Author's Notes: It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about the wait. I can assure you I was preoccupied with something very important. Okay, I was goofing off. But that's important too. All work and no play, you know. But I promise I'll stop goofing and get back to writing now. Or at least goofing so much. Either way, I'll get the next part out soon. By the way, from a Pokémon's perspective, pokétalk will be translated. Most everyone else will still hear the gibberish.
Chapter Three-Tribulations
Dontello's Italian Restaurant12:55pm
Brock
"Are you ready to order, sir?" I looked up at the impatient waiter who had been bugging me for the past hour. "No. And I'm not going to be ready until the rest of my party arrives, so you can stop bugging me about it every five minutes." The rude waiter shot me a nasty look and trudged off. I sighed and began to rub my temples. "Got to make sure I don't shout too loud, or this damn hangover'll flare up again." I probably shouldn't even be here, but I need to talk about this with someone. Someone who'll understand. "Ugghhh..." Grr, damn hangover. Lost my train of thought. Doesn't matter. I'll just wait for Misty to show up, then...I...could...bathroom, now. "Hey buddy, where's your bathroom?" The annoying waiter snorted and pointed. "Thanks."
"BLLUUUUGGGGHHHH!" I started to pant, leaning over the toilet. "And here I thought I didn't have anything left in my stomach." This one's turning out to be a real killer. I don't think I'll ever drink again. "Yeah, right. That's what I said the last three times. And look where I am now." I'll at least never go on an all-night binge again. Hopefully. "A big hopefully. But enough of this. I need to get back to the table before Misty gets here. Or that waiter gives my table to someone else." I would be willing to bet the latter would happen first. No offense to Misty, but she had always had a habit of being more than fashionably late. "Better get back just in case. She may have changed over the years." I slowly rose to my feet and stumbled toward the sink. Squirting some of the foul smelling pink soap onto my hands, I turned on the faucet and washed my hands. "Now my hands smell even worse. But at least they're clean." I switched off the faucet and headed back to the table.
"Feeling better?" I glanced up. An employee. A GIRL employee. "Somewhat. How did you know?" She smiled. "I saw your mad dash to the bathroom. At first I thought you ate the chef's salad, but then I saw you didn't have any food. Can I ask what it was?" Inquisitive, aren't we? She's kinda cute though. I'll just grace her with the old Brock charm. "Hangover." A concerned look spread across her face. "I know how that feels. I couldn't get out of bed for two days. I don't know how you even pulled yourself out of bed." Yeah, she wants me. And the more I look at her, the better looking she gets. And if she was sporting a bikini instead of the apron...damn. This one might be a keeper. Time to reel her in. "Had to. I don't really have time to recover. I needed to meet with someone. Still waiting, in fact." She got that curious look again. "Boss?" I shook my head. "Important client?" She must've figured I was a big business type of guy. "Nope." I responded. "Girlfriend?" I can tell she really wants me to say no. "Guess again." She looked relieved. "Okay, okay. Maybe a..." She was suddenly cut off by someone coming through the double doors. I looked over my shoulder. "Hey Misty!"
"Not a girlfriend, huh?" I looked back at the disappointed girl starting to head for the kitchen. "No! Just an old childhood friend. She's just a friend!" She looked over her shoulder with an extremely disbelieving look. "Yeah, sure." Have to convince her somehow. But...how? "Your guest, sir." I looked back at the rude guy from before. "Yeah, thanks. And yes, I'll order now." He looked extremely pleased. "Very good sir. What will you have?" I couldn't eat anything even if I wanted to. And I DON'T. Sick as a dog equals loss of appetite. Something to help with this splitting headache would be nice, though. "An egg. Raw. And a cup. You can get whatever you want, Misty." She had her head buried in the menu. "Uhh...I'll have the lasagna, with a salad on the side. And ice tea to drink, please." The waiter guy jotted the orders down. "Very good. I'll be right back with your drink, and your egg, for reasons I will not inquire." He turned on his heel and went to the kitchen. I looked up at Misty for the first time since she entered. And was pleasantly surprised.
She had on a form-fitting blue dress that went down to about her mid-thigh. And what a form. A definite improvement over the last time I saw her. Some people must be late bloomers. And her shiny, waist-length hair was the kind you just wanted to touch, and take a sniff of. And her perfume was very arousing. Not too strong, but enough to notice. Her aquamarine eyes gazed at me questioningly. Yes, Misty had definitely taken a while to bloom, but the last flower to bloom is the most beautiful rose of all. Of course, I would never think of her that way. I knew her too well for that. I don't think I could take going out with a time bomb. Every rose had its thorns, and Misty's were sharp. Too sharp for someone like me. I prefer the gentle, kind of shy type. Interesting and intellectual, yet good-looking. Like that waitress. I need to explain this whole situation to her. For some reason my heart (or my hormones) had taken an interest in her. Not the sexual, horny type of interest, but a love-at-first-sight type of interest. And it has definitely been a while since I had that. And when I feel like this, I usually pursue it. In matters of the heart, I just leap in head first, and go from there. "Your drink, ma'am. And your egg, sir."
'Bout time. "Thanks. That'll be all for now." That sour look returned to his face as he walked away. Heh heh. Pissed him off again. Probably wanted to hang around and flirt. Misty usually isn't the flirtatious type though. "You enjoy pissing him off?" Misty asked. "Yeah. One of the many pleasures in life. So, how ya been?" I cracked the egg over the glass, watching the yellow yolk fall into the clearish liquid. "Fine. A bit tired, but otherwise fine. You?" I grabbed the pepper and dashed a bit onto the raw egg in the glass. "Feel like crap. One too many beers last night." I said, putting a little hot sauce in the mixture. "Yeah, hangovers suck. Mind if I ask what that is?" I poured a bit of my water into the egg cup before answering. "Prairie oyster. Helps with hangovers." I held my nose and gulped it down as fast as I could. "I can't believe you drank that thing. Drinking nasty crap doesn't actually help, you know. I swear, all you men are the same." I raised my eyebrow. "Should've expected something like that from you. And it does help, by the way. Or if it doesn't, it's a hell of a placebo. Hard to swallow, but it helps more than anything else. Most guys can't work up enough courage to try it." She glared at me menacingly. "Well, you got one thing right. You're only the second guy I've seen that drinks them." She responded. "The first?" I asked. She smiled and answered. "Ash."
Residence1:15pm
Pikachu
"Hey Cheeky! Where are you!? Cheeky! Here girl!" Who do I look like, Lassie? And the point of running away is to get away from you, not come running when you call. Moron. Of course, this six-year-old from hell had never been what you'd call bright. His folks are okay, but this kid was sent by Entei himself. "Cheeky! CHEEKY!" Cheeky. That was the gayest name to ever be spoken by anyone since the dawn of time. Cheeky. How could anybody hate me enough to call me Cheeky? "I don't see him dad! Can you help me find her?" AND I'M A GUY FOR MEW'S SAKE! I HATE this kid. "Not now, I just got home from work." Good old dad. He always shut this kid up. And he always fell asleep in his special chair in front of the TV, so I could watch. TV had really expanded my vocabulary. "Aww. Maybe she'll come back home when she gets hungry." Fat chance, kid. I already snitched the roast from the oven, so I'm full. It had been a real trick operating the knobs with my paws, though. And it was a good thing the lady of the house had small hands, so I could halfway fit my paws into the oven mitts. And since I'm full, I won't be coming back. So say bye to Cheeky, and hello to Pikachu! I'm back! "There you are, Cheeky! I was really worried!" Crap.
You'll never take me alive! "Eeeeeat...THIS!" I shouted as I shocked him. "Waaa...ouchies..." He collapsed, paralyzed. Now's my chance! I'm OUTTA here! "Wait...Cheeky...come back..." Sorry, bud. You're just too weird for me. Anyone who would dress a Pokémon up in a dress and high heels is insane. I shuddered at the memory. My feet were still killin' me. I don't see how human girls can walk in those heels. But now I have to use my aching feet whether I like it or not, or I'll never get outta here. "See ya, sucka!" I shouted behind me. I used my long forgotten 'agility' technique to increase my speed. "He'll never catch me now!" Slow down, buddy. What's the big rush? I stopped dead in my tracks. What the hell was that? Consider me a friend for now. After all, I'm here to help you. That voice! It pounded in my brain! It fells like my head is going to explode! Sorry about that. I'll make it short. You want your old master back? Old master? Did it mean...Ash? Indeed I do. I can help you find him. The whole mess a few years back finally blew over, and your master is free. Do you want to find him? Of course I do! I'd kill to get back with good old Ash! But there has to be a catch. There always is. "Why help me? There must be something you want in return." No. I just need him to survive. It would be...inconvenient if he died at this stage of the game. That whole mess three years ago was very...inconvenient. And...look, do you want to see him again or not? What was it talking about? "Why would Ash die? And I don't remember anything so bad happening three years ago!" I shouted. You weren't supposed to. Now shut your damn mouth before I leave you to deal with Jonathan by yourself! It snapped. It's obviously getting nervous. I need to act before its offer gets withdrawn. "Okay, okay. I accept. Just don't leave me with that Jonathan kid!" The Presence seemed to get much happier all of a sudden. Good, good. Get to the Pokémon Center. There's a pokéball and instructions for the Nurse in the flowerbed shaped like a Clefairy. You'll be on your way in no time. You'll probably never hear from me again, so I bid you farewell. Adieu, my friend, adieu.
I quickly found myself alone and scared. A pokéball? I don't know if I can. And I'm trusting someone whom I've never met, and according to him, will never hear from again. But it's better than what I've got now. Which is little more than nothing. Just a quick ride in the pokéball transporter. No biggie. A few minutes at most. "Alright, where's the rat?" Great. Dad got off his butt to come look for me. An hour in a pokéball is better than living with that kid! "That's it, I'm gone." I ran for the pokémon center. "Time to see if the Presence is true to its word."
Somewhere Outside Celadon City 1:30pmChikorita
Just a little farther. Come on fat ass, move it. There. The prey is in sight. Five...four...three... "Honey, could you pass the mustard?" Two...one...NOW! I one fluid motion I pounced, wrapping my vines around my prey! "What the fu...that thing's stealing the picnic basket!" That's right, fat ass. And there's nothing you can do about it. "John, go after it! All our food is in there! Not to mention my purse!" Purse? Ah, a nice bonus. A meal and a meal ticket all in one package. "It's no use, it's long gone. I'm sure it'll just take the food though. We'll probably find your purse on the ground somewhere." Not only is he lazy, but he's an idiot too. I'd better find an ATM before he wises up and cancels his credit cards. But first, a gourmet lunch. I sat down and started removing items of food. "Let's see...chicken...sandwiches...cola...cookies...they must be meat-freaks. Chicken AND ham? Oh well. What else? Some veggies. That'll do." I started on the chicken as I looked through the contents of the purse. "Only a hundred and twenty? Pathetic. I've seen hobos with more on 'em. But what about the plastic?" Don't tell me they didn't bring credit cards. "Come on...mommy needs a new pair of everything!" Second section on the right, I believe. I checked. Bingo! "Oh yeah! These people must have every major credit card! Thanks guy. This doesn't mean you get any of the take, though." I said, turning around. But there wasn't anyone there. I neither need nor desire wealth, young one. And don't bother looking for me, as I'm nowhere to be found. This is getting creepy. Probably some psycho killer out to get poor little me. I'll be damned if I let that happen. "BRING IT ON!" You're quite the scrappy one, aren't you? Ease up, young one. My intention is to help, not harm. "Oh yeah? Help me how?" By giving you what you've been searching for.
"W-what I've been searching for? I-I'm not looking for anything!" You and I both know what you've been looking for. For years you've secretly searched, not admitting, even to yourself, that you were doing so. "T-that's bullshit! I'm only l-looking out for m-myself!" Then why can you not say so without quivering? Why do you look up at the sky every night, and wonder? "No I don't! S-shut up!" Wonder what it would be like... "Shut up! Just shut up!" To see his face...to see his smile...to feel his embrace... "Stop it...please..." Why does the truth scare you so, young one? What is it you fear? "I'm afraid...people won't understand...won't accept me..." There's something deeper than that. What do you fear most of all? If you can't be honest with me, how can you be honest with yourself? "I...I'm...afraid that...that..." You're almost there. Keep going. I sighed. "I'm afraid that if I find him, he won't like me back." There. Now we know the source of your aggressions. And I can bring an end to your suffering. What, suicide? Already been down that road... You're so morbid, young one. I intend to give you the help you need. And you certainly don't need death. You need to end this search of yours. "You mean give up?" Far from it. I'm going to give you directions. If you want my help, that is. "What do you want in return?" Nothing. This is a completely free service. "Yeah, but for how long? I need you to be straight with me. What's the catch?" No catch, no strings. Believe me, this is a mutual benefit. He's going to need some help. Soon. And I need him to survive. Now don't ask questions. Yes or no? Whoever this is, they're up to something. But I'll figure out what it is later. Right now I need to take while the takin's good. "Yes."
Good, good. But my time is short, so I must hurry. If you trust my words, your quest will be over within the hour. But you must hurry. Go to the subway station, and look under the bench with an old, homeless man sleeping on it. A paper is there. It states the train you need to board. Do so quickly, it leaves in half an hour. You will end up in Viridian City. A message will be written on the pay phone telling you where to go. Hurry young one, time is short. I wish you luck. The air around me seemed to lift all of a sudden, and the voice faded. "I hope this guy's tellin' the truth. If he isn't, he'll be sorry." I started to trot off, then remembered something. "Can't forget these!" I stuffed some canned food into the purse, along with the credit cards I had removed earlier. "Okay, now I'm ready." I picked up the strap of the purse in my mouth and trotted off toward the city.
Charicific Valley2:10pm
Charizard
I'm close now. So very close...but I've been close for an eternity now. Now I must achieve it. But...so...many...dis...trac...tions...NO! A warrior's mind must be clear at ALL times! I cannot show weakness! Or the pain...the memories...I must clear my mind, or I'll never be able let go. I must achieve the level of complete calmness, complete awareness...complete blankness. Or I will never see my goal. My purpose. My destiny. If I can't see the future...I'll only be able to see the past. Why can I not achieve this? Why can I not have even a sliver of hope...a pinpoint of light in the darkness? Fate has given me so much grief...am I destined to live out the rest of my days in eternal torment? Can I not have this one moment of hope...is that too much to ask? I felt a tear drop from my eye, mixing with the water flowing over my face. I'm too impure. Too weak...I let my emotions show. I'm too emotional. It's been my problem all along. Even now, when there's no one to scold me for it, I let my emotions flood my mind...only now...I don't know if I care. No! I care! Emotions make you weak...and only the strong survive! Advice from the Elders...but I can't heed it. I don't care. No matter how hard I try, I cannot deny the way I am. I slowly open my eyes. My eyelids divert the water's flow. I slowly stepped out from beneath the waterfall.
The sun's rays sting my eyes. How long had I been sitting in that spot? Days? Months? Years? I cannot tell. But the valley still smokes...how long will it continue to smoke? It was so long ago...can it possibly smoke this long? It will smoke until you can let go. Only then will the smoke cease. Only then will the flames cease to rage...only then will the screams stop. I felt my muscles relax. "Have you come for my life? Take it. It's meaningless now." Meaningless? No life is meaningless. You know this. But yet you struggle and concentrate to see it, when it has been right in front of you the entire time. "I need answers, not riddles. Now kill me. That's what you came to do." I didn't come for your life. I came because you need guidance. "Guidance? There is no guidance for the weak. Only death." Think for yourself. Don't let others change your outlooks on life. But you don't need to be told this. You already know. But you refuse to see the present, only the past. So you try to see the future. Do you know why you can't see it? "Because I'm weak. Impure." No. "Then humor me. Why can't I see my destiny?" Are you sure you want to know? His tone scares me. Serious...deathly serious. "Yes. Tell me." Even in meditation, completely pure and calm, you won't see your fate. The reason is simple. You have no future.
My eyes went wide. A low growl escaped from my throat. "What are you talking about?!" Simple. If you continue on your current path, you will die a lonely death. I closed my eyes. "My current path?" You barely eat. You don't sleep. You barely even move. You simply search for a future you don't have. You called your existence meaningless. And currently, you're correct. "I thought you said no life is meaningless." Your existence is meaningless, but your life is not. The answers you seek are right in front of your face, but you've got it too far up your ass to see them. You need to let go. You can't change the past. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or, learn from it. My eyes opened. "That was from a movie." Yeah. A Disney movie I think. But that's not the point. The advice applies. Are you going to run...or are you going to learn? I sighed. "I guess I can't run anymore. I suppose you're going to suggest what I do now? Or is Fate supposed to decide?" Fate...predetermined destinies...so much controversy on the subject. But a conclusion can never be made. It's left up to the individual to decide. Is the future what we make it? Or just the duties we were chosen to perform? This I cannot help you with. But I can recommend a course of action. "I'm listening." Go where you're needed. And right now, an old comrade of yours needs you. "An old comrade? Who?" You remember Ash, right? "Ash? Haven't seen him in a while. What kind of help does he need?" You'll see. But he'll need help soon, if my information is correct. Apparently a very curious boy. And if he sticks his nose into the wrong people's business, he'll need some help. Are you willing? A grin spread across my face. "I guess I owe it to him. He's the one that got me here. And I'd be nothing without my training here. Where do I find him?" Viridian. He's got an apartment on the south side of town. Viridian Heights. I stood up. "Well then, I guess I'd better get moving. But first, I have to ask. Who are you?" No response. I thought so. But the air still reeks of his presence... To be honest, I'm just a dead man walking. Or so to speak. My time is over, but he can make a difference. Help him. This is my final request. And I sincerely hope you find the answers you seek. Farewell, warrior.
The air seemed to get lighter as the voice's think presence lifted, but his words continued to linger. I have been running from my past. And starving myself in the process. What have I been doing? How could I have lived like this for so long? I know why...the screams...they've controlled me...but I can't let them anymore. I've got too much to accomplish. "You hear me?!" I shouted, slowly scanning the graveyard. "No more...you can't control me anymore. I can finally admit...you're gone. Bruiser...Flapjack...Ifrit...Inferno...and even you, Charla. I couldn't stop the slaughter by myself. He...it...took pity on me because I was weak. I thought that thing hadn't done me any favor by letting me live. But now I see I was wrong. I can't die yet. Not when someone's depending on me. It's time I did something right for a change." I opened my wings and leaped off the cliff.
Unknown Place Unknown TimeAlakazam
An old, bony hand reached forward and switched off the machine. The dull hum of the computer slowly died down. That was the last of them? I asked. "According to my research, yes. The others are all local, I believe. Our work is done." I let out a sigh. Good. My powers aren't what they used to be. I don't think I could take another long distance call. His old, pale face split into a smile. "Don't worry about that, old friend. Soon we'll have all the time in the world to rest." I always hated it when he got cryptic. He's right of course, but I guess I'm just not as enthusiastic about it. "You look troubled. Something wrong?" Should I say anything? Might as well. He knows me too well. I don't know...I guess I just don't want to die yet. He chuckled, and responded, "I know how you feel. But at least we're doing something that'll help the world this time." Yeah, at least. It doesn't make me feel any better about it though. What if they didn't trace it? Isn't there even a small chance? His smile disappeared almost instantly. "No. You remember how they work. They've been tracing us since the link-up. They'll be here any minute." As if on cue, the low rumble of a car going over the dirt road invaded my ears. Oh well. It was worth a shot.
My ears picked up the soft clicking of shoes on concrete. They were being stealthy, but even in old age my ears are better than any human's. Then the soft clicking of safeties being switched off. "Hide." He whispered. What? He wants me to hide? "Maybe you won't have to die. They're looking for me. They don't know you're here. Hide." I smiled. Thank you. But where? If I'm going to do this, I need to...closet! I focused all the energy I had left into a teleport. I felt the weightlessness and the stomach lurch...and...all of a sudden it was dark. And...a jacket? I made it! CACACACACACACACACROOOOOOM! Gunfire!
"Uh...argggg...*cough*...uhhhh..." CREEEEEE...the door creaked as it was slowly opened. "We get 'em?" A voice asked. "Yeah. Finally caught up to the old codger. Wonder why he'd risk a transmission." I peeked out through a knot in the wall. There were two men in dark suits and glasses carrying automatic weapons. The one on the left shrugged. "Not sure. Check the logs." The one on the right turned on the computer I'd been sitting at moments ago. "By the way, do you think AK's were the best choice? What if someone heard?" The other shook his head. "Nah. We're in the middle of nowhere. No one's here. And even if someone did, after we clean up there won't be any proof. That thing stated yet?" The one at the computer frowned. "The old coot knew what he was doing. The signal went though several transmitters and satellites before it got where it was going. And get this: he used our own satellite to beam the signal. That satellite automatically erases data of all transmitted signals. You know, to keep up the weather satellite guise. He knew our access codes." The other one smiled. "That little bastard. Oh well. It's not that important. He's dead now." The other one didn't look so sure. "We caught where he was transmitting from HQ. Just some seemingly random locations. Some forest, a park, and some valley deep in the mountains. Nothing at any of the locations. It doesn't make sense." The one standing shrugged. "Think he was senile?" The one at the computer shook his head. "No way. He covered his tracks too well. No official proof of the transmission, and all the transmitters and satellites in the relay aren't public knowledge. There'd be too much red tape to clear up if we tried to prove anything." The standing one laughed. "Damn. The old man got us. We can't say enough to get an official investigation. He's a clever old coot, I'll give him that much." The one at the computer turned around. "Well, he did work for us, you know." The standing man nodded. "Yeah. Well, there's not really anything else we can do. Let's clean up and move out." CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! What? Are more of them coming? "What the hell? Did you call for backup?" The other shook his head. "No. Go check it out." The one that was standing nodded and took a peak through the window. "Cops? Damn! I guess you were right. There must've been someone else around. We need to leave. NOW." The other one was checking around. "I don't think so. But what else...huh...God dammit! The codger called the cops!" The other one turned around. "What?" The other one threw the phone against the wall, smashing it to bits. "911 was on the redial. He was expecting us!" The other one smiled a smile the sent shivers down my spine. "We still have to get rid of the proof. The usual method?" The other one nodded. "I'll get 'em." He ran out to the car, leaving the other one alone. What were they planning? They needed to get rid of the evidence, fast. What would they...oh Mew. They were gonna rid of the evidence, the only way they could without being discovered. Explosives.
"Got 'em. Let's set these things and get the hell outta here." They went to work quickly, setting bombs all over the small shack. "What about the closet?" My heart skipped a beat. Please no...Mew, no...I don't wanna die like this...please, no. "Nah. There's more than enough. We need to leave. NOW. Or we'll be spotted." He nodded and moved away from the closet. I let out the breath I had been holding. But I'm not safe. I need to get out of here. One last teleport? Could I? I don't know if I can...but I have to. I live while my best friend is lying in a pool of his own blood. I need to find him. He has to know...and I don't have much time left either way. If my miserable existence is going to continue, I might as well do something worthwhile with my last days. "By the way, who was this guy anyway? We need something for the media." Great. They were still around. I can't teleport until they leave, or they'll see the flash. "Uhh...don't remember. We can't say his codename. Some kind of tree, I think. Birch? Or maybe dogwood? No wait...oak! That's it! Oak! Used to be a doctor or something." The other one nodded. "Right. Oak. I can remember that. Let's go." And with that, the two men left. "Good. Now I can get out of here." I closed my eyes and crossed the spoons I held in my hands. "Teleport...one more time..." I felt the weightlessness and the lurching, nauseous feeling overtake me as I faded from view.
