Don't own Pokèmon or Cocoa Puffs.
Chapter Two
"So, you like CHIKORITA, the grass Pokèmon?"
"Hn."
"I think that's a great Pokèmon too! What are you going to name it?"
I smiled as I looked over the tiny sphere in my hand. This was important- what would I name it? "... Hm... Kisharu," I settled.
"Mr. Pokèmon lives a little bit beyond Cherrygrove, the next city over. It's almost a direct route there, so you can't miss it. But just in case, here's my phone number. Call me if anything comes up!" I blinked. He could give it to me now... Anytime... "BEEP!" Rang my pack. This somewhat startled me, but only momentarily. Of course- there wasn't an actual item that I got the number on. It would have to go straight into my phone.
"If your Pokèmon is hurt, you should heal it with this machine," he said as he motioned to the bulky structure in the northwest corner of his laboratory. "Feel free to use it anytime. Artemis, I'm counting on you!" I smiled and turned to the door, only to be stopped by Elm's aide.
"Artemis, I want you to have this for your errand." He handed me a purple bottle marked "POTION." I put it into my pack, gasping as I watched it shrink into a tiny lavender cube and move by its self into the area labeled "ITEM POCKET." "There are only two of us, so we're always busy." He moved out of my way then, and I walked confidently across the red and white door mat.
It was a bit too dark for me to comfortably travel right now- there was no telling how many stones and branches lied across the shadowy path to Cherrygrove. I would wait until morning, when I could see through the impossibly tall grass to the west. For now, my home would do as a place to become acquainted with my new Kisharu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ah-HAH! Chikorita! There's no way she'll get far with that pathetic thing! She's already forgetting the game!"
"On the contrary, Zoin," Cerulean replied. "She's probably trying to demonstrate that she won't weaken. By choosing the Pokèmon that has both the type disadvantage in the game and has little physical strength to back up its early lack of special attacks, Artemis is putting the greatest challenge before herself. And even if she had forgotten about Chikorita's weaknesses, you need to remember that she'll probably pick up a Gyrados and Ninetales as soon as she can."
"I hate to admit it, but she's right," Mumei added. "Gyrados is one of the strongest things you can get early on. And it stays good as she plays. Ninetales is- well, everyone knows she's in love with Kumiho[1]. What grass Pokèmon is there for her? Jumpluff? Victreebell? Not likely. And she's not exactly fond of Vileplume or Bellossam. Face it- she's got this whole game planned out. The fact that all of her powers were stolen by us will make no difference. She'll kick this thing in the tail, and us when she gets back."
"Hmph- not likely," Lapis spat. "I have an idea," she growled, and her venomous teeth glistened in the light of the fortune ball. "Listen up."
~~~~~~~~~
"Hi, Kisharu," I said as the neon light shaped into the soft-lime quadruped.
It yawned.
"Erm- I'm your new trainer."
It fixed its glassy, drooping red eyes on me and sighed before lying down.
"Oh... Ok. Well, good night, Kisharu. I guess we can talk in the morning?"
"Chik..." Such a cute little Pokèmon! Sheesh, I didn't know he- er, she- it?- would be so absolutely adorable in person. Um- in Pokèmon. Well, guess I'd better do as Kisharu is and catch some sleep. Tomorrow, we go to see Mr. Pokèmon, and I get my Pokèdex too!" I smiled and lifted Kisharu gently into my arms. A few steps brought me to my bed, and I set her down gently on the first pillow.
Casting my horrid clothes to the side, I climbed in beside my new companion and fell into a dreamless sleep.
~~~~~~~~~
"Artemis......."
Huh? Where?... I struggled open my thick eyes, and was faced with an aurora of dark, cool shades whirling around a single figure.
Who are you?
"Help me............."
Of course, but who are you?
"Help me.............. "
Who are you?
"Kaijin................. I love..............."
What? Kaijin?
"I love.................. Help................. Me..................."
What? Kaijin?
"I...................... Love..................... Help..............." His voice fainted as the white glow vanished amongst the whirlpool of shadows.
Kaijin! Kaijin, wait!
I ran towards him.
I ran towards him.
He was gone.
Gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Chika!"
"Ugh....."
"Chika!"
"Hrnmm........"
"CHIKA!"
"Oof!" I yelled as I felt something dropped on my stomach. "Huh?" I groaned as I opened my eyes to look at a blurry green- something.
"Chika!"
"Ugh? Chika?" I felt something velvety rub my cheek. I blinked and rubbed my eyes.
"Chika!"
"Oh! Chikorita!" Suddenly I was not so sleepy. My mind brought itself into gear and my eyes dried and cleared. "I'm still... Here," I whispered as I looked around. "Hn..." The Pokèmon bounced off me and ran to the door.
"Chika!"
"Chika."
"Chika!"
"Chika, chika!" I said, amused, and opened the door for my energized friend. It bounded down the stairs and leapt into a chair at the table. I laughed, and glanced at my stoned mother, hard at work.
I shook my head. "So, Kisharu," I began, "how're you for breakfast? Shall I cook you something, or what?"
"Chika!" I coughed.
"I don't think chika is going to cover it. First question- are you an herbivore?"
"Chika?"
"Do you eat grass or fruit or something like that? Just stuff like that?"
"Chik-chika, chik."
"Wait, let me try again- do you usually eat pellets or something?"
"Chika! Chikachikachikachikachika!"
I laughed. "Ok, ok- I bet my pack comes with that stuff. Hope so, anyways." Sure enough, inside my pack there was a pocket not in the game- DIETARY PACK. I shook my head and reached in for the small bag. Inside it I found a green cube and a white cube, which shifted into a dish of dry Pokèmon food and a bowl of cereal- Cocoa Puffs, I guess. I was baffled to find the cereal exactly the way I liked it- coated in milk, but not soggy. Of course, it was absolutely tasteless, but at least it had an ok texture.
As we ate, I wondered about my dream. It was possible that it was only a dream, but when did I have dreams like that? Hm. I guess that when I decided to come here in search of a muse, the aüia that wanted the part went ahead and attached itself to me. That means that it could grab a body anytime it wanted to, I guess... Or does it? Maybe I have to actually supply a body that doesn't already have an aüia. I think I can handle that. I just need to breed a couple, right? I think that the aüia will be intelligent enough to hang around when I leave the couple at the day-care center. But what did it mean when it was asking for my help, and what did it love? Strange. The 'help' thing might have been that it wanted me to hurry up and get it a body... I hope not, though. Maybe it just needs a little more ground to grip so that it can stay around me- a few more aüias to cling to. That's an easy one. I'll be getting six balls today, or should, so I'll be toting around five more aüias. But what was it that it loved? Maybe it loves a certain body or something... Hm... Ah, well, it was probably just a normal dream anyways.
"Chika!"
"Huh? Oh, I see, you're done! Let's put these cubes pack in the pack- I didn't see anything else in that pouch, so they probably just recharge or something before lunch." I smiled at my chipper ally. "Ok, now, you need to get back in your Pokèball."
"Chika," it said with a sigh. I smiled and pressed the lime button, and returned the shimmering item to my belt.
"All right, Kisharu. Let's go beat this game!"
~~~~~~~~~
"Do you think it will work?"
"Of course, Lydia. Don't be dumb."
"Give it a rest, Zoin. Besides, shouldn't you be off to Real Space?"
She sighed. "Mumei, remind me again why I'm the one filling in for her?"
"You lost the coin flip, that's why. Now, be still, we've got to insert this copy of her awah or whatever she called it in you so you'll be like her."
"Yeah, yeah. Just hurry up."
"Ok- here. Once you leave Author Space, you'll be transformed in the various little ways appropriate for making you two identical in looks. Identical to what she usually looks like. Tonight, when you fall asleep, you'll be automatically transferred here and tomorrow we'll have Lydia fill in. It's no big deal. Off you go!"
"Glad she's gone," Lapis muttered.
"Aren't we all?" The fairy-like alien replied.
"Now then, you've got the egg, right?"
"Here it is," she said, and held up the pale orange semi-round shape.
"Good. And you made sure to screw up the circuitry, right?"
"Of course. That game cartridge will never work again, so precisely did I cut inside the microchip."
"Good. And what of the trainer?"
"Brought him as well," she sneered, and motioned towards the stoned figure of the male hero in the Pokèmon games.
"Perfect. Now we just wait- what do you think, after zephyr?"
"At least!"
~~~~~~~~~
"Wow, that's some tall grass!" I exclaimed as the path leading west from my home fell away. "I bet that there's all sorts of Pokèmon in there! I just hope I can get to Cherrygrove before Kisharu loses a battle," I said as I set foot in what I discovered to be razor-edged grass. "Nm," I growled with a wince. "Ok, I take back what I said about not wanting to run into Pokèmon! The faster my Chikorita grows, the faster it learns Razor Leaf and can get me through this in comfort. Ah, oh well...
"Wait! Over there- some trees!" I wound around the golden swords and lifted a branch of poplar. "This should work," I whispered, and gripped a strip of the fiber-like bark. "Just need to peel this thing so it doesn't rot."
In about half an hour I had myself a most delightful 5'6" white walking stick. Thrusting the item before me, I swung it as a scythe against the vegetation and parted it into a path even I in my disgustingly huge shoes could travel.
"Rrrrrr..."
"Huh?" I asked, lifting my eyes from the wood.
"Rrrrrrrr..."
"Who's there?" I searched the thick swamp of grain for the source of the low growl.
"Rrrrrrrrr.... Rrrrrrr..... Rrrr..... RATTATA!" I jumped as a flash of lavender and white streamed towards me, aimed at my pack.
My eyes narrowed as I realized what was happening.
"KISHARU!" I yelled, taking from my side the warm orb. "Goooo!!!!!!"
"Chika!" It screamed as it met the opponent a few feet before me.
"Chikorita! Use tackle!"
"Chik!" I watched as the sweet rosy eyes of the baby Pokèn flared and its body tensed. The leaf atop its head straightened back behind it and the ornamental emeralds about its neck stretched. Its teeth began oozing venom as its lips curled up to its bloody eyes. "CHIKA!" It cried as the muscles in its tiny legs released pressure and it launched itself against its opponent. Hit!
Now, mind you, that blow could very possibly have knocked me out for a few hours. But this was a Pokèmon I was against, and it sprang back up with scarcely more than teary eyes, paused, and forced out its own version of an attack- which consisted of backing up against Kisharu and swatting it with its tail.
"HAHAHA!!" I screeched as I watched the creature practically massaging my Pokèmon with that purple lollypop it called an appendage. As I gripped psychically the water ducts that had burst and was nearly followed by my stomach, I ordered Kisharu to tackle the creature again.
This time, Rattata was not so lucky as to simply bounce back up. Rather, the blow dealt seemed twice more in strength, and sent the rodent tumbling ear over curly-tipped tail out of my path, fainted.
"Chika!" Cried my friend in triumph. It turned to me and grinned, its eyes glistening softly with joy.
"Great, Chikorita!" I congratulated, "You've won your first battle!" I raised my arms in excitement, and laughed as it ran circles in an adorable victory dance. Then, as it turned partially towards me for more encouragement, I saw something about its neck.
"Huh? What's that, Kisharu?" I inquired, motioning to the doubled protrusion from its neck.
"Chika?" It blinked and looked down. "Chika!" It said with a smile, and suddenly the dark green- thing shot out at me.
My eyes widened as I realized that there was something enclosed in the vine that made it appear to be doubled. I held out my hand, and the mostly round object fell into my hand. "Hm?" I turned it gently in my hand, and noticed a tiny stick immerging from a small dent in the dark, leathery item.
"It's- Kisharu, is this a berry?"
"Chika!"
I smiled. "Of course you've got a berry. But say, Keesh, would it be ok with you if I just leave this in my pack? We'll need it later."
"Chika."
"Great. Now, back into your ball," I said as I pocketed the healing item and offered Kisharu its place at my side.
"Yeah..." I said as I wondered through the forest of green and tan grass. "We can't forget to save about eight berries. It'll be worth it, don't worry, Kisharu- we'll trade them away so we can get MooMooMilk. It's cheap and effective- but berries take time to gather, since a tree can only grow them so fast. Besides, I doubt we'll have need of the berry anyways." I smiled down at the softly glowing Pokèball. "Don't worry. They won't win."
~~~~~~~~~
"That's what you think."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End of Chapter Two
[1] Kumiho is from Japanese legend- it translates exactly into nine-tails. A fox is said to grow a new tail for every one hundred years it is alive. After a thousand years, when it has nine tails, it is said to turn into a Kumiho. Kumiho and Kitsune(foxes) are also said to be excellent shape-shifters.
Note: I stole the term Pokèn from Tyger- hope you don't mind, it's just that I've read that word so much in your fics it's kinda stuck in my head. ^_^v
For those of you who're actually bothering to check the site once in a while, well... here's what's going on in my life right now. I am in the ninth grade, my birthday is tomorrow, Christmas was not even a month ago, my two- yes, TWO, as in two CLASSES- English teachers are going berserk in assigning us stuff, and my parents refuse to leave me alone at home for any decent length of time. I have all of the material I need to fix that site up, it's just that I have to do it all when my parents aren't around snooping. They find out I'm doing everything I am online- ff.net, e-mail, site, eMode, whatever- I'm going to have my net privileges ripped until I'm in college and they can't stop me. The only reason I can update this is it takes two secs to post and I take so many notes while I'm playing Crystal- which I do outside, btw- that I can fib I'm doing a research paper. I mean, seriously people, I haven't checked my mail in nearly a month... -_- Even then it was at friggin school and I couldn't stick around long enough to read what I'd been sent by peeps, just delete the trash I've accumulated from Yahoo, Angelfire, Overstock.com and other stuff.