Lesson 24: Unexpected request
"Ugh… mum two more minutes." I moaned ignoring the soft nudging in my ribs curling myself into a tight ball. The obnoxious poking ceased and I sighed blissfully, indulging myself by gathering Cheshire and Marron closer to my stomach. They're like living heat pack's, I thought absent minded, jerking in surprise when Cheshire stirred in his sleep, rubbing his wet nose against my skin.
Reaching Nacrene City had been quite a walk, the sun had long set when Nacrene's trademark warehouses appeared on the horizon, the city itself shone like a beacon of light, more impressive and populated than Accumala had been. However even the sight of the huge Unova Museum hadn't been interesting enough to stifle a huge yawn coming from Cheren and Bianca dead on her feet had to be supported. After dragging ourselves towards the local Pokémon Centre, thankful for the building's prominent red roof a slurred "night" had been the end of that day. The start of yet a new one would be shocking in more ways than one.
"Chereeen!" The pressure on my back returned with a vengeance and became rather hard to ignore to the point of nearly chucking me out of the bed.
"I know I promised we'd visit the museum but dude have some mercy, the fossils won't be running of very soon." I growled waving a fist hoping I'd get lucky and my hand would collide with his face.
Flicking her ears in agitation the small equine, who would soon be notorious for her methods of waking people sent a jolt of electricity at the big toe that peeked out from underneath a mountain of sheets and pillows.
"Hiyaaaa!"
My head still fuzzy with sleep traded its soft pillow for a hard wooden floor, rubbing my sore skull I cracked open a single eye, "Oooow, why did you – ooooow. That was so unnecessary."
The sun's out silly! Sunrise means rise, rise! The Pokémon barked prancing through the room, hooves clicking with excitement.
"Sunrise means rise my ass." I grumbled, "Sometimes us humans just got to love Pokémon related logic, like why can we only carry up to six of you guys with us?
I mean grow a brain or something! There are loads of Pokémon, however you can only pick six of them as your team…Good luck with that! If I ever get my hands on the idiot who invented such a stupid rule… "
I have to admit, I'm far from a morning person, rise and shine simply doesn't apply to me and Blitzle with her glowing mane practically radiated energy.
Up, up, up! She barked at a disheveled Cheshire that arched and stretched his back in a very feline manner before joining a snoozing Marron. The grass type had nicked my pillow before it grew cold in my absence, the sneaky little snake.
"Bathroom please. Zap me when the Blitzle-express arrives." I said, noticing how Blitzle's tugging movements kinda rolled me in the desired direction. A nice hot shower would do the trick, it was that or being electrocuted again.
The zebra Pokémon showed great interest in bathing supplies and sniffed every bottle I presented her with, attracted by the bright colors and alien scents Blitzle moved in closer. Her soft muzzle was soon followed by perked up sensitive ears that flicked and moved from the water falling on top of them, only her rear remained outside the cramped shower cabin and before I realized it I found myself cleaning and scrubbing her short rough fur. Counting her stripes the two of us came to the conclusion she had to be the only Blitzle with twenty black and twenty white stripes.
"That and smelling like human shampoo makes you one unique horsey." I winked with a tap to her nose.
Scrubbing my skin while humming happily, I had to act quick when the Pokémon tried to take a bite from a bar of soap and sneezed in my face from the strong scent. Marron dragging along a hissing Cheshire joined the fun and I took my time to clean and groom each and every one of them. By the time we grew tired of Marron's life-size bubble blower he smartly constructed by bending his vine whip into a loop the bathroom had been irrevocably transformed into a water slide.
"The cleaning lady might not like this." I snorted shielding my face when Blitzle shook her fur treating us to a second shower.
"So who's up for a morning run?" I chimed eying the suddenly preoccupied Pokémon in front of me with a look of excitement only Blitzle returned.
"Sheez guys not all at once?"
I think that bump on her head dented her brains. The feline purred without even opening his eyes. After having his fur brushed and dried he didn't feel like moving for quite some time, taking a bath was rather pointless if you went for a run five seconds afterwards, the girl's hair wasn't even dry and yet she was already planning the rest of their day. To top it off, his kind simply didn't bathe for their pleasure.
I'm asleep. The grass type hissed lowly from under his leafy tail that covered his eyes.
Well I'm going! Blitzle barked flashing her mane and scraping her hooves impatiently.
"Ha that's more like it, us girls got to stick together !" I grinned at the electric type, returning her in her Pokéball before she broke the door in her eagerness.
Jumping about on one leg struggling with the laces of my running shoes, I grabbed my ipod. "Don't come crying to me when all the other Pokémon call you chubby." I teased the stragglers before slamming the door shut.
Reaching my arms towards the endless sky just for the fun of it I enjoyed the crisp morning air. "I love autumn." I muttered to myself tossing Raisa's Pokéball in the air so she could benefit from the nice weather and stretch her legs. Prancing about like a young foal the small equine barked in delight, copying my warm up moves.
"Okay, I suggest we begin with a run around this block, since we don't know the city that good. On the count of three!"
"One…" a hoof scratched against the concrete,
"Two…" I arched my legs fighting of a give-way grin,
"Fooled yah!" I yelled barreling of at high speed, laughing maniacally for the emphasis of it all. Rolling her sky blue eyes as if to say 'Humans' the zebra Pokémon sprung into action matching the length of her steps to mine after giving me a taste of real speed.
Listening to the men's bickering, N couldn't help but feel rather superior. The one with the hat kept staring at the square-checkered board in front of him as if the perfect move would appear miraculously.
"He does need a miracle to save his queen from that knight." The teenager mused aloud scratching Zero's ears, the black fox's chest rose and fell with a deep sigh,
It's funny how you're breaking your head over the old man's next move, and all I'm thinking about is what move I feel like using when I knock over that board.
A sudden movement caught N's attention and he found himself staring at the scene in front of him. Running next to a Blitzle he hadn't seen before, the brown haired girl with the blue eyes ran on the other side of the road at a swift but calculated pace. Studying the nickering Pokémon the teenager had to admit the small equine seemed to be having the time of her life, striped fur shone under the sun, a short tail swished happily, the Pokémon was a picture of health and contentment.
The girl, Ashe, flashed the Pokémon a goofy grin, some weird rope-like thingy seemed to be attached to her ears. Sensing his friend's sudden tension Zero stared in the same direction, sniffing the air. There's music in those strings, he shared flicking his ears, adding She caught a new Pokémon.
Slightly tilting his head N kept his attention on the girl. Her loud laughter had caught the men's attention, according to Zero one of them said something about her legs. Somehow that comment pissed him of greatly. Her bright red shorts were rather short… his brain didn't even register the absolute ridiculousness of the statement 'Shorts are short'.
At least the music keeps her from hearing those bastards.
Unaware of the cold or how inappropriate it was for someone her age to act like that she started zigzagging and jumping into puddles of muddy water, challenging the Blitzle to a game of catch. Rounding the corner and trading hard concrete for a gravel road the girl stopped short, the zebra Pokémon barely managed to dodge her, and barked in surprise.
She is one reckless human. N thought studying the girl who stood hunched over, hands on her knees.
The zebra offering her some support snickered at something she said and the two of them seemed to get ready for a race of some sort. Ashe taking on some weird pose arched her legs, Blitzle copied her move, mane alight with anticipation. One of the men broke the duo's concentration and seemed to ask something to the brunette who frowned and straightened. It was almost silly how seriously they took something as trivial as a morning run.
What's she doing now? Zero asked as she walked towards the men, moving dangerously close to their hide out.
"You tell me." N replied resisting the urge to start laughing when the girl did the unthinkable. Pointing towards the board she suggested a move even he hadn't come up with (yet), securing not only the endangered queen but placing the opponent's king under threat of capture. Eyes bulging both men stared at the board, the one wearing the hat flashed Ashe a secretive grin and winked.
N scoffed, you'd have to be an absolute moron to lose the game after a move like that, and both players knew it. Tuning out the shocked opponent's blabbering the green haired teen strained his ears to catch the grinning girl's departure comment, "They say in chess you've got to kill the queen and then you made it. Better protect her."
N studied her, the girl had to be the most aggravating person he had ever met in his life, she was like a frustrating puzzle, parts of her were kind of easy to understand.
For example the fact she liked to jump into puddles made her almost childlike to him. A good dose of recklessness, maybe a tad naïve and strong headed, but a good person at heart...
He didn't just think that, good and human simply don't match, it was like claiming one plus one equaled three…- But then there were the things she said sometimes, how she seemed to look at him and really saw him, the way people and Pokémon seemed to adore her…
When studying that aspect of her personality things were bound to get complicated.
"I'm going to have a talk with her." N said, getting to his feet calculating the distance she had gone at her speed.
Ignoring the polite nods he received from the two men he made his way through the small park, Zero took his time to hiss at the chess players before changing into a tiny blue eyed Pidove.
Sitting on a wooden bench I welcomed the soft breeze that caressed my flushed face. I stretched my arms and legs to free myself from the stiffness with a wince,
"I'll be feeling that tomorrow." I groaned already fearing the prospect of aching muscles in a lethal combination with Raisa's morning shock therapy.
As a trainer not just my Pokémon had to be in perfect shape, it was my task to work alongside my team and if that meant running, swimming or actual close combat I'd do just those things, hell I'd fly if I could or had a suicidal streak.
Running was an easy way to train endurance, in my opinion one of the most important aspects in battle.
If a Pokémon grows tired during a fight it makes them prone to attacks. That won't happen if I can help it. Strong Pokémon require a strong trainer.
Studying my surroundings Nacrene City woke from its slumber. Buildings and warehouses restored to their former glory were painted in a variety of colors and shone brightly in the morning sun. Local artists were readying themselves, expecting a hoard of tourists due to the nice weather. The city was known for its great artists, upon arrival dozens of those armed with clipboard easels sketched portraits with or without said tourist's consent.
A firm "PISS OFF" could save you from spending 80 dollars on a portrait you didn't want or like, it was that or endangering yourself to getting hit on the head with a canvas painting or being stalked by a pissed of artist. Closing my eyes I listened to the sound of Raisa's hooves.
Even cities can be rather peaceful.
"Ashe."
Choking on nothing but air I sprung to my feet hitting the top of my head against N's chin.
"Err, ow?"
"Shit!"
Both shouting in unison I pulled back, rubbing my throbbing head, cursing through gritted teeth. "Oww, poor head, it'll leave a dent the size of the Grand Canyon."
Jumping in surprise and nearly repeating the accident that transpired mere seconds ago I cringed when a pair of hands removed my baseball cap and trailed through my hair with the utmost care. Snapping my head upwards I stared at the man in front of me. "Let go of me you brick head!" I snapped pushing against his chest. The guy was standing way to close for comfort and the look in his soft green eyes was almost… gentle? Him being this close wasn't good for the heart, but his cool hands did feel rather go-
Get a grip girl! I thought embarrassed by my girlish thoughts slapping my cheeks.
Blinking a couple times, N watched the reddening girl in front of him, she was glaring at him, the future King of Unova. He couldn't quite shake the feeling she had just insulted him too
"If I'm not mistaken it was your head ramming into my face." He stated turning my cap in his hands.
"Yeah well what kind of person sneaks up on someone who has her eyes closed?" I snapped done with the way he stared at me, lunging for my cap.
Turning my back on him I walked towards Raisa who stretched her long neck and sniffed. He smells like a good person, she barked edging closer towards the man's outstretched hand.
"Hmpf. Don't hold back on the electricity Raisa." I growled secretly hoping she'd set his hair on end.
Taking a well deserved swig from a small bottle of water, I coaxed Raisa into drinking some of the water I held in my cupped hands ignoring N who simply stood there staring at me with his head slightly tilted.
"What did you mean by that? Kill the queen and then you made it?"
I froze, "You spying on me?" drying my hands on my shorts I rose to my full height.
"You play chess?" He inquired tossing my question to the side with a shake of his hand.
My eyebrows shot up, this was too good for words, "You want to talk about hobbies?"
Expecting a nod or even a new question he merely shrugged, the guy was actually trying to have a civilized conversation, one that didn't end with me attacking him, or him threatening me.
Deciding to allow him a small victory I shrugged, "Cheren, my friend, taught me how to play, always kicks my ass."
Pursing his lips into a tight line he frowned, his hands that were petting Raisa stopped, "He shouldn't kick you." He mused aloud shaking his head.
I stared at him, not sure to take him serious or to burst out laughing. Solemn eyes met mine. Or he has the world's best pokerface or the guy is being serious.
Opening my mouth to say something in return my stomach growled loud enough for him to hear. A tense silence already started to unfold.
Great, that actually sounded like I just ate someone, I thought biting my lower lip cursing myself for not deluding the noise with a cough.
"Where's the lightning?" N mused aloud staring up into the sky with his mouth half open, "Thunder is always followed by lightning!" he informed me, squinting his eyes against the bright blue sky counting aloud.
And the award for The World's Best Pokerface goes to!
"6, 7, 8, 9, - "
He still counts the seconds between thunder and lightning …
"That was my stomach you douche!" I yelled, painfully aware of my scarlet face, "Come on." I hissed tugging at his arm suppressing the urge to smack him for being so unreasonably innocent.
"My treat." I huffed shoving a huge waffle topped with powdered sugar in his hands, sharing mine which was topped with maple syrup with Raisa. Staring at the sweet treat with round eyes I caught him sniffing it with a questioning look on his face. Chuckling at his uneasy attitude I slowed down my pacing, "I didn't poison it you know." I said with a smile I hoped was too mocking
Rolling his eyes the teenager took a small bite, "It's sweet!" he exclaimed wrinkling his nose, unaware of his sugar covered face.
"Course it's sweet Captain Obvious." I laughed dodging a striped muzzle that was trying to do everything in its power to reach my breakfast.
Raisa who walked in between us barely flicked her ears when a small Pidove landed on top of her head in a flurry of feathers. The small pigeon shot me a piercing glare before cooing at N.
"The two of you are kind of inseparable." I commented while balancing on the unused railway tracks that ran throughout the entire city.
He blinked, "It's the first time you've seen me with a Pidove." He pointed out, eyes down on the road.
"Oh I know that." I chuckled unaware of the sudden tense atmosphere. Lying wasn't his thing.
"I haven't seen you accompanied by a Pidove, however a Pokémon with startling eyes like the one over there has snapped at me on more than one occasion. He's very protective when it comes to you. And normal Pidove don't have a glare like that, the local Purrloin would die from a heart attack if one of them turned on a feline with a glare like that."
A small smile appeared on the boy's face. "He's…" he muttered slowly, "a friend."
The grey flying type chose that moment to perch on his shoulder, puffing up his feathers in an obvious sign of indignation.
More like an ill tempered bodyguard.
I let out a loud sigh, the guy wasn't going to like my next comment but he needed to hear it from someone… What? Someone close to him? A friend?
Shaking my head as if to free myself from unwanted thoughts that gave me nothing more than a headache I turned towards the tall teenager, "Here's the deal, that Pokémon." I said with a nod towards the creature situated on his shoulder, "is special. There's this organization called Team Plasma who steal Pokémon from their trainers. You have to protect him from people like them."
N's head shot upwards when I mentioned the criminals, a look of utter disbelief on his face. Interpreting his reaction more wrongly than I would ever expect myself to I nodded my head as if the two of us had agreed on something, "That's what I meant with 'Kill the queen and then you made it'. Get the queen which leaves the road that leads towards the King open and unguarded. Find the one who's behind the whole charade and BAM make him pay."
N balled his hands into fists, shaking with subdued rage, "So they want to free Pokémon?" he asked gritting his teeth to keep himself from shouting.
"Yeah, they're very… fanatic about it. And with fanatic I mean downright nuts." I replied nonchalantly.
"Explain." N growled secretly relishing in the fact that the two Pokéballs attached to my belt were silent.
"Feelings. They don't consider the Pokémon nor the trainer's feelings." I whispered kicking a rock into a row of bushes avoiding N's eyes.
"Pokéballs restrain Pokémon in more way than one, believe me I get that." I said with a frown chewing my lip in search of words. The older boy walking next to me had fallen silent, "However humans who care, truly care about their Pokémon understand the sacrifice they bring in order to accomplish that something more." I was rambling, naive, pretentious words I couldn't live up to even if I tried my hardest, but it was the truth nonetheless.
"I've seen Team Plasma and their so called mission." I continued, "I saw a mission more noble than the lies Team Rocket and Team Galactic hid behind, but they're still nothing more than a bunch of pathetic adults, bullying the weak."
"I'm utterly defeated." N groaned running his hands through his bangs. The girl's mere presence made him feel uneasy, the way her eyes lit up with a strange light when she talked to him, she was beautiful, to the point he almost forgave her for the heartfelt words that broke down everything he stood for. Almost.
"I… want to see things no one can see." He said, his words a jumble of sounds. "A future where Pokémon have become perfect creatures. Pokémon shouldn't suffer, they should be freed from humans, do you agree?"
Noticing the sudden transformation in his demeanor I exchanged a worried glance with Raisa, the innocent N had made room for the fast talking confident version who's eyes seemed to glaze over.
Emerald met blue, pinning me with a predatorily stare.
I shivered and cursed mentally for lowering my guard in front of him. Taking a step closer he loomed over me. He expects me to respond! Whatever I say he won't like it!
I panicked. He took another step forward, I took one backwards.
"Now don't bite my head off," I warned waving my hands in front of his face in order to distract him from his obvious attempts to read my mind and failing miserably since he didn't even blink.
"I kind of like the world…flawed. To put it bluntly I'd rather kiss a Seismitoad than live in a world filled with goody two-shoes."
N froze, his face constricted in what I could only describe as a pained expression, hiding his face in his palm he hunched over slightly.
"Whoa. Whoa. You're not allergic to dairy right? Are you sick?" I squeaked placing my hand on his twitching shoulder on the verge of yelling for help.
Hysteric giggles reached my ears and I held my breath, That big kid! How dare he!
"Stop it!" I yelled with a swat on his shoulder, turning a light pink upon realizing he was laughing at me.
His amusement developed into a real roaring laugh, the two of us had been in a similar situation before only the one cracking up wasn't me this time.
Oh Ashe broke your friend! Raisa barked at Zero, the pigeon found himself unable to do anything more productive than gawk. N never laughs in front of a human!
An involuntary smile tugged at my lips at the sight of his happiness and I no longer tried to force him out of it. Laughing once in a while wouldn't kill him, He's a lot like Cheren when it comes to relaxing around others, I thought fondly, raising a single brow when the green haired teenager regained his composure effortlessly,
"Oh don't mind me, do continue." I remarked placing a hand on my hip.
"Forgive me, that was very rude." N replied once again in full business mode, hiding his raging emotions from the girl in front of him.
"Yup and totally out of the blue, I meant what I said you know."
"About the Seismitoad?"
"Yes!"
"No! God no! I meant what I said about trainers and their Pokémon."
"…Ashe?"
It felt weird to hear him say my name. "Yes?"
"Would you mind battling me?"
I froze, even when standing on the railway tracks the height difference between the two of us was still evident, "What? Again really out of the blue N."
"My friends… and myself want to test you, to see if you are worthy of the future I wish to create.
I started at him dumbly, "Not to rain on your parade but I only have one Pokémon with me and Raisa and I haven't really had the chance to work together."
"I'll be your first then." He replied releasing a Pidove.
"My first?" I snorted giving the strange man a taxing look. The guy could be pretty bold when he put his mind to it. Still a challenge was a challenge and I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to fight a good opponent.
"Raisa! Let's turn our first official battle into our first official victory!"
The Pidove coming face to face with an over eager electric type simply didn't stand a chance, the poor pigeon Pokémon hardly managed to land a hit before Raisa zapped him with a powerful jolt of electricity. Replacing the unconscious Pidove with a gray, bipedal Pokémon with weird vein-like pink bands on its thighs and shoulders my opponent took his time to check on the fainted bird Pokémon. His eyes narrowed dangerously when I pulled out my Pokédex and pointed it towards the fighting type.
Raisa's victory dance came to a rather abrupt halt when a wooden beam came crashing down on her head with enough force to knock her into next week.
The equine Pokémon was smart enough to learn from the unpleasant experience and kept her distance from the smirking Timburr who handled his log of wood as if it were a mere twig.
"Snatch his club and he'll be all bark and no bite!" I shouted.
Dodging the fierce swipes the small zebra kept barking at Timburr, taunting him. Slow but fierce movements became more reckless and dangerous by the minute, the zebra Pokémon knew that one more hit to the head would be the last of that battle and kept her distance from his long range swipes. Finally Raisa found an opening in the strong Pokémon's defense and moved in for the attack. Kicking the long beam from his hands the equine forced Timburr to the ground and barked in victory.
"Alright Raisa!" I shouted in triumph when N made no move to release another opponent to go up against the already exhausted Blitzle.
"You were perfect!" I praised hugging the Pokémon around her neck, "N you too, you know how to fight!"
Turning towards the silent teen I noticed he stood rooted to the spot, head downcast. "Right now I'm not strong enough to save all Pokémon." he mused aloud voicing out thoughts that had to make more sense to him than to me. "I can't solve the equation that will change the world… I need power, some sort of catalyst."
Okay someone is a sore loser?
"N." I began but got cut short by his sudden glare. The hairs on my arms and neck stood on end when he turned, shadowed eyes met mine and held. His face had taken on that dreamy expression, as if he was seeing things I couldn't. "I'll befriend someone powerful enough to make everyone agree…"
A cold calculating look filled his eyes, tilting his head to one side a slight smirk marred his face, "And… you and I. Maybe- someday- we will be friends…"
It was a demand, not a request.
With that almost as if on cue the man turned leaving me gaping in disbelief barely capable of plopping down on the nearest bench.
The enigma N wore all kinds of masks, his black one left quite an impression…