The Edge of Tomorrow: Chapter 2 – Memory Lane
The hoverbus touched down in the parking lot of the Kanto Museum of Natural History. One-by-one the students exited the vehicle and were ordered to form a single-file line by their teacher, Miss Sasaki. Jade and Bradley were the last two to step off the bus. The cool, crisp fall air immediately struck Jade as she did. She shielded her eyes from the bright, midday sun and looked up ahead of her. Before the young girl stood the building she had desperately wanted to visit for as long as she could remember. For years, it had been one excuse after another by her mother as to why they never made time to come here. Her argument usually revolved around "Well, you're going to have a field trip there in Grade 8, so can't you wait until then?" Well, that's what Jade ended up having to do, and how she was finally here.
"Come along, students," Miss Sasaki instructed. "History awaits us."
Jade's classmates began to cheer, their excitement growing by the second. Jade's excitement, however, was more of a nervous tension, though she wasn't quite sure why. Walking forward with the rest of her class, she looked up at the massive archway that served as the entrance to the museum. A strange aura engulfed her as she passed through, followed by faint Pokémon cries that echoed throughout the museum's main lobby. Jade guessed they were being played over some loudspeaker. The main lobby itself was rather dim, with the lights turned down. However, ahead of her, Jade could make out the figure of a young woman. She stood there, waiting for their arrival.
"Class, this is Alexis," said miss Sasaki. "She's going to be your guide to the museum today."
"Alright class," the 24-year-old Alexis said, "follow me as we take a trip into the past."
Jade groaned at the tour guide's unimaginative narration. She hoped the rest of the tour would be a little bit more exciting, and that she'd get the chance to wander off by herself to explore the museum's exhibits on her own. For now, though, she followed the rest of her classmates out of the main lobby and down a darkened hallway where the first exhibit awaited them.
Alexis motioned for the children to line up along the railing in front of the exhibit. Behind the railing, there seemed to be nothing. Jade focused her eyes, trying to make out something, anything in the darkness before her, but try as she might, she couldn't.
"Watch carefully, children," Alexis said.
"Watch what?" one of Jade's classmates said rather impatiently.
"This," said Alexis, smiling as she pressed a button on the wall beside her. The display area erupted in a stream of lights and sounds. A colorful, holographic forest appeared before them. The same forest was illuminated behind them as well, effectively creating a 3-D holographic environment in the circular room. Out of the digital bushes, to Jade's left, emerged a small, yellow Pokémon.
"How cute!" Jade exclaimed.
"Oh please," Bradley groaned. "Can we go see the big, mean, Pokémon already?"
Jade quickly gave Bradley an elbow to the rib cage. "Shut up," she said under her breath.
"Welcome to our exhibit small Pokémon exhibit," Alexis narrated. "This little guy you before you is a--"
"Pikachu," Jade interrupted. "A mouse Pokémon, electric type. Average height 1'4", average weight 13 lbs. It stored electrical energy in its cheeks and could deliver high voltage shocks at will. Its attacks included Quick Attack, Thundershock, and Thunderbolt."
"Uh, thank you, little girl," Alexis said, not quite sure what to make of being upstaged by an 8th grader. Still, she thought, kids did seem to know infinitely more about Pokémon than most adults.
"Well, look what we have here," she continued as several more Pokémon emerged from the holographic underbrush. Everyone watched with amazement as a Squirtle, Cyndaquil, and Treecko scurried out to play with the Pikachu. Eyes shot up as holographic Pidgeys and Taillows flew overhead. The spectacle was truly amazing. "Oohs" and "Aahs" could be heard, as one-by-one, new virtual Pokémon appeared to great their visitors.
"This is so cool," Jade said.
"Boring," Bradley groaned, half-faking a yawn.
"Let's leave these little guys to play, shall we?" Alexis said to the tour group. "More exciting exhibits await us in the next room."
Alexis led the class out of the holographic room, through a doorway to her left. Eyes widened as the children stepped into a large room, immediately greeted by the large, imposing skeleton of a Tyranitar.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Bradley exclaimed. Jade's classmates hurried around the room, checking out the skeletal remains of the various Pokémon. Skeletons of Charizard, Dragonite, Snorlax, Salamence, Meganium, and many other huge Pokémon decorated the center of the room. Each skeleton had a description of its former living creature inscribed on signs before it.
After letting the children explore the exhibits for about 20 minutes, Alexis called them towards the wall she stood before. Many students groaned and complained, not wanting to be torn away from the skeletons. Once every student was gathered, Alexis motioned her hand up towards the picture on the wall beside her.
"This is a very important picture, everyone," she explained. "This Blastoise, seen here, was the last known Pokémon on Earth. It died in captivity, right here in Pewter City, exactly 150 years ago this month. As many of you may be aware, the PX Virus was the cause of the extinction of Pokémon. It is still unknown to this day where the virus originated. However, the virus proved to be very complex, and eventually spreading itself into the atmosphere. Life for Pokémon became impossible on this planet. It took just over two years for their entire species to be wiped out. Scientists hope that someday a vaccine for the PX Virus will be created, so that Pokémon may be cloned and once again populate the Earth. Until then, they remain a memory."
Jade's hand immediately shot up. "What about the Edge of Tomorrow?" she asked.
"Oh please, Jade," Bradley said. "Not this fairy tale again."
"Honestly, Bradley, you have no imagination."
"This is a museum of science, little girl," Alexis explained, seemingly a little irritated by the question. "There is not one shred of evidence to support its existence, only myths and stories. I know it's not easy to accept that Pokémon are truly gone, but that's just how life is."
Jade bowed her head. She knew the tour guide was probably right, but it never hurts having ones dream shot down. It wasn't fair. Things shouldn't be like this. She wanted to become a Pokémon trainer, like her ancestors before her. She wanted it more than anything else in the entire world. Jade lifted her head, knowing that she could never give up on that dream. Somewhere, somehow, Pokémon still existed. She was sure of it. The only question remaining was…where?
"Okay children," Alexis said. "There are still a few more exhibits up ahead, so feel free to enjoy them on your own. Straight ahead is "The Legendary Path", where paintings from many famous artists, depicting Legendary Pokémon, hang for all to see. Next to it is "The Hall of Trainers", where video from Pokémon tournaments long ago still exists and is played repeatedly for your viewing pleasure. Also nearby is "The Stadium", a fully interactive virtual reality game where you take on the role of a Pokémon trainer and battle with your own virtual Pokémon! Many of you may have played similar video games at home, but trust me, this full interactive version blows them all away."
Jade's classmates took off further into the museum; every one of them proceeded towards The Stadium. Bradley stopped when he realized Jade wasn't coming.
"Aren't you going to come, Jade?" he asked.
"It's just a video game, Bradley," she said. "We play them all the time at your place."
"Okay, if you say so, but you don't know what you're missing!"
Bradley took off, leaving Jade to herself. Slowly she walked towards The Legendary Path. As an artist herself, she couldn't dream of passing up a chance to view such beautiful works of art.
Entering the room, she gazed up at the paintings, hanging on each side of the red pathway the she traveled on. They were truly magnificent. Jade stared longingly at them, hoping one day she could be that talented. She stopped in front of a certain painting, which stuck her as the most beautiful in the room.
"Ho-oh," she read from the plaque in front of the painting. "The Rainbow Pokémon. It was said to have watched over planet, protecting both humans and Pokémon from danger, forever hoping that the two could live in peace together. This multicolored bird of fire was said to appear to important people before they set out on long journeys, leaving a rainbow in its wake."
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Jade was snapped back into reality by the voice beside her. There a man stood against the railing next to her, admiring the painting that Jade had just been looking at. He looked to be about in his mid-to-late 30's, with slick-looking black hair and was wearing a stone-gray jacket.
"Ho-oh was always my favorite Legendary Pokémon," he continued. "One can only hope it's still up there, somewhere, trying to instill peace. Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Glen West, the museum's curator."
"My name's Jade," the young girl said, shaking the curator's hand as she introduced herself. It was always nice to meet someone who had both a love for Pokémon and for art. She could tell this man possessed both.
"I noticed watching the tour you seem quite well educated about Pokémon."
"They're pretty much my life. Most people say I've got Pokémon-on-the brain."
"Well, don't feel so bad, most of my peers say the same about me. You and I, we're just a misunderstood bunch."
"Yeah, it would seem so."
"You also seemed quite interested in the Edge of Tomorrow. I believe in it myself, you know."
"You do?"
"Of course I do. I've spent many years, and a lot of money, trying to find it. I've studied every lead, examined every possible clue, but still nothing. I've yet to give up hope, though. One should never give up on their dreams."
"Oh, I agree."
The two Pokémon enthusiasts turned to one another and smiled. Mr. West's eyes noticed something. They widened as they fixated themselves on the jewel around Jade's neck; the round, green object that brightly reflected the room's lighting. "The Soul of Celebi?" he thought to himself. "It…it couldn't be."
"Say, Jade," he spoke up, "would you like your picture taken in front of this wonderful painting? I'm sure it would make a lovely souvenir."
"Sure, sounds great," Jade said, starting to position herself in front of Ho-oh's painting.
"Gavin, camera mode."
Mr. West's EPA, Gavin, floated itself from its owners wrist to his hand, transforming itself into a high-tech digital camera. Mr. West motioned her into the shot, Jade smiled, and he took the picture. A few moments later, Gavin printed a copy of the picture, and Jade gladly received it. Thanking him and saying goodbye, she smiled and hurried off to see more of the museum.
Mr. West chuckled as his EPA transformed itself back into its original shape.
"Gavin, get me the Boss."
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Ack, not my greatest work, I hope it will suffice. Probably too boring as it mainly serves to provide a bit of back story about what happened to Pokémon, though not as much as I wanted because halfway through writing this chapter, I realized how long it was going to be, so now I have to shuffle what I intended this chapter to end on into the next chapter. Anyway, I promise the next chapter will be much more interesting.