Chapter 3 – Parting Ways
Sandgem was much bigger than Twinleaf town however, the atmosphere here was still much more relaxed than it was further north in the larger cities. On the weekends, people constantly gathered in the centre of town to watch smaller children from the schools battle with Pokemon. The kids loved it and everyone was able to participate and learn.
If people weren't interested in that, they could always head over to the lab and help with the Pokemon who lived on the large acreage of land there. The professor and his assistants mainly researched evolution, and as such, there were always a variety of Pokemon available to study and take care of. Trainers who began their journeys in Sinnoh typically sent some of the Pokemon they caught back to the Professor for that sole reason. The people of Sandgem had a fierce pride about their renowned scientist.
Lucas however was bored. He still hadn't started his own studies yet, though he desperately wanted to. He had his Pokedex and everything, yet his father kept stating that they needed the young man for various tasks around the lab. It was incredibly frustrating. On the flip side, he still hadn't seen the two new trainers whom Professor Rowan had given the other two starters to. He was beginning to wonder whether or not they were ever going to show up.
Piplup was following Lucas around town. It was difficult to continue saying hi to people passing him by day in and day out. The penguin wasn't worried about that however. He was more interested with the small everyday things that were so new and exciting.
"Lucas is that you?" a voice cried out. The young man looked up and saw a familiar face running full tilt for him, the boys tiny Chimchar attempting to keep up on its small legs. Barry rushed forward and wrapped Lucas in an Ursuring hug squeezing the air out of him.
"Barry you're going to suffocate him!" the young woman said breathlessly as she had run to catch up. Laughing, Barry released Lucas who stumbled back somewhat. "Sorry Lucas, that's just Barry though. You'll get used to it" Jill said as she too hugged the familiar face.
"It's great to see you both again!" Lucas said, Piplup shrilly agreeing with its trainer. "I've been getting so bored here! My father keeps telling me that there's important things to do around the lab and hasn't let me leave yet."
"Why would your father say that?" Barry asked.
"He's an assistant to Professor Rowan." Both new trainers looked somewhat impressed at this, even if it annoyed the hell out of Lucas. Truth be told however, it was pretty sweet. Lucas himself wanted to become a researcher himself, so being able to work so closely with a world famous Professor was a huge leg up. At least when he wasn't being kept away from journeying.
"Well that's pretty handy. We figured we'd stop by and thank the Professor once more before we really got underway with our journey" Jill stated. Lucas nodded noting for the first time that the young woman was rather quite attractive in her own way. She had the looks and quite possibly the sensibility, but Barry did have a rather infectious attitude. All energy and go, go, go with him. These two were people Lucas could grow to like.
"Well then follow me!"
Lucas led them to an acreage on the east side of town. How they missed it, Jill would never know. Probably because she was too preoccupied with trying to keep up with Barry who was always pushing the pace. The setting was beautiful though, she thought as the trio walked up to the lab. The building itself looked somewhat quaint, with wood paneling and multistoried. Inside however, was a whole different story.
Desks with various pieces of equipment created aisles along the floor, and papers were stacked all over the place. Storage cabinets were being opened and closed as the various people working and volunteering grabbed the supplies they needed. Smaller Pokemon were roaming around, some following people, others simply lounging around grabbing a bite to eat or a nap in the afternoon sun.
At the back of the lab stood a familiar large set man. He was going over some paperwork by a computer, discussing something with another, shorter man with dark brown hair. Both were wearing lab coats, telling the group that they two worked together. Professor Rowan's stern features didn't seem to soften upon the three young adults arriving.
"Well, well look who's here. Jillian and Barry wasn't it? And Lucas of course."
"Hello Professor" Jill said. She was still looking around the lab, somewhat enthralled with all the activity going on, curious as to what they were finding out. Here was the place where mysteries of the world were figured out and understood.
"We wanted to come here and thank you again for giving us our first Pokemon!" Barry said breathlessly. He was having serious trouble containing the amount of excitement coursing through his body at the moment.
"Yes well I couldn't just let you two fool heartedly run off into the wilds without a Pokemon. Now let me see those two Pokemon." Both Caladan and Barry's Chimchar wandered into view for the professor who picked each one up to inspect them. Jill found herself holding her breath as Rowan squinted into what felt like poor Caladan's soul.
"Quite impressive" the gruff voice finally said. "Already these two seem to be forming a bond with you, and it's only been two weeks! I must say I feel privileged to have met you." The professor seemed to be staring right at Jill as he said this, causing both her and Caladan to blush.
"Now, let's move on to the main topic. There is something I would like for you to do for me. First of all, I want to know exactly what kinds of Pokémon live in the Sinnoh region. To do so, it is necessary to collect data using the Pokedex. I have spent the last four years working with Professor Oak in Kanto on this, the most up to date version of the Pokedex there is. This is what I wish to ask of you. I want to entrust you with this Pokédex. Will you use it to record data on all the Pokémon in Sinnoh for me?" Both Jill and Barry were left speechless. Pokedex's were rare and exceedingly useful pieces of technology. The pocket encyclopedia of all know Pokemon would be invaluable on a journey. However, Jill only spied two.
"I would love to help" Jill found herself answering.
"Hm! Good answer! That Pokédex is a very high-tech device. It will automatically record data on every kind of Pokémon you encounter. I ask that you go everywhere and meet every kind of Pokémon in this region!" Giddy with excitement, Jill took the red device handed to her from Professor Rowan. He next looked at the two men standing there beside Jill. "And which one of you two would like the other? Unfortunately at the moment, I only have the two made." Barry and Lucas looked at one another before Barry did a deep extravagant bow to Lucas.
"It should be you, dear friend who takes upon this challenge. I'm going to be far too busy training to become the best champion this world has ever seen!" The blonde laughed alongside Jill who couldn't get over how typically Barry that gesture was. However, she didn't fail to note how sweet it was of her friend to give up such a valuable training tool.
"Wow are you sure Barry?" Lucas asked.
"Of course! You and Jill are better suited to this kind of thing than I am." Rowan nodded as he handed the second Pokedex to Lucas.
"I've lived for 60 long years and still I find myself thrilled to be around Pokemon. There are so many Pokemon and so many different things to experience out there. Now get going you three! Your grand adventure begins!"
The three young adults set out the next morning from Sandgem. Professor Rowan's staff had set Barry and Jill up with the first of their supplies. It would be a week and a half trek or so to Jubilife, and there was nowhere on the road to stop off and pick up extra things. Jill was grateful that, for the time being anyways, her only Pokemon didn't need food. Instead, Caladan would simply photosynthesize his energy. During their preparations, Jill noticed Barry doing some thinking and staring at the various maps of the regions.
"What's going through that head of yours besides wind?" she asked. Barry looked up smiling at the insult.
"Just been doing some thinking."
"You might want to stop. I can see steam starting to curl out from those ears of yours." Her friend laughed a good thirty seconds before he was able to reply.
"Actually I've been thinking about the Pokemon I want to raise and where I can find them. Dad always said it was best to keep a varied team cause then you can cover your other Pokemon's weaknesses."
"That's really good advice. I take it then you already know what kinds of Pokemon you want to train?" Jill asked looking down at the maps and migration patterns. Various more common Pokemon travels were plotted out, along with some information about some more rare Pokemon. Barry was really getting in to this whole training thing. Jill had barely even put thought into which Pokemon she wanted to train.
"I've got some ideas yeah. What about you?" her friend asked.
"Honestly, I haven't really thought about it. I'd love to train as many different Pokemon as I can though." Jill began thinking about it. Barry was right, having a team to help Caladan was important, but it needed to be balanced. She was definitely going to have to research this further.
"I've been thinking I might go on ahead…" Barry said quietly. For once he was being very serious, something that would have normally set Jill on edge, if it hadn't been for the fact that she'd known Barry would want to move as fast as possible. It was his style, whereas she was planning on spending more time exploring and witnessing as much of this adventure as she could.
"I know you are Barry." He looked at Jill questioningly. "We planned on travelling differently anyways right? So I knew you were going to run off ahead of me from the beginning! I mean I've known you a long time Barry and there's no way I'm going to be keeping up with you!" He laughed at that.
"So you're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?" she asked incredulously.
"Well I wasn't sure if you were wanting to travel together…"
"Barry, we've got our Pokemon with us, and it's not like we'll never see each other again while we're out there. Just keep in touch and when we're close to the same area, then we'll meet up!" Barry smiled enthusiastically and gave Jill one of his massive hugs.
"You're the best Jill."
"I know, so don't you forget it!"
Sorry folks but just a filler chapter here. Something to help flesh out our characters a little more and explain why they're travelling. Next up, a new partner!
NOTICE: I have changed the main protagonists name. My original characters are inspired by real people I know and because of this I've decided on a new name for our heroine. She is still the same character, however just a new name. This is the update for this chapter. Thank you.