Chapter 12
License To Cockfight
(-¤-)
We had rode for a solid two hours after entering 'Tripping Balls Woods' and came out of it fairly quickly. The rest of the trip to Sand Gem was actually quite pleasant.
Rolling hills lush with wild flower and dotted with trees surrounded us in all directions, the occasional quaint house sat in the distance, each at the end of long twisting paths. Starly flew over head in the cloudless sky, each one swimming through the endless blue like koi in streams. The occasional bidoof roaming through the pastel blossoms would raise their heads to see us passing by.
The wind carried the aromatic scent of pollen and ever green pine. It splashed into the hills in waves, playing with the wild grains and reaching leaves of the grasses all around.
The hard dirt under my tires had been packed down and flattened by countless travelers over the many years it had been around. The grass, now shooting up stalks in the presence of spring, poured over the edges of route 202, attempting their yearly take over of the bare trodden soil. It would ultimately fall to the ever present human element, to quiet towns folk and racing trainers.
The wind was in my hair and the fire of my determination blazing within me had been somewhat cooled by the peace. This world really was beautiful, its no wonder Ash had never settled back down in pallet. I had barely seen any of this single region, just a handfull of towns and forests, and wanderlust had gripped at my heart like a vice. I don't think I'll ever stop exploring this planet, its just too breathtaking.
As we rounded a hill Sand Gem Town finally came into view. The little idyllic houses nestled into the hillocks seemed like they were a natural feature of the land, as if the sleepy community had always been here. A forest raced along the farside of town, a bulwark of emerald foliage and defiant oaks stopping any of mans progress in its tracks.
Luke poured on more speed, his sedate pace of 30 mph now boosted to a blistering 50. He was just as eager as me to get to town it seems. The board underneath my feet wobbled and rattled, but held strong against the harsh forces at work. With our new velocity we made it to the towns edge in just under a minute. I called to him to slow down. No need for a Jenny to pull us over so close to our goal.
As we slowed to a comparatively lethargic 20 mph I took in as much of the place as I could. I could see small cars puttering around town carrying their passengers to unknown destinations. Children played in yards and on sidewalks, making games with chalk and sticks.
Pokemon littered the town in an almost casual manner, starley lined roofs, the rows interupted by the occasional larger staravia or vivid chatot. Grass types tended to gardens with the help of gently floating combees. We even saw a small battle between two young kids and their pokemon in the playground of a school.
It was charming.
I had been coasting around town for a few minutes, drawing curious eyes as I passed by, before I realized something important.
I have no idea where I'm going.
I had never thought to look up a map of Sand Gem. I figured that I would just coast around until I saw a big sciencey looking building. In retrospect this is a terrible plan. The town was simply to big to be wandering around and hoping I found something. I gave luke the signal to stop and pressed my heel into the back tire. My inline board ground to a halt with practised ease. I stepped off and kicked it up into my hand with barely a thought.
I seemed to be infront of a crafts store. Various yarns and painting supplies lined the inside of the front window, showing off their chromatic hues and varying qualities. It gave me an idea for something. Plus I could ask for directions inside.
(-¤-)
I had found Prof Rowans lab. It was just like I pictured, big, metallic, and sciencey. Several types of weather measuring devices sat on top reaching into the winds. A massive brick windmill attached to the main building by a wall of the same material spun at a lazy pace, powering the building through eco freindly means.
It kinda reminded my of oaks lab in that way. I wonder if windmills are standard practice for pokemon professors. This building certainly isnt, its way too round, and weird. I mean, seriously I'm no expert on aesthetics or anything but your building should at least match itself.
I was currently on the edge of town. A low fence of cobblestone separated civilization from the wilds just to my right. Luke and Jack were resting in their pokeballs and my board was strapped firmly to my backpack. I took a deep breath to shake off what nerves had built up and slowly let it out. Alright, lets do this.
I knocked on the heavy metal door, wondering idly if it was made of steel for a practical reason or if it was just for whatever fucked up aesthetic the architect had in mind. I stood there, waiting for an answer, and knocked again more forcefully after a few minutes of no responce. Still nothing, is anybody here? Did I show up on their day off or something.
I tried the door handle and was suprised to feel it swing open. With a shrug I walked on through. Been in town for barely an hour and I'm already breaking and entering.
The lights were on, but I couldn't see anyone. I was in what looked like a waiting area. Ugly green couch to the right, large fake office plant to the left, and the walls were a mind numbingly boring beige. They even had a coffee table with some magazines spread across the surface.
Trainers Illustrated, top ten pokeball pitching techniques. Quick balls, pokeballs of the future? I'm not sure who the woman on the cover was, but she was rocking that one peice.
I walked up to the front desk. No one was there. I slapped the slightly worn bronze bell that had been set out for such an occasion a few times and waited...
*ding ding ding*
*ding ding ding*
*dingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingding*
This costumer service sucks, I'm gonna have to leave a bad yelp review at this rate. Or just go exploring. Lets see, sit around in an empty room reading month old magazines for an unforseen amount of time, or wander through a science lab full of strange and possibly dangerous equipment unsupervised.
What to do what to do...
I hopped the counter after exactly zero seconds of consideration and proceeded to walk further into the building.
I followed the clean white hallway to another door. Several doors littered the corridor though most were unmarked, I picked this one simply because it was at the end of the hallway. Thats always where they keep the good shit, or the cleaning supplies.
It opened up to a large room filled with strange machines with computer screens and blinking lights. Blue tile covered the floor and what little of the wall was visible was an eggshell white. The whir of servos and soft clicking of the inner mechanisms filled the room with a quiet and calm background noise.
There was a device in the corner that looked like the egg incubator from jurassic park that held a clutch of yellow and black striped eggs lying in a nest of plush cloth. Another machine was constantly spitting out an incredibly long strip of paper covered with seemingly random information that folded neatly into a box below. A monitor on the far wall was hooked up to a massive computer covered in wires and lights. And that was just a few of them. It all looked so alien and expensive, just one of these scientific marvels probably costed more money than I had ever owned.
I wanted to touch everything.
However before I could give in to the impulsive four year old within I was stopped by the absolute worst thing ever. A responsible adult.
"Excuse me who are you and how did you get in here."
I turned to see a handsome man with dark blue hair and a labcoat standing just to my left, a door swinging slowly shut behind him.
As much as I wanted to give him the 'Im a locksmith' line (that is such a good movie), it was probably better that he assume I'm just a dumb kid who wandered in and not a dumb kid who willingly trespassed. That could cause issues.
"My name is Alice Thorn, I'm here to talk to Professor Rowan about getting a pokemon license, and possibly getting access to his facilities. Also all of your doors are unlocked."
"Why do we have a waiting room if no one waits in it." He sighed, "Alright, follow me."
He led me beyond the door he came through. We passed through several rooms, all had strange machines and scattered papers. A few more scientists were busy at work, a few turned to look at us but quickly went back to their work with little interest. One room even had a large bibarel being examined by a young woman. The giant beaver was lazily chewing on some kind of large fruit.
Finally we came to a door that was marked with Rowans name and title. Blue boy opened the door for me, and there he was.
A broadly built man who looked to be in his late fourties sat behind a simple desk while going over some documents. His hair was almost completely gray with only a few bits of darker color clinging at the edges. A moustache worthy of some kind of award sat on his lip, full and manicured, paired perfectly with the sideburns that framed his face.
Professor Rowan raised his head and met my bright ember like eyes, his steel grey gaze was intense as he studied me for but a moment before addressing me.
"Hello there" his voice was deep and smooth, like waves crashing on a shore. "How can I help you today."
I stepped forward, hoping my luck would hold out for this meeting. If not I was going to have to find another place for my extra mons.
"Hello, my name is Alice Thorn of Dellitown, I'm here to get a training license and possibly permision to use your facilities" I had decided to treat this like a job interview, best behavior, keep my back straight, strong handshake, all that jazz.
I may be a lawless delinquent but even I knew when to behave. I usually don't mind you, but its a conscious choice.
He considered me for a few moments, before apparently coming to some unknown conclusion.
"I can issue you a license without problem, you look old enough. However to use my facilities you must prove to be a promising trainer. I assume the pokeballs on you belt belong to you." He motioned towards my waist. I answered with a simple 'yes sir'. "Good, how long have you been training them?"
"A little over two months." it wasn't long but having any pokemon at all before showing up was a plus to places like this, it showed initiative. The only clue he gave to his thoughts on this was a deep rumbling 'hmm'.
"I'd like to meet them." Oh shit.
I wasn't worried about Jack and Luke, they were loyal and would be on their best behavior the moment I gave the word, Driftloon wasn't a concern either as they didn't seem to much mind anything. Bob however was still a dickhead.
"Sure" I really should have hid that fuckers ball in my bag.
He dismissed blue boy and motioned for me to follow him. He lead me outside of the building into the field behind the research center.
"This should prove adequate room." He motioned for me to begin.
I started of with my starter, Jack popped out of his tiny container with little fanfare. He turned towards me, pointedly ignoring the strange man that was with me at the moment.
"This is Jack, my starter" I explained "I met him in Eterna Forest where upon seeing me he attempted to attack me" If my rabbit had any guilty feelings about that encounter he didn't show it. "I managed to catch him with a pokeball and a stick, after that we bonded over tv and broken bones." I gave my arm a pat to convey that it was my bones that I spoke of.
Rowan stepped forward to get a closer look at Jack, who did not appreciate the proximity of the older man. His ears curled tightly against his head and he let out a nasty hiss, a threat display that I had been on the receiving end of many times in Dellitown. When the professor didn't back down Jack made to charge at him. Seeing this I scooped him up into my arms before he had the chance. He made no attempt to escape my grasp but let a low growl roll in his throat at Rowan.
"He seems highly aggresive for a buneary" He hmmed as Jack climbed from my arms to my shoulder, maintaining eye contact with the stranger all the while. "But you handle him quite well."
I gave him a nod and reached up to scratch behind Jacks powerful ears. He didn't relax too much, but a single ear did gently unfurl.
"Yeah, he's been like this since day one. Makes him a good battler though" Jacks aggressive nature made him a little monster on the field, "No mercy and all that."
He nodded, seemingly satisfied.
I unclipped Lukes ball and gave it a toss, my bat coalesced from the resulting crimson energy. With an excited screech he flew around me in circles, taking in the new scenery. Soon enough he spotted Professor Rowan and swooped down to greet him, his enormous eternal smile plastered across his face.
Rowan held his arm out for the golbat to perch on, to which Luke happily complied. Some minor poking and prodding later he hmmed once more and let Luke go back into the air. He flew up and decided to explore around the building, taking a particular interest in the weather main perched on the roof.
"Your golbat seems in good health, and is quite freindly."
I nodded, Luke had been a little nervous at first but warmed up to me and Jack soon enough. When he evolved those nerves had disappeared entirely, resulting in a super happy dude.
"I caught him in someones attic, turns out he knew whirlwind which caused quite a mess in such a small area."
"And your other two?"
I took a deep breath, and released Driftloon. The strange specter didn't even glance at me or Rowan. Instead opting to let its dark beady eyes wander over the small grassy plain. It drifted with the breeze, letting its spindly string arms hang limply under its balloon like body.
"Driftloons a recent catch," I stated, "they're pretty chill but they're not staying for to long. After I'm done here I'm going to head up to Jubilife and trade them."
He quirked a brow at that. "Ghost types are a fairly rare breed, why are you in such a hurry to be rid of them." He was right, ghosts were quite elusive and coveted by many trainers for their bizarre abilities.
"I'm still a fairly new trainer, while they would be a good match up for my team down the line, the fact of the matter is that ghosts are difficult to raise, especially for begginers. If I attempted to raise them now I wouldn't be able to do so properly. I'll wait until I have some more experience under my belt before tackling that challenge."
And I had a different ghost type in mind for my team, but he doesn't need to know that.
He nodded again, still examining the spook from a distance. "Thats quite insightful, most new trainers would try to raise it despite not knowing what they are doing."
So far so good, I'm not entirely sure what he thinks of me quite yet but I think I'm making a good impression for the moment. Now I just have to show him.
Fucking Bob.
I sent him out with the signature sound of reality reforming him. The bug did not attempt to intimidate Rowan like Jack had, he didn't buzz along happily as Luke had, nor did he simply ignore what was happening in his vicinity in favor of drifting around lazily like Driftblim.
Instead he attacked my face.
Fortunately Jack was very accustomed to his bullshit and smacked the frustrated bee away with a snap of his ear. Bob buzzed angrily and started circling me, glaring all the while. Bees were supposed to be friendly and bumbly and shit, why does mine have the attitude of a pissed on hornet nest.
Oh yeah thats right, I mission impossibled his house. Fat lotta good that ended up doing me.
"This is Bob, I caught him by mistake in Eterna Forest while I was tailing a ralts." The bug buzzed furiously at my blatant lie. "And he hates me. I'm gonna trade him in Jubilife as well."
Rowan didn't say anything, he simply watched as Bob floated along filled with piss and vinegar. He observed my bug for a few moments before continuing the conversation.
"Do you have any recommendations from anyone?"
That was not something I thought he would ask. And come to think of it the only person that would have any say about that would be Fucking Mayor Ron and Nurse Joy. I told him as much, making sure to mention that I was sponsored by the town itself. If that impressed him he didn't show it, instead he simply rested his hand to his chin and closed his eyes in deep thought.
Anxiety started to nip at the edges of my mind. If he says no I'm going to have to rent some space on a ranch somewhere, and that would cost money, money I don't have. I could get away with not having a storage system destination for awhile but eventually I would catch a seventh pokemon, and if my carry limit was still six it would have no where to go. Instead the ball would lock itself into hibernation mode until either my carry limit was increase or I switch its hibernation status with someone elses ball with a qualified league members help. Not the worst thing in the long run but it was a huge pain in the ass and not very fair to my pokemon.
"I've come to a decision." He broke me out of my inner tanget. "You show promise as a trainer, you seem to be quite responsible with the pokemon you have, even going so far as to consider your own ability to care for them. You even have a sponsor as well."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"However"
And sucked it right back in.
"These traits alone do not guarantee a talented trainer, I've met plenty of trainers throughout my life who seemed quite competent upon meeting them, only for them to break under the pressure in the later stages of their journey." Uh oh.
"So for the time being I'm going to have to refuse you access to my facilities."
FUCK!
"But"
Fuck?
"You do show potential, as such I would like to give you a pokedex, to keep track of your progress. If you prove to be a worthwhile investment I will allow you to use my facilities and store your pokemon at my ranch." He finished.
It wasn't entirely what I had wanted, but it was something. I breifly considered telling him about the megahive in an attempt to change his mind but dismissed the idea. It was my one source of, admittedly unreliable, income and if a pokemon researcher found it then it would become a League protected spot be sundown. Suicune was out as well, for similar reasons. I had no more cards to play. I mentally sighed at my luck.
"Can I at least pick out what color it is?"
(-¤-)
Alice Thorn
Apr 13
Team
Jack
Buneary
Moves: Pound, Foresight, Frustration, Sweetkiss, Defense curl, Baby doll eyes, Quick attack, Jumpkick.
Ability Limber
Luke
Golbat
Moves: Absorb, Super sonic, Astonish, Bite, Whirlwind, Wing attack, Confuse ray, Air cutter.
Ability Inner focus
Bob
Combee
Moves: sweetscent, Gust, Bug bite, Struggle bug.
Ability Honey gather
Driftloon
Moves: Minimize, Astonish, Gust, Focus energy, Shadowball
Ability Unburden
930¥
In Box
N/A
Ok so, updates are gonna slow down now, at least until I build up more chapters and plan out more story. My biggest problem with writing is burn out and I'm kinda tetering on that line by now.
And thank you for all the Reviews, Follows and Favorites so far! This story is by far the most successful I've ever had.
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