INT. POKÉMON CENTER - DAY
CUE - "POKéMON CENTER" FROM SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL OST.
HILBERT is sat at one of the couches in the lounge, the hustle and bustle around him just passes by. He's trapped in his own little world, obviously deep-in-thought.
HILBERT (V.O.)
So, my first day out and about and I'm embarrassed in front of a huge crowd of people. I felt like just going home and quitting right there and then. I waited for word on Sheldon, if he was OK after the beating he received from N... And I just kept thinking that maybe he was right? No. He wasn't. I kept telling myself that, but damn, were they persuasive...
NURSE JOY
Hilbert?
Breaking him from his train of thought, one of the NURSE JOYs, pink hair, 20's, cute, approaches. She notices Hilbert jump a bit.
HILBERT
(nervously)
Um, yes?
She gives a cheery smile.
NURSE JOY
Your Oshawott is all healthy and ready to go.
She walks over to a tray, and picks up SHELDON THE OSHAWOTT, handing him over to Hilbert. The two buddies hug. Sheldon, however, looks devastated by this defeat. He removes the Samurott armor and ditches it in the nearest trash bin. Hilbert looks on, a bit surprised.
HILBERT
What was that for?
Sheldon looks up at Hilbert, tears welling in the tiny otter's eyes.
HILBERT (V.O.)
Sheldon felt he was not fit enough to be labeled by the name of a mighty Samurott, so instead of disgracing his idol, he wanted to carry on and train to be worthy of a Samurott. He had my blessings, because as cute as he looked in all that extra armor, it really was holding him back. I needed to find a way to cheer him up though...
HILBERT
Whattya say to no more Poké Ball? You can hitch a ride on my shoulder, in my bag, or wherever, from now on. I mean, until you're a big ol' Samurott that is!
Sheldon gives a happy cry, instantly clambering onto Hilbert's shoulder.
NURSE JOY
Have a safe journey, we hope to see you again soon.
HILBERT
Wait, you want my Pokémon to get hurt?
Her response is mute. Just a pasty smile and wave goodbye. Hilbert backs up out of the Pokémon Center, creeped out. As he leaves, the SONG FADES OUT TOO...
EXT. EMPTY FIELD - DAY
HILBERT, SHELDON THE OSHAWOTT, and PIKACHU are in a large, empty, beautiful field. Hilbert and Sheldon do push-ups while Pikachu just sits there, looking glum with his arms crossed.
HILBERT (V.O.)
From then on, in light of the discovery that the Unova Nurse Joys are homicidal, I vowed to treat my Pokémon with respect and dignity so they would have to visit that possible-murder-zone less. Whatever training methods I'd put them through, I'd put myself through too. And it wasn't just that I needed a bit more bulk on me to impress the ladies, I seriously just wanted to see what it felt like.
FADE to them doing jumping jacks. Then FADE to them running laps around the huge field.
CLOSE-UP of Hilbert as he RUNS, he's flying around that field. Pikachu ZOOMS around the field, grinning, totally happy that he's beating Hilbert. Hilbert looks back at Sheldon, who's struggling.
He is about to say something, but he trips over the root of a tree. Oshawott passes his fallen trainer, giving what sounds like a laugh as he does. Suddenly, a bug Pokémon with a leaf mane around its head and tiny stubby little feet with an adorable face LEAPS down from the tree above, BITING onto Oshawott's face. Hilbert's Pokédex gives an electronic ring. He checks it and it shows him the data for this bug Pokémon - it's called a SEWADDLE.
The Sewaddle suddenly DIVES out of the tree and LAND on Sheldon's face, biting into the Oshawott. Sheldon PANICS, running around wildly. Hilbert sits back up, rubbing his pained head, to see Sheldon being attacked. He chases after Sheldon, who runs around, no set path in sight.
HILBERT
Sheldon, STOP, WAIT-!
EXT. FILM SET - DAY
A pretty girl with dark skin and a massive head of hair, who's dressed in primitive looking toga-esque wraps, stands behind a camera, next to the cameraman. This is IRIS. She carries a POKéMON EGG.
Three Pokémon dance around - one of them is a tiny dragon, called AXEW. The other is a blue duck called DUCKLETT and the last one is Snivy's evolved form, a longer snake named SERVINE.
Suddenly, they hear shouts from the CAMERAMAN on the other side of the shot, he's looking at something behind the SET.
CAMERAMAN
Hey, kid, we're filming a show here, get off the -
DIRECTOR
Who's trespassing?
CAMERAMAN
Him, over there!
The director and Iris walk over where the cameraman's standing to get a better look. In the distance, HILBERT chases after SHELDON, who still has SEWADDLE chewing on his face. They're running right for the set...
DIRECTOR
Hey, kid! Make like a drum and BEAT IT-!
CUE - "WILD Pokémon BATTLE" FROM Pokémon RED AND BLUE.
TIGHT on Hilbert - he totally is blocking out the crew and their existence. Totally focused on Sheldon - who CRASHES right into the set, TEARING through the greenscreen behind Iris's Pokémon.
IRIS
No!
DIRECTOR
Stop them!
IRIS
Ducklett, use Wing Attack!
Ducklett swoops into the skies, giving a sqwak, before diving down, wings glowing. It slams right into Sheldon, the impact of which knocks Sewaddle off of Sheldon's face. Sewaddle hopped back up. It's not down and out yet.
Hilbert rushes over to catch up to Sheldon.
HILBERT
Sheldon, you learned Razor Shell, so use it on Sewaddle!
Sheldon totally ignores Ducklett, who continues flying after him. He grabs the shell from his belly, detaches it, and THROWS it at Sewaddle, hitting the tiny bug in the chest.
Hilbert sees Sewaddle hit the ground, looking dazed. He pulls out a Poké Ball.
He THROWS the Ball - TIGHT on the Ball as it SPINS through the air.
HITS Sewaddle in the head.
And DRAGS the bug inside.
The Ball SHAKES. And SHAKES. And SHAKES. And then it LOCKS with a red GLOW. Hilbert GRINS and RUNS over to the Poké Ball, picking it up with a smile.
"WILD POKéMON BATTLE" fades as Iris and the director approach Hilbert. He recalls Sheldon the Oshawott into his Poké Ball. Iris's Ducklett lands on her massive head of hair.
DIRECTOR
You just ruined our movie!
HILBERT
(giddy)
Do I look like I care?! I just caught a leafy bug!
IRIS
Ugh, you're such a child! It's called a Sewaddle!
DIRECTOR
You can't just get away with this young man. You're gonna have to pay for all the damage done to our sets!
HILBERT
(slyly, glaring at Iris)
I'm just a kid remember? I have like, absolutely NO money.
IRIS
Then he can work it off. Personal assistant perhaps?
DIRECTOR
To you? How is that gonna help ME? It was MY equipment after all.
IRIS
Supplied by my family's company. He'll work for ME.
The director scoffs.
DIRECTOR
You want him, you can have 'em. Seems to be too much of a handful for me anyway.
IRIS
I'm guessing today's shoot is over? We'll try some other time.
The director sighs. He looks at Hilbert.
DIRECTOR
Thank you. For ruining the show. How am I gonna explain this to the bosses at HQ-?
He continues rambling on, but nothing he says can be made out as he walks off. Iris looks at Hilbert, she gives a wink and lowers her tone.
IRIS
Thanks for that.
HILBERT
Erm, is that sarcasm?
IRIS
Not at ALL. I'll explain more later when you're acting as my
(using "air quotes")
"personal assistant".
(pause)
But for now, let's just say I wasn't exactly thrilled to be here. I don't know how I could ever repay you for what you did today.
He's so confused with her right now - but that's not the first thing on his mind.
HILBERT
So - Am I your personal assistant or what? The air quotes are confusing me.
IRIS
Relax. You're acting like a complete child...
HILBERT
You said you owed me one, so what's in it for me?
Iris thinks -
IRIS
I'll sit on it. But let's just say I can be a VERY useful ally on your side, especially if you're considering challenging all the Gym's.
Hilbert eyes her as she moves along. She grabs him by the arm.
IRIS (CONT'D)
I don't know what you think you're doing standing around. You're coming with ME.
Iris drags Hilbert off-screen.
EXT. STRIATON CITY - DAY
IRIS and HILBERT enter STRIATON CITY. It's much bigger than ACCUMULA, much more populated and a lot less stiff in the building layout department.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
A NEON-LIT street illuminates, reflecting in the puddles littering the ground. A woman with a scarf around her head avoids a man who chases after her - MR. GREEN and MARIA.
MR. GREEN
Please - Maria wait -
MARIA
Mr. Green, we were never destined to be together -
MR. GREEN
What are you saying, Maria?
MARIA
We would be so much happier if we weren't judged by our social statuses - a prim and proper woman like me - cannot be with a man like you. It's clearly not accepted...
MR. GREEN
But our Pokémon. They're in love despite it all.
PAN over to see two AXEW together. One with a pink bow on its head. They're holding each other close. The screen FREEZES...
EXT. HOTEL - DAY
IRIS and SHELDON the OSHAWOTT are sat in front of a picnic table crying. They're looking at the screen of a laptop, admiring the PAUSED film. Iris dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief, which she shares with Sheldon.
IRIS
My little Axew. His acting is just... superb.
In the background, HILBERT sits on the floor, legs crisscrossed Indian-style, nailing down the tent poles. He rolls his eyes.
HILBERT
(sarcastic)
Yeah. He was fantastic.
Sheldon sneaks a click at the screen, turning the film back on. He plops back down, INTRIGUED by what's going on on-screen. Meanwhile, Iris looks through FOLDERS upon folders filled with papers, her frown tightening up with every turn of a page.
IRIS
It's just really horrible how the company's going down under. We're in the red again thanks to the low budget.
HILBERT
(rolls eyes)
Oh, come on, so behind the gaudy glitz and glamor of "show biz" is an unprofitable job?
IRIS
The budget's too low for us to even stay in a hotel, if you haven't noticed.
HILBERT
Not low enough to give your Pokémon a fantastic suite.
He points up - PAN up the side of the HOTEL BUILDING - STOPPING at a WINDOW. Iris's Pokémon - AXEW, DUCKLETT, and SERVINE - are all hanging out in a PENTHOUSE HOTEL ROOM. Absolutely gorgeous in there. Sounds like a big ol' party in there.
BACK with them: Iris just smiles. She polishes her POKéMON EGG.
IRIS
It's natural for the production to pay for my Pokémon's room. You see, they're the actors. I'm just their manager.
It's totally normal for her. She doesn't care.
HILBERT
What's gonna' hatch from that egg anyway?
IRIS
I don't know yet. It'll be a Fire-type though, and my parents were bragging about how rare it is so I'm pretty excited. You see, for an upcoming movie we are filming, I need a trio of Fire, Water and Grass types that aren't starter Pokémon. Ducklett, Servine, and then... Mystery over here.
HILBERT
Then what's with Axew? Isn't he a Dragon-type?
IRIS
Axew was my starter. A gift from my grandfather, I've raised him since I was a child... Dragon-types are my favorite, they're typically the most difficult type to train.
Brushing past this, she changes topic.
IRIS (CONT'D)
Is our tent almost ready, maid?
Hilbert's eyes narrow at Iris, that seriously annoyed him.
HILBERT
I thought I wasn't really your personal assistant. Whatever happened to the air quotes? I have a name. So use it.
Iris chuckles.
HILBERT (CONT'D)
Something funny?
IRIS
Your name. I just keep thinking about how it sounds like the name of someone whose parents hated him.
Hilbert frowns as he continues pitching up the tent.
HILBERT
(mutters to self)
I don't even know why I'm doing this...
IRIS
Hey! I paid for all the equipment you destroyed, removing all charges they would've pressed against you in court. So I think I deserve a little credit here.
HILBERT
You...
(beat)
Wait. You did WHAT?
IRIS
You heard me.
HILBERT
Why?
IRIS
Because you were my ticket OUT of there. I've always wanted to travel, but my parents have been just so...
HILBERT
...Suffocating? Smothering?
IRIS
All of the above.
HILBERT
I feel you. My mom was the same way.
IRIS
I'm just tired of it. I've always wanted to explore, they know I'm athletic but it worries them. They want me to continue the business they've made but... it's... honestly not my thing.
HILBERT
Your Ducklett seemed very good in battle. I can see you having a lot of potential in that area one day.
IRIS
I had interest in doing something involving battling, yeah.
HILBERT
So you're using me?
IRIS
I saw you were on a journey and I took advantage of it.
(smiles)
Besides, you're kinda cute.
HILBERT (V.O.)
How could I say no to that? I mean, sure, it was abrupt and out of nowhere, but she was so beautiful. And she just called me cute.
HILBERT
I mean - It's not like I mind.
IRIS
So you'll let me come with?
HILBERT
What about your parents?
Iris waves her hand carelessly.
IRIS
I'll write 'em a note and have Ducklett deliver it... Once I'm gone, as long as I tell them I'm off, they can't do anything about it...
Then, with another tap of the hammer, the tent falls apart ontop of Hilbert. Iris laughs as he clambers out from underneath it. At first, he's frowning, but he can't help but laugh too.
~*~
Now, as you see, I changed Iris's backstory quite a bit. I combined elements from the anime (her receiving Axew as her starter and not owning just Dragon-types) with the character White from the Adventures/Special manga, with the background of working on making films and television shows. I wanted her situation to parallel Hilbert's, with both escaping suffocating parents, so I changed the stories a bit and because I wanted to use Iris for story potential, I just gave White's background to her character. The reason I didn't just use White? That'll be more apparent later, but let's just say story-wise it makes for a more interesting dynamic in my opinion!
Thanks for the reviews so far, it makes me happy to see people are appreciating it even with the different style! Hope you guys continue reading.