I see FFnet is finally up and running…FINALLY being the keyword. Well, it's Lightning-Strike again, here with another piece of The Quest for Knowledge. *re-reads the first part* This is pathetic, I barely remember what I had before…oh, well. I've got an evil piece for this that will effectively place a song into the mix. So, before I forget, Pokémon isn't mine. However, Panmaro is. And probably most of the other Pokémon names that you don't recognize. That'll include Lunareon, Stellareon, Metaleon, etc. when they come in. Okay, this has gone on long enough, on to story time!
Lily Valley is a very small town, all in all. Located in a large canyon close to the Johto/Fehto border, it takes its name from the numerous fields of lilies that run throughout the gorge. The settlement is also a Pokémon paradise, with few trainers and peaceful people in the town. True, Lily Valley does turn out several new trainers every year, but they rarely made it to the championships. Those that do, however, make it to the final round and usually came out on top. The reason why remains unknown.
Trina bolted down the path from Professor Hemlock's house toward her home in town. The Panmaro remained attached to her head, glancing around at the scenery. Enchanted, it stared at the thick pads of lilies lining both sides of the path.
"Panma?" he inquired. Trina slowed down, eventually coming to a stop at the entrance to her hometown.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Panmapan?" he asked, waving toward the flowers. Trina bent down beside the blossoms, plucking one from the numerous others.
"This is a lily," she explained, holding the flower out to the little creature. For a moment he just stared at the blossom, then took it in one paw, sniffing at it while rolling the object around in his small hand. Smiling, Trina walked into the town.
As she moved through the empty streets Trina began to think. "I need to come up with a nickname for you," she said aloud. The Panmaro made no sound. "What do you think of Panda?" she asked. A high, happy hum greeted the suggestion, making her giggle. "All right, Panda it is." She stopped outside a one-story white house, ebony shutters on each window. The girl reached out and took hold of the doorknob, stepping into the house.
"Ro?" Panda mumbled the question as he nibbled on the lily petal.
"This is home," she explained. "Mom! Dad! I'm home!" she called.
"Hello, Trina! How did the egg watching go?" a high, bell-like voice called. A tall, slender woman with red-blonde hair walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel.
"One of them hatched!" Trina explained excitedly, sitting down on the nearest chair. "This is Panda! He's a Panmaro," she told her mother, pulling the little panda Pokémon from the back of her head. He waved happily to the woman.
"It's adorable!!" the woman exclaimed, bending over to see the little creature up close. "Is it yours?"
"Yeah, he is!" Trina smiled happily. Her mother beamed at her. "Where's Dad?"
"Oh, he had to leave a few hours ago. Business trip," the lady told her.
"Another one?" the girl asked dejectedly. Her mother nodded sadly.
"I know you wanted him to meet your new partner, but I'll tell him about it as soon as he gets back. All right?" The woman gave a compassionate smile, which Trina returned.
"Okay, then. Call me when he gets back!" The girl stood up again, Panda in her arms. "I have to go pack, Professor Hemlock wants me to start my journey right away!" She raced down the hall and entered a large, pale blue room with a few sketchbooks scattered here and there and numerous Pokémon photos tacked to the walls. Gently setting the Panmaro on the bed, Trina began to hurry around the room packing.
"Panma?" he asked, nibbling on the flower petal. She glanced at him as she stuffed a few pairs of shirts into her bag. "Pan panmaro panma mapan pan panma pan?"
"No, she's not my real mom," Trina explained, understanding the Panmaro's question. "I was adopted when I was six. My foster mom's usually around, but my foster dad's usually on business trips and whatnot." Grinning, she slung her pack over her shoulder. "Ready to go, Panda?" she asked. The little Pokémon smiled as he stood up, leaving the lily, now petal free, on the bed.
"Panma!" he said happily as the girl picked him up, setting him on her shoulder. He firmly attached himself to the back of her head as she picked up the discarded stem and walked toward the front of the house.
"Leaving so soon?" her mother asked, poking her head out of the kitchen.
"Yep! I already had breakfast, and it's not too far to Rose Town, so I should be fine!" With a confident smile and a quick peck on her mother's cheek, Trina was out the door and headed back to Professor Hemlock's lab.
"HEY TRINA!!" a voice called from up ahead. Looking up, the girl saw a young boy racing toward her.
"Hey, Shawn!" she laughed, sprinting forward and stopping before the boy. He was about three years younger than she was, his dark hair neatly combed and parted, much to his dislike. His pale brown eyes sparkled with mirth as he looked up at the older girl.
"Are you heading out on your journey?" he asked. She nodded as Panda peeked around her hair to see the boy. "Well, Professor Hemlock asked me to deliver these to you." With that he held out his hands, offering her a special carrying belt with six Pokéballs already attached.
"Hey! Thanks a bunch, Shawn!" she exclaimed, slipping the belt around her waist. Patting the short boy on the head as an extra thanks, she began to run down the path again.
"GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY!!!" he called, waving to her. She waved back until she nearly lost her balance trying to run and look backward at the same time. With a final chuckle she turned her attention back to the trail that led her straight to the town's lab.
"I'm back!" she called, panting slightly from the run as she opened the door of the laboratory.
"Ah, Trina! So good to see you!" the professor said, coming down the hall. "I see Shawn already said goodbye to you." Trina giggled and twirled around, showing off the belt. Although not exactly a wonderful fashion statement, it was perfectly suited for carrying as many as fifteen Pokéballs, more than twice the normal amount.
"So, can I go?" the young girl asked eagerly as she jogged in place.
"Hold your Ponytas, cowgirl!" the professor said jokingly. "I still have to tell you a few things. For one, I'm not going to be getting any of the Pokémon you capture until your belt is full. You can carry up to fifteen Pokémon with you, but you're only allowed to use the normal six in battle. Understood?" she asked sternly. Trina nodded. "Also, you're not allowed to attempt capturing other trainer's Pokémon." Again the young girl nodded vigorously. "But most importantly…you have to remember that these creatures are your friends. They're not battle tools, they're companions on a long, hard journey through lands far from home. They become your family over time. And nothing is more important than family. Take care of Panda," Professor Hemlock smiled, patting both the Panmaro's and the girl's heads. "Get going."
"Thanks, Professor!" Trina chirped, then headed happily out the door again, off down the trail to her new adventure.
Ah, and for a moment I thought you had given yourself away a soft, smooth voice came from the shadows. What with calling her Panmaro by a name you've never heard before.
"Well, I didn't get caught, did I?" the professor asked, letting her brown-black hair out of its tidy bun. Out of the darkness emerged an odd creature, resembling a Vaporeon yet in many ways very different. Its frill was larger, seeming sharper as it glinted in the light. There were only two fins atop its head, one on each side, both large and bat-like in appearance. The tail resembled that of a Vaporeon as well, yet the two fins at the end were more like bat wings. A bit stockier than the aforementioned water type, its fur was a deep slate blue while its eyes were a piercing black-gold tint. As the mysterious creature grinned a pair of razor sharp fangs became noticeable.
Yes, but you came uncomfortably close the Pokémon said with slight disdain.
"But not close enough to be discovered," she chuckled. "Come now, Dracula, my wonderful Vampireon, don't you have any faith?"
Oh, I have faith, the Pokémon told the Professor. Just not much when you come so close to letting out my secret.
"Dracula, no one can find out about you," Hemlock assured the creature. "Remember, you're the only one of your kind out there. And until someone decides to check this lab out and eliminate all the shadows, you'll remain hidden. Besides, why would I tell anyone? You were, after all, my first companion. I don't tell on my friends, now do I?" The Vampireon rolled its eyes, then slunk forward and rubbed up against the professor's leg.
Just don't let out my secret.
"You tell me anything I need to know before it's told to me or it happens. Why spoil that?" Together the pair headed back down the hall toward the lab's kitchen.
