Loss of Purpose, Chapter 50
"I'm sorry," said the police officer, "The force from Mauville conducted a thorough search of the area north of this 'Trick House', yet there was no sign of your friend."
"She couldn't have just vanished into thin air!" I was raising my voice at a police officer, which was drawing some attention from the people around me, but I honestly didn't care. To him, Yunie was just another Pokemon trainer that hadn't checked into a town in a couple days.
"Maybe she just got separated from her Pokemon, and moved on without her?" I couldn't even stomach that possibility.
"No! She would never do that to her Pokemon! Nobody who ever took care of a Pokemon would ever say something like that!"
"Let me remind you, young lady, that you're speaking to an officer, and I won't accept that tone of voice." The officer was trying to cut me some slack, but my rage was boiling over.
"I don't care!" I screamed back at him at the top of my lungs. "My friend is out there, and you aren't doing anything!"
"One more word, and I'll be forced to take action," he threatened with his finger. The people around me started to look uncomfortable, but I couldn't stop myself. I was about to explode with rage, and it all culminated in a single act. Without so much as realizing it, I gathered every trace amount of saliva in my mouth and spat in the officer's face. Not the smartest thing I've ever done.
In a swift motion, the officer got up, walked around his desk, and forced my hands behind my back. Vulpix went to defend me, and bit him on the ankle. Working through the pain, he handcuffed me before strapping a muzzle on Vulpix. Around us, everyone just turned a blind eye, not wanting to become the next victim of an angered cop. He took me downstairs and threw me in a cell, taking away my bag and Pokeballs.
"Where are you taking my Pokemon?"
"Silence!" He snapped back, which for the first time made me tremble a bit. He wiped the spit off his face and walked back upstairs, my belongings in his hands. Now that I was finally alone, I had a chance to reflect on my actions. Boy, had I flown off the handle there. I knew it wasn't his fault, he did all he possibly could from his office in town. What right did I have to do the things I did?
I did what any little girl would do in a jail cell: I started crying. Not so much because of the trouble I was in, and soon to be in, but for Yunie. She was out there, somewhere, without a Pokemon of her own and in the middle of the wilderness. Wild Pokemon, despite the name, were generally docile towards humans, no doubt fearful of being captured. Yet there was always a few kinds of critters that attacked without hesitation, and in a region I wasn't familiar with, this was certainly a greater possibility in my mind. Of course, with this fine mess I had gotten myself into, the chances of me getting out there to help search for her were slim to none.
It would be an hour or so before the officer returned to check up on me. I had since exhausted my tears, and was willing to make amends if it meant getting out of here sooner rather than later. He had a clipboard in his hands, and was jotting down some things on it before he said anything to me.
"What's your name?"
"Star, sir. And I'm sorry, I really am." Best start apologizing on the spot.
"I'm certain you are. Your last name and trainer ID?" Looked like he wasn't buying it.
"Light, but I don't know my ID number." With three different numbers already, I couldn't exactly be blamed for it. I don't even recall ever reading the number printed on my Kanto card more than twice!
"Well, your face matches all three cards found in your bag, so you are at least the same person in all three regions. Quite the accomplished trainer, I might add." He made a few more marks on the clipboard.
"Th-Thank you, sir. Um, am I in... big trouble?" I felt my heart race a bit.
"You spat in an officer's face after you were told twice to settle down. I could have you locked up for Disorderly Conduct, Assault even for the spit. At the very least I will have to call your parents and inform them of what happened here." My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. Mom would kill me if she found out.
"Call my parents? Please, officer, I didn't mean anything, I swear!" He looked down at me from the clipboard, no doubt skeptical considering my earlier behavior.
"You know, Star, you're pretty well known around these parts these days. There was a report from Slateport City on TV a few days ago, not to mention your name has turned up in conjunction with activities against Team Rocket in both Kanto and Johto. From everything I've been able to dig up, you're nothing but an angel."
"Really? All that about me?" I was a bit taken aback by the fact my exploits were known this far out. If only they knew half the times I was involved was because I stumbled into it.
"Yes, so you see, I'm more than willing to let you go with only a slap on the wrist for what you did. I know you're just concerned about your friend." The officer produced the key to the cell door, and opened it up. I stepped outside, but made sure to keep my hands at my sides until I was dismissed.
"None of this will ever go beyond us. Just remember: the next time you anger a police officer, they might not be so lenient. Go on, now; your stuff is upstairs."
I nodded quietly and walked past him. As I reached the stairs, I stopped and looked back at him.
"Sir, is there any chance Yunie could be hurt out there? Without a Pokemon?"
"I can't say with any certainty. Route 110 isn't known for having many hostile creatures aside from Poochyena, but anything is possible. The police from Mauville City are still searching, so there's nothing to worry about. If she's lost out there, they'll find her."
What the officer never clarified was she could be dead or alive. Morbid, I know, but it was true. He wouldn't say it to a civilian, much less a kid like me, but I wasn't stupid. For all I knew, Yunie could already be- no, I wouldn't say it. I had to maintain a positive demeanor: Yunie was alive and well, just lost. Before I knew it, she'd be right in front of me again, smiling the way she always would right before she came up with another wacky idea to drive me insane.
Yeah, those were the kinds of thoughts I had to keep close to heart.
~o~
Route 102 was another straightforward road, much like 101. With the officer's continued assurance that the police was doing everything in its power to find Yunie, I decided to continue my own travels. It was with a heavy heart and conscience, but I knew Yunie wouldn't want me to worry needlessly over her. After all, she was probably having some sort of a fun time, despite being lost. She struck me as the kind of person that wouldn't let anything rain on her parade. With that in mind, I took to the road on foot, rather than bike. The day was beautiful, and the weather surprisingly warm again. I didn't know the exact date, but I was certain we were closer to the ends of September than ever before. Even in this weather, there were plenty of trees with yellow leaves, almost more than the green ones.
Which reminds me, it would be my birthday soon! I wondered as I walked along the road where I'd be when the day arrived. On the road? In some strange, new city? Regardless of where, I was certain it'd be a memorable day. Ripping me from my daydreams was a bark from Vulpix.
"What is it, girl?" I followed her gaze to a pond just past some bushes and trees. Floating all over it were a strange new kind of Pokemon. Curiosity piqued, I ran over to the side of the pond to get a closer look. They were blue, like most water types, with what looked to be yellow caps on their heads and four skinny, almost transparent legs. I pulled out my Pokedex to scan the critters.
"Surskit, the Pond Skater Pokemon. From the tips of its feet, Surskit secretes an oil that enables it to walk on water as if it were skating. This Pokemon feeds on microscopic organisms in ponds and lakes."
"Well, isn't that something," I said to myself, looking over to the small group of Surskit. I licked my lips, trying to decide if I wanted to attempt a capture. They were another water type Pokemon, a type I already had two critters of. Cute as the odd little Pokemon was, I'd only be forcing another of my Pokemon into the storage because of the six critter limit. I sighed, and looked back at Vulpix.
"Let's go, Vulpix. No sense in staying here." As I turned away from the pond, Vulpix barked once more towards the blue critters. I was about to scold her for scaring them unnecessarily when I saw the true reason she barked. There was a young boy throwing a couple Pokeballs into the pond, hoping to capture one of them. None of them struck a Surskit, however, as Vulpix's bark warned the Pokemon of the impending danger. I had a feeling this would end poorly if the kid saw us.
"Come on, Vulpix, let's get out of here quietly." I picked her up in my arms and made for the main road, trying my best not to make too much noise in the bushes. That ended up being moot after I felt something hit me on the head. I blacked out, as was typical.
~o~
"Are you alright?" The voice was distorted, as if I were underwater. Of course, I was just coming around, and my vision was slowly but surely returning. I heard Vulpix bark, and she brought me my glasses. I slipped them on, and saw the boy from the pond looking down at me. Least he was nice enough to offer aid.
"I'm so sorry! I thought you were a wild Pokemon trying to hide in the bushes!" He offered me his hand, and I used it to sit up. We were by the pond, so I assumed he dragged me over by the water, just in case. He didn't look strong enough to carry me. Before I could register anything else, I noticed my skirt was riding a bit high, which raised a red flag.
"Next time, send a Pokemon in to scare it out," I said, casually pulling down on the hem of the skirt "Even if I had been a Pokemon, I'd have broken free of the Pokeball on the spot."
"Like I said, I'm sorry. I thought you were a Pokemon because I heard a bark come from the bushes just before that." Good thing he wasn't putting it all together. I didn't want to engage in a pointless battle.
"That was Vulpix here," I said, prepping my lie. "She gets excited when she sees new Pokemon, and probably barked at them. You must've knocked me out as I went into the bushes to get her."
"Again, I'm-"
"Sorry, I know. Don't apologize so much, it's okay, really!" I crawled over to the pond and took a drink. Strangely, the water tasted a bit sweet, almost as if someone had added a bit of sugar to it. "So, what's your name?"
"I'm Calvin. What's yours?"
"Star," I answered with a smile. "You're on a Pokemon adventure?"
"Yup, I want to challenge the Elite Four, and maybe get a job as a gym leader!"
"That's cool," I said, starting to feel just a bit disoriented, "I got all eight badges in Kanto and Johto, but I didn't care about the League tournament."
"Really? That's so cool! Why not, though? You could've probably made it to the top!" His voice was starting to sound a bit distant, but he hadn't moved from his spot next to me.
"I just-" I fell back to the ground, everything starting to get blurry. "I don't feel so good, Cal."
"Star? What's wrong?"
"I think it was the water," I said, finding it harder and harder to keep my eyes open. My vision got so blurry, I couldn't even tell the trees from the ground. I latched onto Calvin's arm.
"Please, help me."
"What do I do?"
"I need to get to a doctor. How far away is Petalburg City?" He helped me to my feet, though it was pretty hard to keep my balance. Now it wasn't just my eyes that were blurry, but my head felt foggy.
"Just a little while, can you make it?" Honestly, I doubted it. After just a few steps in that direction, it got harder and harder to walk. What had I poisoned myself with?
"Calvin, inside my bag is a bike. Please help me on," I said, my eyes getting heavy. I fell on my knees, and the boy opened my bag and pulled out the small case where the bike was. It took him a couple moments to assemble it, but thanks to Vulpix he did it considerably faster than it would've taken.
"Come on, Star, I'll help you on." He took my hand and tried to get me on the bike, but I could hardly see it in front of me. I missed my step and fell over, taking the bike with me. One of the pedals pressed against my stomach, causing me to roll over and start throwing up on the floor. I blacked out again after that.
~o~
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. My glasses weren't on my face, so I couldn't see exactly where I was. I looked around a bit, my vision bad but good enough that I could spot a small red lump in a nearby chair. I looked around some more, hoping to spot my glasses nearby.
"Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling?" I looked over to the voice, vaguely seeing the outline of a Nurse Joy. Was I in a Pokemon Center?
"Okay, I guess. Where're my glasses?" The nurse walked over to the table and brought them to me. I slipped them on to finally put the world in focus.
"I'm glad! Your friend brought you in earlier, said you drank some water that made you feel sick. It took a bit of work, but we were able to get it all out of you."
"What was it? There were some Surskit playing on the water, but I didn't think anything would happen from taking a small sip."
"Normally nothing would happen, as a Surskit's oil isn't harmful to humans. However, I think it was the honey from the Surskit's head that made you sick. It's a tasty treat for Pokemon, but it doesn't mix well with people." If the Pokedex were a better device, it would have shared that tidbit.
"Where's Calvin? The boy who brought me here?" Vulpix was sleeping in the chair on the other side of the room, with my bag and belt next to her.
"He went home for the evening, and said he'd be back to check up on you tomorrow. Perhaps you should get some rest." It was only now that I realized it was dark outside. Guess I lost my whole day because of that water. What's more, I owed Calvin my life.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy, for everything."
"My pleasure!"
~o~
"I don't know how to thank you, Calvin. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what could've happened." Nurse Joy had let me off the hook early the next morning, just after Calvin swung by to check in on me. I was feeling perfectly, as if nothing ever happened.
"We're even, now! I'm glad I was able to pedal fast enough to get here as quickly as I did." The boy blushed a little, as if saving my life was something embarrassing.
"Not quite even," I said, leaning in close. I gave him a peck on the cheek, which only made him blush hotter still. "Now, we're even!"
After I checked out of the Pokemon Center, as I wasn't in a real hospital, Calvin and I went our separate ways. I was in Petalburg City, a lively little city where the people seemed to thrive with flower gardens. The streets were dirt roads instead of pavement, and all around was green grass and flower beds. It felt almost like a giant greenhouse, despite the colder weather that morning. Vulpix, ever a fan of flowers, was having a blast going around to each bed, while I just slowly made my way through town. May said she was from here, so I wondered which house was hers.
My search stopped quite quickly when I spotted a Pokemon gym nestled between a half dozen flower beds. I wasn't going to pass on a chance to face a gym leader, so I carried Vulpix into the gym with me, otherwise she'd have stayed behind to smell all the flowers.
Inside, the gym looked like a traditional house, sort of like Koga's. The primary difference here was that the arena was inside, while windows to the outside showed flowers all over the place. There was no one in the hall, prompting me to wonder if all leaders in Hoenn were slackers of some sort. I took my spot at one end of the arena, and called out.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" My voice echoed in the hall, something I was becoming a bit too familiar with. The door on the other end opened, and out came a middle aged man with short, dark hair.
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"My name is Star, and I've come to challenge the gym leader for a badge." I remembered to show my trainer card this time, just in case checking it was a requirement in Hoenn. The leader, however, didn't bother to.
"Well, I'm Norman, and I accept your challenge on one condition: do you possess at least four Pokemon?"
"Uh, yeah, I do. Why?" That was the first time a leader ever bothered to ask how many Pokemon I had.
"Rules of the gym. I take it you're prepared to battle, Star?" I nodded, expecting the rules to follow. "We shall each use four Pokemon, and battle until all four are defeated on either end. If you win, I will award you with the Balancebadge. Are you ready?"
Again I nodded, and Norman sent out his first Pokemon. The Pokeball erupted to reveal a little bear Pokemon, whose eyes looked to be stuck in an eternal daze. This critter probably gave me the clue I needed to determine Norman's type preference, so I produced my Pokedex to identify it.
"Spinda, the Spot Panda Pokemon. It is distinguished by a pattern of spots that is always different. Its unsteady, tottering walk has the effect of fouling its foe's aim."
"A normal type, so let's open with one of my newest friends," I said to myself, as I reached for Poochyena's Pokeball. I threw it out onto the arena, and the battle officially began.
"Poochyena, Bite!" Despite hearing my command, Poochyena just turned and growled at me. I couldn't believe after all these badges, a Pokemon was disobeying my orders!
"Spinda, Teeter Dance!"
The small bear clapped its hands, drawing Poochyena's attention. It started to wobble around on the spot, slowly making its way towards Poochyena, who couldn't help but follow the Pokemon's routine.
"Poochyena, snap out of it and use Bite!"
"Spinda, Dizzy Punch!"
The odd critter reeled back its fist while Poochyena just stood there. The attack knocked my Pokemon straight back towards me, right out of bounds and officially out of the battle. The fact that Poochyena was already confused by Spinda's Teeter Dance made it extremely susceptible to the blow. That was my first mistake in that battle.
"Select your next Pokemon, Star."
I put Poochyena back in his Pokeball, and thought hard on my next choice. Sending Vulpix out was more or less a surefire win, considering she was among my best. However, I didn't know what else Norman had in his roster, and I was already going three to four. I decided to fight fire with fire. I released Smeargle, his tail in his hand like a brush.
"Spinda, Teeter Dance!"
"Smeargle, use Flamethrower!"
The small bear started to do his dance, but Smeargle ignored it as it remembered the move from his last battle. Using his tail, he swashed magical paint onto a canvas made of air, releasing a blast of flames that blew away Spinda. According to the Pokedex, he could remember dozens of abilities after having seen them only once, which made him quite an ally in tough fights. With enough practice, he could probably learn every attack in the world!
"Spinda, return!" Norman's move surprised me, especially since Spinda wasn't badly hurt despite the flames. Norman produced another Pokeball and released his next Pokemon, one that bore a resemblance to a Mankey, if taller and skinnier. I scanned it with my Pokedex.
"Vigoroth, the Wild Monkey Pokemon. It can't keep still because its blood boils with energy. It runs through the fields and mountains all day to calm itself. If it doesn't, it can't sleep at night."
"Vigoroth, Focus Energy!"
"Smeargle, one more Flamethrower!"
Vigoroth screamed out, charging up power for its next attack. I knew it would be painful, so I had to not only interrupt it, but also try and knock it out in a single blow. As Vigoroth charged up, Smeargle drew the splash in the air to release the Flamethrower, but the white Pokemon was able to deftly dodge the blow! He ran around to Smeargle's side, prepapring to launch the next strike.
"Focus Punch, Vigoroth!"
"Smeargle, watch out!"
I was too late, though. The white monkey launched a blow so powerful, Smeargle was sent crashing into the wall on the other side of the building. I ran over to him, making sure not to step in the arena and get disqualified. He was out cold, but he didn't look to be hurt badly. That is to say, broken bones or a cracked skull.
"Choose your next Pokemon, Star." I shot a glance at Norman, who remained composed and orderly the entire time. I had seen trainers like him before, but I was still finding it hard to believe he wouldn't offer aid, especially after such a devastating attack. I put Smeargle back in his Pokeball, and went back to my side of the arena. Vulpix scratched at my leg, begging to be put into the battle. With the odds now stacked against me, it was time to turn the tables on Norman.
"Vulpix, get out there for our friends! Use Quick Attack!"
"Vigoroth, Sucker Punch!"
Vulpix vanished from sight, as usual, while Vigoroth held his ground. I figured he didn't know what to do, but that went out the window when he reeled back his arm to deliver a blow into air for no reason. However, Vulpix came flying out of no where, sliding across the arena floor and just out of bounds. How did Vigoroth know where she was coming from?
"Your Vulpix has been disqualified, Star. Would you like to use your last Pokemon, or forfeit now?"
"No!" I screamed out. This battle hadn't gone well from the start, but I knew I could still turn it around. With only one Pokemon left on my end, it would be a tough battle, but not impossible. I chose Vaporeon and sent him out onto the field.
"Vigoroth, Focus Energy!"
"Vaporeon, Aurora Beam!"
Again, the white Pokemon started pumping up for its next attack, only to be struck this time by Vaporeon's spectral attack. Vigoroth was sent back a little, but he managed to finish charging up for the next blow. I had to make sure Vaporeon avoided it at all costs.
"Vigoroth, Faint Attack!"
Norman's command caught me off guard, and I didn't think fast enough to order Vaporeon. Vigoroth charged forward, fading out of visibility until he took a powerful swing at Vaporeon. He was knocked back a bit, but was still in decent combat form.
"Vaporeon, Take Down!"
Perhaps not the best attack choice, but Vaporeon was close enough to deliver a powerful blow on Vigoroth. The monkey Pokemon was sent back a ways, collapsing on the ground. Vaporeon, on the other hand, was still on his feet, if only barely. I knew this battle was over. Norman nodded, and recalled his Pokemon, releasing Spinda once again to finish the job. The little bear was a bit burned from the earlier flames, but otherwise in top form.
"Spinda, Psybeam!"
"No, wait!" The small bear remained in place. I pulled out my Pokeball and called back Vaporeon, sparing him from any further pain.
"Does this mean what I think it does?"
"Yes," I mumbled, barely audible. "I forfeit."
~o~
"Losing is just part of being a Pokemon trainer. You get back on the road, Star, and before you know it, you'll be better than ever before. When that time comes, you can come back and challenge me again."
Norman told me that right after our match. He was actually quite gentle and soft-spoken, despite his earlier demeanor. And though I took his advice to heart, I was wracked on the inside. My entire reason for collecting badges was just for the sake of it. Like Jasmine had asked me back in Olivine City: what would I do the day I lost? Was there really a reason to suffer a rematch for something that was little more than a souvenir?
I sat outside the Pokemon Center with Vulpix. She had been cleared sooner than my other Pokemon, and was enjoying a sweet treat courtesy of Nurse Joy. I stared out at the flowers, unsure what to do now. Without this badge, my collection would be incomplete, but was it really worth all the trouble for another trinket? Sure, it meant something to many trainers out there, but to me, it was just another memory of my time on the road.
"You look like you could use some help." I looked up at the source of the voice. It was May!
"May? What are you doing here?"
"Came home to pick up some things. You look down, everything alright?" She took a seat next to me, egging me on to share what just happened.
"I lost." I said, strangely not feeling hurt or sad about it. "I lost against the gym leader here. You know him?"
"More than you realize", she said. "He's my dad."
"What? Really?"
"Yeah, so you kinda see now why I didn't want to get into Pokemon."
"What about the story with the Tentacool?"
"True, but not as bad as your own dad pushing you to get into the same thing he does. I just don't want to, you know? But being the daughter of a gym leader..."
"People expect things from you," I finished for her. My own dad was never there, so I wasn't sure how to react. According to Mom, he went out one day and never came back. The police from Viridian City looked all over for him, but he was never found. Probably why Mom became so clingy and protective.
"So, don't let it get you down! So you lost; so what? You have all those badges that prove you're a great trainer! What's one loss? Just keep moving, and one day you can try again. No trainer is perfect, right?"
"You're right, May. This wasn't my first loss, and it sure won't be my last. Thanks for the help." I stood up, my determination renewed.
"Anything for my 'big sister'." I looked down at her, watching as she smiled at me.
She was right, of course. I couldn't let Norman's complete and utter victory get me down. There were still another six gym leaders in Hoenn, and I was sure with some more practice, I'd earn those other badges. Norman would just have to wait.
Yeah, they were all just trinkets in the long run. But I made it a goal of collecting them, and I wasn't about to back out of that goal on a whim.