Second chapter; woo! Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter/prologue!
Enjoy!
Chapter Two: The Hero and Antagonist
"Touko, look what I just caught!" Bianca smiled, holding a brown mutant squirrel thing in her arms. "It's called a Patrat!" Touko nodded, patting the top of its head.
It's adorable, Bianca. She wrote, avoiding eye contact again. Cheren came running up behind them. Look who decided to show up.
"Sorry, I was caught up in something for about a second." Cheren breathed. They were finally at their first city, Accumula Town. "So we're at our first city…" Cheren mumbled. He noticed that Touko still held Tyson in her arms. "You're not going to put him in his Poké ball?"
No. She shook her head. He hates it.
"C'mon on Touko! Let's take Tyson and Piggy to the Pokémon Center!" Bianca offered. Touko nodded, trying to form a smile; she failed horribly, not even making a slight smirk. "Are you coming Cheren?"
"Nah, I'm going to sit out on that bench right there." He pointed to a bench on an elevated ground. Bianca nodded happily, dragging Touko inside the White and Red Center. "This is a Pokémon Center! There's also a Poké Mart right there, which has your everyday needs as a trainer! You take your injured Pokémon over there to be healed… And the machine right next to that, you can switch out Pokémon that you kept in storage!"
Sounds perplex. Bianca looked at her, extremely confused.
"What?" She raised a brow.
Sounds complicated. Touko erased 'perplex' and replaced it with 'complicated'.
"Then why didn't you write that in the first place? You know I'm dumb!" She whined. "Hey, I'm going to pack up on some items. If you're done here, go meet up with Cheren." Touko nodded, walking outside. There was a huge group around where Cheren was supposed to be sitting. Feeling a bit worried, Touko ran over to that spot.
"Touko, come here for a second." Cheren held her wrist for a second, letting go quickly. She, of course, felt a little scared to be going into a crowd. When Cheren noticed this, he placed his hands over the girl's eyes, not exactly touching her. This way, he can shield her from looking at the crowd. Of people surrounding her.
Some man with light green hair rambled on and on about liberating everyone's Pokémon. Gasping and shock arose from the crowd; even from Touko, but it was a tiny, faint gasp. (A/N: Much like a quick breath of air.) The man was calm, and extremely charismatic. When he left, some people wondered about freeing their Pokémon; while some laughed, while others actually did release their friends, bidding a sad farewell.
Why are they doing that? They're friends aren't they- Touko didn't have enough room to write.
"I don't know, Touko. But that whole group just creeps me out just a bit." Cheren growled.
"Osha…Oshawott!" Tyson called out, looking at another direction. A man with green hair, a little darker than the man before, walked over.
"Excuse me, miss…" He muttered a little quickly. Touko jumped and ran behind Cheren. "A-Ah! I didn't mean to frighten you."
"What are you saying? You're speaking way too fast." Cheren groaned. "What do you want?"
"I'm sorry for speaking fast but… Miss, your Pokémon just now… It was saying…" The mysterious man with long green hair mumbled, obviously not used talking to people; just like Touko.
"Excuse me? Her Pokémon said something? They talked?" Cheren was a bit too reluctant about this whole situation. This shady character was someone worthy to be looking out for.
"Yes. They did. I guess you can't hear them then. That's a pity." He sighed, ruffling his hair.
Who are you? Touko flashed the board, still hiding behind Cheren's back. The man raised a brow at this; could she not speak? Did she have a cold or something?
"My name is N. And yours?" He asked.
"My name is Cheren; and this is Touko." Cheren introduced us. "If you excuse us, we're going to fill up our Pokédex, thank you very much." Cheren snarled, not wanting to trust this stranger. Much less, he had such a…awkward name. Who names their kid a letter?
"The Pokédex, eh? So, you're going to confine much more Pokémon in those tiny little balls of yours? Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I said that. For I, too, am a trainer." He murmured, not looking at Cheren; but staring at Touko. Something about her just…intrigued him. She seems like a person much more complicated than a mathematical formula.
"Whoop-de-freaking-do." Cheren rolled his eyes. "Let's go Touko." The small girl behind his back nodded slightly. But, yet, she wanted to stay and continued this fascinating conversation she had with this man; even though she wasn't the one talking.
"Wait, miss! Ah…Touko." N cleared his throat. When he said her name, something in her mind clicked, and she felt a little more comfortable than before. She turned around to face him.
Yes? There she went again; not speaking to him, that is. What was the matter with her?
"Touko…" Cheren growled.
One moment. She flashed the board near his face, hiding hers.
"May I hear your Pokémon's voices again?" N asked in such a darling way that her faced started to heat up. She knew what this meant; he wanted to battle. But this was the first person that she ever battled then! And she can't even properly call out a move; let alone speak!
I…
"She can't." Cheren growled, getting ahold of both of her shoulders. Touko shivered violently, her eyes widening to the rough touch, but Cheren didn't care at that moment. "She can't even speak. Can't you take a hint?"
"You…can't speak? How long have you been with your Pokémon?" N asked, bewildered.
I just got him today… Erase. Professor Juniper gave him to me for my birthday.
Shock swept over N as he remembered the words that little Oshawott said about its new master.
"I'm incredibly sorry for the inconvenience. Also, happy birthday." Sure, N was a bit naïve. But when it came to certain things, he knew them like a book. He sighed, turned around.
Maybe she isn't the legendary hero I'm thinking about… He thought in his mind.
Mixing emotions ran through Touko as she saw the man walk away. She knew if that she didn't battle him, then this little problem will never blow over. She needed to take this step by step. He, truly, was a perfect test subject for step number 1.
She ran over to the green haired man and patted him on the shoulder. Cheren stood there in shock, seeing something he never saw Touko do in years. With the click of his tongue, he walked away.
She doesn't need me. Cheren grumbled in his mind as he walked away. But he hid behind a building, just to see if she was alright.
I'd like that battle, please. She pulled up her board. N looked at her with such amazement. Was she an idiot? There's no way she would win. And don't go easy on me.
Chuckling, "Alright, alright. Let's do this." He pulled down his cap, holding out a Poké ball. Touko walked back a few feet, leaving Tyson out in front of her. "Go! Purrloin!" He threw the ball at the ground, sending out a purple feline.
Much to Touko's dismay, she couldn't stare at the magnificent creature the whole entire battle. She had to do something.
"You can go first." He called out, trying to help with her disability. Touko nodded, whipping out her board.
Tyson, use tackle on Purrloin! The otter looking Pokémon looked confused at its trainer. What was she thinking? Pokémon can't read English! This battle may be a little harder than she thought.
T-A-C-K-L-E! She mouthed the word to Tyson, hoping it would do some sort of impact on it. Nope, nothing either.
"Use tackle, Tyson!" Cheren yelled, still behind the building. Tyson nodded and charged headfirst at the feline. The cat screeched when it got hit.
"Purrloin, use scratch." N called out coldly, not wanting to finish this battle. It was too much of a waste anyway. If someone else other than the person he battled called out the moves, then there would be no point, now would there? But she wanted the battle, so there's no way he would back down.
Cheren knew Touko would hate him later on if he kept yelling out the moves for her, so he kept quiet. This was her battle. Not his.
Showing no mercy, N repeatedly called his Purrloin to scratch over and over again. Each time, Tyson got hit, little by little. Tears welled up into Touko's eyes, wondering what to do. She couldn't do anything at this point.
Another scratch was coming towards Tyson's way. He couldn't do anything without the guidance of someone.
Just when Tyson was about to get hit, almost receiving the final blow…
. . .
TYSON! Dodge and use tackle!
In a second, the otter jumped out of the way and charged at the cat. He smacked into Purrloin with all of his strength, heavily damaging it. Purrloin collapsed after being hit. N rushed to his Pokémon's aid.
Touko's mouth was wide open. Did she…did she call the attack? She tried speaking for a second, but no sound came out. No…She couldn't have possibly spoke. She did think for the attack quickly in her mind… Was Tyson able to hear her and responded? Or was it sheer coincidence?
The otter trotted over to his awe-struck trainer, rubbing his head against her leg. She picked him up and carried him, walking over to N.
"That was a remarkable battle." The corners of N's mouth creeped upward. "You certainly got me there."
Thank you. You did well too. She held up the board with a free hand.
"Thank you for the wonderful battle. I'll see you later." He mumbled, walking away. Something in Touko's heart wanted to stop him, but she didn't.
. . .
Later that Night…
Being caught up in so many moments, Cheren, Touko, and Bianca were all separated from each other. (Well, Cheren was a little angry from the whole N incident. Plus, he felt Touko was actually fine.) Touko remained in Accumula Town, hoping that they will return for her. Night fell, and they still didn't pick her up. Worry swept over her as Tyson slept on her lap. Her eyes drooped down, feeling tired as well. Someone came up from behind her and tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"Come here, isn't that a rough place to sleep?" A voice came up right behind her.
. . .
Sorry if this was a little choppy; I've been feeling a little sick the past day or two. Possibly a sore throat. Also, just a heads up, there might NOT be an upload on Sunday. Only because that my state is going to be hit by a hurricane, and if the power goes out, I have to safe my laptop's energy.
But on a happy note: I'll try to upload three chapters for all three days on Friday and Saturday. (But no promises!)
OH! I almost forgot. You know how in the Anime version of Pokemon Advance Battles ( I believe) Ash had to battle with someone who thought of their moves? That's basically what Touko just did. Except it's a little different. You'll see why in later chapters.
I hope you enjoyed! And stay tuned!
