Chapter 2: Let the journey begin!
The first thing Jack noticed as he stepped down the well trodden metal stairs descending his Dragonite airlines flight was the telltale scent of indulgent Lumiose galettes catching on the light Kalosian morning breeze and the bright mid-summer sun glinting from behind fluffy white clouds that dotted the sky stretching far off into the distance where the striking skyline of Lumiose city stood.
"home sweet home." Jack thought to himself as he made his way to the bottom lof the stairway and across the crowded runway, dodging and weaving between crowds of departing tourists and Kalos residents alike, all fighting for a place on the shuttle bus that ran the rest of the distance back to Lumiose airport. Not wanting to be squashed in a cramped and claustrophobic bus with a dozen other people Jack instead opted to cross the runway on foot, needing the excuse to stretch his tense and otherwise immobile legs after a exhaustingly lengthy flight.
Eventually he managed to escape the sea bodies and started toward the chic double doors which lead into the cool interior situated across the cracked and worn down tarmac, taking the time as he did so to admire the natural beauty of his home region: the vast mounds of earthen rock which marked the start of Kalos' baron desert expanse to his right (an area he had recently learned housed the main power station which sourced power for the entirety of Lumiose city!) which clashed unceremoniously with the rolling fields barely visible over the dense metal structure which was Lumiose Airport.
Covering the distance with relative ease Jack slipped inside and had began to approach the conveyor where his luggage sat haphazardly placed atop another suitcase. "Just my luck." he thought to himself as he trudged over to retrieve it.
It was then he felt a startlingly strange sensation that sent a chilled shiver down his spine and made his hairs stand up on end, almost as if he had been hit with a cool blast of water, this caught Jack off guard and he froze to the spot for a brief second before shrugging and telling himself it was "probably nothing" before continuing toward his belongings.
:***:
After what felt like hours of struggling through intensive baggage checks and navigating a labyrinth of customary airport duty free shops, Jack finally stepped through the doors of Lumiose airport he was immediately greeted by a sudden flash of purple and a crushing hug from his mother,
"seriously why do adults always have to be so emotional" he thought to himself as he hastily untangled himself from his mothers embrace and stared up into a beaming face not much unlike his own: brown hair hanging in curls longer than his own accompanied by kind eyes which seemed to see straight through anyone who gazed into them,
from her appearance alone it was clear Amelia Robin was a woman who would do anything for anyone without a second thought, a truly good natured person that you struggle to find most of the time. Truth be told she had endured a great deal of hardship in her years, what with having to raise Jack alone and put food on the table, working a reporters job in bustling Lumiose city which by itself was a draining profession already, and yet somehow she managed to keep a smile constantly - a feat Jack had always admired in his mother.
"So how was the trip?" She beamed as they clambered into her compact two seater.
"It was alright i suppose." Jack replied blandly, purposefully leaving out his encounter with Riolu and the Pokémon Professor as not to worry his mother "Same old same old really, Aunt Jean seems to be doing fine too shes still as eccentric as ever so i guess you could say nothings changed over in Kanto really."
"I doubt it ever will." his mother replied "Thats probably why your aunt likes it there."
Jack noted a hint of distaste in her voice but chose not to mention it.
They drove in silence for a short while, Jack staring idly out of the window watching houses spring up and melt away as they sped past - trying to shake the experience in the airport from his mind, the connection the Professor had talked about it seemed certain to him had something to do with it although the more he thought about it the more ridiculous it seemed, Riolu was all the way back in Kanto; even if there were a connection between them could it even travel this far?
He was brought back to reality suddenly by his Mother.
"did you have time to think about your upcoming decision?"
Truth be told he'd thought about it a lot and still the choice of which of the regional starter Pokémon given to new trainers he'd take with him as a partner weighed heavy on his mind,
"I'm not sure yet mom they're all totally awesome in their own way."
To this she only gave him one of her signature 'I'm sure you'll figure it all out' looks, which he could only hope was true. The drive from Lumiose airport to the city itself was not a lengthy one but Jack appreciated it all the same, the rolling fields where numerous Skiddo could be seen gambolling and grazing in immense flocks or the clear sky where Fletchling soared and swooped scanning the environment for their next meal; all of which was engulfed into void as the small two seater car was swallowed up by the vast Lumiose grand tunnel before the light re-emerged to present in all its glory the central hub of the Kalos region, Lumiose city.
:***:
Pulling up at 34b Lumiose court Jack remarked how different his home in Kalos to his aunts townhouse in Vermillion city, the building before him was more modern and streamline (which to jack personally seemed rather dull and boring compared to the expressive individualism of his Kanto residence) than rustic and traditional, swapping cracked yellow painted walls for sheets of metal and polished glass windows as well as a state-of-the-art electronically activated door instead of the more traditional oak slab on weathered hinges Jack had since grown quite accustomed to and now rather missed as he struggled to recall the passcode to unlock the house.
Stepping inside he was immediately hit with a feeling of deja vu despite only having been absent a couple of weeks. Although his house remained largely unaltered in his time away it became immediately clear from state of the living room that his Mother had fallen into a state of manic cleaning as although it had always been a tidy apartment it had never been this immaculately spotless before, the kitchen however was less spotless: he could clearly see several crisp packets littering the countertops as well as fine layers of crumbs and other assorted food debris lining the otherwise sparkling black marble.
The only area of the house he could safely say had not been touched at all was his bedroom which became instantly clear as he opened the door and was met with the same swiftly made and untidy sheets that looked as though they had been made in a hurry (which of course they had) as well as a magnitude of assorted clothing strewn along the floor and possibly the most surprising thing of all, the shattered alarm clock laying still in pieces on the ground where it had fallen after disturbing Jack from a particularly good sleep and been flung at the wall as a result.
"Its good to be home." Jack thought to himself
That evening Jack ate a feast prepared from supplies his mother had managed to source from a near 24-7 convenience store, which admittedly was not great but was made easily bearable due to the good company he had whilst eating it, factors which meant not only did Jack end the evening with a feeling of utter contentment but also a great feeling of fatigue and tiredness as the long flight he had endured that day finally caught up with him and made him thankful for the disarrayed embrace of his own bed - a simple luxury he had not realised he had missed so much these last few weeks.
:***:
Riolu dropped cautiously from the great steel undercarriage of the passenger plane, heavily disgruntled from a long flight of being tossed around with luggage and still experiencing slight pain from its previous battle.
The first thing that became apparent was that it was now night which briefly startled the small blue Pokémon as its eyes adjusted to the eerie darkness of the twilit runway.
Observing its surroundings with close precision (taking note of the cracked tarmac beneath its feet and the numerous wild Spritzee floating and chirping annoyingly in the night sky) it set off at a sprint toward the towering figure of Lumiose airport closing its eyes in focus as it attempted to pinpoint the location of its target, nothing.
Disappointed it instead decided to seek higher ground to better assess this foreign land in which it had recklessly plunged itself into, and in making its way swiftly to the roof of the airport could better collect its thoughts and try yet again to pinpoint the trainers location, to no avail.
In frustration Riolu coated it's hand in the the same yellow energy and lashed out against the intricate metalwork lined the roof on which it stood leaving in its wake a shallow dent, this seemed to compose the Pokémon somewhat as it closed its eyes and released a burst of aura from its body which within the city caused a certain trainer to awaken suddenly from sleep.
:***:
Jack Robin woke suddenly in cold sweat. He had dreamed that he was waist deep in a vast pool of clear water unable to move his body in the slightest until he had felt a burst of force that caused ripples on the glassy surface of the pool and caused him to sink beneath the surface. He had then been falling through a vast expanse of dark blue, stretching as far as the eye could see in all directions although this time he was not alone - there in front of his was a Riolu (the same one he presumed, he had encountered back in Kanto) which beckoned him closer with a wave of its padded paw which it now held out in a solitary fist, when Jack did the same and the two fists had touched… he awoke, bolt upright facing nothing but the ordinary walls of his childhood bedroom.
Jack had tried to shake this strange encounter from his mind as he wolfed down a double portion of cereal and took what have been his last shower for several days before convincing himself that today was not the time to be dwelling on such matters as like Professor Cerise had said were "impossible."
Besides today was the day he would embark on his Pokémon journey!
And on that note he pulled on some freshly laundered new clothes and dispelled the thought from his mind.
After bidding his Mother farewell for the second time (a slightly more emotional ordeal this time around) he began to make his way downtown to the Lumiose Pokémon laboratory where to his knowledge a certain Professor Sycamore was to gift him his very first Pokémon.
The journey was considerably shorter this time as due to being a resident of Lumiose City for most of his life Jack knew his way around the streets better than anyone. Along the way he carefully ensured he passed a multitude of landmarks he had sorely missed during his time away: the local florist which always radiated a powerful soothing aroma which carried on the light morning air for streets and streets all around, The Lysandre Café (In Jack's opinion the best of all the City's Cafés) where he could see young trainer and her Furfrou sharing a sweet smelling Poképuff as well as a group of impeccably dressed men and women in matching red suits and sunglasses huddled together in deep conversation finally passing his personal favourite of the bunch, the wondrously breathtaking Prism Tower which stood at the centre of the entire city and shimmered with reflective radiance in the light of the sun.
Finally reaching the towering romanesque structure that was the Kalos regions very own Pokémon Laboratory with its arching windows and ornate stone trimmings which gave off an unmistakable aura of grandeur, Jack could hardly contain his excitement. 15 years he had waited for this moment and now all that stood between him and that long anticipated dream was a few feet of paved pathway and a solid wood door.
Climbing the front steps Jack pressed his finger against the ornate metal doorbell, pausing for several beats as the thudding of routine and continuous footsteps grew ever more prominent on the other side.
When the locks finally did rattle aside with a dull grinding sound he found himself for the second time that week face to face with a slender Pokémon researcher, Professor Sycamore was no more than 25 years old with slight stubble misty grey eyes and a tangle of jet black hair, at first glance you wouldn't think him a professor but the sweeping lab-coat and formal ID card pinned to his shirt said otherwise.
"Bonjour, you must be Jack" Sycamore exclaimed
"I presume you're here to receive your first Pokemon? Excellent! right this way please."
The professor then lead Jack down a narrow corridor furnished with ornate cases containing peculiar round stones and grand oil paintings depicting ancient Pokémon in their natural habitat before finally turning a sharp corner that opened out into a cosy study that Jack presumed must belong to the professor.
There in the middle of the room sat 3 distinctive Pokémon the professor had informed Jack were native to Kalos: one a light blue frog with a odd scarf made seemingly of white bubbles that stared intently at Jack with large admiring eyes, another a spiked green creature with a shiny pink nose and distinctive brown patterns marking its head and lower body, struggling with a poke puff it was trying to swallow whole and finally a red and yellow fox curled in a ball paying no real attention to Jack in the slightest.
"Chespin, Froakie and Fennekin." The professor informed him before handing him a useful bit of tech he'd read about in one of his moms books known as a Pokédex which he used to scan each of them,
"You can take one with you if you'd like, and please take your time if you must theres no hurry!"
although from the rushed nature of his introduction to his 3 potential Pokémon partners he sensed there was indeed something greater on Sycamore's mind and that initiating the travels of eager teenagers was now the least effective use of his time.
Jack sat there for what seemed like an eternity in contemplation only snapping back to reality when a crashing sound echoed from the corridor behind him announcing the arrival of a boy about his age with raven hair and odd thunderbolt markings across each cheek, a worried looking Pokémon perched on one shoulder and clutching an another unconscious in his arms, the boy paid him no notice but instead ran up to the professor and thrust the small Pokémon which Jack now recognised as a Froakie, similar to the one at his feet, into his grasp.
:***:
Jack watched the scene unfold intently, now completely distracted from the Pokémon in front of him.
The boy explained that he had got into a battle with a renowned band of Pokémon thiefs known as team rocket and Froakie had gotten seriously hurt trying to aid them in defeating the thugs, with that the professor assured the boy all would be well and took off with the Pokémon in his arms leaving Jack, the newcomer and his Pokémon alone in the study.
"So uhh…. Are you Froakie's trainer or something?" Jack asked in an awkward attempt to break the silence,
the boy turned to him and replied "Nope it's just me and my buddy Pikachu here, see we're new here in the Kalos region and we just happened to come across Froakie whilst battling."
"Pika" confirmed the Pokémon on the boys shoulder which Jack's Pokédex confirmed was indeed a Pikachu.
"So" said Jack
"you said you were new to Kalos, first of all welcome! The names Jack, Jack Robin."
"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in the Kanto region" replied the boy
"me and Pikachu here intend to compete in the Kalos league tournament this year which is the first step to becoming Pokémon masters"
"so you'll be competing too" replied Jack
"Well I hope we can have a battle then I can't wait to see-" he was cut short by yet another arrival,
this time of a figure dressed in a blue jumpsuit with startling yellow hair and another yellow haired girl he assumed must be the boys younger sister.
"Hey Clemont, Bonnie!" Called Ash
"Over here, what took you so long?"
The second boy wheezed an inaudible reply as the girl called Bonnie explained that Clemont was not a good runner at all and had had to take many breaks on the way there to which they all laughed.
Jack introduced himself to the two new arrivals and offered a hand to shake.
It was then in the later moments, jack later recalled, that a still and unwavering silence fell on the room as the novelty of introduction paired with the comedy of Clemont's flustered demeanour gave way to a universal wave of dread for the small frog Pokémon being treated right this second by the Professor.
Clemont began to pace the edges of the study, Bonnie fiddled unceremoniously with a loose thread on her chocolate coloured top and finally Ash dropped to his knees and began to examine the three Kalos starter Pokémon at his feet, looking however entirely uninterested.
it was then Jack had an idea, a complete stab in the dark in many regards but (if it worked) may the key to temporarily raising the morale of the group.
"So Ash." He enquired, turning to face the boy now stooped next to him, idly running his fingers through the thick golden fur of the slumbering Fennekin with glassy eyes misted over with deep thought.
"You said you were from Kanto right?"
"Yeah" Ash replied glumly
"Alright then, you must not have seen the city much, and seen as though we have some time to kill how about we show you around give you the full tour from 3 Lumiose citizens for the price of one!"
This suggestion caused the other three to cease their fidgeting and consider his proposition with strained faces, as if contemplating greater universal meaning rather than an invitation to leave their worries temporarily behind.
"Yeah… yeah alright! I'm in." Ash replied with more enthusiasm
"me too!" added Bonnie
"Yeah, i reckon thats just what we need! good idea Jack!" Clemont confirmed in wheezing undertones, still evidently recovering from his long and draining sprint minutes prior.
"Where to first then?" Bonnie politely asked, forcing herself onto her tip-toes to try and meet Jack's eyes but instead due to the significant height difference addressed only his chin.
Jack thought about this for a moment before recalling his distorted route through the city toward the Lab this morning, meticulously planned to ensure he passed all his favourite spots.
"I know just the place." he eventually decided, "today my friends you will experience the finest coffee this city has to offer, First stop the Lysandre café!"
At that he beckoned to the group and led the way out through the narrow Laboratory corridors and out into the glorious Kalosian sun.
:***:
It was nigh on midday when they had found their way through the maze of streets lined by white brick buildings, each servings an individual splash of identity be it a new business venture or the humble housing of the many residents who called the city home to the sleek black painted café standing contrasting resoundingly with its surroundings.
Inside they were shown to their table by a young waiter with a badly shaved face and an unsteadiness in his step as he hastened to pull up their chairs and deliver them each a menu. The others examined their menu with extreme care and attention whereas Jack simply put his down on the table and when the waiter returned ordered his usual: a double shot of cappuccino with a dash of moomoo milk.
They finished their drinks with each a satisfied lick of the lips, unaware of the oddly shaped foam moustaches that now clung to their upper lip. Before paying the bill (Jack adding a customary tip to their waiter alongside this) got up from their chairs and left the café with a light jingle of the ornate gold bell over the door.
It was then, concluding they did not want to trek any further, they made their way up an artificial incline nestled neatly at the centre of a small green patch of land not far away (much to the distaste of Clemont who yet again did not do well with walking) and collapsed together onto a singular bench which overlooked the streets around.
Jack could've stayed there for hours
Ash it seemed did not share this view.
The boy had been noticeably quiet since they left the café, trailing behind the rest of the group as if the steady walk back had re jogged his memory of the dire situation at hand. Pikachu had obviously picked up on this too as it now nudged its yellow nuzzle against the frowning face of its glum looking trainer.
So as Clemont yawned and stretched his head towards the sun, closing his eyes whilst his younger sister chided him for his laziness, Jack turned positioned himself to face the sullen looking Ash.
"Hey man, whats got you all down?"
The boy raised his head slightly
"Froakie." he replied, "i can't help but worry that it'll be seriously hurt all because we couldn't defeat team rocket by ourselves."
This confirmed Jack's fears, that his solution to his friends' bad mood was back again with a vengeance.
"Listen." he started "there's no use putting this on yourself now, what's done is done and besides." he shrugged his shoulders "Froakie is being treated by a Pokémon Professor, theres no safer hands to be helping it right now."
"But how can you be sure?" Ash questioned, now fully raising his head to look directly into Jack's eyes.
"trust me i know from experience." Jack answered truthfully, recounting the events of his time in Vermillion city to the fixated Pokémon trainer.
By the time he had finished the weight seemed to lift slightly from Ash's shoulders
"Alright Jack Robin i trust your judgement." he said nodding approvingly, "Its all going to be just fine, I'm sure of it."
:***:
When they arrived back at the lab, they were ushered by a helpful assistant to a cramped corridor and for two painfully long suspense filled hours they all waited in near silence outside the room where Froakie had been set down to rest, during that time Jack couldn't help his mind yet again wandering to the small blue aura Pokémon he had encountered days before.
He was soon rescued from his thoughts however as the professor still sweating from work came out of the door to their left and announced that Froakie would be fine but it would need time to recover to which they all breathed a sigh of relief; however due to the events of the day the Professor was now rather exhausted and as a result Jack would have to wait until tomorrow to choose his first Pokémon and begin his journey.
Slightly disappointed the group thanked the Professor for his help and arranged to meet again early the next morning. Then with begrudging soles, made their way back through the Laboratory complex and toward the grande double doors which marked the clear exit.
It was halfway toward his destination that Jack froze suddenly, drawing a plethora of confused looks from his 3 companions. He had in actual fact experienced the same peculiar chilling sensation he had felt during his dream, this time however only much more powerful. Excitement mounted inside him as he ran with a sudden burst of energy toward the doors, throwing them open to reveal…. nothing, only the simple grey pathway lined with hedgerows leading to a solitary wrought iron gate.
Excitement turned to disappointment as he stood staring at the lonely pathway, the others appearing at his shoulder with now a more concerned look plastered upon their faces. It was then a familiar blue Pokémon came into view, leaping with serenity over the gate and landing with steel resolve a short way in front of them.
Riolu looked into Jack's eyes as Jack looked back into Riolu's and in that small moment he made his choice, he had found his partner or rather his partner had found him.
he turned to Ash who, as if he'd seen this scene before, had a Pokeball readied in his palm which he pressed into jacks hand nodding as he did so,
and without further hesitation Jack crouched down and held out the Pokeball - to which Riolu raised its knuckle before being sucked into the small contraption which swayed in contentment before going still with a click,
Jack slowly turned to face the others as Bonnie let out a shrill squeal "Riolu sooo cute!" To which everyone laughed,
Ash then turned to Jack and said "now you've got yourself a Pokémon how about a quick taster battle ready for our Pokémon league showdown?"
To this Jack gazed down at the Pokeball clutched in hand before meeting ash's gaze "you're on!"
End of chapter 2
