So sorry about the mix up with the last chapter I posted, here's the correct 19. Please enjoy as we are getting to the meat of the story.
April 25th
It was totally legal! I went back to my room and dressed down in sweats and a shirt. Vivi and I had some dinner and at 7 we headed to the loop I ran around yesterday. The usual gang was there, Garrett, Seth, Dahlia, and then a bunch of random students they knew.
There were black lights and glow sticks, rings and paint! They're all such nerds. They had a rave with no drugs or alcohol. Just nice music, dancing and laughing with students in need of a break. It was so different being with them even compared to Clair and Lance.
In a good way! They're great and I miss them so so much it hurts. It's just nice to be comfortable with people aside from them... and Layla. I hope they get far in life, I can't wait to see where they go.
I'm exhausted this morning and I have two battles and a full day of walking! I should have said no...
I'm glad I didn't.
Serena starts at the sound of multiple cheery knocks on the door.
Oddly chipper for being out half the night, she groans to herself as she slides off her bed.
"Coming!" she grabs her bag and pokeballs.
She glances back at her room; she spent most of this morning cleaning it to the state it was when she got here. Her chest warms at the memory of walking in on the first day and feeling so alone to now having people at her door. So much has happened in just a few short days, she feels a small rush of sorrow before turning back to the door.
She has barely twisted the handle when Garrett shoves it open with a container of food. "Morning!" he sings. "Hungry?"
"Morning," she grins. "Yes, please. Don't you guys have classes?"
"No, that's why Nat asked us to help you today," Vivi gestures for the two to head out. "We're going to the outdoor arena."
Serena pops open the container to find berry muffins inside. An assortment of six with bits of berries peeking out from the breading. She picks up an Oran berry one just as a pokeball falls from her belt. It bounces on the floor avoiding Garrett's reach and Serena's as it rolls away and pops open.
I want to battle, Espeon's voice enters Serena's mind as the psychic type materializes in front of them.
Vivi and Garrett gasp in awe, their eyes wide and jaws dropped in unison. They glance at each other and begin squealing. Serena ignores their babbling in favor of responding. Why the sudden change of heart?
"Are you two talking? Why didn't you use her yesterday?" Garrett's voice interrupts as he leans in close between the two as if to break an invisible line between them.
Serena considers answering him. It's common knowledge that those with psychic types are psychic themselves. But the most known abilities are those that have to do with the mind and are not that strong. She shrugs off the creeping dread coming from her scars and nods at them.
"Yes, and it's a long story," she turns back to Espeon.
I spoke with Ty about his thoughts on it. He spoke of a connection with his trainer, you. The pokemon regards her with thoughtful eyes. I wanna see if that's possible.
Behind Serena, Vivi and Garrett munch on muffins while watching the two communicate. They lean back against the door across from Serena's room as if watching a movie.
You don't have that with your trainer?
Espeon cuts her off then. Serena feels as though her head hit a wall, she flinches and frowns at the pokemon. Please don't do that.
I am not used to such questions.
Questions that make you think about your relationship with your trainer?
Yes. I am beginning to see it differs from the one you have with the others. She speaks before turning away and gently closing their connection once more.
Without another word, Serena turns to her friends. "Well, good news for you guys."
She raises a brow at their casual faces. Not at all sheepish for staring at her as she conversed with her pokemon, Serena always felt like it was rude when people did that. Like staring at someone who's conversation you desperately wanted to listen in on. She watches them scramble to their feet wiping muffin crumbs from their shirts; she snorts as they make themselves presentable and begins heading in the direction of the main school building.
"You said, uh, good news?" Garrett jogs first to open the door for the two, in his opposite hand he holds the box of muffins high.
"Yes," Serena continues past him, offering a smile as thanks for holding the door. "Espeon wants to battle." As they round the corner to cut across the library, Serena ignores their dropped jaws and continues on into the hallway. "Don't get too excited, she hasn't battled, to my knowledge, before. We've just started doing some light training along the way, but barely."
"Uh, how did you train her?" Vivi tilts her head, glancing back at the psychic type as she trots behind the group. The girl turns away when knowing purple eyes meet hers.
Serena glances back at Espeon, turning her body to open the door to the outside fields and taking a moment to enjoy a silent school. Considering it's the weekend, and they're not taking any extra classes, few students are running rampant through the halls. There's always something so... charged like an empty school. She feels the zing of energy rush through her as she breathes in deep.
Once outside, Serena realizes she has to come up with a lie, and quick. The fewer people know who her uncle is, the better and safer everyone is.
"A trainer traded her to me, her old trainer wanted an Umbreon."
"Must have been from Johto," Garrett mutters. He flinches at Vivi's swat on his shoulder. "Fuck! Ouch!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Serena pauses at the edge of the pavement leading them to the back fields.
The two share a look, Garrett has the innocence on his face like he didn't mean for it to come to this. Vittoria looks fed up with his antics as though he always causes trouble by mentioning things he shouldn't. It's no surprise there is still some bad blood between the two regions. They have been... feuding (for lack of a better term) for a long time now. Long before Serena or either of those two were born.
"Professor Oak and Elm didn't share their discovery of Espeon and Umbreon for the longest time. Rumor has it, it was the Johto leaders, also Elm, that didn't want it published for Kanto to know. Someone in Johto leaked a journal about it and somehow kept it under wraps from Kanto until Oak announced it a few years ago after coming to an agreement with Elm," Vivi pinches the bridge of her nose. "The professors are above the drama. They were just unsure of the two new evolutions and wanted more info before encouraging anything. People are just dramatic."
"That's for sure," Serena rolls her eyes before looking at Garrett. "Exhibit A."
He frowns. "Hey!"
The girls giggle and walk around him with a bit of a hop in their step.
Espeon trails behind as if trying not to listen to their conversation. Serena frowns and turns to Vivi. "Eevee are rare though, right?"
"Super rare people who are rich enough to leave the region are the ones who own them," Vittoria nods. "Even then, they are rarely used for battle, at least, not until they're evolved. Poor things, are not allowed to battle or have to evolve to battle."
People who are rich...
Serena doesn't get the chance to talk with Espeon as they come up to the outdoor field and see Nat waiting for them with a grin on her face. The sight makes her nervous, this feels like a final test, a way for her to prove that she learned a lot and can use her new skills. Is she up for the test?
Beside her, Espeon rubs her midsection against her leg. Startled, she stares down at the pokemon in surprise. Purple eyes meet hers, begging her to give her a chance and to step forward even with fear in her heart.
Okay...
"I'm ready!"
OoOoOoO
April 25th Part two
Well. My battle skills are better now. Wynn and I did fantastic... After Vivi threw her around for a good half of the battle. She's super quick! Her method is to go straight into attack mode to catch her opponent by surprise. We caught on and managed to get in more points and win!
Espeon...Well, she... She did good for a new pokemon not used to battling. Her attacks were a bit weak, but she's quick on her feet. We will just have to practice her attacks more. After our battle with Garrett (we lost), she didn't say much. I think she's brooding from the loss. Poor girl. Did her old trainer know about her interest in battling? Were they inexperienced/new?
In any case, I see a lot of potential in her. She's very stubborn. To be completely honest (no one's going to see this anyway), I want to keep her. We may not be close, but in a way she reminds me of me. Taken from home and now just trying to some things out to see where she fits in this new strange life. She doesn't know what happened to get her to me, and I'm not sure what my uncle did to give me such strong psychic powers... If she'd ever want to stay; I'd let her. In a heartbeat!
Serena pauses, considering what she wrote before frowning and frantically writing more.
But does that make me as bad as my uncle? That I would keep a pokemon that wasn't meant for me? I mean, if her trainer wanted her back I would see if we could do a trade or something... I don't want her to leave but I can't be like him and just keep her for myself. I can't be selfish!
Her hands shake, and her scars grow warm as she thinks about her uncle. What a monster he is. Taking this pokemon away from her trainer and giving it to her without another thought. On the other side, she also wonders if he got her through legal means, no matter how unlikely she can't help but hope so. It would mean she would get to keep Espeon with no guilt...
"Ugh, just focus. Relax," she whispers, breathing in and out before continuing again with the same fervor.
Oh! I almost forgot, I MADE IT TO VERMILION! I'm so happy I didn't get lost again or caught in another rainstorm. The rest of the route went well without a hitch. Just a few battles here and there, which Ty won. Before I left, I said more goodbyes to Vivi and company. Been saying bye a lot these days :( the life of a trainer is so sad! I promised I'd do my best to keep them updated on my journey with postcards. I already bought some from here to send back. Which reminds me, I gotta send one to Layla and another to Clair!
Serena feels her mind perk up, as if she saw something she recognized. Her brows furrow as she glances around wondering what could have made her feel this way, but the lobby area is empty. With a shrug, she finishes her journal entry, slips her book back into her bag to trade for the postcards to write on them.
"Serena Lockwood your pokemon are ready!"
Serena finishes her sentence with a sigh and packs up. At the counter, she hands over her ID to a smiling Nurse Joy. Her face brightens at the sight of her pokeballs on the tray and with a quick thanks, she gets her room key and heads towards the buffet. Her stomach rumbles with each step towards the mouthwatering aroma of fresh food. Trainers gather at the many tables scattered in the cafeteria. The hum of conversation buzzes in her ears as she steps into a line.
The food looks delicious under the golden lighting. Center food surprised Serena the first time she tried it. She had heard it was good, but it doesn't compare to other places. Without another glance around, Serena helps herself to a plate full of different foods gleaming at her. It's been hours since her last meal and she can feel her stomach dying with each passing minute.
She settles her stuff next to her at a booth and turns to her plate when a voice calls out.
"Rena?"
She starts at her name, only two people call her that. She whips her head around and sees Lance standing a few feet away, bending backwards to get a better view of her. Her jaw drops, and she lets out a small squeal before wiggling free and rushing over to him. He sets down his two plates of food on a table next to him and catches her.
Was he always so tall? She thinks to herself as he swings her around. It's barely been a month!
The thought disappears as his scent overwhelms her and she finds herself unable to hold back from giving him a bone-crushing hug. He returns it with the same fervor, much to his surprise. He didn't realize he missed her this much, either.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be long gone by now!" Serena pulls away and gestures for him to sit with her at the booth.
He grabs his plates and slides in with a lighthearted grunt. "Your mother called me, she told me where you were and how you got lost," Serena groans, letting her head fall on the table, "and asked if I could come back and make sure you made it here okay."
Leave it to her mom to call Lance to make sure she's okay. If it wasn't him it would be Clair and she would turn every city and route upside down until she found Serena. She lifts her head, smiling at those thoughts, and lifts a mug of tea to her lips.
The steam blurs the edges of Lance's face as she eyes him over the rim of the mug. "You said 'Come back'? Where were you?"
"On my way to Fuschia," he replies between bites of food.
She nearly chokes on her drink. "What? How long did it take you to get back here?"
He chews slowly as if it's the first time he's considered the date in a while, finally, he shrugs and says, "Just a few days."
"Jeez, Fuschia?" she digs into her food, thinking about how far ahead he is compared to her. "You're so far."
"Yes, but I've been wanting this longer than you," he points out.
She glances at his golden eyes, seeing how he's half smiling with bits of food around his mouth. Always the slob for food, good to see that's not changed in their time apart. Been about a month, but still, a lot can happen. Like him getting taller!
"True."
They eat in silence after that, little bits of conversation here and there throughout the meal. Once they're done, they dive into the details of their journeys after they split up. Lance's seem way more exciting; battling trainers at every turn, getting caught in dangerous storms, stopping rampaging pokemon and meeting girls. Serena can't help but roll her eyes at him. He's always been a ladies' man, at least since their last year of school and being out here with no parents to stop him, she's not surprised he's been... having fun.
When it's her turn, he doesn't seem all that surprised about her volunteer trip, or staying at a school and getting a few extra lessons in. He was shocked about Kent, if a little nervous that he helped her so soon after he left. She smiles at the worry in his voice when asking questions about her time with him, but promises that everything was fine and he wanted a student. Next to Clair, he's also a big worrier, there's no doubt he'd be plotting the search for Serena if she ever got lost again.
When she finishes with the details of Espeon's first battle, he's silent while contemplating the information. They gather up their dishes to take to a window that leads to the kitchen and separate everything by garbage and utensils. The two face each other in the doorway as he prepares his questions, his brows furrowed and making him look angry with the way they sit on his face. She giggles remembering how people always thought he was so mad all the time in school.
"Do you want to keep her?" he finally speaks. "You seem attached to her."
"I am and yes, I do," she nods right away and crosses her arms. "She has good instincts and loves traveling. She's trying to hide it from me but I can tell."
"What about her trainer?"
She shifts on her feet then and glances towards the lobby. She can't handle having anyone else think she's just like her uncle. "I-I'm-I'm not sure."
Noticing her shift in comfort, Lance lets it drop for now and clasps his hands. "Well, anyway, I'm for sure tired and you are too, I know. I'll join you again for a while, okay?"
She beams at him, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thank you."
He waves it off with a flick of his wrist. "I'm your best friend, remember? Plus, your favorite monster movie marathon is on tonight. My room or yours?"
Eyes glittering, she does a little dance. "Yours!"
He laughs and waits while she dashes off to return her room key up front and switch rooms to his. With a hop in her step, she takes his offered arm and the two march up to his room as though they weren't in a center in the middle of a city away from home. All that's missing is Clair and their badgering each other while Serena listens and occasionally stops.
At his door, Serena pauses in the entrance. He frowns, about to ask what's wrong when she grins. "You don't have a girl over now, right?"
He starts at her question, then rolls his eyes and snorts. "Psh. She left hours ago."
They stare at each other; him smirking and her unsure how serious he is before they burst into laughter. She struts on in and plops right onto the big double bed, kicking off her shoes and letting out Ty to cuddle. Ty cheers at the sight of Lance, running over to him and rubbing against his leg before settling on the bed once more. The three of them settle into the darkness as the first movie starts and Serena can't help but feel content with Lance at her side and the familiarity that comes with being around him.
