Again, sorry for the mixup with the last chapter. I have fixed it in case you haven't gone back to read it. This is, for sure, chapter 20 ;P Enjoy!
Serena wakes up, tucked in the second bed across from Lance's. Beside her, Ty curled up in his makeshift nest of twisted sheets in a deep sleep. Turning onto her back, she recalls watching movies until way too late last night. Popcorn being tossed into each other's mouths, laughing at all the cheesy scenes, breaking down the mechanics of some monsters on screen and arguing what would make the movies better plot-wise.
All they were missing was Clair.
She rubs the sleep out of her eyes and sits up slowly to avoid disturbing Ty. She glances around the dimly lit room. Water rushing tells her Lance is in the shower, the clock reads 10:34. How late were they up last night? She hasn't slept in this late in weeks!
The water stops with a squeak of the knobs and she hears him grab his towel with a sigh before opening the door. Red hair sopping wet and falling over his face and towel hanging low on his hips, he steps out and grins at her. She smiles back, not phased at all by his nudeness.
"Morning," she greets as Ty burrows further under the blankets.
"Morning. You passed out last night," he chuckles while moving over to his bag to grab some new clothes. "Had to tuck you in and then Ty in, he was just as passed out as you were."
"I don't even remember," she brushes back her hair, letting some air hit her scars on her neck. "No wonder I'm up so late."
He laughs. "Yeah, same."
He disappears into the bathroom once more, leaving Serena to get out of bed and get on a change of clothes for the day. She stands in front of a mirror on the wall by the bathroom door and inspects her choice of tank top. The weather should be a lot hotter than she is used to, and while the tank top she's wearing will help, she doesn't want anyone seeing her back. It's a sore spot, something she doubts she'll ever get over soon, unless the scars disappear somehow.
She turns her body to look at the scars, her neck twisting to see it run down the length of her spine. When she was younger it was worse looking, red, raised and scary. Now, it's pink lines the width of her finger, snaking down either side of her spine. Along the lines, sitting two centimeters apart, are large circular scars as if jabbed by something. When she had gotten out of the hospital, her parents took meticulous records of her scars, measuring them and taking photos at different times of the day. She saw them a few times when they ached growing up, instead of pink they got redder and seemed to pulse with the blood pumping through them.
She jumps when Lance pops out of the bathroom and pulls open the curtains with a swift tug, drenching the room in bright light. Ty grumbles on the bed and hops down to nip at his feet in annoyance. His cute little body lashing out with each of the trainers steps. Lance laughs, dancing around the pokemon to get away. She watches them with a smile knowing Ty wouldn't purposely hurt him, he just enjoys making his feelings clear. When Ty is sure that Lance gets the gist, he scampers over to his trainer with a happy cry, pawing at her legs until she picks him up.
"Want me to braid your hair?" Lance questions as he turns to his things to pack up.
Serena frowns, swiveling in the small stool to eye him curiously. "You know how to braid hair?"
"Uh, do you not remember when you and Clair had an obsession with braids when we were 13?" he gives her an incredulous look.
She ponders that before bursting into laughter at the time they made him sit and watch hours of braiding videos as Clair would braid her hair and he would braid Clair's hair. "Oh yeah! You still remember?"
"Of course," he snorts and cracks his fingers as if he were about to play a piano.
Serena ponders the thought of her hair braided when he spins her around with hands on her shoulders and gets to work. His fingers are gentle as he tells her a story about his Dratini and battling while out on the road to help pass the time. Her comments are laughs and a shocked "What!" here and there peppered around certain parts of the story. She watches him work, his light brown eyes tracking her thick waves as he works it expertly into a firm French braid. By the time he's finished she twists around to inspect his work, while her scars peek out at the top of her spine, it's enough to let her leave it alone for the day.
"Thanks," she grins at him. "You could always make money doing this."
"Mmm, I'd rather not broadcast the fact that I can braid," he hums as she gets up to go to the bathroom.
Ty grumbles at being moved again and settles next to Serena's bag on the bed.
Once she's finished brushing her teeth and such, the two make their way down to breakfast. The smell of food hits them both, they take a deep breath and grin at each other. She moves to get some food when he steps in her way and blocks her path.
"What are you doing?" she questions when she feels another strange tingle run down her spine.
Without listening to his answer, she turns around and scans the crowd of trainers coming in to find the familiar face of her father and Clair among them. Her eyes brighten and a smile splits her face as she sprints over to them. Clair meets her halfway and the two collide like football players, smacking into each other audibly enough to make the men flinch. They manage to cling to one another while tumbling onto the ground. Above them, Lance and Aaron share exasperated glances.
"Clair, I missed you so much!" she squeals as the other girl says much the same.
"Are you guys okay? You hit each other hard," Lance comments as they sit up and hug again.
"Love is pain," Clair waves him off and Serena can't help but laugh at that.
Aaron pulls his daughter up and spins her around in a hug. "I heard about your little detour."
She rolls her eyes. "I was safe, it was fun."
"Only Rena would say school was fun," Clair snorts as Lance helps her up.
He nods in agreement. "Exactly what I said."
She sticks her tongue at them. Her arm wraps around her dad as she leans on him and takes in his familiar smell of cologne, the forest and dragon scales. "Anyway, what are you two doing here?"
"After your mother sent out the cavalry," her father gestures to Lance, who smiles wide at Serena's groan. "I decided it'd be best to bring the gang back together for some breakfast."
Serena eyes him carefully. She realizes her mother must have been worried for her. Looking back now, it makes sense. She never thought about how being away from home was worrying her mother since the incident a long time ago... Then hearing she got lost must have triggered her fear despite her calm demeanor over the phone.
Sending Aaron would have hidden that from Serena, at least until he got here.
She sighs. "She can come visit me whenever, Dad."
"She knows, sweetie," he grins, glad that his daughter could piece it together. "She's just trying to let you have your space."
"Right," she sighs again before beaming. "Breakfast?"
OoOoOoO
The place Aaron brings them to is on the pier, a lovely restaurant called The Portside, or the Port by locals. It's a customary sea themed restaurant, painted different blues and whites with a picture of Shellder, Krabby and some other pokemon found along the pier on the sign. Inside the restaurant are dark hardwood floors, round tables dotting the multilevel room with a circular bar in the middle and kitchen in back. Waitresses wear a more stylized version of sailor suits, while the waiters wear regular sailor outfits; scarves, a white button up with a blue stripe on the collar, a sailor hat and dark pants with dark boots.
The hostess greets them and ushers them to outside seating past the tables filled with families. The tables outside look just like the ones inside but with the cloth fastened under the table to keep from blowing away. A large awning jutting out from the restaurant over their section of the pier blocks the sunlight. Soft music plays from the speaker over the sliding door they just came out of.
The four take their seats, Lance and Clair comparing their battle scores while Serena stares at the deep blue sea in awe. Aaron orders a round of drinks for everyone, lemonades with berries mixed in and some coffee for him. The cries of some Pidgey and Spearow dot the background as Serena takes in the fluffy clouds blotting the sun in and out over the glittering sea. A sense of calm takes over as she watches the waves crash in the along the beach and hears the water rush under the wood below her feet.
"So, what's new?" Clair pulls Serena back to the table with a quick smack of her fist on the top.
Serena dives into the tales of her travels, she glosses over her time spent with Kent, though her father raises a brow at her willingness to trust a stranger. In her mind she wonders if anyone will ever let her live that down. She talks about her time volunteering and her time at Pokemon Tech. It does not surprise the other two about her enjoyment or her perfect grades despite being there in the middle of their semester. She finishes with her troubles with Espeon, not the part about her guilt in wanting to keep Espeon and connecting that to her uncle, just that she's unsure about what the next step is.
"That's another reason I'm here," Aaron interjects just as their waitress returns with their drinks and takes their orders.
Serena looks down at her menu, wondering what she should order. She forgot to look through it before conversing with everyone. Something big? Something small? She listens to Clair and Lance's orders, a plate of seafood tacos and a burger platter, respectively and decides it shouldn't-doesn't- matter. Aaron's eyes his daughter, his instincts saying he should encourage her to get what she wants, but his mind tells him she has to make choices for herself now. She ends up ordering a panini with all the fixings with a side of fries instead of chips. He makes his own order, the special of the day, and takes a sip of coffee before continuing.
"While you are here training and stuff, I will look around for clues to her owner's whereabouts," he pulls out his phone and shows her a map of Kanto. "We've checked all the smaller cities with Vermillion, Celadon and Fuschia left to scope out. I figured why not get some work done while you guys take the day to catch up?"
Serena bites her lip while examining the map with three red dots placed over the cities he mentioned. She knows it's the right thing to do, and that Espeon would be much happier if she were in a familiar place with her trainer. Then there's a part of her that has grown attached, that knows Espeon likes her food sweeter with only a slight tang, she likes her baths to be a bit on the colder side and her hair brushed every week on the dot. Does her trainer know these things? Do they do them for her too?
Lance sees Serena's deep in thought and nudges her sandal with his shoe under the table. "I think it's a great idea. Like old times, right?"
"Ye-yeah," Serena pulls out of her reverie and grins at her dad. "Sounds good to me."
Aaron nods, having missed her pause, and puts his phone in his pocket. Serena smiles at Lance, he winks in return. "Okay. I'll let you know if I come up with anything."
While they wait for their food, Clair begins her story of how classes are going back home in Blackthorn and how she feels she will fare against her competitors. Serena can't believe how serious her best friend is taking this opportunity. Clair rarely put all her effort into something, even her tests. Naturally, she's a fast learner and quick on her feet. Serena recalls seeing Clair study for tests the week of them and usually she just went over the assignments and barely ever the textbooks. But now she's studying every night, training herself and her pokemon nearly every day.
And, honestly, it looks like it. Serena notices Clair has grown taller, her shoulders broader and her legs larger. Athletic. Easy to tell that she runs a lot or works with dangerous pokemon based on some marks littered on her arms.
While Clair talks Serena glances over at Lance to see the same change. His face has filled in, it's no longer scrawny or much too big for his body. His shoulders have broadened a bit too. Nothing drastic, but it's easy to see they're both growing. She contemplates if she is exhibiting these same changes as well when she catches her father's eye and he raises his brow while darting his eyes from Lance back to her. She frowns and tilts her head, oblivious to his insinuation. He just grins, shakes his head, and focuses back on Clair.
By the time their food comes out, Lance is starting his story. To no one's surprise, it's dangerous stuff. Aaron can't believe what he's gotten into without Wesley knowing. Dangerous storms forcing him off his path and into the wilderness with a lost sense of direction, nearly starved. Taking on thieves in multiple towns and cities, Aaron gives him an earful for that.
As they wind down from their meal, the conversation turns to pokemon and who has what now.
"I still have the same three, with a quilava instead of a cyndaquil," Serena shrugs and turns to Clair.
"Well, the dratini from the ceremony is close to evolving and then I caught another one a few weeks ago while wandering around that lake outside the city," Clair begins with a grin. "I also have a Seadra."
"You two need to catch up," Lance clears his throat in a dramatic fashion and rubs his hands together. "I have a dragonair, Gyarados and Horsea."
"What?" Clair and Serena exclaim at the same time.
"You can't have a Horsea," Clair speaks up before Lance can say anything more. He glares at her and she shakes her head. "We can't have the same pokemon."
"Don't be dumb," he rolls his eyes. "There's not a lot of dragon types to choose from here, so I'm taking what I can get."
Serena rolls her eyes at their behavior.
They haven't changed at all.
"I want a Horsea too!" she shouts over their fight. They calm down from their rude comments to glance at her. "You don't want to have the same pokemon as each other, then you can have the same pokemon as me."
Clair huffs while Lance grins.
Classic trio, Aaron thinks to himself, Serena always swooping in to make sure the two of them get along.
With their families ranking so close, it's no surprise that there is a tension between the two cousins. Aaron sees a bit at home with their families constantly having to show that they're worthy of the status they hold. He feels a sneer come on at the clan's ways, so stuck in the past, he can only hope it will be better when his daughter is older.
"They can be caught here in the city," Lance informs her. "We can go now!"
Aaron pays for them and after many thanks from the kids, he hugs his daughter before the three turn and head towards the harbor. He watches them go, Serena in the middle while the other two flank her and argue over something again. As usual Serena puts her hands up to stop them and they continue on with a normal conversation. With a scoff, he turns on his heel heads off into the city, ready to clean up the mess his brother left behind.
OoOoOoO
Knees deep in water, Serena smiles at the sun shining down on her as Clair finishes putting on sunscreen on the beach behind them. They found a part of the harbor where they can stand in the water and fish. Not having a rod of her own, Lance sets up his and offers it to her a few feet away. He holds it out while explaining the mechanics of fishing, their hands brushing as he shows her where to place her own.
Serena basks in the water pushing and pulling her legs. The coolness soothes the heat from the sun, and the sand between her toes is oddly satisfying. She grips the fishing rod tight, standing as still as she can with Lance doing the same beside her. Soon enough, Clair joins them and the three wait in silence.
Lance is about to suggest moving to a different spot when Serena's sudden shout makes them both jump.
"Pull it in!" he asserts, reaching over to help her as the line becomes taut.
She does as told, pulling back with all her might. Whatever's on the end isn't too heavy and, sure enough, a Horsea comes flying out of the water. Beginner's luck. Without thinking about a battle, Serena pulls out a pokeball and tosses it while the pokemon is in mid-air. Clair and Lance glance at each other wondering if she really thought it would be that easy. The ball doesn't even shake, it pops open and Horsea plops into the water.
Serena regains her wits and tosses out Wynn's ball. The dragon type dives into the water and pops up near the water type. "Extreme Speed!"
Wynn dodges Horsea's water gun, disappearing in the blink of an eye and uses Extreme Speed to slam her body into it and knocks it into the legs of the nearby pier. Horsea lets out an angry cry (as angry as it can sound being a cute little pokemon) and dives underwater. For a moment, Serena wonders if it left them and slumps, but Lance shouts her name when the pokemon pops up behind Wynn and blasts her with Bubble. Wynn cries out, twisting around to attack Horsea when the pokemon disappears and pops up again. Serena watches, takes a deep breath and formulates her plan.
"Wynn, go underwater and use twister!" she commands.
The dragon type does as she says, dunking below the depths as far as she can go in shallow water. The three of them watch as a typhoon bursts from the ocean, lifting Horsea into the air above their heads. Serena grins and watches as Wynn climbs up the typhoon, just barely visible beneath the twisting water. Once Wynn bursts from the top she shouts for Extreme Speed again, Wynn snakes through the air and hits the little water type full force.
"Use Thunder Wave!" Serena bellows as the two drop from the sky.
Her dratini twists in the air to be in line with Horsea and releases a flash of yellow light at the pokemon from the jewel on her forehead. Horsea cries out, engulfed in streaks of electricity jumping over its scales. Serena wastes no time, grabbing another ball and tossing it as the pokemon falls just above the water and crosses her fingers.
Clair and Lance grab one hand of hers each and hold tight as the pokeball, guided by Wynn, drifts over to them. The light in the center dies, and the pokeball grows still. Serena's eyes light up and she cheers with the other two. Nearby, a group of spectators on the pier join in, hollering their encouragements at the trio. Lance and Clair clap for her as she waves at the spectators.
Laughing and splashing, they head back to shore, Serena's heart pounds with excitement as she stares at the pokeball in her hands.
"Better get him checked out at the center," Lance advises as they dry off their feet and slip back into their shoes.
"Then you will have to get him caught up on training," Clair comments while inspecting Wynn. The dragon type coos as Clair finds the best scratching spot, just under her head fins, and leans heavily on her. Serena laughs as her friend nearly falls back by her weight.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it, guys," Serena rolls her eyes at them. "You're not the only trainers here."
They both mumble 'sorry' as Wynn gets put away and they make their way back into the city. This trip has just as much energy as when they first made their way over with the prospect of getting a new pokemon vs catching it and taking it back with you. Once there, Horsea and Wynn get checked out, simple exams lasting only 20 minutes, then the three are back out exploring Vermillion. Lance said something about a tournament on some field in the city and so they make their way over there.
"Are you going to nickname Horsea?" Clair questions as they meander down busy streets filled with people and cars.
"I'm thinking Sygnath, or Sygna," Serena replies as they follow Lance around at a casual pace. "Are you going to take part in the tourney?"
"Mmm, no," Clair shakes her head. "I wanna give my babies a break. I think Sygna is good. Are you?"
"I'm thinking about it just to see how well he does," she replies and gives a firm nod. "Lance, what do you think of Sygna?"
"I like it!" he says after a moment of consideration.
Clair pouts. "Do you need his approval too?"
"Stop it," Serena glances at her. "You know I value you both."
She relents with a small smile, turning her head forward, ending the argument there. Serena changes the subject as the trio come upon the field mentioned earlier. Lance and Serena sign up for two different brackets, much to the surprise of her friends.
"What?" she glances at them with the pen still in her hand.
"You don't want to battle me?" Lance raises a brow.
"Hell no," Serena snorts, setting down the pen and picking up a sheet with battle times on it.
They snort at her. Clair promises to sit on their sides when she can and Serena can't help but feel excited at the thought of battling. Standing in a stadium in front of a crowd of people is nerve-wracking, but getting to battle different people and see their strategy gets her blood pumping. Wynn, Ty, and Sygna will love it while Espeon watches.
April 26th
So the tourney went pretty well. I didn't win in my bracket. I got third and received a gift card for the trouble. Lance, of course, got first and won a Charmander! Lucky. Sygna did well and strengthened a lot over the course of the tournament. A few more days of training and he'll be completely caught up!
Seeing Clair was so nice after so long of talking over the phone. After the tourney, we all went to dinner to celebrate and then came back to the center to celebrate again in another suite. Clair and I spent some time talking while Lance was off doing whatever. She seems truly worried about her exams towards the end of the year. I've never seen her so anxious before, especially before a test. It took some time, and I did my best but she still seemed unsure when we changed topics. We generally talked about how I am feeling with battling and I told her about my conversation with Lance about Espeon. I admitted how I felt about being like my uncle because I want to keep her.
I've seen her mad before and it shocked me how scary she is. Long story short, I shouldn't even think to put myself in the same boat as Giovanni. She said that my reasons for wanting to keep Espeon are good and I would be letting her be herself, different than what he did. I believe her. I just... I don't know. I'll see what happens when we get there.
Lance came back then so we all three got to talking about different things. Then she left with my father after his investigation. He may have gotten a lead but said he'd look into it before letting me have a go at it. I think he's regretting letting me keep her and figure this out on my own. I'll have to do some serious searching after my gym battle... ugh! I'm not sure I'm ready for that!
Serena huffs, distracted from anything else as she thinks of her battle. She stuffs her notebook away to try and fall back asleep.
She ends up staring at the ceiling, thinking about how to go about the challenge in a few days. The gym leader is an older guy, Lt. Surge, known for electric types. With the type match up, Serena wonders how that will go along against Wynn, Ty and Espeon. Sygna would not do well at all, so he's out.
She looks forward to training him more, anyway.
Glancing across the darkness, she can hear Lance's sigh as he flips onto his side and smiles to herself. It feels so much like the sleepovers the three of them would do at home, just missing Clair. Her hand slides down to pat Ty on his side as he slumbers near her hip. She settles in and promises herself to try to be a trainer when the battle comes, no matter the situation.
