Morning came early, the sun peeking through the shades and nearly blinding Heather as she opened her eyes. That's the last time I take a room on the East side... She thought to herself grumpily. Taking her pokeball from the bed beside her she released her Snivy into a particularly large beam of light where he flopped down to lay happily, opening the curtains and shades, as well as the window to let in some fresh air.
Dressed in her pajamas, she left her Snivy in the room to relax and wandered out to the restaurant outside the hall of rooms, pleased to see that it was open so early in the morning. With a look to the clock on the cash register, she noticed it was early, six-thirty in the morning. Resisting the urge hit the floor and start crying, she went to the counter where a middle aged man sat boredly playing with straws.
Ordering two breakfast wraps, a large fruit cup for her Pokémon, a side of fries and gravy -which although wasn't on the breakfast menu, she got because no one else was up and ordering - and a bottle of water as well as a coffee, Heather shuffled back to her room like a zombie. Neil wouldn't be awake for another hour, possibly two, so she sat with Lark on the bed, eating and enjoying the warmth the bright day provided.
Two and a half hours later, the girl - now dressed and showered - lay on her back with her Pokémon, their heads off the edge of the bed, feet up in the air swinging slightly.
"Well... I think it's time we go wake up Neil. It's what, eight-thirty?" She questioned the Grass type laying beside her, feeling dizzy from the blood rushing to her head. The Snivy nodded and rolled over onto its stomach, sitting up as he waited for his trainer. With a sigh, Heather copied her Pokémon, sitting with her legs off the bed, arms above her stretching.
"So... Did you really talk to N?" She hesitantly asked her Pokémon, the boy still on her mind. How dare he try and separate my Pokémon from me, or anyone else for that matter! Who does he think he is? He's right we'll meet again, to shut down his ideas! Lark, sensing his trainers inner fight wrapped his vines around her hand, pulling her back to reality.
Heather sighed and walked over to pick him up, hugging her Pokémon. The Grass-type nodded and watched for her reaction, head tilted.
"And... Did he talk to you?" She asked, beginning to gather her things with Lark on her hip like a child. Again the Pokémon nodded, wishing he could explain it to her. Instead he just hugged his trainer, licking her cheek.
"Aw, Lark... I've only known you for a day, but I feel such a bond with you. Why would Ghetsis and N try to take that away? Who is N even... Just a follower of Ghetsis? If his hair is any indicator, they're related..." She mumbled.
Once she got everything together, placed the 'Room needs cleaning' sign on the door and returned the key to Nurse Joy downstairs, Heather sauntered back up the stairs with her Snivy at her side, ready to go wake up Neil. Pushing past the heavy metal door, she walked down the hall to the room Neil was in, knocking on it impatiently.
"Neil, wake up! Or I'll go without you!" She called through the door, a replying "Osha! Wott," the only sound made.
"Otty, is Neil okay? Can I come in?" She shared a worried look with her Snivy before the door opened, Heather nearly falling face first inside from leaning on the door. Composing herself quickly she coughed awkwardly with a blush as Neil laughed, looking around and noticing Neil was all ready to go.
"I'm fine, hungry though. I could eat a Zebstrika, so what do you say we get something to eat?" Neil put the cleaning sign on the door and began walking down the hall, his Oshawott running after him, excited at the thought of food.
"Well, Lark and I have already eaten... So you need to hurry! I want to go explore and catch Pokémon today!" She chirped out, walking casually at his side, her almost falling event out of mind.
"Really? Boy, how early were you up? Usually you sleep in later than me." Neil mumbled and yawned, his hand blocking the noise before running through his hair.
"Six thirty... The sun crept right in to my room. Lark liked it though." To that the Grass Snake nodded and tagged Otty's back, running past him to the door, the two playing tag.
x—x—x—x—x—x
After Neil got his food and ate, the duo left the center and headed through the city to the Dream Yard. The entrance was dark from the trees towering overhead, a path worn out between them. Further in it cleared out, a field expanding before them with a sort of broken down building occupying most of the space. The group wandered around and looked for a way inside, interested in seeing what the broken walls held within.
"What do you think this place used to be? I think I heard that it was a factory of some sort... But I don't know for what." Heather asked Neil, knowing the boy had studied all about Unova. He hummed and moved a hand to the back of his neck, thinking.
"Well, you're right, it was a factory. It was built a long time ago. People call it the Dream Yard now because Munna seem to occupy it, and there have even been rare cases of Musharna here. Which leads people to suspect that the factory had something to do with Evolution Stones." He explained to her, thinking if he missed anything.
"Now it's mostly a kind of playground for Striations children, and an area of interest for trainers to hunt for Munna." He finished, the two coming to a break in the wall that was blocked by a tree.
"Really? That's pretty cool. Does that mean there might be Evolution Stones in there?" She questioned while she looked for a place to squeeze past the tree, finding nothing.
"Guess we'll need something to cut it down... Or there might be another way in, 'cause I don't think we're the only ones who have been here lately. I'm sure the Munna bring in a lot of people... Which means there may not be any stones left!" Heather pouted and Neil laughed, patting the girls back.
"There may not of ever been any here, it's just a theory. Either way, lets keep looking for a way in, I'm interested in finding out what's inside, stones or no stones."
The group looked around the place thoroughly, finding many places they thought would lead them in, but instead led them to more small fields. With a decent chunk of the day wasted, the teens and their Pokémon decided to start heading back to the city. As they passed the blocked hole in the wall a girls voice rang out, an auburn haired girl a few years younger than them skipping over with a weird green monkey looking Pokémon jumping along at her side.
As she approached them she looked over both trainers, her focus on Neil more than Heather. With a beaming smile and a flirtatious bat of her eyes, she stood with her hands locked behind her, the monkey at her side standing boredly.
"Hey, I'm Shelly. What are you guys doing around here, Munna hunting?" Her voice was smooth and filled with enthusiasm, her bright eyes scanning over Neil.
Oh great, Neil is going to shut down... Heather mentally snickered, remembering the last time someone had flirted with him. Otty and Lark, who had been exploring, returned to find their partners busy talking, walking over to try and get the monkey to play with them.
"We're trainers, we're just looking around for things to train on, and trying to find a way into the building." Heather answered while Neil remained the topic of interest, the poor boy staring at his feet.
"Have you two challenged the gym yet?"
"I-I uh... Gym... No." Neil muttered, feeling hot under the collar with the girl looking at him so intently. Beside him he heard Heather snicker, shooting her a fierce glare.
"Good! I have just the thing for you. My father breeds Pokémon, only a select few, and we give them to trainers to help them." She explained, pulling a ball off a clip on her skirt.
"This is the Pokémon Pansear, this is Pansage," She pointed to the one playing with Otty and Lark before removing another ball. "And this is Panpour. I'm guessing you own one of them?" She tilted her head toward the trio of playing Pokémon, getting closer to Neil.
"Uh, yeah... The Oshawott is mine." He managed to spit out, uncomfortable with her getting closer. He took a step back, trying to do it casually.
"Well then! Pansear's the best choice for you! It will help you get through the gym battle." She handed him the ball, her fingers brushing his. "That must mean the Snivy is yours." She looked to Heather darkly, the girl simply nodding.
"You'll get Panpour then." She stated with acid behind her words, throwing the Pokéball toward Heather. She caught it after fumbling around a bit, huffing. Shelly looked back to Neil, batting her eyes again.
"If you ever need anything, we live just outside the city this way. I'll happily help..." She trailed off, winking at him.
"T-Thanks... Heather a-and I have to uh... Go now... H-Heather?" He stressed her name, the girl smirking and rolling her eyes at her companion.
"Ready to go now?" Neil merely nodded, letting Heather pull him away. Their partners said goodbye as they ran after them, walking along happily.
"Heather, that was mean! You know I'm no good with girls... You could of helped. She gave me a Pokémon..." He shuddered, making Heather laugh as they entered the city.
"Neil, you make it sound like you're diseased, it's only a Pokémon. She gave me one too, well, more like threw me one... And why don't you get all nervous with me then?" She chuckled as they walked, Neil flushing and looking away.
"I, uh... Don't really see you as a girl. No, that came out wrong! You're like a sister I guess, I don't have to worry about you batting your eyelashes at me, clinging to my arm..." Neil trailed off, blinking as Heather bobbed in front of him, batting her eyelashes.
"Like thiiiis?~" She sang, clinging onto his arm and staring at him girlishly.
"Ack! Heather, stop it!" He laughed and shook her off, the girl acting like he'd tossed her away. "Come on drama queen, lets go up to Route Three and see what we can find. I want to try out this Pokémon she gave me, train it for the gym, you should too."
As they walked Heather watched her Snivy play with Otty as they walked through the city, a smile finding its way along her lips. They sure are happy together. I hope all my Pokémon get along like those two do. She thought, nodding to Neil.
"I didn't ask for the Pokémon... She just kind of pushed it at me... Either way, I have a Pokémon that can aid me in the gym. Are you going to train yours? It should be able to help you clean the floor with whatever fire types there are. Maybe we'll find something on Route Three to do."
The team left the city to the West, making their way through the edge of a shrub garden and onto Route Three. They battled a few trainers and wild Pokémon as they went, buildings visible in front of them. Letting Otty and Lark, as well as their new Pokémon take a break battling, they went toward the building, Heather gasping excitedly.
"Neil, it's a Pokémon daycare! Ohh, lets go, I want to see baby Pokémon!" She squealed, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward it in a run, their Pokémon trailing after them.