AN: Just a heads up, I tried something different in this chapter. I wanted people to have a conversation while something was going on somewhere else. I don't know if I'll do this again, but I wanted to try something new.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 8
[Pokecenter, Pewter City]
It was late afternoon when the 3 Royal Woods natives had gotten their Pokemon checked up on and returned to them. Ronnie Anne hadn't said a word since losing her match, she wore an expression of agitated and depressed while at and going to the pokecenter. Clyde tried to talk to her, but she just ignored him and stayed silent. Lynn was silent as well with calm emotionless expression, she led the 2 to the pokecenter and never tried to talk with either of her students.
"I'm going out for a walk," the Mexican-American girl said with her back to her travel companions.
"Don't stay out too late" Lynn said in a nonchalant voice. "I don't want to have to go looking for you at night. I want to get up early so you can have your rematch and then we can continue on to Cerulean City the same day."
Ronnie didn't say anything and just left for her walk. Clyde looked between Ronnie Anne and Lynn, before asking Lynn what he wanted to know. "Shouldn't we try to help her?" His voice was full of worry, but laced with frustration. "You're our mentor, shouldn't you try to comfort her or something? That loss really got her, but you're acting like it's no big deal. Why haven't you tried talking to her?!"
Lynn let out a sigh of annoyance and started rubbing her eyes. "First, this isn't the place to talk about this," she replied in a tired tone. "Let's go to the room we booked, I can relax there and answer any questions you have." Clyde nodded in agreement and both walked to said room.
[With Ronnie Anne]
As for Ronnie Anne, she headed just outside of the city. She was currently sitting under a tree with Nidoran laying by her side. The Poison Pin Pokemon nuzzles the side of her leg, while being petted by her trainer. As for the young trainer, she was staring off into the distance lost in thought. 'What should I do?' She thought as her gym battle played in her head. 'I mean, I was told by both Clyde and Lynn that there was no guarantee I was going to win. I just didn't think the match was going to be that intense or difficult. After seeing all the battles Lincoln and Lynn back home, made this seem different. Watching and taking part in Pokemon battles are two completely different things. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a Pokemon Trainer.' She then looked down at her partner, she can see the little Pokemon was also taking the loss hard as well. 'Maybe she would be better off with someone like Clyde or Lynn.' She then rested her head against the tree and looked to the sky. 'My reason for being a trainer and coming here were to try to win Lincoln's heart by experiencing what he went through. I never knew how much work he and Lynn go through in just being a trainer, I thought it was going to be easy. I don't know if I should continue to be a trainer.'
She was broken from her thoughts when she heard a noise. She looked in front of and saw something she didn't expect to see. A group of 4 Rattatas' that seemed to be following the lead of a different Pokemon. It looked like a small canine with gray fur covering most of his body. It had black fur on its paws, face and belly. It had a red nose and yellow eyes with red pupils. The unknown Pokemon let out a growl as it and the Rattatas' moved closer to the trainer and her Pokemon.
"Uh oh" Ronnie Anne said as she stood, with Nidoran standing in front of her to protect her. "Hey there little guys, we're not here to bother any of you. If this is your territory then we'll leave." She slowly started to back up to walk away, only for the group of Pokemon to surround her and her partner.
[With Clyde and Lynn]
While Ronnie Anne was off clearing her head, her companions were in their rented room at the pokecenter. The room was fair in size, with a bathroom that had a shower, and 2 single size bunk beds. Clyde was sitting on the bottom bunk on one side and Lynn was laying on the top bunk on the other side with Lycanroc joining her. Clyde looked up at his teacher about to ask her his question when she beat him to it.
"Is it as easy as you thought?" Lynn asked, expressing how tired she was. Clyde was confused by the question, but didn't have time to answer. "Being a trainer, is it as easy as you thought? Listen, you and Santiago thought being a trainer was going easy and nonstop fun and adventure right? Be honest with me Mcbride."
Clyde looked away in embarrassment, he thought he and Ronnie Anne hid that from Lynn pretty well. "Okay maybe when we were studying for the journey we did, but it's different now-"
"Is it?" The older girl interrupted, sitting up to look him in the eyes. "I'll admit, for you, that it is different, but I can't say the same for Santiago. How much do you see her studying on her own when you or I aren't making her?" Clyde opened his mouth to reply, only to close it when his mind drew a blank. "Her goal isn't to be a trainer, it's trying to steal Lincoln away from Roxie. That's why she only studied what she needed to pass the Trainer License Exam. She only trains with her Nidoran when you train your Oddish or I mention something to the two of you. She lost today because she's not taking this seriously, thought it was going to be easy, and wasn't prepared."
Clyde looked down in disappointment because he knew everything the experienced trainer was saying was true. No matter how much he wanted to defend his friend, he couldn't. "Now as for why I haven't said anything to her…" Lynn continued on. "...Is because she is acting like me when I lost my first gym battle. I have an idea what's going through her mind right now. Right now she's questioning whether she should continue to be a trainer." Clyde looked up at her in surprise, but continue to listen.
[Back with Ronnie Anne]
As the young female trainer looked around her, wondering how to get out of this situation, one of the Rat Pokemon leapt at her. She defended her by using her arms to protect herself, closed her eyes, and waited for the pain…only for nothing to happen.
Lynn: She and I are very similar in things, as much as I hate to admit it. We're both aggressive, egoistic, prideful, and don't always think before charging in. Which is why I believe losing that match made her question if she should be a trainer, because I did the same after losing my first gym battle.
Ronnie Anne opened her eyes to see Nidoran had Tackle the Rattata before it reached her. She looked down at her partner and her growling and snarling at the other Pokemon. The Rattatas' and their leader continued to close in on the two. The young trainer, seeing her partner's will to fight against the odds, gained more confidence and decided to stand with her in this battle.
Lynn: When I lost that battle I was depressed, angry, frustrated, and so much more. I was frustrated because I almost won the match, only to lose because the gym leader did something I wasn't expecting. I was depressed because my Pokemon looked so sad after the loss. I was angry at myself because I felt l let Lincoln and my team down, they both helped me so much up to that point and I went and lost. Linc didn't even try to comfort me after it, he knew I would lash out at him if he tried. He let me be on my own to clear my head and sort through everything that happened.
Another Rattata charged towards the duo, Ronnie Anne shouted an attack and Nidoran obeyed. Nidoran Tackle its opponent and knocked it back. The 2 Pokemon that got hit and the other 2 Rattats' looked at each other before they all turned around and ran away. The trainer and Pokemon duo saw only the leader remained, and it was looking for a fight.
Lynn: During that time alone, I spent it with my Pokemon and wondered if I should quit being a trainer and just watch Lincoln. However after spending time with them, playing with them, training them, and just relaxing with them I realized I was being too hard on myself. Sure we lost, but we could try again. If we lose again then we'll train harder and try again. I didn't want to give up and lose all of these memories, experiences, and moments. I wanted to become a trainer, not just for my team and Lincoln, but for myself as well.
The gray Pokemon charged and bit down on Nidoran, making her cry out in pain. However it quickly let go and jumped back, it then had a look of discomfort and pain on its face. Ronnie Anne recognized this and took the opportunity. She gave another command and Nidoran nodded in understatement. She ran towards the canine Pokemon, turned around in front of it, and started kicking it with its hind legs. When she stopped, she turned to face it and Tackle it to knock it out. Ronnie Anne cheered at her victory before realizing she just hurt a wild Pokemon. She started to panic wondering what she should do, then remembered she could take it to the pokecenter. She was about to pick it up, but then became worried she might hurt it if she did. Then she remembered she still had the pokeball she got for passing the License Exam, pulling out of her and enlarging it, she gently pressed it against the Pokemon.
Lynn: Since we are similar, I have no doubt she's questioning herself on being a trainer. Her main goal here is to win Lincoln's heart by experiencing what he does. Now that she has, I wonder what she is planning to do.
Clyde: Do you think she actually give up being a trainer because of this?
Lynn: I don't know Mcbride, right now she is the only person who can answer that.
Ronnie Anne immediately let go of the pokeball after it popped open and sucked the Pokemon up. She watched the ball shake a few times and the button on the center flash red, before the shaking stopped and it flashes green. She then picked up Nidoran and the pokeball and ran back to the pokecenter.
[Back with Clyde and Lynn]
"I'm hard on both of you, I'll admit that" Lynn said as she laid back down on the bed. "Some of it comes from a personal grudge, but I'm also tough on you guys because I want you two to become good trainers. I may make things too personal, but I'm trying to be neutral about how I teach you guys."
Clyde could only look up at his mentor with a conflicted expression. "If it had been reversed and I was the one who lost, how would you have handled it?" He asked.
Lynn had to think about it for a few seconds before answering. "I would've sat you down and had a talk like we're having right now" she replied in a lazy tone. "If I left you to yourself like Santiago, you would most likely quit."
Part of Clyde wanted to denied such accusation, but he knew there was some truth in the statement. Before he could ponder it more, his poketch went off letting him know that he was receiving a phone call. He saw it was Ronnie Anne and answered it. "Hey Ronnie Anne, what's up?" He asked with a smile, before his expression became confused. "Both of us? Okay but what's going?" Lynn heard this and was wondering what they were talking about. "Alright we'll be in the lobby in a minute" he said before hanging up, he now looked worried and uncertain. Lynn sat back and looked at the young man, silently asking him what's going on. "Ronnie Anne was apparently attacked by a group of wild Pokemon on her walk…" Clyde started scratching the back of his with a nervous expression. "...She's fine, but she may have injured one of them and is waiting to hear from nurse Joy in the lobby."
Lynn let out a groan of frustration and annoyance before getting out of the bed. "The girl is only gone for a few minutes and can't stay out of trouble by herself."
