Hey guys, I just wanted to say a few things before you read this next chapter. Due to the relative lack of interest in this story, (I'm comparing with my other two stories) I'm considering bagging it altogether for good and finishing my Pearlshipping story, which is still on temporary hiatus (I apologize for that). People just don't review for this story, which makes me feel like it's appeal has waned significantly since the first chapter. I may just continue the story anyway, as I typically write for myself and not just for views and followers. However, I'm very pressed for time this summer, so I would prefer to produce writing that more of the community will enjoy. I honestly don't know what to do right now; but I'm figuring things out. Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter 5: New Friends, Old Friends
~ Cinnibar Island ~
"We're home, Jason!"
Jessie and James both walked into their small, secluded house on the half-ruined Cinnibar Island of the Kanto region. However, unlike every single other day, their son was not there waiting for them.
"Jason? C'mon down, son! We brought home your favorite snack!" James shouted, opening a bag of fresh pastries on the kitchen counter. He suddenly felt one of his Pokeballs shaking.
"Ah, yes, I forgot. C'mon out, Inkay!" he said cheerfully, allowing the Revolving Pokemon to emerge from its capsule. Inkay smiled as it laid its eyes upon the freshly-baked crescents on the counter. It shamelessly began stuffing its face immediately, not leaving a crumb on its plate.
Jessie looked around as she took off her coat. "Where is my little darling? He's usually already down here waiting for us..." she said as she started making her way up the steps. "Jason? Honey, are you sleeping?"
James and Inkay continued peacefully enjoying their pastries when suddenly they heard Jessie's horrified scream.
– –
~ Cyllage City Coast ~
"Well, we're almost there, kid. Where do you want me to drop you off? Kalos is a vast region. Lots of cool places."
Jason shrugged his shoulders, having no idea what to do or where to go. "I'm really not sure. Where do you recommend beginner trainers go?" he asked.
The sailor thought for a minute, then replied, "Camp Sycamore. I've heard that's the best summer camp any trainer can attend to grow closer and stronger with their Pokemon, as well as getting to know other people. I can drop you off at Cyllage City, and you can make the rest of the way to camp yourself."
Jason nodded and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Briney. I really appreciate you spending the time to take me here. Your boat is SO fast!" he exclaimed. Wynaut clapped its hands and nodded in agreement.
He was right. Mr. Briney's boat was remarkably fast, reaching speeds that almost matched that of Sharpedo.
Mr. Briney smiled at the young boy. "Not a problem at all, kid. You see, my father used to sail the seas of Hoenn, giving people rides from Dewford to Slateport and the like. I, however, made the necessary improvements to his boat so that I can now sail internationally. It's a stroke of luck that I happened upon you; it sounds like you've had a rough time of it on that island."
"That's so cool...so you're following in your father's footsteps, but improving upon them?" Jason asked, fascinated. "And yeah, I've been wanting to run away for the longest time...but up until now there hasn't been a viable opportunity."
Mr. Briney nodded. "I would say I understand, but the thing is I really don't. My father was a great man, always cheerful and high-spirited. He and his lifelong partner, a Wingull named Peeko. He told me that he's very proud of me for choosing the life of a sailor. And if my mother hadn't passed away when I was young, I'm sure she would've been proud too..." Mr. Briney's voice trailed off.
Jason looked down at the deck floor. "My parents never told me what they did when they were younger. But I'm not stupid...I know there's a reason we have to live in solitude on that stupid island. I just haven't figured it out yet...and honestly, I don't really care right now. All I know is it's time for me to start a new beginning for myself. For me and Wynaut."
– –
~ Camp Sycamore ~
Meredith was up early, long before the camp activities were to begin. She was on the beach, alone, practicing moves with Mudkip.
"Okay, Mudkip, use Water Gun again, full power!" Meredith commanded, trying to get into the battling spirit. In truth, battling was not something she was really interested in. But I have to try to impress Aaron, she thought. I don't want him to see me as a weak, incapable Pokemon trainer.
Both of her parents were fantastic Pokemon coordinators, and they both wanted her to do the same. For a while, Meredith thought that was exactly what she was going to do. That is, until the Ketchums had come to visit.
"Muuudkip!" Mudkip shot a weak stream from its mouth into the calm, ocean water. It repeated this action until the stream became bigger, stronger.
Seeing Mrs. Ketchum had got Meredith thinking about Pokemon performing as a possible career. Mrs. Ketchum had shown her a video of her final showcase competition. Meredith marveled at how beautiful Mrs. Ketchum and her Pokemon looked as they performed together, and couldn't help but dream of herself on that stage with her own Pokemon. Her thoughts returned to the situation at hand.
What if...I still get crushed today...what will Aaron think of me? She thought.
"Hey, Meredith!" said a familiar voice from behind her.
Surprised, she quickly turned around to see Aaron, still in his pajamas, walking across the sand towards her. Oh my gosh, he's here! This is so embarrassing...
"Oh, um, hey Aaron! What are you, uh, what are you doing up so early?" she asked, trying to seem as casual as possible. Mudkip stopped its Water Gun reps and looked over at its trainer.
Aaron yawned and scratched the back of his head. "I was just about to ask you that. I got up to use the bathroom and noticed that you weren't in your bed. So I got curious and came looking for ya," he said. "Hope I didn't interrupt anything."
Meredith shook her head. "Oh no, it's fine! I was just, um...taking a walk with Mudkip."
Aaron knit his eyebrows a little. "Really? It looked to me as if you were practicing some moves! Can I see some?" he asked, smiling at her, his bright blue eyes shining in the light of dawn.
Blushing, Meredith looked down at the ground. "Well...we're not exactly...good yet," she said shamefully.
Aaron put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't say that. I know battling isn't really your thing, you wanna be a coordinator right? And by the way, why are you practicing moves anyway?"
He thinks I want to be a coordinator? Meredith thought. Oh, that's right...that's what I told him back when we were little...
Meredith played with her hands nervously as she said, "Um, well...I just wanted to...uh..."
Aaron frowned. "Is everything okay, Meredith?" he asked, his face full of concern.
"Yeah! Everything is just fine. Couldn't be better! I just, well...it's really embarrassing to talk about it..." Meredith said, shyly trying to avoid eye contact.
"Don't feel that way! We're friends, right? You can tell me anything, and I won't tell anyone, promise," Aaron said, giving her a smile and a friendly thumbs-up.
Meredith looked up and couldn't help but smile. Aaron always made her feel better, no matter what the circumstances were. "I guess I just wanted to practice because...I didn't want you to think I was weak," she said, quickly looking back down at the ground. Mudkip walked up to her and touched its paw to her leg, a worried look on its face. "Kip?"
Aaron was taken aback. "Meredith...why would you worry about something like that? I would never, ever think badly of you. I think you're awesome, and whatever you decide to do, you'll do great! You've never even had a Pokemon battle yet, and I'm sure you and Mudkip will do just fine today!" Aaron did his best to cheer her up. He hated seeing people so down on themselves, especially Meredith.
Still looking down, Meredith nodded. "Th-Thanks, Aaron...it's good to know that you'll always support me," she said.
"That's right. I'll always stick by you, no matter what! Now how about I show you a few things before today's activities start?" Aaron asked cheerfully, pulling out Charmander's Pokeball.
Meredith looked up. "I'd...I'd like that a lot, thank you..." she said, her lips starting to curve into a smile.
– –
Alice had just woken up to the sound of a Pokemon's cry. She got up from bed and walked over to the window where she could see outside. She could see that Aaron and Charmander were battling against Meredith and Mudkip on the beach.
She smiled. I swear those two are gonna get married, she thought. As she walked back to her bed, she accidentally tripped over one of Damos's bags.
The noise she made was loud enough to awake Zack, who was not happy about it at all. He opened his eyes and shot an angry look at her. "Do you have any idea what time it is? I'm trying to get some sleep here!" he said, clearly annoyed.
The boy whose name was Liam had also woken up and was now sitting up on his bed. "C'mon, man. Give her a break. It was just an accident," he said, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.
Zack grunted. "You know, I'll bet I could beat you in a Pokemon battle. Would that get you to shut up, Liam?" he angrily retorted.
Liam just grinned. "I'd like to see you try, buddy. Cyndaquil and I haven't lost a battle since we started out on our journey together. I came from New Bark Town of the Johto region, all the way here so I could learn from the best. And it looks like I'll get to battle some scrubs in the process," he said confidently.
"You talk a whole lot, but I'll bet you're not even as good as you say you are. We'll just see today who the better trainer is. Now shut up and go to sleep!" Zack said, laying back down under the covers.
Liam could've kept arguing, but as much of a jerk as Zack was, he sort of had a point. They were both going to need their rest.
– –
~ Littleroot Town ~
"Kyle, please don't bother your sister like that."
May and her husband Drew were sitting on their porch, watching their two youngest children play in the yard. May is about to leave to visit Camp Sycamore a day early to spend some time with her daughter.
"Be sure to come back soon, okay? I'm gonna miss you. And tell Meredith I love her for me," Drew said, smiling at his childhood rival.
May nodded, looking at her husband adoringly. "I'm just going to help the campers with their Pokevision videos. The professor's wife asked me to come herself after she watched some of my contest performances. Apparently she's a big fan," May said, chuckling a little.
– –
~ Camp Sycamore ~
It's 9:00. The brisk morning air has everyone excited for the first day of Camp Sycamore. Everyone is at the dining hall eating breakfast with their teams. Although the atmosphere is lighthearted and peaceful, there is an unexplainable tension in the air.
"Man, I can't wait to get out there on the battlefield!" Aaron exclaimed as he inhaled his pancakes. Like his father, Aaron was quite the eater, consuming his food at a much higher rate than his companions.
"Me neither! I'm aiming to win at least twice as many times as I lose!" Brandon said between bites. "Turtwig and I are ready for anything!"
Meredith smiled. "I sure hope I'll do okay..." she said, her voice trailing off as she spoke. Aaron put a hand on her shoulder.
"Remember what I said: you'll be fine," Aaron reassured her.
Phillip managed to find the courage to speak. "I, uh, I've never used my Helioptile in a battle before, Aaron. Do you think you could give me a few, um, tips?"
Aaron's eyes lit up. "You bet! I'd be happy to help! Okay, so first-"
But he was cut off by the professor. "Good morning, campers! How is everyone doing? Welcome to day one of Camp Sycamore! Today is simple: Have fun battling on the beach! Challenge anyone you'd like; this is just a way for us to all get to know each other better. Whenever you're ready!" he announced. Then he quickly turned away and walked out of the room.
He seemed like he was in kind of a rush, Phillip thought. What could be so urgent at a time like this?
Brandon downed his glass of orange juice and stood up. "All right, I'm ready to head out. See you all out there!" he said as he sprinted out the door, bumping into people along the way. Aaron and Meredith both chuckled.
Aaron had just cleaned his plate and stood up. "I think I'm ready, too. Ready to go, Meredith?" he asked.
Nodding her head, Meredith wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. "You know, Aaron...I was wondering...maybe sometime today we could partner up for a tag team battle together?" she asked him, her green eyes gazing into his blue ones.
Aaron nodded and smiled. "That sounds like a great idea! Looking forward to it," he said. The two young trainers both walked out of the building and headed towards the beach, talking about Pokemon.
Within a matter of minutes the beach was scattered with numerous Pokemon battles. Trainers from all over the world with all sorts of different Pokemon were competing fiercely as well as getting to know one another.
"Snivy, use Leaf Tornado!"
"Bulbasaur, use Poison Powder!"
"Nice job, Turtwig!"
"Yeah, Cyndaquil! You rock, and you rule!"
Every battle was fought with extreme drive and passion, each trainer putting everything they had into it. Those who were more interested in Pokemon coordinating and performing stood on the sidelines for the most part, cheering on their friends as they battled.
– –
~ Route 11 ~
"Hey, May!"
Dawn had been walking along the path to Camp Sycamore when she saw an old friend ahead of her.
May turned around and smiled when she saw Dawn running up to her. "Dawn! It's been too long. How have you been?" she asked.
After the two of them hugged, Dawn replied, "I've been great! I'm just going up to visit the acclaimed Camp Sycamore to see my two children there; I miss them so much already even though its only been a few days since they left."
May nodded understandingly. "I see, that's so sweet. I'm going to help out with the children's Pokevision videos; the professor's wife asked me personally to come. I'm also here to see my child, Meredith."
– –
Alain heard the knock on his door and got up to answer it. He opened the door and smiled when he saw two familiar faces.
"It's been a long time, old friend," Ash said to Alain, extending his hand.
Alain nodded and shook his hand. "It definitely has, Cham-"
Mairin ran up to the doorway when she heard Ash's voice. "Ash! So nice to see you again! How is Serena? Oh, Serena! You're here! You look so beautiful as always. It's no wonder you were Kalos Queen back in the day!"
Ash and Serena both smiled. "It's great to see you again, Mairin, and you look beautiful as well," Serena said cheerfully. The mention of Kalos Queen brought back memories of her childhood, and that made her smile.
"Professor, I've checked all of Charizard's symptoms and it seems-" Brock Harrison said as he walked into the room, though he was cut off by Ash.
"Brock! Is that you?" Ash exclaimed.
Brock looked up to see his old childhood friend, the kid he had traveled with through so many different regions. The kid he had spent so much time with, experiencing so many different things together. The kid, that is, who was now a grown man. He couldn't believe his eyes.
The two friends embraced each other in a bro hug. "Well I'll be. It's been too long, Pokemon Master Ash," Brock said.
"Pokemon Doctor Brock...I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep in touch lately," Ash said guiltily.
Brock shook his head. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I can't believe it's really been this long. And this is your wife?" he asked, extending his hand towards Serena, who shook it with a friendly smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Brock. Ash has told me a lot about you," the former Kalos Queen said.
"And Ash has told me a lot about you. That is, back when you two were teenagers. My god, Ash wouldn't stop talking about you." Brock chuckled, but beneath his cheerful demeanor dwelled feelings of sadness, and loneliness. I wonder when I'll find myself a wife, he thought.
Ash looked back to Alain. "So, why did you call up Brock, Alain? There isn't something wrong, is there?"
Alain looked at Brock hopefully. "Well, I'm not sure. Doctor Harrison, what's the update on Charizard?"
Brock nodded optimistically. "Charizard will be fine. It was just suffering from a rare condition that we find sometimes in powerful fire-type Pokemon. I gave it the necessary antibiotics, it just needs to rest a little bit longer. And please, call me Brock," he said.
Alain could've hugged Brock at that moment. "Thank you so much for your help, Brock. I...I don't know what I would've done without your help. Please, feel free to stay at our camp for as long as you wish."
Brock smiled but shook his head. "Unfortunately, I really should be headed back home. I've got a lot of respon-"
Ash cut him off. "C'mon now, Brock, what the hell? You flew all the way out here, just for one appointment? I think it's time a great doctor like you had some vacation time," he said.
Alain nodded. "Please, it's the least we can do for you. And I'm sure the kids here would benefit greatly from any knowledge you could provide them, if that's something you're interested in," he said.
Brock gave in. The offer was just too much to pass up. "Well, alright. I guess I can afford to stay a little longer," he said. "So where are the kids at now?"
– –
Aaron and Meredith are now about to battle two-on-two against Brandon and Alice, an event that attracted several spectators due to the fact that Aaron was the only kid out of them all who had a League Badge.
Alice could barely contain her excitement as she threw Chimchar's Pokeball into the air, shouting, "Chimchar! Let's get this battle started!" Chimchar appeared on the sand, pumping its fists into the air excitedly, a cheerful yet determined look on its face.
Brandon nodded and tossed Turtwig's Pokeball into the air, shouting, "Alright, Turtwig. Time to show 'em what you got!" Turtwig stood firmly in the sand, psyched for a rematch with Charmander.
Meredith held Mudkip's Pokeball in both hands. "Mudkip, let's do our best!" she said as she released her Pokemon onto the battlefield. Mudkip had a brave face on, ready for battle.
Aaron adjusted his hat and looked over at Meredith, a big smile on his face. "Charmander! Take the battlefield!" he yelled as he threw a Pokeball into the air. Charmander appeared in a flash of white light, small embers flying about as it emerged from its capsule. Everyone admired the flame burning on Charmander's tail.
Ash, Serena, Brock, Alain, and Mairin all stood on the sidelines to watch, though Aaron hadn't noticed them yet.
"Battle begin!" Liam shouted, acting as referee for the battle.
Meredith immediately looked to Aaron. "What should we start with, Aaron?" she asked nervously, hoping her Mudkip wouldn't get too hurt.
Aaron calmly answered, "Let's let them make the first move. Then we'll decide what the best course of action is." Meredith nodded and waited for Brandon and Alice to give a command.
Brandon turned to Alice. "Let's both attack at once. There's no way we can lose if we just stay in sync," Brandon said.
Alice nodded. "Okay. Chimchar, use Scratch!" she shouted.
"Turtwig, use Tackle!" Brandon ordered.
Meredith grew more nervous by the second as Chimchar and Turtwig, side by side, both charged Mudkip and Charmander. On the contrary, Aaron grew more confident.
"Charmander! Use Smokescreen!" Aaron said, knowing full well that the opponents wouldn't be capable of dealing with such a move.
Charmander released a large cloud of black smoke that engulfed Turtwig and Chimchar, who both immediately stopped running and closed their eyes, trying to find their way out of the cloud.
Aaron turned to Meredith. "Now's your chance. Show 'em what we practiced this morning!" he said, confidence in his eyes.
He trusts me with this... Meredith thought. She looked out at the battlefield. "Okay, Mudkip, use Water Gun on Chimchar!" she commanded.
Mudkip leaped into the air and released a powerful stream of water straight towards poor Chimchar, who had no chance of dodging it. It got knocked back from the force of the attack, as well as suffering considerable damage.
Alice gasped. "Chimchar! Are you okay?"
Chimchar nodded as it weakly stood back up, not willing to give up.
On the sideline, Ash nodded. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see two of his best friends, who he hadn't seen in years.
Brandon stepped forward. "Turtwig, use Razor Leaf!" he shouted. Razor Leaf can hit both targets, so this should be a solid move!
"Charmander, use Ember! Let the ashes blow in the wind," Aaron said confidently, smiling.
Charmander let loose a powerful Ember attack, burning right through the majority of Turtwig's leaves, then proceeding to strike Turtwig directly.
Brandon shouted, "Turtwig! Hang in there!"
"Piece of cake," Aaron said with a grin. "Charmander, finish off Turtwig with Dragon Rage!" he commanded.
Turtwig was too slow to dodge. Dragon Rage hit it with full force, knocking it back. Turtwig lay on the sand, motionless.
"Turtwig!" Brandon shouted, running over to pick up his Pokemon.
Alice felt an immediate sense of dread. I don't want that to happen to my Pokemon... she thought to herself.
"Mudkip, use Tackle!" Meredith shouted, a big smile on her face. Despite the fact that battling wasn't her cup of tea, she was enjoying every moment battling alongside Aaron.
Mudkip charged towards Chimchar with mediocre speed.
"Dodge it, Chimchar!" Alice shouted, gripping her fists worriedly.
Chimchar jumped out of the way of Mudkip's Tackle, only to find Charmander directly in front of it.
"Charmander, end this with Scratch!" Aaron shouted, adjusting his hat.
Chimchar tried to get out of the way, but Charmander was too quick. With one swipe, Charmander knocked out Chimchar, ending the battle.
"Chimchar and Turtwig are both unable to battle, which means the victory goes to Aaron and Meredith!"
"All right!" Aaron shouted, pumping his fist into the air. He turned to Meredith and smiled. "You were awesome, Meredith. Just how I said you were gonna be!"
Meredith's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. "Th-thanks Aaron, that means a lot..."
May tapped Ash on the shoulder and pointed to their children. She whispered something into his ear as Aaron and Meredith noticed that they were there.
"Dad! And Mom! You guys are here!" Aaron exclaimed as he ran over to them, Charmander following right behind him.
Ash brought Aaron into a hug. "We were watching your battle. I was very impressed," he said, smiling at his son. "Your Charmander looks like its got lots of potential."
Serena nodded and embraced Aaron in her arms. "We are just...so, so proud of you, Aaron. You've only just started your journey, and already you've proven to be so strong and passionate. You remind me so much of your father," she said, smiling at her husband.
"Meredith, you were great out there. It looks like you could have the makings for a great coordinator if you can battle like that," May said as she hugged her eldest daughter.
Meredith nodded, although she still felt a twinge of doubt in her mind. Is being a coordinator what I really want? She thought to herself. "Thanks, mom," she said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
Dawn hugged Alice and Damos so tightly that the twins found themselves gasping for air. "I've missed you both so much!" she said, almost in tears.
Alice and Damos both smiled sympathetically. "Mom...we're fine. There's really no need to worry about us so much," Alice said.
Damos nodded. "She's right. We're old enough now that we can take care of ourselves," he said.
Dawn smiled. "You two agreed on something! That just shows how much you've grown since you left," she remarked, chuckling as the twins rolled their eyes.
– –
~ Cerulean City ~
"Daisy, just please make sure you take good care of the gym while I'm gone, okay?"
Daisy nodded. "Misty, you don't need to worry about a thing. I promise to actually battle the trainers this time," she said.
Misty smiled, laughing a little. "Good! I'm counting on you, you know," she said as she packed the last few things in her bags. "Don't forget to clean the pool water, and don-"
Daisy raised her hand up. "Misty. I'm no longer a young, immature teenage girl; I can deal with responsibility now. Luvrin and I will handle the gym just fine. Now, go!" she said, pushing her lightly.
"Thanks, Daisy. I know I can trust you," Misty said, waving good-bye as she walked to the airport.
– –
~ Camp Sycamore ~
"So tomorrow's the fishing competition, right?" Ash asked, remembering the day he caught an Alomomola here.
Alain nodded. "That's correct. I've asked a Water-type specialist to come help the children learn how to fish and enrich their learning experience overall."
"Oh, really? Who? Is it Siebold?" Ash asked.
Alain shook his head. "Oh, no. Siebold is much too busy to be teaching children how to fish. No, I've actually asked a Gym Leader from the Kanto region to come, a woman who Professor Oak recommended I asked," he replied.
Ash's eyes lit up. "Oh, you're talking about Misty! Now that's a long story to tell," he said, chuckling.
– –
~ Route 11 ~
Exhausted, Jason and Wynaut were walking on the path to Camp Sycamore. It had certainly been quite the adventure getting there.
He had run into an extremely aggressive Staravia as he was walking through the mountainous area. When it had used Whirlwind on them, Jason and Wynaut were actually blown towards the direction of the camp. Wynaut noticed this and used Encore so that the Staravia continued to use Whirlwind. It was a rough way to travel, but Jason was happy that Wynaut had saved them a lot of time.
"You know, Wynaut, you could just hang out in your Pokeball until we get there," Jason said, feeling sorry for his young, inexperienced Pokemon.
Wynaut shook its head, with a half-hearted smile on its face. "Wy, Wynaut!"
Jason smiled. "Okay, have it your way buddy," he said. Wynaut is such an awesome Pokemon, he thought. I'm lucky to have him.
He thought guiltily of his parents back at home, who both must have been devastated when they found out he had run away. He shook the thoughts out of his mind, focusing on his current goal. Serves them right for not telling me anything, he thought bitterly.
As they approached the entrance to Camp Sycamore, Jason felt overcome with anxiety. I've never...talked to another kid before...let alone a whole bunch of them all in one place...
Wynaut looked up at Jason with that innocent smile and cheered, "Wynaut! Naut, wynaut!"
Jason smiled at his Pokemon. "You're right, Wynaut. You and I, we're ready for anything! Now it's time to say hello to the world," he said. He and Wynaut walked through the entrance. To many, this would just seem mildly exciting to them. To Jason, it was so much more than that. This was a huge milestone in his life. He had lived all his life so far almost completely alone, and now here he was, walking straight into the unknown.
– – – –