The New Kids on the Block: Chapter Three
Celeste- "Passing the Time"
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Ashbrooke Park
Hydrangea Island, Flora
May 22, 2028
I hadn't told Quinn that the ring had felt so weird. So cold, and so mysterious. What made me a bit more paranoid was the fact that when I tried to take the ring off before I took a shower last night, it absolutely wouldn't budge! For some odd reason, I felt that it had a mind of its own; I felt it tighten when I first put it on.
I tried to shake it out of my head. I was pretty sure that it was nothing to get vexed over. It was simply a gift: a very beautiful and mysterious present.
My birthday had been wonderful. I got to see my cherished family and my most loyal friends. Gifts were given, hugs exchanged, and food was eaten. We had a merry time.
I had missed Quinn more than I had once thought. I mean, he was in the Army and it was strict. After a while, I suppose, once one person is subjected to something for a long time, one comes to accept it.
I was used to not having my siblings around every day. I was used to being alone with Mom and Dad. It was nothing unusual. Those are some of things one has to face when one is the youngest, I guess.
I bared whatever was forced onto me. I didn't complain; I couldn't afford to, because it wouldn't fix anything. Rarely does anything ever come out well when a complaint is involved; it usually just ends in a compromise, neither side is happy, but content enough to stop complaining. Well...at least for a little while.
Having Raja with me everyday was cool and, in a way, refreshing. It had only been three days, but those days were the best. It was the time that we got to know one another.
As of then, I was sitting down in my favorite lawn-chair outside where the sun shone its brightest. I already had a decent tan, but there's nor reason why I shouldn't maintain it.
Today was one of those days that one chooses to lay around on: to be lazy and carefree. Raja lied next to me, on his back, also enjoying the sun. His trunk hung gaily suspended in the air and his lips were conformed into an indolent grin.
Do you always do things like this? he asked, his tone was raised at the end, so I figured that he had asked me a question. And, figuring that it was a positive question that concerned our activity, I nodded in the affirmative.
We had been outside for at least an hour. While I sunbathed, I was busy reading a novel by a Judith McNaught from the planet Earth. I believe that it was called Once and Always. It's a historical romance that involves an orphan named Victoria Seaton, or Countess Langston. She—well, I'd better not bore you with her story; this is my story.
Suddenly, I realized that I could not read the print that was on the book. Everything was a shadow, and things were quite cool. A dark figure loomed high above me.
"Quinn, you're blocking my reading light," I moaned.
His eyebrow must've raised right then; it was one of his idiosyncrasies that only his closest companions would ever notice. "You think I didn't know that? It was the desired effect."
"Whatever it is that you have to tell me, could you move to the side just a smidgen?"
"Fine," he said as he shuffled to the side, barely tripping over Raja. He muttered that he was sorry and began to proceed with what he was saying. "Why don't we talk a walk down to the beach?"
I sighed, "but this is a very good book and I can't put it down!"
"Bring it with you then," was his simple reply.
"I can't!"
"Why not?" he questioned. His arms crossed over his chest as he awaited my response.
"How can I possibly concentrate on all of those cute guys while I'm reading a book?"
He gritted his teeth, "we could swim."
I considered it for a second. Swimming was my second ideal pastime, pokemon was before that, and reading after swimming. "Deal," I blurted out.
What about me? Raja whimpered as he rolled unto his back and tapped Quinn on the leg, ever so gently, with his trunk. His eyes were big and pleading. He didn't like to be left out of anything.
"I could bring Purin along too. If you want," he told him.
Raja smiled. He thought that Purin was cool, I could tell when they talked with one another. They spent a lot of time together too, especially in the morning in the breakfast nook.
Yeah!
"All right then. The beach it is," I said, concluding the discussion.
I wished that Charlize was still here, she had had to go back to Stonybrooke so that she could pack up a little bit, as did Brian. She promised that she would save the shopping until we were together again. She had a thing for the Hydrangea Galleria Mall. Besides, there was nothing more fun than flirting with the guys when we were together.
"You'd better not take all day," Quinn threatened as I leaped to my feet and began to dash towards the house, Raja not too far behind me.
"I will," I promised with a grin as I ran up the stairs and into my bedroom.
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Clad in my favorite bathing suit, a silvery blue one-piece, and my flip-flops, I rushed down the stairs and met at the door with Quinn and Georgiana, who would not be leaving until after we departed in the journey, which would be sometime tomorrow, I suppose.
I expected Brian and Charlize sometime that night at around six. Their ride wouldn't be that long, maybe about a half-hour to forty-five minutes considering that they were on the new Hover-Ferry. It was a large hovercraft that was shaped like a flying saucer that zoomed across the ocean at a healthy speed.
"Hey Georgie," I said as I approached my sister, "that's a cute bathing suit." It was a teal string-bikini that went brilliantly with her eyes. She looked gorgeous in it. I would definitely say that she had to be the most beautiful sister.
"Thanks," she said, "it was something that I found lying around in my closet. I think it's from college." She adjusted the top of her bikini. "Fits just right."
"I'd say," I agreed.
"Yours is nice too. You have pretty legs; they're so long! I don't know where you get them from."
"Would you stop complimenting each other already?" Quinn snapped. "Yours is way too skimpy anyways Georgiana."
"Skimpy?" She touched her bathing suit in the key places. "Well, it may be a tad revealing but it's not skimpy. At least I don't have a thong bottom. Now that would be—"
"Enough already! Why don't we get moving," he said as Purin jumped atop of his shoulder.
"Wait," Georgie said before she took one step out of the door. "We need blankets," she cried. "Quinn, go get them. They're in the linen closet."
"Why do I have to? I'm already at the road?"
"You're a man," she said coolly, "so do like you did in the army and march your ass up there and get them."
"And that is why I should do it?"
"Yeah! Besides, I'm your elder."
He threw up his hands in defeat as he walked back. Purin hopped off his shoulder and walked up to Raja.
Aren't they a nice family? Raja asked as he watched the smiles that dominated our faces.
Yeah, Purin agreed. I noticed that Quinn has been more cheerful now that he's here at Ashbrooke. He's glad to be here.
Celeste is glad that he's here too. She told me about some of the adventures they used to go on when they were little.
I went on adventures with my twin sister when we were little too. She got captured a long time ago.
That's sad, Raja told her, I'm not sure what happened to my sibling, we went our separate ways.
That must be depressing, not knowing the fate of someone that you love, Purin mused with a nod.
Yeah, Raja agreed as he looked down at the ground. Well, at least we have Celeste and Quinn as our family now, and the others, Charlize and Brian, he said wistfully.
I agree! Purin said, we'll probably have a lot of fun once we start traveling. Quinn can be such a hide sometimes though. I still care about him though.
If only I knew what they were saying...
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It turned out that the boys there were hot and that I could flirt with them along with my sister, which I suppose is just as much fun.
I liked leading them on like that. I had already perfected the look. You know...the look that makes guys go wild and crazy. I'd been perfecting it for about a year and at first, it was ridiculous. It was more frightening than the smallest bit alluring. Now, it was like a hidden ability.
Naturally, most of the guys flocked over to Georgiana, which I did not mind one bit. She was gorgeous for crying out loud! She was also my sister, and it would be stupid of me to be jealous of someone that close.
I mainly swam with Purin and Quinn though; Raja was hesitant about going in. I could see why, after all, he was a ground type pokemon and that would hurt him. But, I had an idea.
"Hey Raja," I called until I got his attention. He was busy trying to get a coconut out of a palm tree. "Come on in! I promise that I won't let anything happen to you!"
I don't know Celeste. My mom always told me to stay away from the water, he trailed his leg in the sand, making a swirl pattern.
"Come on! The water's perfect!" I gestured towards the water like a showcase girl from the Price is Right.
He still chose to stare aimlessly at the sand. He looked genuinely interested as he did so, but I knew that his interest was feigned.
Taking another approach, I swam near to the edge of the water and stood up. He didn't look up. I just had to get his attention. But how could I do that. Suddenly, I knew! —
I cupped some water in my hands and tossed it close to him but not near enough to hit him with it. He backed away quickly.
You wouldn't really do that would you? he pleaded.
Whatever he said, I replied that it was for his own good. "It'll make you stronger!"
I don't want to be strong if it involves getting hurt in the process.
Georgiana took a second away from the flock of young men and translated. "He said that he doesn't want to be strong if it means that he'll get hurt."
"That's nonsense! It's the only way! You have to work, get your hands dirty, if you want something badly enough."
He stared at the ground. Fine! Nothing I say will make you change your mind anyways. Do what you must.
I saw that he let down his guard so I scooped him up and brung him down to the water, just until it touched his feet. He did something that resembled a giggle and said, that tickles!
"You should be able to swim, float at least. You're not all muscle. I can feel a protectived layer of fat around you."
Should I take that as a compliment or as an insult?
I didn't know what he said so I simply shrugged as I began to lower him gently into the ocean water. His trunk tightened around my arm.
"Yes," I said soothingly, "hold onto me if that is what makes you feel better."
I felt his muscles begin to relax and pretty soon, I gather he didn't even realize that he was floating in the water naturally, as if he were a water pokemon.
I'm swimming Celeste! I'm swimming! he beamed as he floated there, unmoving.
"Not technically Raja, you have to move your legs. Then you'd be actually swimming," I informed him.
Oh, he said with a nod as if he understood. Then he looked up and asked her, how?
"You have to do a dog paddle. You know, move all your limbs at once," Quinn said.
I smiled. Quinn had changed since he left for the army and not just physically. Yeah, he was pure, lean muscle now, but he he had changed emotionally too. I know that Purin had a lot to do with it. I witnessed the way they argued one another, much in the same way that we do, and I knew that affection was in it.
What really touched my soul was how glad Raja looked as he scurried in the water, kicking his little legs in order to swim towards me. He was smiling, I could see it. His trunk was lifted proudly into the air. I'm doing it; I'm actually doing it! he shouted. I just felt like hugging him very close right now.
Quinn! Purin cried as she began to go under, her little arms wagging in the air.
My heart stopped and Quinn's expression froze. In the blink of an eye, he dived into the water to retrieve her. I bit my fingernails as I awaited him to resurface. I needed to help somehow. But I didn't know what too.
I got splashed with water as a figure jumped into the air and over to the beach. Jigglypuff was kicking and yelling as she was being dragged away. The figure was blue and had a short, fat tail and a mischievous grin. I believe that it was a Totodile for they were known for terrorizing the beach bums.
"Let's go get Purin back," I said while clenching my fist as I swam to sure. Raja was kicking furiously and gaining a good amount of speed, but the dog paddle can be only so effective.
Quinn was already there, hot on the bandit's heels as his jaw held tight to Purin's foot. His long silvery blue hair was plastered to his head and his steely gray eyes were hot with fury.
Once we reached the sand, I saw that another blue pokemon had already joined in the hunt. The coat was cobalt, like...Ellie! But wait... that couldn't be her, she wasn't that fast anymore so it had to be...
"Junior's here!" I cried.
Junior was Ellie's great-grandson that made his dwelling here in Hydrangea, to keep a watch over the Briarcliffe family. He visited us too from time to time and used to accompany us on our adventures. I was glad to see him, and just in the knick of time.
The bandit had turned around to see who was pursuing him. His eyes widened when he saw an agile Aipom hot in his pursuit.
I swear that you'll be sorry once I get free. You wait! I'm going to slap you into oblivion! Purin threatened, shaking her little fist. She was upside-down.
I saw Junior start to gain on him and then he launched himself into the air, extending his left leg. It met the pokemon's back and he skidded across the ground, dropping Purin as he did so.
The bandit leaped to his feet and hissed as he spat out a stream of pressurized water. Junior reacted quickly and leaped into the air, evading the column of water. Furiously did the bandit snap his jaws at the Aipom, who dodged his attacks by jumping from side to side. Realizing that that wouldn't work out, he utilized his claws instead.
Junior leaped back, clutching his arm where he was scratched. With a battle cry, he dashed towards the bandit and did a back flip, causing the hand-like end of his tail to smack his opponent square in the jaw.
Satisfied that the bandit had been defeated he motioned towards Purin, would you like the honor of finishing your capturer off?
Gladly! she cried. She raised her glowing fist and punched the bandit into the air, causing him to sail into the water, in a graceful arc. A great mess of water signified his hasty retried.
"Wow!" I exclaimed as I watched Purin inflate with glee.
My foot is sore now, she turned to Quinn, you'll have to take care of it when we get home.
He crossed his arms and silently agreed.
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"Do you think we'll need some rope?" asked Charlene as we eyed the heretofore-mentioned item.
"Maybe," she said quite unsure, "well, what if we get caught in a cave or something? Yeah, you should get it just in case."
"Right."
At the Trainer Store, all outdoor and pokemon supplies were discounted to an affordable price. Everything that a trainer could possibly need was there, ready to be purchased.
I was glad that the Capsule Machine had become widespread or else we would be lugging around some supremely heavy packs. Heck, I could fit everything that I needed into a messenger bag!
"We'd better stock up on potions and antidotes," Brian told us.
We nodded in approval and put five of them into our overflowing cart. We had the rope, sleeping bags, two tents, you name it, and we had at least one of it.
"I'd better purchase that book that I was telling you about," I said.
"The one that tells you how to find edible food in the wild?"
"Yeah! I think we'll be needing that."
"It'll really benefit you," Brian said, "considering that you're a big vegetarian."
Charlize agreed.
"Yeah."
Charlize and I picked split from Brian and we went down and gathered a few feminine necessities. Afterwards, we made our purchases, courtesy of Daddy's credit card, and walked through the rest of Hydrangea Galleria.
"Your mom will give us the pokécrystals right?" Brian queried.
"Right," I affirmed.
"I'm glad she is. Those are so expensive!"
"They're just seven dollars and fifty cents per ball," I pointed out, as I looked at my ring. It had begun to swirl and I had become quite dizzy. My head was spinning.
"And you don't think that's expensive?" Charlie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," I said, shaking my head, trying to rid myself of this weird feeling. Why was it making me feel so unusual? "My bad. I don't know what I was thinking."
Charlie gave me a quizzical look and said, "let's just get back to your house."
"Right."
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The next morning we were all packed and ready to climb Craggy Mountain. I had slept surprisingly well and had a beautiful dream that I would be a pokemon master and win the Silver Millennium League Challenge. It was wonderful, so vivid that I figured that it just had to come true.
We were all dressed in our new trainer outfits. I heard that it was pretty warm, like a perpetual May, all year round, so I bought accordingly.
Quinn was clad in a nice, durable pair of khaki shorts with many pockets on it, and a ribbed black tank top that showed off his body, he wore a lightweight green camouflage jacket with his name embroidered on the chest pocket.
Brian wore a comfortable-looking pair of olive carpenter shorts with a ribbed gray muscle-shirt with the HIU mascot, a Ninetales, on it. I personally think that he looked well in it.
Charlize donned a fashionable denim mini and an amethyst one-shouldered tank top, that went perfectly with her amethyst eyes that she inherited from her mother. To complete the ensemble she wore a cool violet duster made of some incredibly lightweight material.
I sported a pair of denim shorts and a powder blue sleeveless top with an AMBITIOUS insignia on it. I wore some long, cornflower gloves that came up to my elbows with holes for my fingers in them. To finish the look, I wore a matching cornflower vest. Altogether I thought I looked edgy.
Someday I think that I could be the person who tells the crowd what a model is wearing...
"So I suppose this is it Celeste," Mom said as she embraced me. It was warm and comforting. I knew that she would be praying for me, as well as the others.
"Let's not think of it as the end Mom, but rather as the new beginning of something wonderful."
She sniffled and wiped away a tear. "This is much harder than when I bid your siblings farewell," she chuckled half-heartedly. "I guess it's because you're doing something that I thought none of my children would do, or because I don't know when you're going to come back. Maybe it's both."
"Mom...I've never seen you this way."
"I've never seen myself this way Celeste. It kind of scares me."
"I don't see why Mom. You're simply a mother who cares deeply about her children. I think that is how it's supposed to be."
She smiled. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better Celeste."
"Thanks, I guess."
She stroked my cheek. "You be careful and safe. And as much as I know that you'll hate this, listen to your brother—"
"Mom!"
"Only in situations of intense danger."
I sighed in relief.
"He'll keep you safe no matter what. I know he will. He's the type that never breaks promises."
"You made him promise that?"
"I'm about to."
Mom walked over to her youngest son and patted him on the shoulder and talked to him in low tones. He nodded his head and said a few things of his own. She hugged him close. Her eyes widened when she noticed a tattoo on his left bicep, a barbed wire and she said some more things. He just shrugged in indifference.
She told my companions a few things and then she made her way back to me.
"I love you Celeste."
"I love you too Mom."
Then Dad took over and said his parting words and giving me a bear hug. He told me to avoid weird-looking boys and not to talk to any boys. Period. He shook hands with Quinn too.
I was caught in the moment when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Right away I knew that it was—
"Ellie!" I beamed. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Yeah, I know. She hopped to the floor and looked at me with her graying eyes. Her lightening fur gave her some sort of aura. She looked like she was a grand pokemon: a wise one. And indeed she was.
"You know you didn't have to come all of this way just for me."
I don't mind. I've been confined in my tree house for some time now. It was fine time for a visit, she said, using sign language.
So it's your turn now Celeste. I personally am glad that you are willing to keep the dream alive after your siblings have denied it, she leaned in. You were always my favorite.
"Ellie!"
You are! There's something about you...perhaps your love for pokemon. That is what will make you succeed, but it is also what might bring you down. There are things out there, Celeste, that might hurt you. But you can't give up—you won't give up. I have complete confidence in your abilities as a person and as a future trainer. You have a certain savoir-. Be safe and make logical decisions and be aware of the consequences ahead of time. If you do these things, I almost guarantee you achievement."
She gave me a hug and walked away with her great-grandson.
The sun was just about to rise over the horizon and we all knew that it was time to ascend the mountain that loomed high above us. Clouds surrounded the leveled peak. An aircraft waited for our arrival. Then we would be off to Celestiette.
We said our goodbyes one last time and we braved the mountain.
It was grueling: horribly challenging to both the mind and the spirit. My muscles screamed for oxygen, something I could not give them enough of. I kept pushing though. I found my footholds and used them to my advantage. It was times like this when I wished that I should have done gymnastics like Charlie, who scaled the mountain like it was nothing along with Quinn. Brian remained ahead of me, not tired or anything, but taking his time.
Getting to the peak seemed like the hardest thing in my life, but I knew that more was yet to come...
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Thanks to everyone that has read so far and submitted reviews. Please submit them individually, I like to know the thoughts on each chapter. If you're going to submit a trainer profile, please read the story and review along with it. For some odd reason, I sensed that one of the reviewers didn't do that at all. I'll leave it at that. Remember beginning, not so experienced pokemon trainers. —The Duke of Briarcliffe