Chapter one:
3 Years Later...
"Dad, are you almost ready to go? Spook and I have our stuff packed, and are all ready," I asked impatiently.
"Be patient I'm almost ready," he replied. "Dragonite,you set?"
Dragonite nodded, and we assembled in the living room.
"Bye Mom!" I yelled. "We will be back soon, and hopefully I'll have my Ice ball done!"
"Ok dear, good luck!" she said to me. "And I love you guys, have a safe travel please..."
"No worries Hun, we will be back shortly," my dad said. "Dragonite will fly safe as always."
My Mom walked gracefully to my Father and kissed him passionately.
They headed towards Spook and I. She hugged me and I hugged back, then she pet Spook and whispered something to Dragonite.
"So are we ready?" I asked trying to be patient, which wasn't really working.
"Yes Lizy, we are ready," dad replied. "Heather don't forget to send the rest of our stuff on the train tomorrow, therefore it will reach us in Glacia on time." Dad said.
"Yes I will, I already have it stamped," she replied.
"Ok then, so we are ready. Dragonite, let's go!" Dad exclaimed.
"Ok Spook, come back!"
Within the minute, Spook was back in his poke-ball and on my poke-ball belt, safe and sound.
We slowly walked out the door, Dragonite led us out, followed by my Dad then me. Once outside Dad put the two person saddle onto Dragonite, it's a beautiful hand crafted leather saddle with small Rhine stones around the outside. I climbed onto Dragonite first, then my Father.
"Ok Dragonite, you know where too." He said.
With that we took off, I looked down one last time, to see my Mother standing outside waving us goodbye. I wasn't hard leaving her, I've done it a few times in the past to do research on pokemon for my pokeballs.
It was high noon when we stopped in a small town along the way to grab a bite to eat.
"Come on out Spook, it's lunch time!" I said to the pokeball while pressing the button to release him.
He came shooting out, flying up high, then doing spins like a cork screw while heading back to the ground. I know he hates flying without being able to see, so this wasn't a surprise that he was so excited to leave his pokeball.
We sat in the grass at a park inside the town, and laid a blanket down to eat out packed lunches. As everyone else ate, I decided to write to Anthony (the guy I had met while I visited Roggenrolla Valley 6 months ago). The letter read:
"Dear Anthony, I'm on the move again. This time we are going to Glacia so we can research ice pokemon. We will be visiting 'Reigns Ranch' where the owner John owns a Piloswine farm.
I hope you are healing up well, your last letter said you started rehab for your leg, I'm sure your doing just fine in that and you'll probably be back walking without a limp in no time at all. Also, I really don't think that you going back to mine right away is a good thing. You had said they just finished fixing the collapse tunnels, and I don't want you hurt again. Oh, and how's your pokemon, I know they are still probably shaken up from the whole ordeal, say hi to them for me.
Well, I'll write to you soon, when I have an address for you to write back to I'll let you know. Till then take care, ad be safe.
In my thoughts, Lizy."
Spook was watching me write, in-between mouthfuls of food that is, almost like he had something else to say (which probably wasn't anything nice seeing as he didn't care for Anthony).
"Are we all done here?" my father asked
"Yea, I think so," I replied.
"Ok, are we ready then, Dragonite?"
Dragonite nodded, so I put Spook back in his pokeball, patting him on the head before he went back, then we saddled up and started our journey farther up north.
I must of fallen asleep somewhere along the ride for when I awoke We had just landed.
"Lizy, would you mind de-saddling Dragonite as I go talk to John?"
"No problem Dad!" I said slipping into my white Swanna down jacket that flowed to my thighs.
He stepped into the house hold, knocking first of course, but was impatient and showed himself in. Within a couple minutes I could hear my father and, who I assumed to be, John talking.
The saddle weighed a lot, so it took me awhile to get off, but when I did I gently placed it onto the wooden saddle rack beside the doorway. I took a moment to look around, it was so beautiful, the snow blanketed the ground effortlessly as the wind picked up small clusters of snow and dragged them along with it. The house had a wooden fence behind it, that looked like it housed the Piloswine, along with a large wooden barn, that had smoke coming out of a small chimney scoop on the roof. I took a deep breath in, inviting the chilled air into my lungs as I shut my eyes to take in the wonder sounds of bird pokemon in the distance.
But my moment of bliss came to halt as I jumped when the door opened.
"Lizy, want to come meet the gentlemen who own and run this wonderful farm?" My father asked.
I nodded and followed my father through the door way. As I entered I removed my hood, and looked around, the door to the outside lead right into their kitchen area.
The kitchen was old western style, with while tile back splash, and dark wooden cupboards, accompanied by hard wood flooring. A man, I presumed to be John stood beside a table set, as he watched me enter the room, he wore jean overalls, and a plaid long sleeve T-shirt, with a black toque. His face was very soft as he watched me, eyes piercing blue and chapped lips that were shadowed by a mustache. He watched for a moment, then looked over to his left, where a winding staircase stood, and a young man, about my age.
I didn't know his name but I assumed he was the son of John. He just stared at me, and for a moment I stared back. He was tall, had blue eyes that reminded me of summer days looking at the sky, scruffy brown hair, and a very defined face, he was a very handsome young man, he had a slender build with muscular arms (he probably did a lot of work around the farm, lifting and stuff.) he wore jeans, and a plain T-shirt. Then our eyes met, and I could feel my face get hot (I was probably blushing) and I wanted to hold back laughter from the goofy look on his face. I broke eye contact to look at his father, who was smirking at the silly look on his face.
"Gentle men, this is my daughter, Elizabeth." My dad motion to me.
"This is John Reigns, and.. I'm sorry I didn't catch you name?" He looked at the boy.
I nodded to John, as if to give a hello, then looked at the boy who was still staring at me it took a moment to realize my Dad was talking to him I think, and then he spoke.
"Ryder... I'm Ryder," he muttered almost franticly.
John looked back at Ryder, who had his head down slightly, and gave him a giant smirk.
"Anyways! I heard in town that you guys are selling Eevee pups?" My Dad broke the silence.
My ears pricked up, and I looked at my father then smiled hoping he was referring to my gift.
"I promised Lizy I would get her one for her birthday".
"Yes, we still have one left, she's out in the barn." John said, he moved his eyes back to Ryder, "Maybe Ryder would should you the way?" He said with a crooked smile.
Ryder nodded and headed toward the door, he grabbed his white woolen jacket from the rack, and proceeded to walk out the door. I quickly hugged my Dad giving him a big smile, before running to catch up to Ryder. While walking I tried to make some small talk with him, then he asked about my family. I told him that I was from Shadowvale, and that we owned a large lot backing onto the haunted forest of Shadowvale, and that my Mom ran a cemetery business (she is a coroner and owns the cemetery).
I then went on to explain that I build specialized pokeballs (which was why I came here) using a nano-technology I attach into the pokeball, it can project a picture of its surroundings (taken once the ball is thrown) to help calm down the pokemon trying to be caught. Also that the pokeballs all have unique linings that help keep the pokemon from escaping, for example the Water ball Spook and I made has a netting on the inside of the ball that is made out of fishing line, so the water pokemon cannot break through easily. While I was explaining this I think I lost him the more I went into detail, which is fine, it's not easy to understand or explain the work I do to people.
We reached the barn after a while of walking along the wooden fence and talking about our families. Ryder slowly opened the door, I wasn't a patient person so I looked around in the barn waiting to meet my new friend... I then seen the Flareon (more than likely Johns) curled up next to a fire she had made. Ryder looked around quickly for the Eevee then walked over to a huge mountain of hay. He reached into it gently and pulled out a small Eevee.
"She's so CUTE!" I managed to squeak out through my excitement.
The Eevee was a creamy brown colour, with a light brown chest, belly, and paws. Her left ear had a slight kink in it, which made the ear fold over and kind of lop down to the front of her face slightly.
"Hey little one, would you like to be the new addition to my family?" I asked.
The Eevee just nuzzled into my arm more, and I smiled with delight.
Ryder turned to look back at Flareon for a moment, and I don't think he heard my pokeball open. Spook came out, and used Smoke Screen before I could introduce the two.
"What the hell!" I heard Ryder yell, blinded by the purple haze.
"Spook, chill out!" I screamed, and with that the smoke started to clear.
As it cleared I could start to see Spook, who was looking Ryder dead in the eyes. Ryder jumped back, taken by surprise from Spook.
"Spook, this is Ryder. We are going to be staying in this town for a while, and he's going to show us around." I said looking at Ryder, and smiling.
"Oh, Am I now?" He said sarcastically.
"If you don't mind..." I said while Spook stared him down.
"It would be my pleasure." He said with a nod.
"So where did this little guy come from?" Ryder asked looking at Spook, who was floating around me.
I explained to him that found him in the haunted forest, very weak from a close to fatal encounter with a Dusclops. He was a newborn Ghastly at the time, very small. I told him Dragonite and I saved him and brought him back to my house, where Spook agreed to join my family.
We begun to walk back to the house, I still had Eevee in my arms, while Spook floated around me.
"Oh, I forgot to ask, what with the pokeball chain?" I said aloud.
Ryder stopped to look at me for a moment then looked down at his silver chain that held a single compacted pokeball on it. He then walked over to the wooden fence surrounding the Piloswine and sat down allowing his feet just to touch the ground. I followed and climbed onto the fence, he smiled at me when I got onto the fence because my feet dangled without touching the ground like his did.
I listened intensively as he explain the story behind the chain. Apparently the chain was a gift from his grandfather (who was a researcher like my Dad). His grandfather before he left gave him the chain, and the pokeball on it. The pokeball carries a rare white Swinub (which I couldn't wait to see but I waited patiently). He told me that his grandfather left, without listening to Ryder's refusal which made him very angry and sad for him leaving.
When he was done the story, he stood up, and waited for me to also. I stared at the chain and hesitated a minute.
"Can I see him?" I asked
He paused for a moment and then nodded. With a swift movement he pulled the pokeball off the chain, pressed the center button, which expanded the ball, then threw the ball up into the air.
"Swinub, come on out!" he yelled at the ball.
There was a flash of red as the ball opened and then the Swinub gracefully fell onto a patch of grass that the snow seemed to miss. The Swinub was very cute, all white with milk chocolate striped going down him back, and a very pink little nose that was sniffing the ground.
The Swinub, still a little dazed from being in the pokeball, snorted then walked over to me, wobbling a bit at first. He came right up to me, and sniffed my boots letting out a little snort while rubbing up against me.
"He likes you." Ryder said, watching me interact with the little Swinub.
"He's adorable! Spook, come meet Swinub!" I exclaimed.
Spook had floated off towards the tree line sometime during Ryder and I talking. He began to come over to us, coming into the light. While Spook took his time getting to where we were standing, I noticed Ryder seemed a bit tense... I assumed it because Spook didn't really look to be the social type.
"It's ok, he's really friendly to other pokemon, he was just messing around in the barn." I said, but in the back of my mind, I know he was trying to scare Ryder in the barn... Spook and I are very close, and to Spook any man around my age, is a threat to our friendship...
Ryder nodded, he seemed a little more at ease, but he kept a close eye on Spook as he reached us. Spook and Swinub just looked at each other for a moment, until Spook gave Swinub a big grin, and flipped upside down being playful. Swinub snorted happily, then tried to tackle Spook playfully, but looked really confused when he went right through Spook and fell onto his butt on the other side. Ryder and I both laughed as we watched the dazed Swinub look at Spook very confused.
We watched the pokemon play for hours, while we made some small talk, before the pokemon showed that they were getting tired. Spook lay on the ground next to Swinub as the breathed heavily from playing. I began to walk over to scoop Spook up. When I was just two steps away from him, he jumped up, hissed at the sky, and flew to the trees, where I could no longer see him. Swinub let out a great squeal of pain or discomfort/anger and hid behind Ryder.
"What the..." Ryder said confused.
"I don't know, I've never seen Spook act like this before." I said.
In the blink of an eye the forest went quiet and something blocked the sun, as it shadowed the forest, we looked up but it was too fast, it had already moved over us. And from the forest came blood curdling shrieks, then silence once again.
"What was that?" I asked.
"I have no idea..." Ryder replied.
Ryder quickly pulled Swinub back into its pokeball. And I called out to Spook who hesitantly, but quickly, floated over to me.
My Dad came shooting out of the house, with John.
"Did you see it?" Dad asked franticly
"No but it was loud, like a bird pokemon, and it terrified little Spook." I said shaking my head
"Hmm... I wonder. Come on Lizy, we have to go! I need to call Arian!" Dad said sprinting towards the road.
I looked down in disappointment... Whatever this was, it had nothing to do with my work, I don't know why I had to leave, I could've easily met him later at the hotel. I faced Ryder, I probably looked so pathetic, like a sad kid who didn't get what she wanted.
"I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow?" I said (it was a rhetorical question)
"Yea, absolutely." He replied.
"Alright I'll see you then!" I exclaimed.
I then turned to look at Spook who was ready to go, and then jogged after my quickly moving father, with my Eevee in my arms cuddled up still.
I caught up to my dad, who had forgotten to grab his noted of the dining room table of the Reigns house.
"Damn! I needed those notes!"
"It's ok Dad, I'm going back there tomorrow to research the Piloswine. I'll pick them up for you if you want?"
"No dear it's fine, I'll probably be going there tomorrow at some time."
We continued to walk along the side of the road, headpin towards the town.
"So, Eevee, you agreed to be part of our family, once I have your pokeball painted and ready I'll show it to make sure you like it. But first, I would like to give you a nick name, so you're not just like other Eevees being called Eevee all the time. Is that ok with you?"
She looked up at me and smiled.
"Ok, how about Roxy?"
She shook her head.
"Missy?"
Still a no.
"Luna?"
A definite no.
"Snowy...?"
She nodded in agreement.
"Ok then, Nice to meet you, Snowy. Spook, say hello to Snowy the newest member of our family."
Spook floated in front of us, and smiled widely, then nodded and licked Snowy's face leaving her with a slight disgusted look.
"So you like your new friend Lizy?"
"Of course Dad, she great, I can't wait for her to get used to the way me and Spook are and really become one of the family. She's going to have to like to travel though. And intense working."
"I'm sure she'll be happy just having a loving owner."
"No, we don't call it that, technically yes I am her owner, but she is a companion now. Not a pet, or tool."
"Well, my apologies. I'm sure she'll be happy having a loving companion."
"That's better." I nudged him with my elbow smiling at him.
We were just entering the town after a longer walk from the Reigns ranch. It was a beautiful small town, there was an old brick library to the left of the town, with a small convenience store beside it, with gas pumps and a car wash. To the right was a big grocery store with a small mall surrounding it. We kept walking, and slowly the streets were forming and more life was coming to the town. People and pokemon walked through, and some stopped to play in a large open park, with a thawing pond in the middle of it. A picnic area was set up on the right side of the park, which was bare due to the cold weather. We got more into the rural area where houses had big yards and beautiful finishes on the outside. We continued our walk until we got to our Motel, it was located at the edge of town, just a few steps away from the salt mine.
The motel was nice, our room had two beds in separate rooms, and a large dining table crammed into a smaller kitchen eat in area. The walls had tacky wall paper with a blue floral design, and the whole place had cream carpet. The bathroom had a soaker tub, with shower, and a toilet accompanied by a floating sink on the wall. My room had a double bed in the far corner with a window looking out to the mines. It also had a small fold down desk on the right wall. Again this room had the floral wall paper, but in a red this time.
I strolled through the rooms but then there was a knock at the door. My father answered it.
"Your luggage has arrived, Diotte Family." A nice hotel worker said, "It's right outside your door, enjoy your stay, and feel free to call the main desk for anything you need." He smiled, and walked away from the door heading down the hall to the main room before we could thank him.
"Well, that was nice of them. Grab your things and bring them to your room, I'll be in my room setting thing up." My Dad said.
So I grabbed my luggage and begun setting thing out in my room the way I wanted them. I placed my clothing in the small dresser beside my bed. And all my not books and work went onto the folding desk. I took my pink and silver pokebelt off and hung it up on the coat hook attached to the back of my door. Snowy and Spook sat on the bed and watched me scurry around finding places for all of our stuff. In one of my bags, I was unloading, I pulled out Spook's bed. The bed was a gift to him from my Mom two Christmas's ago. The bed was dark purple satin with large sporadic green poke-a-dots. A thought clicked in with me.
"Snowy, we need to get you a bed too!" I said look at the pokemon who were watching while they relaxed on my bed.
She looked at me confused, and I pointed to Spooks bed. I then placed it on the ground, and Spook floated to it, then lay down and shut his eyes briefly to insinuate what is was for.
"Hey Dad would you mind if we went to the mall for a minute?" I called for him trough the walls
"Yea that's fine, just be back before dark please." He replied
"Yes Dad." I said rolling my eyes
"Spook, Snowy, let's go shopping!" I smiled looking at the two of them.
I quickly put my coat back on, and grabbed my pokebelt along with my small silver back pack (which I used as a purse) with the pokeball stitched into the front pocket.
"Ok, all set, you guys ready?"
They both nodded. I had Spook float beside me as always, but I allowed Snowy to climb into my arm, and be carried. Seeing as she was so small it was no problem for me to carry her around right now. As we walked I seen people glancing at Spook as he flew around me happily. I realize that they don't see Ghost types a lot, so I didn't let it bother me while they stared. Just as we reached the mall, a little boy ran from him mother to get a better look.
"Well hello there." I said looking at the small boy
"Hi." He replied
"This, is a Ghastly, his name is Spook. Spook say hello to... Um..."
"I'm Ethan, I'm very sorry to stare my mommy told me it was rude, but you have a really cool pokemon miss!"
"That's ok, I think the pokemon around here are really cool too, but where I'm from Spook is a pretty regular pokemon to find."
"Wow you're lucky, I want to have a cool pokemon one day, but mommy said I have to wait until I'm responsible enough to take care of one." He said making it sound like his mom was the bad guy.
"Well, you're mommy is right, pokemon require a lot of love and attention. They need to be played with, and trained and most of all loved. If pokemon end up in the wrong hands, they end up mean and used for tools to fight other pokemon or people in a bad way, to cause harm."
"Oh, well ok. I still think I could have one now though."
"Well what pokemon would you want if you could choose?"
"Umm... Fearow! So one day we could fly around like an an airplane and sore through the skies to touch the clouds!" He exclaimed so fast he shuddered a bit.
Just then his mother ran over, and grabbed his sleeve,
"Ethan Joseph Morvay, you do not go running off to talk to strangers!" She said angrily
Ethan opened his mouth to explain, but I jumped in before he could talk.
"I'm very sorry ma'am, and I'm sure he is too, but he was just curious about my little Spook over here." I gestured to Spook who smiled and turned upside down in a happy greeting.
"My point stands, though you seem like a very nice young lady, he still shouldn't run off on me like that."
"I'm sorry momma, I just wanted to see her Ghastly, or um... Spook."
"Well that's fine this time, but we must be going, good bye-"
"My names Elizabeth, call me Lizy though." I intruded
"Ok, goodbye, Lizy." She said half way with her back to me already
"Bye Lizy and Spook, it was very nice to meet you."
"You'll get your Fearow one day Ethan, but remember what I told you about treating pokemon ok?"
He nodded then turned to catch up with his mother.
"Well Spook, you are quite the hit around here!" I exclaimed. But felt bad for Snowy, though she was sleeping in my arm that was inside my coat, they hadn't noticed her.
We walked into the mall. It was very clean and maintained inside. As you walk in there a clothing store to the left, escalators on the middle, and a food court to the right. Beside the escalators was a mall directory. I read the sign, looking for a shop that sells pokemon accessories, clothing or anything really. I seen a name of a store called "Pokemon fan club" I figured what do we have to lose. It was located on the second floor to the back on the right hand side. Spook flew up to the second floor and waited. I got onto the escalator and nudged Snowy trying to wake the sleepy pup. Her eyes opened slowly and she yawned then stretched out.
"You slept the walk to the mall, but we are here, hope you can stay awake until you can pick out a bed!" I smiled at the sleepy fur ball in my arms.
Spook waited patiently for us at the top. Once we reached the top he went shooting by us and disappeared, I figured we would just meet him at the store. I observed everything as we walked though the mall, at the top of the escalator was another indication sign and a small cafe, there were two hall ways dividing around the cafe with stores jam-packed into the small areas. I followed the main hallway that made a loop around the second floor until I could see Spook waiting for us at the stores entrance.
The store had all glass walls on the outside, with a glass door too. The sign above it was in bubble print painted in bright blue on top of yellow with flashing lights in the lettering. As we entered I could see Spooks eyes light up when he seen his favorite cookies.
"Yes Spook, you can get you're cookies. You suck up." I smiled and winked at him, jokingly.
"Is there anything I could help you with?" A man asked.
He was dressed in blue jeans and a store T-shirt, with the logo on the back and the same bubble writing with the store name. Along with a name tag that read "Hank, Store Manager" on it.
"Yes actually you can. I'm looking for pokemon beds? Do you happen to have any..." I asked politely
"Yes we to, follow me."
He led me to a small island in the right side of the store, where pokemon beds were neatly assorted.
"Ok, here they are, I'll be at the front desk if you need me."
"Thank you." I said, and with that he walked away.
"Ok Snowy, you can pick." I placed her on the ground, and allowed her to look, and sniff, each bed.
There wasn't too much selection. It was down to four girl beds, and two neutral coloured bed.
A pink satin bed with frills on the edges, a red and white polka dot bed made of fleece, a Swanna down fluffy white bed with pink and blue snowflakes on it, a foe-Krookodile scale cover bed. and a bright yellow cotton pillow top bed with a pokeball stitched onto it.
"So, Snowy, what do you think?"
After carful inspection, and trial and error in the test runs of the beds. She laid down in the Swanna down bed and started to fall asleep.
"Oh no you don't miss. Your getting your but back to the motel to sleep in your bed." I winked at her. "Spook, come on now, we are going to check out."
He looked at me from the treat stand, and let out a small pathetic cry.
"Ok, I promised. Snowy do you want any treats?"
She sniffed the boxes and found bone shaped cookies that had a meaty flavor (apparently), I scooped those up, and Spooks cookies then went to check out.
"Did you find everything ok?" The clerk asked.
"Yes, and thank you for the help."
"No problem. Is this all?"
I nodded.
"Ok so your total comes to 56.99."
I pulled my bag off my shoulder and reached for my wallet.
"Debit?"
"Sure, just swipe when it tells you."
The transaction was complete and he bagged up my stuff.
"Thank you, please come again!" He said happily as we walked away.
Snowy leapt up into my arms, and Spook floated around me, spinning and grinning in excitement for his cookies. It was a quite walk through the town, the only sounds were passing by cars, and the snow crunching underneath my feet.
"Dad we are back!" I yelled in, while standing in the doorway slipping out of my coat
"Ok sweetie, I'm working so, if you're hungry you can order out whatever you want!" He yelled back through a shut door.
I walked to my room, and placed Snowy's bed on the ground beside my own, and Spooks.
Snowy jumped down from my arms, and sniffed her bed, then walked onto it and walked around in a small circle trying to make a comfy place for her to lay. Once she had a spot made, she laid down in a small ball and fell back asleep.
"She sure sleeps a lot...I hope she will grow out of that." I said looking at Spook.
Spook floated around hit treat box lazily, until I grabbed him a treat, which he took from my hand, then laid down in his bed as well. I wasn't sleepy yet so I stayed up and wrote to Anthony.
"Dear Anthony.
We met the Reigns family today, they are really nice people! I like being around them, they are a really close family and are really nice to my father and I. Also, just like you had acted, Spook was a great surprise to them! He got all hot and angry when I let him out to meet someone your age.
But aside from that I got another pokemon today! My Dad, for my birthday, got me an Eevee! She is so cute, and I can't wait for you to meet her.
Today was our first day here, and I haven't learned anything about ice pokemon yet, but a strange assurance happened... Something very large flew over the ranch blocking out the sun, and scared all of the pokemon, then once out of sight it made a terrifying scream that rattled throughout the forest. My Dad and John (the owner of the ranch) came out and seemed a bit frantic about the happening. I was worried, and so were Johns kids, and wife.
I Hope your all healed up or at least close to it, write me back when you can, the address is on the envelope.
Be safe please!
Lizy."
After I finished the message I kissed Spook and Snowy lightly on their foreheads then curled up in my bed, and drifted off into a wonderful sleep.