Another year at school had finished, and again I was waiting for my exam results. I prayed that it would be third time lucky for me, for I couldn't bear the thought of my mother raging at me again like she had last year. But before I would know my results, my birthday came along. Amongst my presents was a brand-new bike from my parents, one of those posh ones with about six million gears. After lunch, I tried it out, cycling round the grounds of the house. It was hard at first for it was a lot bigger than my old one, but I soon got the hang of it. I made my way towards the headquarters and the training facilities, the plan being to sneak out of the entrance there and go into the forest and ride along some of the trails. Suddenly, an Ivysaur bounded across my path. I braked sharply and looked round for its owner. To my surprise, I saw Xan coming towards me. He called the Ivysaur back.
"Hi Gio. New bike?" I hated being called Gio - at school I had heard the "Gio, dude" joke enough to last me for the rest of my life, but I had at first been too scared of Xan to correct him, so it had stuck.
"It was a birthday present from my parents. I didn't know you had an Ivysaur."
"I caught it the other day. Needs quite a bit of training. Every time I let it out of its Pokeball it runs off," Xan sighed. "Anyway, I'm glad to run into you."
"Why?"
"Because it's your birthday, and I have something for you," Xan said. He produced a Pokeball and gave it to me.
"A Pokémon?" I said, surprised.
"It's another one I caught recently, and I don't really need it, so I thought I may as well give it to you," he replied. "Open it up then." I threw the Pokeball onto the ground, wondering what would come out.
"Machop!"
"Great!" I exclaimed and laughed as the Machop flexed its arms and performed a couple of somersaults.
"It's a good one, I think it'll be quite powerful if you train it properly," Xan said. "And speaking of training, when are we due to restart your lessons?"
"Next week, after I get my results."
"Think you've done okay?"
"I think I did better than before, yes." The Machop jumped up onto the handlebars of my bike.
"Chop, Machop!"
"Looks like it wants a ride on your bike," laughed Xan. I smiled.
"Well, I'll see you next week sometime."
"Okay, have fun before the hard work begins," Xan said.
"Thank you for the Machop," I said, over my shoulder, and set off again, the Machop still sat on my handlebars. When I got home, Mother didn't seem too surprised that Xan had given me a Pokémon. I expected her to moan about it, seeing as she refused to give me any at all, but she just said, "That was nice of him," and left it at that. She was a lot more vocal about my exam results though. She made me sit with her and my father while she read my end of year report. I watched her nervously, remembering what had happened last year.
"Well, that's a lot better Giovanni," she said when she finished, and smiled. She passed the report over to my father, and I peered over his shoulder so I could see too. I had done best in my two practical exams, though the three written ones were not too bad.
"Why you couldn't have just done it the first time round… Still, this was your third time, so you should have passed. It will be interesting to see how you do next year," she added.
"Don't discredit him," my father said. "At least it's over with now."
"For the moment. I will speak to Xan and Miya later to tell them when to start tuition again." She turned back to me. "Do you have any idea of what you will be doing next year?"
"Jack says it's similar to this year, but harder. You spend more time doing practical lessons, and some of your total marks are gained from assessment rather than all exams. There's still a written exam at the end which is supposed to be really hard," I replied. Jack was one of my friends who had started at the same time as me. He had failed the Beginner's class first time round too, but unlike me had passed the second time, and had spent the year in the Intermediate class. I should phone him later to find out how he had done.
"Sounds a lot more interesting," my father said. I nodded. My father was one of those people who believed learning should be fun, which was one of the reasons he didn't want me to go to the Tech. He had argued with my mother for weeks over the matter, and only gave in because the atmosphere became unbearably poisonous. Unlike most people, he was never afraid to stand up to my mother, but even he had to back down on that occasion for the sake of a quiet life. As soon as he did, Mother became all sweetness and light again, and the poisonous cloud evaporated overnight. I think father despairs of her sometimes. I know my grandfather did.
"Your mother," he used to say to me, "is too single-minded for her own good." He would then sigh and ramble off on some tale. I looked over at her.
"You'd better get some more Pokémon then," she said. I shrugged, then smiled.
"You could always give me some," I said.
"It's not like they're all needed," said my father. Mother shook her head.
"Giovanni gets his Pokémon like all trainers do. He goes and catches them," she said, as usual.
.
Later that week I fulfilled her wishes. Xan and Miya had taken me into Viridian Forest along a trail that wasn't used very often to see if there was anything to capture. I came back with a Rattata. Not what would have been my first choice, but I was still full of pride. When I got back home, I went straight over to the labs to find my father. He looked after them now my grandfather was no longer around. He used to work for my grandfather in the days when Team Rocket was a little government project, which is how he met my mother. I found him in his office, immersed in some work. He only noticed me when I shoved the Pokeball under his nose. He looked up sharply but smiled when he saw it was me.
"What's this?" he asked, setting his pen down on the desk.
"A Pokémon I just caught," I replied, and tossed the ball on the ground. The beam of energy materialised into the Rattata. My father laughed.
"I wouldn't let your mother see that," he said.
"Why not?" I asked, puzzled. My father leaned forwards, resting on his forearms.
"She's absolutely terrified of them," he said, a gleam in his eyes.
"Really?" I said, interested in this development. Mysterious men in dark glasses didn't faze her, but a little Rattata did? I grinned mischievously.
"But don't tell her I told you," father smiled at me.
"I have to show it her," I said, innocently enough.
"Of course you do. She's always moaning that you don't catch any Pokémon, and she's always interested in your achievements," he replied, in the same innocent manner as me. We both snickered.
"Sir." We turned round to see a young technician standing in the doorway.
"What is it?" my father asked.
"I need you to come and look at the results of this test," the technician replied. My father sighed then stood up. I called back my Rattata and followed my father out of the office.
"I'll see you later," he said to me. I nodded and left the labs. I was disappointed when I showed the Rattata to my mother and she didn't do anything other than whinge about it being covered in germs, so I decided to try something different. I put it in my parent's bed and couldn't have hoped for better results. Okay, so I got my allowance stopped, but it was worth it. I don't think Xan and Miya really believed that Mother had let out a scream that would have frightened a Gyrados away, but it didn't matter.
For once I got the better of Miya during battle, which is nothing small. It was easy to see why she was considered my mother's best agent. I wondered what had driven her away from what would have so easily been a glittering career as an eventual Pokémon Master, and into Team Rocket. I got the feeling she didn't really wish to talk about her past. When it came to Pokémon or missions however, she was lively and recalled each account with humour. She taught me some little magic tricks she had picked up from somewhere, like making coins disappear then reappearing behind an ear or suchlike. I tried them out on Jack when I went to stay with him. I knew I had to get rid of the Rattata somehow before my mother found it, and he agreed to swap my Rattata for his Spearow. He tried to get me to swap for his Magikarp, but I wouldn't have it. The Spearow was tricky to handle, and nearly took an eye out the first time I tried to show it to Xan. He managed to calm it down into a reasonable state for me.
"A Pidgey or Pidgeotto would have been better if you wanted a bird Pokémon," he said.
"Jack didn't have one. It was either that or a Magikarp," I replied. Miya thought Spearows were evil.
"It's not," I said.
"Well it looks it," she said, folding her arms. She seemed a bit huffy that day.
"Women's stuff," Xan whispered to me. I didn't know too much about girls, but I kind of worked out what he was talking about. My father often muttered about the same thing with reference to my mother. I was glad I wasn't a girl.
.
By the end of the summer we got the Spearow in good shape, which was just as well because the level of skill needed in the Intermediate class at the Tech was at least double that needed in the Beginner's. But I had plenty of confidence now, and determination. Soon enough, the Christmas holidays came along once more. My father took me into Viridian City to force me to do some shopping.
"I don't know what to buy anyone," I complained. "Do I have to buy something for Aunt Minty? It's not like we see her often."
"We'll be seeing her over Christmas," my father replied.
"I don't know what to get Mum."
"Look and see if you spot something that stands out."
"I hate shopping."
"It's not my idea of fun either, Gi. If we can get it done today, then we won't have to think about it again, will we?"
"I suppose so," I sighed. It was selfish, but I'd rather spend my money on myself. My aunt was fairly straightforward to buy for. So was my father. Finding something for my mother took ages, for both of us. Between us we decided on a very expensive earrings and necklace set, to be from my father, and a beautifully decorated vase that would be my present. Christmas cheer didn't get through to Mother though. She wouldn't stop nagging at me to do stupid, boring things, like tidying my room.
"One more thing," she said, before leaving for work to tidy up some stuff before Christmas. "Don't go out into the forest today. It's going to snow heavily, and there's going to be high winds. Okay?"
"Okay," I snapped back, my mood made worse by the tone she took with me. "I'm not a baby."
"Stop acting like one then," she retorted. After she had gone, I moped about the house, bored. My father had no need to go over to the laboratories, but still had some things to do, and didn't want to be disturbed. Not even Machop could cheer me up. I put it back in its Pokeball and rested my head in my hands, looking out of my bedroom window. My room faced away from the direction of the Headquarters, which was obscured from our home by a thick line of trees. Instead, I had a view of Viridian Forest and the hills beyond. Under the ever-darkening sky they looked more tempting than ever. I left my room and made my way downstairs and got my coat. I stuck my head round the door of the study. My father was engrossed in some book about Pokémon genetics and was a million miles away.
"Dad!" I said sharply. He stirred out of his reverie and looked at me.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I'm going out," I said to him.
"Where?" he asked, returning to his book.
"Over to the gym. My Pokémon could do with some exercise," I replied. He just nodded slightly, not really paying attention to what I was saying. My father was a quiet man and extremely intelligent. He spent much of his spare time reading huge books on genetics and biology, all of which went towards his research into Pokémon. Of course, most of his work went into Team Rocket long before he published it for the outside world. I closed the door behind me and made my way out down the drive, noticing that it had started snowing. On impulse, I ran across the road into the forest, hoping no one saw me. The trees should shelter me from the worst of the snow. I wasn't sure really where I wanted to go. I found the trail that Xan and Miya had taken me down a few times in the summer. I must have been walking for about quarter of an hour when to my surprise, a Geodude wandered across my path. I wondered what it was doing in the middle of a forest and looked round to see if I could see anyone following it. There wasn't, so I took out a Pokeball. I remembered how much I wanted a Golem. The Geodude just looked at me then turned and headed off deeper into the forest.
"Hey!" I called, and ran after it, going off the trail. I followed it for some way until I reached a clearing and lost sight of it. Here the snow was slowly piling up on the forest floor. I trudged through it to the other side, then saw the Geodude again.
"Okay," I said, out of breath. "I'm not running after you anymore. Krabby, water gun!" The Geodude turned to flee again, but before it could, Krabby blasted a stream of water towards the Geodude and caught it square in the back. The force sent the rock Pokémon crashing into a tree, and it lay there, dazed, but not defeated. I ran up to where it was trying to get up. I swapped Krabby for Machop.
"Machop, seismic toss," I ordered. Machop took the Geodude by one of its arms and threw it up in the air, only for it to come crashing down heavily. Now it was completely out of action. I threw an empty Pokeball at it, and watched with pleasure as the Geodude was drawn inside and the Pokeball snapped shut. I went and picked it up. The tree had made it into an easy victory, but I was still elated.
"Yes!" I said, delighted, and then remembered Machop. "Well done Machop. Return." As I stood there surveying the two Pokeballs in my hand, it suddenly struck me how dark it was. Worse still, I realised I was completely lost. All I could hear was the wind rustling the trees. It sounded pretty strong. I managed to retrace my steps back to the clearing but had no idea where to go from there. If it was bright daylight, I might have been okay, but the darkness and the now swirling snow made it impossible for me to tell which direction to go in. I couldn't stay where I was for there was no shelter, and I was getting soaked from the snow falling onto me. I had not much choice other than to head back deeper into the forest and hope that I came across a road. I couldn't be that far from home.
A few hours later, after wandering round in what seemed to be circles, and getting wet through from falling into a stream, then muddy from slipping down a small escarpment, I huddled under a bush, cold, hungry and exhausted. Now it was pitch black. It would be best if I stayed here now. The wind couldn't get to me. Why couldn't it have been a Charmander that I caught? At least I would have been warm if nothing else. I nestled my head as far down into my coat as I could. Was this what it was like being one of my mother's field agents? Hopefully there was someone looking for me, for my mother was probably home by now. I was probably going to be in for it when I got back. If I got back. I was terrified but wouldn't have admitted it to anyone if they had been here with me. At least this time of year was too cold for Beedrills to be out. I thought of my nice warm bed. Then I thought of Xan and Miya. I wished they had been with me when I caught Geodude. I hadn't seen either of them since I came home. With these thoughts in my head, I somehow managed to doze off. I think I kept waking up, but the next thing I was properly aware of was someone standing over me. I blinked, realising it was daylight.
"I've found him!" said the person above me. I struggled to sit up, but my whole body seemed to have a different mind of its own. A second person came into view.
"Oh Giovanni!" they exclaimed. It was Miya! She knelt beside me and helped me sit up.
"You're freezing. What on earth are you doing out here?" she asked, and turned to Cal. "Get your Charmeleon out. We can use its tail flame to warm him." Cal did as she asked, and soon I began to get some feeling back into my fingers. Miya hugged me close to her, rubbing my back to try and warm me up.
"Your mother's had half the personnel at the base out looking for you," said Cal in a short manner. I coughed, which was followed by a sneeze.
"She has?" I said, surprised, then I remembered something. "I caught a Geodude. That's how I got lost."
"What made you want to go out in a snowstorm anyway?" Miya asked, seeming to ignore my achievement. I suppose she was more concerned about my well-being. I shrugged and sneezed again.
"We'd better get you home," said Cal. He and Miya helped me to my feet, but my legs still refused to obey me. Miya held me up while Cal called back his Charmeleon and brought out an Arcanine. Between them, Miya and Cal heaved me onto its back so I was sitting on it as you would a Ponyta. Then we set off home. It turned out that I was only about thirty-five minutes' walk away. Outside of the forest, snow lay in a thick blanket, and by the look of the sky, it was going to snow some more. My father was waiting at the gate of the drive to our home for news and came straight over as we approached. He looked like he hadn't slept much.
"Where was he?" he asked as we made our way to our house.
"About half an hour away under a bush," said Cal, helping me off Arcanine.
"Your mother and I have been out of our minds with worry," my father glared at me, and I looked away, unable to meet his piercing blue eyes. Though he rarely raised his voice, he had this way of looking at you that even made my mother uncomfortable. If he ever lost his temper it meant something had really upset him. I could sense some guilt in his voice. My mother had probably raged at him during the past night.
"Don't be too hard on him, Sir. He's had a long night in the cold," said Miya, her hand resting comfortingly on my shoulder. My father nodded, his initial anger subsiding.
"I know. Thank you for finding him." He took my arm. "Let's get you inside."
"I'll come and see you soon," Miya called after me. I managed to turn and smile at her. I could hardly walk still, and I think I had cut my knees, probably when I fell down the escarpment. My father didn't say anything else to me. We entered the house and made our way through to the living room where my mother was pacing up and down. Her face was pale, and she looked as tired as my father, maybe more so. I'll never forget the look of relief on her face as she almost ran over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug, not caring that I was covered with mud. I hugged her back, too surprised to do anything else. I had expected her to yell at me.
"What did I tell you?" she sighed, then looked at me, her deep brown eyes somewhat sorrowful. "Why didn't you listen to me?" I looked back at my father, then at her and felt awful.
"I'm sorry," was all I could offer. She took my coat off for me and handed it to my father.
"You're wet through. Go and have a bath then go to bed before you come down with something," she said. As if to prove her point, I coughed and sneezed again. I smiled wanly at her.
"Mum, I caught a Geodude," I said. She seemed genuinely pleased, though all she said was,
"Promise me you'll never do something like that again."
"I promise," I said, meaning it.
.
A few days later and it was Christmas. We travelled to Celadon City to my aunt's for the occasion. She had a nice house in one of the richer suburbs, for she had inherited quite a bit of money from my grandfather. So had I, but I wasn't allowed it until I was eighteen. I didn't like her partner, Kyle. He gave me the creeps, and I knew my mother was disdainful of him too. My aunt had some friends round too, so thankfully we weren't forced to talk to him. For me, it was more fun watching my normally prim mother getting tipsy later in the evening.
"You're a very beautiful woman," one of my aunts' friends gushed, placing a hand on my mother's. If she had been sober, she would not have been amused, but as it was, she giggled and smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"I've always thought Minty attractive, but you're even prettier," the man slurred. Mother beamed at this. She took another sip of wine, whilst the man lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, seemingly oblivious to the wedding ring that was under his nose. Suddenly, another hand swooped between the two from the back of the sofa, setting my mother's glass on the cabinet behind us.
"Excuse me." My father smiled politely enough at the man, but his eyes were frosty. My mother seemed not to notice for she giggled again.
"This is Eric, my husband," she said. The man hastily let go of my mother's hand but smiled happily at my father.
"You're a very lucky man to be married to such a beautiful lady," he said.
"Thank you," my father smiled back at him, then turned to my mother. "I think you need some air." He took her hand, pulled her up and whirled her out of the room before she had time to protest, leaving me alone on the sofa with the man. He smiled at me.
"Are you their son?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Nice parents you have. Especially your mother," the man said. I gave a contemptuous snort, not noticed by the man in his intoxicated state. Yeah, my 'nice' mother. If only he knew.
After about ten minutes, I got up from my seat and wandered into the dining room where it was cooler to see if there was something to eat. I was always hungry these days. I bumped into my aunt.
"Anything wrong?" she asked.
"No, I was just looking for some food," I replied. She smiled at me.
"Come with me," she said, and led me into the kitchen. She opened up a cupboard, which was full of various snack items. "Help yourself," she said. I reached in and pulled out a packet of chocolate chip cookies.
"Thank you," I said, and began to devour them.
"I don't know where you boys put it. Your cousin was exactly the same," said my aunt, amused.
"Hollow legs," came my father's voice from the doorway. He came over and stole one of the cookies from me.
"Where's Mum?" I asked, watching him munch away.
"Asleep," my father replied, an amused look in his eye.
"What's happened?" my aunt asked.
"Too much to drink, too easily flattered," my father smiled. My aunt shook her head.
"She has absolutely no tolerance whatsoever to alcohol," she grinned. "Never has."
"I know only too well," my father replied cheerily. He turned to me. "Think you should be in bed too."
"I'm okay," I protested, wanting to stay and listen to them talking about my mother being drunk.
"It's nearly one o'clock in the morning," my father replied. To my irritation, I yawned just then.
"I'm not tired," I told them.
"Do you remember which room you're staying in?" my aunt asked. I nodded, sensing a losing battle.
"Night," I said to them, and traipsed off to bed, carrying the remainder of the cookies with me.