Pixie-Chan: Hallo my readers! Sorry it's been about a MONTH since I've posted any new chapters. I've been really busy with two jobs and it's been tiring me out! Fortunately, I sent in my two weeks' notice for one of my jobs so I don't get too overwhelmed. But that doesn't mean I haven't been writing new chapters! In every second that I have I've been writing so I can play catch-up. Well…I also been occupied with Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. But Still!
As for updates, I will try to update whenever I can. But sorry for the wait and hope you enjoy this new chapter!
...
Lavaridge Town was nestled near the base of Mt. Chimney. This quaint place was a popular spot for the regional locals and tourists alike thanks to its wondrous hot springs. This town also had a medicinal herb shop and even a local bakery that sold something called 'lava cookies'. Naturally, the incentive for trying them out is what motivated me to come as quickly as possible. Well, that and...*ahem*
The third incentive was the fourth gym. This one in particular liked using my favorite type: Fire. However, what made it different than the other gyms I came across so far was that the old leader had passed his title on to his granddaughter, Flannery. She was said to have trained with him at the age of six and was around my age now. It made me wonder if dad was gonna do the same to me one day. Preferably, I didn't want to because there was so much world to explore! Before I started, I would have been content with just traveling this region and coming back to stay home until oblivion came or something. Now that I was a trainer, there was this new feeling of curiosity that prompted me to go as far as I could.
When we arrived in town, I quickly dashed over to the Pokémon center with the professor being waaaay behind in his slow, relaxed pace. Much was appreciated that there was no attempt to call me back or slow down for him; especially since what happened earlier. Once I went in and got my party healed, I let snuggled with them and told them about our heated victory. Everyone, even skitty cried out with excitement when the news was shared. Just when I put everyone but Chirpie back, Sycamore entered the center in all of his elegant flashiness. Oh geez, maybe if I pretended to not see him, maybe I could- too late, here he comes.
"May darling!"
The professor quickly zeroed in and blocked any attempt of escape. His handsome smile grew wide with those blue eyes growing with excitement. Basically acting like nothing happened in the Jagged Pass.
"Despite your reckless behavior, I must congratulate on your victory against those heinous barbarians!"
"Uh, thanks?"
"Of course darling! You have significantly improved your team! I am very certain that beating the Lavaridge Town gym shall be an easy trial tomorrow!"
"You mean today,"
Sycamore was acting a little excited; that's saying a lot considering how ecstatic he usually was out in public.
"Of course I don't! I very much mean tomorrow! Your team may be very well rested now, but it means nothing if their master is spent from exhaustion and cannot think clearly! Did you even feed yourself properly today?"
"I'm fine! I'm still breathing ain't I?!
"'Aren't'. But do not worry dear; your vocabulary is a work in progress!"
I growled while he chuckled lightly at my frustrations. Shortly after that, he had the audacity to offer me his hand! Fuck him! I'm not taking it!
Unfortunately for me, he noticed my defiance and grinned in a way that I finally recognized as a 'plotting smile'. "Come with me, May! It would be quite rude to let such a beautiful young lady go hungry!" He said with a bit of a more exaggerated over- the- top voice. When I rolled my eyes with disgust, it was then that my sight caught pretty much everyone in the Pokémon center staring at us or making awkward passing glances. That's when I realized it: He's doing this on purpose!
"Stop talking! You're being too loud!"
"Am I dear? Or is it that you are being too cruel to a humble man like myself?" He replied back as he withdrew his hand, but actually got down on one knee to take up the same hand that hit him earlier. "You should know by now that it is my sovereign duty as a man to be ever watchful over a delicate, defenseless maiden...no matter how many times she lashes out again him. It is indeed a blessing and a curse!"
"Professor, shut up!"
"I cannot! For my heart is filled with much inspiration born from anguish that refuses to-"
"OKAY! We'll go eat! Just be quiet already!" I hissed and yanked back my arm before he stood up with a victorious smile. I was so tempted; so VERY tempted to do something bad to him, but it would only probably prompt the professor to attempt a stunt far worse that would label me as terrible person by nosy onlookers. Having Archie as a traveling buddy suddenly didn't seem as bad...actually, never mind; he still was.
...
After spending some time looking at the limited options of places for eating, he settled on a small ramen stand nearby the inn we would be spending the night at. Sycamore's charming composure cracked a little upon seeing the sight of it. However there was nothing he could do as it the only place 'decent enough' to dine in.
The three of us sat down on wooden high stools and were given our huge bowls of ramen. This is when I learned something new. Due to his three taloned hands, Chirpie was unable to use any utensils, forcing him unpleasantly dip his head into the hot dish.
The poor thing look so frustrated. Taking pity on my battle partner, I helped out by using my chopsticks to feed him noodles and other things in the concoction. Chirpie felt very relieved and gave out a squawk in appreciation.
Once he got down to the broth and was able to hold the bowl to drink it, I returned to my own meal and saw Professor Sycamore with a slightly flustered look as he held his chopsticks all awkwardly. Does he...not know how to use them?! It was a little shocking at first thought, but the more the wheels turned in my head, the more it actually made sense.
People in all regions speak a language that is universally used to communicate with each other through learning it with education (or self-taught). However, each region also has their own language that is spoken between their inhabitants. Kantonians speak Chinese, Johtoians have Japanese, Hoennians use Korean, Sinnohians talk with Dutch, Unovians were brought up with English, Orreians were taught with Spanish and Kalosians were naturally fluent with French. That being said, they also had their own cultures that they had been used to within their region. In short, Sycamore grew up not knowing how to use chopsticks...nor did he bother to learn how to use them.
It was almost sad, but then I remembered the scene he made that really embarrassed me. Thus, I merely got out a new pair of chopsticks and started my meal.
About two minutes in, my eyes curiously glanced to the left. No progress had been made with eating his food. His hand continued to look strange while attempting to hold the two pieces of wood into position. Well, a little suffering would do him some good. Sycamore's brows furrowed in annoyance and tried to pick up something; it inevitably failed. Okay, maybe I should throw him a lifeline.
"You really suck at this," I finally said in a blunt way while scooting my stool next towards him to show the 'unfortunate soul' how it was done. "First, hold out your hand like you're gonna shake it with someone," I instructed as I messed with the extremity to make it so. Strangely, I liked feeling his warm palm and slender fingers; though I tried to hide it. While positioning the sticks, I made it so that one of them was between the thumb and rested on the palm. "Then, hold one of them like this,"
"After that, get the other stick and hold it with your thumb and pointing finger," I put the second piece of wood in that position. Then bend the middle finger a little and tuck the other two under the lower chopstick,"
"When that's done, put your middle finger under the chopstick on the top. All you need to do now is move the top one up and down to grab stuff,"
The professor looked unsure, but dipped the two sticks in his bowl shakily and pulled out a thick mess of noodles. Sycamore's face was intrigued with the end result and was able to feed himself with the strange set of utensils for the first time. And though he grimaced slightly from tasting lukewarm noodles, he managed an amused grin that was directed towards me.
"So the proud Miss Maple finally shows mercy upon her poor professor and imparts her knowledge to prevent him from starving? How cute to see that you can be friendly and adorable! Although, I cannot believe that you have yet to bestow those long awaited kisses on me!"
"That's it! I'm done here! I'm letting you sink like a rock next time!"
...
The next morning, I was able to challenge the Lavaridge Town gym. Its theme (like the town's popular highlight) was a hot springs. Good arceus this place was hot and steamy! I was thankful that my attire not only allowed me to move around, but wasn't completely covering.
After twenty minutes of riding on wooden boards that were shot up by water spouts, I reached the gym leader. Flannery herself was less strict than I thought she would be. If anything, she seemed a little...airheaded. And just like Sycamore said, beating her wasn't much of a challenge. In the end, obtaining the Heat badge was easy as pie with pelipper and poochyena as my choices.
When the match was over, my small, little dog evolved into the large, wolf-like creature, mightyena. She came up to my height and the first action to be made was to rip apart her squeaking toy and attempt to take my shoe. Woah! Definitely gotta fix that! In addition, she also developed the strong urge to want to give skitty a bath...with her coarse tongue. Skitty dreaded those for a while.
Anyways, when the gym battle was over, Flannery and I talked for a bit and I told her who my dad was. She then bursted out laughing like it was some kind of joke.
"Oh boy! Norman's your dad?! You should have been there at our first meeting! It was like:
"So...I take it that you're the Dewford Town gym leader?"
"Yes sir! It's a pleasure to-"
"I'm going to make sure that your life will be filled with misery and suffering,"
Of course, it was funny to her since she didn't think much of it, but I was starting to think that dad had been a little too discriminatory with the younger opposite sex. It sounded completely justified as a kid, but now he sounded like a bully. Maybe mom was right...to an extent.
"But you're his daughter right? It's probably gonna be weird to face him next,"
No, scary was more like it.
...
The next day was our last in town so I wanted to at least try the hot springs once before leaving. Knowing that Sycamore learning of the curiosity would no doubt lead to disaster, I snuck out of the inn early in the morning with dustox in tow.
The dawn greeted me with its burning colors of purple, orange and pink streaking across the sky. The air itself had a mildly moist warmth to it. To me, it felt like this was the perfect time to visit the place of healing and relaxation.
Once we used the Pokémon center entrance to the girl's dressing area, I excitedly ditched my clothes to trade in for a fluffy white towel. One was put around my torso while another served the purpose of putting up my hair. Now that preparations were done and dustox's fear of hot water was gone, it was time to go soak it up!
Dustox and I exited the girl's dressing room and followed a smoothed down, stony pathway that led to a spacious pool of steaming water. Thankfully, a large bamboo fence ensured privacy for all of its bathers so they can relax; which I was gonna do plenty of. Surrounding the pool itself were small shrubs of vegetation and other pretty things to serve as natural decorum.
I cautiously went up to the pool and dunked my toe in before the rest of my body got in. Goosebumps broke out on my skin for a moment before it smoothed out in relaxation. Man this feels so good. Dustox set her ship model down on the water and rode on the plastic thing. She looked pretty cute with her large body riding on the little object.
While my bug-type was doing her own thing, I was thinking about facing my dad. His strategies were designed to wear down the opponent and finish them off in one, powerful movement. Like most gym leaders, he adjusted his level of difficulty to the challenging trainers. Still, I couldn't help but feel I didn't have enough air in my system to calm me down about it. My nerves were set on very high. It was certain that he wouldn't give me any special treatment, but now I started to see him as something to dread rather than the case of being an overprotective father.
Ten minutes in, I went to the right side of the hot springs to lay my head and arms on the edge in an effort to empty my mind. Thinking about all this was really wearing me out.
"Ah! There you are my little birdie! Thought you could outsmart me, did you?"
My head suddenly shot up upon hearing the thickly accented voice of my professor. You've gotta be kidding me! Here too?!
I regrettably moved my neck to turn my toweled up head and saw Sycamore; indecently exposed. Okay he at least had a towel on, but seeing as how it was THIS guy, he found a way to make it look so...wrong! The thick, cotton towel was wrapped around his waist as low as he could possibly get it without any law persecuting him for public nudity. I could feel my senses go on an anxious rise as my gaze inevitably go up to his chest. It had been nicely toned for someone who was merely a Pokémon professor. While I had stray thoughts of wondering what he looked like with his shirt completely off, I certainly had no desire to actually find out!...Did I?
By the time I went up (with my very widened eyes) to see his face, mine was a heavy red. I felt hotter than what the water temperature here promised. Uh, I can't...my chest...why is my heart racing so fast?! Th-this is too much! Then suddenly...
Sycamore's lips suddenly stretched out in a devious smile and narrowed his eyes with interest as he saw a small drip of blood come down from one side of my nose. This was his cue to start taking advantage of the situation.
"And here I thought that you decided to leave me behind again given your habitual nature. It is rather pleasantly fortunate that I was wrong this time, yes?"
He casually stepped into the water and bravely made his way towards me with that intention of mischief all over his face. I tensed up as escape proved to be all but possible; especially now that I found myself unable to tear my gaze away from his chest. Dustox, who was just floating around on the model started to get hungry. Naturally, she saw the towel on my head as a source of food. She got up from her toy, fluttered past the professor and landed on my head to chew on the cottony goodness.
Thankfully, her presence and current activity snapped me out of the strange hypnosis. I swiftly gave him my back and put all of my attention on the large moth. Maybe if I ignored him and continued to talk to someone else, he would leave me alone; in theory anyway.
"Ho-hold it! Just uh...hang on a second!
I quickly took off my head wrap with my moth still on it and engaged in a strange conversation with her.
"Okay young lady! You're in big trouble!"
"Guuuuu?"
"Don't try to have that confused look on your face! You know very well that this towel is not ours! You can't just go and eat someone else's stuff that's not a part of Team Magma or when I give it to you!"
"Guuuu!"
"I still can't understand anything you're saying, but you should have let me know that you were hungry. I would have brought som-EEEP!"
A pair of hands suddenly grabbed my waist. The surprise of it made me violently jolt and startled dustox back onto her little boat. They then turned me around pulled me back against the moist, warm chest of Professor Sycamore. One of his hands migrated from my waist to the spot where towel's end was. All he had to do was pull and it would be the end for me. But he didn't do it; not yet anyway.
He dipped his head down to tenderly brush his soft lips against my skin starting from my exposed shoulder all the way to my neck. I couldn't help but shiver at his touch ; making me feel confusingly pleasant.
"Do you not think that you are being too harsh with your cute, little moth, dear? You act as if she can help go against her nature so easily..." He spoke softly while his mouth still on my vulnerable nape. This was when he grip got tighter on my towel. I tried to must up the want to push him away, but I failed to put up my defenses quick enough beforehand. Besides, it would still be useless so long as he had a hold on the only barrier I wore.
"...Just like us darling. As mere humans, we cannot help but want to give in to our most basic of desires. It is our flaws that we carry with our flesh, but do not feel shamed, everyone has their weaknesses...and it is not so wrong to submit to them every so often,"
Why did he have to make a subject sound so shameless?! Arceus help me if I ever wanted to talk about something simple like toothpaste!
There was no proper response on my end (not that he would listen anyway), for any sound that came out had been short, broken noises that were indistinguishable. Sycamore enjoyed the feeble defense for what it was as he moved his other hand to slide up my thigh. He finally moved his head to lock onto my eyes and take a nibble at my lips.
"Excuse me, but if you're both done with your provocative display, I would like to use this PUBLIC hot springs,"
Oh thank arceus! Hang on! I know that voice! While I was thankful for the distraction, I found myself in a predicament worse than Sycamore; yes there's someone else worse than him. Can you guess?!
The professor himself let out a short, annoyed grunt before he turned (reluctantly letting me go in the process) around to resume his default, naive persona.
"Oh, it is you! To think we would meet again so soon; especially in a place like this!"
I moved my head to the side and saw that it was indeed Maxie once more. Even without his stupid glasses and dorky outfit, his trademark red hair made him easily recognizable. He actually looked pretty was on the eyes, I mean he had a toned chest as well and wasn't lanky like I thought he would be. Hell, when he didn't have his big glasses on, the man looked more intim-WHAT AM I THINKING?!
Upon realizing what I was doing, my face morphed into a hateful glare. Maxie's however, was completely the opposite. If anything, a small upturned corner of his mouth suggested a mocking grin. Memories of what happened on Mt. Chimney flooded back only to anger me further. What the hell are YOU doing here?!" I exclaimed with my features heating up from fury.
"Well..." He said while he got in and relaxed himself on the side of the springs that was opposite from us. "Aside from getting amusement from your nosebleed, I'm here to enjoy myself...you know, what people usually come here to do. It's a wonder that a simple-minded child like you is still alive from lacking in common sense," he finished shortly before a small sigh escaped him and leaned back against the edge he was sitting at. What a pretentious asshole! How dare he act so relaxed and casual! What was even more frustrating was that my professor wasn't even budging from shock or immediately going to the cops (even though they are terrible at catching criminals) for something like this! In fact, beyond the annoyance of getting interrupted, he looked pretty calm! Was I the only sane one here?!
Overall, I didn't believe anything he spewed! Yeah sure, he just so happened to be a tourist! I bet he put a trap inside the girl's dressing too to put me off guard or something!
Wait...did he say that I had a nosebleed?
I felt under my nose and sure enough, there was a crimson color smeared across my fingertip. I got very embarrassed upon making the discovery and immediately rinsed my face off with the water.
"And you just contaminated the springs with your body fluids. Were you raised in a backwards home or are you usually like that? Either way, it's disturbing,"
Okay, I'm gonna hit him!
I began to wade over there with the intention of choking the life out of him. Very quickly however, I was quickly yanked back by Sycamore and was forced to be held still.
"Hey! What gives?! Lemme go!"
"I could, but you would surely get yourself into serious trouble,"
"What trouble?! Look how weak he is! Hitting him repeatedly in the stomach'll be easy!"
"Not if he has a large crobat watching your every move,"
A crobat?! What was he going on about? I didn't see any-SKREEEEEE!
Suddenly, a large oval-shaped thing immediately dropped down into the hot springs and splashed water everywhere. I was caught in the brunt of it as my whole top half was now drenched. When I was able to wipe the excess water off my face and was able to see again, my sight had now been looking at a large, dark purple bat that easily surpassed my height and width. It looked to be at least close to Sycamore's measurements and an inch above Maxie's.
The Pokémon glared at me as if I offended it in some way. Dustox let out an uneasy cry as she got up from her toy boat and landed on the bamboo fence. The magma leader remained unaffected and even magically pulled out those stupid teddy-Ursa shaped cookies. "Over here, boy," he called and waved the treat to capture its attention.
One look was all it took for it to be mesmerized by the thing and swim over to the man with its large body. When it got close enough, the crobat picked it out of his hand and began to nibble on the cookie with its dimply cheeks. Why did Maxie have to make that menacing thing look cute?
"There really shouldn't be a reason for you to resort to violence in a place like this," Maxie stated while petting his Pokémon's velvety fur. "Though it's probably typical for a foreigner like you. I'm going to take a wild guess. Unovian correct? Or maybe Johtoian?"
"You're the one who's the creepy, egotistical bastard! I'm not gonna listen to any more of your shit! I'm leaving!"
"So if I told you that your shy, little friend was shanghaied* by Team Aqua, you still wouldn't listen?"
I was getting ready to turn around when my whole body turned stiff the moment he finished that sentence. I didn't understand what the word 'shanghaied' meant, but if it involved Wally and those band of dinner show pirates (with Archie as their terrible leader), then it couldn't be good. Okay, maybe he was just saying that to get some sort of reaction out of me. Although, there was a gut feeling that told me he wasn't lying.
"...what do you know about Wally?"
"I thought you said that you weren't going to listen to me?"
"Well I-
"Oh my! Look at the time! Miss Maple and I have spent far too long here!"
Sycamore secured me by the waist before I could have time to smack his hands away and retreated towards the stony pathway. For the sake of my dignity, I dared not to put up a fight; though he was gonna get one later. "It was quite a nice time enjoying your company! Let us do this again, yes?"
Even though he said this, Sycamore declared it in a rushed fashion and quickly left the hot springs pool with me in his hold. Dustox wanted to get her little ship model, but the crobat stole the item before she could get to it. Swallowing the object whole.
*Continued in chapter 22*
*Shanghai: To enroll or obtain (a sailor) for the crew of a ship by unscrupulous means, as by force or the use of liquor or drugs.
(credit goes to website)
(credit for directions to use chopsticks goes to vector-stock website)
