So much for before January huh?
The bright side is that I got a brand new word processor! Before now, my chapters were all written in Notepad, because I do not have Microsoft Office, or any other 'real' writing tool. However, I found a program called Nimble Writer on Steam, and it is amazing! I found so many good themes and note tools in the workshop, was able to make some hot tea and put on music and actually work. I even was able to stream myself writing for my discord friends! Nimble has made this so much easier, even if I did need some time to fully explore it before I could get working.
The bad side, is shortly after that stream when I was about half done, I started feeling ill. The doctor confirmed it, I had the infamous covid. While I was lucky and did not need hospitalized, it certainly put me in bed for a solid two weeks and writing simply was not an option. I still feel a bit under the weather, but I am ready to write again. So don't worry, I came out of it fine.
Also, if you wish to watch me stream as I write, I'll be doing it on discord. The invite is aH3YJE3Pmj
Waking up the next morning was so strange. I expected to be sore from having my furry butt kicked to within an inch of my life, and yet I felt perfectly fine. The morning was so usual. Food, shower, brushing, and just getting ready for the day as if I hadn't cost Autumn her gym badge just the day before. But there was no judgment, no anger, no pain. She just accepted it and moved on. She didn't just toss me away like trash for it, she just kept loving me and smiling. I would die for the smile. I would do anything it took to make sure I didn't disappoint her again. I had to get stronger. I had be the best Pokemon I could ever possibly be for her.
Eventually we decided that what Autumn and I needed to recover from our loss was a shopping spree. It also just happened that Cerulean City was hosting a traveling shopping fair. So we set out to the fair to spend money and buy useless crap because apparently that's how you make a girl feel better? I don't understand it either. Not only was said fair very bright and colorful, but it was ungodly loud too. Humans shouting, Pokemon making Pokemon sounds, chimes, bells, and by far the worst sound in existence... Shadow talking. He kept going on an on about some stupid band that had a booth selling musical discs. "Death surrounds, my heartbeat is slowing down!" He... I would say 'sang' but that would be an insult to music. I also couldn't tell if this was a death metal band, or some kind of religious group faking it.
After much shouting, begging, and a promise to be a good boy which was guaranteed to be broken, Tyler broke down and bought him a box set of the discs, as well as a shirt that fit over his fluffy chest with the band name and logo. The next stall mostly sold flowers and berries, which while they smelled nice, did little to help my foul mood. I just needed to find a way to get stronger, and flowers wouldn't do it. Nor would ribbons, bows, or music. What I needed was a boost. Some way to perfect my attacks. A way to make myself actually worth putting into a battle. A way to not walk face first into a table leg like the furry idiot that I am, because that hurts and I still did it somehow.
"The Eevee might need some help with glasses. She walked right into that thing." The salesman said, leaning over to look at me. "No, I'm just very distracted. Too many thoughts, too many legs, not enough brains." I sighed as Autumn picked me up. "Well, you just happen to be perfect for what I sell. While I do mostly gemstones and jewelry, I also sell evolution stones. Something every Eevee wants!" He cheered, taking out a box and opening it, revealing several small colorful stones. Evolution stones... that could be exactly what I need.
Most Eevee spent months, if not years, considering what form we wanted to evolve into. Once we picked, there was no going back. Right now, I had three options. Flareon was right out. Autumn had a fire type with Pyro the Charmander. Given that I absolutely despise water on all levels, I highly doubt becoming a water type like Vaporeon was a smart move either. But the third option, Jolteon... that might just be perfect. For one, Jolteon were fast and lethal. They would obliterate most enemies on the field, outside of ground types. And given the gym I couldn't beat was water type, I'd have the type advantage. Then there's my name... Sparkette. Could you ask for a better Jolteon name? It's pretty much destiny!
"Autumn, I would like a thunderstone." I said finally, having thought it through. "Sparkette, are you sure you don't want more time? This is a huge decision, and you should really think it through." she said hesitantly, looking at the box. "Autumn, I know what I want. I want to be a Jolteon. I have thought it through. Please, make me a sparky doggo." I laughed. She sighed and set me down on the ground, then handed the salesman some green papers, and he handed her a green stone with bright flashing yellow sparks in it. She knelt down, and held her hand out, the stone on her finger tips.
Finally, it was right here. Everything I needed to be strong! I grabbed the stone and swallowed it whole, waiting. And then Autumn grabbed me, forcing my jaws open and screaming, but the stone was gone. "That's just... well, I can honestly say I've never seen a Pokemon eat a stone before. You're supposed to put your paw on it little one. I have no idea what you're going to do now. But... no refunds! I mean I'm sure it'll come out eventually, but I have no desire to try and resell it after it's been through the digestive tract of an Eevee." the salesman said.
"I'm going to assume I did a dumb?" I sighed, looking up at Autumn. "We will umm... let's get you to a Pokemon center and see what we can do about getting the stone back. I'm hoping Nurse Joy has a Pokemon laxative or something." she said, picking me up. "Great job Sparkette, you ruined my ability to con Tyler out of more money for useless trinkets." Shadow laughed. "What money? I spent the last of it buying you that stupid shirt." Tyler growled. "Do not diss the shirt, for the shirt shall fetch me the ladies." she said smoothly. "The absolute last thing you need is ladies." Autumn and I hissed at the same time.
Halfway back to the Pokemon center, I felt a white hot burning in my stomach, as if I had been shot. I groaned and flopped out of Autumn's arms, shivering. Everyone started screaming, and as I looked up, I saw my paw was a blinding light. Slowly it stretched, as if I was watching it grow. the glow surrounded me, enveloped me, and just as quickly as it came, it vanished. Thankfully, it took the pain with it. I slowly stood up, and looked down. My soft brown fur was now a shocking yellow, with white mixed in. I looked myself over more, and realized that while eating a thunderstone does work, it does also delay it. Finally, I was a Jolteon!
"I guess eating an evolution stone works, just takes much longer." Autumn said, aiming her PokeDex at me. The red beam scanned over me and report back all the information she would need about Jolteons. "I feel much better now too. Being a Jolteon very much agrees with me." I chuckled, hopping in a circle. "I'm glad. Now we can teach you some electric type moves and really have you up and battling." Autumn smiled, petting me. "You also no longer have a tail. Tailless butt!" Shadow teased. In reply, I gave him a nice little zap from my newly acquired electric form. Apparently however, it was too much as he gasped and fainted instantly. Well, lesson learned. Do not electrocute your friends.