Chapter 2: Introductions to Pokémon
Following every bus that left Totsuki, a limosuine appeared from the tunnel where the many buses emerged from. Erina and Hisako rode in the limosuine in the early evening when the two saw most of the same creatures the other students spotted. Gasps lisped from both girls. "What in the world…" hushed Hisako.
"Where… are we!?" gulped Erina. "Some land not on Earth!?" The limosuine reached the resort where Hisako had files and followed Erina to see a gray-haired old man wearing a white lab coat over a red shirt and brown pants. By him was the puppy that tried to join Ikumi inside.
"Ah, are you also part of Totsuki Academy?" he asked.
"We are," Erina replied. "I'm Erina Nakiri, Academy director."
"Professor Samuel Oak, Pokémon Researcher," the old man identified as they shook hands. "I'm here for the orientation to the TotsukiMon Convention. And you?"
"I'm Hisako Arato," Hisako introduced. "I'm Erina's closest friend and secretary." She offered Oak a handshake and he accepted.
"So, what's with this big puppy by you?" asked Erina.
"Well, apparently," Oak studied. "This Growlithe is probably upset that it can't join a friend inside the resort."
"Are you saying that it doesn't know it's an animal that doesn't belong in something like this?" wondered Hisako.
"In this world, Pokémon can go anywhere like humans can," Oak clarified. "If I can, I'd like to see who it wanted to befriend." The four entered and Erina checked herself into the hotel. Soon enough, the students gathered in a dance hall but were separated by gender, meaning all boys and all girls were on their own tables. Takumi sat with Soma and he wasn't enjoying the assigned seating with a dirty blond boy in a semi-mohawk with some darker hair under and wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and slacks, a spiky raven-haired young man with sideburns, a white tank-top and track pants, and another raven-haired young man in glasses and wearing an orange shirt with a white stripe around the torso and gray slacks.
"So, I heard someone presenting the orientation is a professor from here," the semi-mohawk mentioned.
"Then, it's someone familiar with this world," the one in glasses assumed.
"Maybe it'll be like an explanation to those seaworthy creatures we saw coming here!" believed Yuuki. Suddenly, the lights dimmed. Erina was on the microphone.
"Totsuki Academy, we welcome you to the orientation to the TotsukiMon Convention," she started. "To get us started, we have a video of what this world contains." Everyone watched a huge screen emerged. Then, silhouettes of various creatures emerged.
"The world of Pokémon!" started Oak. "Creatures with marvelous power and beauty roam this world!" Red pigeons, black swallows and blue birds with clouds for wings were a few flocks flying through the sky. Various sea creatures like goldfish with elegant fins and eels to mantas glided over the waters. "Pokémon are everywhere. They are a part of our everyday lives. They become pets, partners, friends… They're in the trees, the skies, the seas, in businesses and many events… In lieu, Pokémon and people coexist. There are special people who train Pokémon for a living, namely Pokémon Trainers… Their goal is united by its own competition: Pokémon Battles." A battle between a snake made of boulders and a blue four-armed humanoid creature wearing black tight underwear fought. The snake lunged head-first into the four-armed creature with hard fins in its head, but the creature caught it before throwing it to the side. Another was a brown starfish with a ruby in the center spraying a jet of water at red arachnid with long yellow legs. "Conflicts are resolved in this matter. In all cases, this is how the World of Pokémon functions." The video ended with a red/white ball closing with a button in the middle.
"Now, presenting the Pokémon Professor," Hisako voiced with the microphone. "Professor Samuel Oak." The students applauded the professor as he came on the stage where he waived back.
"Thank you, Hisako and Erina!" he praised. When the applause quieted, Oak had the floor. "Yes, I am Professor Oak. I came here on notice that we're about to witness a merge of Pokémon and Culinary Arts with this event, the TotsukiMon Convention. Seafoam Island is one place where great food, fun in the sun and thrill of Pokémon come together. Now, allow me to show you what a professor of a region like Kanto can do." He had three balls with the same design as the last image from the movie. He released three different creatures: a blue four-legged creature with a green bulb on its back, a tiny orange lizard with a flame on its tail and a tiny blue turtle with a red shell. The girls cooed to the creatures.
"That turtle is adorable!" cooed Ryoko.
"I like the bulb on that one!" awed Megumi.
"While these Pokémon are new to me," the tank-top teen shrugged. "That's a nice flame on the lizard's tail."
"I can at least agree with you on that, Daigo," the mohawk nodded.
"All three are cute," Satoshi giggled. "Soma? What about you?" Soma pondered for a few seconds.
"I'd like to see if any of them have an interest to some of my early tests," he thought. Takumi gripped Soma's shoulder.
"Soma, I highly doubt they'd be interested in your squid tentacle concoction," he warned. Suddenly, Ikumi yelped with Growlithe hopping to her lap. He licked Ikumi's face relentlessly.
"STOP!" she yelped in the midst of the ticklish tongue bath. Taking a break, she had a closer look to the puppy. "Did the professor let you in?" Growlithe barked happily as Oak came by.
"Seems this Growlithe has a shine to you," he studied. Ikumi giggled to the name.
"Growlithe, huh?" she repeated while petting the Puppy Pokémon.
"Just recently, I witnessed a Pokémon choosing its trainer rather than the normal route," Oak remembered. The students were in awe to this discovery.
"So, that's why you came to me, huh?" guessed Ikumi to Growlithe. Happy barking from Growlithe seemed to confirm Oak's suspicion.
"Well, this is a great opportunity to show a function of this world," he smiled as he presented another ball and offered it to Ikumi. "This way, Growlithe is yours to take home after the convention." Ikumi took and looked at the ball, then to Growlithe. Others seemed confused to what Oak offered.
"It's like getting a pet when I was so little," she whimpered. She knelt and offered Growlithe the ball. "What do you say, Tiger? You and me?" Growlithe came to Ikumi and headbutted the ball. It became a red light before the ball opened and the light entered. The ball wriggled for a few seconds in Ikumi's hand before a chime rendered and the ball was still. Hearing the chime, everyone awed the occurrence.
"That sound means Growlithe is yours," Oak declared. Ikumi gazed to the ball, a Growlithe claimed by Oak's words.
"Yeah, but I like Tiger more," Ikumi wished. "It's… okay, right?"
"Growlithe's yours so you can name him what you want," Oak allowed. Ikumi held the ball between her bosoms while being thankful for the moment.
"Well, that's one you can keep," a scarlet redhead young woman motioned. Her hair covered half of her face while wearing the school outfit. "I might have somethings in mind with creatures that I've seen." Ryoko mulled to what the scarlet-haired woman.
"That won't be necessary, Rindo," she warned. "I still remember how you gutted a baby alligator and drained its blood for the meat."
"And on top of that, harming Pokémon by human hands is actually illegal," Oak added. Ikumi and Yuuki seemed surprised about the law mentioned.
"Wait, Pokémon can't be cooked!?" gasped Yuuki.
"A definite no," Oak mulled. Yuuki and Ikumi whined to the law while Rindo softened her stance.
"Alright, alright," she sighed as she rose her arms in surrender. Ikumi released Tiger, her Growlithe, much to the chagrin of one.
"Besides, it's not like Mito will hound her new pet for her bidding," a blond young man snorted. He also wore the same uniform as the rest. Tiger growled to the comment and barked, upset. However, one bark sent some embers from its mouth. The embers lit the blond's pants around his buttocks. There was a yelp from him as he flew upward, his buttocks on fire. As the blond tried to douse his buttocks, everyone seemed surprised with Tiger's ability to spit embers.
"So, this puppy can breathe fire?" gawked Takumi.
"Indeed," Oak snapped a reply. Everyone turned to the professor as he knelt to Tiger. "Her new Growlithe is a Fire-Type like Charmander." He pointed to the lizard and the flame who softly growled.
"So creatures like these have unique types," Satoshi studied. "Then what about these other two?" The turtle blew bubbles from its mouth.
"Squirtle is a Water-Type Pokémon," Oak briefed. "And Bulbasaur is actually a Grass and Poison-Type Pokémon." Yuuki approached Bulbasaur and wanted to pet it.
"But Bulbasaur's okay, right?" she wondered.
"Of course," Oak confirmed. "Why would I bring it over if Bulbasaur wasn't okay?" Satisfied, Yuuki gave Bulbasaur a pet to the head. After a few more topics of discussion, Oak and the Totsuki students bid goodnight to each other. Soma and Megumi caught up with Ikumi holding Tiger's ball near their rooms.
"So, are you going to be alright with Tiger, Mi-Meat?" wondered Soma.
"It's new but I don't think it'll be a big deal, Soma," Ikumi brushed off. "Megumi, you could've taken that Bulbasaur."
"True, but I'm not sure about having a Pokémon like you already," Megumi sighed.
"Though, I'm pretty sure your meaty recipes will make Tiger a big boy, huh?" joked Soma.
"Anymore mentions about meat from your pie-hole, I'm shoving cutlets down it!" threatened Ikumi. A silver-haired young woman in a white outfit approached.
"Okay, you three…" she silenced. "There will be none of that. We have a lot of people coming tomorrow for the convention." The three nodded to the silver-haired.
"Understood," Ikumi agreed.
"By the way, Alice…" started Soma. "Any reason you're already in your chef's outfit?"
"Oh, nothing much… but I did want to try something with the berries I saw Professor Oak bring in." Soma wondered about Alice and any help.
"Do you need anything prepped?" he offered.
"No, but I thought I might ask if you still have some of that peanut butter," she requested.
"Of course," he allowed. He entered his room and grabbed a jar to hand to Alice.
"Right, thanks, Soma!" she cooed before leaving. Everyone else called it a night. The next day, the TotsukiMon Convention began as people and Pokémon came to the event. Erina watched for a while as people and many different Pokémon dined on new foods prepared by the students. Three kids neared Soma's booth where he had omelets prepared.
"Are you sure you want to have Max stay by Ash, May?" a redhead girl asked. She wore a yellow track suit and her hair was tied in a ponytail.
"Misty, I'm sure Ash can watch over Max while preparing for this Street Tournament," a brunette girl proclaimed. She wore a red bandanna and red shirt with black biker shorts. "Max has looked up to Ash much more than me."
"Well, I guess…" mulled Misty as she turned around… but didn't see anyone. She got mad right away but soon saw a brunette moderately tanned teen boy in a brown light jacket and tan slacks. His hair was spiked as he ran to Rindo.
"The scarlet hair shows the burning passion of what skill and beauty are combined," he cooed as he held Rindo's hands. "I'm Brock… and you must be one the chefs from Totsuki?"
"I-I am…" stuttered Rindo.
"I knew it!" cheered Brock. "Perhaps we can share recipes and I may introduce you to the tenderness that a Pokémon Breeder in training can offer!" Misty had other ideas as she grabbed Brock by the earlobe and yanked.
"The only thing being tendered is your behavior!" she snapped as she dragged Brock away. Soma came over after hearing the argument.
"Everyone okay?" he asked. May and Rindo turned to see Soma with what seemed like a bowl of scrambled eggs with pieces of chives.
"We are, Soma," Rindo acknowledged.
"That's good," Soma sighed. May looked to the bowl in Soma's hand.
"What's that?" she pointed out. Soma blinked before seeing May's finger to the bowl.
"It's a special egg recipe that I made with a rich blend of some new butter and chives sprinkled into with a dash of something pink and heart-shaped," he listed. "The resort manager helped with names of the ingredients. It's a simple recipe but one that is a nice first attempt with foods from here." This intrigued May's curiosity.
"Can I have a try?" she requested. Soma smiled before offering a sample.
"Here you go!" he presented. May took a bite. Her eyes dilated before her mind raced from the taste. In her mind, her bandanna burst into confetti as her hair instantly spiked upward.
'THIS is a sample!?' she cried in her mind as her chest flared up. 'My body! It feels the need to want more!' Her clothes started to burst in a flash and in real life, she collapsed with an awkward grin on her face, still fully clothed.
"Once again, another satisfied customer," Rindo chuckled. Outside, Ikumi released Tiger with Erina and Megumi checking out the area. As they journeyed, they came across a battle. There was a raven-haired boy in a blue sweat-tee and jeans while wearing a red baseball cap while facing a redhead young man with a huge scowl. The raven-haired had a yellow mouse with long ears and a lightning bolt as a tail and brown streaks on the back. The redhead had a gray Godzilla-like creature with a head made of steel with horns protruding from holes in the helmet-shaped head and steel around the elbows and knees. Seeing the boy, Megumi hiccuped and shuttered.
"How pathetic," the redhead scoffed. "Your Pikachu against my Aggron?"
"Just wait," the raven-haired sneered. "Aggron will see that size doesn't matter." The girls seemed worried about Pikachu.
"That poor mouse will get crushed!" whined Megumi. A raven-haired boy wearing glasses came from behind and had a plan.
"Ash, don't send Pikachu!" he ordered. "Use Phanpy or Grovyle!"
"I got this, Max," Ash assured. The battle began with the crowd watching and the redhead making the first move, extending his arm from his rolled-up sleeves and shorts.
"Aggron, Hyper Beam!" the redhead ordered. Aggron opened his jaws before shooting out a yellow beam from inside.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to escape!" called out Ash. Pikachu leaped clear before running at Aggron. His trainer anticipated the move.
"Stop him with Metal Sound!" The command made Aggron illuminate his horns before vibrating and making metallic sounds.
"Use Thunderbolt on yourself!" The order had the mouse emit electricity from his cheeks and his body became coated in the electric veil. The sounds hit Pikachu but his surpassed it and was at Aggron's face.
"Use Hyper Beam again!" The order had Aggron spit out another beam and nailing Pikachu who was too close to move. Pikachu flew back several feet, nearly back to Ash.
"Good to go, buddy?" The question made Pikachu stand up. "Let's fight back with Thunderbolt!" Pikachu emitted another blast of electricity and hit Aggron, but it didn't phase the Iron Armor Pokémon.
"Use Metal Sound again!" The command seemed ignored as Aggron stood. "Huh?"
"Did you forget, Ross?" his opponent started. "Aggron needs to wait a turn after a successful Hyper Beam." The advice left Ross at a loss. "One more time with Thunderbolt!" Pikachu fired another round of electricity. Again, Aggron stood and didn't feel bothered.
"Ash, Aggron's a Rock and Steel-Type!" warned Max. Ross had his turn.
"Aggron, use Rock Slide!" he ordered. Aggron raised his arm but before he could bring it down, he stopped. Sparks of electricity radiated his body.
"Aggron's paralyzed!" awed Max. "No wonder you were using Thunderbolt!" Ash nodded before he made the next move.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" he issued. Pikachu leaped and hit Aggron with a glowing tail swing to the head. This floored Aggron who fell to the ground. Swirls were his eyes.
"This battle is over!" voiced a young woman. It was another scarlet-haired woman with glasses and a blue suit with skirt over a pink blouse and black stilettos.
"Prima!?" gawked Ash.
"You don't mean Prima of the Elite Four, right?" guessed Max.
"Aggron is unable to continue!" judged Prima. "Pikachu wins! The victor goes to Ash Ketchum!" Pikachu leaped into Ash's arms, hugging for the win.
"Way to go, Pikachu!" he cheered. Megumi, Erina and Ikumi came over and praised Ash for his and Pikachu's victory.
"So, that's how battles work here?" guessed Ikumi.
"It is," Ash confirmed. "Say, are you the visiting cooks for the convention we came to see?"
"We are," Erina confirmed. "I'm Erina Nakiri, Totsuki Culinary Academy's director. This is Megumi Todokora and Ikumi Mito." That's when she leaned to Pikachu. "And this is for the victor." She gave Pikachu a kiss to the forehead, much to his delight. This was followed by Ikumi and Megumi.
"So, you do a lot of food?" asked Max.
"Oh, we do, little boy!" teased Ikumi as she petted Max's hair. He wasn't liking it and tried to swat the hand away.
"Let's go back now that the fight is done," Erina excused. Everyone agreed and Ash, Max and Pikachu followed. The TotsukiMon Convention was underway.
TO BE CONTINUED...