Chapter 2: Typically Atypical
I had reached the limit of Apple's patience. The Mew disguised as an Eevee used its telekinetic powers to pick me out of my soft bed and toss me onto the ground.
{Drat, I was aiming for the stairs. Oh well, at least you're up!} Apple's excited tone clashed with my usual sleepy thoughts. It made my head hurt.
I groaned and slowly picked up my battered body from the floor. After much of Apple's excessive encouragement, I eventually got dressed and soon found myself staring out the window at the beautiful country of Acceber. My town, Melonbi, was just the small northern tip of the large island. Even from this window, I could see beyond the grassy plains of Melonbi Town to the distant townhouses of Azul City and their reflections in Peepin Pond. It was a beautiful sight. The lush green grass glittered under the bright blue sky, making the scene brilliant in color. If one looked closely, small shimmers of movement could be seen in the taller, golden grass from Pokemon bustling about on this gorgeous day.
I peered closer at the window to inspect my own reflection. My usually straight, dark brown hair was slightly crumpled from my uneasy sleep, so I flipped it back into a ponytail. I stared once more into the clear glass, only to be stared back at by the reflection of my violet eyes. Apple had told me that purple eyes were a sign of a psychic, but if I had any psychic powers, they had yet to reveal themselves. Then again, Apple may have thought this because its eyes were purple as well. Even when Apple transformed into other Pokemon, its eyes contained a slightly violet hue.
"Alright, I'm ready to go." I sighed and turned away from the window. I grabbed my pack of supplies, and my elated Eevee jumped into my arms as I stumbled down the stairs.
"Happy birthday, honey!" my mother exclaimed when I reached the bottom step. After a moment of hesitation from seeing the Eevee in my arms, she thrust her arms around me and Apple.
I was taken by surprise. My mom usually refused to even look at Apple, and to touch the cute little Pokemon was unthinkable. I started, "Mom, what has—"
"Sweetie, I'm s-s-s-so proud of you," she spattered tearfully. "Though I initiall-ly didn't want you to g-go on this quest for P-P-Pokemon..." She stopped, shuddered and took a deep breath, "Now you are thirteen, old enough to make your own d-decisions, and decide what-what is b-best for yours-s-self."
At this point, my mom broke down crying, and I hugged her, trying to provide some comfort. "Don't worry mom, I'll be fine," I told her with a confident tone, but she continued sobbing. "Mom," I tried again. "in the old days, children left home to start on their journeys when they were ten years old. They've changed the laws recently, but the point is they were fine, and I'm three years older than they were! I will be okay. You don't have to stress over it."
My mother chuckled sorrowfully, "I guess it is kind of silly for me to-to-to... I don't want to lose you after…" My mom stopped, took a deep breath and locked her cerulean eyes with mine. "Take care of yourself, I'll miss you." My mom prepared to bear-hug me again, and disliking its first hugging experience, Apple jumped out of my arms just in time.
After releasing me from her grasp, my mother hurriedly fished for something in her pocket.
"These are for you," my mother quietly murmured, pressing five Pokeballs into my hand. For a second, I stared at her hand, shocked that she would give me such a present. Then I quickly recovered, pocketed the Pokeballs, and pulled her into yet another hug.
"Thanks mom. I'll miss you too," I whispered. "But really, don't worry; I'll be back in no time." Then I turned away from my sobbing parent and headed for the door.
{That was touching,} Apple said smugly while following me through the door.
I didn't reply. Instead, climbed down the pearl-white front porch stairs and mounted my bike. Taking only one quick glance back, I started pedaling south toward Azul City. As I rode away from my home, I could hear my mom shouting goodbyes, and of course, that little psychic voice—
{Hey, wait for me!}
I pedaled faster.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
By late afternoon, I had finally forgiven Apple for its sarcasm and let the little Pokemon into the stupid-looking basket attached to the front of my well-worn bike.
{This thing makes me look like I'm some sort of oversized, poorly wrapped traveling gift basket,} Apple complained.
"Well, you would still be chasing the bike looking like a crazy rampant bunny if I hadn't let you back on the bike," I shot back in a raspy voice and then inhaled sharply. I was tired from a long day of non-stop cycling.
{Humph...} the violet-eyed Eevee growled, turning in its oversized gift basket to face the faraway city. Despite traveling most of the day through the great grassy plains, we were not even halfway to Azul City. We had encountered very few wild Pokemon, only a few scampering Rattatas trying to avoid getting run over by my strange looking bike and the crazed Eevee in close pursuit.
{Can we stop soon?} Apple whined. {It's dinner time and I'm hungry.}
I sighed, irritated, and glanced around the flat grassland looking for a place to stop. The sun was starting to set, turning the sky a pale blue. The loss of light made it harder to see into the distance, though I could make out a large mansion on the horizon. The great mansion was too far away for us to stop at for the night, but I spotted a lone tall oak only a few hundred yards away.
"There. See that tree? We'll stay over there for the night," I panted.
I hurriedly pedaled toward the oak tree, my feet pounding from the long day's journey. The pedaling only got harder as I neared the tree. The long, stringy grass seemed to become longer and stringier, constantly trying to tangle my feet in its wispy grasp. Finally reaching the tree, I stumbled off the bike and fell to the ground as my knees buckled in exhaustion.
"Man, I had no idea cycling was this tiring," I mumbled, massaging my legs.
{Come on, I'm hungry! Let's eat dinner!} Apple demanded, nosing the pack.
I reached over the disguised Mew and snatched two loaves of bread, two granola bars, and two apples from the bag.
{Aww, is this all we get for dinner? I already miss your mom's specially baked potatoes and grilled steak...} Apple squawked. The fluffy Pokemon eyed me slyly, trying to push me to lose my temper.
"Mom wouldn't let you have that stuff! You've never even tried it!" I exclaimed, ignoring Apple's poor attempt to anger me.
{That's what you think.} Apple smirked.
After the meal, I decided we needed to do some training. Apple was so very pleased with this idea.
{WHAT? I just chased your bike for half a day and now you want me to train!} the Pokemon angrily hollered.
"We have to start some time, and you need to learn to battle in this form and your true form," I replied, rubbing my head.
{Fine, but if I have to train my powers, then you have to train yours.}
"I don't have any powers!"
{If you have purple eyes, you have psychic powers! Don't you read any books? Every person with purple eyes is a psychic!}
"Whatever. I'll do your training if it makes you do yours," I retorted.
For the next half an hour, I had Apple work on simple techniques like tackle, bite, sand-attack, and quick-attack. By the time we finished with this training, the area looked like thirty Tauros had trampled the area. Broken rocks were sprawled around bent grass and small chips of bark. Satisfied, we moved on to a more complicated move – dig.
{Eww. I don't wanna get my paws dirty!} the Eevee protested.
I sighed. "This move will come in handy if you want to surprise your foes. You should want to learn it."
{I like learning new moves as long as they don't involve me getting covered in dirt.} The Eevee glared.
"You've never had a problem with dirt before! You're just tired. If you do this, we'll be done with my training for the day. I'll have you train as a Mew some other time."
Apple finally complied, and after forty-five minutes of rigorous practice, seemed to have the move down.
{It's not so bad after you get over the 'I'm trapped underground in a tunnel that has the potential to fall at any second' part,} Apple said sarcastically, still trying to shake the mud from its coat. {And anyway, now it's your turn to train.}
I rolled my eyes. "What do I have to do?"
{Just sit and relax—}
"I'd love to," I interrupted. I laid my head back against the tree, closed my eyes, and pretended to sleep.
{I wasn't finished! Take deep breaths and listen to the world around you. What do you hear?}
"Your voice," I snorted, peeking an eye open.
{Not funny, Miss Smartypants, but you have a point. Stop trying to listen to me, and listen to that patch of grass over there.} The Eevee pointed a paw toward a small spot of shaking grass.
I closed my eyes again, and after deeply inhaling, tried to listen to the bit of grass. I thought I heard a faint, {Honey, you're late for dinner again! How many times do I have to tell you—}
I opened my eyes in shock and shook my head. The voice must have been my imagination.
{So, did you here anything?} Apple questioned, smirking.
"No," I replied defiantly.
Apple was still smirking. {I think we've had enough training for today. Let's go to bed.}
With that, Apple trotted over to the great oak and curled up beside me. I gazed in wonder at the peculiar Pokemon for a minute, then closed my eyes and was asleep before my head fell back against the tree.