The Tracey Chronicles

A/N: Thanks to Azure Pathos-Sketchit and Matsuda-Chan for the excellent reviews.

Chapter Eight: Of Dreams and History

Their trip through Viridian Forest was delayed by a slight detour they had been forced to take due to a small forest fire. The three of them had come upon a barricade as they made it further along down the path. Officer Jenny stood in front of it, looking around anxiously.

"Hold it, kids! You can't come this way. You'll have to take another route through the forest to get to Viridian City," Jenny said to them, waving her hand to indicate the start of an alternative path on their right.

"But why? What's wrong with this one?" Mikey asked.

Tracey caught a whiff of something odd in the air. "Hey…is that smoke?"

Jenny nodded grimly. "There's a fire up ahead so this path is blocked. The Squirtle Squad will have it under control in no time but until then, you kids need to get out of this area."

"The Squirtle Squad?" All three of them chorused.

Jenny nodded absently, eyes darting back towards the forest behind her. "They're a group of brave Squirtle that fight fires around these parts. Now move along, please. I have to secure the area."

"Okay, good luck, Officer Jenny," Janie added before they started down the alternate path.

This path was far from smooth and Tracey could instantly tell that it was rarely used. And for good reason, he mused. It took a few extra days to get to Viridian City since it wound around the lake then snaked through the thicker parts of the forest. Even now, the three of them were having more trouble dodging the large wild roots of the trees and gravelly ground.

"Will this take us much longer to get through?" Mikey asked miserably as he climbed over a large fallen log and nearly tumbled when his foot got caught in a hole in it.

"About two or three days," Tracey replied, grasping his small hand to steady him as he wiggled his foot free, "but at least we'll be out of harm's way and not towards the fire."

"I guess you're right," the boy said and hopped off of the log. "Thanks, Tracey!"

They hiked through the rough path for another few hours. Tracey had traveled it a few times on a few errands for Professor Oak. Even so, it was still a challenge for him. On the plus side, Tracey saw many Pokemon in these forest depths that were rarely seen in the regular path. He almost whipped out his sketchpad when an Aipom and its babies came swinging by over them but stopped himself when he realized he didn't have one with him.

"Can we take a break? Eevee and I are starving," asked Mikey after they spent another hard hour climbing a hill that the path ran up to.

"Vee," Eevee agreed, its ears drooping as it looked pleadingly at Tracey.

Tracey offered them an encouraging smile. "Sure. But just a little bit farther, okay? I think we're coming upon a clearing somewhere ahead. I remember discovering it with Professor Oak when we were tracking a group of Weedle."

Mikey sighed but agreed, however reluctantly. Tracey glanced over at his sister. She was walking a short distance away, Pichu now flopped lazily on her head and lightly dozing in the warm summer weather. She had been quiet since he'd blown up at her, making him feel a little guilty. In the time they'd been walking, he'd been thinking about everything and had concluded that his outburst had been wrong of him. Janie had been trying to help; she hadn't deserved that from him.

I'll have to talk to her later. Tell her I'm sorry. Tracey decided firmly. After all, she was the only one in his family beside his mother that cared about him. He couldn't push her away as well.

That was one of his flaws, Tracey realized heavily. He'd always been so eager to prove to others that he could handle everything himself and got angry when others tried to help. Perhaps he was determined to disprove the belief that he was a weakling as his father and schoolmates had constantly taken upon themselves to remind him.

"Here we are," Tracey announced when they found the clearing. People had obviously used this area as a campsite before them as there were remains of a campfire sitting in the middle of the clearing.

"Great!" Mikey said happily as he slung his backpack off of his shoulders. Eevee hopped down and stretched.

Tracey did the same as Mikey and stretched his arms to loosen the sore muscles. He placed his hands on his hips and glanced around the campsite, noticing that it was starting to get dark as evening descended. "Hey Janie, why don't we go see if we can find some firewood? It's getting dark. Mikey can watch out stuff."

"Sure," replied the younger Sketchit while she laid out her sleeping back and tucked the snoozing Pichu in it securely. Then, she rose and followed him wordlessly into the forest.

They walked in a strained silence for a moment, gathering branches and twigs that could be used to keep a fire going. Finally Tracey couldn't handle the awkwardness and sidled up to her. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I know you were only trying to help."

Janie looked at him for a moment before replying. "I…I guess it was wrong of me to go behind your back and call Professor Oak like that. Whatever happened, it probably wasn't any of my business. But you have to admit, you're not acting like yourself and that worries me."

"Not acting like myself? What do you mean?"

"The Tracey I know didn't keep secrets from me and didn't push me away like you've been doing," Janie answered picking up another suitable twig.

Tracey shrugged half-heartedly and looked away. "It's been a long time. Maybe that Tracey changed."

This didn't sit well with her. "I'm starting to feel like I don't even know you anymore."

Maybe you don't. I don't even know me anymore. That's what he wanted to say but instead, he just shrugged. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

"Yeah…me too," Janie said quietly with a thoughtful look. But the air between them had cleared and started becoming comfortable again. Still, Tracey felt that this wasn't over yet. So they began making their way back towards the campsite.

Mikey was digging through his backpack. Several small cans were surrounding him, one of which was open that Eevee's face was buried in, eating ravenously.

"Um…what's all of this, Mikey?" Janie asked with a puzzled look.

"Huh? Oh, this is dinner. I figured you guys would want some too. Don't worry, there's plenty. They were kind of heavy anyway and I don't like cooking so this is the fastest way," Mikey answered. He gestured for them to help themselves as he took a can opener and attacked a can of beans with it.

Tracey started a fire with the sticks they'd gathered. Soon, the three of them were sitting around a cheerful blaze, eating from the cans Mikey had offered. Janie was coaxing a grumpy Pichu-who'd just woken up-into eating some applesauce. Mikey was proudly telling Tracey all about his brothers and how each of them had their own evolution of Eevee. It was a peaceful night and Tracey felt contented to be among the two of them, even if he missed the Lab back in Pallet Town.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The school was a looming, suffocating place. But it wasn't because of the building's size. The place was enormous and had a very relaxing atmosphere. Well, it was relaxing to the other students anyway. Tracey had always dreaded coming to school but unfortunately the Tangelo Island law stated that any child who wasn't a Pokemon Trainer had to attend school.

"Eww, look. There's that freak again."

"Why does he always sit in the corner like that? Is he anti-social or something?"

"I heard his father doesn't even like him. What a loser!"

"Oh I hope they don't make me sit behind him again this year, he smells funny."

"I know! And those clothes? Oh god, but I guess that's what happens when you're fat like that. I guess his family doesn't believe in dieting."

"He's always drawing. I'm scared to even see what's in that freak's sketch book."

"It makes sense he'd have a girl's name. What a sissy boy."

Tracey lowered his head and bit his lip, trying to block out the words. He wished that they'd at least have the courtesy of waiting until he was out of earshot before the not-so-whispered insults began. He hated it. It was better when they acted as if he were invisible.

At home, it wasn't much better. Well, it wasn't when Arthur Sketchit, renowned captain of the great ocean liner The Lucille, was home. No father and son could be more like night and day. At least night and day didn't clash like they did.

However, on the other hand, Tracey enjoyed being home with his mother, who was The Lucille's namesake, and his sister. Lucille and Janie made his life bearable, which he desperately needed whenever Arthur was back from one of his trips around the world. Like he was, unfortunately, that week.

"Hey boy!" Arthur greeted roughly as Tracey opened the door and stepped inside, clutching his sketchbook tightly, eyes on the ground.

"Hi honey. How was school?" Lucille kindly inquired with a quick kiss on his forehead. She paused when she noticed his expression. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

Tracey shrugged half-heartedly. "T-They made fun of me again."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Did they take your sketchbook again?" His mother said, concerned.

"No, it's right here. They just called me a sissy boy. Mommy, what's a sissy boy?"

But before Lucille could answer, Arthur's mocking voice did. "'Mommy, what's a sissy boy?' Geez, would you hear that? I'd say they're right."

Lucille glanced at her husband sharply. "Really, Arthur!"

"Lucy, look at him! He's almost in tears! No son of ours should be this damn sensitive! He's ready to cry when a few of his classmates joke around with him."

"They aren't simply joking with him! They hurt him. And it's not his fault he's sensitive!" Lucille argued.

"He is ten years old. No ten-year-old cries as much as he does. It's embarrassing."

"Arthur, that's enough! You're the embarrassing one. I can't believe you're saying all of this about your own son! We talked about this!"

"Lucy, you know it's the truth!"

It went on like this for a few more minutes, like it always did. Tracey just stared at the ground, feeling guilty that he'd made his parents argue again. He started inching towards the stairs to escape to his room. He went unnoticed by Arthur and Lucille, still exchanging harsh words until the door flew open again and a happier voice chimed up.

"I'm HO-OMMME!" Janie cheerfully announced, bouncing in with a large smile and a Poliwag-shaped lunch box. The tension between Arthur and Lucille momentarily dissipated. But Tracey knew it was only temporary. It was a vicious circle.

"There's my little princess! Come here!" Arthur scooped the six-year-old up in a bear hug, making her giggle.

"Daddy! Stop it! That tickles!"

Tracey watched his father play with his sister, a pang of jealousy shooting through him. Janie always got all the attention. Sometimes, he wished she wasn't there so Arthur would play with him instead. But immediately, he felt guilty at the thought. Janie was only six and besides, it wasn't her fault. He was being silly…not to mention a bad big brother.

So, grateful for the distraction, Tracey slipped away quietly to his room. He sighed and closed the door, tossing his books down. He took his sketchbook and a pencil out. Then, he made his way to the balcony of his parents' room where there was a staircase that led out towards the ocean. The ocean was the only place he found any solace, where there were no hurtful words or disappointing looks. It was his own private paradise where nothing could touch him. He liked to pretend that anyway.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tracey awoke to someone insistently shaking him by the shoulder. Janie was hovering over him, her expression tense. "Tracey, wake up!"

"Huh? What's going on? What's wrong?" He asked groggily, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

"I don't know. Pichu and Eevee woke Mikey and me up. Something's wrong," She explained, gesturing to the Pokemon. Tracey saw that the two Pokemon were both in fighting stances. They were glancing around to the forest around them anxiously, ready to battle whatever it was they sensed nearby. Mikey was standing nearby, glancing around nervously.

"They must sense something," Tracey remarked getting to his feet. He looked to their surroundings. "But what?"

Then, out of the darkness, came a loud command. "HYPER BEAM!"

Tracey's eyes widened in surprise when he saw a bright beam of hot yellow energy explode through the forest…right at him!

A/N: Wow, that was long. Tracey fans, I recommend you read Azure Pathos-Sketchit's stories. They are wonderful. Well, read and review! ^_^