Author's Note: Well guys, I'm sorry that the first chapter took a while to write. I had some personal things to take care of before I continue writing. Just like my previous story (which I recommend reading and reviewing), I will do everything I can to finish this story. Also, I added italics to my stories, which indicates a character is emphasizing a word or phrase. I think that's enough rambling by me, just enjoy and let me know what you think :D
Ch.1 Snakes on a Plain
After a full week on my cruise ship, I've finally arrived in the Unova Region around 3:00 pm according to my phone. I started this trip to Unova the day after I received news of Nate's "faith". I gaze at all the skyscrapers peppered across the city in wonder. "I wonder what city this is…?" I murmur to myself.
I then hear the sound of a plant hopping behind me and see Vineguard presenting and pointing at a map of the Unova region. "The city we docked in is called: 'Castelia City'", he pointed out, "From here, we'll need to ride on Chomper's back to Professor Juniper's lab in Nuvema Town."
"I gotta ask how you are showing absolutely no nerves whatsoever," I then mention, "Haven't you seen the progress Team Plasma made on their chilly campaign on the news?"
Vine answers, "I did watch the news for any leads on Team Plasma's operation and I'm fully aware of the peril we are putting ourselves into, but we committed long ago on using our skills to develop and execute operations against villainous organizations unconventional to the average trainer. We can't back down when we are about to play a huge role in covertly stopping Team Plasma from turning the entire region into a frozen wasteland like Opelucid City."
"I ought to give you more credit for your unwavering determination," I respond.
"Indeed," Vine continues, "Right now, the Plasma Frigate, their floating ship/superweapon, is approaching Humilau City. We've got to move fast if we're going to stand a chance against Team Plasma."
Right around Vine finishing, I see people and pokemon get off the ship. I had Vine go find the other members of my team while I already see two members sunbathing in the distance: Tanker, my male blastoise, and Blaze, my female ninetales. "Hate to be a party pooper guys, but it's time to get going," I barge into their sunbathing casually.
"Damn, already bro?" Tanker laxly said, "Alright then… Can't wait for some action."
"Are you serious right now!?" Blaze erupts in frustration, "Right when I was getting to the good part, Jamie!"
"Don't forget what we came here for," I sharply remind Blaze before relaxing slightly, "Besides, there's plenty of great places to visit after we clear the region of ice and Plasma grunts."
"Okay fine…" Blaze relents.
"That's the spirit!" Tanker cheers, "Let's get to it!"
On that note, three of us head off to our cabin to get my backpack, which contains camping equipment, laptop, and gadgets along with a cooler which contains various food, berries, and drinks I packed for the trip. Then, we meet up with Vine with Sparkbomb and Sky while Chomper, my male aerodactyl, flies above us waiting until we get off the ship. Once we're off and on the port, I recall everyone into their pokeballs except for Vine and then Chomper swoops down and lands next to us. "Ready for our next adventure, Chomper? " I ask him.
"As ready as I'll ever be," He answers, "I can't wait to see what this region will have in store for us."
"Worry about sightseeing later, Chomper. The sooner we start our operation, the sooner we can save Unova." Vine urges.
Vineguard and I then climb onto Chomper's back and we're off to Nuvema Town with Vine navigating with the map. After roughly ten minutes in the air, we spotted a large building with an orange roof with a windmill next to it, which matches the description of Professor Juniper's lab. Chomper then dives down to the lab and lands next to the entrance where two Unovian police officers greet me.
"So you're the kid with the talking pokemon huh?" one officer asks, "We've heard a bit about your work in Johto."
"That's right." I briefly answer.
"Indeed," Vine adds, which stuns the two officers.
"Well then, come on in," the other officer welcomes, "We're glad to have you join us."
I then walk into the lab with Vineguard and Chomper behind me. Once inside, the lab assistants lead me to a meeting room where I see rows of officers lined up along with Professor Juniper conversing with what appears to be the region's police chief. The assistant then directs their attention to me along with Vine and Chomper by my side.
Professor Juniper then greets me, "Hi there Jamie, I've been expecting you and heard many great things about you from Professor Oak and Elm."
"I too have heard about your contribution to stopping Team Rocket in Johto and couldn't be more impressed." the female police chief adds.
"Oh, thank you guys for having me here," I quickly respond. "This here is Chomper and Vineguard. The rest are in their pokeballs."
"Wow! It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person!" Chomper exclaims in excitement.
"Same here," Vine mentions, "We're here for the mission briefing regarding Team Plasma's operation."
"Well, you came to the right place." Professor Juniper indicates, "The meeting will start in a little under ten minutes, so feel free to look around my lab in the meantime."
I nod and then release my other four pokemon out and bring them up to speed on the current situation.
Sky's POV:
"That's pretty much it guys. Try not to get in too much trouble though." Jamie finishes.
After Jamie lets us know what's going on, everyone then goes off doing various things. Vine and Jamie are looking around, the rest are lounging in the lab, but I'm more interested in the three pokeballs on a nearby table. I remember Tanker telling me something about each region having starter pokemon for beginner trainers and I can't wait to see what this region has. I start slithering towards the three pokeballs until…
"U- Umm, what exactly are you doing?" an assistant shakily asks.
"Uhh… S- Sorry there… J- Just wanna see the starters..." I respond embarrassed and nervous, "I'll go back if I'm bothering y-"
"Oh! Don't worry. It's fine. While the professor is busy, she placed me in charge of the starters," the lab assistant says, relieved before releasing the three starter pokemon, "This is snivy, the grass snake pokemon. Next, this is tepig, the fire pig pokemon. Lastly, this is oshawott, the sea otter pokemon."
"Wow! A dragonair! You're so cute and beautiful!" the oshawott praises me with a warm smile.
"Umm, thank you… I think you too are also cute," I reply bashfully and blushing heavily while noticing the oshawott's heart melt.
"Don't mind him, he loves cute things. Anyways, I bet a strong dragon like you would have some strong fire attacks." the tepig exclaims enthusiastically.
"Well, I do pack a mean fire blast. Maybe I'll show it to you someday..." I brag slightly and indulge in his excited expression.
When I move on to the snivy, I notice something strange about it. It stares into me without a single word as if it's examining me. I too, stare at the snivy unsure what to say or do but wait. This went on for a whole minute before finally sharply asking, "Where's your trainer?" The voice reveals herself as a female.
"Oh? He's over there…" I awkwardly answer while pointing my tail at Jamie who's conversing with Vine about something.
The snivy then silently stares coldly at the two for about half a minute before turning back to me and asking, "How does your trainer treat you?"
For a moment, this snivy's dry expression has blown me away more than the other two's extravagant expressions combined. After some time to think, I then answer, "How does he treat me? Well, he's the nicest and caring trainer I know. He eats and sleeps with me and the others and treats us like his best friends."
"What about how he trains you?" She asks, expressionless with her arms crossed.
I continue answering, "He also trusts our intuition and trains us based on how we like to battle, and we also trust him as well. Overall, I couldn't ask for a better trainer than him."
"Is that so...? Then explain how he met someone as rare as yourself." She questions, still unsatisfied.
This question hits way too close to home for my comfort, but I trust that this snivy means well and I carry on. "Well… Before I met Jamie, I was a young dratini who's captive to a criminal organization known as Team Rocket, who steals and poaches pokemon. I spent countless years in a cage all alone and without hope until Jamie broke into the hideout where I was kept and freed every pokemon here. At first, I was afraid to leave, but Jamie kindly guided me out and always stuck to my side, ready to protect me whenever and eventually, I wanted to travel with Jamie," I answer.
The snivy gives me a silent nod in exchange. I'm not sure what that snivy is thinking or why it asked personal questions regarding Jamie and me. Before I could think of something, Jamie walks up to me and says, "Heya Sky, sorry to ruin your fun, but the meeting is about to start."
"Got it, coming," I cheerfully respond and wave goodbye to the starters before slithering off with Jamie into the meeting room.
Vineguard's POV:
Once the meeting begins, I see the police chief describing the current conditions of the Unova region. Police are busy evacuating residents of Humilau City and some are confronting the approaching Plasma Frigate on the backs of various bird pokemon to buy some time. Meanwhile, nearby towns like Undella Town and Lacunosa Town are beginning evacuation procedures. Several police departments are also on high alert for any Plasma grunt activities, although mass panic and riots from the public are slowing police investigation to a crawl. Currently, no one knows of any critical area or system to target on the ship. However, there might be some leads such as footage of the ship or witnesses of the attack on Opelucid City. I also recall a time before joining Jamie's team when I confronted a fearow attacking several pokemon in a forest I lived in; perhaps the tactics I employed back then could work like before.
I continue listening to the police chief handing out orders to the various officers until she reaches us and indicates our objectives, "As for you and your pokemon Jamie, your mission is to investigate the Unovian News headquarters in Castelia City. See if any one of their reporters knows anything regarding the Plasma Frigate and also look for any civilians who might know anything about Team Plasma."
"Got it," Jamie nods.
"Understood, we'll be on the way shortly," I add.
"Before we begin, are there any questions?" the police chief asks. After no response, the chief concludes, "In that case, let us begin thawing Unova with Operation: Thousand Suns."
Jamie's POV:
I checked my handheld radio to match the police chief's handheld radio frequency to receive any tasks assigned to me along with checking the handheld radios I brought along for my pokemons' use from previous missions before heading out. However, before I could head out, I heard a commotion breaking out from the entrance of the lab.
"Hold your ponytas guys, I hear something going down," I call out to my team.
Sky then perks up, "I do too. It's coming from the starters."
All of us then head to the entrance to see what looks like a new trainer in his early eighteens choosing his starter, but something doesn't seem right.
"I don't understand! Why doesn't that snivy like me?" the trainer shouts frustrated.
The lab assistant then calmly says, "I'm sorry Andrew, but we're also having trouble getting snivy to cooperate in the past." in an attempt to diffuse the situation
I then look at the snivy who turned its head away annoyed with its eyes closed and not into him while the tepig and oshawott watch the scene weary as if this wasn't the first time snivy rejected a trainer.
"Hey, Sky? Do you happen to know what's up with that snivy?" I ask, curious as to what's gotten into it.
She responds, "I'm not sure either, but snivy seems interested in you."
"How so?" I ask again.
Again, Sky responds, "She was asking some rather personal questions about us."
Once Sky finishes answering, the snivy perks her eyes open in surprise and stares at me in shock. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I could tell that the trainer named Andrew is getting more frustrated. "You there! What did you do to that snivy to make it like you and not me!" he accuses.
Now I'm in a rather compromising situation. I can use my wits to figure out enemy positions in a camp and use my resources and allies to gain a tactical advantage, but social situations, especially confrontational situations are my biggest weakness. Before I could say a word, Professor Juniper comes in and concernedly asks, "Is there a problem I can help you with?"
"Yes, there's a problem. I wanted that snivy as my starter, but it won't listen to me!" Andrew sternly reports before pointing a finger at me, "And I think he's somehow involved!"
"You mean Jamie? He was with me the whole time. He can't possibly do anything." Professor Juniper defends me.
"Then why won't this thing do what I say?" Andrew snaps.
It's at that moment snivy had enough of Andrew and starts berating him in her pokemon language, though, no person understands.
Finally, I hear some of my other pokemon speak up. "Oooof! That girl's harsh man… Whew!" Tanker enters.
"Damn! Definitely don't wanna be that kid in that situation," Sparky adds.
"Honestly, I think the kid deserves it." Blaze sneers.
"Well, guys? What did you all hear?" I ask, confused.
"She said that he's not worthy of being her trainer," Sky explains.
"How so?" I ask again, still confused, "Can you translate that snivy word for word?"
"Umm… Are you sure? She said some rather… obscene things…" Sky nervously replies.
"It's fine," I reassure her, "The more we can understand her words, the more we can understand her situation."
Sky sighs a little and then translates, "Young fool! At first, I thought you were another incompetent newbie trainer I'm constantly given that can be overlooked, but you are far worse than I thought. Your response to rejection is to throw a tantrum in front of the individual who rejects you. As if I'll reconsider my choice to a childish jackass such as yourself! Not only that, but you also dare to blame others for your shortcomings to my standards. That's not even the worst part. You prove yourself as an unworthy scumbag by seeing me as nothing more than a thing to obey everything you say! I have no words for you. Get the fuck out of my face and I'll find me a trainer, like the one to my right, that is millions of times better than you."
All of us were completely blown away by Sky's translation and snivy's confirming nod is enough to make my belly churn. I look over to Professor Juniper who's taking her time pondering over this revolutionary discovery. After some time, the professor finally says, "I see… This all makes sense now."
"What makes sense?" I ask with my head spinning in confusion.
"Every time we offer that snivy to a beginning trainer, she would always reject them. At first, none of my researchers could figure out why, but thanks to your talking pokemon, now I get it." Professor Juniper announces, "For the first time in my career as a pokemon professor, it saddens me to declare this snivy to be unfit as a starter pokemon."
Everyone in the room gasps at the conclusion except for the snivy who's glaring at the professor and Vineguard who's silently observing the interaction. On the other hand, Sky is trembling and asks in dread, "What's going to happen to that poor snivy? Y- You're not planning on ki-"
The professor then immediately cuts off Sky with a smile, "Oh no! I wouldn't do such things. But it does humor me to see your compassion for snivy." Sky then makes a heavy sigh in relief and I pat her back while chuckling.
Professor Juniper then continues, "Instead, I was wondering if you would like to take care of this snivy instead. They are speedy, intelligent, and could make a great addition to your team."
I thought for a moment. Although I love the serperior line and would immediately choose snivy if I started my journey in Unova, I already have a high-level team, and training another low-level pokemon could take away some valuable time to stop Team Plasma. Plus, I'm well aware that trainers aren't supposed to have more than six pokemon on hand. I then decided to ask some of my team members what they think.
"I'm okay with another team member. The more the merrier," Chomper replies.
"I also think it's a wonderful idea!" Sky adds, "But, is it okay that Vine is essentially being replaced by another grass type?"
Vine then chimes in, "I've known Jamie long enough to know we aren't expendable in his eyes. If otherwise, he wouldn't have saved me from that rampaging tyranitar long ago."
"I'm glad you remembered," I reply, touched by Vine's recognition.
"In addition, another team member means more versatility. Therefore, I'm in favor of having another pokemon join us." Vine asserts.
With half of my team's approval, I then calmly walk up to the snivy. "Hello there little one, my name is Jamie and I would like to know if you would like to join us?" I introduce myself while holding out my hand.
The snivy then stares at me intrigued for a few seconds before looking around and lightly slaps my hand with its little arms with an approving nod.
"I guess that's settled then. The snivy is all yours now." Professor Juniper concludes as she gives me snivy's pokeball. Snivy then climbs on my shoulder.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!" Andrew, who's watching the interaction, shouts furiously, "I came here to get my starter only for it to ditch me for some nobody trainer? What the heck!"
"I apologize for your inconvenience Andrew." Professor Juniper sincerely apologizes, "We too had problems getting that snivy to accept her new trainer and it was only now that we know she prefers advanced trainers. I can get you another snivy if you wish."
"No thanks… I'll get the tepig instead…" Andrew scoffs, much to the worried face on the fire pig pokemon.
After five minutes of Professor Juniper getting Andrew a Pokedex, his starter's pokeball, and extra pokeballs, Andrew stomps out annoyed. Before he exits, he shoots me one final glare, "You better watch your back, Jamie! Don't think for a second you amount to anything! I'll find you and beat your entire team up to show how worthless you are!"
"Don't sweat it, bro, Me and Chomp' can easily waste his starter any day," Tanker boasts while patting my free shoulder with his claw.
"Don't forget about our mission guys. That trainer is none of our concern," Vine reminds everyone, "If that's everything, we should head out now."
"Before you go, don't forget to give Snivy a nickname if you wish," Professor Juniper also reminds me.
"Got it," I said before heading out of the lab. Outside, the sun nearly set and my phone showed the time at about 9:00 pm.
Once everyone's outside, I then announce, "Since I can't have anyone catch me having more than six pokemon on hand, I'll have to keep one of you guys in your ball and stash it in my backpack for now."
"No worries bro, I'll take one for the team," Tanker volunteers.
"Thanks, man. Don't you dare think for a second I'm replacing you with another starter" I reply thankfully before teasing him slightly.
"Bwahahaha, as if you will," Tanker chuckles as I recall him into his ball and then putting his ball into my backpack.
Lastly, for today, I direct my team towards a flat patch of land in Unova's route 1 with lots of flowers where we could set up camp. I open up the cooler to reveal several berries for my pokemon to eat up. I also packed several granola bars for myself to eat up along with the berries. While everyone is eating, they are also conversing among themselves, mostly about the new member of the team. Only Vineguard and I remain silent as I still fear what I'm up against.
"Hey Jamie," Sky calls me over.
"Yeah?" I respond curiously.
"Have you come up with a nickname yet?" Sky asks with Snivy nearby.
"Oh, right... " I recoil in surprise, "Hmm… How about 'Ivy'?" The two snakes seem intrigued, which prompts me to continue, "Ivy is a type of plant that many would see little of, but delivers a nasty rash should anyone dares to mess with it." Snivy then replies in her language in an approving tone, thus giving her the name "Ivy" from now on. I also check my Pokedex and find Ivy's nature is adamant and her moves are tackle and leer.
Judging from everyone yawning and the night sky above, I figure that it's time to go to bed. I climb into my sleeping bag and before I enter into dreamland, Sky nudges me awake with a somewhat embarrassed look, "Umm Jamie… It's kinda too cold for my taste so... Can I cuddle with you?"
When I feel an autumn breeze hit me, I know what she means. "How can I say no to such a cutie," I playfully respond while opening up my sleeping bag more to accommodate Sky's fourteen feet long serpent body. After she's tucked in like the good old times, I feel something tiny moving only to find Ivy squeezing herself between Sky and me into the sleeping bag. Now it's just me and my two snakes sleeping under the stars on a plain.
"Wow, we're like mother and father sleeping with our child in between," Sky gently comments while nuzzling her face on Ivy's face.
"Explain to me how that's biologically possible…" I respond with a deadpan face, hiding my amusement.
Sky's face quickly grows bright red as she quickly replies, "EEEEK! Uhhhh... Never mind…" I chuckle at her reaction as I wrap my arms around her affectionately and drift off to sleep at last.