Chapter 2: Enter Plasma and N
AN: Hay guys, CBP here. I'm going to assume you know what's going to happen in this chapter. I'm trying to make this follow the game, but be as different as possible too. This is pretty game-like though… Oh well!
Before I let you guys get to the chapter, I'd just like to warn you to not expect frequent updates from me. I've been focusing on school and music, as well as my other fic, A World Unseen, which desperately needs updating on my website… Anyway, enjoy reading! Oh! Expect sarcasm too!
"Karina, one waffle isn't going to hold you for a long time."
Cheren and I decided to take advantage of the cafeteria food, provided by the Pokémon Center, but I wasn't very hungry.
"I'll get something to go."
"Why do you never eat a full breakfast?"
"Ha! You're one to talk," I scoffed looking at his small bowl of corn flakes. "Yours is tiny bland AND boring! At least my waffle has syrup on it. That gives it a nice flavor."
Cheren didn't say anything in response. He simply continued to eat his small bowl without looking at me until we were both done.
While Cheren was sulking in defeat, I looked down at Silver and Lucas, who were happily eating bowls of some sort of kibble or something. Eventually, Silver looked up at me and made a funny little squeak noise before jumping into my lap.
"Hay, Silver," I greeted. "How's breakfast?"
He nuzzled my arm and looked down at his bowl, which Lucas was eyeing enviously. Silver gave Lucas a small nod and Lucas dove into the remains of Silver's breakfast.
"You don't eat much in the morning, do you?"
Silver climbed onto my shoulder and made another funny squeak sound in response to my question.
"What the hell is going on?"
Cheren and I were standing in the plaza of Acumula, staring at some oddly dressed individuals talking about Pokémon liberation, or some shit like that. Like, seriously! Since when did the Knights Templar come back?
"My name is Ghetsis," the most ridiculous looking man said. "I am here representing Team Plasma, and I would like to talk to you about Pokémon liberation."
The entire crowd of people around us was chattering in confusion, but Cheren and I just stood still, waiting for this messed up joker to get on with his speech.
I honestly don't know why, but I got really bad vibes from this Ghetsis person. I couldn't see him too clearly from where I stood, but the way he spoke was so practiced. Most people wouldn't and didn't notice a thing. Me on the other hand… The way he spoke was similar to the way a good number of staff at my school spoke. I could tell right off the bat that he was a big fat fucking liar.
"Are Pokémon truly happy confined in pokeballs," Ghetsis asked. "Do we humans really live with Pokémon in harmony, or do we take advantage of them and abuse them?"
The crowd gasped as they thought about what Ghetsis was saying. They were being reeled in by his lies, like a fish to a worm. I had to admit though… He had a good question. Were Pokémon happy in pokeballs? They fought for us, but was it because they wanted to? I remembered the battle Cheren and I had and how our Pokémon reacted to the prospect of battling. If they didn't want to battle, they would have run away or turned their backs to us or something.
"What can we do to ensure the best for Pokémon," Ghetsis inquired. "How can we ensure that Pokémon become perfect beings?"
"Uh, liberate them," a person in the crowd asked. "Is that it? We release our Pokémon?"
"That is absolutely correct sir," Ghetsis praised. "We must liberate Pokémon and free them from the tyranny of humanity!"
I felt a surge of anger rush through me and I clenched my hands into fists to hold it in. What was this fucktard talking about? Sure, I could have paid a little more attention to his speech, but liberating Pokémon? Really?
"And that, my friends," Ghetsis said with a bow. "Is the end of my speech. I hope you will consider my words and do what is best for Pokémon."
With that, the oddly dressed people, now known as Team Plasma, surrounded Ghetsis and they all walked off somewhere. Why did this guy need a personal army? What the hell did they use for weapons? …Oh, right, Pokémon!
I laughed inwardly at the realization that an entire group of hypocrites walked off like a group of total saints. Another surge of anger flowed through me. Why did I have to run into the worst kind of people imaginable?
Silver shot a powerful Water Gun attack at the freaky purple cat, commanded by some weirdo with green hair. The cat deftly dodged the stream of water and came back on the rebound with its claws ready for a Scratch attack.
"Purloin," the dude said calmly. "Finnish this."
Before I could formulate a response in my head, the Purloin struck Silver in the face, leaving a bloody scratch mark on his cute little nose. Silver didn't let that stop him though. He quickly got back on his little feet and probably glared daggers as he made a squeak sound.
The green haired guy seemed to be taken aback by Silver's noise, as if he understood him. Honestly, this guy was pretty odd. When he approached me and Cheren, he said our Pokémon were talking to us. He told us that he was a trainer that questioned the entire practice and he challenged me to a battle.
Silver took the small shell that grew on his belly and held it in his hand. The Purloin got ready to strike once more but Silver made the first move without waiting for an order from me. Silver ran towards the cat, shouting the best battle cry a tiny otter could, and used the shell as a sort of sword to strike purloin in the side.
The cat was shocked by the apparent pain that surged through its body as the attack hit. I to, was shocked as the shell actually cut into the cat's skin. I only knew this because the cat left a small trail of red on the white stone road of Acumula as it moved backwards in defense.
"Purloin, no," the dude cried as he knelt beside the cat. "I'm so sorry! It was my fault you got hurt!"
The cat made a small hiss as the dude sprayed a potion on its wounds. I could tell that the green haired dude was distressed. His tone made it clearer than ever. He truly cared about the safety of Pokémon.
Silver didn't want to let things go though. He prepared himself for another attack but the Purloin made his friend aware of it.
"Oshawatt," he pleaded. "Please, don't hurt him. The battle is over."
Silver didn't pay him any mind. He launched his attack with pure determination.
"Silver, wait," I called out. "He's right, the fight's over! I'm calling this a draw!"
Silver hesitated inches from Purloin's head. The green haired guy looked like he was about to kick Silver's ass for poking a dead fire, but he made no move to attack. Silver backed away and turned to walk back to me. I walked towards him and picked him up.
"Let's do something about that cut," Cheren said as Silver started to cry.
I hugged the small Pokémon tightly as Cheren applied the proper care for the wound.
"Your Pokémon is sad."
I looked up from my comfort session with Silver to see the green haired guy looking at us.
"I coulda told you that," I said. "What's it to ya, anyway? Silver isn't your responsibility, Purloin is."
"Purloin will be fine," he said holding up a pokeball. "But your Oshawatt has never bled before…"
"His name is Silver," I interrupted. "And I don't blame him for being sad. He's probably gonna get a scar…"
A flashback from when I was six suddenly came flooding into my mind. I was sitting next to an obscenely wide slide, trying to make sense of a regular print book, when three boys came up beside me. I couldn't remember their names, but I remembered the minor details of their faces that I could see. The leader of the three demanded that I move aside to let them go down the slide, but I told them that they could just go around me. The next thing I knew, I was at the bottom of the slide, face down, sliding across the pebbles. I came out of it with a long scar on my nose that decided to stick around for a few months. It was yet another thing that made me different then all the sighted non-Portuguese kids…
I hugged Silver more tightly as the flashback faded away. I hated thinking about the first grade. I hated thinking about those kids. Quite frankly, I hated thinking about that dam Catholic school altogether!
"You're sad too," the dude observed sadly. "I'm sorry… I didn't think this battle would hurt anyone like this…"
"It's not your fault, dude," I said. "It doesn't really have…"
"Don't tell this guy anything he doesn't need to know," Cheren interrupted coldly. "I don't trust this joker."
"Did I not introduce myself," the guy asked, seemingly oblivious to Cheren's insult. "I apologize… My name is N. N Harmonia."
"I'm Karina Robina," I said.
"Cheren…"
Silver added his own introduction in the form of a squeak. "My name's Silver."