Chapter 10 – Counterbalanced
Alex leaned back, balancing his chair on two legs.
He had started shifting and turning after the first five minutes of the Sit-In Class.
"…and their moves are assigned certain types. Each type has several strengths and weaknesses in both attack and defense.
In battle, you should use Pokémon and moves that have a type advantage over your opponent.
Doing so will cause much more damage than normal..."
Yena, who was trying her best to focus on what the teacher was saying, grabbed the back of Alex' chair without even looking, and put it back on four legs.
"You're going to make holes in the floor."
She whispered while scribbling down notes.
"…the type of a move used by a Pokémon is strong against the opponent's type, then the damage done is twice the normal.
If a move's type is weak against a specific type, then the damage done is half the normal damage done.."
Alex leaned forward, glaring at the teacher, who was going on and on about type advantages.
He hissed at Yena:
"I can't believe how boring this is.
I know this stuff, about Pokémon types, but his way of explaining things just makes me feel confused.
Why talk about doing 1.5 times more damage, when these students are still learning the basics?"
Yena shrugged, not wanting to interrupt the man in front of the blackboard.
Everyone was welcome to visit the Sit-In Classes.
There was a schedule in the hall, listing the available classes.
Because Yena was still struggling with Pokémon types, this had seemed like the most useful one.
Unfortunately, today's teacher was so caught up in his own, advanced, monotone story, that he failed to notice that most students were struggling to keep up.
Alex covered Yena's notebook with his hand.
"Stop writing already. You're not going to remember any of this, even if you read those notes again later.
We'll come back here when there's someone else in front of the class…"
He went quiet when he noticed the teacher was no longer talking.
The man near the blackboard was staring at him, his eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
"Young man. If you insist on whispering in my class, it must mean you know more about type advantages than I do.
Would you like to take over the class, or will you stay there and actually listen to what I'm saying?"
Most people would sit up, and stammer that they'd pay attention from that moment on.
So the teacher looked downright shocked when Alex rose from his chair with a grin on his face, taking up the challenge.
"I'll accept that invitation, thank you."
He turned around to the rest of the students.
"I feel like we should look at the type advantages from the start."
He ignored Yena red head and her desperate attempts to pull him back in his chair, shamelessly walking up to the blackboard, picking up a piece of chalk.
The teacher stepped back as Alex approached, baffled by the youth's impertinence.
With quick movements, Alex drew three very recognisable symbols on the blackboard – a flame, a leaf and a drop of water.
Setting the pace high, he immediately started talking.
"I would say that this is a more appropriate start of the Type Advantage class.
Some of you may have trouble remembering what type is good against what. It makes sense most of the time, though.
If you can't remember, just use your common sense. Don't think of the complicated type charts that were just described to you."
He glared over at the teacher for a moment, then continued.
"Try to think about the outside world instead. A Fire-Pokémon fighting against a Water-Pokémon?
The type-advantage is easily found when you remember that water is used to extinguish fire.
The same goes with Fire versus Grass. Plants burn easily.
But they use water to grow, so it's unwise to let your Water-Pokémon fight a Grass-type."
The students, most of them younger than Alex and Yena, were listening intently.
One of them raised his hand. When Alex looked his way, he asked:
"What about other types? Electric-type Pokémon… or Steel?"
Alex nodded, and replied immediately.
"The same principles apply. Water conducts electricity extremely well, but the ground doesn't.
Those are the basics of physics, and everyone here would do well to follow a couple of lessons in that, instead of sitting here.
As for steel… Let's see… steel things can be manipulated when heated, yes? Just think about how swords are made.
So it's bad news for Steel-Pokémon when they have to fight a Fire-Pokémon."
With resolute movements, Alex put down the chalk back in its box, and nodded once at the speechless teacher, then to the fascinated students.
"Thank you for your time. Let's go, Yena."
Yena hurried after him as he left the classroom, catching up to him right before he left the Trainers' School-building.
She stopped him as they stepped into the sunlight.
"Alex! That's really not how you should treat a teacher…"
"Oh, come on! That man really had it coming! With all the knowledge he has, he's still plain stupid, giving a class like that.
It's like teaching advanced math to preschoolers!"
His heated words came to an end as he saw Yena's expression.
A smile had spread on her face, and her laugh ringed in his ears as she stated:
"It's impossible to have a quiet afternoon with you, did you know that?
But without you, I'd still be in there, convinced I'd never get a grasp of type advantages.
The things you said made much more sense."
"Of course it did… I don't think I'd last more than one week at a school like this."
"Like this? To what kind of school did you go?"
"I was homeschooled… Now hurry up and change the subject to anything but me."
Yena pointed at the other side of the street.
"Alright. How about this… They're selling ice cream over there.
Can I bribe you into repeating your type advantage lecture for me?"
Alex grinned, clearly tempted.
"You can, but I only accept lime ice cream in exchange for my knowledge."
...
The sun was already setting when Alex jumped up against the fence.
He routinely swung his right leg over to the other side, now sitting on top of the fence sideways.
He looked at the view for a moment, then reached down to pull up his bag, along with Yena's backpack.
"This place is perfect for camping."
He assured Yena, after carefully dropping their bags on the other side of the fence.
He positioned himself so that he had a good grip on the fence, then grabbed Yena's hands, assisting her in climbing the iron fence around the Dreamyard.
It had been Yena's suggestion to put up camp somewhere around Striaton City, instead of staying at the Pokécenter or one of the hotels.
Alex had agreed with the idea wholeheartedly, pleased that he could spend the night in open air.
As soon as Yena was sitting on top of the fence, Alex jumped down to the ground.
When he turned around to help her down, she was still looking out over the ruins.
"It's really beautiful here. We should try to learn more about this place in the morning, Alex."
"Yeah, yeah. Now come on and jump off, or I might forget my manners and walk away."
The blue ribbon in her hair moved in the wind as she leaned forward, grabbing Alex' hands right before her feet touched the ground.
She gestured at one of the crumbling walls.
"That looks like a nice place to prepare a meal. How about I cook the pasta we bought on the market?"
"Sounds good. But don't say that too loud, Zigzagoon might hear. He loves that stuff."
"Oh? The pasta itself or the sauce?"
"Don't mention the sauce...!"
A clicking sound came from Alex' bag, and a moment later, Zigzagoon appeared on the grass in a flash of light.
The Pokémon danced towards them, sitting down at Yena's feet, looking up to her expectantly.
"There, you've done it. Now you'll have to feed him."
Yena laughed, surprised.
"Can Zigzagoon come out of his Pokéball on his own?"
Alex nodded, looking down at his Pokémon.
"He can, if it's about something he really loves."
She crouched down in front of the Pokémon.
"If you like pasta so much, you can have some."
Alex sighed dramatically.
"Fantastic. I've always wanted a fat Pokémon."
...
"So, are you planning on collecting badges?"
"Hmm."
"Don't you want to go to the Pokémon League? Defeat the champion?"
They were lying on their backs in the grass, gazing up at the starry sky.
Alex scratched Zigzagoon's belly.
The Pokémon had imitated them, rolling over and pretending to look up.
Tauros was quietly grazing near the edge of the forest, and Oshawott had fallen asleep near Yena's legs.
"I don't know."
"So what are your plans for the future?"
Alex glanced aside.
"I'm not really the type that plans ahead."
Yena returned his look.
"Well, there's a gym in Striaton City. I'd love to get that badge.
Maybe if I train Oshawott a little more…"
The Pokémon heard its name, and opened one of its eyes.
She smiled at him.
"It's okay, go back to sleep…"
Oshawott rolled up in a ball, immediately returning to its slumbers.
Yena continued:
"But we're here now anyway… You might as well give it a try."
"Hmmm."
"I thought you were so eager to earn your own money?"
Alex rolled over to his stomach, leaning on his elbows while looking at Yena.
"People get money when winning at the gym?"
Yena stared at the moon, pretending not to notice his sudden interest.
"Didn't you know? They're official battles.
If you manage to defeat the gym leader, you don't just get a badge, but prize money as well.
Striaton City's gym might not be the most difficult one to beat, so it's not like you'll be rich afterwards.
But there are more gyms in Unova. And I'm not even talking about the Pokémon League yet."
Ignoring Zigzagoon's protests about the lack of belly scratching, Alex thought for a moment.
"I suppose I could try…"
He grabbed Zigzagoon as the Pokémon came closer to lick his face, quickly turning him over and tickling his stomach.
Zigzagoon's uncontrolled laughing noises interrupted the conversation for a while.
But when Alex had let go of the Pokémon, and Zigzagoon had rolled up to go to sleep next to Oshawott, he added:
"Things get easier when you have money."
Assuming he was talking to himself, more than to her, Yena looked for a comfortable sleeping position, eventually settling on her left side.
She glimpsed at Alex. He was looking at the stars again, his hands folded behind his head.
"Good night, Alex."
"Hmm."
...
Someone is talking nearby.
Can't move.
So sleepy…
A door slams shut.
Why can't I open … eyes?
Are … … open?
It's so …
Where … …?
… … dreaming?
… … … … smoke.
… so …
Wait.
… light … … … … door.
… … …
… Fire!
…
…
Something was wrong.
Feeling confused and completely disoriented, Alex opened his eyes.
It was still in the middle of the night.
His pounding heart told him he had been dreaming again, but no matter how he tried…
His head felt tired as he tried to remember, but the nightmare refused to come back to him.
His slow thoughts were interrupted by a movement in the corner of his eyes.
Sitting up fast, Alex tried his best to shake off the last bit of drowsiness as he stared at the wild Pokémon that surrounded him.
There were four, round Pokémon hovering on his four sides, staring at him with their oval, red eyes.
Their pink bodies were decorated with purple floral patterns.
As Alex opened his mouth to chase them off, the four of them began to emit a dark, purple mist.
To his shock, the smoke immediately enveloped him, the rest of the Dreamyard disappearing from sight.
He tried to stay calm, getting to his feet.
But his heart seemed to stand still as a room formed around him.
Electric equipment and cardboard boxes were stacked up against the walls, the only source of light coming from the small window to his right.
He knew this place so well. He slowly turned his head towards the door on his left side, dreading what he would find.
When the door flew open, panic took a hold of him.
Flames were coming into the room, immediately setting the first cardboard boxes on fire.
"…N-No…! Zigzagoon!"
He coughed as the mysterious mist tickled his throat… or was it smoke?
The distant sound of hooves seemed out of place as the fire advanced into the room.
Alex backed away, terrified.
He wanted to turn around to the window, knowing it would be difficult to squeeze through…
But he had to try…
Screams rang in his ears…
Try to get out…
He was suddenly interrupted by Tauros, effortlessly running through one of the walls.
The next moment, a jet of water flew past him, and through the flames, causing the Pokémon on the other side of the mist to squeal.
The room around him seemed to dissolve into darkness, leaving just the mist.
And there was Zigzagoon, running up to him, jumping into his arms.
Alex held the Pokémon close, wondering how everything had gone so quiet, until he realised he had been the one screaming until now.
On the other side of the purple smoke, he could hear Yena shout commands at Oshawott, and Tauros cry out furiously as he rampaged through the mist again, passing by Alex in a flash.
Slowly but surely, the purple mist lifted, and silence returned to the Dreamyard.
There were no pink, floating Pokémon anywhere in sight.
Yena came up to him immediately, reaching out and wiping his face with her hands, assisted by Zigzagoon, who licked his chin.
So far, Alex hadn't noticed the tears running down his cheeks, and for a while, he was too shocked to resist their touch.
The mooing sound of Tauros behind him brought him back to reality.
The large, bovine Pokémon sniffed him, then stuck out his tongue, licking the complete left side of his face.
Finally, Alex stepped away, and let go of Zigzagoon, who jumped down to the ground.
His voice was shaky.
"Ugh. T-That's disgusting, Tauros."
He used the sleeves of his new sweater to dry his face, trying not to let his hands tremble too much.
"What h-happened…?"
The voice of Yena's Pokédex told him:
"Munna, the Dream Eater Pokémon. It always floats in the air.
Munna can eat the dreams of people and Pokémon alike, then project those dreams by emitting Dream Mist from his body.
People whose dreams are eaten by them forget what the dreams had been about."
"Those… things… They ate my dream?"
Yena nodded.
"Your dream must've been powerful enough to attract four of them.
I think the purple smoke was the Dream Mist."
She studied his face.
"Something horrible has happened to you, Alex.
How did you get out of that situation when it happened for real…?"
"You saw everything…?"
"It was like… looking through a really dirty window.
I didn't know what to do, but Tauros hit one, so I let Oshawott attack another Munna…
…It seems to have helped."
Alex looked up, hoping to see the stars, but clouds blocked his view.
"If you don't mind… I don't really want to talk about it anymore."
"I understand... Maybe some other time?"
"…Maybe."
Yena turned around, calmly walking across the grass, and picking up something from the ground.
When she returned, she showed the item to him.
There was a Pokéball in her hand.
Alex stared at it for a moment.
"You… You caught one of them?"
Her blue eyes looked into his.
"I did… But I promise…
This Munna will not project your nightmares again."
"It better not…"
Alex shook his head in disbelief.
"Here I was, thinking you'd never catch a second Pokémon..."
He looked around.
"I'm not going back to sleep anywhere around this place. Let's go back to Route 2."