Chapter 8
The Happening
The group's next destination would be the port of Vermillion City. But the walk was a great one, which allowed them a lot of time for Sarah to train with her abilities. She found that by switching between Pokemon on the fly, she could completely change tactics and confuse the opponent.
Luke also improved in his skills as a trainer. By watching Sarah, he was able to learn several good moves and learned to predict attacks much better.
But more than their skills grew. Ever since the incident at the Cerulean Gym, Luke began to see that he could trust Sarah, and opened up little by little. In turn, Sarah found herself growing closer to him. The two would talk for hours on their journey, laughing and crying like they had known each other all of their lives.
The city slowly began to grow until it filled their southern view. The ocean shimmered like a diamond on the far side, a massive ship sitting peacefully in dock.
A large group of people was gathered at the edge of the city. When they two got closer, they could see that each one had a camera around their neck and they were talking excitedly amongst themselves.
"What do you think's going on?" Luke asked.
"Let's go ask them." Sarah approached the group and raised a hand. "Excuse me! What's with all the cameras?"
One of the men turned and pointed. "THERE SHE IS!" He quickly raised his camera and began snapping pictures. The others quickly began to shout and also take pictures. Sarah had to throw up her arms because the flashes were so bright and many. One short female came up and stuck a recorder into Sarah's face. "You're the girl who can change into Pokemon. How did you get this strange ability?"
"What?!" They knew? But how could it have spread this quickly? "I…I don't know what you're talking about."
The reporters began squeezing in closer. "What's it like conversing with Pokemon?" "Do you retain the Pokemon's abilities?" "Could you demonstrate for us?"
Sarah pushed her hands in front of her face, trying to keep them away. "Please, stop!" More flashed, more bodies pressing in. The lights were starting to blind her.
"Come on, girl. Give us a picture." A man grabbed her wrist and pulled it down before putting the camera right in her face and flashing her.
She screamed and pulled her arm back.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" A hand reached forward, grabbed the camera, and threw it to the ground, shattering the lens and spilling film onto the road. Sarah weakly looked back. Luke stood between her and the reporters, arms wide to protect her. All flashing and commotion ceased. "DON'T YOU DARE LAY ANOTHER HAND ON HER!"
Sarah looked at the back of his head and a tear fell from her eye. "Luke…"
"Are you kidding? She's the biggest story since the invention of the pokeball!" Suddenly, the bodies pressed in once again.
Sarah began to back away. "Follow me!" Luke grabbed her arm and charged, pushing several reporters out of the way, and broke through the circle before turning down a side alley. Some of the faster ones quickly gave chase.
She panted as she tried to keep up. "Luke, you didn't tell anyone, did you?"
Luke scanned the alley. "Of course not. I would never do that to you." This drew a smile from Sarah.
A reporter appeared from around a corner, camera ready. Luke dipped his shoulder and sent his into the wall. He turned back to her as they kept running. "You need to get out of here."
"But how am I going to do that?"
"Give me your bag." She shrugged it off and handed it up to him. "We'll slip into a side building. When we do, you change into some Pokemon and get away. Meet me at the Pokemon Center at the east edge of town."
"But Luke…"
"No questions!" He suddenly stopped and pulled open a metal door that led into a filthy blackness. He quickly threw her inside. "Get going!"
"Luke!"
She was too late. He slammed the door shut. Just then, more footsteps pounded outside and knocks rang against the metal. She took a step forward, about to go help him, when she heard a muffled cry through the metal. "Go!"
She stifled a cry and looked up at the ceiling. A small window was open on the far side of the room leading into the open sky. She leapt into the air and sprouted Pidgey wings, her clothes falling to the floor. No sooner had she left than the door banged open.
The reporters had refused to leave, even after Sarah's disappearance. If anything, it had fueled their curiosity. They had clambered around Luke asking question after question. It had taken him a few punches to convince them to leave.
Luke now walked slowly through the city. At times, he caught glimpses of more reporters who were obviously following in order to get to Sarah.
Looking up to the sky, he saw a large flock of Pidgey over the city. "Excellent. No one would be able to pick her out from the rest."
When he reached the Pokemon Center they were to meet at, he took a weary seat on the bench out front, bags placed next to him. He hoped that she would make it without being followed. They would have enough trouble with the ones who had followed him; they still peeped out of corners on occasion.
Then he noticed a small pile of newspapers next to the bench. The front picture caught his attention. It was of a strange creature, half human and half Pokemon. The caption above it read, "Poke-morph spotted in Cerulean Gym!" Luke grabbed the top paper and began reading the article. It looked pretty official, with quotes from Professor Oak and Misty. But the article made her look more look like a failed experiment than an actual person. He had to keep himself from tearing the paper to shreds.
A Rattata jumped up through the bars of the bench at sat beside him. He noticed it, but didn't look over. "If it's you, take your bag around back and change. I'll follow in a few minutes." The creature took the bag in its jaws and moved back into the trees behind the center.
He continued reading the paper like nothing had happened. Then he looked around and pretended to be confused before jogging out back. If he was lucky, it would throw them off.
Sarah was already waiting as he rounded the corner with a door open. "Come on. Nurse Joy said we can lay low here."
He went inside and handed her the paper. "Take a look at this."
She saw the article and snatched it up. He could see tears begin to swell in her eyes as she read through it. It was a good thing he hadn't torn it, because she did. He quickly wrapped her in his arms as the strips fell to the floor. "Hey, hey. Relax. Who cares what they say? We know it's not true."
"But they don't," she whimpered. "Now I'll never be able to go out in public again." They remained silent as she let herself cry.
A gentle knock broke the silence and Nurse Joy stuck her head in through the door. "Sarah, there's a reporter here who would like to do an interview with you."
Luke looked down at her. "You know, you can't run from this forever. Perhaps it would be better to get this all out now."
She looked back up at him. "Promise you'll be there for me?"
"Of course."
Sarah swept away a few tears and nodded. Nurse Joy turned and left. Luke led her to a nearby couch and they sat down as a short, slightly pudgy man in a black suit walked in with a pad and video camera. He sat the stuff down and came over, hand extended. "Hi. I'm Evan Stoner, Kanto News." He shook each hand, doing Sarah's gently. "Thank you for this exclusive interview."
"Before we begin," Luke interrupted, "you must promise me that nothing said here will be altered or used to make Sarah look like a monster or lab rat or anything."
"Of course," he said as he set up the camera. A small antenna rose up from the rear end and placed a boom mic around his ear. "Test, test. It looks like we are set to go. This is live interview with Sarah Adams, Evan Stoner reporting."
"Live interview?"
"Yep. We video, the signal goes to the station and they relay it to every television on the channel, all in a matter of seconds. So say hello to the world." She weakly held up a hand and waved. "Atta girl. Now, why don't we start by you telling us about how you first gained this intriguing ability?"
And so, the truth was known. The world finally knew about Sarah and her incredible gift. People came from all over to see her. Some came asking for help communicating with their Pokemon and they paid very well for her services. Others simply came to just see her whenever possible: in battles or just on the street. Sarah was finally starting to get used to this.
Professor Oak had been called out many times for more of the same pills, but the research was discontinued to stop the reporters and offers.
But there were other times when little children, and sometimes others, would accidentally call out, "Hey, look at the freak."
And then it seemed everything went back to the beginning. But they made progress and before too long, people came to accept her and moved on to new things.
The months quickly passed. Sarah and her team grew. Bulbasaur was still her first, with Lars and Nina, who was now an Arcanine. Along with them, she convinced a Geodude, now Graveller, and a Jolteon to join the team. (She was quite proud of herself for not having to actually capture a single one of them) The sixth place on the team she filled in herself if needed.
Luke soon became more than a close friend. Sarah loved every second they spent together alone. He was the one person that made her feel normal. And he returned her feelings of love.
But a big blow was just waiting to happen and didn't come till almost two years later.
A/N: Yes, I realize I just skipped a bunch of possible story. But do you realize how long putting all that in would make this story?! I don't even want to think about it. So read and review.
Also, if you're enjoying Cursed Blessing, then check out my new Pokemon story: The Other Side of Life.