The New Kids on the Block: Chapter Three
Celeste- "The Adventure Has Begun"
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The Celestiette Express
Halfway Between Celeste and Celestiette
May 22, 2028
I know that it is technically my big brother's turn to narrate the story but after all, this is my pokemon journey, and the most important part is coming up. It's when we arrived at Comet Plains to get registered into the Silver Millennium League.
Just then we were, as before mentioned, halfway between the two planets and let me tell you, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite like being in space.
Between the two countries, there is a place where many asteroids and meteorites like to pass. This is called the Heavenly Belt. Most of the large bodies of rock passed the planets, but very rarely did they ever hit the planets. The gravity and other forces disintegrated more than like 95% of the ones that did get pulled into the planets' atmosphere.
Onboard the Celestiette Express, there was a cornucopia of trainers. Some were beginners like me and others were experienced trainers, looking for new places to test their abilities.
It was easy to tell which were which; at least that's the way I thought. The new trainers held jovial expressions on their faces whereas the other trainers would be calm, solemn creatures. Their faces were blank, almost unfeeling, like they were robots. Some even looked a bit snooty.
We mostly just stayed to our own group, occasionally talking to other prospective trainers. The ride was about two hours long so we had plenty of time to mingle.
Battles were prohibited. I hadn't tested Raja's abilities yet. He seemed tentative whenever I spoke of pokemon battles. I gathered that he had probably never been in a real one before, so I completely understood why he might be a tad nervous.
Selene (A/N: I changed the Teddiursa's name to Selene because she is the Greek goddess of the moon, where Artemis is more of the goddess of the hunt and chastity.) and Pip (A/N: changed his too.) hung with the others most of the time. I thought they were really warming up to one another.
The inside of the Express itself was very colorful and comfortable. There were long, plush sofas and armchairs. Tables that were secured to the floor were covered in magazines or novels. Televisions were randomly placed. There was music too. And a large cafeteria on the lower floor served hot and cold meals for its passengers. The atmosphere was ideal to any adolescent.
"We're heading straight to Hyacinthe's laboratory once we get to Comet Plains, right?" asked Brian as he tousled with my hair.
We were all randomly situated on a random assortment of furniture. Quinn sat in a well-worn armchair. Charlie was lying sideways on a chaise lounge. Brian sat with one leg on the couch and one leg on it with me positioned between his legs, stretched out.
"Yeah," I replied.
Oh, just in case you're wondering, we are not halfway into the air. There is a new gravity simulator installed in the Express and it was adjusted to the same gravity as Earth, Celeste, and Celestiette.
When can we get some grub? asked little Pip, placing his paws onto his little tummy for emphasis.
"I think I saw a vending machine somewhere on the left wing," Charlie said.
"You did," Quinn said blankly. "Why buy some food when we have some of our own in the packs?"
He did have a point, a very good one. I immediately began rummaging in my messenger and produced my capsule-case.
"I guess I'll have a veggie sandwich," I said as I gave the capsule a little twist and placed it on the table. A blue plate with lettuce, red tomatoes, onions, spicy cucumbers, and a side of Italian dressing materialized. I propped myself up.
"Ouch! Watch what you're doing!" Brian cried as he clutched himself, his face had turned beet red.
I stifled back a giggle, almost. "Sorry Bri—I didn't realize that my elbow was there."
Charlize was clutching her stomach as she laughed heartily. A smile was transfixed on her face and her breathing was labored. Her laughter was so contagious; it made me laugh too.
She pointed at him, "y-you should-should have s-s-seen his f-face," she stammered. It seemed like she would start rolling on the floor at any second. Brian shot her a death glare.
A grin tugged at Quinn's lips as he watched Charlie double over in laughter again and again.
What's so funny? Raja asked as he perked up at the sound of mirth. He had been taking a nap; he rubbed his eyes with his prehensile trunk.
"Nothing important," I replied. I don't know if he would exactly understand.
"Nothing important?" Brian asked incredulously as he sat up. He scowled; "you don't know what you're talking about. The only person who does is Quinn."
"I've never been hit there."
"Try not to with all of your might; but sometimes you just can't stop it."
"I'll keep that in mind." Then he fished out two capsules. One that exposed a ham sandwich with cheese and another with a dish of pokemon food. We all followed suit and fed our pokemon too.
We ate in silence, only to be infrequently broken up by Charlie's laughter. I could have sworn that by accident she spat out a piece of tomato that landed square on Quinn's face, who disgustedly wiped it away with a napkin.
I miss my Mommy and Daddy! Selene cried out randomly, her eyes filling with sparkly tears. She was still so young and unused to being without them. I sympathized with her.
"Selene...what's wrong?" Charlize said as she tenderly touched her hand.
"She says that she misses her parents."
Charlize hugged her close. "I'm sure that they miss you too Selene, but you know that this was their idea."
Yeah, but I'm not ready for this type of thing. I'm too young!
Quinn translated.
Charlize looked her deeply into her eye and asked her, "so you want to go back?"
Yes...and no. You see, if I go back, you would be sad and my parents would be disappointed, and then I'd miss you. But if I stay, my parents would be proud, and I would have you, but I'd still miss them.
"Oh," Charlie said as she looked down to the floor. "Why don't you stay for a week? I mean, we haven't even done anything yet!"
Selene sniffled as she smiled.
"I'll take that as a yes?"
She nodded in the affirmative. Will I have to fight any other pokemon, because I don't ever want to hurt anyone?
Quinn translated and Charlie shrugged as a response. "I'm not a psychic; I can't predict these things."
Of course we will, Purin exclaimed as she puffed up enthusiastically. There's nothing quite like knowing that you could teach another pokemon a lesson!
I stared at her sideways.
What are you looking at Missy? Want me to double-slap you? she threatened me.
Quinn did his job and I shook my rapidly. I saw what she could do and believe me, I didn't want to experience it. I think that we started out on a bad foot when I squashed her the other day.
"I think that you're becoming quite the bully Purin," Brian said as he chuckled, looking at the menacing Jigglypuff. Ha! A menacing Jigglypuff—how could that adjective even fit with a Jigglypuff?
I'm learning from the best, she said as she leered at her partner in crime.
"I'm not a bully anymore," Quinn protested.
I got up from my seat and said, "let's go on a walk Raja...before we all get attacked or something."
You're patronizing me aren't you Celeste?
I hurried away.
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"That Purin is really something isn't she?" I asked Raja with a grin as I thought of the Jigglypuff threatening me.
She's funny, Raja agreed. He had to hurry up o keep up with my swift stride. I don't know why I walk so fast sometimes. My mom always said that long legs cover more ground than shorter legs.
I heard an indistinct cough as I walked by. I whipped around to see who it was. That was when I saw some tall kid huddled up against a corner with his Growlithe at his side, wagging his tail. I raised a curious I brow.
The Growlithe looked at me and began to bark. I jumped a bit, the bark was so deep, so throaty, and most of all, so intimidating. His teeth flashed a ghostly white, his eyes flashing in warning.
I cautiously began to back away from the pokemon. I could see Raja tense up. He tugged on my leg with his trunk, which made me fall to the ground. Wow, I didn't know he was that strong.
"Raja, what did you do that for?"
Let's go Celeste. Our presence isn't wanted. That Growlithe is way to overprotective. I don't feel safe around him, Raja urged me, as he led me away.
The boy let out a raspy grin and he stopped his dog with a swift movement of his hand. "Don't be afraid of Blaze, he's just being a loyal pokemon." He began to step forward with Blaze right alongside of him, baring his teeth the whole time. The boy watched me in amusement, his eyes never leaving my body.
Come on, Raja said, practically dragging me down the hall. I looked back at the boy and noticed that something was shining gold on his finger. I looked down at my ring and realized that it shone a brilliant blue. There was more to that guy, much more...
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By the time Raja and I met back up with the gang, the Celestiette Express was just entering the planet's atmosphere. There was a minimum of friction, for the design of the ship had been modified to enter the atmosphere easily. But it was still a bit jerky nevertheless. We had to brace ourselves on nearby railings for support. And within minutes, we were safely landed in Comet Plains.
Upon our arrival, we quickly hurried from the quay/airport and found the nearest tourist booth and purchased a large map of the entire planet!
While the others were busy looking for the roads that led to Hyacinthe's laboratory, I took the time to examine the sky. It was noontime on Celeste; I didn't know how time went on Celestiette. The sky, at the highest point near the golden sun, was tinged with green, then teal, and settling on a sky blue. It was most unusual, most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I imagined that at night, the entire sky was a forest green.
"Do you see that sky Raja?" I beamed. "We'll be very familiar with it soon. It'll be like home, Celestiette."
Raja was transfixed in a steady gaze.
The architecture at Comet Plains was very nice. Most of the building were covered with glass and shone blue and had gently sloping domes. I could tell that this was a major town in the country that I took it was called the Silver Millennium. Perhaps it had 1,000 towns or villages...
"So where are we?" I asked as I stepped from my dreamy mood. I looked around, but all I could see where floating cars in deeply carved troughs weaving along. The buildings were on higher land than the cars but not by too much. It was like the Jetsons here!
"I believe we're on Hopedale Road. Our sister's lab is some place about four blocks from here on Hopkins Street."
"Well, how do we get there? We can't walk in those trenches where the cars are," I asked nervously.
Quinn narrowed his eyes, "has your IQ dropped 50 points since we've landed here or are you just blind?"
I knew that this was a question not to be answered but I did so anyways just to annoy him. "Neither," I replied.
"Just look around!"
I did as he told me: his voice was much to stern not to. But I've never felt intimidated by him, but I suspect that whenever I do, our relationship won't be so strong. While I was scanning the area for pedestrians, I found little arch bridges with the rails covered in briar roses. It was so beautiful and scenic. I was falling in love with Silver Millennium already.
"That's so picturesque," I cried.
Charlize was already busy flashing pictures. She had adopted that from her mother; however, she was an art major in general, as was Brian. He focused more on the drawing and painting whereas Charlie was into photography and painting as well.
"We'd best get on our way," Brian suggested, "I'm sure that Hyacinthe will have a lot of trainers to register."
"You're right," I agreed and began to go at a moderate pace. Steady enough so that Raja could be alongside me.
I think that I'll really like it here!
"Ditto."
His ear perked up and he looked around, where's a Ditto? I've never seen one before.
I bent down and patted him on the head, which was returned by a sideways look; "it's just used figuratively in speech Raja."
He half-nodded.
"Believe me, if I saw an actual Ditto, I would be much more ex—"
My statement was broken off as a trio of little children ran past us, bumping us to the rails as they did so. I could've sworn that they all had Vulcan ears!
Brian! Pip squealed as he jumped on his head, his favorite perch. They were different from you and the others! They have pointy ears! Ha ha ha, pointy ears. I have pointy ears!
I shook my head from side-to-side and smirked.
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It was an absolute madhouse in the pokemon laboratory. Hyacinthe was scurrying from place to place, from the supercomputer to the photo booth and to the license machine and to the stacks of Silver Millennium League Handbooks. Soon-to-be trainers talked to one another. Believe me, when a large group of people is talking in normal tones, in a concentrated area, the sound is very, very loud. I couldn't even here myself think!
We got in where we fit in. We made sure that we weren't separated from our poké pals and that our bags were secure. We didn't need any missing pokemon or no food.
By the time that it was our turn, it was five o' clock. A random girl had filled me in on the whole time thingy. It turned out that it was just like it was at home, and that there were 24-hour days.
Hyacinthe's upswept hair had found its way to her shoulders and a few strands were plastered to her head thanks to the sweat. Her cheeks were flushed and she was very weary. I'd never seen her this way but I assumed that this was one of her most favorite days of her career.
"I'm glad you all are here," she said, her breathing was labored.
She looked as if she were about to faint.
"Why don't you take a chair big sis?" I proffered as I grabbed the nearest, most comfortable-looking chair in the area. The others nodded their heads in approval and the pokemon watched her intently.
She gladly accepted the chair and wiped her forehead with the backside of her hand. "Thanks Celeste."
"No problem. We can't have you swooning on us," I grinned.
She smiled her reply.
"Are you hungry?"
"We can wait until dinnertime," Quinn decided for the rest of us.
Charlize cut him an icy stare, "I don't know when you personally became my stomach but it is telling me that I'm hungry now. I don't know about you."
"Me too," Brian seconded, I guess he didn't want to start conflict with Quinn or anything. To others, except myself, he was an intimidating creature.
"I'm fine," I said. He needed someone on his side. He didn't really seem to care though; he was busy eying my girlfriend, and not in the good way.
"You could go into my refrigerator through that door over there. But I would much like it if I could get you out of the way so I can close up."
They agreed.
"Come on up Quinn."
"He's not a trainer!" I exclaimed.
"I know but it is Silver Millennium's law to register every pokemon handler of any sort, as it is with any tourist. They try to keep things safe around here, and they're doing a damn good job."
I was silent; she could be so much like Mom sometime.
Quinn looked at me with a lopsided grin as he walked past. My cheeks were burning. It was like he was laughing in my face.
"She told you Lest," Brian said as he chuckled.
"Oh be quiet," I scoffed. I turned around to scan the area when something; or rather someone caught my eye.
It was that kid with that overprotective beast of a Growlithe.
A chill went down my spine as he approached us, his eyes focused straightforward, yet seeming as if they were looking at a distant object. That far-off look was very unnerving.
"Hey, what's your name?" Charlize asked. She was always the forward type, like I usually was, but he was so strange.
I looked at his ring; it seemed to glow. Then I checked mine to see that it was illuminated also. This was getting so weird!
At first, I couldn't take it off. And now, it was reacting in the presence of the other ring. Maybe they were connected in some way. Wait—why was I thinking like this? It's just a ring— a very beautiful and mysterious ring.
"The name's Collin. Collin McGrith."
"Hey I'm Brian;" they shook hands.
He looked at me expectantly. My friends did too after a few seconds full of staring. "I'm Celeste Briarcliffe."
Blaze began to bark at Raja, who stood behind my leg yet still held his composure.
"This is Blaze," he told everyone.
"Why is he barking at Raja? He hasn't done anything," I said. My tone was a bit defensive and maybe even cowardly. It was not intended to sound that way.
"Maybe he just wants to have a pokemon battle with him," he smirked.
For some reason, I figured that he just wanted to challenge me.
Collin was a tall guy with short, dirty blond hair that was unruly sprouting from his forest green headband. He wore a matching green shirt and some rugged khaki pants. He also donned a pair of ebony boots. His eyes were like turquoise, so shiny and so goddamn innocent. How could I feel so unsettled around this rather nice-looking guy?
"Maybe." I wouldn't tell him that I had never experienced a pokemon battle before.
Quinn came back and undoubtedly noticed this guy and me staring at one another. "Who are you?"
He uttered his name, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Come on Brian, you're next," Hyacinthe told him as she led him to get his picture taken.
"Where are you from?" Charlie asked, trying to stimulate conversation.
"I'm from Blackthorn City. My mom is Clair, the gym leader."
"We're all from the Flower Archipelago."
"It's pretty there."
This conversation was going nowhere fast.
"Are you sixteen like my two friends and me?"
"Yeah," he said, then he leered over at Quinn. "So you aren't friends with Quinn?"
Charlize looked at my tall, almost-brooding brother and grinned wryly, "I don't know what we are. Let's just say that we're associates and leave it at that. No offense Quinn."
He simply shrugged, "none taken."
I'm ready to eat! Purin pouted on Quinn's head.
"What the hell are you doing?" he snapped, apparently sorry for what he said once he saw Purin's sad face as she lied on her back on the sparkling linoleum.
You didn't have to do that Quinn!
"Purin, I—"
Just forget about it! Purin marched off. And don't follow me! I'll be back.
Quinn's face was downcast much to my surprise. He was really sorry and really hurt. He skulked away. I didn't dare question him.
This left me, Charlize, Collin, and our respective pokemon.
"You're up Charlie," Hyacinthe said as she beckoned for her to come.
Damn, now it was just Collin and I. Where was Brian? Darn, he must've been somewhere stuffing his face.
"Would you mind if I looked at your ring?"
I hesitated. What's the harm in doing that? "Knock yourself out."
He grasped my hand and held it up to the light. Chills went down my spine once again. But these weren't those good chills you get when someone that you like touches you. I felt my cheeks begin to turn red and I began to tap my foot impatiently.
"It's nice. Where did you get it?"
"It was a gift."
"From whom?"
I coughed, "that's none of your business."
"I'm afraid that it will be sooner or later," he said, looking deep into my eyes.
I remembered to snatch my hand away. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You'll find out...eventually."
"Come on Lest," Hyacinthe said.
I hurried in.
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"Do you want to have a battle or not?" Collin asked.
He had followed me outside. What was he, some type of stalker? Why wouldn't he just leave Raja and me alone?
"If that is what will make you happy, then fine," I said, keeping a decidedly even tone, "Raja," I stooped down. "Are you ready for this?"
He shivered and nodded his head.
"I'm ready when you are," I said.
"I choose my pal Blaze," he said coolly.
Blaze rushed forward, ready to fight. His teeth were bared and he was barking, trying to frighten my Phanphy. And I knew, deep down, that he was doing his job.
"You can do it Raja!" I cheered. I scratched my chin pensively, as I remembered all of those attacks that I learned at the University.
"Do a rollout attack!"
Raja shrugged his little shoulder and rolled. Wait—that's not what I should really call it. Tumbled fits better. Instead of rolling around, juggling Blaze, he just rolled and landed on his backside.
I don't know how to do one of those!
I slapped myself on the head.
Collin laughed out loud, an eerie action indeed. "Heat things up with a flamethrower."
With a loud bark, Blaze emitted a stream of red, orange, white, and blue line of fire. Things did begin to heat up, I felt sweat pour from my forehead. And I was temporarily blinded by its brilliance.
"Quick Raja, use defense curl!"
Raja rolled up into a tight ball until the flames went out. He was apparently happy that he had braved the attack unscathed.
"Tackle him!"
"Tackle him," Collin echoed.
Both pokemon charged at one another, meeting in the middle of our makeshift ring. They're heads collided into one another and they growled as they pushed back and forth. Raja was doing a great job, I must say. Blaze grunted as he put more power into his push, causing Raja to back down.
"Use your trunk Raja!"
With an incredible shift of energy from his body over to his trunk, Raja threw up his head, slapping Blaze underneath his chin. This caused him to fly into the air, in an arc, and land on his feet. He wasn't down, not yet anyways.
"Great job Raja!"
Raja smiled. All he needed was encouragement. Perhaps we could win our first match. That would be awesome, a great self-esteem booster for Raja too.
"Bite."
With a howl, Blaze dashed at Raja, bearing his gleaming teeth. He snapped his jaws, trying to frighten poor Raja. Then, he went in for the victory. He jumped at Raja's tail but missed. He tried his trunk, but luckily Raja swung it and knocked him back. Then, catching Raja in surprise, he sank his teeth into his leg.
Raja bellowed in pain as he repeatedly kicked Blaze into the head.
They both sank down to the floor. They were beat. There was no more pokemon battling for them.
"Return Raja, you need a rest," I said, "you battled greatly today. I'm very proud of you."
Raja huddled over to me and I smothered him with a hug and a kiss. "I'll touch that up in a few minutes."
Collin sauntered over to me and said, "good battle Celeste. Maybe you'll get better," and then he walked off, Blaze at his heels, to somewhere I didn't know.
I stared at him. At least he didn't get the best of me by winning. Then I looked at Raja's teary eyes. Might as well have...he inflicted the most damage...
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Tell me what you think in your reviews! I need some more trainers! Thanks Mythical Mew for generous donation of Collin McGrith. Signing off—The Duke of Briarcliffe