He has to admit that the prospect of homesickness came to his mind. He never had to deal with this issue before (for obvious reasons), but now he has to face it.
Will he miss his home? He doesn't know. He figures that he would, but he can't say for sure. It's nice to have this PokéNav with him in order to at least call his aunts if he misses them.
Marc: Sure, I will.
Lanette becomes a bit maudlin.
Lanette: Oh, to think that you're finally going on a journey. And to challenge the Pokémon League! I had a feeling that you'd take the road of a trainer one day, and now…
Marc [interrupting]: Whoa, take it easy! I'm still not becoming a full-fledged trainer! It's just temporary, only to make Phire evolve, and the League Challenge is merely a means to an end. After I'm done, I'll come back and resume my vocational education.
God, no! Lanette hoped that this journey would make Marc stop working with his weird uncle, being cooped up inside a cave all day. She is very frustrated that her hopes seem to be in vain.
Lanette [upset]: Oh, come on! What do I have to do in order to get you out of this damn cave for good?!
Marc [dryly]: Get reborn in a different universe, we don't handle things that way here!
Lanette: Don't be like this!
Lanette just sighs in exasperation. It's hopeless…
Lanette [dejectedly and slightly curiously]: What about your vocational education anyway? It's unusual to interrupt it for such a journey.
Marc: I talked about it with my uncle. He doesn't mind me going on a journey for a while and resuming my training afterwards. [slightly annoyed] I guess nothing bothers him as long as he still has his fossils.
Lanette [exasperatedly]: That man! Unbelievable! [calmly] Anyway, you're ready? Time to get going, I guess.
With that, they leave the room.
While Marc finishes his preparations, his pokémon wait outside. Phire just sits on the staircase. Robert, however, bids goodbye to her pack.
By the way, since the big battle on Route 114 against the sevipers, Marc has given Robert significant freedom. To sum it up, she is allowed to come and go as she pleases. Ever since then, she has spent most of her time with her pack, but she has always joined Marc for training and occasionally for certain events.
It should also be noted that their relationship has improved a lot since that time. Robert has gained a certain level of trust in Marc, and she acknowledges him as her trainer. On a related note, she has started to refer to him as "boss". Well, because that's what he basically is to her.
Marc, in return, refers to her as "buddy". These "nicknames" reflect quite well that they are on good terms, but also that Marc is certainly not as close to Robert as he is to Phire.
Anyway, let's get to the zangooses. One of the cubs runs up to Robert and hugs her tightly.
Zangoose Cub [sadly]: Do you really have to go? Can't you stay with us instead?
Robert smiles and pets the cub's head.
Robert [slightly soothingly]: Aw, don't feel down, you make me regret it! Come on, show me how brave you can be!
Zangoose Cub: But I don't want to! I still have to learn Quick Attack properly, so can't you stay and show me?
Robert can't help but chuckle about the adorable attempt to make her stay.
Robert: Sorry, little one, but you have to rely on someone else for that. Be a bit flexible about it, it's an important part of growing up! [to the other zangooses] I trust that you guys take good care of it?
One of the grown zangooses nods sternly.
Grown Zangoose 1: Leave this to us!
However, another zangoose has concerns about their leader's departure, albeit more serious ones than the cub has.
Grown Zangoose 2 [slightly worriedly]: But is it really a good idea? I believe that the boss is trustworthy, but who knows what else might happen.
By the way, the other zangooses also call Marc their "boss". Well, Robert is their leader, so if she considers Marc her boss, this also makes him, by extension, their boss.
Anyway, the other zangooses don't really share the concern.
Grown Zangoose 1: Geez, just stop already, all of you, you worrywarts! You're gotta embarrass her with your worries at this rate!
Grown Zangoose 2 [defensively]: Uh, w-well, that's not it! It's just… [calmly] I can voice my opinion, can't I? [to Robert] I'm just worried what we'll do while you're gone.
Robert [teasingly]: Hmpf, grow a backbone! You're strong enough to get by on your own for a while.
Robert's remark makes the other zangoose feel slightly embarrassed.
Grown Zangoose 2: W-well, sure! We got this! [slightly annoyed] Argh, that's not it! [curiously] Anyway, what's even the point in joining the boss on this journey? From what you've told us, this is all about his brother, isn't it?
Robert [determinedly]: Well, yeah, it is. However, what are these two going to do without me? They need little old me to help them getting around! I… [softly] I have to look out for them, too.
The other zangooses understand her stance. They know that Robert sees Marc and Phire as honorary members of her pack. Well, of sorts. Anyway, they've grown on her over the years.
Robert [slightly determinedly]: Besides, I have the feeling that I can still get much stronger. That's what this journey the boss is going on is all about. I still have a score to settle with these little poison worms, [teasingly] and I have to look after you lot. [very determinedly] So you better listen and get stronger, too! When I'm back, I'm going to be mighty strong! Then we'll go and kick some seviper's butt!
Her pack answers determinedly, assuring her that they will be fine and also become stronger while she's gone.
They leave, and Marc and his aunts leave the house. Phire immediately jumps to his feet.
Phire [impatiently]: Finally! Okay, let's go!
Brigette [teasingly]: Well, someone can't wait! You better get going.
Well, there is one more thing Marc wants to do before he departs. He walks over to Robert.
Marc: Hey, buddy! I guess it's time to go! However, I would understand it if you don't want to come along, so if it's that what you want, I could…
Robert can tell where this is going. He is about to offer her to release her. Over the years, Marc has been offering her this on a few occasions.
Well, it can't be helped, can it? It's his way to deal with the memory of their "initial difficulties". He doesn't want to force her to stay by his side against her will, and the fact that he once did has made him awfully wary of this issue.
However, Robert (obviously) rejected his offers every time. This time won't be an exception. She has come to terms with being his pokémon.
That said, she decides to be a bit more… mean about rejecting it this time. Instead of just shaking her head or anything like that, she kicks him in the shin.
Marc [in pain]: Ow! Argh, why you… Was that [groans] necessary?
Robert answers with her special mischievous smirk. Well, Marc understands what she is trying to express.
Marc [defensively]: Okay, okay, I get it! [slightly happily] Nice to have you with us!
With that out of the way, Marc turns to his aunts to bid them goodbye.
Marc: Well, we're on our way! See you soon!
Brigette: Sure thing! Take care, and bring some souvenirs with you!
Lanette [maudlinly]: Take care, Marc, don't be too long!
Marc: Certainly not! I'll finish my mission and come back right away. After all, [looks at Phire] I'll get to fly all the way back!
Phire [determinedly]: Hehe, of course!
With that, Marc waves at his aunts while walking away with his pokémon. They make their way to Meteor Falls.
Adriana stands on a hill and watches Marc and his pokémon departing from a distance.
She wants to see them off (at least in some sense), but she doesn't really have the heart to say goodbye in person. This… just isn't her strong suit.
To be perfectly honest, she doesn't want them to leave. She understands why they go on this journey, what they try to achieve, and she agrees that it's important. Phire deserves to fulfil his dream.
It's just… The thought of them being away for so long makes her feel so… uneasy.
Who knows what might happen on this long journey. Will they even be the same when they return? Or won't they return at all?
Just to be clear: Adriana isn't concerned that something bad might happen to them on their journey. She knows that Marc is a strong trainer and a strong person in general, so she is confident that he's up to the challenge.
However, what if the journey changes him to a point at which he will… stay away? Could that happen? What if he finds something on this journey that makes him stay away?
Since the incident at her first Fallarbor Town Spectaculars, her relationship to the other townspeople has been neutral at best. Aside from her family, Marc has been the only person she has been close to for all these years. She… really doesn't want to lose her friend.
Loss… This fear of loss… Why has it to be so overwhelming? All she can think of is that she doesn't want things to change. She is happy with the situation as it is, Marc seemed to be, even Phire seemed to be, at least to some extent. Why did her life have to change? After all, change could mean loss…
For the time being, she remains behind… together with her anxiety about the changes Marc's journey could cause in her life.
A/N: Starting with this chapter, I'll occasionally give a "status update" about Marc's team, stating who the members are and what level they're at at the end of the respective chapter. This will look like this:
Phire/bagon - Lvl. 19
Robert/zangoose - Lvl 21
...and it's finished! Well, the prequel is.
There is not much to say, this chapter is mainly about starting the journey (and stating what it is about) and stating what has become of the main characters over the years.
Aside from that, I wanted to include this little theory about how the bags in the games might work. Once again, I don't know if there is a canon explanation or if the bags just... work. Anyway, using the move Minimize seemed natural, and I'm actually 90 per cent sure that someone else already had this idea before.
Also, when I thought about this theory, the picture of someone sticking his hand into the bag and getting it shrinked to a tenth of its original size came to my mind... I found it strangely hilarious.
I should also mention that, to keep things simple, I'll refer to the PokéNav Plus just as "PokéNav". I suppose most people will know what I'm writing about. Besides, it probably won't matter anyway whether I'm speaking of the old or the new version on most occasions.
One more thing: When Marc calls Drake's salamence a "saltymute", the pronounciation I had in mind is "salty mute", which also happens to be a ridiculous, nonsensical term. That's why Adriana "complains" about it. I'm just saying this in case this doesn't come across in the actual chapter.