..A tall figure moved silently into a cave. Rumbles. The ground was
shaking. Later.. it was later. Much later. The skies were growing dark..
something was falling.. something large was moving in the water. A face.. a
pale, bloody face and a.. a..
"A hand?!" Dominic snapped his eyes open. Sweat ran down his forehead, his limbs numb with fear. Was it fear? Yes.. his mind was racing, speeding like a train through a dark tunnel. Where was he?
Sitting up swiftly, he found himself in a bed.. a pokecenter room. He was sure of it. How the hell did he get in here?
The face.. a severed hand..
And what the hell had he been dreaming about? Some scary shit, whatever it was.. he tried to shake the thought from his head but it lingered. His mind was becoming more and more.. what was the word? Jumbled.. jumbled with too many questions that couldn't be answered.
All Dominic remembered was.. well.. sitting with Brisen and Jessie on the beach.. how had he ended up here? In his mind he could see a shadow coming toward him.. nothing after that. And then this dream.. what was going on with him lately?
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the phone ring. Standing up shakily, he picked up the receiver of the Phone TV.
"Hello?" he uttered. The black screen was filled with the image of a someone.. Dom didn't take much care in noticing the person's features, let alone gender.
"Dominic Jenkins, I presume," said a light, female voice.
His eyes focused on the bright screen and studied the girl. She had dark brown hair, pinned up, wavy. This much Dom could tell. She wore glasses, behind which were large azure eyes. Before Dominic could notice more, she spoke up.
"Hello? Daydreaming, are we?"
Dominic blinked.
"Yeah, um.. hi. What..? 'Scuse me.. what did you call for?" he said. God, how stupid he sounded.
A severed hand.. a bloody face.. dark clouds..
"Dominic?" she said. "Your face! What's wrong?"
Dominic slowly realized that he was bright red. Sweat was still forming on his brow.. why were these visions recurring?
"I'm sorry.. could.. could you just tell me what you want?"
"Dominic, you seem troubled, so I'll cut to the point. You were walking down the street.. and I hate to say but I was riding my bike in the opposite direction. I lost control.. clumsy me.. we collided."
So that was it. He had blacked out.. probably been taken to a room when this poor girl ran into him on her bike. He was surprised he hadn't been hurt more.
"I'm so very sorry.. I was calling to see if you were alright." She smiled faintly.
"I'm fine.. I just've.. been having weird dreams. But, um.. fine, yeah."
She nodded, pushing a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
"Well that's good. I guess I just feel so bad.. I was wondering if you would let me treat you to dinner. Would you..?"
Everything was going so fast..
"Sure. What time is it, anyways?" asked Dominic.
"Oh, it's only around four. I figured you would want to.. well.. maybe get ready or something of the sort," she said sheepishly.
"Right, well thanks a lot.. er.. what's your name?"
"Brenna. Brenna Jasthons. I was thinking - about dinner, that is - that we would just go to the Wild Tauros Café. Do you know where that is?"
"Yes.. I think. I'll see you there around five. Thanks for everything.." said Dom, smiling.
"Alright, then. We'll.. talk."
"Okay. Bye then," he said, and hung up before she could reply.
His head was thudding. He hung the receiver up and walked over to the window, opening the blinds. Light streamed through.. afternoon light. It was slowly coming back.
So many things were happening! First the near drowning.. then the chance meeting with his cousin.. now a freak bike accident, a girl with glasses, and a café? Dominic could only think that god was punishing him for something wrong he had done.. but finally settled on the fact that he was having a bad luck spell. Bad and good, he figured. Some good had come of all this..
The hand! THE HAND!
"NO!" he yelled at himself. He just had to shake that image from his head..
Dominic took a warm shower, two Advil, and by five o'clock he was walking down the noisy streets to meet a girl who had hit him with her bike.. maybe even been the cause of that dream, if that made any sense. How funny it all was..
Life is funny.. he thought.
Life is funny..
* * * * * * * * * *
After having to ask a few people where the Wild Tauros Café was, Dominic eventually did find the small restaurant. It was nice - very small, quaint.. obviously a coffee shop. Outside were a few stone tables, at which Dom spotted a familiar looking girl - Brenna.
"Hello!" she said, standing up and ushering him into the seat across from her. Small menus lay in front of both him and her, but she didn't seem interested. Dom actually wasn't that hungry..
"Hey.. it was, er, really nice of you to take me here," said Dom, scratching the back of his head as he usually did when he was nervous. "To be honest, I don't even remember this accident.."
The girl smiled, her small mouth squinching up. She wore an outfit seemingly unfit for the weather - a black sleeveless turtleneck sweater and khaki cargo pants. It looked like she was ready for the fall to come, unlike Dom, who wore a green tanktop and jean shorts.
"The doctor said nothing was broken, just a few bruises. He said, well, you hit your head on the ground fairly hard. Maybe that's why you said you had some bad dreams?"
Dominic tried to replay the events in his head, but it was still clouded. He asumed he was like how most accident victims were - unable to recall the details of what happened. He laughed. Maybe that was it..he could see the headlines now: boy hits head on sidewalk, has dream about blood and gored body parts.. nice..
He snapped back to reality. "Let's just call it even. I mean, I could always hit you with my bike if I wanted," he said. She laughed for a long time.. finally leaving them back in an awkward silence.
"So.. what's your story, Brenna? You a trainer?" he leaned back in his seat, grinning.
"Oh, I'm no trainer. I have pokemon, but I wouldn't call myself, well, determined to be the best. I'm interested in pokemon science. My goal is to become a pokemon researcher, I guess. Really interesting stuff, actually.." she blushed.
"That's awesome, I wish I was that smart. I can't understand half the stuff involved with the pokemon sciences." Dom said, ordering a lemonade. Brenna ordered an iced tea.
"How about you? I'm asuming you ARE a trainer, right?"
"Right you are," he said, "I've.. It's been a long journey so far."
She studied his pokeball belt. "Are you almost done?"
"Oh, heck no. I only have two badges."
"And it's been that long?"
"You don't even know the half of it. I've gone from jail to leaving my best friend to traveling across the ocean with a real bitch.. 'scuse my language.."
"Yikes.. I've never even been outside Slateport. I've lived here all my life.. well, actually, my family does vacation in Fortree City, do you know where that is?"
Dominic, once more, could not believe the coincidence. "I live in Fortree!"
"Omigosh! How weird! Well.. yes. That's where I got my two pokemon." She pulled out two minimized pokeballs from her pocket.
"Which would be..?"
"This here's a kecleon," she said, pointing to one of the balls.
"A kecleon? Wow!"
"Yes.. and I caught a feebas there.. trained it up slightly, and one day it evolved into a milotic."
Dom pulled out his pokedex and looked up the entry for feebas and milotic. "That thing is huge!" he exclaimed.
"Good for traveling by water," Brenna said.
Their drinks were delivered, and they ordered a plate of nachos to share. Dominic now took time to really look over this girl, who looked his age, maybe a year younger. She had long hair, he assumed, but it was hard to tell because it was pinned up. She was pretty.
"So where are you heading?" Brenna piped up.
"Well.. do you happen to know the way to Mauville City from here?" he asked. Mauville City.. where he and Cara had been thrown in jail.. Pierre.. damn French guy..
"Sure. Right up north, I believe. Never been there, myself. Gyms up there, you know," said Brenna.
"That's what I figured. Never really had the time to explore while I was there.."
"You've been there?"
"Long story.. it was awhile ago, but.. I'll tell you some other time." Dom chuckled, stretching his arms above his head. There nachos came, and went almost as fast. Dom hadn't even thought he was hungry - but he had inhaled the food. Brenna didn't seem to mind - her eyes seemed concentrated on Dominic rather than the food.
Meaning to break the silence, Dom changed the subject. "Do you wanna come with me to Mauville? Show me the way, I mean?" Even Dominic was surprised at the words that came out of his mouth. It looked as if Brenna was, too.
"I..well.. I guess it's the least I could do.." She was growing red again. It slowly dawned on Dominic that Brenna might have a little crush on him.
"Great! I'm ready when you are!" he said, standing up. Brenna left a five on the table and walked away with him, back down one of the noisy streets.
"I.. well.. I guess I should tell my parents. I mean, they always wondered why I hadn't gone on my pokemon journey. It'll probably make them happy.." she said.
Dom dodged a bike that flew past him. "Okay. That was a close one.. I guess I'll meet you at the city limits?"
"Sounds good to me!" she said. Dom headed down a street where he could see the buildings growing smaller and eventually disappearing. He turned to watch Brenna go in the opposite direction, but by now she was merely a speck in the growing crowd.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was about an hour later that Dominic Jenkins and Brenna Jasthons left Slateport City. They could now see the large port city in the distance, its roar still sounding in their ears. Around them were patches of long grass, trainers, and a few noticable wild pokemon, none of which Dom was interested in.
"So, what pokemon do you have?" asked Brenna. They past a few houses, probably an independent community. Ahead was a large yellow and red mansion..
"Electrike, spoink, gulpin, and barboach," he said, nearly memorizing the order. "And what IS that place?" He pointed toward the huge house a few yards before them.
She nodded and replied. "I believe it's the Trick House."
"And.. what would that be?" asked Dom.
Brenna sighed. "You haven't heard of the Trick House?
"No.."
"Okay. Theres this guy who built it.. he's a bit crazy, but people have visited the place countless times. I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Not yet. Large rooms, a bunch of challenges. You get prizes if you can get through."
Dom nodded, glancing at the large house. It currently emitted a screaming noise and Dom jumped back.
"Noises are always coming out of it. Don't bother wondering what they are.." said Brenna, shrugging.
They continued for awhile in silence before they saw a small silver building sitting atop a hill in the distance. It had a glass roof that reflected the setting sun's light toward them, and Dom knew instantly what it was - a lab.
"Whaddah you suppose a lab's doing out here?" he asked Brenna, turning to her.
"I don't know.. wanna go check it out?"
"Alright.. who knows, we might be able to stay the night there. What ever we do, we can't get to Mauville past the curvew.."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hello?" Dom yelled. They stood at the entrance to the lab, it's mysterious placement still confusing them. The sky outside had grown dark blue - it was night. There were no lights on yet, giving the lab an eerie feeling.
No answer.
For a second, all Dom could picture was
-A severed hand. Blood. BLOOD!-
his dream, but quickly shook it off. Brenna walked forward, exploring the dark space. She picked up books, analyzing, studying. Suddenly, they both heard voices coming from the upstairs. Dom turned his head to the noise.
"Thanks for coming, Mr. Blackstone! Hopefully your quest will be.."
Two people appeared walking down the large staircase. One was an older man, maybe in his thirties or forties, in a long white lab coat. He had bright green hair, which startled Dom because he was so much older.
The other was a boy the same age as Dominic and Brenna. He had dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, and wore a similar shirt as Dominic, except it was black. He wore baggy jeans and a smile on his face.
"Looks like we have visitors!" exclaimed the older man.
Dom and Brenna looked at eachother. The older man clapped his hands and the lab was flooded with light - a relief to Dom, who was getting a bit freaked out.
"Hello! I'm Professor Pine. And you are..?"
Dom stared back at the man before realizing the question was geared towards him. "Oh! Um.. I'm Dominic, and this is.."
"Brenna. Why is is your lab out here?" Brenna snapped.
The professor walked over to a long silver table and sat down, motioning for the other three kids to sit, too. After they were seated, he began to speak.
"Have you seen how crowded Slateport City is? I had to build the lab out here.. either that or have a lab the siz of a match box," he explained.
"Makes sense," said Dom, glancing at the other boy who hadn't spoken.
"Who ARE you?" exclaimed Brenna, as if reading Dom's mind. She was staring at the boy. He turned to her and smiled faintly.
"Alex Blackstone. I'm a trainer from Lavaridge."
Dominic looked at Brenna, who didn't seem satisfied. "I see. Do you specialize in anything?" she asked.
"Fire types my specialty. I'm not into the badge collecting thing.. but I'm gunna be the best fire pokemon trainer this world's ever seen." Alex said.
Brenna laughed. It sounded more like a shriek, really, but Dom figured it was some sort of laugh. She obviously thought Alex was.. what? Pathetic?
While Dom was pondering this Alex snorted at Brenna. "What? Don't think I can do it?" he yelled.
"No, I just think it's a silly little dream. Try something realistic!" she laughed.
"It's plenty realistic! I.. I.." Alex fumbled, obviously defeated.
"That's what I thought," she replied. The two glared at eachother, leaving Dom to speak up.
"Glad to see you've made a friend, Brenna!" he said. They snorted and turned to the professor, who was now looking confused.
"Now, now, don't get so riled up! Alex here was just getting his pokedex updated," said the professor, "Would either of you like it? Totally free.. I just need to see a liscence.."
Dominic pulled out his pokedex. "What do you mean by upgrade?"
"Oh, we just got the technology! The pokedex can now be used to translate pokemon language into human speech. Here.. for example.." the professor threw a pokeball onto the ground, and a pikachu popped out.
"Pika!"
Dom was used to the normal pokemon chatter.. but in english? Professor Pine whipped out a golden pokedex and instantly the pikachu's voice wobbled and suddenly it fell silent. Suddenly, a voice like nothing Dom had ever heard spoke up.
"Hyah, professor!" the yellow mouse said, hopping up and down. The voice was in the same speed and tone of a normal pikachu.. but.. it was.. english?
"Holy shit!" Dom exclaimed.
"What? Who is THIS guy, professor? He sure does curse a lot!" said pikachu. Professor Pine smiled and withdrew the pokemon.
"So.. Dominic? Brenna? Interested in this new invention?"
Dom grinned and nodded. Brenna was laughing.
"How fun! I would love it!" she said.
"Right this way, then," said the professor, leading the two back upstairs. As they walked up, Brenna looked back and shot a glare at Alex. 'What a loser!' she thought, 'but.. I guess he's kind of cute..'
* * * * * * * * * *
Dominic and Brenna smiled in excitement. They had both received their upgrades and now were taking out their pokemon, letting them talk.
"Cmon, Zappy!" said Dom, letting out electrike.
"Trike! Tri..ey! Hey! Dominic whats.. woah! Dude! Am I speaking your language, Dominic?"
"Sure are, Zappy! How cool is this?"
"Really cool! Trike! Can we go battle now? I wanna evolve, Dominic! I wanna evolve! I'm so close, dude!" the green dog was running in circles at Dom's feet. Meanwhile, Brenna's kecleon was not as excited.
"Seriously, Brenna, do you think this will help? I can do perfectly well on my own! Keck!" the lizard was staring angrily at the brown haired girl.
An hour later, Dom and Brenna were sitting back at the table. Surprisingly, Alex was still there. He, too, was talking to his pokemon. A small brown fox sat on the table in front of him - a vulpix. Alex looked up as the two walked toward him.
"Alex, what did you say?" Vulpix chimed. "Who's Brenna? And why do you think she's a bitch?"
Alex glared at the small pokemon and quickly recalled it, laughing. "Oh, vulpix, how funny you are! Silly little fox.."
But it was too late. Brenna was bright red, her glasses shaking on the tip of her small nose. Dominic tried to restrain her, but she ran full force at Alex before he could touch her.
"Why you little! I am certaintly NOT a.. a.. what you think I am!" she hissed.
"What? Afraid to say bitch? Maybe 'cause that's what you ARE!" Alex yelled back.
For hours after this Alex and Brenna faught back and forth, leaving Dom to simply watch. They stayed for the night at the Slateport lab, and in the morning Brenna felt bad and apoligized to Alex. Soon after, Alex asked if he could accompany Dom and Brenna on their trip to Mauville City.
And that was how Dom met Brenna Jasthons and Alex Blackstone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Finally a new chapter! I promise for battles next chapter, I just had to set Dom up with his two new traveling partners! Yay! Ok.. well as usual pleez review and send characters! PLEASE! I'm waiting!!
"A hand?!" Dominic snapped his eyes open. Sweat ran down his forehead, his limbs numb with fear. Was it fear? Yes.. his mind was racing, speeding like a train through a dark tunnel. Where was he?
Sitting up swiftly, he found himself in a bed.. a pokecenter room. He was sure of it. How the hell did he get in here?
The face.. a severed hand..
And what the hell had he been dreaming about? Some scary shit, whatever it was.. he tried to shake the thought from his head but it lingered. His mind was becoming more and more.. what was the word? Jumbled.. jumbled with too many questions that couldn't be answered.
All Dominic remembered was.. well.. sitting with Brisen and Jessie on the beach.. how had he ended up here? In his mind he could see a shadow coming toward him.. nothing after that. And then this dream.. what was going on with him lately?
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the phone ring. Standing up shakily, he picked up the receiver of the Phone TV.
"Hello?" he uttered. The black screen was filled with the image of a someone.. Dom didn't take much care in noticing the person's features, let alone gender.
"Dominic Jenkins, I presume," said a light, female voice.
His eyes focused on the bright screen and studied the girl. She had dark brown hair, pinned up, wavy. This much Dom could tell. She wore glasses, behind which were large azure eyes. Before Dominic could notice more, she spoke up.
"Hello? Daydreaming, are we?"
Dominic blinked.
"Yeah, um.. hi. What..? 'Scuse me.. what did you call for?" he said. God, how stupid he sounded.
A severed hand.. a bloody face.. dark clouds..
"Dominic?" she said. "Your face! What's wrong?"
Dominic slowly realized that he was bright red. Sweat was still forming on his brow.. why were these visions recurring?
"I'm sorry.. could.. could you just tell me what you want?"
"Dominic, you seem troubled, so I'll cut to the point. You were walking down the street.. and I hate to say but I was riding my bike in the opposite direction. I lost control.. clumsy me.. we collided."
So that was it. He had blacked out.. probably been taken to a room when this poor girl ran into him on her bike. He was surprised he hadn't been hurt more.
"I'm so very sorry.. I was calling to see if you were alright." She smiled faintly.
"I'm fine.. I just've.. been having weird dreams. But, um.. fine, yeah."
She nodded, pushing a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
"Well that's good. I guess I just feel so bad.. I was wondering if you would let me treat you to dinner. Would you..?"
Everything was going so fast..
"Sure. What time is it, anyways?" asked Dominic.
"Oh, it's only around four. I figured you would want to.. well.. maybe get ready or something of the sort," she said sheepishly.
"Right, well thanks a lot.. er.. what's your name?"
"Brenna. Brenna Jasthons. I was thinking - about dinner, that is - that we would just go to the Wild Tauros Café. Do you know where that is?"
"Yes.. I think. I'll see you there around five. Thanks for everything.." said Dom, smiling.
"Alright, then. We'll.. talk."
"Okay. Bye then," he said, and hung up before she could reply.
His head was thudding. He hung the receiver up and walked over to the window, opening the blinds. Light streamed through.. afternoon light. It was slowly coming back.
So many things were happening! First the near drowning.. then the chance meeting with his cousin.. now a freak bike accident, a girl with glasses, and a café? Dominic could only think that god was punishing him for something wrong he had done.. but finally settled on the fact that he was having a bad luck spell. Bad and good, he figured. Some good had come of all this..
The hand! THE HAND!
"NO!" he yelled at himself. He just had to shake that image from his head..
Dominic took a warm shower, two Advil, and by five o'clock he was walking down the noisy streets to meet a girl who had hit him with her bike.. maybe even been the cause of that dream, if that made any sense. How funny it all was..
Life is funny.. he thought.
Life is funny..
* * * * * * * * * *
After having to ask a few people where the Wild Tauros Café was, Dominic eventually did find the small restaurant. It was nice - very small, quaint.. obviously a coffee shop. Outside were a few stone tables, at which Dom spotted a familiar looking girl - Brenna.
"Hello!" she said, standing up and ushering him into the seat across from her. Small menus lay in front of both him and her, but she didn't seem interested. Dom actually wasn't that hungry..
"Hey.. it was, er, really nice of you to take me here," said Dom, scratching the back of his head as he usually did when he was nervous. "To be honest, I don't even remember this accident.."
The girl smiled, her small mouth squinching up. She wore an outfit seemingly unfit for the weather - a black sleeveless turtleneck sweater and khaki cargo pants. It looked like she was ready for the fall to come, unlike Dom, who wore a green tanktop and jean shorts.
"The doctor said nothing was broken, just a few bruises. He said, well, you hit your head on the ground fairly hard. Maybe that's why you said you had some bad dreams?"
Dominic tried to replay the events in his head, but it was still clouded. He asumed he was like how most accident victims were - unable to recall the details of what happened. He laughed. Maybe that was it..he could see the headlines now: boy hits head on sidewalk, has dream about blood and gored body parts.. nice..
He snapped back to reality. "Let's just call it even. I mean, I could always hit you with my bike if I wanted," he said. She laughed for a long time.. finally leaving them back in an awkward silence.
"So.. what's your story, Brenna? You a trainer?" he leaned back in his seat, grinning.
"Oh, I'm no trainer. I have pokemon, but I wouldn't call myself, well, determined to be the best. I'm interested in pokemon science. My goal is to become a pokemon researcher, I guess. Really interesting stuff, actually.." she blushed.
"That's awesome, I wish I was that smart. I can't understand half the stuff involved with the pokemon sciences." Dom said, ordering a lemonade. Brenna ordered an iced tea.
"How about you? I'm asuming you ARE a trainer, right?"
"Right you are," he said, "I've.. It's been a long journey so far."
She studied his pokeball belt. "Are you almost done?"
"Oh, heck no. I only have two badges."
"And it's been that long?"
"You don't even know the half of it. I've gone from jail to leaving my best friend to traveling across the ocean with a real bitch.. 'scuse my language.."
"Yikes.. I've never even been outside Slateport. I've lived here all my life.. well, actually, my family does vacation in Fortree City, do you know where that is?"
Dominic, once more, could not believe the coincidence. "I live in Fortree!"
"Omigosh! How weird! Well.. yes. That's where I got my two pokemon." She pulled out two minimized pokeballs from her pocket.
"Which would be..?"
"This here's a kecleon," she said, pointing to one of the balls.
"A kecleon? Wow!"
"Yes.. and I caught a feebas there.. trained it up slightly, and one day it evolved into a milotic."
Dom pulled out his pokedex and looked up the entry for feebas and milotic. "That thing is huge!" he exclaimed.
"Good for traveling by water," Brenna said.
Their drinks were delivered, and they ordered a plate of nachos to share. Dominic now took time to really look over this girl, who looked his age, maybe a year younger. She had long hair, he assumed, but it was hard to tell because it was pinned up. She was pretty.
"So where are you heading?" Brenna piped up.
"Well.. do you happen to know the way to Mauville City from here?" he asked. Mauville City.. where he and Cara had been thrown in jail.. Pierre.. damn French guy..
"Sure. Right up north, I believe. Never been there, myself. Gyms up there, you know," said Brenna.
"That's what I figured. Never really had the time to explore while I was there.."
"You've been there?"
"Long story.. it was awhile ago, but.. I'll tell you some other time." Dom chuckled, stretching his arms above his head. There nachos came, and went almost as fast. Dom hadn't even thought he was hungry - but he had inhaled the food. Brenna didn't seem to mind - her eyes seemed concentrated on Dominic rather than the food.
Meaning to break the silence, Dom changed the subject. "Do you wanna come with me to Mauville? Show me the way, I mean?" Even Dominic was surprised at the words that came out of his mouth. It looked as if Brenna was, too.
"I..well.. I guess it's the least I could do.." She was growing red again. It slowly dawned on Dominic that Brenna might have a little crush on him.
"Great! I'm ready when you are!" he said, standing up. Brenna left a five on the table and walked away with him, back down one of the noisy streets.
"I.. well.. I guess I should tell my parents. I mean, they always wondered why I hadn't gone on my pokemon journey. It'll probably make them happy.." she said.
Dom dodged a bike that flew past him. "Okay. That was a close one.. I guess I'll meet you at the city limits?"
"Sounds good to me!" she said. Dom headed down a street where he could see the buildings growing smaller and eventually disappearing. He turned to watch Brenna go in the opposite direction, but by now she was merely a speck in the growing crowd.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was about an hour later that Dominic Jenkins and Brenna Jasthons left Slateport City. They could now see the large port city in the distance, its roar still sounding in their ears. Around them were patches of long grass, trainers, and a few noticable wild pokemon, none of which Dom was interested in.
"So, what pokemon do you have?" asked Brenna. They past a few houses, probably an independent community. Ahead was a large yellow and red mansion..
"Electrike, spoink, gulpin, and barboach," he said, nearly memorizing the order. "And what IS that place?" He pointed toward the huge house a few yards before them.
She nodded and replied. "I believe it's the Trick House."
"And.. what would that be?" asked Dom.
Brenna sighed. "You haven't heard of the Trick House?
"No.."
"Okay. Theres this guy who built it.. he's a bit crazy, but people have visited the place countless times. I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Not yet. Large rooms, a bunch of challenges. You get prizes if you can get through."
Dom nodded, glancing at the large house. It currently emitted a screaming noise and Dom jumped back.
"Noises are always coming out of it. Don't bother wondering what they are.." said Brenna, shrugging.
They continued for awhile in silence before they saw a small silver building sitting atop a hill in the distance. It had a glass roof that reflected the setting sun's light toward them, and Dom knew instantly what it was - a lab.
"Whaddah you suppose a lab's doing out here?" he asked Brenna, turning to her.
"I don't know.. wanna go check it out?"
"Alright.. who knows, we might be able to stay the night there. What ever we do, we can't get to Mauville past the curvew.."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hello?" Dom yelled. They stood at the entrance to the lab, it's mysterious placement still confusing them. The sky outside had grown dark blue - it was night. There were no lights on yet, giving the lab an eerie feeling.
No answer.
For a second, all Dom could picture was
-A severed hand. Blood. BLOOD!-
his dream, but quickly shook it off. Brenna walked forward, exploring the dark space. She picked up books, analyzing, studying. Suddenly, they both heard voices coming from the upstairs. Dom turned his head to the noise.
"Thanks for coming, Mr. Blackstone! Hopefully your quest will be.."
Two people appeared walking down the large staircase. One was an older man, maybe in his thirties or forties, in a long white lab coat. He had bright green hair, which startled Dom because he was so much older.
The other was a boy the same age as Dominic and Brenna. He had dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, and wore a similar shirt as Dominic, except it was black. He wore baggy jeans and a smile on his face.
"Looks like we have visitors!" exclaimed the older man.
Dom and Brenna looked at eachother. The older man clapped his hands and the lab was flooded with light - a relief to Dom, who was getting a bit freaked out.
"Hello! I'm Professor Pine. And you are..?"
Dom stared back at the man before realizing the question was geared towards him. "Oh! Um.. I'm Dominic, and this is.."
"Brenna. Why is is your lab out here?" Brenna snapped.
The professor walked over to a long silver table and sat down, motioning for the other three kids to sit, too. After they were seated, he began to speak.
"Have you seen how crowded Slateport City is? I had to build the lab out here.. either that or have a lab the siz of a match box," he explained.
"Makes sense," said Dom, glancing at the other boy who hadn't spoken.
"Who ARE you?" exclaimed Brenna, as if reading Dom's mind. She was staring at the boy. He turned to her and smiled faintly.
"Alex Blackstone. I'm a trainer from Lavaridge."
Dominic looked at Brenna, who didn't seem satisfied. "I see. Do you specialize in anything?" she asked.
"Fire types my specialty. I'm not into the badge collecting thing.. but I'm gunna be the best fire pokemon trainer this world's ever seen." Alex said.
Brenna laughed. It sounded more like a shriek, really, but Dom figured it was some sort of laugh. She obviously thought Alex was.. what? Pathetic?
While Dom was pondering this Alex snorted at Brenna. "What? Don't think I can do it?" he yelled.
"No, I just think it's a silly little dream. Try something realistic!" she laughed.
"It's plenty realistic! I.. I.." Alex fumbled, obviously defeated.
"That's what I thought," she replied. The two glared at eachother, leaving Dom to speak up.
"Glad to see you've made a friend, Brenna!" he said. They snorted and turned to the professor, who was now looking confused.
"Now, now, don't get so riled up! Alex here was just getting his pokedex updated," said the professor, "Would either of you like it? Totally free.. I just need to see a liscence.."
Dominic pulled out his pokedex. "What do you mean by upgrade?"
"Oh, we just got the technology! The pokedex can now be used to translate pokemon language into human speech. Here.. for example.." the professor threw a pokeball onto the ground, and a pikachu popped out.
"Pika!"
Dom was used to the normal pokemon chatter.. but in english? Professor Pine whipped out a golden pokedex and instantly the pikachu's voice wobbled and suddenly it fell silent. Suddenly, a voice like nothing Dom had ever heard spoke up.
"Hyah, professor!" the yellow mouse said, hopping up and down. The voice was in the same speed and tone of a normal pikachu.. but.. it was.. english?
"Holy shit!" Dom exclaimed.
"What? Who is THIS guy, professor? He sure does curse a lot!" said pikachu. Professor Pine smiled and withdrew the pokemon.
"So.. Dominic? Brenna? Interested in this new invention?"
Dom grinned and nodded. Brenna was laughing.
"How fun! I would love it!" she said.
"Right this way, then," said the professor, leading the two back upstairs. As they walked up, Brenna looked back and shot a glare at Alex. 'What a loser!' she thought, 'but.. I guess he's kind of cute..'
* * * * * * * * * *
Dominic and Brenna smiled in excitement. They had both received their upgrades and now were taking out their pokemon, letting them talk.
"Cmon, Zappy!" said Dom, letting out electrike.
"Trike! Tri..ey! Hey! Dominic whats.. woah! Dude! Am I speaking your language, Dominic?"
"Sure are, Zappy! How cool is this?"
"Really cool! Trike! Can we go battle now? I wanna evolve, Dominic! I wanna evolve! I'm so close, dude!" the green dog was running in circles at Dom's feet. Meanwhile, Brenna's kecleon was not as excited.
"Seriously, Brenna, do you think this will help? I can do perfectly well on my own! Keck!" the lizard was staring angrily at the brown haired girl.
An hour later, Dom and Brenna were sitting back at the table. Surprisingly, Alex was still there. He, too, was talking to his pokemon. A small brown fox sat on the table in front of him - a vulpix. Alex looked up as the two walked toward him.
"Alex, what did you say?" Vulpix chimed. "Who's Brenna? And why do you think she's a bitch?"
Alex glared at the small pokemon and quickly recalled it, laughing. "Oh, vulpix, how funny you are! Silly little fox.."
But it was too late. Brenna was bright red, her glasses shaking on the tip of her small nose. Dominic tried to restrain her, but she ran full force at Alex before he could touch her.
"Why you little! I am certaintly NOT a.. a.. what you think I am!" she hissed.
"What? Afraid to say bitch? Maybe 'cause that's what you ARE!" Alex yelled back.
For hours after this Alex and Brenna faught back and forth, leaving Dom to simply watch. They stayed for the night at the Slateport lab, and in the morning Brenna felt bad and apoligized to Alex. Soon after, Alex asked if he could accompany Dom and Brenna on their trip to Mauville City.
And that was how Dom met Brenna Jasthons and Alex Blackstone.
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Finally a new chapter! I promise for battles next chapter, I just had to set Dom up with his two new traveling partners! Yay! Ok.. well as usual pleez review and send characters! PLEASE! I'm waiting!!
