Sorry for my absence, but my final year of school is hectic!
Thank goodness I've kept a skeleton of this, so I roughly know the position in which this story is heading.
Please review, fave, etc!
Sam woke that morning with more battling feelings. He had to admit that the shame was increasing, but juxtaposing it against more schooling made it bearable. The clutter of his mother washing dishes was within earshot as he walked downstairs. He stopped at the last step and steeled himself. Then he lurched forward, almost tripping.
"Sam, honey, is that you?"
He walked into the kitchen, his mother rapidly drying her hands on a washcloth.
"Yeah, it's me." She rushed over to him and smoothed a strand of his hair.
"I remember when you were just starting school, and it feels like just yesterday." She straightened his jacket, only for his stubborn strand of hair to bounce out of place again. "And even then your hair was a mess," she chuckled.
"Relax, Ma," Sam grinned, "it's not like today's my first day - I'm just leaving to finalize the apartment stuff and all my books."
"True, true," she tittered, "but looking handsome never hurt anyone. Are you all set?" She asked, concerning herself with Sam's choice of luggage. It was just his backpack.
"Sure," he said, "This'll fit more than you think."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. It nearly defies logic."
"Okay," Mary handed her son an envelope and a pokeball. "It's your fathers Staraptor. I wouldn't let you walk so far with such a heavy backpack. Just remember to visit him when you return it."
"And the envelope?" Sam asked, turning it over in his hands.
"Not to be opened until you're all settled in at your new apartment," she smiled warmly. "You know, Sammy, I know how much you thought you didn't want to continue schooling, but it makes me so happy that you're taking the opportunity that neither me or your father had the chance to." She cupped her sons face in her hand, blinking back a tear of pride. "Just remember to try your best and we'll both be proud."
Sam, at that second, forced to look his mother in the eye, almost gave it up. The sincere belief and hope directed at him was a heavy force, and it was all he could do was to nod and blink.
"Thanks, Mom," he said, stepping out of her embrace. He intended to say more, but he choked a little. Of all the loving, heartfelt responses that were always on his mind when they weren't needed, he managed one last "Bye" before exiting the house. He tried to exhale most of his concerns and focus on the bigger picture. Shaking his hands and bouncing on his feet, he imagined himself defeating the Rustboro Gym Leader and maybe convincing his mother that he would be fine without more schooling.
And with that he fastened his backpack, released Staraptor, and flew to Rustboro.
Mary watched from the window, as her son flew up into the sky. She stared as he became smaller, and even when he wasn't visible anymore. The rational part of her that would question Sam with unruly questions about college was hidden by a smoldering fear that he was lying to her. She had expected as much, but for now, the less she knows, the more she can believe.
Sam met Puck, once again, within the PokeMart. He looked rather drained, but lit up as soon as he saw Sam.
"Hey dude," he grinned, "How'd it go?"
Sam nodded meekly in response, and Puck seemed to understand. He moved from the register and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, steering him to the door. "I know someone to take your mind off things."
"Aren't you working?"
"Don't make this about me," Puck said, grinning slyly. Sam laughed, hoping he wouldn't take this mentality with him when they travel to gyms.
"Well, here we are."
Within the Rustboro apartments, Puck graciously opened the door to number 459. Playing the part, he slipped off Sam's backpack and placed it on the kitchen counter.
"Let me get that for you, sir."
"Oh, why thank you," Sam replied, "And what do I owe this pleasant voyage?"
"This is where you'll live, dude. Well, until we travel to the second gym."
Sam paused, blinking. "You've already got this planned?"
Puck scratched the nape of his neck. "Well, yeah, the apartment has two bedrooms, and I only ever needed one."
Sam wanted to ask a lot of questions but they all fought for prominence before bursting from his lips.
"I figured, if you've only recently came to Hoenn then you won't have many friends. I thought it'd be nice to... you know... be your friend?" Puck huffed, trying to find words that wouldn't dampen his image. "The real beauty is that you don't even have to pay board or anything-"
"Are you sure?" Sam cut in immediately, "I don't want to impose."
"Nah, it's cool I think I'd like having a roomie," he turned to the vast emptiness of his home, "It gets kinda lonely." When he turned around he was caught by Sam's arms, wrapping in a tight hug. He was caught a little off guard, and emitted a tiny "oomph" at the contact, but quickly returned the gesture.
Sam stood back from the hug but still held onto Puck's elbows, eyes twinkling. "Thanks," he said, "For everything." He slowly let go, and Puck swallowed heavily.
"No problem."
After a month of routine shifts at the Pokemart and training sessions that pushed Ralts and Shinx to exertion, Puck deemed Sam ready to face the leader of Rustboro. Both of his Pokemon had levelled considerably, and they even had a few new moves under their belt.
"So, what makes you so confident that I'll be able to get my first badge?" Sam asked Puck as they walked through the doors of the city's gym.
"I dunno," Puck shrugged, "Pretty sure I've lived in this place long enough to hear about the leader."
The gym was rather empty, so to speak. It gave a short amount of time for Sam to admire the rocky decor, but Puck seemed rather familiar with the surroundings.
"Quinn?" He called, his voice reverberating against the rocky surfaces. "Quinn?!" He called slightly louder, provoking the sound of rushed footsteps from outside.
The two waited tentatively as the doors slid open, revealing Quinn. Her askew hair and flustered expression did little to diminish her natural beauty. She smiled when she reached Puck, eyeing him with a smile.
"Ah, hey, Noah." She turned to Sam, extending a hand. "I'm Quinn, as you may have guessed. Leader here at Rustboro - Rock Type specialty."
"Sam," he replied, taking her hand in his, "I had no idea you know Puck."
She tiptoed around words to say. "I guess you could say we're... Acquainted?"
Puck nodded with a coy smirk. "Well, now that we've got the greetings out of the way, I wouldn't mind seeing some class Pokemon battle."
Quinn nodded, grinning in return. "Right." She walked onto the battleground, Sam quickly following. They stood on their respective sides, Puck watching from the spectators area. To be honest, Sam had expected something more exciting, but was glad there weren't many spectators for his first legitimate battle. In fact, he wasn't sure why he didn't train more. The more he seemed to think about it, the worse things looked, so he tried to shut off his brain for the time being.
"Okay, my rules for battle is simple - two Pokemon. That's it." Quinn heard Puck scoff behind her, and turned. "You know this is how I have to do it," she snapped. "Ready?"
Sam was comforted by the use of only two Pokemon, considering that was all he had on him. He took out a Pokeball and tossed Ralts into the battle. "Ready."
Quinn opened her Pokeball, letting an Aron gain its stance on the battlefield. "Begin."
"Confusion, Ralts!" Sam ordered, and the air around Aron distorted. The Iron Armor Pokemon was only slightly annoyed by the attack, and only a little disorientated.
Quinn smirked, "Psychic's won't do much against it - Aron's part steel." She smiled towards it, "Use Headbutt."
Aron launched itself at Ralts, but not before Sam could instruct "Double Team," leaving Aron to fall through of one the many Ralts copies. "Now, Confusion again!" The real Ralts stepped forward, eyes blue as it gave yet another psychic attack. Caught off guard, Aron was critically hit. Though it wasn't effective, the attack gave the status ailment of confusion.
"Damnit," Quinn said, massaging her brow. "You're confused - not stupid! Stop hitting yourself!"
"Well, know that that's over, I think I'll switch Pokemon now." Sam withdrew Ralts, now letting Shinx take the stage.
Quinn snickered. "I know my Aron's confused and all, but electric types won't do much either."
"Shinx, Double Kick!"
"Crap."
Shinx wasted no time, thrusting its hind legs directly into Aron. The force knocked out the opponent immediately.
Sam grinned as he heard Puck cheer from somewhere in the background.
"Ah, that was sneaky," Quinn said, returning her Aron to its Pokeball. "I'm at a little bit of a disadvantage now."
"Two verse one now Sam," Puck called highly excited, "You'll get your first gym badge soon enough!"
Puck was right, as a couple of Double Kicks later Quinn's Nosepass fell. Sam cheered as the Compass Pokemon fainted, and Shinx jumped into his arms. Quinn and Puck walked over to him, and Quinn placed a Stone Badge in his hand.
"Congratulations," she said. "Take this. It's signifies that you've beaten my gym, and will help you in travelling. It also increases your Pokemon's attack, which is pretty nifty."
"Yeah," Puck hollered, gripp Sam's shoulders enthusiastically, "Dewford Town, here we come!"
"There's a boat service you can take straight there - just show them that badge and you'll have two free spots for you. One last thing." She pulled a small disc from her pocket, and placed it in Sam's hand. "It's a TM - Rock Slide. I would've used it against you, but you didn't give me a chance..." She looked rather disappointed.
"Cheer up, Q," Puck consoled, "you know if you had used Rhyperior you probably would've won."
Sam made an indignant noise, but really didn't have a leg to stand on. "You have a Rhyperior?!"
"Yeah," Quinn acted as if it wasn't uncommon. "All Gym Leaders have really powerful Pokemon, but the League officials give us strict guidelines with Pokemon we can use. It kinda sucks." She shook her head. "Don't worry about it, you deserved that win."
Sam smiled. "Thanks. This old blonde witch said I wouldn't be able to beat you with a Ralts, but lucky I did." For some reason his terminology made Quinn and Puck's ears shoot up like a foxes.
"Blonde witch?" Quinn repeated.
"Old blonde witch?" Puck echoed.
"Yeah, I think her name was-"
"Sue?" Quinn and Puck finished together.
"Yeah," Sam blinked, "How did you guys know?"
The two faced each other, and paused.
"Uh, no reason," Quinn said. She looked at her watch and inhaled sharply."I have to go, good luck you two." And with the closing of the doors she was gone.
When Sam and Puck finally went outside a familiar face flagged them down.
"Dad!" Sam ran over to him, a Pokeball in hand. "I have your Staraptor!"
"Thanks, Son," Dwight said, clasping the ball in his hands. "Mum's told me about your tertiary education."
Sam's smile faltered. "Oh." Puck awkwardly shrunk into the background, trying not to interfere.
"I thought it was pretty odd - after all, you hated school." A twinkling badge in Sam's hand distracted him. "And it seems I was right. After all, I felt the same way about the stinking place." Dwight looked at his son's downcast face, "which is why I'm glad you're challenging the League."
"What?" Sam gaped. He turned to Puck, who gave a thumbs up and a grin.
"I'll talk to Mary, get her off your case, it's not right to do something you're dead set against. But for now take this." He placed a credit card in Sam's hand. "This card is league certified, so you can get free accommodation and food. Unfortunately, it all relates to the amount of badges you have, but only one gives you pretty much everything you need at the next gym.
"Wow," Sam breathed. "Thanks, Dad." He was very thankful, but just nodded with a smile from ear to ear. His dad was never good with showing (or receiving) affection.
"No problem, Son," he scratched his chin. "As long as you're here, could you help me find an address? I swear this place is a maze."
"I can help, if you want."
Dwight turned to find Quinn.
"I'm the Rustboro Leader," she shook his hand. "I believe you must be Finn's replacement."
"Ah, quite right you are," Dwight agreed.
"We can get more acquainted on the way to the meeting. It's this way."
"Alright." Dwight turned to Sam. "Goodbye for now, Son." He left with Quinn, and Sam turned his attention back to Puck. Puck had a map out, and pointed south with a hoorah.
"This way to the cruise ship!" he cheered! "I'm pretty sure if we head there now we could be a Dewford before sunset! Let's go!"