Here's Chapter 2. Hopefully I'll get a few more reviews, but I'll keep on
writing anyway, I do it because I love it!
Big thanks to Cultnirvana and Heironeous for their reading and checking,
and advice. As well as listening to me agonising over things for too long!
Also, thanks to Hallow Shadows and Dragoness, you really made my day. Hope
One Heart is nearing completion too, Dragoness!
Disclaimer - I do not own Pokemon, or any of the characters in this fiction, except Hazel. I wish I did, oh boy do I wish!
Well, here goes again.
Where the River Flows - Chapter II
2.30AM, July 22nd. Everyone seems to tell me that failure is nothing to be ashamed of, I tried and tried, but right now I'm not cut out for this. They say that you only learn from your mistakes. They repeat time and time again that life isn't over, it isn't the end of the world. But for me, for me it is. Because I've always known, known what they thought I didn't. That failure is for the weak. Who remembers the valiant loser? It's never written in the record books "And so-and-so came a tight second, fighting against the odds to the very end." The one who was once my best friend reminded me once that the reason he was no longer was because I'm weak. My family history is composed of triumphs, never a mention of the endless pitfalls encountered in life. Maybe there'll be time in the future, maybe there'll be a reprieve and I'll go on to my dreams. Or maybe the horse has bolted, the door shut, the case closed. Maybe I'll never find out, not see the future given to me. It's a choice which is always there, sitting on my shoulder, covering me in a shroud. Why am I crying? My tears are a waste, I should've used the energies to help myself, not in useless despair after the fact. I don't know why the other two are still with me, one looks like leaving, she doesn't have time for me any more. I don't see why she should, we got off badly in the first place. It seems so long past. Oh, god, I've just woken someone up, I can hear them moving towards me, I don't want to be seen like this but I can't stop sobbing, just writing and crying, writing an obituary to a life wasted...
I may be naive, but even I can see that no-one here is sleeping well. Ash is murmuring something about someone or other, and keeps on shifting, tossing and turning like he's been tied up. Pikachu is sparkling with energy and impatience. That sparkling was what woke me earlier. Chikorita is squeaking "Ash!" Over and over. She's told me she's got a recurring nightmare of Ash leaving us, and right now she's smack in the middle of it. The new girl is almost crying, she looks like she's trying to escape. I don't know what from, but she's going to wake everyone else up at this rate. Misty.... is looking at me. When did she wake up?
("Misty, what's up?") I whisper, shuffling over to her.
"Nothing, I'm fine thanks." She sounds odd to me. Like she's got a blocked throat, impaired by the words she's afraid to say.
("....I don't think so.") I take the chance to examine her again. Her eyes are without their usual effervescence, almost pale.
"I am, thank you for asking." She sighs and settles back as if to sleep, but that sigh isn't even fooling me. It's not saying "I'm tired" it's screaming "I'm upset."
("Yeah, right. Come on, you can tell me.") Silence. ("Where is this going to get you? If you want me to promise secrecy, I'll do it.") More silence. I think I'll be pragmatic about this, go back to my place and get the rest of the forty winks I'm due tonight.
"I'm just a bit tense." Well, maybe not. Misty rolls over and props herself up on one elbow, white nightgown hanging loosely in contrast to her tense shoulders, as I plonk myself down by her, trying not to yawn. "It's life catching up with me I guess, I've been avoiding it too long. I'm just thinking about my exam, what do I do if I fail? This far in life I've followed a path, and I'm about to find my own, but what if I find it blocked?" There is an edge of fear, slowly building like an evening shadow, in her voice. I move closer to her, just to let her know I'm here.
("So, what you're saying is, you're scared about your exams, in case you fail.") A bit simplified I know, but I think the best thing to do is realise exactly what you're trying to say, not skirt it like it's a puddle, using metaphors and imagination.
"Yes." The tone wavers, losing balance. "I mean, if I get them, I get in. But what if I don't? I can't see myself working as a waitress for years and years earning a five an hour, or sitting in an office filing faceless numbers. I don't know." Again the wobble, now more pronounced. "But at the same time, it's not my only problem, as there's two sides to the coin...." In the dim light of the summer night, I see her fear in a single tear. It just runs down her face, and she swipes at it irritably. She's always been afraid of displaying weakness.
("Why are you worrying? You're really good, and you'll keep getting better.") I inject as much calm into my reply as possible, sensing her need for it.
"But what if I'm not cut out for this? Am I good enough? I don't know, it seems like I haven't got a hope!" She's sobbing gently now, so I mimic what Ash would do by snuggling into her. I just let her calm down for a few moments, before speaking again.
("It wouldn't be the end of the world Misty. You're a talented woman, how many times have we all come through scrapes together? Everyone has a crisis now and then, but if anyone is strong enough to come though one it's you.") I think I'm getting to her, as she relaxes a little and sniffles.
"Thank you Cyndaquil. I'm sorry I've got you up at this time of night, listening to me whimper." She sniffs again, reaching up to wipe her eyes. "God, I feel like such a fool."
("Hey, it's no prob-") Cue a massive yawn, which erupts from me without a moments warning. ("-lem") She giggles a little.
"You sure do have a big mouth when you're tired."
("So do you, as it happens!") Her eyes narrow a little at me, a look I reflect. Until we both break into smiles.
"I guess we're even then." She reaches out and scratches me between the eyes, and it's almost enough to send me to sleep on the spot.
("Well, if you're feeling better, how about we finish our night's rest?") Another huge yawn from me adds sentiment to my words. She laughs a little, before nodding and easing herself down until she's laying languidly once again. I find myself going out like a light, and before I can think of resisting sleep envelops me with the ease of mist. I think I hear Misty mutter something, just as the world leaves consciousness.
"But the coin will have to land with one face down...."
Back on my feet again, eyes open to the real world. I hate sleep, at the moment it's more tiring than being awake. Dreams don't have rules, and sometimes they don't have conscience either. I'm currently looking into a hand mirror, seeing brown eyes looking back. That scratch I picked up on my cheek due to the holly bush yesterday isn't showing up much, thank god. I'm not vain, but I can't see the problem with looking the best I can with whatever I've got. In this case, a round-necked purple skinny rib top proclaiming "babe" to the world, and denim trousers. Being messy can be more annoying than the cleaning up is. Misty and Ash both look scraggly, but they carry it well. Well, I think Ash does. I was amazed by the tales which went on last night. I didn't realise Ash and Misty got off so badly in the first place. And stories so bizarre and ridiculous that they just had to be true. I couldn't help feeling angry for a lot of things, that I was kept back for three years when I could have been living this life, that I'd not seen these events, hell, that I'm not Ash or Misty. She seems tense, perhaps it's my presence?
"Hazel, we're going in ten, so get yourself prepared." She calls over to me, before returning attention to her backpack. Why I don't know, it's obvious I'm all set. They can say what they like about my choice of bag and possessions, but they haven't got anything on me when it comes to being able to pack and go fast.
"I'm the only one who isn't rushing around like a blue-arsed fly." I call back, with lots of sarcasm. Misty just looks to the sky, and I can see her counting to ten. Pikachu hops past, having fetched water for our drink bottles and to pour over the dead fire. Ash said it's better to be safe than sorry, as he doesn't want a forest fire because of him.
"Okay! Sleeping stuff, check. Canteens full, check. No litter lying free? Check. Fire out? Check. Bag and equipment secure? Check. Yep, I'm all set." Ash talks to himself quietly, before hoisting his bag onto his back with a big stagger. It is one huge bag, I'll say that. Chikorita hops to him and says something, and he crouches down to her and mumbles back, before giving her a quick pat. I have to get him to teach me the way their language works.
"Ash, we're going to have to get to a centre. I've worn everything about five times by now." Ash walks past me to Misty, who is closing up her backpack, and helps her lift it onto her back. "And your clothes are starting to get a bit the worse for wear too. That shirt smells like a skunks posing pouch!" She adds snidely, with a grin.
"Well, at least it keeps the bugs away." He answers calmly, but with his own smile. I can tell this is a conversation which has been spoken so many times that the actors can do it without thought. Once again I get that wish to be a part of the script. So, typical of me, I chance my arm.
"I think the noise of your getting ready has emptied the forest already." For a horrible moment, there's silence staring harshly back at me.
"Yeah, I always told you to keep your noise down!" Misty grins at the opening. Yes! Yay me!
"Hey, you're the cluttered one around here, not me." The cool reply. Chikorita adds something, which leads to a look of anger on Misty's face. Another thought strikes me, and I step forwards, casting a harsh look at my watch.
"By the way you guys, weren't we supposed to be going somewhere?" The whole group face-fault, and I feel another wave of happiness, just for being noticed.
"Yeah, well, let's go then." Ash consults a map, and a compass. "Right, this way." He points back past me, and as a group, we move off into the undergrowth. Misty pushes ahead, Cyndaquil beside her. I pick up Pikachu mumbling to Ash behind me. His reply is a little confusing -
"Well, look ahead of me, and say who you see."
The sun is strong. Strong like an iron bar. Does that make sense? Well, it is like the heat is something solid, pushing against me constantly. Sunlight is something which I love, but anyone can have too much of a good thing. I feel like I'm getting a sunburnt leaf.
("I can hear water.") Pikachu's heard something. Oh, a stream, obviously. The question everyone wants to ask is just waiting to be spoken. I'm going to ask it.
("Ash! Let's have a rest, and a swim!") I call out, so Misty at the head of the group might hear as well. Ash looks down at me, so I give him my best softening up look. It always works, he's really soft when it comes to his Pokemon.
"Seconded." Misty calls.
("Thirded") Cyndaquil agrees.
("Fourthded.. ..is that even a word?") Pikachu puts in.
"Stop leaving me out!" Hazel yells, irritated.
"There's a stream or something up ahead, we're thinking of taking a dip. Fancy joining us?" Misty answers. Hazel's reply is a blush. Why?
"Let me guess, something else you forgot includes a bathing suit." Ash hits the nail on the head, judging by the way she darkens further.
"So the only thing you could wear would be your birthday suit." Misty quickly jokes, and I laugh with everyone else.
"It's not funny! I couldn't afford one!" Hazel growls, affronted.
"Ah, we'll see if one of Misty's suits will fit you." Ash suggests, as we continue walking towards the noise, which I can now hear too.
("I hate water.. ..") Cyndaquil moans, shoulders drooping. It's not going to make any difference, he's going in as well, if for no other reason than everyone needs a wash.
"Why couldn't you afford a bathing suit?" Misty asks, pushing a branch away from her face.
"Uh, well, I'd spent the last of my money on clothes and trainers. I overlooked it, 'spose." Fair enough. I'd be hopeless when it comes to money myself.
"Hmmm.. .."Ash makes a thoughtful noise above me, but before I can ask him why, the bushes part to reveal a stream. Looks quite deep to me. Slow- running though, and the water itself is crystal clear. Ideal, since some of us aren't great swimmers. Pikachu is good now, but all that I can manage is doggy paddle. Cyndaquil can do the non-swimmer stroke, namely flailing and splashing wildly.
"Got any more sunscreen?" Misty calls Ash, mindful to top up her sun cover before going in the water.
"Yeah, factor twenty, waterproof." He throws the bottle over. "And some for me." He gets an identical bottle out, for it to warm in the sun while he changes. He says it's a good tactic, as there's nothing worse than sticking cold lotion all over his skin when he's steaming hot. Misty thinks so too. I just wish that Ash and Misty didn't end up rubbing the lotion into each other where they can't reach themselves. Perhaps I should put some on just so Ash can do the same for me!
"I think I'll let my crew out. They need a break, and it's more eyes to keep look out." Out come Psyduck, Seaking, Polytoed, Lapras, Starmie and Lanturn. Misty's group has changed quite a lot, both through evolutions and new arrivals, as well as departures. Togepi, that egg from years ago, ended up evolving. But it became independent of Misty as a result, and she offered him his freedom, since she didn't want to keep him in a Pokeball, but it seemed unfair to keep him tied down to her. He left about eighteen months ago, and I think Misty still misses the little Togepi she used to carry in her arms like he was her baby. Apparently, the Lapras used to be Ash's a long time ago, but he persuaded him to go with Misty, as "She'll be better for you, and you will be for her." I heard that Misty was so stunned she almost lost control of her body and collapsed.
"Same here." Ash releases Feraligator, and two newer additions to his group - Dragonair and Tyranitar. They take one look at the water, and both break for it. I've never worked out how Ash and Misty taught Tyranitar to swim. She should be too heavy, but nope. Why the hell can she swim when I can't?!
("Banzai!") Pikachu screams before hurling herself into the water. Then a much larger scream emerges as bubbles. The thing about this stream, is that it's a mountain stream. So, it's cold, even in summer. And having walked all morning in almost thirty degree heat, it comes as a shock to the system. She re-surfaces looking she's seen hell from the inside.
"I guess I'll give Charlotte a run." A flash from Hazel's direction, and a Charmander emerges, looking a bit dazed. She gazes around for a moment, and sees Hazel next to her, holding her Pokeball. Now she's looking puzzled, but eventually shrugs and gets up. Stretches, looks around again, and runs to hide behind a tree. I think the sight of a dozen high-level and powerful Pokemon nearby is a little hairy.
("A little shy is she? I'll go speak to her.") Cyndaquil says to me before moving over to her.
"Hazel, what size are you?" Ash calls over to Hazel.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, size. Waist, etc, etc." If it was, say, Brock asking that question, I'd be worried. But I trust Ash. She doesn't yet, judging by yet another blush.
"Uhm, about, well you shouldn't ask a girl that question!" She yelps, trying to hide her embarrassment, and failing.
"We just want to know if you could wear something of Misty's. It'd be a shame if you couldn't have a swim."
"I doubt she could Ash. You know I was that size about four years ago. And you know how much I've grown since then." Misty replies, and I think she just did to make the point to him how much she's "grown". She gets like this whenever there's another girl about. Although it is true, now she's bigger, she used to be like a straw. Not to say she's overweight now, Ash said to me that she looks perfect to him (much to my frustration). From my perspective she looks big, but then again everything looks big to me, since I'm about eighteen inches tall.
"Well, I'm sure you two can work it out between you." He digs into his bag, pulls out a pair of azure swim shorts, and paces off to get changed. Wary of the mood between Hazel and Misty, I choose to follow him.
("Ash, why are you leaving those two like that?") I ask, soon as we're out of earshot.
"Why not? Besides, if they want to be catty and hostile, it's their lookout not mine." He pulls off his blue shirt and socks, casts a look around, and then strips off fully before pulling his swim shorts on. "Also, there's something about Hazel that doesn't quite add up to me. Just a few things she's said, and a few things she's missing. But don't say anything to anyone, I'm probably just being paranoid. She's a nice enough girl, isn't she?"
("I suppose. But is she coming with us, or is she leaving?") I enquire. He flashes me a quick smile.
"Pikachu asked me the exact same question this morning. And my answer? Look ahead of me, and say who you see. If Hazel was going anywhere else, she wouldn't have left with us." He fidgets for a moment, then looks down. "And don't laugh, but I've got these on back to front. And I asked you not to laugh."
No matter what anyone says, they can't get Hazel to come in, even fully clothed. It makes no odds to me, one less in the stream results in more peace, especially if it's not her. The Pokemon have spread out up and down stream, both so they can play their games in peace, and also as lookouts for danger or strangers approaching. Well, with the exceptions of Pikachu, Cyndaquil and Chikorita, two of whom are trying to pull the third into the water, the third proving a very determined opponent. Until Chikorita tickles him, and as his grip loosens, she and Pikachu launch him into the water. That's a little cruel. Ash swims over to where he splashed in, a few yards away, and dives under to make sure he's okay. The water has warmed a little in the sun, but it's still a shade below cool.
("Woo hoo!") Pikachu and Chikorita share a high-five as Ash re-surfaces with Cyndaquil perched damply but jauntily on his head.
("I'm going to remember this.. ..") Cyndaquil puffs, before hopping off Ash and back into the water, with the view that if he was wet, he may as well do it properly. It's a good thing he's good at floating, he first started off by panicking which was the worst thing he could do. I taught him to keep his head and spread out, and that he should float if he does that. He's just about got that in his mind, but his swimming stroke is something akin to the thrashing of someone who is drowning. Chikorita is trying to teach him the doggy paddle.
"Misty, we've been in here coming up on forty minutes. Time to slap on some more sun cream." Ash calls over to me, before swimming to the bank and pulling himself out. If I have grown over the years, he definitely has too. We're both around the same height, around five-and-a-half foot. He's not tall for a man, or big. But he's well toned, the way his muscles stood out as he pulled himself out of the water proves that. And well tanned, this way of life agrees with him. I'm staring aren't I?
"Hey Misty, look any harder and you'll lose an eye!" Thank you for that Hazel.
"Now now you two, behave." Ash turns around and offers a hand. "Come on out." I grasp it, feeling the usual blush I always get from him, like someone has turned the heat up somewhere within.
"Awww, now she's blushing. She's so shy, embarrassed she's holding a boys hand.. .." I am going to kill her. I am, slowly and painfully, with exquisite torture.
"Shut it you. And if I remember rightly, weren't you the one who stared at Ash yesterday like he was ice-cream?" Hazel colours, glaring right back at me.
"And I'm not allowed? While some overweight red-head can? Hah, don't make me laugh!" The cutting tone hurts. Badly.
"Overweight? Since when have I been overweight?!" I scream back. There's no way I'm fat. No way.. ..
"You said it yourself, you've "grown", and in more ways than one." Before the statement has even reached my ears I'm heading towards her, hands clenching to fists.
"Take that back, you bitch!" To my delight I see a flicker of fear appear in her previously cocky brown eyes. But she's still defiant.
"Take what back? I don't take anything back if it's true!" She gets to her feet, still facing me as I stop my advance, barely a foot away.
"Why you little..." I growl, and draw my hand back. Where it's grabbed.
"Hey! break it up!" Ash lets go of my hand and imposes himself between us. "There's no need for this! Now, are you two going to stop being malicious, or am I going to have to impose a time out and stand you behind two trees facing away from each other for half an hour until you've calmed down?"
"At least behind a tree I couldn't see her, although her love handles might stick out the sides.. .." Ash rounds on Hazel with a venomous glare.
"Enough! Hazel, if you're going to be with us, you're going to have to be more civil." Her look turns from fierce to pained.
"But I.. .." He raises a hand to silence her.
"And that goes for both of you. I'm not a bone for you two to fight over, so cut it out!" With that he makes for his bottle of sunscreen, and I feel a quick stab of shame. Having to watch his best friend and another young girl fight like a pair of cats in heat as if he wasn't there. Besides, why would he want either of us? One overweight and pale, one waif-like and lonely, both selfish and petty as the other.
"Ahhh, damn it." Hazel mutters, and walks off into the trees without a word to me, and I hear a scrunch of leaves as she sits down behind one. I then turn my head in time to see Chikorita, with an expression of delight on her face, scamper over to Ash to rub some cream into his back. Watched by Pikachu, with an expression of intense frustration at missing a trick. Well, I guess I'll get her to help me with my back instead.. ..
We're almost at the nearest village now, after a little under four days of travelling, now it's late afternoon. I picked up the pace once I realised that the longer we were out in the wilderness, the longer I'd have to act referee to those two. When we reach the village of Cinnamon I can sit them down and we can thrash out some sort of peace treaty, but in the woods there's always somewhere to storm off to. Thankfully, by now, they're so tired at sniping at one another that barely a word is spoken. Hazel has continually poked fun at Misty, calling her "fat" among other things. She is a lot bigger than she used to be, but I think she's just right, I helped her take her measurements for a dress a few weeks back and we were both pretty impressed by the result. Okay, enough drooling Ash. Misty responds by calling Hazel scrawny and idiotic, and using her intelligence to score points. But it seems to fly right over Hazels head, although I think it's more her using her seeming ignorance to pretend the words don't hit home. Result? Misty and Hazel tearing lumps out of each other while each pretending they aren't being affected. It's similar to what used to happen between myself and Misty years ago, only I was calling her scrawny. But this, it's dissimilar in that there's no laugh in the eye, no apologies. I suppose I'm meant to take Misty's side, but if she'd risen above it or been a little more friendly to start off with Hazel this might not be happening. But I'm not taking Hazels side either, since she's a real pain to Misty, without any true incitement that I can see. Hazel, there's a bit of an enigma in her somewhere, she acts like she's dumb and caustic, but from time to time she changes. Just for a second. Last night she showed off her expensive necklace that she got for her birthday, but doesn't wear because it's too big for her right now. I think I need to think about her a little longer.
"Well, we're here." Misty states blankly, voice and expression devoid of emotion.
("Where to first?") Pikachu asks, relief awash in her tone. I'm not the only one caught in the middle.
("Hotel would be the best bet. Check in, then check the town out.") Cyndaquil suggests breezily. He's just about the only one who has put up with the feuding, mostly by avoiding being near them when they're both together. He's had plenty of experience dealing with Pikachu and Chikorita.
"Yeah." Misty agrees. I glance to Hazel, whose eyes of the same colour are closed. She's deciphering what Cyndaquil said to the best she can.
"House would be a more gamble. Look in, then look the town outside." She realises just what she's said as soon as the laughter hits her ears, undeserved compared with how good the effort was. She looks both embarrassed and angry, but is too tired to follow it up. I've been giving her intense tuition on the language for just four days, and she got a fairly close shot at that statement (another thing which is odd for someone so seemingly straightforward). Her frown lifts when Cyndaquil and I give her a supportive smile for the attempt. The rest of the walk to the small hotel is composed entirely of silence. The sort of silence only found at the end of a long journey after the day is done. Everyone too tired to speak, and too absorbed in thoughts of the day which has passed to listen. Cinnamon is, as I thought, little more than a village. A row of shops along one main street with a solitary hotel and Pokemon centre combined, a couple of greengrocers, a few clothes shops, a bank, more pubs than houses, and a number of those odd shops which seem to sell nothing in particular but have lots of old books, china dolls and charm bracelets in the window. Never been in one myself, in case it's a trap or something. A way to lure in the unwary and make them into another shopkeeper to continue the tradition of the anonymous shop in anonymous villages across the world.
"This place is deader than the bottom of the sea." Hazel mutters, and I sort of agree with her.
("Come on, I'm hungry!") Chikorita moans, before picking up her pace and pulling a little ahead of us, making for what looks distinctly like a greasy spoon cafe off to one side of the street, a long window with just off-white net curtain framed by green paint, as is the door, with "Raymond's Cafe" on a sign over the window.
("That makes two of us.") Pikachu agrees with her (for once).
"Tell you all what, I'll go on ahead, try and get a room for us. You go into that cafe over there, and I'll meet you back there." Misty suggests, to murmurs of agreement.
("I'll come with you.") Cyndaquil moves over to her, and they both peel off towards the hotel, which is about ten yards this side of the cafe. The four of us remaining head for the cafe. I reach out and pull down the handle, and step into the cafe, trainers landing on slick, shiny (whether through natural finish or several layers of grease, I don't know) pale-green tiles. Kinda like the tiles which always seem to adorn the floors of schools and public toilets. Mmm, not a thought which inspires appetite. The whole place is empty, about a dozen Formica tables of varying size but all in the same apathetic green shade as the floor, all screwed down, complete with the correct number of red plastic seats for the table size also screwed in place.
"Can I help you?" A middle-aged woman with greying hair tied back and a green tabard on over her white blouse looks at us a little suspiciously. I don't suppose they get many new customers around here.
"Uh, yeah. I'd like a coffee." Hazel calmly replies.
"Make that three coffees, a tea and two hot chocolates. Oh, we've got a couple more people coming." I finish, seeing her making a few sums and coming up short on numbers. "We should be ordering food soon, once they get here."
("Aaaash.. ..") Chikorita moans after hearing she's got to wait.
"No Chikorita, if you start now it's not fair on everyone else. And you'll end up trying to pinch someone's food again, and we know how shirty Pikachu gets when you try it.")
("Right!") Pikachu adds, with a definite look at her as if daring her to try. After grabbing a handful of sugars, milk cartons and stirrers, I pick the only table with six places and slide to the end of a row of three red plastic seats. Instead of sliding in the opposite side, Hazel plants herself firmly in the seat to my right, so I'm stuck between her and the wall. I guess it's my own fault for not offering ladies first. Chikorita and Pikachu hop into the two seats opposite.
"Erm, Ash? Could I pay you back later? I haven't got any cash to hand right now." Hazel gives me an imploring look, and I think why not?
"No problem, I think I've got enough." I open my wallet, and run a quick thumb through the banknotes. Yeah, plenty. Between myself and Misty we've beaten enough tough trainers and worked enough part time jobs to live in comfort for the next few months.
"What's that?" A finger comes into view, pointing to a picture in my wallet. A picture of.. ..
"That's when I was home about three years ago." I remember that day well. Brock, Misty, myself and all my Pokemon having a big midsummer party for me, along with a few family friends.
"Who are those two?" She points to the two people on the right of the picture, one a woman with brown hair and one a boy of about sixteen, both apparently laughing their heads off at the scene before them.
"The woman, that's my mother. Her name is Deliah , and she's what I miss most while out on my travels. The man is Brock, a great friend of mine who settled down last winter after journeying with us for years. I miss him too." Her finger moves across the picture to the foreground, followed by a smothered laugh.
"Yes yes, that's me." A fresh-faced version of me, wearing a red and white cap, jeans and a blue jacket, being literally smothered by Pikachu, Chikorita, Cyndaquil and about five other Pokemon, including a Bulbasaur and Muk. "As you can see, they were kinda happy to see me." Thankfully, she doesn't ask why, just moving her finger on to the last character. Misty, also looking a great deal younger, and it has to be said, a lot like Hazel. She's also smiling. At least it looks like it in the small picture. "Do you have a picture?" She looks taken aback at my question.
"Yeah. You want to see it?" I nod, and she pulls out a wallet. She opens it, and from among the empty card slots she pulls out a picture. In it is a young girl of around nine, and a boy of about twelve, on either end of what looks like a sofa. I'm not sure, because she whips the picture away again quickly and slips it back in her wallet. "That was me, and my friend Mark, a few years ago." She explains, tucking the wallet back into her pocket.
"I see. Get on well did you?" She shrugs.
"More like brother and sister than anything else." The cups arrive at our table, and she grabs one with sheep on and moves to take a mouthful, only to smell that it contains tea. Putting it down, she picks up one with coffee in it, and rips the top off about five sugar sachets, pouring the lot of them into the cup while stirring vigorously.
("Sweet tooth?") Pikachu grins, and I translate for her.
"Yep, all twenty-seven of them in fact." She ignores the milk, and just takes a swig.
("Which one is tea?") Chikorita asks, and I nod to the cup Hazel first picked up in response. I can see Hazel memorising the little things she said and the answer I gave, picking up more words. Sharp.
"What happened to the twenty-eighth?" I ask, curious.
"Ah, um, I tripped up and fell on the way to school once, and banged the side of my face against the edge of a pavement, broke one of the back ones." Without warning she turns to me and pulls her upper lip to one side, displaying a gap where a premolar should have been on the right side of her face.
("Whoah. Some trip.") Pikachu breathes, before reaching for a coffee cup. For a while we just sit in silence, Hazel and Chikorita both seemingly determined to drink theirs first, Pikachu lost in idle thought while I sip at my hot chocolate patiently.
"We're here!" The opening of the café door is followed directly by Misty's voice. She ignores the affronted look the woman in the tabard gives her for making a noise, and makes her way over to the table, Cyndaquil in tow. Unsurprisingly, she chooses the seat next to Pikachu, so Cyndaquil hops up onto the sole remaining place on Hazel's left.
("Got my, oh, here it is.") Cyndaquil spies the hot chocolate and moves over to grasp it, bringing it back to his place.
"And my coffee? Thanks Ash." Misty says, before taking a tentative sip. "Nescafe." She declares solemnly, before having another.
("Don't you usually have sugar in coffee? About six, if I remember rightly.") Pikachu questions, while idly scratching an ear.
"Didn't feel like it." The blunt reply.
"Or maybe you can't afford any more calories?" Hazel mutters. Not quietly enough.
("Well after the amount of sugar you have in your tea, it's not a surprise you haven't got all your teeth left!") Pikachu, fed up of the endless sniping, leaps to Misty's defence, drawing a snigger from Chikorita. Misty doesn't understand what she meant, but is undoubtedly interested.
"What did she say?!" Hazel demands caustically, but I'm not going to tell her. It would be pointless.
"She said 'With the amount of sugar you have in your tea, it's not a surprise you haven't got all your teeth left.'" Misty gives her a derogatory look. "Mind you, you look like you've been in enough scraps already. You've probably got a mouth like a draughts board." Hazel leans back into me, and for the first time that I can remember, seems really shaken.
"Screw you! What do you know? You don't know me, so back off!" She presses herself further back against me, and one hand grasps my arm so tightly her knuckles turn white.
"Then do me the favour of not being a little bitch twenty-four seven, and give me some respect. If you don't, you'll have the pleasure of not living to regret it. Although it's not like you've got a lot to live for." I've had enough of this, it has to stop.
"Like you?" Hazel cuts in before I can speak, her body turning rigid against my own. "Why should I respect you? Born into the silver spoon, raised like a princess, and you go and run away because you can't emulate your sisters, then hitch-hike your way through life for years on someone else's back!" Everyone else around the table looks utterly stunned, Misty angry too. This has to stop! I would talk with Misty now, but I can feel Hazel push into me yet harder, physically shaking. Shaking like a leaf on the autumn breeze, and she won't be able to wait.
"Misty, take the others back. Please." She rounds on me, seething.
"You mean I should walk away after taking that from this little.this little whore?!" I bite back my own snarl.
"Yes. I'll come to you soon. But I can't have you both doing this! Have you noticed what it's doing to the rest of us?" Her aqua eyes lose a little of their intensity as they flick to the astonished faces of Pikachu and Cyndaquil, and to the upset one of Chikorita. Eventually she wordlessly accedes, just sliding off her seat wordlessly, trailed solemnly by the three Pokemon, all leaving their drinks almost untouched. I let them all exit, and then give the woman who'd come out to see what the fuss was about a definite "push off" glance. Slowly, once all is quiet, I slide Hazel around to face me. Her eyes are screwed up like a newborn puppies, nails digging crescents into her palms. Eventually, I put a hand to her shoulder, and speak with utmost care. "Hazel, it's okay, they've gone now. It's just us two." A solitary eye opens, then the other. But they're fighting to hold back tears.
"Ash, I.I.." She closes both eyes again, failing to stop a single tear escaping each one. Angrily she puts her face in her hands, attempting to conceal them.
"Hey, it's okay to cry, really." I reassure her. She shakes her head.
"No it's not, it's weakness. But I'm strong! I won't cry." She lifts her face from her hands, and sniffles a little, eyes damp and edged by pink.
"What was all that about?" As soon as I ask she averts her gaze to the window, but I doggedly continue. "Come on Hazel, that wasn't a little tiff, that was serious. What made you say things like that?" She doesn't look at me, answering in a dull tone.
"I'd had enough of it. I couldn't stand any more of her talking down to me." This doesn't add up. No way. But I can't get the truth from her now. All I can do is make peace.
"You know that this can't go on. You're going to have to be more civil to Misty. There's two sides to an argument, you have to stop winding her up." I hold up a hand as she moves to protest. "And don't insult both of us by claiming innocence, as it's true. Now I'm going to speak to Misty now, and tell her the same things. If you both keep going the way you are now, one of you is going to have to leave." She just pauses, before nodding silently. "You okay?" A sniffle, and a cough.
"Yeah."
"Right, let's get to the hotel room, and cool off with a shower. After you." She slides off the row off seats, and I follow her. Before leaving, I give the woman stood in the kitchen having a chat to the cook a wink, and pop a ten pound note on the counter. "And keep the change!" I call over my shoulder, before following Hazel out onto the street.
That's all for now, see you next time!
Disclaimer - I do not own Pokemon, or any of the characters in this fiction, except Hazel. I wish I did, oh boy do I wish!
Well, here goes again.
Where the River Flows - Chapter II
2.30AM, July 22nd. Everyone seems to tell me that failure is nothing to be ashamed of, I tried and tried, but right now I'm not cut out for this. They say that you only learn from your mistakes. They repeat time and time again that life isn't over, it isn't the end of the world. But for me, for me it is. Because I've always known, known what they thought I didn't. That failure is for the weak. Who remembers the valiant loser? It's never written in the record books "And so-and-so came a tight second, fighting against the odds to the very end." The one who was once my best friend reminded me once that the reason he was no longer was because I'm weak. My family history is composed of triumphs, never a mention of the endless pitfalls encountered in life. Maybe there'll be time in the future, maybe there'll be a reprieve and I'll go on to my dreams. Or maybe the horse has bolted, the door shut, the case closed. Maybe I'll never find out, not see the future given to me. It's a choice which is always there, sitting on my shoulder, covering me in a shroud. Why am I crying? My tears are a waste, I should've used the energies to help myself, not in useless despair after the fact. I don't know why the other two are still with me, one looks like leaving, she doesn't have time for me any more. I don't see why she should, we got off badly in the first place. It seems so long past. Oh, god, I've just woken someone up, I can hear them moving towards me, I don't want to be seen like this but I can't stop sobbing, just writing and crying, writing an obituary to a life wasted...
I may be naive, but even I can see that no-one here is sleeping well. Ash is murmuring something about someone or other, and keeps on shifting, tossing and turning like he's been tied up. Pikachu is sparkling with energy and impatience. That sparkling was what woke me earlier. Chikorita is squeaking "Ash!" Over and over. She's told me she's got a recurring nightmare of Ash leaving us, and right now she's smack in the middle of it. The new girl is almost crying, she looks like she's trying to escape. I don't know what from, but she's going to wake everyone else up at this rate. Misty.... is looking at me. When did she wake up?
("Misty, what's up?") I whisper, shuffling over to her.
"Nothing, I'm fine thanks." She sounds odd to me. Like she's got a blocked throat, impaired by the words she's afraid to say.
("....I don't think so.") I take the chance to examine her again. Her eyes are without their usual effervescence, almost pale.
"I am, thank you for asking." She sighs and settles back as if to sleep, but that sigh isn't even fooling me. It's not saying "I'm tired" it's screaming "I'm upset."
("Yeah, right. Come on, you can tell me.") Silence. ("Where is this going to get you? If you want me to promise secrecy, I'll do it.") More silence. I think I'll be pragmatic about this, go back to my place and get the rest of the forty winks I'm due tonight.
"I'm just a bit tense." Well, maybe not. Misty rolls over and props herself up on one elbow, white nightgown hanging loosely in contrast to her tense shoulders, as I plonk myself down by her, trying not to yawn. "It's life catching up with me I guess, I've been avoiding it too long. I'm just thinking about my exam, what do I do if I fail? This far in life I've followed a path, and I'm about to find my own, but what if I find it blocked?" There is an edge of fear, slowly building like an evening shadow, in her voice. I move closer to her, just to let her know I'm here.
("So, what you're saying is, you're scared about your exams, in case you fail.") A bit simplified I know, but I think the best thing to do is realise exactly what you're trying to say, not skirt it like it's a puddle, using metaphors and imagination.
"Yes." The tone wavers, losing balance. "I mean, if I get them, I get in. But what if I don't? I can't see myself working as a waitress for years and years earning a five an hour, or sitting in an office filing faceless numbers. I don't know." Again the wobble, now more pronounced. "But at the same time, it's not my only problem, as there's two sides to the coin...." In the dim light of the summer night, I see her fear in a single tear. It just runs down her face, and she swipes at it irritably. She's always been afraid of displaying weakness.
("Why are you worrying? You're really good, and you'll keep getting better.") I inject as much calm into my reply as possible, sensing her need for it.
"But what if I'm not cut out for this? Am I good enough? I don't know, it seems like I haven't got a hope!" She's sobbing gently now, so I mimic what Ash would do by snuggling into her. I just let her calm down for a few moments, before speaking again.
("It wouldn't be the end of the world Misty. You're a talented woman, how many times have we all come through scrapes together? Everyone has a crisis now and then, but if anyone is strong enough to come though one it's you.") I think I'm getting to her, as she relaxes a little and sniffles.
"Thank you Cyndaquil. I'm sorry I've got you up at this time of night, listening to me whimper." She sniffs again, reaching up to wipe her eyes. "God, I feel like such a fool."
("Hey, it's no prob-") Cue a massive yawn, which erupts from me without a moments warning. ("-lem") She giggles a little.
"You sure do have a big mouth when you're tired."
("So do you, as it happens!") Her eyes narrow a little at me, a look I reflect. Until we both break into smiles.
"I guess we're even then." She reaches out and scratches me between the eyes, and it's almost enough to send me to sleep on the spot.
("Well, if you're feeling better, how about we finish our night's rest?") Another huge yawn from me adds sentiment to my words. She laughs a little, before nodding and easing herself down until she's laying languidly once again. I find myself going out like a light, and before I can think of resisting sleep envelops me with the ease of mist. I think I hear Misty mutter something, just as the world leaves consciousness.
"But the coin will have to land with one face down...."
Back on my feet again, eyes open to the real world. I hate sleep, at the moment it's more tiring than being awake. Dreams don't have rules, and sometimes they don't have conscience either. I'm currently looking into a hand mirror, seeing brown eyes looking back. That scratch I picked up on my cheek due to the holly bush yesterday isn't showing up much, thank god. I'm not vain, but I can't see the problem with looking the best I can with whatever I've got. In this case, a round-necked purple skinny rib top proclaiming "babe" to the world, and denim trousers. Being messy can be more annoying than the cleaning up is. Misty and Ash both look scraggly, but they carry it well. Well, I think Ash does. I was amazed by the tales which went on last night. I didn't realise Ash and Misty got off so badly in the first place. And stories so bizarre and ridiculous that they just had to be true. I couldn't help feeling angry for a lot of things, that I was kept back for three years when I could have been living this life, that I'd not seen these events, hell, that I'm not Ash or Misty. She seems tense, perhaps it's my presence?
"Hazel, we're going in ten, so get yourself prepared." She calls over to me, before returning attention to her backpack. Why I don't know, it's obvious I'm all set. They can say what they like about my choice of bag and possessions, but they haven't got anything on me when it comes to being able to pack and go fast.
"I'm the only one who isn't rushing around like a blue-arsed fly." I call back, with lots of sarcasm. Misty just looks to the sky, and I can see her counting to ten. Pikachu hops past, having fetched water for our drink bottles and to pour over the dead fire. Ash said it's better to be safe than sorry, as he doesn't want a forest fire because of him.
"Okay! Sleeping stuff, check. Canteens full, check. No litter lying free? Check. Fire out? Check. Bag and equipment secure? Check. Yep, I'm all set." Ash talks to himself quietly, before hoisting his bag onto his back with a big stagger. It is one huge bag, I'll say that. Chikorita hops to him and says something, and he crouches down to her and mumbles back, before giving her a quick pat. I have to get him to teach me the way their language works.
"Ash, we're going to have to get to a centre. I've worn everything about five times by now." Ash walks past me to Misty, who is closing up her backpack, and helps her lift it onto her back. "And your clothes are starting to get a bit the worse for wear too. That shirt smells like a skunks posing pouch!" She adds snidely, with a grin.
"Well, at least it keeps the bugs away." He answers calmly, but with his own smile. I can tell this is a conversation which has been spoken so many times that the actors can do it without thought. Once again I get that wish to be a part of the script. So, typical of me, I chance my arm.
"I think the noise of your getting ready has emptied the forest already." For a horrible moment, there's silence staring harshly back at me.
"Yeah, I always told you to keep your noise down!" Misty grins at the opening. Yes! Yay me!
"Hey, you're the cluttered one around here, not me." The cool reply. Chikorita adds something, which leads to a look of anger on Misty's face. Another thought strikes me, and I step forwards, casting a harsh look at my watch.
"By the way you guys, weren't we supposed to be going somewhere?" The whole group face-fault, and I feel another wave of happiness, just for being noticed.
"Yeah, well, let's go then." Ash consults a map, and a compass. "Right, this way." He points back past me, and as a group, we move off into the undergrowth. Misty pushes ahead, Cyndaquil beside her. I pick up Pikachu mumbling to Ash behind me. His reply is a little confusing -
"Well, look ahead of me, and say who you see."
The sun is strong. Strong like an iron bar. Does that make sense? Well, it is like the heat is something solid, pushing against me constantly. Sunlight is something which I love, but anyone can have too much of a good thing. I feel like I'm getting a sunburnt leaf.
("I can hear water.") Pikachu's heard something. Oh, a stream, obviously. The question everyone wants to ask is just waiting to be spoken. I'm going to ask it.
("Ash! Let's have a rest, and a swim!") I call out, so Misty at the head of the group might hear as well. Ash looks down at me, so I give him my best softening up look. It always works, he's really soft when it comes to his Pokemon.
"Seconded." Misty calls.
("Thirded") Cyndaquil agrees.
("Fourthded.. ..is that even a word?") Pikachu puts in.
"Stop leaving me out!" Hazel yells, irritated.
"There's a stream or something up ahead, we're thinking of taking a dip. Fancy joining us?" Misty answers. Hazel's reply is a blush. Why?
"Let me guess, something else you forgot includes a bathing suit." Ash hits the nail on the head, judging by the way she darkens further.
"So the only thing you could wear would be your birthday suit." Misty quickly jokes, and I laugh with everyone else.
"It's not funny! I couldn't afford one!" Hazel growls, affronted.
"Ah, we'll see if one of Misty's suits will fit you." Ash suggests, as we continue walking towards the noise, which I can now hear too.
("I hate water.. ..") Cyndaquil moans, shoulders drooping. It's not going to make any difference, he's going in as well, if for no other reason than everyone needs a wash.
"Why couldn't you afford a bathing suit?" Misty asks, pushing a branch away from her face.
"Uh, well, I'd spent the last of my money on clothes and trainers. I overlooked it, 'spose." Fair enough. I'd be hopeless when it comes to money myself.
"Hmmm.. .."Ash makes a thoughtful noise above me, but before I can ask him why, the bushes part to reveal a stream. Looks quite deep to me. Slow- running though, and the water itself is crystal clear. Ideal, since some of us aren't great swimmers. Pikachu is good now, but all that I can manage is doggy paddle. Cyndaquil can do the non-swimmer stroke, namely flailing and splashing wildly.
"Got any more sunscreen?" Misty calls Ash, mindful to top up her sun cover before going in the water.
"Yeah, factor twenty, waterproof." He throws the bottle over. "And some for me." He gets an identical bottle out, for it to warm in the sun while he changes. He says it's a good tactic, as there's nothing worse than sticking cold lotion all over his skin when he's steaming hot. Misty thinks so too. I just wish that Ash and Misty didn't end up rubbing the lotion into each other where they can't reach themselves. Perhaps I should put some on just so Ash can do the same for me!
"I think I'll let my crew out. They need a break, and it's more eyes to keep look out." Out come Psyduck, Seaking, Polytoed, Lapras, Starmie and Lanturn. Misty's group has changed quite a lot, both through evolutions and new arrivals, as well as departures. Togepi, that egg from years ago, ended up evolving. But it became independent of Misty as a result, and she offered him his freedom, since she didn't want to keep him in a Pokeball, but it seemed unfair to keep him tied down to her. He left about eighteen months ago, and I think Misty still misses the little Togepi she used to carry in her arms like he was her baby. Apparently, the Lapras used to be Ash's a long time ago, but he persuaded him to go with Misty, as "She'll be better for you, and you will be for her." I heard that Misty was so stunned she almost lost control of her body and collapsed.
"Same here." Ash releases Feraligator, and two newer additions to his group - Dragonair and Tyranitar. They take one look at the water, and both break for it. I've never worked out how Ash and Misty taught Tyranitar to swim. She should be too heavy, but nope. Why the hell can she swim when I can't?!
("Banzai!") Pikachu screams before hurling herself into the water. Then a much larger scream emerges as bubbles. The thing about this stream, is that it's a mountain stream. So, it's cold, even in summer. And having walked all morning in almost thirty degree heat, it comes as a shock to the system. She re-surfaces looking she's seen hell from the inside.
"I guess I'll give Charlotte a run." A flash from Hazel's direction, and a Charmander emerges, looking a bit dazed. She gazes around for a moment, and sees Hazel next to her, holding her Pokeball. Now she's looking puzzled, but eventually shrugs and gets up. Stretches, looks around again, and runs to hide behind a tree. I think the sight of a dozen high-level and powerful Pokemon nearby is a little hairy.
("A little shy is she? I'll go speak to her.") Cyndaquil says to me before moving over to her.
"Hazel, what size are you?" Ash calls over to Hazel.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, size. Waist, etc, etc." If it was, say, Brock asking that question, I'd be worried. But I trust Ash. She doesn't yet, judging by yet another blush.
"Uhm, about, well you shouldn't ask a girl that question!" She yelps, trying to hide her embarrassment, and failing.
"We just want to know if you could wear something of Misty's. It'd be a shame if you couldn't have a swim."
"I doubt she could Ash. You know I was that size about four years ago. And you know how much I've grown since then." Misty replies, and I think she just did to make the point to him how much she's "grown". She gets like this whenever there's another girl about. Although it is true, now she's bigger, she used to be like a straw. Not to say she's overweight now, Ash said to me that she looks perfect to him (much to my frustration). From my perspective she looks big, but then again everything looks big to me, since I'm about eighteen inches tall.
"Well, I'm sure you two can work it out between you." He digs into his bag, pulls out a pair of azure swim shorts, and paces off to get changed. Wary of the mood between Hazel and Misty, I choose to follow him.
("Ash, why are you leaving those two like that?") I ask, soon as we're out of earshot.
"Why not? Besides, if they want to be catty and hostile, it's their lookout not mine." He pulls off his blue shirt and socks, casts a look around, and then strips off fully before pulling his swim shorts on. "Also, there's something about Hazel that doesn't quite add up to me. Just a few things she's said, and a few things she's missing. But don't say anything to anyone, I'm probably just being paranoid. She's a nice enough girl, isn't she?"
("I suppose. But is she coming with us, or is she leaving?") I enquire. He flashes me a quick smile.
"Pikachu asked me the exact same question this morning. And my answer? Look ahead of me, and say who you see. If Hazel was going anywhere else, she wouldn't have left with us." He fidgets for a moment, then looks down. "And don't laugh, but I've got these on back to front. And I asked you not to laugh."
No matter what anyone says, they can't get Hazel to come in, even fully clothed. It makes no odds to me, one less in the stream results in more peace, especially if it's not her. The Pokemon have spread out up and down stream, both so they can play their games in peace, and also as lookouts for danger or strangers approaching. Well, with the exceptions of Pikachu, Cyndaquil and Chikorita, two of whom are trying to pull the third into the water, the third proving a very determined opponent. Until Chikorita tickles him, and as his grip loosens, she and Pikachu launch him into the water. That's a little cruel. Ash swims over to where he splashed in, a few yards away, and dives under to make sure he's okay. The water has warmed a little in the sun, but it's still a shade below cool.
("Woo hoo!") Pikachu and Chikorita share a high-five as Ash re-surfaces with Cyndaquil perched damply but jauntily on his head.
("I'm going to remember this.. ..") Cyndaquil puffs, before hopping off Ash and back into the water, with the view that if he was wet, he may as well do it properly. It's a good thing he's good at floating, he first started off by panicking which was the worst thing he could do. I taught him to keep his head and spread out, and that he should float if he does that. He's just about got that in his mind, but his swimming stroke is something akin to the thrashing of someone who is drowning. Chikorita is trying to teach him the doggy paddle.
"Misty, we've been in here coming up on forty minutes. Time to slap on some more sun cream." Ash calls over to me, before swimming to the bank and pulling himself out. If I have grown over the years, he definitely has too. We're both around the same height, around five-and-a-half foot. He's not tall for a man, or big. But he's well toned, the way his muscles stood out as he pulled himself out of the water proves that. And well tanned, this way of life agrees with him. I'm staring aren't I?
"Hey Misty, look any harder and you'll lose an eye!" Thank you for that Hazel.
"Now now you two, behave." Ash turns around and offers a hand. "Come on out." I grasp it, feeling the usual blush I always get from him, like someone has turned the heat up somewhere within.
"Awww, now she's blushing. She's so shy, embarrassed she's holding a boys hand.. .." I am going to kill her. I am, slowly and painfully, with exquisite torture.
"Shut it you. And if I remember rightly, weren't you the one who stared at Ash yesterday like he was ice-cream?" Hazel colours, glaring right back at me.
"And I'm not allowed? While some overweight red-head can? Hah, don't make me laugh!" The cutting tone hurts. Badly.
"Overweight? Since when have I been overweight?!" I scream back. There's no way I'm fat. No way.. ..
"You said it yourself, you've "grown", and in more ways than one." Before the statement has even reached my ears I'm heading towards her, hands clenching to fists.
"Take that back, you bitch!" To my delight I see a flicker of fear appear in her previously cocky brown eyes. But she's still defiant.
"Take what back? I don't take anything back if it's true!" She gets to her feet, still facing me as I stop my advance, barely a foot away.
"Why you little..." I growl, and draw my hand back. Where it's grabbed.
"Hey! break it up!" Ash lets go of my hand and imposes himself between us. "There's no need for this! Now, are you two going to stop being malicious, or am I going to have to impose a time out and stand you behind two trees facing away from each other for half an hour until you've calmed down?"
"At least behind a tree I couldn't see her, although her love handles might stick out the sides.. .." Ash rounds on Hazel with a venomous glare.
"Enough! Hazel, if you're going to be with us, you're going to have to be more civil." Her look turns from fierce to pained.
"But I.. .." He raises a hand to silence her.
"And that goes for both of you. I'm not a bone for you two to fight over, so cut it out!" With that he makes for his bottle of sunscreen, and I feel a quick stab of shame. Having to watch his best friend and another young girl fight like a pair of cats in heat as if he wasn't there. Besides, why would he want either of us? One overweight and pale, one waif-like and lonely, both selfish and petty as the other.
"Ahhh, damn it." Hazel mutters, and walks off into the trees without a word to me, and I hear a scrunch of leaves as she sits down behind one. I then turn my head in time to see Chikorita, with an expression of delight on her face, scamper over to Ash to rub some cream into his back. Watched by Pikachu, with an expression of intense frustration at missing a trick. Well, I guess I'll get her to help me with my back instead.. ..
We're almost at the nearest village now, after a little under four days of travelling, now it's late afternoon. I picked up the pace once I realised that the longer we were out in the wilderness, the longer I'd have to act referee to those two. When we reach the village of Cinnamon I can sit them down and we can thrash out some sort of peace treaty, but in the woods there's always somewhere to storm off to. Thankfully, by now, they're so tired at sniping at one another that barely a word is spoken. Hazel has continually poked fun at Misty, calling her "fat" among other things. She is a lot bigger than she used to be, but I think she's just right, I helped her take her measurements for a dress a few weeks back and we were both pretty impressed by the result. Okay, enough drooling Ash. Misty responds by calling Hazel scrawny and idiotic, and using her intelligence to score points. But it seems to fly right over Hazels head, although I think it's more her using her seeming ignorance to pretend the words don't hit home. Result? Misty and Hazel tearing lumps out of each other while each pretending they aren't being affected. It's similar to what used to happen between myself and Misty years ago, only I was calling her scrawny. But this, it's dissimilar in that there's no laugh in the eye, no apologies. I suppose I'm meant to take Misty's side, but if she'd risen above it or been a little more friendly to start off with Hazel this might not be happening. But I'm not taking Hazels side either, since she's a real pain to Misty, without any true incitement that I can see. Hazel, there's a bit of an enigma in her somewhere, she acts like she's dumb and caustic, but from time to time she changes. Just for a second. Last night she showed off her expensive necklace that she got for her birthday, but doesn't wear because it's too big for her right now. I think I need to think about her a little longer.
"Well, we're here." Misty states blankly, voice and expression devoid of emotion.
("Where to first?") Pikachu asks, relief awash in her tone. I'm not the only one caught in the middle.
("Hotel would be the best bet. Check in, then check the town out.") Cyndaquil suggests breezily. He's just about the only one who has put up with the feuding, mostly by avoiding being near them when they're both together. He's had plenty of experience dealing with Pikachu and Chikorita.
"Yeah." Misty agrees. I glance to Hazel, whose eyes of the same colour are closed. She's deciphering what Cyndaquil said to the best she can.
"House would be a more gamble. Look in, then look the town outside." She realises just what she's said as soon as the laughter hits her ears, undeserved compared with how good the effort was. She looks both embarrassed and angry, but is too tired to follow it up. I've been giving her intense tuition on the language for just four days, and she got a fairly close shot at that statement (another thing which is odd for someone so seemingly straightforward). Her frown lifts when Cyndaquil and I give her a supportive smile for the attempt. The rest of the walk to the small hotel is composed entirely of silence. The sort of silence only found at the end of a long journey after the day is done. Everyone too tired to speak, and too absorbed in thoughts of the day which has passed to listen. Cinnamon is, as I thought, little more than a village. A row of shops along one main street with a solitary hotel and Pokemon centre combined, a couple of greengrocers, a few clothes shops, a bank, more pubs than houses, and a number of those odd shops which seem to sell nothing in particular but have lots of old books, china dolls and charm bracelets in the window. Never been in one myself, in case it's a trap or something. A way to lure in the unwary and make them into another shopkeeper to continue the tradition of the anonymous shop in anonymous villages across the world.
"This place is deader than the bottom of the sea." Hazel mutters, and I sort of agree with her.
("Come on, I'm hungry!") Chikorita moans, before picking up her pace and pulling a little ahead of us, making for what looks distinctly like a greasy spoon cafe off to one side of the street, a long window with just off-white net curtain framed by green paint, as is the door, with "Raymond's Cafe" on a sign over the window.
("That makes two of us.") Pikachu agrees with her (for once).
"Tell you all what, I'll go on ahead, try and get a room for us. You go into that cafe over there, and I'll meet you back there." Misty suggests, to murmurs of agreement.
("I'll come with you.") Cyndaquil moves over to her, and they both peel off towards the hotel, which is about ten yards this side of the cafe. The four of us remaining head for the cafe. I reach out and pull down the handle, and step into the cafe, trainers landing on slick, shiny (whether through natural finish or several layers of grease, I don't know) pale-green tiles. Kinda like the tiles which always seem to adorn the floors of schools and public toilets. Mmm, not a thought which inspires appetite. The whole place is empty, about a dozen Formica tables of varying size but all in the same apathetic green shade as the floor, all screwed down, complete with the correct number of red plastic seats for the table size also screwed in place.
"Can I help you?" A middle-aged woman with greying hair tied back and a green tabard on over her white blouse looks at us a little suspiciously. I don't suppose they get many new customers around here.
"Uh, yeah. I'd like a coffee." Hazel calmly replies.
"Make that three coffees, a tea and two hot chocolates. Oh, we've got a couple more people coming." I finish, seeing her making a few sums and coming up short on numbers. "We should be ordering food soon, once they get here."
("Aaaash.. ..") Chikorita moans after hearing she's got to wait.
"No Chikorita, if you start now it's not fair on everyone else. And you'll end up trying to pinch someone's food again, and we know how shirty Pikachu gets when you try it.")
("Right!") Pikachu adds, with a definite look at her as if daring her to try. After grabbing a handful of sugars, milk cartons and stirrers, I pick the only table with six places and slide to the end of a row of three red plastic seats. Instead of sliding in the opposite side, Hazel plants herself firmly in the seat to my right, so I'm stuck between her and the wall. I guess it's my own fault for not offering ladies first. Chikorita and Pikachu hop into the two seats opposite.
"Erm, Ash? Could I pay you back later? I haven't got any cash to hand right now." Hazel gives me an imploring look, and I think why not?
"No problem, I think I've got enough." I open my wallet, and run a quick thumb through the banknotes. Yeah, plenty. Between myself and Misty we've beaten enough tough trainers and worked enough part time jobs to live in comfort for the next few months.
"What's that?" A finger comes into view, pointing to a picture in my wallet. A picture of.. ..
"That's when I was home about three years ago." I remember that day well. Brock, Misty, myself and all my Pokemon having a big midsummer party for me, along with a few family friends.
"Who are those two?" She points to the two people on the right of the picture, one a woman with brown hair and one a boy of about sixteen, both apparently laughing their heads off at the scene before them.
"The woman, that's my mother. Her name is Deliah , and she's what I miss most while out on my travels. The man is Brock, a great friend of mine who settled down last winter after journeying with us for years. I miss him too." Her finger moves across the picture to the foreground, followed by a smothered laugh.
"Yes yes, that's me." A fresh-faced version of me, wearing a red and white cap, jeans and a blue jacket, being literally smothered by Pikachu, Chikorita, Cyndaquil and about five other Pokemon, including a Bulbasaur and Muk. "As you can see, they were kinda happy to see me." Thankfully, she doesn't ask why, just moving her finger on to the last character. Misty, also looking a great deal younger, and it has to be said, a lot like Hazel. She's also smiling. At least it looks like it in the small picture. "Do you have a picture?" She looks taken aback at my question.
"Yeah. You want to see it?" I nod, and she pulls out a wallet. She opens it, and from among the empty card slots she pulls out a picture. In it is a young girl of around nine, and a boy of about twelve, on either end of what looks like a sofa. I'm not sure, because she whips the picture away again quickly and slips it back in her wallet. "That was me, and my friend Mark, a few years ago." She explains, tucking the wallet back into her pocket.
"I see. Get on well did you?" She shrugs.
"More like brother and sister than anything else." The cups arrive at our table, and she grabs one with sheep on and moves to take a mouthful, only to smell that it contains tea. Putting it down, she picks up one with coffee in it, and rips the top off about five sugar sachets, pouring the lot of them into the cup while stirring vigorously.
("Sweet tooth?") Pikachu grins, and I translate for her.
"Yep, all twenty-seven of them in fact." She ignores the milk, and just takes a swig.
("Which one is tea?") Chikorita asks, and I nod to the cup Hazel first picked up in response. I can see Hazel memorising the little things she said and the answer I gave, picking up more words. Sharp.
"What happened to the twenty-eighth?" I ask, curious.
"Ah, um, I tripped up and fell on the way to school once, and banged the side of my face against the edge of a pavement, broke one of the back ones." Without warning she turns to me and pulls her upper lip to one side, displaying a gap where a premolar should have been on the right side of her face.
("Whoah. Some trip.") Pikachu breathes, before reaching for a coffee cup. For a while we just sit in silence, Hazel and Chikorita both seemingly determined to drink theirs first, Pikachu lost in idle thought while I sip at my hot chocolate patiently.
"We're here!" The opening of the café door is followed directly by Misty's voice. She ignores the affronted look the woman in the tabard gives her for making a noise, and makes her way over to the table, Cyndaquil in tow. Unsurprisingly, she chooses the seat next to Pikachu, so Cyndaquil hops up onto the sole remaining place on Hazel's left.
("Got my, oh, here it is.") Cyndaquil spies the hot chocolate and moves over to grasp it, bringing it back to his place.
"And my coffee? Thanks Ash." Misty says, before taking a tentative sip. "Nescafe." She declares solemnly, before having another.
("Don't you usually have sugar in coffee? About six, if I remember rightly.") Pikachu questions, while idly scratching an ear.
"Didn't feel like it." The blunt reply.
"Or maybe you can't afford any more calories?" Hazel mutters. Not quietly enough.
("Well after the amount of sugar you have in your tea, it's not a surprise you haven't got all your teeth left!") Pikachu, fed up of the endless sniping, leaps to Misty's defence, drawing a snigger from Chikorita. Misty doesn't understand what she meant, but is undoubtedly interested.
"What did she say?!" Hazel demands caustically, but I'm not going to tell her. It would be pointless.
"She said 'With the amount of sugar you have in your tea, it's not a surprise you haven't got all your teeth left.'" Misty gives her a derogatory look. "Mind you, you look like you've been in enough scraps already. You've probably got a mouth like a draughts board." Hazel leans back into me, and for the first time that I can remember, seems really shaken.
"Screw you! What do you know? You don't know me, so back off!" She presses herself further back against me, and one hand grasps my arm so tightly her knuckles turn white.
"Then do me the favour of not being a little bitch twenty-four seven, and give me some respect. If you don't, you'll have the pleasure of not living to regret it. Although it's not like you've got a lot to live for." I've had enough of this, it has to stop.
"Like you?" Hazel cuts in before I can speak, her body turning rigid against my own. "Why should I respect you? Born into the silver spoon, raised like a princess, and you go and run away because you can't emulate your sisters, then hitch-hike your way through life for years on someone else's back!" Everyone else around the table looks utterly stunned, Misty angry too. This has to stop! I would talk with Misty now, but I can feel Hazel push into me yet harder, physically shaking. Shaking like a leaf on the autumn breeze, and she won't be able to wait.
"Misty, take the others back. Please." She rounds on me, seething.
"You mean I should walk away after taking that from this little.this little whore?!" I bite back my own snarl.
"Yes. I'll come to you soon. But I can't have you both doing this! Have you noticed what it's doing to the rest of us?" Her aqua eyes lose a little of their intensity as they flick to the astonished faces of Pikachu and Cyndaquil, and to the upset one of Chikorita. Eventually she wordlessly accedes, just sliding off her seat wordlessly, trailed solemnly by the three Pokemon, all leaving their drinks almost untouched. I let them all exit, and then give the woman who'd come out to see what the fuss was about a definite "push off" glance. Slowly, once all is quiet, I slide Hazel around to face me. Her eyes are screwed up like a newborn puppies, nails digging crescents into her palms. Eventually, I put a hand to her shoulder, and speak with utmost care. "Hazel, it's okay, they've gone now. It's just us two." A solitary eye opens, then the other. But they're fighting to hold back tears.
"Ash, I.I.." She closes both eyes again, failing to stop a single tear escaping each one. Angrily she puts her face in her hands, attempting to conceal them.
"Hey, it's okay to cry, really." I reassure her. She shakes her head.
"No it's not, it's weakness. But I'm strong! I won't cry." She lifts her face from her hands, and sniffles a little, eyes damp and edged by pink.
"What was all that about?" As soon as I ask she averts her gaze to the window, but I doggedly continue. "Come on Hazel, that wasn't a little tiff, that was serious. What made you say things like that?" She doesn't look at me, answering in a dull tone.
"I'd had enough of it. I couldn't stand any more of her talking down to me." This doesn't add up. No way. But I can't get the truth from her now. All I can do is make peace.
"You know that this can't go on. You're going to have to be more civil to Misty. There's two sides to an argument, you have to stop winding her up." I hold up a hand as she moves to protest. "And don't insult both of us by claiming innocence, as it's true. Now I'm going to speak to Misty now, and tell her the same things. If you both keep going the way you are now, one of you is going to have to leave." She just pauses, before nodding silently. "You okay?" A sniffle, and a cough.
"Yeah."
"Right, let's get to the hotel room, and cool off with a shower. After you." She slides off the row off seats, and I follow her. Before leaving, I give the woman stood in the kitchen having a chat to the cook a wink, and pop a ten pound note on the counter. "And keep the change!" I call over my shoulder, before following Hazel out onto the street.
That's all for now, see you next time!