"I can't believe you're going off on your journey…" Kerensa's mum sniffed, looking like she was about to cry. Kerensa grinned happily, and Rohan prodded at the turf outside their home with his toe, embarrassed.
"We'll be fine!" Kerensa laughed "Don't worry: Dan and Kiran did it and so can we!"
"Well here you are: just to keep you safe, here's your new Pokenav, Kerensa."
Her mother handed her a sleek, red and yellow PDA-like object. Kerensa checked the functions; phone, word documents, email, some internet, games and radio.
"Thanks!" she smiled, slipping it into her bag.
"But what about me!?" Rohan yelped. Their mum shook her head.
"You got those new running shoes last week, and the PDA was the last one in stock. Make do with your old one."
"Favouritism…" Rohan muttered, wandering off to the bridge.
"Bye, twins! Remember to phone and-" Mum began, but they had already run off over the bridge.
"I hope they'll be okay…" she muttered to herself.
"Meow!" Bindi mewled, lazily winding around one of her owner's legs.
"You're probably right." She sighed and wandered inside the house; Delicatty in tow.
--
The pair walked in a dull silence for a few minutes, interrupted once by a couple of Wurmple that ambushed them from the bushes. These were quickly dispatched and they continued on, arriving at Oldale town. The sun glowed heavily in the sky; as though it were weary of hanging there for most of the day. The time was five thirty PM and most of the townspeople were enjoying an evening meal. The pair headed for the Pokemon Center. It wasn't hard to find: Oldale was not a large town, housing only a thousand people at the most. Even though towns in Hoenn were not usually large, this was small by their standards.
"So" Rohan grunted, breaking the silence "are you going to continue through the night, or are you going to rest here until morning?"
They were sitting on leather couches in the foyer of the pokemon center, waiting for their pokemon to be healed.
"Well, it's not dark quite yet: if we hurry, we can make it to Petalberg city by nightfall, and then rest there" was the response from his sister.
The pair sat in silence again for a while. Neither was comfortable in the presence of the other: they were siblings, and rivals, but it was more than that. Now they were free, each wanted space to do his or her own thing. But at the same time, they were hesitant to do so. For all their sibling rivalry, they were still family, and their natural instinct told them to stick together in the big wide world.
Just as each was about to say something, there was a click, and a green light flashed on above the operation room. Nurse joy emerged with all three pokemon in tip top condition.
"They're fighting-fit!" she declared, handing back the pokeballs. The pokemon followed behind: Mudkip wagged its tail like a dog, running back to its owner, Wurmple made a happy face and slithered up Rohan's leg and fell asleep on his knee, and Zombi gave a delighted gurgle, ambled towards him and tripped over.
Rohan sighed "Are you okay?"
"Wuuurgh…" the little Pokemon grinned, getting up again.
"You guys are new trainers, I guess?" the nurse asked. They nodded.
"We just started yesterday!" Kerensa informed her. The nurse smiled.
"I'm required by law to advise you to stock up on potions and healing items at the local Mart. It's up to you, but just to remind you…" Nurse Joy told them, slightly patronisingly. "We've had a lot of youngsters like you getting hurt because their pokemon faint and they can't protect themselves from wild pokemon."
"Thanks for the advice." Rohan smiled "We'll keep that in mind."
Nurse joy walked away from the pair, just as a stranger entered the almost-deserted center; announced by a hiss of freezing wind that swept in through the door.
"Whoa…" Rohan muttered, as he looked up and met the eyes of the newcomer. The guy was around seventeen, with long, black hair in a single knot. His piercing, grey/silver eyes spoke of great intelligence, and the high-cheekbone face was evidence of a noble birth. His clothing was a plain set of travelling clothes, on top of which he wore a samurai-style Kimono. At his belt was sheathed an elegantly, ivory-handled katana and a single pokeball. He broke the stare that passed between the two of them, and then strode towards the desk and handed over his pokeball.
"Good evening mister…?" Joy began, prompting him.
"…Steel; Mikal Steel." He informed her, voice sounding upper-class and arrogant.
"Feudal age Japan called, they want their samurai back…" Rohan muttered. The man, without turning, stood completely still.
"What did you say…?" he hissed, over his shoulder.
"Hey, dude, it was just a joke!" Rohan laughed, in spite of himself. The man turned to face him, eyes ablaze with anger.
"You dare insult the honour of the samurai?" He snarled.
"What samurai?" Rohan snapped. He was terrified of this man, but decided to stand up to him. "This isn't feudal Japan…"
"I am the last of the samurai: The last of the great houses, and their traditions." There was the hiss of a blade being drawn from a sheath, and suddenly, a sword was pointing at Rohan's face.
"Calm down!" Kerensa snapped "Both of you!"
The samurai took his sword and slid it into its sheath, again.
"Hey!" Nurse joy barked, making them all jump "If you have issues with one-another, settle it outside. This is a hospital!"
"Why not?" the man asked, turning to Rohan.
"But I-" he stuttered. Rohan looked to his sister for help, but she turned away, exasperated at her brother's stupidity. Mikal Steel went to the desk and seized up his poke-ball.
"Face me in an honour duel: one pokemon on one." He challenged. Rohan laughed, showing mock bravado.
"I'll try to go easy on you" he teased, heading for the door. Steel followed him. Kerensa sighed and watched through the window, and Nurse Joy wandered off, grumbling.
--
"I choose Zombi!" Rohan growled, and the little dark type ambled forwards.
"Ha; you've only just got that Pokemon, haven't you?" the Samurai laughed "I can tell by your stature: you haven't grown to trust one-another yet."
"Zombi and I make quite the team, actually. Let's see your pokemon, Mr Steel." Rohan retorted. Steel shrugged and threw his pokeball into the air.
"Go; Beldum!" He called. A pokemon appeared before him in a flash of light. It had a single, crimson eye set into its football-sized metal head, and this swivelled on top of a cylindrical steel body, with three large claws on the bottom. The Beldum let out a humming noise and swivelled its eye to regard Zombi coldly.
"Huh? A Beldum?" Rohan muttered.
"Beldum: Bulk Up!" ordered Mikal. Beldum let out a low hum and shuddered slightly.
"Zombi: Bite!" Rohan cried. Zombi ambled forwards and bit the metallic pokemon on the side, before backing away.
"Keep using bulk up…" Steel ordered, sounding slightly bored. Beldum continued to shiver.
"Use Head butt!" Rohan shouted, desperately. The little Zombi butted the steel creature with the crown of its head, before staggering away, dazed.
"Now finish this…" the Samurai hissed "Take-Down…"
Beldum shimmered slightly; drawing up all available energy, then dashed forwards and bore down on the little pokemon.
"Dodge it!" Rohan cried "Move!"
This, however, came too late. The large, heavy creature crashed into the little Dark-type like a hammer, and Zombi fainted in a single blow.
"No!" Rohan gasped "Zombi!?"
"I told you: power comes with training." The Samurai smirked; patting the steel pokemon on its head, before returning it to its pokeball. "You will never be able to beat me in battle, though I have to say: I enjoyed myself."
"Fight me again!" Rohan snapped, instinctively. He pulled Wurmple's pokeball off his belt and glared at Steel, who mockingly pretended to wake up suddenly.
"Sorry; I couldn't hear you above the sound of how awesome I am…" he drawled "I've got places to be, so if we're finished here…"
"Like hell we are" the teenager snarled "Go, Wurmple!"
"Look; you lost, get over it." The guy snapped, hand wrapping around his sword handle "Maybe we'll fight again, one day, but until then, you'd better watch your attitude."
Rohan opened his mouth to hit back with a comment of his own, but instead he took a deep breath and calmed himself down.
"Fine; I'll get stronger and defeat you another day." He breathed. The Samurai smiled, wolfishly, and slid his half-drawn blade into its sheath once more.
"Good" he said "You're learning. I look forward to our next encounter…"
The guy turned and walked off through the little cobbled streets of Oldale; to the west.
"…Arrogant swine!" Rohan growled, under his breath.
"No Ro, it's you who has the problems" Kerensa snapped, exiting the Pokemon center and stopping beside him.
"What the hell are you on about!?" her brother asked, exasperated.
"You started the fight by insulting him, he was just defending himself. You are the one who let your Pokemon get hurt because of some petty insults. Just look at Zombi!"
Rohan gazed down and saw the little creature curled up in a ball; sniffling. Wurmple made a cooing sound and tried to comfort him, but the frightened Dark-type paid him no attention.
"Hey, hey…" Rohan whispered, crouching down and picking him up gently.
"Wuuurgh…" his Pokemon whimpered.
"It's okay, we'll get stronger and teach that guy a lesson." He muttered, stroking the little bald head "We're going to be the best team ever; all three of us!"
Wurmple made a happy sound and crawled up his back; onto his head. Zombi stopped crying and looked up with big, sad eyes.
"We can only get better; so let's get to it!"
"Wuuurgh?"
"Okay, as soon as you're healed"
Rohan got up and carried his starter into the Pokemon center. Kerensa smiled and watched him.
"Who'd have thought it; Rohan's gone all sentimental…" She giggled. Mudkip gurgled happily from her ankles, ran around in a circle, and then leapt into a puddle on the pavement.
"I think someone needs a little time out" she smiled, picking up the little Pokemon and wandering inside.
--
Okay, that was chapter five! Yay!
We now have us a rival, (though not the main two; they appear a little later) and we're going to set of for Petalberg next chapter (sorry it's moving a little slow at the moment, I've been busy and I wanted to get some work done before finishing this one).
Competition is still on! I'm not judging until I have a few votes, but thank you to all who've reviewed so far.