Chapter Two
The professor and I staggered back to his lab with exhausted legs. We were both worn and it showed through our dirty, disheveled appearance. Despite what our body language and looks showed, we were filled with relief.
When I ran and the poochyena took chase, my foot got snagged on a small outcropping of rock and my body came crashing down. Fortunately, everything that was in the professor's messenger bag spilled out as well; including three polished pokeballs. It didn't take long for the vicious dog to come upon me, so preparing for battle wasn't an option. With desperate fingers, I seized the ball that had been closest to my hand and threw it like my life depended on it.
It sailed about four feet in the air when opened up and a bright white light spilled out from it and poured into a concentrated blob on the ground. It then warped and shaped itself until all that was in place of it, was a small orange colored chick with the most adorable-looking eyes.
The dark-type came to a halt and analyzed the new threat with a hard glare while the little bird took in its surroundings with an occasional chirp. It looked as though it was talking to itself while wondering in puzzlement. A problem I now faced was commanding it; let alone knowing what name it responded to. However, that issue was quickly resolved when I heard the professor's voice. I looked ahead and saw him now out of the tree; or rather he looked like he fell from it.
" Torchic! Use scratch on that poochyena!"
The small bird that was getting ready to wander around immediately locked onto the professor with excitement, but it then promptly turned its sights onto the opposing threat. I could still barely process the fact that the cute little bird ran at the small dog and mowed it down. The Torchic mercilessly attacked the poochyena with its pointed talons. It was taken down in four hits. That had been thirty minutes ago.
While the professor had now showered me with praises for his gratitude of the askewed rescue, I repeatedly pointed out that I was merely the distraction and it was really thanks to his quick thinking that saved us both. In the end, we both agreed to disagree. I also couldn't help but wonder if he got himself into the same predicament on a daily basis.
Professor Birch's lab wasn't a technological monster as I envisioned it to be. Instead, it looked more like a fairly large-sized dental clinic on the outside. Nothing fancy or amazing about it; I would daresay that it felt like technology took a step back by a decade. The inside however, was much nicer to a degree. The polished beige tile shone proudly under my shoes as the metallic walls and ceiling dully reflected the contents and people inside. Some were dressed formally while a few others were head to toe in field gear. The only common thing they shared was their occupation and employer.
Computers, complicated looking machinery and bookshelves lined neatly around the lab; save for the entrance. The only things that weren't by the wall was a large birch-wood desk with many things sitting on top and a rolling office chair. Overall, I would have to grade his lab a C+ or a B- at most.
The occupants in the lab took one glance at the professor and I, and shook their heads in dismay. My suspicions of his carelessness had been confirmed.
"I know its not what you expected, but I don't get a whole lot of funding for my research. Not many people care about Pokémon habits and behaviors, " he said with a slightly sad sigh and shrugged while moving to put his bag on the desk. Now that I thought about it, a lot of people cared more about battling them or making them cute pets. That's not to say that there wasn't someone out there who enjoyed unraveling the strange mysteries around them, they were just overshadowed by the majority.
"But I hope that you come to understand how important a relationship between man and Pokémon is on your journey, May," he said with a now cheerful smile as he reached into the bag and pulled out a pokeball. He walked towards me and dropped it into my surprised hands. I blinked dumbfoundly as my gaze locked onto the sphere.
"For starters, you can work on being a good partner for Torchic. You did choose him after all,"
My mind soaked in his words of wisdom. I could even feel my heart start to race at the growing anticipation of my journey ahead. This was it…the long awaited adventure that manifested from my early desires was now going to be a reality! My excited bright blue eyes looked up to Birch, who could tell that I was eager to set out.
"Alright professor! I won't let you down!"
Professor Birch and I talked for a long while after that. He told me how serious my dad used to be in their school days. Yeesh, so fatherhood wasn't the culprit of his overbearing strictness. There was no doubt about being 'daddy's girl', but I always wondered why my less intense mother had married my father. Well, I did ask her her one day when my curiosity won out. Her reply was that he was 'handsome' and 'old-fashioned'….or something like that. I was still confused.
The subject switched to the professor's own family. He talked about his wife first and moved onto his son, Brendan. This is where the conversation got weird. Birch reached into the spacious drawers of his desk and pulled out a large, faded green photo album book. The professor then went on to talk about how smart, wonderful and 'single' he was. There was some suspicion that he might have been trying to get me to like Brendan or something. Unfortunately for the professor, my father's influence did not allow me to think of him in such a way. Despite that notion, I wondered if I would at least be able to become friends with him; I mean he is the professor's son.
By the time he finished showing me those compromising photos, it was late in the afternoon. He gave me a standard issued pokemon index(pokedex) and my very own pokemon navigator( pokenav). Apparently, every pokemon professor was supposed to give their students a pokedex as they explored the world. Probably so they can credit from a new species of pokemon their students discovered. The navigator however, was a special device from Birch's design for better navigation through this particular region. He said it had something to do with a lot of meteorite interference scrambling the signals a lot of high tech stuff. Hoenn had to specially design certain equipment that used a lot of wireless connection for that reason.
"May, before you start your journey, I was actually wondering if….you know….if you would like to travel with my son. I already told him you were coming if that's alright; he's at route 103. It'll only be for a short while though since we're going to mt. Pyre in a month for some field research. But it'll be good for the both of you! You could help each other out and….get better acquainted!" He said with his voice getting strangely excited at the end. I wasn't thinking too much about his reason for his suggestion at that moment because I my thoughts were filled with wondering how many snacks I could fit in my pack for the adventure ahead.
We soon said our goodbyes and went our separate ways…until I realized that I was going the wrong way and turned on my heels to silently follow the professor from behind. He was a nice guy and all, but he talked way too much for one's own sanity! How was dad able to stand him?!
It was a good thirty minutes of tailing that I finally got back to my house. To my surprise, it was conveniently right next to professor Birch's. Oh boy. I was shamelessly glad that I would be out traveling the region instead of having my ear talked off.
I drummed my fingers against crossed arms as I waited for he goofy professor to enter his house. It took a good five minutes of bumbling with his keys along with opening and closing of his door that I could escape to my own. No sooner did the door abruptly close behind me did I noticed that the house was now completely furnished; wow, those movers worked fast. Looking to the dining table, I saw my mom reading a book. My presence broke her tranquil state, but she turned in my direction and smiled brightly.
"Oh, back already? How was it?" She asked with a motherly tone of voice. I couldn't help but notice that it hid a sliver of sadness. While mom had accepted my fate as a trainer and knew that I would come home from time to time, the fact that I was going to be setting out alone was enough to make any parent cry.
Just hearing her tone sound like that made my face scrunch up. I could start to feel my eyes getting wet. My mom was the one who set the mood of the family. For better or worse, she is what made home a sanctuary.
I tried to sound casual and quickly started talking.
"Yeah…uh, the professor's…the professor is kinda weird. I got myself lo-lost and found him in a tree. He also talks about his son…a lot an-"
"May honey…it's OK. Just remember that you can call me or your father you get homesick,"
Before I realized it, my mother was already embracing me in a hug with her hand stroking my head. A terrible lump had formed in my throat now and I could feel hot tears falling down my cheeks. Finally, we both broke down and cried.
*Continued in Chapter Three*
