Croagunk was still unaccustomed to Colin as Croagunk had its ass handed to it by Baz's Piplup and Colin's Shinx. Colin tried everything: food, water, even leaving in the tent by itself when Baz and Colin went to look for Berries when Piplup and Shinx had gotten themselves Poisoned by a particularly annoying group of Beedrill.
Croagunk hadn't really seen much action in battle at all yet. Shinx has been in every battle Colin had been in (he had destroyed a Youngster and his Starly earlier). But Colin was looking for more trainers to fight for Croagunk's sake. According to Colin's Pokedex, Croagunk had Pursuit, Mud-Slap, and Poison Sting. Shinx had Spark, Tackle,
Leer, and Charge. Interuppting the staring contest, Baz leaned over to Colin and said, "If you're done with your speed dating session, we should get moving." Colin jumped when Baz spoke up. Baz snickered slightly. Colin glared like his Croagunk at Baz. Baz and Colin quickly cleaned up everything and everyone got back in thier Pokeballs.
Except Croagunk.
Croagunk had decided it was going to be hoisted on Colin's back and piggybacked all across the Sinnoh region. Colin just kinda rolled with it. Nevertheless, at noon, the pair and Pokemon had made it to Jubilife. "From what I've heard", Colin began. "This is where we can get some info about the gym challenge." "Sweet." Baz walked with his arms behind his head and Piplup by his side. "But what about when it's all over?" Colin looked over at Baz. "Just we get 8 badges, boom. Then what?" Colin looked up from his map and said, "Well, I figured we could take on the other gym challenges." Baz let Piplup out of its Pokeball and the bird Pokemon was now walking alongside its companion. Colin continued, "So we could go to Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Unova, or even Kalos." "Which one would you like to visit?", Baz asked. "Let's get through Sinnoh, first.", Colin said. Colin froze. "What is it?"
Colin shushed him. Croagunk had fallen asleep on Colin. As if Croagunk was waiting to be noticed, the frog Pokemon snapped back up into an upright position. "Look, Baz!", Colin said pointing forward.
The city was beautiful. They had made it to Jubilife as the sun set. Even better, thought Baz. The first thing the duo noticed was a large building topped off with a large radio spire with neon rims. Several cylinder shaped buildings were scattered around the radio building. One was near the entrance and it was lighting up intensely. The Pokemon Center was a bit further ahead of them, but they could clearly see it from the city's entryway. Across from the Pokemon Center was another building with an equally bright orange roof. Baz's eyes lit up when he saw it, Colin, however, shuddered at the sight of it. "The Trainer's School." The two spoke at the same time, then looked at each other. "We need to stop doing that.", said Baz. "Agreed.", Colin replied. "I haven't seen this place in a looooooong time.", Baz said, stretching as he did. "I wonder if my teacher still works the-" Baz didn't get to finish that sentence as Colin grabbed the back of his shirt. Baz, turning around, said, "Hey, what is i-" Cut off again. "As much I'd like to take a trip down memory lane, let's get a room first, how about?" Baz looked frustrated at first, but came around to the idea. The two had finally got into a room (someone came in screaming about stealth rock. strange.) when a small digital clock told the two that it was 9:49 at night.
Colin removed his flat cap and ruffled his light brown, wavy hair. Baz let Piplup out and it immediately tried (and failed) to get on the bed without Baz's help. Colin let Shinx out and Croagunk slid off Colin's hoodie. Colin looked at the room for a second. Two beds, a closet, and a pretty nice view...of a radio spire. Fantastic. Opening the closet, Colin found a pile of cloth. Curtains?, thought Colin. He smoothed them out and placed them in a corner of the room near the window. Shinx ran and jumped into the pile, calling it home. Colin looked around for Croagunk and practically jumped out of his skin when he saw Croagunk on a shelf, peering down on him like a Poke gargoyle.
Colin didn't think the frog Pokemon was inherently creepy, just...misunderstood. Yeah. That's a word for Croagunk. Baz looked at Colin and asked, "So why didn't you want to go to the school earlier?" Colin seemed to retract further into the blankets and said, "I just...had a bad expirence at my school."
Colin wanted it to end there. Baz went, "Colin, as a friend, you can tell me." Colin looked up at Baz. "Fine. Get comfortable, this may take a while."
"So I am from Hoenn, from a little town called Petalburg. My mom managed the local Pokemart and when I was too little to go to school, the gym leader at Petalburg, Norman, would watch me. I'd be at the gym when he got there. I got to watch him battle everyday. I learned battle tactics from him. How to really mess with your opponent, get in their heads, manipulate their moves without them even knowing." Baz looked slightly spooked. Shinx, Piplup, and even Croagunk were sitting with Baz listening, as if they were interested in Colin's story. "Anyway, when I actually did go to school, I wasn't popular. I got messed with. The school was in Rustboro, a city north of Petalburg. There's a good forest inbetween Petalburg and Rustboro. Norman would walk me to the entrance of Rustboro. He'd wait there for me to come out to go home. I guess he was a family friend or he wouldn't have done that for me. I was at school and my mom was working to put food under us and a roof above us. One day, I forgot my notebook. Norman saw I dropped and ran it to the school himself. He had a chat with Ms. Roxanne, the gym leader in Rustboro. The entire class thought I was the coolest."
Colin smiled and MEANT IT for once. Everything was slowed. It was 10:14. Baz's electric blue eyes stayed fixed on Colin. "So, with every good thing, there are gonna be critics. the bullies really didn't mess with me until the next to last day of school ever." Colin gripped the bedsheet. "My notebook was my pride and joy. I would go with Norman and watch him battle. I'd take notes. I'd watch wild Pokemon. Study them. Everything that was my 8-year old self was in that notebook." Colin's hands became fists. "The two bullies walked up to me one day and asked to see it. I said no. One snatched and the other held me down." Colin felt tears welling up. "They made me watch...MADE ME FUCKING WATCH, as they tore it to pieces. Stomped on it and everything. Ms. Roxanne walked in too late. She severly punished them, but the damge was already done." Colin was fighting the tears back at this point.
"She let me leave early, before everyone got back in. I bolted to the woods. I ran across the beach. I got to the gym. Norman was just leaving. He saw me and I saw him, and I fell to my knees and cried my heart out. Norman comforted me as possible. Three days later, I'm moving to a region I knew nothing about. And now I'm here." Colin smiled as he lost it and tears streamed down his face. Baz looked at him, his electric blue eyes seemed dimmer than usual. Saying nothing, Baz got up walked to Colin, and hugged him.
The kind of hug that says, "I know how you feel." Humans and Pokemon. Except Croagunk. Croagunk hopped next to Colin and, as well as a Croagunk could, hugged Colin. Colin was shocked. Croagunk looked sorry for Colin. It was all like a strange dream.
Croagunk hopped up to the shelf he called bed and (literally) fell asleep. "I think,", Colin began, "Croagunk's got the right idea. Let's all get some rest." 1:25. Colin woke up and looked around. Shinx was curled up next to him, Baz and Piplup were practically one being, and everyone was ok. Except Croagunk. Croagunk woke up and walked to Colin. The frog Pokemon looked up at Colin and patted Colin's arm. Maybe Croagunk thinks I'm asleep?, Colin guessed. Croagunk plopped down on Shinx's pile of cloth. Colin picked up his flat cap. He opened up to someone toady. That's going to need getting used to. He let someone see the not-so-pretty sides of him. Never done that before. He wasn't strong enough to keep others from crying. He fished inside the rim of the flat cap and picked up a somewhat small, slightly charred picture. Four people were pictured: A younger Norman, a younger version of Colin's mother, Colin as a baby, and a fourth person obscured by char marks. "Never again.", Colin said and fell asleep without another thought.
-AUTHOR'S NOTE-
I am so sorry about taking so long to get another chapter out. I hit a rather nasty case of writer's block. And WordPad is strange to use, but at least it marginalizes for me. Anyway, Ch.5 hopefully will be out later this week. Again, Sorry for the inconvenience!
Best Wishes and 3,
-S