Home Again, Chapter 20
I was dirty, smelly, face covered in soot and dirt, dress an absolute mess, but I was home. I wasted no time in getting back to Pallet Town after hearing Blaine's final warning, stopping only at the Pokemon Center to have my friends healed up. Nurse Joy offered me some privacy and a bath to wash up, even. I turned her down, though, eager to get back home.
I pushed Lapras the entire time across Route 21. Unlike the boring ride to Cinnabar, my eyes were fixed on the town that would show up in the north. I don't think I'd ever been so desperate to see Pallet Town like I was that day. We washed up near town, on the same beach where I used to hang out all the time with Deneb when we were kids.
We still were kids, just a little bit older and much wiser.
And like the kid I was, I went running through the dirt roads of Pallet Town, Vulpix trying desperately to keep up with me. I saw a few familiar faces, even an old friend or two, but I didn't stop running. There was really only one person I wanted to see more than anything.
Mom told me she was inside the house, making something to eat, when I nearly broke the door down. She came running with a frying pan in her hands, only to find me standing there. She could hardly believe her eyes, she said, as she heard my voice in person for the first time in almost a month. I hadn't spoken to her since the incident at the Silph Building in Saffron City.
"I'm home, Mom!"
She dropped the frying pan on the floor, and ran over to me. She picked me up and swung me around the room, tears flowing from her eyes, and mine, too. I hugged her as hard as I could right back, but it was nothing compared to her strength. If it was up to her, she'd never let me leave again. Vulpix jumped between the two of us, licking Mom on the face. For just a few seconds, all was right in the world.
~o~
Of course, happy as Mom was to have me back home, after the initial teary-eyed reunion, she got right to being the same crazy Mom I knew and loved. She took my bag and Pokeballs from me, placing them on the table in the kitchen before her finger went pointing towards the bathroom.
"I never raised such a filthy little girl! Get your butt to the bathroom, missy, and wash up!"
And wash up I did. I think Mom even disposed of every piece of clothing I had in my bag, though I couldn't blame her. When you're out on the road as a Pokemon trainer, laundry days are few and far between, so most of the time it was a matter of dipping the clothes in a pond or river and letting them dry as you camped out on the road. I did that myself quite a few times, despite you not hearing about it. If I told you every little thing I did on my journey, you'd be bored to death before I even got to Cerulean City!
Well, after a nice, long bubble bath, I walked into my room to find a brand new yellow dress laid out for me on my bed. Along the bottom hem, towards the left end, there was a patch of a red star. Thrilled by the gift, I quickly slipped into it, and ran downstairs to give Mom a big kiss. The second surprise for me there was a plate of chocolate chip cookies, freshly bought from the store and awaiting my consumption. Vulpix herself could hardly resist chowing down.
"Are you sure it's okay, Mom? Won't this 'spoil my appetite'?" It was a strange experience, to say the least. Before I left, Mom never would've done something like this. I felt like a little kid who was somehow being bribed by her parent for a reason she didn't quite understand yet. Like cookies now, dentist later.
"I can make an exception," she said, kissing me on the forehead. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you, too, Mom. How have you been?"
As I stuffed myself with more cookies than I had ever seen at once in my life, Mom got around to all the latest gossip of Pallet Town. Fortunately for her, she had many other mom friends in town, so she never felt truly lonely. She said her evenings and nights were extra sad, though, without me there for her to tuck in. Even though I was already ten before I left, Mom always tucked me in at night, always saying I would always be her little baby. The embarrassment at school was terrible.
The entire time I was there with her, I didn't have the heart to interrupt her stories and tell her I'd be hitting the road again. There was, after all, still one badge left for me to collect. I'd eaten enough cookies to last me weeks, but Vulpix continued to eat, to which I warned she'd turn into a fatty. She didn't seem to care though, and continued to devour the sweets on the plate.
"Mom, I'm going out for a minute." I eventually said, after she'd quieted down for more than a minute.
"What!? Where are you going?"
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving again," I said, adding in 'not yet' in my head. "Just have to go visit Deneb's mom."
"You want me to walk you there?" She was already reaching for her keys.
"Mom! Did you already forget I was traveling all over the world without you?"
"I'm sorry, it's just been so long, I just want to spend as much time with you as possible before you leave again!"
"Leave again? I never said I was going away." Had she somehow learned to read minds while I was away?
"Oh, Star, you forget I carried you for nine months. That, and I saw this," she held up my trainer card, flipping it over to show me the seven badges affixed to the other side.
"There's one missing, so I know you're going to be leaving again." The look on her face cut deep.
"Don't worry, Mom! The last gym is at Viridian City, so I won't be that far! We'll talk about it when I get back, I have to go talk with Deneb's mom right quick!"
Deneb's house was right next door, though in Pallet Town, next door could easily mean a small hike. Despite there being a small population, most of the houses were pretty far from each other. The front door was open, as usual, so I walked inside, but made sure to knock on the open door before I went any further.
"Hello? Mrs Lucian? Are you home?"
"In here! Please, come in!" She called out from within.
I followed the woman's voice to the kitchen, where she was busy sitting at the table, cutting vegetables for cooking. I sat down at the table next to her.
"Oh my stars, it's Star! Dearie, how've you been?"
"Fine, Mrs Lucian. How about you?" I lowered my head slightly and kept my hands on my lap the entire time. Like Koga, Mrs Lucian was fond of the fancy mannerisms.
"Just great, dearie! I heard from your mother what you did earlier this summer! How could you?" I ducked my head a little, afraid to get the disciplinary smack on the head.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Lucian, but I had to do it! Otherwise, Mom would never have let me go on a Pokemon adventure, like Deneb."
"You children and your Pokemon. Let me tell you: I didn't approve of Deneb's decision at first, but when classes ended, and he begged me, well... I just couldn't say no, you know?"
"Mrs Lucian, that's why I'm here. Have you talked to Deneb recently?"
"Why, just yesterday, dearie. He said he was in Fuchsia City, and had only one final stop to make after that."
"Did he happen to say where he was headed next?"
"He calls in every day, dearie, something you should've done with your poor mother!" Again, I lowered my head, acting ashamed of myself. Not that I didn't want to call Mom every chance I got, it just slipped my mind most of the time.
"Well, when does he usually call?"
"Around eight or nine in the evening, usually. Sometimes he doesn't, because he's out on one of the routes, he says. If you want get in touch with him, you'd best return then, dearie."
~o~
"How did you like dinner, Star?"
"It was delicious! It's been so long since I ate such yummy food!" And that was definitely no lie. Since I always had to run around on a tight budget, especially after the festival at Celadon, my diet was usually water and sandwiches or snacks. Of course, Mom didn't know that, otherwise she'd throw a fit at the thought of her 'baby' not eating right. Then she'd really lock me in my room; crib and all, most likely.
"Glad to hear it! So, how long will you be staying?"
"I'm not really sure. A couple days, probably. I have to talk to Deneb first." I said as I finished what was on my plate. In the corner of the kitchen, Vulpix lay sprawled out on the floor. She had her fill, as well.
"How is he? I'm afraid to say I haven't spoken with Miranda in a few days." Mom collected the plates from the table, preparing to do the dishes.
"I don't know, we last met when I was in Celadon City. We... kinda got into a fight." And for some reason, I was feeling like it was all my fault for no reason.
"Really? You and Deneb? That's certainly something!"
"Why do you say that, Mom? We always fought when we were little."
"Oh, please! Those little scuffles were more about love than anything! I know you have the biggest crush on him! He likes you, too, if I recall-"
"MOM!" I cried out, hiding my face under my arms on the table. All she did was laugh. After my blush died down a little, I looked at the clock, seeing it was almost eight. If Deneb was going to call, it'd be any minute from then to nine, so I had to be on the move. Mom told me to wait, that she was going with me, so I ended up tapping my foot by her as she finished up the dishes.
"You didn't really mean any of that, did you?" I said on the way to Deneb's house. Mom giggled.
"About you being in love with Deneb? Oh sweetie, it's as obvious as the stars in the night sky!" Fortunately for me, it was dark enough to hide my blush.
"R-Really?"
"It's okay, Star," Mom said, patting my head. "I'd like to think it's a silly kids' crush, but the more I think about it, the more obvious it is."
I didn't say anything else the rest of the way. It would only serve to make me blush hotter still. I mean, I liked Deneb. Like liked him. But love? Wasn't that something grown-ups- I mean, adults- experienced? Actually, the rest of the way was so confusing, I almost wished I had spoken to Mom about it some more. I wasn't sure if I should've been thinking like a kid or a grown-up at the time.
"Why, if it isn't Stella! Please, come in." Mrs Lucian met us at the front door this time, though it was still wide open. I never understood why she liked to keep it open always.
"How have you been, Miranda? I'm sorry I haven't come by often, I've been a bit busy at home, you see."
"Quite alright, I understand. So, what have you been-"
"Excuse me, Mrs Lucian," I interrupted, knowing full well the speech about being polite I was most likely about to receive. "Has Deneb called yet?"
"Star!" Mom was about to start the scolding speech, but Mrs Lucian saved me.
"It's alright, Stella. Deneb hasn't called yet, dearie. The phone is in the kitchen, you can sit by it and wait while your mom and I catch up."
"Thank you." I made sure to give a bow and everything, hoping it would ease up the sharp words Mom would swing at me later. I ran into the kitchen before either of them could say anything else.
So I sat and waited. I could hear them talk on and on about the dullest of things, none of them relating to Pokemon. Vulpix wasn't even around to play with, she stayed in my room, feeling a bit sick after eating all those cookies and food. I had warned her, but she kept on chowing. At roughly a quarter to nine, the phone finally rang. I answered it before the annoying voice came on to say 'Ring-ring-ring!'.
"Mom?" Deneb was on the other line.
"No, it's Star! Hi, Deneb!" I practically screamed into the receiver.
"Star? You're back in Pallet Town already?" By this point, the monitor turned on, and we could see each other at last.
"Yeah, I got here earlier today! Where are you?"
"Vermillion City. I'm on my way back to Viridian City, but it's still quite a trip. Not looking forward to Mt Moon again."
"Actually, you don't have to," I told Deneb, remembering what David had told me back on Route 16. "There should be a shortcut available, just outside Vermillion City: a cave or tunnel leading underground."
"I saw it on my way in. Is it safe?"
"My friend David made it! I'm pretty sure it's a safe trip, and it'll take you right outside Pewter City, too!"
"Well, that's a relief," Deneb said, wiping some imaginary sweat from his forehead. "I may be able to make it back to Viridian City then in a couple days. Less if I double time it through the tunnel."
"Don't worry, there's no need for you to rush," I said. "One more day here in Pallet Town would be nice for me."
"Yeah, but I want to get back home, too! I'll go as fast as I can, but I won't overdo it."
"So you're coming all the way back to Pallet Town?" I expected Deneb to want to meet up in Viridian City, to be honest.
"Well, yeah. I'd like to see my own mom again in person. Why?"
"That's okay, actually. It's better this way, see? I know who the leader is, and I think we should come up with a plan before we challenge him." Deneb's brow rose up.
"Who is it?"
"I'd rather not say over the phone, just to be safe." I was actually trying to avoid drawing Lance into this. If he still had me bugged somehow, which I couldn't see how, he'd ruin our chance to get the final badge by scaring Giovanni away again. I made sure to turn my bag inside out after the Silph building, and I couldn't find any more bugs other than the two Lance pointed out.
"Well, fine. Tell my mom I'll be home as soon as possible, and I won't be calling back until then. Faster I move, the faster I can get home."
"Okay, Deneb, I'll let her know. Goodbye."
He nodded his head, and the screen went blank. I didn't notice a hint of anger in his voice, so I guess he was over what had happened the last time we spoke. It was mostly my fault, so if anything, I was the one that had to get over it. Perhaps I could sort it all out for good, now that I was home again. I told Mom and Mrs Lucian what happened, then we returned home.
Vulpix was sleeping soundly when we got back, so I did my best to slip into my nightgown and crawl into bed without waking her up. After Mom tucked me in, as usual, I drifted off to sleep. The only thoughts on my mind as I did were of fond memories, from a time before Pokemon ruled my every thought. Memories of the beach, with Deneb at my side.
~o~
If Giovanni truly was the leader of the Viridian City gym, I knew I had little chance of beating him in a battle. What scared me more, however, was not losing to him, but losing my Pokemon to him. He had shown me before he was not afraid of using the banned moves to win battles, and had no problems killing Pokemon in the process. Maybe it was a bit wimpish of me to go hiding behind Deneb, but I knew he wouldn't turn down my offer to face Giovanni together. And I knew Giovanni wouldn't shy away from a chance to prove his strength in a double Pokemon battle.
However, until Deneb returned to Pallet Town, I was free to enjoy my summer. Classes had already resumed, so hanging out with my friends was not possible until later in the day. Instead, I hanged around the house with Mom for a while in the morning, but eventually I took my Pokeball belt and Vulpix and ran out to the beach. There, I released all my Pokemon, allowing them to frolic about for a while in the warm sun. I, in the meantime, took a nice swim with Lapras, using him as a floating device. I'd sink like a rock on my own, if you recall.
The commotion my Pokemon were causing on the beach, what with them playing around so much, eventually caught the attention of a person I never got the chance to thank for his help earlier in my journey. He walked up onto beach, still wearing his old white lab coat, and enjoying the warm sun as well. Once I saw him on the beach, petting Vulpix and examining the rest of my critters, I told Lapras to take me back to the shore.
"Welcome back, Star. I heard from the neighbors yesterday."
"Hello, Professor Oak," I said, wrapping a towel around myself after getting out of the water. "I never got a chance to thank you for the Pokedex you sent me."
"No problem at all! It's my job to help out you young trainers any way I can. Speaking of which, how's the Pokedex coming along?"
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"What do I-? You mean to tell me you never read the instructions included with the Pokedex?" I looked down at my feet, kicking some sand aside as I came up with an excuse.
"Well, I read how the Pokedex works! That's what you mean, right?" I tried to keep up a smile, but Oak's face wasn't smiling with me.
"There were more instructions, on the other side of the paper!"
"Then no, I didn't. What else was there to say?" Oak's hand shot for his face. I suddenly felt like I was in big trouble.
"Star, the entire reason I hand out the Pokedex to trainers, aside from helping them in their adventures, is so that they help me compile more information about Pokemon! For all the years we've been researching and writing about Pokemon, it's only now that we're actually starting to understand their true nature!"
"And the Pokedex helps somehow?" I tilted my head slightly, like Vulpix would do when she didn't understand what I was telling her.
"It took me years upon years of work to perfect that device! Not only is it uploaded with all the latest information about Pokemon, but it has the power to analyze the characteristics and attributes of individual specimens on the fly. In short, with that device handy, all we need to do is point and click at every single Pokemon in the world, and we'd know everything these is to know about them." Oak was really going on about the Pokedex, making what I was about to tell him all the more difficult and scary.
"Then, I guess now isn't a very good time to say I haven't really been using it, huh?" I was expecting Oak to fly off the handle or something, but I guess he was too old to actually do something so childish. Maybe I was the childish one for thinking he'd do something like that?
"Well, it's okay. With my grandson and the other trainers I sent out earlier this summer, I should have enough information to wrap up the Kanto region. Speaking of which, I want to ask you something, Star."
"Sure thing, Professor. What is it?"
"What are your plans, now that you've returned to Pallet?" It felt like that question you're asked in school so many times. 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' Like we actually think about these things all the time.
"Well, I still have to go to Viridian City for my last badge. Then, I guess I'll be going to Victory Road." It was only now dawning on me just how close to an end my journey was. It all felt so long ago when I started, and now it was only a single battle away.
"Going to Indigo Plateau, then? Perhaps challenge the Elite Four for a chance at becoming a Gym Leader?"
"You mean, that's the reward for collecting all the badges? You become a gym leader?" Up until then, I didn't even know what was the reward for all this.
"Well, Indigo Plateau, the general headquarters of the Pokemon League, holds a competition several times in the year, in every region they hold influence. Pokemon trainers who have proven themselves capable by collecting the eight regional gym badges face off against each other in a massive tournament. The winner then gets a chance to face the Elite Four, the greatest trainers in the land. Win or lose, the usual reward for getting that far is mastery of a Pokemon Gym."
"So, if I were to win, I'd get to sit in a gym and challenge new trainers for badges? Even though I'm only ten?" This knowledge was blowing my mind.
"Age doesn't matter to the Pokemon League, only ability in commanding Pokemon. Surely you saw at least one teenage gym leader on your travels; I believe Brock of Pewter qualifies, or Misty of Cerulean City." Now that he brought it up, Brock was just a teenager. I didn't meet this Misty, though. Only those lazy performers at the Cerulean Gym.
"Well, that's some prize." I said softly before looking away.
Of course, what I didn't say was how lame it'd end up being. Maybe that was the ultimate goal for some trainers, but I couldn't imagine myself sitting in a gym all day, just waiting for trainers to walk in and then battle them. I didn't exactly like battling much myself. I was on the journey for the sights and the adventure, more than anything.
"Well, anyway, the reason I asked was because I'll be needing someone to accompany me to New Bark Town in Johto in a week or two. But, if you're headed to Indigo Plateau, I guess I'll have to find someone else."
I was on this journey, not for the badges or the battles, but for the adventure. I only started this badge collecting thing because Deneb did, just so I could follow him into Victory Road. I now knew what the ultimate reward of the League was, and honestly, I didn't care for it. What reason did I have, then, for going through Victory Road? Professor Oak turned around, heading back into Pallet Town. I pondered the decision for only a moment longer.
"Professor, wait!" I called out, and the older man turned to me.
"Yes?"
"You can count on me! I'll go with you to Johto."
~o~
"WHAT!?"
Mom's scream must've been heard by Mrs Lucian next door, seeing as how even my ears started to hurt a little. She hadn't taken the news of Oak's proposal very well, despite the man himself sitting next to me at the table. I knew coming back home before I was done with the adventure would be a bad idea, especially if I was to leave again so soon.
"Mrs Light, there's nothing to worry about! An acquaintance of mine will be picking us up here sometime next week. Your daughter won't be in any danger, at least, not compared to the journey she's already taken around the region." I have to say, Oak wasn't making a very strong case for my defense. Mom knew a Pokemon adventure wasn't the safest thing, but reminding her of that detail was never a good idea.
"Star has only just gotten back! And already you want her to leave again!?"
"Mom, to be fair, I was planning on heading to Viridian City, so-"
"That's different! It's just one town over! Mr Oak here wants you to go to a different country almost!" I don't think I'd ever seen Mom so openly enraged before that day.
"Mrs Light, its just another region, practically next door," Oak reasoned. "We won't be more than a day away by car."
"I won't have it, Oak. I appreciate the offer on Star's behalf, but she won't be going."
Mom collected his plate, and mine as well, despite the fact we hadn't finished eating. With her back turned, Vulpix took this opportunity to scurry away upstairs. She always ran to hide under my bed when Mom started screaming. I looked over to Professor Oak, who shrugged his shoulders. There was little else he could do. After all, Mpm was my mom, and in charge. I could still plead my case, though.
"Mom, I already left before, what's so different about this time?"
"Star, I've said enough about this matter. Please show Mr Oak the door." She didn't even look at me as she spoke, something that always made me mad.
"Mom, I'm going with Professor Oak, like it or not."
My words would cost me, as mom dropped what she was cleaning, wiped her right hand, and gave me a swift, but strong, swap on the mouth for talking back.
"Don't you ever talk back to me, young lady!" I fought back the tears, but they were going to pour out anyway.
"If you don't let me go, I'll just run away again! I'm not a baby anymore, Mom!"
I felt Professor Oak get up from the table and leave, which was probably for the best. These little disputes were always hard to watch for outsiders. Mom herself could hardly believe what she was hearing.
"I came back because I missed you, and this is how you treat me? If I go again, I won't come back, ever!"
I didn't give her a chance to answer, as I ran out the door after Professor Oak. The old scientist was standing by the porch, silently looking up at the night sky. I wiped away my tears before I walked up to him.
"It's alright, Star. You shouldn't get in trouble on my account."
"It's okay, Professor," I said, drying out my eyes. "Mom's always been like that. I'll still go with you."
Before Oak could convince me otherwise, I heard Mom calling me back inside the house. Her voice didn't sound angry anymore, meaning she had calmed down a bit. What I said must've hurt her, and that made my heart beat faster and faster. Guilt. And I didn't like it.
"Please wait, Professor. I'll be right back."
I went back inside the house, seeing Mom sitting down at the table. She was crying, and seeing that alone got me all soft as well. I walked up to her, leaning in close to her face. She wiped away some of the tears, looking at me directly.
"Star, I'm sorry I hit you. I didn't," she said, hardly getting the words out through the sobs. By this point I was crying, too, and just gave her a hug.
"I don't want to leave you like that again, Mom," I said, almost whispering. "I want you to see me off with a smile, to say 'good luck!'"
"It's just, that I miss you so much, I don't want you to leave."
"And I miss you, too. But I want to keep traveling Mom. I like it. Please?"
She didn't say anything else. She pulled me away from her, just enough so we looked each other in the eyes. She nodded her head, which was more than enough. I gave her another hug, and we just stayed there for the longest time. I noticed Professor Oak glance through the open front door, and give me a small wave before he left. Nothing more was said that night. Except, for one, customary thing:
"Good night, Star."
As Mom tucked me in that night.
~o~
The next morning, Mom had left breakfast ready for me downstairs, along with a note. She had to run a few errands, and wouldn't be back until late. She asked me to promise I wouldn't leave for Viridian City that day, a promise I intended to keep. Aside from the fact Deneb hadn't arrived back.
After breakfast, I went outside with Vulpix for a little while. Last night had been quite an evening, so it felt good to take in the fresh air. I was going to pay a visit to Professor Oak's lab, when I saw someone riding into town on a bicycle. It was Deneb! He rode up beside me, looking pretty bushed.
"Hey, Star."
"Hi," I said, with a smile on my face. Vulpix wasn't sure how to respond, seeing as how we had fought the last time we were together.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get back, wasn't easy biking halfway through the entire region. That tunnel you told me about was really helpful, though." Actually, I almost wished I hadn't said anything. More time in Pallet with Mom wouldn't have been a bad idea now.
"Mom asked me to stay here at least one more night. Is it okay if we leave for Viridian City tomorrow or the day after?"
"That's cool. I'm going home for a while, I'd like to take a nap, or something."
"You've earned it," I replied, putting my hand on his shoulder. I quickly retracted it, once I saw just how dirty his clothes were. "Be sure to change, too."
"Yes, Mom. I'll see you later?"
"I'll be at Professor Oak's place, I need to talk to him about something."
Deneb nodded, and rode off towards his house, just a short ride away. Vulpix scratched my leg, asking to be carried in my arms. I did, only to have her lick my face. She finally caught on that we were on good terms again.
At Professor Oak's lab, I found him typing something up on a computer. He only had one other aide in the lab, and he was no where to be seen. Must've gone out for coffee or something. I didn't like the stuff, guess it was a grown-up thing.
"Star, how are you this morning?"
"Fine, Professor. I'm sorry you had to be there last night, with Mom getting angry like that."
"It's okay, I understand. Did everything work out?" I nodded.
"Yeah, it's okay. So, when do we leave?"
"In about a week. We'll be heading out past Tohjo Falls and into New Bark Town. A colleague of mine, Mr Pokemon, will be picking us up in his car. Better than going all the way on foot, right?"
"Mr Pokemon? Is that really his name?" Oak laughed at the question, but you could see why I was confused.
"Of course not! I'm afraid I don't know his real name, when we first met he introduced himself as such, and I never really got around to asking him. All the same, he's a top researcher, though he does it more as a hobby than a line of work."
"I see," I looked around the lab, taking it all in for the first time. Since I never really looked at the possibility of training Pokemon, I never wandered into Oak's lab when I was little. I know Deneb was always hanging around here, though.
"Well, the reason we're off to New Bark Town: another colleague of mine, Professor Elm, has discovered something extraordinary regarding Pokemon evolution. I'm the leading expert on Pokemon-Human Interaction, in case you didn't know." That I didn't, actually.
"I guess there's too much to learn about Pokemon for you to know it all, huh?"
"You can't begin to imagine. I have other colleagues all over the world, each specializing in different branches of Pokemon study. Perhaps one day you'll get to meet each and every one of them."
There was a knock on the front door. I realized it could be Deneb, so I held onto Oak's coat before he could open the door for him.
"Professor, please don't say anything about the trip to Deneb, if it's him."
"Why not, Star?"
"I'll tell him. I made him a promise about something, and I don't want to tell him yet."
Oak nodded, and left to open the door. The trip to Johto would indeed be breaking the promise I practically forced Deneb to make. If that came up now, there was chance he'd be angry enough to not help me against Giovanni. I couldn't run that risk.
"Hey, Star, long time." Deneb said from the other side of the open doorway.
"Yeah, all of an hour! I thought you were going to take a nap or something?"
"I'll rest up early tonight," Deneb said, pulling out his Pokedex and handing it to Oak. "Professor, here's the Pokedex. I tried to scan as many Pokemon as I could on my trip."
"Thank you, Deneb. Let me upload this info. It'll only take a minute."
With Oak busy, I grabbed Deneb by the hand and led him to a corner to talk about the gym match. I didn't know if the professor would try to inform the police if he knew, so I kept my voice down.
"Deneb, I want your help against the Viridian City leader."
"Who is it, Star? Ever since the call, I've been wondering who it could be that you'd be so freaked out."
"His name is Giovanni. He's also the boss of Team Rocket." Deneb could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"You serious? How do you know?"
"I've met him before. You know the problems in Saffron City? They were because of Team Rocket, and I was there."
I gave Deneb the short version of the events, of how I got into the Silph building, met Giovanni for the second time, and had Lance break me out. The worst part, of course, was how Giovanni's Nidoking killed Lance's Pokemon. Deneb looked skeptical, but who could blame him? For a normal trainer, I sure had my fair share of run-ins with Team Rocket's boss. I also told him my plan of tag-teaming against Giovanni in a single battle.
"If you're right, what makes you think he'll agree to a fight like that?"
"I know he will. I've already led Lance to him twice. He'll want revenge, and he has the perfect cover as a gym leader. I know my Pokemon might not be enough to beat him, but with your help..."
"I know. Okay, Star, we'll go with your idea."
"All finished!" Oak walked over to us, handing the device back to Deneb. "So, what did I miss?"
"Nothing at all, professor!" Deneb took back the device, smiling most suspiciously.
"Yeah, nothing at all!" My own smile probably tipped Oak off, but he never bothered to ask what we were hiding.
~o~
We spent the entire day sharing stories on the beach just outside town. We both had to get a feel for each other's battling strategies, so that we could best prepare for the battle tomorrow. I was shocked at how different Deneb's trip turned out to be, compared to mine.
After beating Brock in Pewter City, he crawled through Mt Moon all on his own. After finally making it to Cerulean City, he battled those sisters that worked at the Cerulean Gym, fairly earning his badge. From there, he went east on Route 9, taking the Rock Tunnel to Route 10, and finally arriving in Lavender Town. With Saffron closed off, he took a harder road around the city, skipping Vermillion entirely in favor of Celadon. After we met there, he traveled to Saffron, and finally Vermillion.
To my surprise, and sadness, he managed to win himself a trip on the S.S. Anne, that large cruise ship I had seen arriving at Vermillion's port while I was there. It took him to Cinnabar Island, where he managed to face Blaine after tracking him down, and the ship then stopped again at Fuchsia City. Looking back on my own adventure, I probably wouldn't have made it past Sabrina if I had followed Deneb's road.
We discussed battle strategies to use against Giovanni, the details of which I'll spare you for now. It was getting late, so we each went back to our own houses, and a little while later Mom finally came back. By the look of the shopping bags, she had driven all the way out to Viridian City. The bags were all filled with brand new clothes for me.
"What's all this Mom?"
"A bribe. You get to keep all this, if you don't go with Professor Oak." I couldn't believe we were talking about this again.
"Mom..."
"I'm kidding! This is all for you, sweetie, for your new trip. Complete," she said, pulling out a box from another bag, "with a new travel bag!"
"Thanks, Mom! Though, mine was still good."
"Oh please, that thing was all dirty and beaten up! This is the latest fashion in Johto, or so the store clerk told me. And most importantly, this!"
Mom reached into her purse, pulling out a smaller box. It was a white and pink device, with a small screen in the center, and a flip open design. It looked a bit like the Pokedex, but I wasn't sure what it was. Mom handed it to me, so I could read the description.
"Pokegear? What's this?"
"The answer to our problems! It's a new little tool that lets Pokemon trainers keep in touch, no matter where they are. With this, you can call me anytime you want, or I can call you anytime I need!"
"Wow, so it's a portable phone?" Which only meant Mom wouldn't stop calling me, now that she could.
"Not only that, but it also has many other uses! It comes with a built-in radio, map navigation, the perfect tool for the trainer on the go!" Suddenly, I almost wanted my old, angry Mom back. This new, helping Mom was starting to scare me.
"Thanks, Mom. For everything." I gave her a hug, at least trying to be happy for everything.
"I know we said some pretty nasty things to each other last night, but I don't want that to happen ever again. With this, we can keep in touch as much as we want!"
"Okay, but I only have one rule, Mom." She pulled away and looked at me with a skeptical gaze.
"Yes?"
"Please don't call me too much! And if we're on the phone, please don't start saying anything embarrassing! Sometimes people around me can hear you."
"That's two rules, sweetie." She said flatly.
"Please?"
She smiled and nodded, giving me another hug.
That night, I spent quite a while getting everything packed for my next trip. It wouldn't be for another few days, but I wanted to be ready at the drop of a hat. For tomorrow's trip to Viridian, I was still going to be using my old bag, for one last trip. I'd be wearing that new yellow dress, the one with the red star. It would be my sign of hope, and the symbol of my victory over Giovanni.