*~.*.*.*.~*
"Ah, finally they ended fighting. Such kids," a dark haired guy sighed and rolled his eyes. "But I can't expect more from them. Even the one that claims to know everything, still has a big way to go for the whole truth. Too bad I'm not that kind of a person to tell them," he smiled cunningly. It was obvious he didn't even want to make anymore eye contact that he had done before. He liked the shadows, they hid him well.
The sun was almost hidden, but the sky above it was still quite golden and pink. A cold wind played with the bare skin of the guy with spiky black hair, and his teammate, a white skinned girl with black short hair and a cute teal and black colored outfit, consisting of a short dress, long socks, a short jacket and some boots. She was sitting on a short box and had her arms and head laid on a taller box next to the smaller one. She shivered when the breeze flew to her and tried to curl up, but it wasn't easy in that position. The guy observed her and couldn't hide his smile. She seemed so innocent, but he knew better.
(^***^***^)
"Seffus," a man with a formal suit and grey short hair approached the teen with a blue uniform. "This is your new teammate - Simpherra. She comes from the Johto region, so it was decided that she needs a somewhat guide in the Unova region. Also, some tests showed that she has the best mind and character to control you and make you stay inside the lines."
*groan* "I don't need a babysitter," Seffus didn't even turn to the person that was talking to him. He saw his new teammate for only a few seconds and noticed how white she was. Her uniform was also a different color, a bit greener. Maybe that's what the uniforms look like in Johto. She didn't seem strong and tough though. But the authorities wouldn't get her in here if she was bad.
Simpherra didn't seem the chatty type. She just bowed when the man, that escorted her, left and stayed with a poker face, until an announcement was shouted through the speakers across this underwater station.
"Teams from 21 through 25 are ordered to get into the correspondent Sub Pods.
Seffus glanced at the numbers on the electronic boards and found the 22nd one.
"We're up. Let's go... Umm..." Seffus has already forgotten the girl's name.
"Simpherra. Which team are we?" she didn't look irritated by the slightest and stayed with a calm face.
"Twenty second."
Simpherra smiled. Maybe she liked the number.
The two left the grey, dark and rather damp station and entered the 22nd pod, although they were still technically in the station, the pod had more light inside and was dryer, but rather cold. It had a few windows, but those were big enough to make it look like the pod's whole roof was only glass. A few lights were visible shining at the wall in front of them. Seffus was checking if everything was in order, like the lights, oxygen and the long and big fins, that were on both sides of the pod. Seffus made the fins raise and lower and Simpherra couldn't help but observe them. She got to this station by a big submarine and the pods were different in Johto than here. They only had propellers. But if these pods have only fins, that would make them super slow.
"Don't worry. These are just a precaution if the engine would somehow stop working," Seffus glanced at the girl and noticed her anxiety.
Simpherra turned to him and nodded with a little smile.
"This girl is rather weird," Seffus didn't smile at her and just got comfortable in his seat, while they waited for the release of the Sub Pods.
"ATTENTION! THE SUB PODS WILL BE FIRED AFTER 5..." Simpherra jolted. She didn't think they will be fired and she didn't fasten her seat belt. Seffus noticed her fear and couldn't help but giggle cunningly. "3..." Simpherra was struggling with the belt. The surprise and fear of the firing didn't help her concentrate. The wall in front of the pod started opening. "1... BLAST OFF!"
*shriek*
The force was pushing both persons to their chairs. Seffus was always impressed by the power of the engine and the propeller that still made the pod move so fast, even with the resistance of water. He took a quick glance at the terrified girl. She was trying to reach her seat belts, but they seemed to be stuck.
*sigh* "You owe me one," he groaned, but didn't know if the girl heard him. He leaned to the controls and pushed some buttons. The speed started decreasing and Simpherra could breath easier. "Happy? Now we will reach surface only after 20 minutes. Couldn't you wait a few more minutes?" the controls before Seffus output a steering wheel and the boy put his hands on it. Now he was in control for the next 20 minutes.
"Like I asked you to," Simpherra was still panting, but controlled her voice, to make it sound solider.
"Fine, Princess. But you still owe me."
Simpherra didn't argue. She was relieved the speed was gone and she didn't care if they would even be stuck in this pod for an hour. She can stand huge speed only when she is riding her pokemon.
"So, are we using those fins on the sides of the pod?" the girl with raven colored hair inquired after she completely balanced her breathing.
"You could check yourself," said Seffus, clearly not interested in telling himself.
Simpherra carefully stood up and went to the window. She noticed the dark color of the water at first. The light from the pod wasn't piercing the water from the sides so it had its full darkness.
"Can we be that deep underwater?" Simpherra whispered. Seffus glanced at her, but remained silent. He was just as surprised as her, when he finally understood, how deep they were. The depth they were swimming through was still closer to the surface, than where the station was built.
"Oh my Arceus! That Wailord is huge!," Simpherra gasped, while she almost glued herself to the window. "Ah, look! There's a Lanturn over there! And there is a huge Gyarados there!"
"Yes, Simpherra. Water type pokemon live underwater. You've made a huge discovery," Seffus sarcasm was almost pouring out of the pod and into the water around them.
"Well, I've never been this deep before. This pokemon are simply huge," the girl was irritated by Seffus' remarks, but stayed glued to the window and didn't shout out what she saw anymore. Seffus could only hear an occasional gasp or awe from Simpherra.
"So where are we going?"
"Find the X" Seffus threw a Town Map to Simpherra. Luckily, she managed to catch it, even with the surprise throw.
"Ummm, Castelia City?"
*sigh* "Is there an X on it?"
"Y-Yes."
"Then go figure."
The water was getting a lighter shade of blue periodically. It seemed they were not far from the surface.
"Why do you have to act like that?" Simpherra asked disappointed.
"I act like that with everyone. Don't think you're special."
"I guess everyone here has a reason to be cold or whatever, but now we know the truth. Why would you continue it?"
"What do you mean? I acted like that since I was a kid," Seffus continued avoiding eye contact.
"Oh," Simpherra sighed and finally got back to her chair. "So something else happened. What a sad life."
"I don't need your pity. Don't act like you get it." Seffus squeezed the wheel harder in his hands.
"You know, if you talk to someone, maybe you'll feel better," she offered carefully.
"Grrr! Not an hour went by after we met each other and you managed to seriously get on my nerves! Leave me alone!" Seffus started bursting.
"Ah, ok, ok. Sorry, just trying to help," Simpherra knew these talks usually didn't work, but she wanted to try. Of course, as a complete stranger, it was quite stupid of her.
*sigh* "Just forget it," Seffus gazed through the window next to him and smiled. "Look, a Milotic."
"Really?" Simpherra ran to the window. "Such beauty," she awed.
They were already close to the surface. The rays of the sun could already pierce the water quite strongly and played on the magnificent Milotic's body. Seffus observed the white skinned girl. Her eyes sparkled as diamonds, her elegant hands were softly placed on the window, as if she wanted to pet the tender pokemon. Surprisingly, the Milotic approached the peculiar watercraft and stared at the girl with a similar, beautiful gaze. It let out a melodic cry and Simpherra tried to mimic it. It seemed the Milotic smiled at the girl's try and that made her even more happy. Her beautiful smile widened up even more.
Suddenly, the Milotic turned timid. It got away from the Sub Pod and observed it carefully. After a saddened cry, he left Simpherra and swam to the opposite direction, than the watercraft was moving.
"What happened?" the girl asked sadly, trying to spot the Milotic from the side window. Sadly, the pod didn't have a rear window.
"I don't know. Maybe he just didn't want to stick around anymore," the whole time, Seffus was observing the two. He mostly knew what had happened, but quickly turned to the front and pretended it was unknown to him.
"He was scared. Poor Milotic. I wonder what made it like that," Simpherra pitied the creature and, with a last glance, returned to her chair.
"We'll reach shore soon. Don't forget your seat belt," he reminded his teammate with a sneer.
Simpherra quickly got her belt. Although the story was obviously not going to repeat itself, Simpherra didn't want to take any chances. They surfaced right next to Unity Pier. The other teams must have surfaced next to the rest four.
Simpherra happily exited the Sub Pod and, the moment Seffus stepped out of it as well, the Pod submerged and swam away.
"It's going back to the station," Seffus explained. "After a while, more teams will be sent here, to go around the world, doing the missions they will be given."
"So, do we have a mission?"
"Yeah. We have to go to Driftveil City and get some stuff. I guess we're lucky we've been sent so close. Do you have any pokemon that can use Fly?
"Um, yeah. My Skarmory."
"Well, then you can fly there, if you want. I'll just walk."
"So you always walked?!" Simpherra couldn't believe it.
"Yeah, but my pokemon are super strong from the battles I have. That's more important for me."
"Oh... Well, I'm going with my teammate then," she smiled at Seffus and the boy granted his teammate a first smile back.
(^***^***^)
"That was such a long time ago," Seffus looked at the sky. "After many years, we both are almost grown up. Her innocence quickly depleted, once my behavior began to rub on to her. At least I didn't take her character in," he giggled, from the thought of being so nice.
*yawn* Simpherra moved and sat on one of the boxes she slept on. After a drowsy look around, she asked Seffus. "How long have I been out?"
"It's already late evening and the they all went to the pokemon center. How long do you think you slept?" his tone gave off dissatisfaction, probably because he needed to spy on them alone.
"S-Sorry. You could have woken me," she apologized awkwardly, but it was obvious she didn't mean it, because she thought it was his own fault.
Seffus couldn't admit that he didn't wake her because she looked cute sleeping like that, so he just murmured something and changed the topic. "Where do you want to stay tonight?"
*drop*
Before Simpherra could say anything, a drop of rain landed right on her nose tip. The little drop summoned a whole storm, that quickly started falling on the two, so they ran to the pokemon center, hoping the people they were spying on wouldn't see them. They put on their hoods and quietly rented a room. Seffus saw Walcekite, waiting for her pokemon, but her mind was occupied by other things and she didn't even raise her head.
"Ow!" Seffus reckognised his teammates voice.
"Simpherra, what is it?" He ran to the direction where the cry was heard.
"Ow! Sorry. I didn't mean to bump it to you like that," two girls were sitting on the ground, maybe after a collision, and were starting to get up.
"Oh, no. It's my fault. I should have looked where I was going. Have a nice night," Simpherra got her hood to cover most of her face and walked away. Seffus did the same thing. A blonde girl looked at them, a little confused, but then just shrugged it off and went to see how Walcekite was doing.
