Fire Red, Leaf Green
Chapter 3
Green yawned. 'There must be a better way to travel', she thought. And true, walking from town to town, or city, was thoroughly boring, not to mention tiring. And that shoulder bag got pretty heavy after a few hours of walking. She thought about maybe taking a cab from place to place, but she'd run out of money fast, doin' that. The scenery around her now was a flat plain. She'd been walking for about a day now, and the sun was setting fast. Sadly, she'd have to walk all the next day to get to Pewter City, as well.
"I hate all this walking..." She grumbled, and sat down by the side of the dirt road. She hadn't really thought to bring along any kind of camping gear. After all, who'd have thought she'd be caught in this situation, anyway? Well, she probably should have come prepared, anyway.
"Well, I did want adventure. And, well, I guess I got it." She kind of spat that last part. Though it was true she'd wanted adventure, she didn't think it'd require so much... work. When she pictured Pokémon Journey's in her mind, she pictured glory, fun, interesting people... but so far, it just seemed to be a lot of walking. She didn't even see that many interesting wild Pokémon. Just a bunch of Spearow, Taillow, Pidgey, and Rattata. Even the occasional Sentret, or Zigzagoon. But those were all so... common. And she already had a Taillow. So she just clasped her hands behind her head and walked, hoping and praying something interesting happened. Just when she was starting to regret having begun this Journey, thinking about taking a bus home, she got her wish. Something DID happen.
"Hello there young lady!" An older, though certainly not old, man called to her. He was dressed in a white robed, fringed with sky blue, his hair a dirty blonde. She smiled and stopped. He was coming towards her at a leisurely pace. He stopped when he got to her.
"How are you, my child?" He slipped his hands into the sleeve opposite, so that all Green could see of his body was his face. He was a Priest, this one. Probably late twenties, early thirties.
"I'm fine, Father, and yourself?" Green offered a bow to him. She wasn't religious, herself, but had respect for those who were. Besides, she liked to think that if there a god, or gods, they weren't like the one these men preached about. Hyne, the god's name was.
"Hyne has blessed me well, child, thank you for asking. May I ask what you're doing out on this back road by yourself? It's a day's walk to anywhere from here." He smiled.
"I see." He nodded. Green had went through her entire story up to now, starting with the very thing that made her want to be a Pokémon Trainer. Through banter, she learned the man's name was Valentine; he'd instructed her to call him Val for short. She preferred Father Valentine. Of course he'd understood the feeling of needing to show reverence. Green had also learned that he was younger than she'd initially thought. He'd just turned twenty-four, and had only been a Priest for two months.
"Well, child, I'll go with you, then, as far as Pewter City." Father Valentine smiled.
"But, Father, didn't you just come from that way?" She asked, puzzled.
"Yes, my daughter, but I simply couldn't let you travel this lonely road by yourself. Hyne loves children above all others, you know, and says that we followers should protect children every chance we get." Father Valentine smiled at her. She had to admit, he was a nice man, and had a warm smile. Father Valentine motioned forward, towards Pewter City, and they began walking.
"Father, are you sure? I don't want to put you out..." Green was a bit troubled.
"Nonsense, daughter. I can always turn back around again. The exercise is good for me." He smiled at her. She can't believe she didn't notice it before, but he had a Pokéball clipped to either sleeve of his robe. She wanted to ask what Pokémon he had, but she didn't want to seem rude.
"... Father. Are you a Pokémon Trainer?" She asked quietly.
"I don't train much, now that I'm a Priest. I was pretty serious about it in my younger years. But I keep my Pokémon; they're my companions. I've had them for quite a long time, and they've always stuck by me. Would you like to see them?" He stopped. Green nodded. Father Valentine took each Pokéball from the sleeve, and tossed them to the ground gently.
"Ohh! How cute!" Green kneeled down to pat the heads of his Pokémon. He had a Meowth and a Marill. Father Valentine smiled, and bent to retrieve the balls.
"I take it you're close with your Pokémon?" He asked, and returned his to their balls. Green didn't know how to answer this. So she didn't. And they kept walking.
"Wow, it sure got dark fast." Green sat beside the fire Father Valentine had made. He sat on the opposite side from her. They were roasting peeled apples over the fire.
"Yes. Hyne gave us the night so that we may rest. Do you know the story of Hyne, child?" He asked her, turning the apples slowly. Green shook her head without conviction.
"Ah. Then I'll tell you..." He launched into his story...
Long ago, the earth didn't exist. All that was there was Chaos. Chaos was utterly alone, and he was ever so lonely. So after a millenia of being alone, he decided that he wanted a son. And so he had one. His son's name was Order. At first, all was well. Chaos wasn't alone anymore. But Order and Chaos have two very different personalities. One day they got into a terrible argument. They fought and fought, and out of their force was born the Earth, Gaia. Chaos and Order both lusted after Gaia, and Gaia begot them each children. The union of Order and Gaia made Love. The union of Chaos and Gaia made Hate. Love and Hate were entirely new concepts to the three before them. Love and Hate got married, and their twin sons were Life and Death. Life decided to give his grandmother, Gaia, the most beautiful gift of all. He made plants and animals on her surface. Death was angry that Life had such a good gift, and to spite him, but a limit on how long each living thing could remain alive. Life and Death, though brothers, eventually fell in love. And they married. Out of this union begot Hyne. Hyne saw his family, and realized there were two definite sides. A good side, and a bad. The good of the family being Order, Love, and Life. The bad being Chaos, Hate, and Death. And he realized Gaia was at the center of all this. That led him to ask himself what he was. And he realized he was the perfect union of both good and bad, equally balanced - like Gaia. He also realized that out of his family, only he and Gaia had tangible bodies. So he fled to his Great Grandmother's surface to live. He was lonely. His Great Grandmother was old, and wasn't one for conversation. Unlike the others, Hyne and Gaia aged. Though very slowly. Hyne lived alone on his Great Grandmother's surface for a millenia, and he got so lonely, that he decide to create companions. He created two; the very first man and the very first woman. He named them Elijah and Lilith. Elijah and Lilith were good company, but they soon noticed that they were different. Not long after, Lilith gave birth. Hyne was happy. This is what he'd wanted. But as Hyne aged so slowly, time seemed to pass very fast all around him. Lilith and Elijah died, but by the time they did, there were more and more humans. They were multiplying quickly. Soon, there were hundreds. They worshiped Hyne, and he was a fair ruler. One day, the people cried out for excitement. Hyne could think of nothing else but to give them the gift of technology, in the form of the Pokéball. They could now capture and control the animals - Pokémon - that roamed the land. As Pokémon training became more and more popular, the people payed less and less attention and praise to Hyne. So Hyne, offended and saddened, left into Heaven. The people were then susceptible to sickness, accident, and nature without Hyne's protection. The people begged him to come back, but he refused. He did, however, bless those who still praised him. That, dear girl, is the story of Hyne.
Green nodded slowly, as Father Valentine finished the story. She'd never heard the story before. She wouldn't tell Father Valentine, but it just reinforced her disbelief in the religion. After all, that story was rather far-fetched, wasn't it?
"Well... we should probably get some sleep, Father. We've a long walk ahead of us, tomorrow." Green yawned and lay back on the grass.
"Yes, my Daughter. That we do. Sleep well." Father Valentine poured water over the fire, and lay back on the grass as well, looking up at the multitude of stars...
(END CHAPTER 3)
Chapter 3
Green yawned. 'There must be a better way to travel', she thought. And true, walking from town to town, or city, was thoroughly boring, not to mention tiring. And that shoulder bag got pretty heavy after a few hours of walking. She thought about maybe taking a cab from place to place, but she'd run out of money fast, doin' that. The scenery around her now was a flat plain. She'd been walking for about a day now, and the sun was setting fast. Sadly, she'd have to walk all the next day to get to Pewter City, as well.
"I hate all this walking..." She grumbled, and sat down by the side of the dirt road. She hadn't really thought to bring along any kind of camping gear. After all, who'd have thought she'd be caught in this situation, anyway? Well, she probably should have come prepared, anyway.
"Well, I did want adventure. And, well, I guess I got it." She kind of spat that last part. Though it was true she'd wanted adventure, she didn't think it'd require so much... work. When she pictured Pokémon Journey's in her mind, she pictured glory, fun, interesting people... but so far, it just seemed to be a lot of walking. She didn't even see that many interesting wild Pokémon. Just a bunch of Spearow, Taillow, Pidgey, and Rattata. Even the occasional Sentret, or Zigzagoon. But those were all so... common. And she already had a Taillow. So she just clasped her hands behind her head and walked, hoping and praying something interesting happened. Just when she was starting to regret having begun this Journey, thinking about taking a bus home, she got her wish. Something DID happen.
"Hello there young lady!" An older, though certainly not old, man called to her. He was dressed in a white robed, fringed with sky blue, his hair a dirty blonde. She smiled and stopped. He was coming towards her at a leisurely pace. He stopped when he got to her.
"How are you, my child?" He slipped his hands into the sleeve opposite, so that all Green could see of his body was his face. He was a Priest, this one. Probably late twenties, early thirties.
"I'm fine, Father, and yourself?" Green offered a bow to him. She wasn't religious, herself, but had respect for those who were. Besides, she liked to think that if there a god, or gods, they weren't like the one these men preached about. Hyne, the god's name was.
"Hyne has blessed me well, child, thank you for asking. May I ask what you're doing out on this back road by yourself? It's a day's walk to anywhere from here." He smiled.
"I see." He nodded. Green had went through her entire story up to now, starting with the very thing that made her want to be a Pokémon Trainer. Through banter, she learned the man's name was Valentine; he'd instructed her to call him Val for short. She preferred Father Valentine. Of course he'd understood the feeling of needing to show reverence. Green had also learned that he was younger than she'd initially thought. He'd just turned twenty-four, and had only been a Priest for two months.
"Well, child, I'll go with you, then, as far as Pewter City." Father Valentine smiled.
"But, Father, didn't you just come from that way?" She asked, puzzled.
"Yes, my daughter, but I simply couldn't let you travel this lonely road by yourself. Hyne loves children above all others, you know, and says that we followers should protect children every chance we get." Father Valentine smiled at her. She had to admit, he was a nice man, and had a warm smile. Father Valentine motioned forward, towards Pewter City, and they began walking.
"Father, are you sure? I don't want to put you out..." Green was a bit troubled.
"Nonsense, daughter. I can always turn back around again. The exercise is good for me." He smiled at her. She can't believe she didn't notice it before, but he had a Pokéball clipped to either sleeve of his robe. She wanted to ask what Pokémon he had, but she didn't want to seem rude.
"... Father. Are you a Pokémon Trainer?" She asked quietly.
"I don't train much, now that I'm a Priest. I was pretty serious about it in my younger years. But I keep my Pokémon; they're my companions. I've had them for quite a long time, and they've always stuck by me. Would you like to see them?" He stopped. Green nodded. Father Valentine took each Pokéball from the sleeve, and tossed them to the ground gently.
"Ohh! How cute!" Green kneeled down to pat the heads of his Pokémon. He had a Meowth and a Marill. Father Valentine smiled, and bent to retrieve the balls.
"I take it you're close with your Pokémon?" He asked, and returned his to their balls. Green didn't know how to answer this. So she didn't. And they kept walking.
"Wow, it sure got dark fast." Green sat beside the fire Father Valentine had made. He sat on the opposite side from her. They were roasting peeled apples over the fire.
"Yes. Hyne gave us the night so that we may rest. Do you know the story of Hyne, child?" He asked her, turning the apples slowly. Green shook her head without conviction.
"Ah. Then I'll tell you..." He launched into his story...
Long ago, the earth didn't exist. All that was there was Chaos. Chaos was utterly alone, and he was ever so lonely. So after a millenia of being alone, he decided that he wanted a son. And so he had one. His son's name was Order. At first, all was well. Chaos wasn't alone anymore. But Order and Chaos have two very different personalities. One day they got into a terrible argument. They fought and fought, and out of their force was born the Earth, Gaia. Chaos and Order both lusted after Gaia, and Gaia begot them each children. The union of Order and Gaia made Love. The union of Chaos and Gaia made Hate. Love and Hate were entirely new concepts to the three before them. Love and Hate got married, and their twin sons were Life and Death. Life decided to give his grandmother, Gaia, the most beautiful gift of all. He made plants and animals on her surface. Death was angry that Life had such a good gift, and to spite him, but a limit on how long each living thing could remain alive. Life and Death, though brothers, eventually fell in love. And they married. Out of this union begot Hyne. Hyne saw his family, and realized there were two definite sides. A good side, and a bad. The good of the family being Order, Love, and Life. The bad being Chaos, Hate, and Death. And he realized Gaia was at the center of all this. That led him to ask himself what he was. And he realized he was the perfect union of both good and bad, equally balanced - like Gaia. He also realized that out of his family, only he and Gaia had tangible bodies. So he fled to his Great Grandmother's surface to live. He was lonely. His Great Grandmother was old, and wasn't one for conversation. Unlike the others, Hyne and Gaia aged. Though very slowly. Hyne lived alone on his Great Grandmother's surface for a millenia, and he got so lonely, that he decide to create companions. He created two; the very first man and the very first woman. He named them Elijah and Lilith. Elijah and Lilith were good company, but they soon noticed that they were different. Not long after, Lilith gave birth. Hyne was happy. This is what he'd wanted. But as Hyne aged so slowly, time seemed to pass very fast all around him. Lilith and Elijah died, but by the time they did, there were more and more humans. They were multiplying quickly. Soon, there were hundreds. They worshiped Hyne, and he was a fair ruler. One day, the people cried out for excitement. Hyne could think of nothing else but to give them the gift of technology, in the form of the Pokéball. They could now capture and control the animals - Pokémon - that roamed the land. As Pokémon training became more and more popular, the people payed less and less attention and praise to Hyne. So Hyne, offended and saddened, left into Heaven. The people were then susceptible to sickness, accident, and nature without Hyne's protection. The people begged him to come back, but he refused. He did, however, bless those who still praised him. That, dear girl, is the story of Hyne.
Green nodded slowly, as Father Valentine finished the story. She'd never heard the story before. She wouldn't tell Father Valentine, but it just reinforced her disbelief in the religion. After all, that story was rather far-fetched, wasn't it?
"Well... we should probably get some sleep, Father. We've a long walk ahead of us, tomorrow." Green yawned and lay back on the grass.
"Yes, my Daughter. That we do. Sleep well." Father Valentine poured water over the fire, and lay back on the grass as well, looking up at the multitude of stars...
(END CHAPTER 3)