A/N: I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS TO UPDATE. I HAD LIFE ISSUES AND I'M NOT GOING TO BOTHER TRYING TO MAKE UP EXCUSES. Here, have a somewhat long chapter, by my standards that is, AND MOTHER FREAKING TOUKO to make up for it.
I'm happy you all received last chapter pretty well. Castelia's gym will host the first loss of a gym battle that our heroes face, but I bet you guys can't guess who will lose!
Try and guess, I dare ya. ;D
This chapter starts the morning after Vikkiy, Felix, Kyo, Lucas, Mikaela, Toby, and Andy have won their Basic Badges and spans one day. I promised a certain someone that more of the hobbies would be coming into play, and this chapter I'll try to fit in Kyo, Vikkiy, Lucas, Toby, Lolita, and Cinnamon's hobbies. We'll see if that happens.
Heroes of Unova Book One
The Race to Save the Region
Chapter 13 Castelia City and Getting Lost
PINWHEEL FOREST
"FELIX!"
The angry, high-pitched scream of Vikkiy echoed through the entirety of Pinwheel Forest, scaring tiny Petlil and Cottenee, and waking grumpy Venipede.
It also brought the nine other teens traveling with the two constantly bickering sixteen-year-olds out of their half-awake state, nestled in their cozy sleeping bags.
"What the Jirachi, Vikkiy?" Cinnamon groaned from within the same tent as the enraged brunette. "I think you blew out my eardrums, I can't hear a damned thing!"
"Stop being so dramatic," Valerie said, covering a yawn. "What's wrong, Vik?"
The sixteen year old tore off the black beanie she wore to bed, folding her arms angrily and waiting for the chaos about to unravel.
"...HAHAHAHAHA!" Valerie burst into laughter, nearly falling over at the state of the brunette's hair.
"It's not funny Valerie! Shut up!" Vikkiy screeched, hurriedly trying to cover her ruined hair with her hands. Sometime during the night, someone had chopped off random pieces of her hair, leaving her with awkward, stringy bangs that fell in her face.
"Holy fuck," Cinnamon said, trying not to laugh. "What the hell did you do?"
"It wasn't me!" The brunette hurriedly groped around for a hairtie, throwing what she could of her choppy hair into a ponytail. She tugged on her shoes, nearly running out of the tent. "Kyo! I need your expertise!"
The black-haired male poked his head out of his tent, took one look at her, and sighed. "Sit down on that stump and give me five minutes."
PINWHEEL FOREST-MAIN PATH
"I hate you. Forever and ever," Vikkiy declared loudly at Felix a hour later.
As magical as Kyo was with hair, Vikkiy hated her hair short, so she had shoved her beanie back over her head. Her new bangs, which Kyo had cut further to make them less choppy and unflattering, hung out of the beanie in two lines while Vikkiy had gathered the rest of her hair into a low ponytail at the base of her neck. Though she looked miles better then when she had woke up, the brunette was still majorly pissed, since she loved her hair long and even instead of the medium layers it was now styled in.
"I didn't do it," The black-haired male repeated for the fifteenth time.
"LIES!"
"Enough," Cinnamon cut in. "I could do with one day of you two NOT ARGUING."
"I second that motion," Landon spoke up.
Vikkiy glared at Felix one last time before turning her head, checking on her egg like a worried mother hen.
"Hey, guys?" Toby said, taking his camera off his neck. "Can we take a group photo? I want to make a book of our adventures after the journey is over."
"That's a great idea!" Lolita clapped her hands together, smiling widely. "Let's do it now!"
"I have no problem with that," Lucas said, closing his gaming device and tucking it away in his bag.
"Tall people in the back," Cinnamon said, stepping into the role of leader instantly. "Andy, Toby, Kyo, Felix, Landon, and myself. Everyone else in front."
"How about right here?" Mikaela pointed to a log that was propped up on two tree trunks. "Us shorties can sit on the log, and everyone else can stand in the back."
Vikkiy was the first to get in place, sitting down in the middle of the log. Mikaela and Lolita sat on either side of her, Lucas sititng next to Lolita and Valerie next to Mikaela.
As Toby set up his tripod (which he'd pulled from nowhere), the taller teens shuffled neatly a line. Seconds later the flash went off, blinding them all.
"Holy mother of-" Andy started, only to cut herself off at an elbow in the side from Cinnamon.
"I can't see!" Vikkiy said dramatically, holding her arms out in front of her.
"Drama queen."
"AM NOT!"
"Are too."
"AM NOT!"
"SHUT UP!"
SKYARROW BRIDGE
"There are four ways we can do this," Cinnamon said as they all stood in the terminal that led out onto the massive bridge. "We can walk, rent bikes, take a bus, or buy passage on one of the ferries."
"I say we don't walk," Andy interrupted. "I mean, we do a lot of that already."
"Agreed," Toby said. "And no buses, look at the traffic!"
"I wanna ride on one of the ferries!" Vikkiy spoke, shifting her egg in her arms.
"I agree, the ferry sounds cool," Lolita piped up.
"I think we should bike," Lucas spoke up. "Get a good work out. Besides, the ferries in and out of Castelia are always crowded."
"And the bike lanes aren't?" Mikaela asked, pointing out to the second, narrower passenger bridge that hovered above the vehicle bridge. "No thank you, I do not want to fall off that."
"Osha!" Rain chirped in agreement.
"Why don't we split up?" Landon suggested. "Those that want to take the ferry can, and those who want to bike can bike. Then meet up at the Pokecenter."
"A valid compromise," Valerie spoke up. "I say we go for it."
"Yay ferry!" Vikkiy grinned.
"I'm biking," Cinnamon announced with a wistful yet excited look on her face.
"Don't injure yourselves," Andy chuckled as she made her way towards the ferry line, Vikkiy, Lolita, Mikaela, Toby, and Landon following behind her.
"Don't drown, mates!" Felix called back as the rest of the teens headed towards the bike shop.
S.S. CASTELIA
"The one thing I didn't plan for? The wind!" Mikaela shouted at her companions as they huddled on the starboard deck, Rain safely inside his Pokeball for the trip across the water.
"I'm sorry, what was that? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Vikkiy screamed back, her hair blowing around in her face. She was turning around in circles in an attempt to get it out of her eyes, and was failing epicly.
"I think that was her point!" Andy said loudly into the brunette's ear, grabbing onto her shoulder to keep her from falling over from dizziness. "Let's go inside so I can actually hear!"
"WHAT?"
"I SAID LET'S GET THE FUCK INSIDE!"
CASTELIA CITY POKECENTER
"One room for the night, please."
Castelia's Nurse Joy looked up before gasping. "Miss Touko! What a pleasant surprise! Of course! Can I heal your Pokemon for you?"
Touko smiled at the lady, handing over her five Pokeballs. "Yes, that would be much appreciated, we worked hard today."
"Right away!" The nurse set the Champion's Pokemon in the healing machine before turning back to the brunette. She frowned when she noticed the Champion was lost in thought, mindlessly playing with a loose strand of her hair. Only when the machine dinged did Touko startle out of her thoughts.
"There you go," Nurse Joy said softly. "All healed. Enjoy your time in Castelia-yes?" She said when Touko didn't move an inch.
The brunette pulled out a photo and placed it on the desk. "Can you call up to my room and tell me if any of these people come in?" She asked, sliding it across to the nurse.
"Are are they in trouble?" Joy asked worriedly as she stared down at the picture of eleven teenagers coming out of the Nacrene City Gym.
"No...but I really do need to speak with them," Touko said as she clipped her Pokeballs back onto her belt.
"Okay," The nurse responded, still rather bewildered.
"Thank you," The twenty-year-old smiled brightly, finally moving away from the counter and heading up to her room.
SKYARROW BRIDGE BIKE PATH
"Aw yeah! I missed this!" Cinnamon cried, relishing the wind sweeping her hair out of her face as she led the pack of bikers.
"This is awesome," Felix agreed as he biked past a couple who's matching Duckletts were riding on their heads. "So, proposin': we bike everywhere from now on."
"Only if we all agree on it," Kyo said from his place behind Felix, Valerie next to him and Lucas bringing up the rear.
"It'd be a lot of extra gear to haul around," Valerie pointed out as their group pressed to the left side of the path to let a group of twenty bikers by. "I, for one, would NOT enjoy that."
"We'd get everywhere faster," Lucas shouted from the back.
"Kyo's right," Cinnamon called. "We should decide as a group!"
"That's no fun..." Felix muttered as they pedaled on.
CASTELIA CITY DOCKS-PIER 5
"Land! Dry land!" Vikkiy cried, latching onto Mikaela in a hug. The other brunette patted her head as she pulled out Rain's Pokeball, letting him out of it.
"Stop being so dramatic," Andy sighed.
"I'm starting to think she can't help it," Landon said, hands stuffed in his pockets.
"So...the Pokecenter," Lolita said, staring at the massive city that loomed in front of them. "Where is it, exactly?"
Dead silence.
"Uhhhhhh..."
Tobias pulled out a little guidebook and flipped through several pages. "Says here that it's just off Pier 9 on Harmond Street."
"...Which direction is that?" Vikkiy asked.
"If you'd been paying any attention, you'd notice that, to our left is Pier 4. To our right is Pier 6. We're going right," Andy folded her arms across her chest.
"Pssht, I totally knew that. I was just...uhm...testing you."
"Surrreeee you were."
"Shushies!"
"How old are you again?" Mikaela teased softly.
"This many!" The brunette held up five fingers and winked.
Andy shook her head at the sixteen year old. "Enough chatting! Let's get going. The others are probably already at the Pokecenter."
"Right," Lolita nodded brightly. "Onwards!"
"Forward, march!" Vikkiy agreed, linking arms with the blackette and skipping off ahead of the other four teens.
Andy shook her head. "How are those two so cheerful all the time?"
"Sugar," Mikaela said. "And lots of it. Vikkiy has her own little stash."
"That...actually does not surprise me," Landon chuckled a bit as the four calmer teens followed after.
SKYARROW BRIDGE BIKE SHOP CASTELIA CITY SIDE
"Thank you so much for renting our bikes, have a pleasant time in Castelia!" The lady behind the counter said brightly as assistants took the five bikes to the back.
The three males and two females waved at her before stepping out of the bike shop and into Castelia City.
"Well, here we are," Lucas said, stretching one arm behind his head. "Home sweet home."
"Wait, you live here?" Valerie asked, looking at him in surprise.
He nodded. "Have I not mentioned that?"
"Nope, I don't believe you have," Cinnamon said, messing with the Pokeballs on her belt.
"I could've sworn I did...anyways, the Pokecenter's right around the corner. I assume everyone else will be waiting for us, the ferry is faster," The blue-haired male said as he led the group on.
"Lucas, the Pokecenter is bright orange," Cinnamon sighed. "We can see it from here. Only idiots or people who are spacially orientated-challenged wouldn't be able to find it."
There was a beat of silence.
"We shouldn't have split up, should we? Vikkiy's goin' to get them all lost," Felix said, a little frustrated.
"Give them a little credit," Valerie smiled. "Andy traversed Hoenn all by herself, I'm sure she wouldn't get lost in one measly city."
"Castelia is Unova's biggest city," Kyo looked a little worried at this point.
"Like Cinnamon said, the Pokecenter's bright orange!" Lucas said. "They'll be fine. Hey, there's a guy who sells evolutionary stones near here, if you and Felix want to pick up a Thunderstone and a Fire Stone for later on down the road."
"Besides," Cinnamon spoke up as Lucas changed direction, leading then down onto a pier towards a guy who had a stand set up, evolutionary stones laid out across the counter. "One of you two could always just call Mikaela or Vikkiy on their cross-tranceivers. You have to have their numbers registered, right?"
"Well, yeah," Felix said. "But with the luck she's havin' today, Vikkiy probably forgot to charge hers or somethin'."
CASTELIA CITY-PIER 8
"Toby..."
"Yeah?" The photographer replied, looking a bit anxious.
"How old is that guidebook of yours?" Mikaela sighed.
"...Three years?"
"Well maybe that's why THERE'S NO POKECENTER on Harmond and Pier 8!" Andy yelled.
Vikkiy squeaked and hid behind Landon, who was just watching half-amused.
"Look, it's no big deal," Lolita said, trying to defuse the situation. "Let's just ask one of the locals! Excuse me, sir!" She called, running down the pier.
"Lolita! We shouldn't get anymore separated- why do I even try," Andy sighed as the blackette disappeared down the dock.
"So," Vikkiy said, coming out from behind Landon. "While we're...er, temporarily off track, we should stop by Castelia Cones, their ice cream is totally the best in the region and stop looking at me that way, Andy, I'm hungry!"
"You should've eaten while we were on the ferry."
"That sandwich was fifteen bucks," She whined. "There was no way I was paying fifteen bucks for that!"
The Hoenn native rolled her eyes. "We are not going to stop for ice cream just because you want some-"
"I'm up for ice cream," Toby offered.
"Yeah, it sounds good right now," Mikaela nodded.
"Oooh, are we talking about Castelia Cone, because it's totally on the way to the Pokecenter, according to the dancer dude we're headed for Pier 14 and Castelia Cone is off Pier 10. Also he said there's a cafe and hotel there too if it gets dark before we head for the Pokecenter."
"...Lolita I'm totally buying your ice cream, you rock!" Vikkiy glomped her in excitement.
Andy sighed. "FINE, we can stop for ice cream!"
"YESH!" Vikkiy fist pumped excitedly, letting go off Lolita. "Let's goooooooo!"
CASTELIA CITY POKECENTER
"Ugh, finally!" Valerie said, stretching as the five teens walked into the Pokecenter. "That evolutionary stones salesman sure knew how to talk, Arceus!"
"I agree with you there," Felix said as they walked up to the counter.
Cinnamon rolled her eyes before turning to Nurse Joy. "Hi, two rooms please."
"Of cour-oh," Joy hesitated for a second before handing over two room keys. "Have a pleasant stay," She hurried over to the telephone and picked it up.
"...That was weird," Lucas said. "Normally she offers to heal your Pokemon."
"She's probably busy. Kyo or Felix, why don't you try calling Vikkiy or Mikaela now?"
The quieter of the two black-haired males from Nuvema nodded, pulled out his cross-transceiver and began to scroll through his contacts before hitting CALL when he reached Vikkiy's slot.
It ran three, four, five times before the call connected. The image shook, became static, and finally cleared to show Vikkiy's face.
"Kyo!"
"Where are you guys?" Cinnamon asked, leaning over Kyo's shoulder to fit in the frame.
"Uh...at a cafe? Cafe Sinata. We're kinda far away, Toby's guidebook got us lost."
"I said I was sorry! I didn't mean to grab the outdated one!" Said male yelled offscreen.
"Are you guys on your way?" Felix said, crowding in on the other side of Kyo.
"It's getting dark out, there's a hotel upstairs we thought we'd stay at. Andy's demanding we meet at the gym tomorrow-ten o'clock."
"Alright," Cinnamon said, cutting off Kyo, who'd opened his mouth. "Castelia City Gym, ten o'clock. Don't be late. And tell Toby to buy a NEW guidebook."
"Roger that! Vikky out-LOLITA PUT DOWN MY ROLL!" The call disconnected abruptly, the screen fading to black. Kyo put the cross-transceiver away as they began walking up the stairs to their rooms.
"We definitely shouldn't have split up," Valerie sighed.
"It'll be fine," Cinnamon muttered. "The gym's big, there's no way they can get lost on the way there."
"Famous last words," Felix said. The redhaired female threw him a dirty look as they stopped outside of Room 205 and 206.
There was a brief moment of silence before the five teens said goodnight and walked into their separate rooms, the boys in 205 and the girls in 206.
None of the five had noticed Touko leaning against the door to 209, watching them.
A/N: The release of Black and White 2 is what kicked my ass into motion to finish this chapter while I wait for my copy to arrive.
That being said, while the Heroes of Unova 'verse IS compatible with the original Black and White (and, arguably, all of the previous generations) it is NOT compatible with Black/White 2 because here Alder is still Champion (whoops, spoiler!).
I'll leave the rest of my Black 2/White 2 ranting at the end of my notes.
Writing this and changing scenes so often probably made it seem way longer then it is, but here you guys go! The second half of this chapter was supposed to be it's own chapter but I felt bad for making you all wait forever so I smashed 'em together.
So! We're in Castelia, Lucas' hometown. The group has separated into two pieces, and the Andy-led one is a little lost. The Pokecenter's hiding from then!
Cinnamon's group will be facing Burgh shortly, and WE HAVE TOUKO. I freaking love Touko.
Also, I don't know how this happened, but Toby sort of turned into Brock a little bit. I regret absolutely nothing.
Virtual cookies to anyone who can find the Black/White Castelia references littered through this chapter and the upcoming two. Maureen and I went a little overboard.
FYI Felix didn't actually screw with Vikkiy's hair (I'm not telling who did; not for a while at least).
Next Chapter!...Felix, Kyo, Valerie, and Lucas take on the gym, the Andy-led group gets lost again, Felix gets his second Pokemon, and, if I can fit it in, another encounter with Team Triad! Exciting.
BLACK/WHITE 2 RANTING (potential spoilers!)
First off, I'd like to know just who decided it would be a good idea to let Iris be Champion. WHERE ARE TOUYA/TOUKO, DAMMIT! Iris drives me nuts.
I feel equal parts amused and horrified that they took away all of Cheren's powerful Pokemon. C'mon, seriously. HE HAS A PATRAT AND A LILLIPUP.
Guys...you can get a Riolu before the first gym. ALL OF MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I'm kidding. Though Riolu HAS always had a place on my team everytime I play through Platinum.
I'm extremely amused by the new heroes, Nate and Rosa. Nate's appearance especially makes me lawl.
Elesa, why oh why did you dye your hair?
END OF RANT...FOR NOW
Reviews on your way out please! Again my apologies for taking so long!