To Viridian City
Jessica
As Nicole was leaving, Vapor jumped out
of the Pokeball, seemingly refreshed.
"You recovered quick," I commented, looking
at the young Vaporeon curiously. It nodded silently, trotting at my heels
as I entered a small forest.
"I still think you should have some more
rest," I commented, throwing its Pokeball. It landed on the ground, nothing
happening.
"What the...?" I said, confused.
"The Pokeball you were using is defective.
This Vaporeon also dislikes being inside Pokeballs." My Pokedex piped up.
"Is it right?" I asked the Vaporeon, which
nodded its head.
"Can't you say anything?" I asked it,
unnerved by its queer silence.
"Pokemon can only say their own name."
The Pokedex informed me.
"Well, that's more than what mine's saying,"
I muttered to myself. I looked at my map.
"Well, we better get moving, Vapor. We
have a long way to go, and we have to get to Viridian before dark." I said.
Vapor obliged, racing ahead.
What's the matter with me, I'm talking
to a Pokemon! I thought to myself as I ran to keep up with Vapor. I guessed
travelling would be different without my sister around. Which is probably
a good thing. Nicole wasn't the most pleasant person to travel with.
Vapor and I had travelled for a long time
before something out of the ordinary happened.
"Pokeball, Go!" A voice called out, breaking
me out of my thoughts. A red and white ball flew towards Vapor!
"Stop!" I cried, running towards my Pokemon.
Fortunately for me, Vapor can look after itself. With a strong tail whip,
it knocked the Pokeball back to its owner. I caught up to Vapor and knelt
down so I was eye to eye with it.
"Are you okay?" I asked. Vapor responded
with its usual timid nod. I stood up and stormed off in the direction that
the Pokeball had come from. No one messes with MY Pokemon!
Not far off I spotted a boy about my age
holding the Pokeball. He was holding a skateboard under one arm. As I got
closer I saw that he was decidedly good looking, with dark blonde hair
and deep green eyes. I didn't care.
"What the hell do you think you are doing!"
I yelled at the boy who was holding the Pokeball.
"What's your problem? I was just trying
to catch that thing there, so back off!" He demanded.
"That thing there is my Pokemon, for your
information!" I snapped back.
"Well, doesn't a trainer usually keep
their Pokemon in a Pokeball?" He asked, taunting.
"Well... I… it's none of your business!"
I said. "Just don't try to take my Pokemon again!" I started walking off.
A few minutes later he came back and stopped me.
"Now what?"
"Look, I'm sorry for trying to catch your
Vaporeon. My name's Luke." He said, offering a hand. I ignored it.
"Look, Lucky-" I began.
"Luke," He corrected.
"Whatever. I'm kinda in a hurry and I
have no time to talk to losers like you." I told him, walking faster.
"Well, if your going to be that way,"
He said, leaving in a huff.
"Good riddance," I muttered under my breath.
Ahead I could see the lights of a town. Viridian City! I eagerly entered
the gates, taking in the surroundings. Viridian City was small, compared
to my hometown, Saffron City, but it was much larger than Pallet Town.
Checking my watch, I saw it was half past
eight. I had been travelling for much longer than I had thought.
"Pokedex, Where can a Pokemon trainer
stay in Viridian City?" I asked the machine.
"Most trainers stay in the Pokemon Center
because it is free." The Pokedex informed me. I put it back into my pocket.
I looked around for the Pokemon Center but I couldn't find it. Nervously
I approached an old man north of the town to ask for directions.
"Excuse me, sir. I-" I began. He twirled
around to face me.
"Hello! Would you like me to show you
how to catch Pokemon?" He asked.
"Actually, sir, I would-"
"You don't? Then get off my land, you
trespasser!" The old man screeched. I backed away hastily. This man was
clearly mad.
A girl, seeing my confusion, approached
me.
"Don't worry about grandfather, he hasn't
had his coffee today. What was it that you wanted to ask?" She asked me.
"I'm just looking for the Pokemon Center."
I replied.
"Well, you will be looking for a long
time. Last night a boy with a Pikachu destroyed it while battling Team
Rocket. I'm sorry." She said, walking away. I felt hopeless. It was my
first day on my Pokemon journey and already I would have to camp outside.
"You look lost," I heard a voice say.
Spinning around, I saw Luke.
"Not you again!" I said, annoyed.
"Well, I was going to offer you a room
in my Aunt's motel down here, but if your going to be like that..." He
sniffed. I decided that although Luke was clearly very annoying, putting
up with him was better then camping out.
"Well, Lucky-" He quickly cut me off.
"My name is Luke!"
"Sorry, Luke. I really do need a room."
I replied. He smiled again.
"I thought so. Come this way. What's your
name, anyway?" He asked, looking at me sideways.
"Jessica."
He led me through twisting alleyways and
streets. It wasn't long before I felt lost. Vapor followed at my heels
closely still with it's strange silence. The small creature hadn't uttered
a sound since... Well, it hadn't made any noise at all.
In a few minutes we arrived at his Aunt's
motel. In short, the place was a dump. I would've thought the large building
was abandoned if I hadn't seen a light on inside. It was rather large and
old fashioned. The place was covered in flaky pale paint, although in many
places it was chipping.
Luke didn't seem to notice the shabbiness
of the place and walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. I followed.
After a few minutes the door was answered.
A short, dumpy woman of about forty years peered out at us through the
crack of the door. She seemed confused for a moment, then smiled as she
recognised Luke. She opened the door totally.
"Lucis, my dear boy! I haven't seen you
for a long time! What are you doing outside this late? You know it's after
curfew! Please, come in! And your little friend here, too." She exclaimed,
ushering us in. The inside of the motel was alot more respectable than
the outside, but it was clear that the place was poor.
"Just call me Luke, please, Aunt Dora."
Luke groaned. I decided that Luke must really like his name to be said
right. He was a strange guy, to say the least.
"Now, you haven't introduced me to your
friend! I'm Dorine Marces. Nice to meet you." she said, offering her hand.
I shook it.
"I'm Jessica Raloni. Miss, could you tell
me how much it is for a room? I just have to stay overnight, if you don't
mind." I asked.
"Well, of course I don't mind! We are
a motel, after all. We charge twenty-five dollars per night. I know this
place might not be that flash, but we do our best with what we have." She
replied, putting on her most business-like smile. I wondered if Luke hadn't
already set this up. Anyway, I payed her the money.
"Good. Could you please just sign this
and we'll be on our way." Ms Marces handed me a piece of paper and a pen.
I didn't really bother to read it. I was too tired to think. I signed it
and followed her to my room.
Like the rest of the building, the room
was rather shabby as well, but neat. In one corner there was a thin hard
bed near a window looking out into the city streets. There was also a small
cupboard in the cramped space and a door leading to an equally shabby bathroom.
There was no light, except for a small candle in the corner of the room,
which Ms Marces lit. I didn't think the room was really worth twenty-five
bucks, but it would have to do. It was too late to find somewhere else.
Vapor creped around me and looked around
at the surroundings curiously.
"Breakfast will be served at eight tomorrow
morning. Please extinguish the candle. We can't have a fire, now, can we?
I'll see you in the morning." Miss Marces informed me and left me alone.
I ate some food that I had left over in my bag, giving Vapor some of the
Pokemon food, which our foster mother had left Nicole and me. That day
hadn't been such a bad start to my Pokemon journey, despite the fact that
I had no idea where my sister was and that I was staying in a really shabby
motel. When I got into bed Vapor curled up on the end of my bed.
I had a slight feeling I'd forgotten something.
