Chapter 6: Start
Some people, whose names will not be named, might have despaired at ever rejoining the bountiful bosom of civilization.
Weak willed, or merely lacking in faith, they would have resigned themselves to the tree boughed purgatory they found themselves in.
But you were no mere man. You were a Gamer, and damn if that didn't mean something.
"Right Nikko?"
My girl doesn't even blink at the sudden, nonsensical question.
"Vee-vee!"
Her bright chirps fill my shriveled heart with glee and I transition into a loping jog as the two of us break free from the tree line and into the light.
I can feel something unclench in my chest at the sight. Rolling fields of harvest spread out far and wide in a tapestry of color. The breeze flowing over the crops before it reaches us with a gentle caress.
It hits me that as stupendous as the vista is for me, it's surely that and more for Nikko. As a newborn, she's known nothing but the towering oaks and spindly pines of the forest behind us.
With a gentle smile on my face, I turn to my companion. I find her sitting on her haunches, eyes closed into happy slits as the sun hits her face and the wind ruffles her fur.
I quietly lower myself to her side and scratch behind her ears where I know she loves it.
I think I can put off civilization for a little while more.
Auburn Village, an interesting place for sure. Built alongside a lazily winding river, its roads are more dirt than not and I've yet to spy a building above two stories. Besides a stretch of what I'm tentatively calling Main Street, everything is about as spread out as you'd expect in a rural farming community.
I don't hate it.
Nikko on the other hand is proving to be unexpectedly shy - her head tucked bashfully into my chest as I carry her around.
It's not too surprising on second thought. While the population of the village is pretty low, it's pushing the number of people she's ever seen from one to way more than she can handle.
Good thing we didn't pop out in Viridian City. I doubt her precious heart could have handled the shock.
We wind our way around the heart of the community, slowly getting our bearings one step at a time. Each minute that passes has me growing more confident and sure of myself. Some part of me expected suspicious eyes and knowing gazes. All I've seen is idle curiosity at worst.
It seems that my crimes have failed to dog my footsteps here.
Let's hope it stays that way.
In fact, it's probably for the best I ease off the the general skullduggery for now. The last thing I need is a repeat of Pallet Town.
In light of my desire to not get chased out of town again, I think I'll keep [Thief's Eye] on the back burner during my stay.
It's not that I can't control myself… it's just that I don't want to.
If I see something I want and I can take it - I will.
Sometimes even if I can't. Sometimes especially if I can't
What can I say?
I didn't accept the Thief Class because I liked the way it sounded.
About twenty minutes into my meandering, I pass by a low built ranch - an older man smoking a pipe on the porch with a greying Persian by his side. A smile and perfunctory nod in his direction is returned in kind after a moments pause.
Slowing my steps, I turn around and make my way in his direction.
"There wouldn't happen to be a Pokemon Center around here would there?"
The man pulls a drag of his pipe and slowly lets it out in a thick plume of smoke.
"Pokemon Center? In Auburn?" A crooked grin slinks up his weathered face. "Now I know you're new. Not that I didn't before, mind you. Hell if I don't know every face in this town twice over."
I don't even try and keep the grimace off of my face. I'm much too tired to pretend otherwise. Without a Pokemon Center I'm going to have to either [Persuade] my way into someone's home, somehow, or spend yet another night out in the open.
"Eustace."
I blink at the non sequitur and readjust Nikko in my arms.
"Uh, pardon?"
"The names Eustace." The man, Eustace, takes another drag of his pipe.
After a few increasingly awkward moments I respond.
"That's… uh, a good name? Nice and strong?"
"Kids," Eustace grumbles as he trades a commiserating look with his Persian. "I was asking for your name boy. I swear, kids these days get stupider every year."
I swallow a retort since I find myself liking the old fart. I can appreciate someone with a little dick in them.
Heh.
Disgusting.
"Grey, nice to meet you I guess. Even if you are a bit of an ass."
Eustace narrows his eyes for a moment before leaning back and shrugging.
"Fair enough Grey. Fair enough. Just don't expect anyone else in town to be as easy going as I am. Cus up the wrong folk and you'll have your hide tanned faster than you can say Tauros."
I give a slow nod. "Noted."
"Good, good. Now I wouldn't get your knickers into too much of a twist. We may not have a fancy Pokemon Center here in Auburn, but we've got the next best thing."
I leaned forward at the news.
"And what might that be?"
Turns out the next best thing is a clinic at the edge of town run by a retired Nurse Joy of all things. Older than the image I have from the anime, with streaks of gray in her pink hair and smile lines around her eyes, the lady in question welcomes me with open arms.
Literally.
Straight up hugs me within a few moments of walking in.
Slightly awkward, but damn if she doesn't give some high class hugs.
Auntie Joy, as she insists I call her, is a whirlwind of care and admonishment that leaves me feeling like a little kid again.
And boy howdy did she have more than a few words for me when I began to relate my story. Heavily edited of course, with a healthy dose of [Persuasion] mixed in. I'm not an idiot.
Mostly.
Apparently newly born Pokemon need more than Oran Berries, water and nightly cuddles to keep them happy and healthy.
Uh, whoops?
And to hear her tell it, it was the height of recklessness to bring a Pokemon Egg into the woods without even the most basic of supplies ready for if and when it hatched.
Which isn't even touching my total lack of just about everything and anything a young trainer needs for their journey.
'Unprecedented foolishness' I believe were her exact words.
On a more positive note, I'm fairly certain I succeed in pushing the narrative that I'm just a kid in over his well intentioned head, as opposed to anything malicious. Or maybe she simply views the best in people regardless of their mistakes.
Ugh, her winsome smile makes it so hard to lie to her face.
Although to be fair, I am technically telling the truth when I cut into her haranguing to let her know that I'm an orphan.
No parents here as far as I know. And thank god for that. A family is a load of baggage I would very much prefer to avoid dealing with.
And if it garners me some much needed sympathy? Well, I'm not exactly one to look a gift horse in its mouth now am I?
So all in all I'd call it a win. I even got a level in [Persuasion] during the conversation.
Once my story finally peters out, she all but steal Nikko from my arms to run the standard suite of tests for infant Pokemon - a bouncing Blissey appearing from out the back to join her.
I'm especially hesitant to leave Nikko on her own, but the darling seems to warm up to Joy even faster than I did. That women is a force to be reckoned with.
And if the home cooked meal she shoves in front of my face didn't convince me of that, I'm not sure what would.
Right about the time I clear the last of the food off my plate, Joy reenters the small kitchenette with the same good cheer I've come to expect.
"Oh? Looks like someone enjoyed their food. Seconds?" She half-asks, half-tells, already moving to get me more.
I wave her off, honestly pretty full already and I tell her so.
"Well then, you'll be glad to hear that Nikko is in good health. All her tests have come back positive and I'm confident the trend will continue." Her eyes crinkle with good humor as she delivers the news.
I scratch the back of my head before sending a genuine smile her way.
"I'm not sure I can thank you enough Nurse –"
A polite cough interrupts me.
"Auntie Joy."
The older woman beams at the title, nodding her head in affirmation.
"Now It'll be another hour or two before we're all finished up. Until then, we do have a shower you're free to use."
I take her not so subtle suggestion and stand up. Not that I needed it. She had me at shower.
"It's right through the door and down the hall. First door to the left, you can't miss it." She begins to politely shoo me in the right direction.
"Oh, and leave your clothes by the door so I can throw them in the wash. I'll get an old robe you can use while you wait."
Not seeing the need to disagree, I do as I'm told, a growing grin on my face.
Oh shower, how I've missed you.
I step out of the shower feeling indescribably better. I'm half convinced I touched enlightenment when that first spray of hot water hit me.
I'm simply at peace for the first time in a while.
At least until I turn to look in the slightly fogged up mirror.
Right.
I'd almost forgotten.
It must be some kind of grand cosmic joke. Surely, someone somewhere decided to have a laugh at my expense.
I can think of no other explanation. No parent would be this cruel. With resignation I wipe some fog off the mirror.
The grey haired, grey eyed face the looks back at me is decidedly unimpressed.
Stupid anime world.
A little on the nose, don't you think?
I bend over, rest my head on the counter and count to ten.
"It could always be worse," I whisper to myself.
Flashes of pink and green haired characters flash through my head.
"Remember, It could always be worse."
Pity party over, I move to dry myself off. It's not like I'm bad looking. I'm above average for sure if not incredibly handsome. More cute than anything given my age.
Another sticking point.
I don't remember much about myself or my life before arriving here. Bits and pieces yes, but nothing truly critical to who I am. More tangential ideas and memories, vague hunches than anything concrete. Some more than others.
For example, I'm fairly certain I wasn't thirteen before. How much older escapes me, but thirteen just seems off. Like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit.
The same goes for my appearance. I'm damn well sure I didn't look like I fell out of a Japanese RPG. What the alternative was? Your guess is honestly as good as mine.
Deciding I've burned through my weekly allotment of bathroom-introspection, I crack open the door and grab the fuzzy robe left for me.
I've got plans to make.
"Auntie Joy?" I begin, happily spoiling Nikko with belly rubs. The now officially healthy girl needing a little love and care after our time spent apart. I've never seen her run so fast as when she finally spotted me. The brown bullet leaping into my arms with a decided lack of aplomb.
"Hm? Yes Grey?" The women in question responds while working through her meal.
"Um, a couple of things actually." I pause and get my thoughts in order. "First would be if you could recommend a good place to spend the night around here."
The look I receive is both offended and mildly irritated.
"Do you really think so little of me? That I would point you down the road instead of opening my home to you and Nikko?"
No… But I was hoping you'd respond like this. Easier than outright asking anyway.
Which is vaguely concerning now that I think about it. Maybe some more CHA will help fix my lacking social grace?
With a huff, the retired nurse crosses her arms in motherly indignation.
"I hope your next question proves to be a little more more worthwhile."
"Of course. Sorry."
She waves at me to continue.
"Do you know anyone in town that might be in the market for berries?"
No matter how much time I spent trying to frame the question in a positive way, words cannot begin to describe how uncomfortable I feel like once the sentence leaves my mouth.
But I push through my overwhelming need to cringe. There's simply no good way to say it without coming across as, at the very least, odd.
"Berries?"
I look down, making sure Nikko's belly rubs are up to standard.
"Berries. Oran Berries. Uh, other Berries. You know, Berries…"
Wow, I've never spent the time to really examine Nikko's belly fluff. Better get on that right now.
"May I ask what brought this on?"
"I chance a look up and she seems more confused than anything else.
I shrug. "It's like anything else really - money."
"Money?"
"I'm not exactly flush with cash and I don't have a family to fall back on if I mess up." I grab Nikko's paws and move them back and forth. "I want to be capable of providing for Nikko and I can't do that with what I have right now."
I can't tell her about the Miracle Seed - too much risk despite her caring nature. But it's my best bet at getting some quick money while I'm here. Head into the woods, grow a bunch of Berries and sell them off for some spending money.
"I came across a pretty sizable patch of Berry Bushes a few hours outside of Auburn - thought I could go harvesting and see if people were interested."
Joy taps her chin a few times in thought.
"I can't promise anything, but I'll certainly see what I can do."
I tip an imaginary hat her way and response in a long drawl.
"Mighty appreciated pretty lady."
Her laugh is nice to hear.
"Just for that I think some desert is in order, don't you?"
Name: Grey
Race: Human
Age: 13
Class: Thief [+]
Title: Pokemon Trainer [+]
Level: 5
Exp: 0/1600
Money: p 670
–––
HP: 150/150
MP: 100/100
–––
STR: 10
VIT: 15
DEX: 40
INT: 10
PER: 25
CHA: 20
LUK: 10
Available points: 0
–––
[Skills] (6/6) [-]
[Thief's Eye] (4/100) [+]
[Persuasion] (13/100) [+]
[Sneak] (18/100) [+]
[Lockpicking] (3/100) [+]
[Running] (12/100) [+]
[Rest] (4/100) [+]
–––
[Traits] (1) [+]
[Perks] (0) [+]
–––
[Key Items] (2) [+]
–––
[Pokemon] (1) [+]
I always wondered about Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. Something about a Nurse Joy that actually ages tickles me something fierce. Which led to the character of Auntie Joy. What a sweetie.
If all goes well, Grey should meet his very own Rival and get into his first Pokemon Battle next chapter. Maybe. Who knows?
Thanks for reading.