Riding on Suicune!
Season 1 Episode 6
June 30th, 2011. I don't know what time it is, but I hear someone yell:
«Mirkho, wake up, look at that!»
When I open my eyes, I don't even have time to turn my head that I get a series of licks. Licks of a big Pokémon, because after two of them I had my face covered.
«Ah… come on, what the fuck is going on…?»
Without noticing, I lean back my head on the pillow and I try to reclose my eyes, but a powerful scream makes me jump with an heart attack. I literally jet off the covers, already half pissed:
«What's going on, damn the M… Maremma*, what's that mess?»
I turn around and I remain with the mouth so open that touches the ground: in front of me there were James and Julia riding on Suicune!
«I… I can't believe it, guys… what's up?»
«Surprise! – says James – Look who came to see us!»
«And I see it… hello Suicune, how are you? Ah, no, no, stop it, you've already washed me…!»
Also the others wake up who, like me, are amazed.
«I was going to pee when it landed in front of me. It approached me and has let itself caressed, then Julia joined me and Suicune sat down to let us get on it. It's great to ride on it, we've done a huge and fast enough tour!»
I grab the camera and take some photos.
«Suicune, my friend, will you let me to ride you too, do you?»
The Legendary Pokémon rubs next to me and lets James and Julia down. After having moved away its purple hair, and being careful not to step on its ribbons, I mount on it.
«Thank you very much. Rena, you too, come with me»
«Yes, I cannot resist!»
I help her to mount on Suicune, then I take the camera and ask Renamon to make a video. Just when my girlfriend starts to register, Suicune starts with an acceleration such that we almost end up on the ground; I keep a little above the junction of the legs, Renamon with one arm holds the camera and with the other holds me. It's beautiful, an experience like this doesn't happen every day! We go fast, I don't know how much, but it's enough to see the trees to try to understand: we pass near them so much fast to be frightening! We arrive on a large riverbed and there I worry a bit:
«Suicune… you wouldn't want to…!»
Yes, it's what I thought: Suicune does a huge and very high jump.
«Hoooooooly shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Woooooooooowww!»
Renamon screams a couple of times too. I remain even more stunned when it lands on the water and begins to run over it. Yes, on the water!
«Oh yes, it's true, Suicune has the ability to walk on water! That's cool!»
«For real?! My mom, that's amazing!»
«Yeah! It's the Jesus of the Pokémon world! Are you continuing to register?»
«Yup»
«If you can't take it anymore, give it to me, I will continue»
«Don't worry, everything is fine»
«Ok. Let's hope we don't get lost, huh…»
«Suicune knows these places better than us, I don't think it has much trouble to bring us back. Let's enjoy the ride while it lasts»
We continue to follow the river until it come out to the sea. What a wonderful sea! It's so crystal clear that even at a great distance from the coast you can see the bottom! A lot better than the sea over Rimini… I look to my left and I see a couple of groups of buildings, one farther than the other:
«Hey, those must be Cherrygrove City and New Bark Town»
«What?! – screams Renamon – We came back?»
«It seems so, but I hope that Suicune won't make us redo the road again… don't you?»
The Legendary Pokémon does its cry.
«I'll take it as a no. But I was joking… I trust it»
We turn right standing a short distance from the coast, and a few minutes later we see another town.
«Hey… if I remember correctly, this one must be Azalea Town… my mom, you're so fast that we have already covered the coast of half Johto! Come on, what d'ya say, let's go back? Surely also the others want to go up on you»
Having said that, Suicune "engages the rear" and redo the same way as before, through the woods. In about ten minutes, we "land" in front of others.
«So, how was it?» Asked Lucy.
«An amazing experience!» I exult hugging Suicune.
«We came up to Azalea Town! But we didn't go into the town… we saw it only from the coast» continues my girlfriend.
«I told you so! Come on, the next two, quick»
Lucy and David go up "on board".
«Forks, probably it will walk on water. Try not to drown»
«How much are you witty, Mirkho… I've always beaten you in swimming competitions!» answers me Lucy.
«Federica Pellegrini**, I was joking! I know that you know how to swim!»
I take another picture with them on Suicune's back, and then they start the trip. I sit down with the camera in hand, reached immediately by Julia, James, Renamon and Ylenia, curious to see the ten minutes of our little movie.
«Beautiful… everything taken from above Suicune! This is an amazing "on-board camera" said James, enchanted.
«Yeah… an experience that couldn't happen again» adds my childhood friend.
«Incredible, absolutely incredible…» concludes Renamon.
«Do you know what could happen if I put it on Facebook?»
«No, no, Facebook no… are you crazy? You will put all of us in danger, especially Suicune, Mirkho!»
«I was joking James… and then the technology of the real world is too far back to get to dimensional portals. Think for a moment: to get to things like my special medal, the Pokédex, or Pokéball, especially in tough economic times like these, you know how many years it would take? We wouldn't even be alive! Guys, we've got things in our world that even the Japanese know that there are, we are the only ones around the real world!»
«Yeah, it's true… do you know that I never noticed it?»
«I figured… let me see the time»
«It's time to eat!»
«Are you out of mind? It's 20 to eleven… my grandmother eats at this time! Let's think of something to do, after the other two is there is your sister who wants to get her fifteen minutes ride»
«Yeah, huh huh, you and I always think to eat»
Yes… we always think that. Me in particular, because I'm underweight, basically skin and bones. Since I haven't had breakfast (I haven't had the time) I'll eat something like berries and a bit of Pokémon food (is like eating dog and cat food, except that in this case the flavor is much better), to be sated. I turn my head and see that Ylenia is writing her "diary" as she had promised (I didn't ask her to do that, she wanted to do it with her will, I only made the joke of the secretary). I was going to lie when I hear the phone ring. On the display I read a weird number… well, weird… is that I don't have it in my phonebook. But I said "weird" for another reason: in addition to numbers, there are also letters.
«Let's see… yes? Who is it?»
«Hello Mirkho, it's Ash»
«Ah, hello Ash, how are you?»
«Very well, and you?»
James approaches me saying "what? Is it Ash?", and I push him away immediately. However, I've already memorized Ash's number, otherwise I would have never called him when I was at Cherrygrove City and, before that, at Sunyshore City. I've only written it on paper, since real world phones don't memorize alphanumeric series in their phonebook; I'm not able to remember it in mind. So it's better if I buy a Xtransceiver, because he can contact me, but I can't, if I'm not in a Pokémon Center.
«Come on, it's not bad. If all goes well, I should get to Violet City tomorrow or immediately after»
«Good. They said me that the first battles of the Sinnoh League should start on July 21st or 22nd»
«Eh… I'd like to come and see you, so I hope they start on July 22nd because I have a dinner with my friends on 21st…»
«Don't worry, all the battles take place in the afternoon, your dinner is safe»
«Ah, well, I will be there, then»
«Ok. As soon as I know something, I'll give you the battles calendar of the Pokémon League»
«Thank you»
«You're welcome. So, what's going on?»
«Well… you won't believe it, but me and my girlfriend have just done a trip aboard of Suicune!»
«No…! For real?!»
«Of course! It has been very cool! As soon as we meet again, I'll show you the video that my girlfriend made!»
«I'm curious. I know it's beautiful, years ago I did a ride on it too, it was to avoid the attacks of Celebi that was made evil by one of Team Rocket»
Ah-ha! He refers to the 4th film of Pokémon, the one with Celebi and Suicune! Then everything went as it is told in anime! Among other things there Ash had encountered a certain Sam who was none other than Professor. Oak as a child, and it took me thirty years to figure it out even when the prof. Oak showed his drawings!
«Ah, well, and then did you save Celebi?»
I know that they made it to free it from evil, I asked just to confirm that he's talking about what happened in the movie.
«Yes, even if for a moment we were afraid that we were arrived too late… then they have arrived… I mean, Celebi came from various eras to save itself, I'm sorry but it's hard to explain»
«Yes, I know what you mean. However now we all are enjoying the ride, it's an experience that you must try, especially for us who come from the real world»
«You're right, especially you guys have more right to try it. Oh, before I forget, I thought to tell prof. Oak about your arrival from the real world, but he said that a certain Kuro had already told him»
«Ah, yes… Kuro, is a friend of mine, is a soccer player of Mahogany Town Soccer Club»
«Oh? Wow… however, he will probably reach Violet City to meet you»
«Alright, we'll be happy to meet him»
«Ok, I send you greetings from Dawn and Brock, you greet your friends»
«Same… yes, I'll greet them for you, I'll call you back if I win the first medal»
«Ok, good luck»
I close the call.
«Ash greets you all, and there is a novelty: prof. Oak knows of our presence in this world, and therefore he will probably reach us in Violet City»
«Perfect, I cannot wait to meet him in person» exults James.
After a few minutes, Suicune has not arrived yet.
«Man, it's half past 11 and they have not arrived yet… we have to get to Violet City, sooner or later, we are barely half way!»
«Actually it's true…»
We just finished speaking when Suicune jumps above and land in front us, with David and Lucy incredulous.
«Good morning, huh ... you've lasted quite long!» I comment laughing.
«I enjoyed it more than that time when I went with my friend on the modified boat!» says Lucy, all amused.
«I don't remember the last time I did a tour like this, but I enjoyed the same»
«Oh well, I'd like to see if you have already done a tour aboard of Suicune before now»
«No, you misunderstood me… I mean a ride at a similar speed»
«Ah well… anyway… listen, now that we're all here… prof. Oak knows we're here, and maybe we will meet us in Violet City. Remember that it is the leading expert of Pokémon of this world. Ah, Ash greets you all, for those who care»
«Well, we will meet an important person, I can't wait!» says Lucy.
«Big puppy, do you want to rest or do you want to bring even Ylenia?» I ask.
«Did you call it "big puppy"? Ah ah… it's not your Pokémon!»
«James, if you think for a moment, you would understand that a bit of tenderness sometimes is good»
Suicune winks at me (this is new, really, even my Riolu doesn't wink at me!) and approaches Ylenia. Wasting no time, it brings her up and start the ride.
«Wow… fast, huh?» comments Lucy, watching them go away.
«Well… I think it wanted to tell me that it could handle it… in its own way…» I whisper.
But evidently I whispered too strong:
«Who wanted to tell you what?» starts my cousin.
«Ehm… it's difficult to explain… after that I asked if Suicune if it could handle to bring even Ylenia, it looked at me and winked…!»
Giulia does a gesture with her hand in front of her face and says:
«Mirkho… did you drink?»
«No, but certainly I haven't imagined it» I say calmly looking at the sky.
«Sure… before Dialga and Palkia send sms, then Suicune winks, then what else?»
«Look, that message on my Pokédex was sent by them! I repeat, they speak by telepathy and govern time and space!»
«The fact that they govern time and space means that they can send sms?»
«More than anything I wanted to tell that, being legendary, they can everything. I would add that they are two of the three sons of the God Pokémon Arceus»
«Really?»
«Certainly»
«The other is Giratina, who rules the Reverse World, right?»
«Right James, at least someone listens to me»
«Oh well, apart from that you clearly demonstrates that most of the time you're not able to dispose the alcohol»
«Stop it!»
I don't know what she feels at taking me the piss every time. And what's more she does it when it's time to eat, just the time when hunger makes me nervous!
«Rather… I don't have never asked it to myself, but why Team Rocket is trying to capture Suicune?» I ask.
«It's hard to know… those like Team Rocket are all teams that want to get to the power to rule his own region, to subjugate all to their law – explains James – Team Galactic uses the power of Pokémon to create a new universe, Team Plasma, in Unova, wants to "free" the Pokémons (and here the quotes are a must), Team Magma, in Hoenn, wants Groudon, etc… in short, it's all the same bad thing»
«Yeah, your reasoning is perfect. Relying then we have verified that what we saw in cartoons really happened here for real, the situation is serious» I continue, quite thoughtful.
It's true. But for now we are comfortable, we just got here. If there will be someone to be saved, we will save him, if there is someone to stop, we will do it, but for now let's enjoy our life as trainers»
«Okay, okay» says my girl, lying on me.
We kiss for a while, until we stop again for the heat, that despite being almost noon is felt not a
little. Rightly, we decide to wait for Ylenia before eating. But hunger takes me more and more…
I let my two Pokémon get some air, 'cos last night they've never been out of the Pokéballs, then I lay. But I don't sleep too much: a shadow, followed by a mass of air, pass me a few inches from my abdomen.
«What the… my mom, you gave me a heart attack, Suicune… Ylenia, already returned?»
«Yeah… I asked it to him, I'm hungry too, and secondly you know that I suffer from vertigo»
«You had only to tell it not to exaggerate with jumps, that's all. However you had fun, now we eat because we're all hungry»
James begins to make sandwiches with cold cuts, and so I take a big one. While I put a paper towel on the legs, I feel slightly pull the sandwich; when I try to figure out why, I see Suicune behind me licking its mouth. Alarmed, I look at the sandwich, and it is completely empty!
«What the hell…!»
«What's up?» says me James with his mouth full.
«Look! Fill the sandwich again, please, Suicune stole me the mortadella***!»
James laughs like a madman, and with him also my cousin and my girlfriend.
«Come on… ha ha, give me here, I fill it»
Finally I'm going to eat. Behind me I see Riolu and Eevee riding on Suicune, that begins to going around this area. Three seconds later, my Jolteon starts to run like the lightning behind Suicune screaming "jal jal jal jal".
«Ah ah ah oh my mom, look there… even Jolteon wanted to mount aboard of Suicune but she hasn't had no time… no this I will really put it on Youtube!» I laugh like crazy.
James starts watching the Pokédex.
«What are you watching?» I ask.
«The map… guys, in a few kilometers we will arrive at one of the entrances of the Dark Cave, it doesn't miss much. Let's restart our trip?»
«Yes, but before let's take our Pokémon. Suicune, give us back our Pokémon please, we have to go. Stop making Jolteon run, you'll make her become stupid»
Having said that, Suicune stops in front of us, I take my Riolu and one exhausted Jolteon (comforting her), while Ylenia closes Eevee in the sphere.
«Suicune, thank you, you made us try a fantastic experience» I thank it.
«Yeah, we hope to see you again one day» adds James.
All of us give it one last caress, and while we mount on the bike, the Legendary Pokémon, after having said goodbye with its cry, leaves for somewhere. With great happiness, we continue our journey to Violet City. On the way to the cave register my first defeat in a Pokémon battle: an old man, with an Espeon (that being a Psychic type was super effective on my Riolu), after a battle that lasted a bit, where Riolu resisted until she could, had the better, thanks to the powerful moves of his psychic Pokémon. Strangely, he doesn't ask for money: greets me with a pat on the back and with a compliment, then disappears. I'm happy anyway, it isn't possible to win always. We start over again doing every now and then some races all together, just to pass the time. Until an endless series of cars forces us to put ourselves in single file on the right.
«Long live to the group holidays…» I whisper.
At least here there isn't the economic crisis, as I gather from the news I've seen at Cherrygrove City… in our world they don't talk about anything other than the "spread", "bund" and so on and so forth… here you have all the impression of being in paradise. A few minutes pass, and I see a Mareep roadside that is eating the berries.
«Guys, stop… I want to catch that Mareep!»
«But Mirkho, – stops James – you already have an electric Pokémon in your team! Have you already forgotten Jolteon?»
«Not at all. I want to catch it, one, because I love its final evolution Ampharos, two, because also Mareep is cute, with its blue face. And then look at Ash: it seems to have many Pokémon of the same type in the store, the ones who caught in other regions»
«Yes, but when he travels he always carries at least one of each type, and it's always a Pokémon who has caught in that region, except for Pikachu, which always brings it with him»
«Oh my, you look like my cousin, you're always controversy about everything! She is enough!»
«Alright, it was just a suggestion, certainly I don't tell you what Pokémon you must catch. I recommend you to use equally everyone, otherwise someone couldn't be very happy»
I point the Pokédex to Mareep:
"Mareep, the Wool Pokémon. Its fleece grows continually. In the summer, the fleece is fully shed, but it grows back in a week. Touching it will shock you".
«So sometimes we risk to see this sheep mangy… okay»
«Um… Mirkho, which Pokémon you plan to use to defeat it? It seems to me that your Riolu has returned from a defeat and also Jolteon is an electric type, then not so powerful against it. What will you do?» asks Lucy.
«Look, I've got my tactics. If I hadn't had the means to capture it, I'd have pulled straight. The fact that also Jolteon is an electric type doesn't mean that it only knows electric type moves. She knows how to use Lightning, Discharge, Slam and Regrowth»
«Maybe you mean "recover"» corrects me James.
«Eeh excuse me, I meant that. Come on, you're making me becoming mad, or I move or I lose it. Jolteon, it's up to you»
I let Jolteon out from the sphere. Mareep is still eating.
«Jolteon, firstly we get its attention. Hitting from behind is cowardly»
Jolteon leaves as a weak electrical discharge that ends up on the ground next to the Pokémon, which turns around and begins to stare.
«Jolteon, now! Use Slam!»
Mareep tries to escape, but Jolteon, which is much faster, hits it. The sheep gets up and attacks with Thundershock, hitting Jolteon. My Pokémon remains inflexible.
«Yeah, Jolteon stores electricity in the cells which her body is made of. Use Slam again!»
Another powerful hit, but Mareep gets up again.
«Wow, a very strong Pokémon… I think it would help me a lot. Try using Discharge, maybe this will stop it for a while»
Just what I was thinking: Mareep stays on the ground, probably paralyzed. I grab a Pokéball.
«Um… let's try. Pokéball, Go!»
I throw the ball to the Pokémon, which enters. The Pokéball starts to "dance". I am with my nails in my mouth, Jolteon was still at attention, the others to observe, my girlfriend holding my hand. After a few seconds, the ball stops with a sound.
«Yay! I have a Mareep!»
While the others applaud, I and Renamon we hug. I take the ball in my hand, I let Mareep out and, seeing that it is still suffering a little, I give it a Parlyz Heal and an Oran Berry. When it gets up, I pat it a couple of times and introduce myself:
«I'm Mirkho, and this is my friend Jolteon. Welcome to the team, Mareep»
The sheep makes a couple of times its cry and rubs to me.
«These are my friends: Ylenia, James, David and Lucy, my cousin Julia and my girlfriend, Renamon. We're going to Violet City, and we are by bike, so it's best for you to return in the ball. Mareep, you'll have fun with us, you can be sure. Come on, let's go»
I close my Pokémons in their Pokéballs and grab my bike. Now my team has expanded to three. I haven't done a catch since I had Riolu, then almost two weeks ago. Well, I don't want to lose the habit, I will catch a lot of Pokémon, and I have all the time I want. For now let's get to Violet City, then we'll see. We're taking it a little too comfortable, we must try to speed up. "Dark Cave west entrance – 6 km" I read on a signboard.
At one point my cousin's phone rings.
«Oh no… not now» I snort.
«Now, what?»
«Just listen, James, you'll see»
My cousin begins: "Hellooo Aksy… yes, I'm okay… bla bla bla". I understand that Aksenia hasn't a fuck to do. And for ten minutes Julia does nothing but talk without ever take breath. Then she calls her boyfriend. And now it's a tragedy. Subsequently it's the turn of a Macedonian friend of ours
(yes, we know one for each country of Europe!). I turn and see Renamon that makes me a gesture with her hands and asks me to make her stop. And how do I stop her? Unfortunately, for everything I do, it's impossible!
«Oh, no… we can only hope that the phone ends the battery as soon as possible»
Not even the time to end up talking and James screams in her face:
«Shit, can you stop it?! What the hell is happening to you? Giulia, you took twenty minutes!»
She replies with a "shh" accompanied by a gesture of her hand, and he sends her to hell. Ylenia laughs, Lucy looks at me with an absurd "Poker Face" and Renamon tries to not pay attention to her and pulls straight. She ends after another ten minutes, and we heave a sigh of relief.
«Can you tell me what do you want from me to break the balls this way?»
«Do you realize how much time you talked to the phone? You're an amazing thing, literally!» I do.
«Why, can't I speak? Unluckily came a voice that said that I was calling from abroad…»
«You don't say?! Julia, we are no longer in the real world, did you realize that? You who have the Vodafone and spend a mess of money, because I understand that you haven't activated promotions!»
«Oh my God… I won't use the cell phone anymore… I have 20 cents of balance»
«Oh Arceus, thank you!»
«But I can always charge the call…!»
«Do it and I swear I call Jolteon to give you a nice Discharge on that fucking ridiculous phone»
«It's you who have a ridiculous phone, you who are using those bought at 20 $»
«Look, I can't afford the iPhone now, I use the ones that I can. And I didn't buy it at 20 $!»
After a minute and a half in which no one talks, Renamon says:
«Hey, there's a cave»
«What a pretty big entrance» adds David. James finally announces:
«Here's the Dark Cave. Let's rest there, okay?»
«Ok, that's fine, so we just do a little snack, my stomach… seems like two tectonic faults on the go!»
«You're always hungry, Mirkho!»
«Ylenia, this will be the twentieth time that you mention it, we get it!»
One last ride and then my feet will rest!
THE END
*= Typical italian figure of speech. It's the equivalent of "damn it!".
**= Federica Pellegrini is an italian multi-medaled swimmer.
***= Mortadella is a cold cut typical of North Italy, also called "Bologna", like the city.