This story was updated/revised on May 1, 2020
AN: This fic takes place three years after Jezz meets the group at the Indigo Plateau. It doesn't have much of a plot, it just some ideas that I had for a while. There are probably going to be a lot of confusing things, but I will explain everything you need to know in the next fic long I write.
So, here it is, a little 'day in the life' of fourteen-year-old Jezz.
Honba
Silverville, Kanto Spring 2036
The watch on the nightstand claimed it was 10:00 am. Acknowledging my incessant fatigue, my Pokémon got to work helping me function.
Vileplume hit me with Sweet Scent. Chimecho followed with a peaceful chant and Heal Bell. Using the move Assist, Delcatty used Entrainment on me, which upped my defenses while Furfrou and Porygon brought me the clothing I had instinctively laid out the night before.
As I rubbed my tired eyes, I noticed Xatu fly away from the tree branch outside my window.
He must have been watching me again.
My Pokémon do this every morning. They are in tune with my needs. In this and many other ways, they are the Pokémon masters and I am their disciple.
"Pick it up! Pick it up!" my smartphone screamed.
Vileplume tossed it to me.
"How did you know I was awake?" I spoke into the receiver.
"Cuz I can see into your window," she answered.
I was filled with sudden dread, but looking to the windows, I saw that they were all closed, shades and all.
"There's no way," I told Amber.
"I called you once at nine and again at nine-fifteen and then again at nine-thirty but you never picked up, so I called again," she replied. "Get dressed. A made us all chocolate chip pancakes and they're gonna gone soon unless someone tries to stop me from eating them all."
"No!" I heard a little voice yell. "Mine!"
It must be Rose. Or I guess it could be Sil because they sound almost the same to me.
I changed into some of the clothes that A and Rita got me the other day and ran a comb through my hair. I asked my Pokémon if I looked good, and after they all nodded 'yes', I made my way down the staircase.
"He's alive!" Jocelyn exclaimed.
"Flaaaa!" Flaafy copied.
Her Bounsweet, Raichu, and the Deerling I gifted Rose copied Flaafy in their dialects.
I sat between Amber and Jay.
"I was starting to think you went into a coma," Annastasia said as she served me some pancakes.
"Not today," I replied, reaching for a glass of water.
"I have protein to go with it; the eggs are cooling on the stove."
"Is that to say you didn't sneak protein powder into the pancakes?"
"I did, but we can all use a little extra, especially us vegetarians."
"It seems like you sleep later and later every day," Jay commented. "No offense."
"I shall take no offense at that," I replied.
"Oniisan, we ate almost all the chocolate chip pancakes. It's a good thing you finally got up," said Jocelyn.
"Flaa," Flaafy said as he took another portion.
"Yeah! Good thing!" Rose giggled.
The three-year-old threw a strawberry at me but I caught it right before it hit me in the face.
"Rose, you can't throw food," Michio chided.
"No!" She screamed, throwing another strawberry, this time at Michio. Everyone laughed while he bent down to pick up the berry that just bounced off his forehead.
"Where are Jessie and James?" I asked.
"They are running late. I can't imagine how, since we have all their kids, and there is a teleporter right in the garage," Annastasia commented as she moved the berries away from Rose. "Actually, I take that back, because I can imagine why they'd be late…"
"I'll take over from here," said Michio. "Jezz, I think most of your friends aren't coming until the afternoon."
"That is correct."
I nodded. "Cool."
Amber sniggered. It was because I don't use words such as 'cool' often. This informal speech wasn't allowed where I came from, and English guff was considered even more offensive than Japanese jargon in the eyes of the Zen'nō—the people I needed to obey for my first twelve-to-thirteen years.
Say 'cool' again," Amber requested.
"Cool," I replied.
"Now say 'yaba'."
"Yaba."
"Now say 'kimoi'."
"Sore wa kimoi."
"Say 'zurui'."
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"I just think it's cool to hear you talk like a normal person."
"Lexi, Nolan, and Rita are here too," Annastasia said randomly. "They're showering and stuff."
I hadn't been out much lately, but there was always a lot going within The Grange; there were over one-hundred human tenants and at least three times that number in Pokémon. I knew almost everyone and there was always a lot to do. Seeing my friends and acquaintances after a long stretch meant I could share my stories about my experiences and they can tell theirs.
But they weren't coming for me, it was to celebrate Soledad's fourteenth birthday and our last chance to be together as a massive karmic circle before we left on our next journey.
"Where's Sandshrew?" I asked Annastasia.
"I convinced Mewtwo and Lucario to take him on a little adventure," she responded. "Hopefully they'll be gone for the rest of the afternoon."
"Hey, Jezz!" Nolan called from across the room. "We were wondering what happened to you."
"I was enjoying some sleep," I replied.
Lexi came down the stairs just as I was finishing my sentence. A moment later Rita appeared. We exchanged greetings.
When I was finished eating talking, I finished up one of my academic projects for the college in which I'm enrolled. Then I practice the guitar—ever since Jay taught me a few cords, it had become like therapy to me.
It was almost noon and I was still practicing when Annastasia, Rose, Silver, Nolan, Rita, and Lexi joined me in the enormous living room.
"We're playing Snail's Pace Race with Rose and Silver," Annastasia announced as she placed the board game on the coffee table.
"They aren't tired of playing that game yet?" I asked. "We played it over ten times yesterday."
"But it's my favorite," said Rose.
"We play more," said Silver.
"It's the only game they like," said Lexi.
"The twins said that we all have to play," Nolan added.
I agreed to participate. Rose and Sil didn't notice and/or care if we genuinely liked the game and they weren't mature enough to notice how bored we all were.
"What have you been up to lately?" Rita asked as we got started.
"Last week Amber, Jay, and I caught a Julip. We are taking turns taking care of her," I replied.
"It was a big one too," said Annie. "They're excellent team players, great for anyone, especially trainers who compete."
"The first Pokémon Contest in Kanto is next week. I think I am going to do it if you don't mind the detour."
"Of course I don't mind. Benny, Jocelyn, and Jay might want to do that too. So, it's not really a detour. Besides, I can't deny a coordinator his mecca."
"Did you know that Annastasia competed in that competition with a Julip?" said Nolan.
"You did?" said Michio.
"Mmhm. I only did that one contest though, none others," Annastasia responded. "I just wanted to try it. It wasn't my thing. I was eight and I only did it because my mother insisted."
"Oh. What happened to the Julip?" I asked.
I have met almost all of Annastasia's Pokémon over the years, but I never saw her Julip.
"I gave her to Bonnie. Her Julip Jerry kinda fell in love with mine when she came to my house for Christmas. That was eleven years ago, though I am sure it is still living with her," she explained.
"It was good she didn't want to do contests because by then she and I were in Team Rocket training," said Rita.
"You started Rocket training when you were eleven?" I asked incredulously.
I was surprised that there was still so much I didn't know about her.
"Technically I started years before that," Annie replied. "I got an early start because of my family connection. Also, the aura thing; they thought it could be useful."
"And it was," said Rita, putting her arm around Annastasia.
"I remember I was so jealous when Annastasia and Rita partnered up. No more fun adventures in Pallet Town and beyond. Our trio was down to two," Lexi sighed.
"Lexi, Nolan, and I were inseparable for most of our childhood. We did everything together. When I joined Team Rocket, I didn't see them as much anymore," said Annie.
"How did you all meet?" I asked.
"My mom and her mom were friends," said Lexi. "My mom admired Jessie. My parents were still very young when I was born, and they weren't married yet, so Jessie and James gave them some support. They said they owed them a favor for helping them and Annastasia when they were desperate. You know how that whole story goes."
"Your mother helped fight Team Firestar."
"Yep. And since was born not long after Annastasia, and we were neighbors, that helped. Along with Nolan, we were inseparable for most of our childhood. Annastasia had a hard time making friends, but Nolan and I just had this attachment to her."
"Thanks for remembering," Annie remarked.
"You had a hard time making friends in school?" I said, turning to Annastasia.
"It's the truth."
"That doesn't sound like you."
"She was sorta like an alien, with a big head full of ideas and a small body. She was a good kid but sometimes kids didn't always see that," Nolan explained.
"I was weird, not like a nerd, but a weird kind of weird," Annastasia added.
"And I was homeschooled, so that was my rep," said Rita. "As you know."
I talked to them for another hour, and then the twins finally got tired of playing. By then their parents had gotten to the house.
"Sorry we are late," Jessie told Annastasia. "We were having…issues."
"It was Jessie's fault. She went gettin manicures and pedicures and all dat junk," Meowth complained.
"I'm sure the trip to Starbucks ten miles from our house was also a necessary waste of our time."
"Well, yous sure were happy after I got you dat mocha."
"Mommy!" the twins yelled together as they toddled over to their parents. James picked up one and Jessie picked up the other.
"So how were the babies?" James asked.
"Good, though we couldn't get them to eat anything other than chips and carrot sticks," Annastasia replied.
"Did you get inspired?" Jessie asked.
Annastasia rolled her eyes.
"Inspired?" I said.
"They want me to have kids too," Annie explained.
If there was one thing about Annastasia that I was sure of, it was that she wasn't going to do anything just because someone urged her to.
"Get off my back," she told her mother.
"Anyway, now that you are here you can take over. They still want to play that dumb snail game," said Michio.
"Not dumb!" Rose screamed. She took a lipstick holster out of her mother's pocket and threw it at Michio. He once again took the hit.
"You have to work on your reflexes," I commented.
"Yeah sure, whatever," Michio mumbled. He picked up the lipstick and handed it to Jessie, who received it with a smug grin.
"Rose you can't throw things at people," James scolded.
"But I the princess!" she giggled.
James turned to Jessie. "We should've never introduced that idea…"
"Where are Lily, Logan, and Maya?" said Meowth.
"They haven't returned yet from their nighttime antics," said Rita.
"But they sent me a text saying they are on their way back to the house," said Annastasia.
Jessie and James sat down with Rose and Sil while the rest of us left. That snail game drains one's energy and I always feel dumber after playing it. Annastasia and Michio went one way, Lexi and Nolan went the other, and Rita and I just hung out in the kitchen.
"How's life up here?" Rita asked. "You liking it?"
"Yeah. They take excellent care of me I," responded. "It's made my life so much…different. There is so much to do around here and more resources than I ever could have imagined. I also love that I can visit anyone, anywhere, whenever I want because of Clemont's teleporters."
"I'm so happy for you." She hugged me and ruffled my hair. "You've changed so much. I miss being close to you, but knowing that this is the best place for you is helping me get over that."
"I would be nowhere good without you."
"You're not wrong."
I owed Rita so much. It was hard to believe how far we've come.
"Annie loves it when you stay over," I said.
"Yeah but between Ralph and all our assignments I find it is just too hard to visit as often as I'd like," she replied.
"Why doesn't Ralph come too? Don't you have the same assignments anyway?"
"I would prefer to keep Ralph away from my family and friends. And yes, we do get the same assignments, but there is not much action in this part of Kanto. Viridian, Celadon, Cerulean, Vermillion—that's where the action is…I wonder why Annastasia's great-grandparents built a house like this out here."
"Annie says that she likes the peace, and it is good for all the injured Pokémon that come looking for her help. She told me that the atmosphere makes them feel better."
"I still hope that one day she will return to Alola."
"After what happened the last time we were there?" I shivered involuntarily. "I doubt we will ever go back."
"Well, I doubt the Kapule Klan has cameras on every island."
My face must have looked distressed because Rita told me to relax and go find Amber and Jay. I took her advice, and as usual, they weren't difficult to spot.
"Your parents just got here," I told Jay.
"I'll see them later. Amb and I are battling Jay replied. "Hang with us."
I watched as Amber sent her supersized Yanmega out on Jay's Monferno.
"An unwise choice," Jay taunted.
"You'll see," Amber replied confidently.
"Use Flamethrower!"
"Dodge and use String Shot!"
Amber's Yanmega was significantly faster than Monferno; the fire-type was tied up and its Flamethrower could not reach the opponent.
"That was easy," said Amber. "Now use Lunge!"
The bug-type move was also quick, and though Yanmega was up close, Monferno was still too slow to hit it.
"Leech Life," Amber continued.
Monferno's energy was drained and Yanmega's restored to its full HP.
"Give up?" Amber asked Jay.
"No," Jay replied. "Monferno, use Bulk Up twice in a row!"
The Pokémon's HP was at less than a full of its max, but the Bulk Up resulted in a temporary and artificial power boost. Monferno broke out of the String Shot and used Body Slam on the unsuspecting Yanmega.
"Impressive," said Amber. "But not impressive enough. Yanmega, use Leech Life one more time!"
That move ended the battle. Amber laughed while Jay groaned and revived his fallen partner.
"That was embarrassing," Jay mumbled. "A fire-type losing to a bug-type."
"Flight and speed are my battle trademarks," Amber reminded him. "You should've planned better."
"I expected you to use Pip."
"Well, learn to not expect things, then you'll win more."
"Are you going to bring Monferno with us to the Battle Frontier?" I inquired.
"Nah, I'm only bringing Togekiss with me," Jay replied.
"And I'm only taking Pip," said Amber. "Until we get to the competition, then I might come up with an old family blend."
"Same."
They talked more. I had something on my mind and missed most of what they were saying.
"You look deep in thought," Amber said after a while.
"Because I am," I replied.
"About what?"
"About my college studies, my upcoming exams, my doctor's appointments, the book I am working on, life on The Grange without me here…and more random…things."
"Somehow I think we'll all manage."
"I think so too," said Jay.
The Pokémon also agreed with them.
"You're right," I said.
We sat in the grass together. I watched Jay as he rambled on about random subjects.
I thought about how much he's changed since I had first met him. He's become more like Amber: assertive, confident, and a little more stubborn, yet he was still always true to himself. I wish I could discover who I was by age fourteen the way he has.
"Are you there?" Amber asked me, waving a hand in front of my face. "You daydream a lot."
"Oh yeah, my apologies um…so what were you saying?" I asked.
"Nothing important," Jay assured me. "How about we go inside and finished packing up our stuff? I don't have anything even remotely together and we're leaving at three. It's already noon!"
"It's gonna take us ten minutes to pack up our stuff," Amber replied, rolling her eyes.
"Nah-uh."
"Yes."
"No way, I need at least two hours."
"Fine then, go pack. Jezz and I will do something fun."
"Ah sure," I replied. "I already packed up all my belongings."
"Sugoi," Jay replied. "See ya later."
We waved Jay goodbye. Amber poked my side.
"Say 'sugoi', again," she requested.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I know you want to."
"Sugoi."
Years of grammar lessons taught me never to use slang words. 'Sugoi', 'yaba', 'zurui', 'kimoi', and even 'cool', were all slang words people like Jay and Amber grew up hearing and saying daily without consequence. Cussing, stuttering, contractions, mumbling, grumbling, complaining, sniggering, lying—saying anything my Zen'nō didn't want to hear was prohibited.
Nowadays no one is going to lock me in a closet or hit me with a belt for using improper speech, and ironically, I am now encouraged to say what's on my mind in whichever words I choose.
Amber does most of the encouraging.
"Someday you'll be there," she said, patting my hand.
"Why is it so important to you that I 'speak like a kid'?" I asked.
"It's no the actual words, I mean it was when we first met, cuz I think it made you sound lame, but it's not like that anymore. Words are like a big deal, ya know? I like when you use them the way you want to."
"I wonder how you know what I want."
"Am I wrong?"
"No, you're totally right. I just wonder how."
"Cuz I'm smart."
"That must be it."
Amber rested her head in my lap, as she often did with Jay, Annastasia, and me. Out of habit, I place my hand on her long hair. I started playing with her hair.
"It's getting darker," I remarked.
"I thought things were getting better for you?" she responded, sounding confused.
"I meant your hair."
"Oh yeah. Damn dominant genes. Chances are I will no longer be a redhead by the time I'm an adult, but mom says anything can happen."
"Do you want me to braid it for you?"
"I like my hair messy."
"I just thought I'd offer. I bet you never learned how to do it on your own."
Amber paused for a moment. "I never bothered learning how because of you and Jay."
"I can teach you."
"Well, you are the Master of Disguise…But I'd rather use my energy on more productive things, like shooting arrows at trees."
"Is that what you want to do now?"
"Not right this second. I'm tired now."
Without moving her head off my lap, I lied down in the grass too. Though I have been a teen for almost two years now, we all still acted—and in my case, still looked—like kids. And a few things have obviously changed with Amber, but for now, it was subtle and I don't think anyone but Jay, Annastasia, and I have even noticed.
And Amber knows. She knows everything.
She ripped a wooly dandelion out of the grass.
"Got any wishes?" she asked.
"I wish…" I murmured. "My last attempt at controlling fate didn't last too well."
"That's an odd way to word a wish."
"I mean you should make the wish instead."
"If we blow on it together, I bet we can each make our own at the same time."
"Okay."
We sat up and faced each other. Amber gripped the weed tightly and held it at chin-level between us.
"I wish to kill it once more at the Poke-Olympics and get the Grand Title of Archery," she said. "I also want to catch an Aerodactyl, preferably one with an Adamant Nature, Outstanding Potential, and a shiny version wouldn't hurt."
"Of all the Pokémon in the world, why an Aerodactyl?" I asked.
"Cuz it's the only flying-type native to Kanto and Johto that I don't have yet."
"You don't have Moltres, Zapdos, Articuno, or Lugia…or do you?"
"Of course I don't but legendaries don't count cuz they belong in the wild—unless they choose otherwise, as Michio's legendary Monz did."
"I think your wishes are practical and will all come true."
"Ditto. So, what are yours?"
"Do I also get more than one?"
"As many as you want."
"I wish…I haven't thought wishes much lately."
"Then think of one now."
"I wish…"
"…today, Jezz."
"I wish for your wishes to come true."
"That's a dumb wish."
"Perhaps, but it can't hurt."
"Sure. Count to three, then blow. Ready?"
"Yes."
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"
The specks got on both our faces. One landed in Amber's mouth and I laughed as she tried to spit it out. When she finally managed to expel it, she shuddered.
"Nasty stuff," she remarked.
"Next time we'll aim for downwind," I replied.
"For sure. So…do you want to climb some trees?"
"Always."
XO
We returned to the house several hours later. By then everyone had arrived: Rumika, Alex, Amber, June, Takeshi, Tamaki, Benny, Soledad, Anika, and their parents and siblings, and other people were coming too, but they planned to meet up with us at the first Battle Frontier location. We all gathered and had some food while catching up with one another.
"Oniisan, are you ready to kick some asses at those contests?" Jocelyn asked me.
"You and me both," I replied.
"I hope Jay doesn't beat me in anything."
"Again, you and me both."
Jay and Jocelyn have a genuine blooming rivalry. I think it made them closer as siblings, and it certainly made them better coordinators.
Right before the time came for us to leave, we were all forced into a photo, an apparent tradition of the Morgans and Ketchum's.
"Everyone smile and wish for a good year," Ash instructed before taking the photo.
'I hope for no more drama,' I silently wished.
"Sugoi! Arigato, everyone!"
"Chuuuu!" his Pikachu cheered.
"Let's make leaving behind some of this honba worth it this time," Amber whispered to me and Jay.
"I know I will," said Jay.
"And I will too," I vowed.
AN: I know some of you wanted to know what happened to Hiro and Elsa, what happened in Alola with everyone, Pistachio, Nexi, Taken, Jamber, and Solmaki things, and stuff with Mewtwo, Lucario, Sandshrew and the fusion Pokémon. Jezz is the main protagonist of The Journal, and there I will cover all the other things I mentioned.
Please review if you can. Thanks:)
Extra:
Yaba- shorter version of the word 'yabai', it means 'dangerous'. It can have a good or bad connotation depending on the context. It is comparable to the word 'wicked' in some ways—somethng can be wicked good or wicked bad.
Sugoi – 'awesome'. In the English sub of the anime, Satoshi/Ash uses this all the time, like usually 3-4 times per episode.
Kimoi – 'bad feeling' or 'yuck' or 'ew'. The Rocket Gang uses this often when talking about the jari boy and his jari friends (aka, the twerps).
Sore wa kimoi – you are yucky/you are giving me a bad feeling.
Zurui – there isn't a direct translation, but you say this when you are admiring the bad thing someone else did.
Arigato- thank you
Zen'nō – the meaning pf this word is 'omnipresent'. I headcanon this as the title Jezz used for the people who used to be in charge of him at school, in the orphanage, and/or between homes.