To my lovely readers! I miss you all so much. But my life hates me and my creative writing teacher is slowly killing my joy of writing. Why would you tell your students that they'll never have an original thought in their entire lives!? It's like she's proclaiming that every story to ever be written has already been written. And While I understand where she's coming from, I'm not into the idea that everything is exactly the same as everything else. I need out of that class, but alas, not possible. So, instead, I'm just going to post this and hope that Loki doesn't hate me for avoiding him and that story – apparently the Marvel universe hates me, too.
Otherwise, enjoy and review please! Oh, and ignore my tirade. Just had to get that out. REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY!
Univerce
My Idiot Father's Fault
As soon as Yamask had disappeared, Ash went straight into battle mode, demanding a match against Lenora. On the brighter side, she unlocked the library for me, pushing me off towards the bookshelves while the others followed her and Hawes. My ears even caught Cilan asking why exactly I wasn't joining them on their little trip through the shelves. Well, for one thing, after watching trainer after trainer go through that section of books, it's become second nature for me to just go up and pull the book from the shelf for them. Often times, it just takes too freaking long for those idiots to get it.
Moments later, my hand slaps onto the top of my pile of books on the table, resisting the rumble's attempt to topple them. Clearly, Ash found the exact book and pulled it, taking Lenora's advice to the letter. She always says to start with a certain book and he did. They're probably asking right now why exactly she used that specific test.
A rather cruel answer obviously awaits them. Trainers pick their own types of books or thin ones nine times out of ten, thinking that going through the shelves and reading up is the easiest way to her battle field. What they don't realize is that she's analyzing her competition much the same way I analyzed the Yamask situation. She probably even explained her analysis of Ash. Aggressive with a side of determination that will, ultimately, translate to a direct battle style mixed with rare moments of strategy. Easy and predictable, he'll rely on his pokemon's strength for the most part.
Lenora wipes the floor of her gym with people like him the first time around. No matter who it is. After all, she has a great deal of knowledge stored in her brain, and that is power.
Now, still sitting among my books, happily reading through a pokemon species guide, I can't help but think about the roads the trainers have to take. Whether it's by contest or gym, every trainer on a journey has to walk the same routes and stop at the same pokemon centers. They all have to travel the same path to learn about and understand the creatures and world that surround them. It makes me wonder what exactly I'm going to do if neither of those goals really fit me or are my own.
How the hell will I walk that path?
"There you are."
My eyes lift from my book, spotting Lenora grinning as she steps from around a bookcase.
"I've been looking for you."
"Hello, Lenora," I smile, eyes dropping back to my book. "How'd the battle go? Clean the floor with him?"
I can feel the laughter she doesn't let out vibrating through the library. "And the walls," she sighs. "He's got spirit, though, that's for sure!"
"Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, alright. What's up?"
She takes a seat across from me, the piles of books that have accumulated around me easily shoved aside. We've both got practice moving these piles, now nothing more than second nature whenever we see them in our way.
"Just wondering about earlier. You knew it was a Yamask before I got there, didn't you?"
My hands slowly shut the book in them, head nodding automatically – no point in lying or avoiding the question, as if there's a reason to. "It took me a little while to piece it all together, but seeing the mask and hearing the cries snapped it all into place."
"That's good. You've learned a lot over the years you've been visiting… Which has me wondering… Why did you ask Nurse Joy to let that pokemon go?"
That was unexpected. My head snaps up, eyes wide as they land on her curious expression. How did Lenora find out so quickly about that one? There's no way she was in the center yesterday without me noticing her at all. For me, that's absolutely impossible.
"Sweetie, you don't give your father enough credit. He's smart when he needs to be."
Of course. Dad probably caught her before she got to the museum earlier this morning. The idiot's sticking his nose into my business again, telling her about that self-catching pokemon and probably even where it is. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he went ahead and asked Nurse Joy to give him back the pokeball and instead handed it over to Lenora! Well, better get this over with. And stop letting my idiot father stay behind to speak to people without me…
"Alright, let's hear it," I grumble, laying my head on the table as another thought hits me. "How stupid am I?"
"Pretty stupid, despite all the reading. You didn't even let the poor thing out and ask if it was okay? Or if it was even aware of what it did?" she laughs, pointing out the one flaw I had just realized. "From the way your dad made it sound, that pokemon was waiting for you to toss that pokeball at it. Would it have really hurt anything to make sure of it?"
My eyes roll at the obvious. "Sure, sure. But I wasn't just going to take the pokemon like my father thought I should, y'know."
"I can respect that. You're a strange kid with a strange ideal, but you stick to it, and that's important. Even if, every now and then, you skimp on the full process. But the point is that you don't know pokemon in practice like you do theory… Now, then, how about you go ahead and take a look? Find out if I'm right?"
The familiar cherish ball is sat in front of me, pulled out from beneath the table by Lenora who no doubt did get it from my father. Meddling idiot that he is. Staring at the shining case, part of me feels like blatantly ignoring its existence, pretending the pokemon's already been released out in the forest. Another part, and far stronger, is telling me to take her advice and open it up. See what kind of pokemon had been caught the other night and find out why it didn't fight back. Per usual with any type of battle, the stronger side wins. Seconds later, the ball is in my hand and a thumb presses in on the button.
Unsurprisingly, Lenora gave me another pokeball, a Quick Ball to be exact, telling me to head out into the forest and figure it all out. Part of me still feels a little upset about the pokemon in the cherish ball as is – bad enough I was wrong about what it was – and now she wants me to go and capture another one without a thought. What's she up to? Kicking me into my journey, probably. Why the heck am I even wondering, anyway? The normal type gym leader usually only has the best intentions for any trainer that walks into her museum, myself included. But that still leaves me with the dilemma she left in my hand: the unused pokeball.
"Why me?"
For what seems like the hundredth time, my feet stop short, head fallen back to stare up through the trees. The closest collection of pokemon near Nacrene City has always been Pinwheel Forest, and my father and I have our own little secret path that gets us straight through to the deepest part. Most people have to take the long way around just to get through the outer edges. Thanks to numerous years of growth and the protection plans put in place by the Unova Region's government, the path had to wind around certain areas of habitat. That doesn't mean people can't catch the pokemon, but developers of the roads have to avoid touching the pokemon sanctuaries scattered throughout Pinwheel Forest. Now there are a few miles of path stretching back and forth through the trees, barely kept track of on a map.
Just last week, Nacrene City had to send out a search team for a family of campers that sent out a distress signal. They had gotten lost out on the path and tried to use a compass to get out instead. It didn't take long to find them, of course, since the rescue team got to use helicopters and propel a few guides down into the area, but still. This place can beat the snot out of even the most well-versed adventurer. Maybe that's why I like it so much.
"Pokemon, pokemon, pokemon," I grumble continuously, finally starting back up on my walking.
Since Lenora did give me a pokeball, one can only assume she wants me to catch one of the many creatures in this messed up world. That means actually battling one in the first place, a hard thing to do when you only just got your first one – yeah, like it catching itself counts – and it seems more interested in playing than anything else. Clearly life has it out for me and doesn't plan on apologizing. Instead of whining about it, though, my mind refocuses on the obvious task at hand. Lenora wants me to catch a pokemon, but what kind do I even want following me around? Man, this sucks!
With a sigh, my mind blocks out wherever it is my feet are headed, instead turning its attention towards my other pokeball. It was a little pride ruining to find out that the pokemon inside wasn't actually of the canine family but one of the feline family. Lenora called it an easy mistake, especially in the dark, and said that she knew many people, Hawes included, that considered the happy creature a canine anyway. Her words make me wonder if she even realizes what that 'easy mistake' really means to me. When identifying pokemon is something you're prideful of, messing up is a huge blow, circumstances withstanding. Confusing canine and feline is nothing but embarrassing.
My ears perk up at an unfamiliar cry. Well, not unfamiliar exactly, but at this time of day very unusual at the least. That kind of cry is normally heard at night, and often enough much deeper into the trees than I am right now. Knowing what to look for, my eyes scan the surrounding vegetation, trying to spot the glowing eyes that indicate a pokemon in the darkness.
Maybe ignoring Lenora's little gift would have been a better idea…
"I see you, y'know. And I'm not dumb enough to step off the path," I call out, foot tapping against the dirt pathway beneath me as I lie through my teeth. "Might as well come out."
It's disappointing when the pokemon doesn't even make a sound. Then another thought hits me: these pokemon love shiny objects. And there's one in my hand, when the light hits it just right. With a twist of my wrist, a small flash of reflected light slips through the forest, hitting those eyes dead on and sending the pokemon reeling. The crashes and flapping sounds assure me of what exactly is beyond the trees and leaves and a grin spreads over my face. Contrary to popular belief and superstition, they don't actually bring bad fortunes so much as go along with it. And those who follow them haphazardly are bound to find themselves lost and without a clue as to their own whereabouts. These birds don't foretell issues, but people expect the problems on sight and thus bring them about themselves. Self-fulfilling prophecy right there.
"Want it?" I giggle, smirking while holding up the ball. "Come get it, Murkrow."
To my slight delight, and major guilt, the bird shoots from the trees and straight for the ball in my hand. On reflex, my feet twist around, pivoting on one to pull myself and the object of the bird's attention out of the way. While the Murkrow twists upward and rockets further into the air, my hand sets itself up on the pokeball, button facing away to be tapped. Another few seconds later, the flying type zooms back down, aiming itself for my hand. With a slight qualm, I toss it forward, aiming for the top of the bird's head. A grin spreads over my face as the bird's body taps against the button, activating the capture function, and the pokeball pulls the creature in.
This doesn't stop gravity, though.
I dive forward with my hands held out, barely saving both ball and pokemon from imminent danger. In my hands, the ball starts to shake and bounce, obvious signs that Murkrow doesn't want to be in there. The feeling reminds me of the reasons that pokeballs, to me, are nothing but cages. Just now, agitating the flying pokemon into rushing me, my beliefs flew out the window the moment this bird appeared. And now it's losing its freedom to a ball.
"Come on," I mutter, eyes tearing up. "Fight back… please."
Dread fills me as the shaking weakens until, finally, the ball stops and the sensors ding and seal shut. Capture successful. One dark/flying type captured and enslaved until further notice. Maybe Nurse Joy will tell me how exactly to release a caught one from its pokeball. Then another thought slaps me in the face and I shift up to sit on my heels – Murkrow might actually want to come with me.
"Would it have really hurt anything to make sure of it?"
Lenora's a gym leader and she knows pokemon better than any trainer that walks through her doors and into her library. She knows better than Ash that a pokemon's strength takes time to grow and that the pokemon itself needs that same time to truly mature. So it's a safe bet that she knows better than me that some pokemon, whether they know or it not when first captured, actually enjoy training alongside humanity.
"Would it really hurt anything to make sure?" I mutter to myself crossly. "Well, it could. Family? But animals only stick with their young for a few years before leaving them behind. Friends? Pokemon are friends with every other pokemon in the world save a few natural enemies of their own species…"
After a deep breath, my finger presses in on the button, releasing the seal and opening up the sphere. A bright flash of white blinds me for a moment, replaced swiftly by a solid Murkrow staring intently at me. It wouldn't really do any harm to be completely sure of whether or not this bird wants to come with me, would it? But, how exactly am I supposed to ask this bird if it wants to remain in my care, trained to be stronger? General education doesn't exactly cover speaking pokemon, you know?
"How do I ask?"
The bird cocks its head to the side. "Crow?"
"I doubt you'd understand if I asked whether or not you wanted to stick with me… Would you?"
Slightly surprising, the Murkrow narrows its eyes in anger, quickly crowing at me in indignation. After watching for a few seconds, a smile spreads over my face. Animals really are smarter than people give them credit for, aren't they?
"Well, would you? Like to stay with me, that is."
Folding its wings up to its sides, the bird trots towards me and hops up onto my shoulder. Still a little unsure about this, my hand holds up the ball, palm flat and offering. Without missing a beat, the bird taps at the ball a few times before randomly hitting the button and being recalled into the sphere. Well what do you know? A Murkrow actually likes my first impression enough to follow me around for who knows how long.
With a grin on my face – that's my first intentional one! – I climb up from the ground and turn back towards the city.
"There's my baby girl!" Dad laughs when my feet step through the door. "Enjoy your night at the museum? See any interesting tablets or dinosaur skeletons?"
"Usually, yes. But we stuck to the newer exhibits last night. There was a Yamask terrorizing Hawes for accidently taking its mask and putting it in a display case."
He blinks for a moment, staring at me from the couch in the living room before bursting out, laughing his head off. Nice to know he's enjoying himself. Hopefully he doesn't find out about the pokeballs in my pocket and keeps his thoughts to himself otherwise. If Mom finds out that he tried to get Lenora to convince me on keeping a pokemon, he's dead meat. Then again, he usually doesn't care when it comes to getting me started on my journey. They've argued enough about it for me to tell.
"Ha ha, very funny," I sigh. "I'm going to bed."
And stoically ignore his continuing laughter.
Lenora was right about the second pokemon, at least. The first one is still a bit shaky, though, and not exactly the most… well, let's just say the first one isn't the brightest of the bunch. A Psyduck probably understands more of the world around it than the pokemon in my cherish ball. But it's cute enough not to be annoyed with, so…
"Anyone home?" I sigh, stepping through the museum's front doors.
"Oh, Adlien!" a staff member chirps, appearing from an exhibit room. "Lenora and Hawes are in the library, sweetie. You know the way and the door should be unlocked!"
Not surprising. "Thanks."
With the miniaturized pokeballs in my pocket, my feet carry me off in the appointed direction of the library. Just like the staff member said, the door is unlocked and slides out of the way without a hitch. On the other side of the library, striding up to the usual gym stadium entrance, the shelves are already out of the way for me. And down below, the sounds of battle are echoing up and out. Obviously she has a challenger already, and it's barely anywhere into the morning. Good for her. If anyone has any brains, they'd avoid walking into the gym at the moment. All the way past that end of that side of the spectrum is me, who has brains but doesn't care enough.
Acting like an idiot, because everyone needs to do so every once in a while, I let my feet start down the stairs. Hopefully there won't be a stray attack heading straight for the entrance. A weak tremor snakes up the stairs, offsetting my balance for a moment before ceasing quickly. Well, something's clearly exploded and broken itself. Most likely the field… My legs go faster.
"Lenora?"
To my slight shock, the battle field isn't actually a mess, not so much as the pokemon trying to climb to their feet on it. A Tepig is shakily forcing itself up, no doubt a partner of the challenger – oh look, Ash is back. Opposite the little piglet is a struggling Herdier, another shock to my system as the facts click that Lenora's Lillipup is now evolved. That's too bad, too. I really liked Lillipup the way he was, adorable and happy-go-lucky. Herdier just looks plain old grumpy and tired, especially as damaged as it is when finally giving up and falling back to the ground.
"Herdier is unable to battle!" Hawes voice echoes through the gym. "The winner is Tepig and the battle goes to the challenger, Ash!"
"So he wins the second time around, then?" I sigh. "How sad. He's not taking his time."
Focusing back on the victor of the match, my eyes pick out the little details, including how he cheers for his pokemon and admires the badge handed to him. How fun… Well, at least that'll get him out of Nacrene City and off on whatever crazy adventure he's on. Since he is collecting the badges, he's obviously going to the Unova league, most likely moving further after that. Although, is he from Unova or another region?
"Adlien! You made it!"
Hawes grabs my attention easily, waving me over to the now completed group of people. With nothing better to do, I humor him and stride up to the collective, giving Lenora a pointed look before pulling out both of my pokeballs.
"Is there a reason you sent me out to catch one?"
Her answering grin has me grimacing in return. She's come up with some hair-brained scheme, hasn't she? A quick check to Hawes shows him giving me a kind smile, placing him among the conspirators. On the bright side, the kids in the room don't seem very aware to what's going on, so they're safe from my wrath.
"What's so funny?" I grind out.
"Let's see 'em!"
Huffing, I enlarge the spheres and tap on the release buttons. Murkrow squawks happily, zooming up into the air without a worry. Similarly, my feline pokemon stretches out on the ground, laying out for a nap.
"Is that a… Shinx?" Ash asks in confusion.
