Author's Note(11/11/2021): I understand I haven't posted anything personal about myself in my writing before (well on this account), I promised myself I would keep my personal writing from my private life. However, an event that happened during the early days of the pandemic prevented me from touching this story. The Diamond and Pearl remakes will be released soon, for those of you unaware, I first wrote this story when I was in middle school a little after Diamond and Pearl were released in the US. During that time, I didn't have very good friends and anytime they would get mad they would start to attack my writing ability and this story. So I kept deleting this story wherever I posted it along with my user account. Well, that was like thirteen years ago. I no longer keep in touch with those people. I'm closer to my thirties now than my twenties, I've learned a lot in life and have better friends who respect my boundaries now. Back to the event, in fall of last year in 2020, someone died who is based on a character I made for this story. I actually would talk to her about this story when I was first writing it when I was twelve, and she use to tell me I was her favorite writer, and as I type this, I'm actually crying like the loser I am. She did not die of covid, she died because she was unable to find someone with compatible kidneys and could not get a doner. Everyone else in my family was able to tell her goodbye, except me. My family did not bother me because they saw I was busying working on my laptop, on this story ironically. So a day after her death, I was told the news and cried in my room. As a result, it's been very hard to work on this story. I actually had been thinking of visiting her and telling her how I decided to rewrite this story now that I was older. So, I guess what I'm getting at is this story became painful to work on. But, I know she wouldn't have wanted me to stop. I do plan on eventually finishing this story along with the others I'm working on. I'm truly happy that when my own so called "friends" didn't have faith in my writing ability that she did. I'm happy to have met you and I will continue to write and remember how much you encouraged my writing. And if I could do one thing over, it would be to continue writing and not delete anything I worked on.
The city became more distant as I silently walked away. I didn't want to think much of it, but I was disgusted with what happened. It continued replaying in my mind how the boy I had so much fun with was the adult who annoyed me earlier that day. I kept thinking over and over again, what if he recognized me and if the reason for his friendliness was that. Did I accidentally alter the past? Are things going to be different now in this current time period? I doubt he could exactly remember me; I checked the watch after time traveling and saw it was six years before this year. That was the same exact year from when I time traveled earlier at Sandgem Town. I couldn't help but wonder if the time watch's settings were set to time travel six years before. All this mess irritated me, why could I have not been more careful, it was as if I was just begging to get into some type trouble with time traveling.
I sighed exhausted from my overthinking; everything will be okay I told myself. I managed to speak to my father last night to ask about receiving a PokéGear after showing him my new gym badge. He scolded me for expecting a reward for accomplishing something I set myself up for, but I convinced him it was in case of emergencies. It was expected to arrive at Floaroma Town, my next destination, and who knew, maybe I would end up staying there a few days. As my thoughts continued circling around, the skyscrapers of Jubilife came into view. If I acted quickly, maybe I could be in and out in a flash. The thoughts of those people at the Pokétch company still bothered me. Jane did try to soothe my anxiety saying they were probably watch enthusiasts, but something deep down told me to watch out for the woman with them. Her menacing stare at the watch still pierced throughout my mind.
Entering the city I gazed at the pedestrians walking by clowns handing out fliers and calling out to others walking by too busy with their own life to bat an eye. Jubilife is so bustling with life, even early in the morning there's so many people scattered about. I felt a faint ache in my stomach as ladies with long hair that flowed in the air walked by chatting loudly. Long hair, I thought. Strawberry blonde, that was the type of hair the woman who stared deeply at my watch had. Oh no, what if she sees me and asks questions? Be calm Celia, be calm. I repeated over and over again as I began walking faster and faster until I started sprinting down the sidewalk. Oh no, I don't even know Jubilife I thought as my heart began pounding loudly. It was as if my heart wanted to break out of my chest as my path ended at a giant dumpster. I really walked right into a mess I chuckled.
The faint sound of ticking interrupted my racing thoughts as I remembered I could time travel. I'll go back a few years, hopefully a time without that woman in the city. I pulled out the watch which felt so cool in my sweaty palms that eased my anxiety and moved the number of the year. Closing the watch, I watched time rewind quickly, seeing posters come up and down on the alleyway's walls. A loud click interrupted the changing posters as they remained still and unchanging. Is it over?
I carefully stepped back out of the alley and heard a lady scream. I jerked my head the opposite way and a thin woman with a golden pixie cut ran my direction.
"What are you doing? I just came from there. I didn't see you." She snapped angrily as her eyes squinted sharply and her teeth clenched.
"Haha. I was there too. You're quite rude for not noticing me." I replied nervously frantically looking around to see if I could see any officer walk by for help.
"No I didn't. Both of the doors in that alley are to a nice high end expensive restaurant and an adult facility." She asserted as she looked down and up my body. "You're dressed in rags, a little too young and poor to afford that restaurant." Then she giggled "Do I have to call the police? You're too young to be working at that adult place. If you are it's illegal and they'll have to call your parents."
"I don't understand what you mean by adult. How do you know that I wasn't someone's guest at the restaurant?" I responded trying to back away in which she walked closer.
"Hmm. You're right about that. But I do have-" she said then was interrupted by someone screaming. Before I could turn in the direction I felt someone tug at my hand and pull me away, I looked up and saw younger Roark.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, Cece." He said as he smiled and pulled me closer. "You know, my dad is in such good terms with the Pokémon League, but you are missing out on the lecture we were both suppose to attend won't look as good on him." He continued as he lead me away and walked away as he said goodbye to the man he was with who was now arguing with the woman who was harassing me. Cece, is that my time traveling name now? It couldn't be Celia. So he chooses my fake name.
"Um, what's going on?" I stammered out nervously, still trying to make sense of what had been happening with that lady.
"I should be asking you that. That man works for the Pokémon Trainer School and said his assistant stepped out and someone walking by mentioned seeing her walk in that direction. We kind of saw the whole thing and he seemed horrified by it. But don't worry, we're gone from them now." He explained as we continued rushing away until we reached a building. "There's a lecture I have to attend, the Pokémon League has these perks where Gym Leader's families get access to 'special' things. They're just going to talk about legendary Pokémon if anything." he chuckled, glancing towards me then looked forward. "It'll be nice to have a friend to talk to during this."
"Oh. So like? Trivia things?" I asked nervously as I looked down and saw he still held to my hand. I pulled away. "It's fine I won't get lost."
"Trivia? Well, it's good things to know. Aren't you on a journey? What we learn may apply to the things you see." He clarified and we arrived at a large building with several windows that shimmered in the sunlight. "I actually felt like I was going to see you today." he said cheerfully and I felt my heart skip a beat. He was looking forward to seeing me? "I didn't bring your heart scale though." he added and laughed. "But we'll see each other again, right?" he asked and I nervously nodded my head.
We entered the building, it smelled on cinnamon rolls and the unintelligible noises of a radio and tv playing entwined together. I couldn't make out the conversation Roark had with the receptionist, and the pangs of hunger irritated me. What am I doing? What did I get myself into?
"Are you hungry, miss?" asked a calm voice, it was the receptionist with her boxy blue outfit. She pointed towards a room and I got a glance of some displays filled with food. "Help yourself, the lecture will be in that room." She said and I quickly ran towards the room, grabbing a plate and filling it with small sandwiches. The room was filled with other children of different ages chatting away, not even noticing me as I ravaged the snack tables.
"I didn't expect you to have such an appetite." Roark giggled and I glared at him.
"I've had a busy day; I'm supposed to be in Floaroma Town."
"You'll get there. Don't worry." He said and led me to a desk we both sat at. He tried to talk to me, but I was more concerned with getting something to eat. I kept nodding my head, I didn't want to be rude, but I had been so hungry.
"Wait, it smelled like cinnamon when we walked in." I recalled and he smiled.
"Yeah, they're from some bakery around here. The cinnamon is always so strong that it burns my nose." He explained as a loud slamming startled us. An elderly woman with her white hair braided in a bun, wearing a pink suit entered.
"I hope you all got well acquainted with each other." She said in a loud booming voice and the chatter from the other children stopped.
"It's always the same people who come to these." Someone sneered and she smiled.
"That puts you all over an advantage of others." She pointed out boastfully and looked towards Roark and I, smiling so strangely. "You're always so alone and brought a friend?"
"I thought she could use the lesson too." Roark clarified.
"Well, I hope she can hear me through her munching." She snobbishly said and I rolled my eyes. I wiped away my lips and sat up straight.
"I'm here to learn." I snapped and she smiled.
"As are the others present in the room." She said as she walked towards board in the front of the room and began typing away. The board then projected a picture of the map of the Sinnoh region. "As you all know, I hope. We are currently in the Sinnoh Region in this city known as Jubilife City." She explained as she pointed to the map with her laser pen then changed the screen to a photo to a large, jagged mountain. "This is Mt. Coronet, just past Oreburgh City before you get to Hearthome City. Legends say that this is the birthplace of Sinnoh where Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina." She continued and showed a large picture of a glowing Pokémon surrounded by three others that glowed pink, blue, and yellow. "We aren't the only region with legendary Pokémon affiliated with an area. In Johto we have the Ilex Forest." She said as the screen turned to the familiar forest I use to live by and showed a small green fairy Pokémon, Celebi which I had met when I started my journey.
"I've met that Pokémon." I interrupted and everyone looked towards me, in shock. Oh no, what did I do? "I actually use to live by that forest, in Azalea Town." I said nervously.
"Yes, it's usually the townsfolk who claim to have seen Celebi. The protector of the forest." The teacher agreed.
"Wait, but I saw it here in Sinnoh." I clarified nervously. "At Lake Verity."
"Hang on, Mesprit is at Lake Verity." A student shouted and the teacher began clicking on her computer.
"Mesprit is the lake guardian. They're both small. Maybe you confused them?" the teacher questioned, and I felt my face began to turn red.
"No it was Celebi for sure." I snapped.
"Cece." Roark said calmly, oh no, I'm getting angry aren't I?
"There are Pokémon who are a different coloring? Maybe you saw a different colored Mesprit that looked like Celebi?" A student explained as I looked around the classroom. Everyone was staring at me; I could feel my ears turning red.
"Hmmm. Well, Celebi can be pink like Mesprit. However, Mesprit would be a darker pink and gold." The teacher said as she continued typing away on her computer as various pictures flashed on the screen. I shouldn't be doing this. Don't tell anyone about Celebi. The words echoed through my ears.
"Maybe I just confused the Pokémon I saw with Celebi." I said nervously. "I had set out very early in the morning when my journey began." I stated as the teacher looked towards me and frowned.
"Always get a good night's rest while on a journey." She said as everyone continued glancing towards me. I looked over to Roark who looked worried. I shouldn't have caused a scene. For the rest of the lecture I sat silently, trying to listen to what the teacher said, but I felt so worried. What if they get suspicious over the things I said.
After the lecture was over, I silently had eaten those cinnamon rolls they severed us while Roark tried speaking to me. I enjoyed everything he said, but I didn't pay attention. I just wanted to be gone.
"Thank you for keeping me company today. Usually these lectures are so long and boring, but it went by so fast with you there." Roark said as we walked outside the building.
"I'm sorry I acted like a clown." I apologized and he laughed.
"No, you weren't a clown. You were fighting what you believed in." he chuckled then frowned. "But you just gave up so easily, why?"
"I don't know what I was talking about." I laughed nervously while he continued to frown.
"Maybe you did see Celebi. Maybe Celebi and Mesprit are friends and have tea together." Roark suggested and I laughed. The thought of two small legendary Pokémon hanging out with each other, at a tea party together sounded so funny. "See? I made you laugh."
"Thank you." I said and he smiled. "I really have to get to Floaroma, I'll see you later?"
"Later of course." He said and we shook hands. How corny. I waved goodbye and made my way out of the city. That was nice, he was there when I needed a friend.