Solareon : The Forgotten One
Chapter II
"Ah, young Alex. What can I do for you?" the man behind the counter grinned.
The shopkeeper was a kindly man, if a little strict, but Alex and his family had known his family for generations. Alex's father's uncle married the shop keeper's first cousin, but despite this he had never known his name.
"I would like to buy a backpack," Alex smiled back.
"Ah yes, today would be the day of your great adventure commencing, lad. Well you come with me and we'll see what we've got."
It turned out that 'What we've got' was quite a number. After leading him into the back room, Alex was confronted with shelves upon shelves of bags, rucksacks and every type of holdall you can name. Apparently the stock was always full, lest a young trainer should pop by at any moment, wanting a replacement. He scanned the rows of rucksacks with one particular in mind. He had seen it only a few days before, and had been indescribably drawn to it. It was a feeling he could not express into words, he just knew that this was the bag he wanted. Finally he spotted it on the third row.
"That one please," issued Alex to the shopkeeper. As he was watching him reach for it, he caught another glimpse of the motif upon it. Embroidered on it in gold thread was an odd occult design, slightly reminiscent of an eclipse of the sun, with, and Alex only just noticed this, a lion-type creature, restlessly stretching and moving in the semi-darkness. It seemed to be alive as it caught the light. Then all of a sudden it was gone, leaving behind the same jumble of shapes and patterns he had been drawn to in the first place.
Alex checked his watch. It was already 11: 35. If he were to catch the parade he would have to be quick. He hurried outside and untied Eevee from the post provided. Pokémon, even highly trained ones, are not allowed in shops at the best of times, and this was no exception. Slightly ruffled about being left outside, Eevee trotted alongside Alex, his head held straight.
"It's as if you're trying to prove you can be obedient!" Alex laughed to himself, stroking the creature's back.
Eevee let out a purr of contentment at this warming touch, but remembered what his aim was and snapped to attention, strutting along once more. Laughing, Alex made his way through the now busy town centre, wanting to get to the procession in time.
He was just in time. The parade was just coming round the crest of the main street, lead by a tall, muscular man in a sweeping royal blue cloak. As he swept past Alex, he was sure he could smell the scent of bluebells. With no time to wonder about the identity of this curious person, then came the new trainers, holding their Pokémon within the crook of their folded arms.
Alex recognised some of them. There was little Bob, from school, an Aipom sitting in one of his grubby hands, and a chocolate bar clutched in the other. There were the Sayami twins, who had both been given a Hoppip each. A Horsea had been presented to Amy Stockton, and a Magby was what Arnold, the boy across the street from Alex, had been given. Then right at the end of the line was Philip Stevenson, holding his Remoraid high above his head. A feeling of deep revulsion shivered through Alex as he slipped into line, Eevee in his folded arms, like a figurehead pointing out to sea, surveying all that fell into its line of vision.
As Alex fell into step there were murmurs from the gathered crowd.
"Ahhh, isn't it cute!"
"Daddy, I want a Pokémon like that guy with the black and gold bag!"
"Look at its coat. It's well groomed, must be combed every night, that one."
"Just gaze into those deep blue eyes!"
Eevee glanced up at Alex, and caught his smile of satisfaction on his face. It let out a purr, and snuggled deeper into his arms. The procession slowed and came to a standstill, due to the fact that all the trainers had now spread out into several lines perpendicular to the one they had just been forming.
Over the mass of heads, Alex could make out the leader of the procession on a raised platform, in front of the whole assembly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear Mayor, and most of all the new, proud Trainers of tomorrow, I am proud to open the Ceremonial Issuing of Licence!" He immediately called for silence to halt the imminent wave of cheering, then continued. "Today is a wonderful day for young and old alike. Today we see the new Trainers, out on their own. In the throng. On their adventure. I shall begin with the name of the first Trainer to be issued with a licence, in alphabetical order. Ackroyd, Robert!"
Little Bob took the stand, to outrageous applause. Soon he had his Pokédex and Poké Balls, and was stepping off the platform.
"Armanson, Kyra!"
"Hey, titch!" A whisper broke Alex's spellbound state. "Up here."
Eevee growled at the shadow towering above them. It was Stevenson.
"Butcher, Zach!"
"You're lucky you're up soon, or I'd step on you."
"Cresswell, Toby!"
"You'd better watch your back, man."
"Davis, Alex!"
Alex gulped, and took the steps up toward the podium. The tall figure beamed at him. Eevee bounded out of Alex's arms, up the stairs and rubbed around the stranger's feet.
"Easy, now," laughed the man, amused. "You belong to Alex now." He leaned closer to Alex as he approached. "Yes, you're Morgan's boy. You remind me very much of your father. You have his nose. You'll do well in this life, just keep your wits about you."
"I will, sir."
"That's the spirit."
"And here is your Pokédex and Poké Balls, young sir!" he boomed, back on the microphone again.
"I don't need a belt," Alex realised, "I have pockets on my bag for them."
Indeed, the bag had six pockets, one for each Pokémon he could carry, mounted just below the motif, on a strap that could wrap around him. Clapping a hand on one of his shoulders, the stranger now gently manoeuvred Alex off the stage, so he could call the next trainer.
"Dickenson, Arnold!"
Alex squatted down upon a stool that had been provided for each trainer. After slipping his Poké Balls inside his bag, Alex opened his Pokédex. A cloth badge was inside. He made a mental note to sew it on his bag when he got the time. He swept his Pokédex around, letting it take in all the Pokémon in the square.
"Aipom. Hoppip. Remoraid. Larvitar. Magby. Horsea. Tentacool. Porygon."
Alex glanced around hurriedly. He hadn't seen any new trainer with a Porygon. He looked at the image displayed on his screen, just to make sure.
"Porygon has the ability to travel through cyberspace," the Pokédex read. "It can also camouflage itself most effectively."
He took another look at the square. It now seemed a shimmering patch of air was travelling through the crowd, unnoticed by the rest of the gathering. It passed close by Alex, and on some impulse he reached out and touched the odd gaseous form. It halted in its tracks. The whole of the assembly was now fixed on Alex, wondering if he had gone nuts, as was Eevee. All that they could see was a young boy, reaching out in front of him into thin air.
Suddenly the whole crowd gasped, as the form Alex had been seeing took shape. It was a Porygon. However, it seemed as if it had been travelling through the streets all day, maybe even for weeks. It was forlorn, weak and hungry. It floated in front of Alex, somehow knowing it would not be harmed. Gently, Alex reached into his bag and pulled out a Poké Ball. Porygon looked at it in wonder. Alex tapped the button on the front, and it enlarged very quickly. The Porygon let out a squeal of fright, and sped back a couple of inches.
"It's OK, I won't hurt you. Just come here a moment, please."
Alex's voice seemed to have a calming effect on the Pokémon, and it drifted forward, coming to a rest on Alex's lap. Slowly Alex manoeuvred the ball closer and closer to the Pokémon, gently coming to a rest on its snout. He pressed down, and a flash of purple light flew out and encased Porygon, drawing it in. It didn't even bother to struggle. As it was captured, a look of contentment came across the Pokémon's face. It knew it was now going to be treated with care.
Chapter II
"Ah, young Alex. What can I do for you?" the man behind the counter grinned.
The shopkeeper was a kindly man, if a little strict, but Alex and his family had known his family for generations. Alex's father's uncle married the shop keeper's first cousin, but despite this he had never known his name.
"I would like to buy a backpack," Alex smiled back.
"Ah yes, today would be the day of your great adventure commencing, lad. Well you come with me and we'll see what we've got."
It turned out that 'What we've got' was quite a number. After leading him into the back room, Alex was confronted with shelves upon shelves of bags, rucksacks and every type of holdall you can name. Apparently the stock was always full, lest a young trainer should pop by at any moment, wanting a replacement. He scanned the rows of rucksacks with one particular in mind. He had seen it only a few days before, and had been indescribably drawn to it. It was a feeling he could not express into words, he just knew that this was the bag he wanted. Finally he spotted it on the third row.
"That one please," issued Alex to the shopkeeper. As he was watching him reach for it, he caught another glimpse of the motif upon it. Embroidered on it in gold thread was an odd occult design, slightly reminiscent of an eclipse of the sun, with, and Alex only just noticed this, a lion-type creature, restlessly stretching and moving in the semi-darkness. It seemed to be alive as it caught the light. Then all of a sudden it was gone, leaving behind the same jumble of shapes and patterns he had been drawn to in the first place.
Alex checked his watch. It was already 11: 35. If he were to catch the parade he would have to be quick. He hurried outside and untied Eevee from the post provided. Pokémon, even highly trained ones, are not allowed in shops at the best of times, and this was no exception. Slightly ruffled about being left outside, Eevee trotted alongside Alex, his head held straight.
"It's as if you're trying to prove you can be obedient!" Alex laughed to himself, stroking the creature's back.
Eevee let out a purr of contentment at this warming touch, but remembered what his aim was and snapped to attention, strutting along once more. Laughing, Alex made his way through the now busy town centre, wanting to get to the procession in time.
He was just in time. The parade was just coming round the crest of the main street, lead by a tall, muscular man in a sweeping royal blue cloak. As he swept past Alex, he was sure he could smell the scent of bluebells. With no time to wonder about the identity of this curious person, then came the new trainers, holding their Pokémon within the crook of their folded arms.
Alex recognised some of them. There was little Bob, from school, an Aipom sitting in one of his grubby hands, and a chocolate bar clutched in the other. There were the Sayami twins, who had both been given a Hoppip each. A Horsea had been presented to Amy Stockton, and a Magby was what Arnold, the boy across the street from Alex, had been given. Then right at the end of the line was Philip Stevenson, holding his Remoraid high above his head. A feeling of deep revulsion shivered through Alex as he slipped into line, Eevee in his folded arms, like a figurehead pointing out to sea, surveying all that fell into its line of vision.
As Alex fell into step there were murmurs from the gathered crowd.
"Ahhh, isn't it cute!"
"Daddy, I want a Pokémon like that guy with the black and gold bag!"
"Look at its coat. It's well groomed, must be combed every night, that one."
"Just gaze into those deep blue eyes!"
Eevee glanced up at Alex, and caught his smile of satisfaction on his face. It let out a purr, and snuggled deeper into his arms. The procession slowed and came to a standstill, due to the fact that all the trainers had now spread out into several lines perpendicular to the one they had just been forming.
Over the mass of heads, Alex could make out the leader of the procession on a raised platform, in front of the whole assembly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear Mayor, and most of all the new, proud Trainers of tomorrow, I am proud to open the Ceremonial Issuing of Licence!" He immediately called for silence to halt the imminent wave of cheering, then continued. "Today is a wonderful day for young and old alike. Today we see the new Trainers, out on their own. In the throng. On their adventure. I shall begin with the name of the first Trainer to be issued with a licence, in alphabetical order. Ackroyd, Robert!"
Little Bob took the stand, to outrageous applause. Soon he had his Pokédex and Poké Balls, and was stepping off the platform.
"Armanson, Kyra!"
"Hey, titch!" A whisper broke Alex's spellbound state. "Up here."
Eevee growled at the shadow towering above them. It was Stevenson.
"Butcher, Zach!"
"You're lucky you're up soon, or I'd step on you."
"Cresswell, Toby!"
"You'd better watch your back, man."
"Davis, Alex!"
Alex gulped, and took the steps up toward the podium. The tall figure beamed at him. Eevee bounded out of Alex's arms, up the stairs and rubbed around the stranger's feet.
"Easy, now," laughed the man, amused. "You belong to Alex now." He leaned closer to Alex as he approached. "Yes, you're Morgan's boy. You remind me very much of your father. You have his nose. You'll do well in this life, just keep your wits about you."
"I will, sir."
"That's the spirit."
"And here is your Pokédex and Poké Balls, young sir!" he boomed, back on the microphone again.
"I don't need a belt," Alex realised, "I have pockets on my bag for them."
Indeed, the bag had six pockets, one for each Pokémon he could carry, mounted just below the motif, on a strap that could wrap around him. Clapping a hand on one of his shoulders, the stranger now gently manoeuvred Alex off the stage, so he could call the next trainer.
"Dickenson, Arnold!"
Alex squatted down upon a stool that had been provided for each trainer. After slipping his Poké Balls inside his bag, Alex opened his Pokédex. A cloth badge was inside. He made a mental note to sew it on his bag when he got the time. He swept his Pokédex around, letting it take in all the Pokémon in the square.
"Aipom. Hoppip. Remoraid. Larvitar. Magby. Horsea. Tentacool. Porygon."
Alex glanced around hurriedly. He hadn't seen any new trainer with a Porygon. He looked at the image displayed on his screen, just to make sure.
"Porygon has the ability to travel through cyberspace," the Pokédex read. "It can also camouflage itself most effectively."
He took another look at the square. It now seemed a shimmering patch of air was travelling through the crowd, unnoticed by the rest of the gathering. It passed close by Alex, and on some impulse he reached out and touched the odd gaseous form. It halted in its tracks. The whole of the assembly was now fixed on Alex, wondering if he had gone nuts, as was Eevee. All that they could see was a young boy, reaching out in front of him into thin air.
Suddenly the whole crowd gasped, as the form Alex had been seeing took shape. It was a Porygon. However, it seemed as if it had been travelling through the streets all day, maybe even for weeks. It was forlorn, weak and hungry. It floated in front of Alex, somehow knowing it would not be harmed. Gently, Alex reached into his bag and pulled out a Poké Ball. Porygon looked at it in wonder. Alex tapped the button on the front, and it enlarged very quickly. The Porygon let out a squeal of fright, and sped back a couple of inches.
"It's OK, I won't hurt you. Just come here a moment, please."
Alex's voice seemed to have a calming effect on the Pokémon, and it drifted forward, coming to a rest on Alex's lap. Slowly Alex manoeuvred the ball closer and closer to the Pokémon, gently coming to a rest on its snout. He pressed down, and a flash of purple light flew out and encased Porygon, drawing it in. It didn't even bother to struggle. As it was captured, a look of contentment came across the Pokémon's face. It knew it was now going to be treated with care.