Kitten: Iiiiiiii'm baaaaaaaack! Hope you missed me! Then I'll feel accomplished! ANYWHO, lets' just get right to it! Who thinks I own Pokémon? Anyone? If so, get your head checked.
*Pokémon*
Nearly ten minutes of arguing later, I manage to drag the doctor (who, by the way, doesn't like me much anymore) out of his office to convince the mean testing lady to let me take Vixen with me to the written portion of the test.
Not that that made it any more entertaining. Noooo, it was still two hours of filling in bubbles on a ScanTron and writing a one-page essay on why I think Poison moves don't affect Steel type Pokémon.
I envy Vixen. At least she got to sleep.
I FINALLY finish, swearing that if I ever hear the word resistance again I'll shoot someone, and get led to an arena kind of place. Vixen, now awake and in my arms, looks around with me, admiring the steel dome with the good-sized battle-field, the whole building probably a good 150 square feet.
"It's about TIME you got here!" A very feminine voice snaps in annoyance. I swing around, looking to see a girl sitting in the bleachers and tossing a Poké Ball up and down. Her hot pink jacket stands out in the shades of brown room, and her electric pants scream 'LOOK AT ME!' I don't know how I didn't see her before.
"And hello to you too," I say in response. The girl narrows her eyes at me, rising from her seat and hopping the bleachers down to my level, her bleach blond hair bouncing behind her. "You CANNOT be my instructor."
The girl laughs, plopping down next to me and eyeing me in a way that implies she's superior to me. I've seen Vinny look Coal that way before. Coal kicked his ass afterwards. If only...
"Noob. I'm not your instructor, you incompetent fool, I'm your training partner." Okay, so you switch from noob to incompetent fo- Wait, training partner?
"What do you mean 'training partner'?" I ask cluelessly, Vixen slinks off my lap, sitting in between the girl and I.
The girl doesn't answer, instead just eyes Vixen. "This is your Pokémon?" I nod. "I'm going to ace this test."
"Hello!" I snap. "Explain before I smack the answer out of you!"
The girl smirks at me, taking joy in the fact that she managed to rile me up. "I mean, we have to battle to see who gets a good score to be put into the machine. Only the top 90% get Trainer's Licenses. That's why I'm glad I only have to face you."
"Why are you so sure you can beat me?" I snap angrily. She answers by not catching the Poké Ball she's tossing, letting a blue Shellos emerge with an air of dignity.
"Meet Sea Blue, the death of your dreams," the girl says in a cocky tone of voice. Vixen and I just stare down at the slug Pokémon.
"I can see what you mean," I say, "she'll be turning my dreams into nightmares for weeks." The girl huffs in indignation, the prissy, little slug doing the same.
"I'll make you eat those words! You and your stupid Vulpix!" She snaps. "Sea Blue, Mud Slap!"
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
The booming voice interrupts our would be battle, Sea Blue halting in her attack just in time. A very angry looking man entering the room and storming over to me and my new foe. His grey hair almost seems to bristle as he gets closer, and his mustache almost seems to stick out.
"Sophie! I have told you before, there is no battling without authorization until you're a full Pokémon Trainer!" He snaps in his scary, deep voice. Sophie scowls at him, returning Sea Blue to her Poké Ball.
"Wait, have you been here before?" I ask her, hoisting up Vixen in my arms. Sophie grudgingly nods and I bite back the urge to laugh at her until I cry.
With a softly muttered 'Damn kids...', the instructor leads us down to the battlefield, pressing a button on a remote he pulled from his pocket. The ground vanishes, and in its place rises a pool with little floating disks all over the surface.
Fun.
"Now," the angry instructor says, the scowl still on his face," you two will battle for ten minutes. You will both be earning points as the battle goes on depending on what you do. If one of the Pokémon faints of steps off the battlefield, that Pokémon is considered to be disqualified. Have I made myself clear?"
I nod quickly, and step up the platform, setting Vixen down beside me. She jumps onto a platform n front of us, wobbling with a slight yelp. Sophie sends out Sea Blue on a platform, the slug making it wobble on purpose for entertainment purposes.
"Begin!"
The second the instructor yells it, Sea Blue sends a Mud-Slap Vixen's way. Vixen dodges, jumping over it and letting it splash in the water behind her.
"Vixen, to the platform on the right!" I command. Vixen jumps accordingly, starting to get closer to the Shellos, who stays put. The battle just goes for trading moves awhile, yet I can feel my blood pumping as I get more and more excited, happy with the battle even with the disadvantage.
"Mud Slap!" Sophie commands when Vixen finally lands on the platform with Sea Blue. The slug fires off the ground type attack, leaving Vixen to barely roll away in time. I watch this continue for a second, then notice Sophie constantly moving, noting that she moves every time the water comes close to touching her.
I have an evil plan.
"Vixen, circle it!" I shout. Vixen keeps moving and dogging the oncoming attacks, slowly turning Shellos to face Sophie. Finally, Sea Blue is facing Sophie.
"Mud Slap!" Sophie shouts for the umpteenth time. As Sea Blue prepares the attack, I command Vixen in the water. The fire type dives just in time. The Mu Slap nails Sophie in the expensive looking mid-section, hitting both her jacket and her pants.
"DEAR ARCEUS AHHHHHHH! SEA BLUE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Sophie shouts hysterically, completely losing her cool. Vixen clambers back onto the platform, Sea Blue still panicking over upsetting her hysterical master so much.
"V-Vixen! Ember! R-Repeatedly!" I command, trying hard not to laugh but failing to contain half of my giggles. Vixen torments the Shellos, Sophie now not commanding her Pokémon as she dances around, trying to get the mud off of her and squealing about how disgusting it is.
"Shellos!" Sea Blue shouts in despair, burned and trying to hit Vixen, firing off random attacks before tying to Harden enough so they don't hurt her anymore. Sophie finally looks up, pushing the blond hair out of her eyes just in time to see her precious Pokémon faint.
"Match!" The instructor commands, writing just a bit more. I hop the platforms, getting to sopping wet Vixen and scooping her up in a joyful haze. We celebrate for a moment or two, before we realize I'm sitting with most of me on the left side of the platform and go plummeting into the cold water below.
*Pokémon*
"After reviewing the battle," the instructor begins, talking to Sophie, whom the mud has dried on and linked her clothing together and me, with the towel wrapped around my shoulders and Vixen in my lap, "I have come to a decision. Sophie, I am sorry to say you've failed. Again."
Sophie doesn't even say anything, glaring at anything and everything in sight and storming away, hands balled up in angry fists.
"Sarah," he begins, "you failed." Before I can protest, he continues. "UNLESS, it was accidental that you made her Shellos hit her with a move."
"But it wasn't an-"
"IT was an accident?" He asks, implying I say yes. I stop the grin from spreading across my face.
"Yup. Total accident. I feel SOOO bad."
The instructor grins, filling out a piece of paper and telling me to wait here. I excitedly have a one-side conversation with Vixen for five minutes until he comes out with a small piece of plastic with my face on it and a PokéDex.
"Here you are, miss," the instructor says happily. I take it gleefully, giving him back the towel and letting Vixen hop off my lap. After thanking him graciously for about two minutes, I leave, and as I start to head out the door, he calls after me.
"About time someone taught that damn battle instructor a thing or two."
*Pokémon*
"Ooooh! Vixen! Use Ember!" I shout happily, training on route 203. The Kricketot we found yelped unhappily, trying and failing to dodge left. The bug Pokémon took the hit with a yelp, passing out in only one move. Vixen jumped up in joy along with me as we went in search of other Pokémon.
After beating a few Bidoof senseless, Vixen stops being able to Ember, tiny amounts of smoke all that emerges.
"Darn, out of Power," I mutter unhappily. Vixen frowns as well, puffing smoke for awhile. I take out my now somewhat filled PokéDex and look her up, examining her. I'm pleased to see a seven after the level, and the move Roar added to her known moves.
"At least you leveled up from all the battling we did," I say cheerfully. Vixen grins and shrugs, puffing a small cloud of smoke again. "And you learned Roar!" Vixen cocks her head. It seems she wasn't paying enough attention. Her face lights up and, eager to try it out, faces me and Roars as loud as she can. I yelp as I'm swept off my feet, flying five feet back at least until I slam into a tree. I half expect a Pineco to fall out of the trees and blow me up, but it doesn't.
"Vul?" Vixen says almost hopefully. I try and fail to glare at her, making eyes that imply anger but grinning like an idiot.
"Don't do that again, you jerk," I growl out good-naturedly. Vixen smiles at me, then trots up and settles down next to me to sleep. "Uh uh," I say, stopping her. You can sleep at the Pokémon Center. We need to restore your Power." Vixen pouts, but nods. I get up, brushing dust and dirt off my already dirty jacket and jeans. Before we can get a move on, a Shinx slowly approaches, sniffing the air.
"Vixen, Roar!" I command quickly, not wanting to engage in a battle we can't fight. The Shinx looks up, and squeaks its name as Vixen uses Roar loudly, sending the tiny Pokémon flying. I scoop up the fox Pokémon, dashing away before the Shinx can pursue its attackers.
I run down the city street, the setting sun behind my back as I turn left, then left again, until the Pokémon Center is in view. I slow down, getting tired after a run like that, and set Vixen down panting.
"Come... On... Vixen. Let's... Go inside..." I say while taking in air. Vixen utters the half bark/cough sound, the sound of her laughter that I'm growing so used to. We walk in the Pokémon Center, the tiles forming a Poké Ball on the floor.
"Evening, Nurse Joy!" I greet, stepping up to the counter. "How are you?"
Nurse Joy looks surprised, probably shocked that I didn't just command she heal my Pokémon. "I'm fine, thank you. What's your name and how can I help you this fine evening?" She asks cheerfully.
"My Vulpix ran out of Power for a certain move, I was wondering if you could help with that," I say, bending down to scoop up the fire type.
"Of course, I'd be happy to," Nurse Joy says with a smile, cocking her head and causing her hair loops to sway. "If you could return her, I can heal her in a jiffy."
Vixen's eyes widen, and she shakes her head quickly. I bite my lip, looking sheepish. "Is there anyway to heal her without using the machine? Vixen here is claustrophobic and can't handle being in her Poké Ball for too long." Nurse Joy raises an eyebrow, looking to the tiny Pokémon, but excuses herself, returning with a bag full of Leppa Berries.
"Here," she says, handing them to me, "these are Leppa Berries. They restore Power. Just have her eat a few of these until she's fine. You can always buy Ether at the Market if you run out as well, okay?"
"Thank you so much, I'm so sorry for the inconvenience." I bow my head slightly in a sign of respect, and start to leave when she stops me.
"Excuse me, miss, but it's a bit late out. Do you have anywhere to stay?" I turn to face her, not sure how to respond.
"No... Not really..." I say a bit mareepishly.
"Pokémon Centers always offer a room to stay then!" She says brightly with a smile to match. "We're out of rooms, but you may sleep in the lobby!"
"Really?" I ask incredulously. She nods. "Thank you so much, Nurse Joy!"
"Call me Maria," she says with a soft smile. I nod, walking up and offering her my right hand. She shakes it with a smile.
"And I'm Sarah, nice to meet you."
"You as well, now good night!" She calls after me as I go to wait in the lobby. I lay down on a couch, Vixen atop my chest happily and snuggling up to me. I pull a blanket from my backpack and yawn, eventually drifting off to sleep.
*Pokémon*
A loud commotion woke me up the next down.
"DON'T LET IT GET AWAY!"
I wake with a jolt, sending Vixen tumbling to the floor with the Vulpix version of 'oof'.
"What was that?" I ask no one in particular, Nurse J- er, Maria, is attending to someone, so I can't ask her. I pack up my backpack and slide it on quickly, grabbing Vixen up and running out of the Pokémon Center.
In the alleyway to the left of the building, between the Pokémon Center and someone's house, three kids are trapping a Shinx, all trying to catch it with no Pokémon. They can't even be nine years old.
"Hey, hey!" I shout, towering over all of them. They all turn around, the three boys staring up at me. "Leave that Pokémon alone! You can't even catch it!"
They scatter with randomly thrown out apologies, leaving the Shinx backed up into the fence to stare up at Vixen and I.
"Pix!" Vixen chirps out, staring at it.
The Shinx turns red, trying to bolt past us. I bend down and grab it's scruff, looking to the tuft of fur on its head and identifying it as male. Vixen jumps out of my arms and stares up at the limply hanging Shinx, who is dying of shame.
"What are you doing in the city, huh?" I ask. The Shinx continues to stare at the ground, only acknowledging my question with a flick of the tail. I sigh, walking past the Pokémon Center and starting on my way to Route 203. "Let's release you back into the wild. You've been through enough to today already."
The Shinx hits the ground as soon as my hand is close enough and takes off running, the bushes shaking as he bolts past them.
"Was that your Shinx?" A boy in a backwards, blue baseball cap asks. I shake my head, and he shouts in joy. "Awesome! I've been trying to find one for ages, but they all run away!" And with that, he runs after the Shinx.
"Weirdo," I comment uselessly, then look down at Vixen, want to go train some more? We might be able to make it through the cave without much difficulty if you're level nine. Or Roar them away if worse comes to worse." Vixen nods happily, and we start combing through the grass for Pokémon. Vixen stops with her ears perked, standing in front of me with her tails flared. A small, white Pokémon with a green hat thing sits on a tree stump, munching on a berry. I quietly take out my PokéDex, examining the Pokémon and turning it on mute so as not to scare it.
Ralts, Psychic. Female. 1'2". 12.5 pounds. Level 4. Moves Growl. Rare in this area. The horns on its head provide a strong power that enables it to sense people's emotions.
My eyes light up at the description, and I watch the Ralts with capture on my mind.
"Vixen, sneak up on it, and use Ember." Vixen nods, creeping through the grass to surprise the unsuspecting Pokémon.
A 'snap' resounds through the area as the Vulpix on the prowl steps on a dry twig.
How cliché.
Ralts jumps up, letting out an alarmed sounding 'Ralts!' an dashing off, surprising fast for the appearance of almost a dress around it.
"After it!" I yelp, dashing through the route to catch the psychic type. Vixen starts catching up, and opens her mouth to Ember it. She stops when a smoke puff collides with her face. The Ralts dashes off, crying its name in alarm.
"I never fed you the Leppa berries, did I?" I ask, watching the Ralts dash further and further away. Vixen shakes her head, watching the psychic type as well.
"Vul."
"Damn."
"Vul."
*Pokémon*
Kitten: As you have all figured out, I will be updating frequently. Until, of course, I vanish off the face of the Earth. Either because of other FanFictions (both reading and writing) or some sort of school related crap. So, thanks to anyone who did anything to this story! I vowed to update everyday until someone paid attention too it, and someone finally did! I'm still going to update as soon as I can, though. Anyway, ONTO THE THANKING PORTION OF THIS CHAPTER. Sarah is our announcer this fine chapter.
Sarah: Not much to so, huh? Well, let's proceed!
To 'peculiar puppet': Oh my gosh thanks so much for the sweet review! I try to make sure not to write the same thing as everyone else, which can be pretty hard when writing a story about going on a Pokémon Journey. And I don't really know how my style of writing can be adorable, but I appreciate it all the same! Gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling to read. I do have a lot planned out, but I'm open to any and all advice! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review, and thanks for putting Constant Flames on your alerts! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
To '8Tyedye8': Merci! That's right, I'm learning French. X3. Anyway, thanks for putting Constant Flames on your alerts list! I'm glad the story is getting recognized!
Kitten: Anywho, thanks for reading, everyone! Oh, and by the way, yes, Sophie was actually a Battle Instructor. The reason she poses as a to-be trainer is going to be withheld for now.