"Baby, can't you see, I'm calling? A guy like you should wear a warning. It's dangerous, I'm fallin'" —Toxic by Britney Spears
I've been told to go to Skyarrow around sunset, which happens to be around eight o'clock at night here during the summer, and boy, they were right. I can't see much because what I think is smog, but the view on the city is stunning. The idea of it having so much to do and so many possibilities is exciting. I let out all four of my lovelies so that they can share my excitement.
"So this is Castelia, you guys. Who knows what we can find here. Friends? Cute guys? A romance? Another Gym Badge? Castelia Cones?"
Ganon snorts at that last one.
"Of course."
"If you guys wanna do something here, please do tell me, okay?"
The sun is still visible, but very weak. I love how it's orange and the rest of the sky is varying shades of pink and reds. I love the color orange, along with white and green. It's my absolute favorite color because it just represents the brightness and positivity of things in life. To watch it lead over the other colors is even more amazing.
"Today's been amazing. I just wonder how long I'll have to wait to see White and Cheren." I stop at the midpoint and face west. The rest of my Pokémon stop alongside me. Courage climbs to his familiar spot on my shoulder and I hold Munny on my arms. Madge and Ganon watch from their angle through the railings. Experiencing this epic sunset with my darlings has been one of the highest points of my journey.
This is one of those moments in which I have no regrets over telling dad off. I'm seeing the world at its purest. Sure, I've experienced some things I'd rather not, but it makes me realize how real everything is. I don't need to be protected. I need to see things happen. Even though I can't figure out what I want in my life. I feel sure that I'm going to figure it out sometime in this journey. It's what I'm fighting for.
It happens so quickly. The sun just drops into the horizon like inserting a coin inside a slot machine. All that's left are the remaining reds and pinks of the sky. When I turn back, shades of navy and purple are threatening to mix into the sun's glows.
"Come on, guys. I need to go check into the center and get us all dinner." I call them all one by one.
The Castelia gate's guard gives me a nice map of Castelia so that I wouldn't get lost. I'm pretty good with maps, so I'll study it tonight (which is good because I'm terrible with direction). She also gives me a complimentary Leaf Stone for Courage to evolve someday as a commemoration of my first time as a trainer in Castelia City, which I don't plan on using immediately. It gives me a spring in my step as I look for the Pokémon Center.
I'm not surprised to see the Center is bustling with trainers everywhere. I've been told that in Castelia and Nimbasa, I would most likely share a room with another trainer. I'm kind of disappointed that it won't be White, but that's okay. I'll see her eventually in this city.
"You'll be staying in room 201," the nurse says after healing my Pokémon. "How long do you plan on staying here?"
"Maybe a week or two? I'm not sure. I'll tell you when I do know."
"Okay. Thank you for informing me. Castelia's a popular destination for trainers. You are in the girls' floor and will have a roommate. She's another blonde girl. Well, technically, her hair is white."
I don't know how I could do with a roommate, but I'm not really ever going to be there.
When I walk in the room, there's a petite and small framed girl sitting in there, strumming a star shaped guitar. She's wearing an oversized pink and blue striped shirt with light blue tights. Her white hair is long, but placed in a ponytail much higher than White's usual one.
"Yo. I was wondering when they were gonna stick me with a roommate. The name's Roxie." She stays in her bed in her relaxed position.
"I'm Bianca. Pleased to meet you." I extend my hand, but she doesn't take it. Instead, she strums on her guitar some more.
I take the time to look at my surroundings. It's a slightly larger room than what I'm used to. Roxie's taken the room by the window, which overlooks the sea. I'm fine with that. There's not room for much else. Then a thought I don't like pops up: showers. I shudder, figuring I'll have to wait till later.
Well, I should go find food.
"Hey, where are you going?" Roxie asks when I take my leave.
"I'm going out for dinner."
"I'm going with you." She sets her guitar down and places it in a worn down black case full of stickers. She's an odd one, that's for sure.
"You are?" I ask.
"Well, duh, I'm not going by myself," she says. I just go with it as she springs up from her bed.
"So uh, do you know any good places?" I ask her once we're outside the center. The silence between us is really awkward.
"Sure, what do you want?"
"I'd like some coffee." It would be my third of the day, not like I'm counting.
"At this hour?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I know this café on Narrow Street. It's pretty sweet, though the music could be better. The food's okay, but pretty cheap. Castelia's prices are insane! Like seriously, it's such a crappy place to get your first Gym Badge from."
Narrow Street...is not a pretty street. In fact, it looks like an alleyway upon second thought. So far, Castelia has been mysterious and inviting, but there's nothing but big dumpsters here in this street. It does take away some of the mystery.
"Ah, here it is!" Roxie and I enter this small-ish café with red walls painted from the sides. From where we enter is glass (though I'm not a fan of the view) and on the other side is a stage. There's a bar by the stage, but I'm too young to order most of the drinks. Not like I'd want to, anyway. Sort of. Maybe.
Roxie and I sit in the far side away from the bar, but in the waypoint between the stage and the exit.
"Hi, I'll be your server today. Are you a trainer, miss?" she asks me.
"Uh, yes?"
"May I see your trainer ID? We give trainers free lemonades the first time they come here."
"That's really nice! I'd like lemonade and some coffee."
"I'll have a soda pop," Roxie says. The waitress leaves and we're left to talk. "So Bianca...What's with you. What's your story?"
"Story?"
"Yeah. Everyone's got a story." She's a direct one, isn't she? Her light blue eyes meet my own.
"I'm from Nuevma Town. I'm going for my third Gym Badge. I don't really know what I want to do with my life, but I'm trying to figure it out." I'm terrible at describing myself and my life.
"You and I both know there's more to that, but if that's all you'll say, that's totally fine by me. I'm from Virbank, but they have no Gym across the water over there so I'm on the Castelia Route. I had to get my dad to ride me here on the ferry. He's sweet, but super dorky and a total doofus." She rolls her eyes at the mention of her father.
"I guess that means I'm on the Striaton Route." I notice Roxie's hands tapping on the table in sync.
"Cool, that's my third Gym. Gonna be a bitch to get back from there to here, but I think I'll have Fly by then. I have to stop by Juniper's home."
"Oh really! That's in the town I'm from."
"Cool." There's a pause and she's clearly thinking. "I didn't really meet her. Some old guy came in her stead and gave me Vinny, my Venipede. I know it isn't one of the usual Unova Starters, but I wanna prove them all wrong so I requested her. "
"I have a Pignite."
Roxie nods her head. "Righteous. I wouldn't peg you to start with one."
"I started with Tepig, actually."
"That's not what I mean," she waves her hand casually. "Fire. That's what I mean. You look like a grass starter type." I want to burst out laughing at that one. Me with a Snivy would be hilarious. Maybe it's because it seems to suit Cheren more at this point in my journey. The waitress comes in with my coffee and lemonade and Roxie's soda pop and takes our orders. She gulps it down pretty fast while I make even smaller talk. "I don't want to seem rude or anything, but, I want to play my guitar right now. I think I'm going to go onstage. It's calling me to rock on!"
"Go for it." I still think she's an odd one, but totally harmless. Intimidating, but harmless. As Roxie decides to sit on the stage, the café begins to fill out. There's lots of people in suits coming in and some in lab coats. I forget that Castelia is the business and science hub of Unova. As I sip on my coffee, I make a mental map of how I plan the rest of the night: eat, go get Ganon and the others Castelia Cones and berries, watch TV, maybe phone mom, and wait till the middle of the night to shower. I think that's a decent plan. Yeah, and tomorrow—
"Pardon me, but is this seat taken?" A voice asks me, taking me out of my reverie.
"Huh?" I look back and a pair of golden eyes behind large horn-rimmed glasses meets my green ones.
"I apologize. This restaurant gets particularly crowded at this hour and I don't want to sit by myself at the bar. Kind of a sad place to sit, if I'm being honest." I don't know where my mind is as it tries to analyze both him and what he's saying... I can't tell where his mind is either.
"My uh, roommate is sitting there," I point to the chair right next to my own, "but the other two chairs are free. Uh...Feel free to join!" He pulls a chair for himself. He's kind of really cute actually. Much, much cuter than most boys I've seen on my journey so far and much more mature looking than the others with freshly cut, tidy blonde hair and an angular, pointed face. I'm actually feeling kind of fluttery right now and I'm involuntarily smiling. Instant crush alert! Oh gosh! I should totally control myself. Come on, Bianca, you can do it! You've survived speaking to cute boys before! Right? That's how you got through Striaton City unscathed, right? I consciously get rid of the smile plastered on my face.
"I should make this less awkward for the both of us. I'm Colress."
"I'm Bianca." I extend my right hand and he the other. Whoops! I put my hand back and go for the other as he does so at the same time. After a few blurbs, our hands meet. His touch is electrifying and I feel the hairs on the nape of my neck rising for the second time today. I avoid his golden gaze and look down on his clothes. He's wearing a plain black shirt under a lab coat. Maybe he's part of the science hub.
"Are you a trainer?" he asks me before I ask him a question of my own.
"Yes," I answer. "Are you a scientist?"
His face falls. "I wish. I'm a student at Castelia University. I'm not close to finishing my research quite yet and it seems like I won't."
"I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I couldn't even get into Castelia U." Oh my gosh. Did I really just tell a random stranger this? Something I can't even tell White, who happens to be my best friend, with a straight face?
"My sympathies," he says simply. "It doesn't really make me feel better, but I appreciate the sentiment, Bianca." My insides get fluttery again when he says my name. Calm down, Bianca. Calm yourself down. He probably has some hot scientist girlfriend like Fennel or something. Wait. Fennel! Grrr. Why can't I be both pretty and smart like her? "You know, I never got to go on a journey. I was more interested in science. I got into school and have been working on it ever since. I do wonder what Unova looks like beyond this city."
"Well, that's why I'm traveling. I want to see the world. I've never even been to Castelia until earlier this evening. It's so fascinating!" It's not one hundred percent true because I have been in Castelia City but only in passing so it doesn't count at all. Besides I slept through that when it happened so it might as well be true, right?
"I'm glad you like it. It's quite a splendid city." There's a lull in our conversation, but he's quick to fill it up. "I figured you're not from here. I would have surely recognized a face like yours had you been." Is that a compliment? It makes me go silent once more.
"Oh hello, there. May I take your order?" the waitress asks Colress.
"Why yes. I would like a glass of water, please. Thank you."
"I'd like a sub, please."
"Infect me with your love and fill me with your poison," I hear Roxie sing on stage. Her speaking voice is crude, but her singing voice is airy, yet enticing. I wouldn't expect that.
Colress notices I'm looking over at Roxie. "Interesting."
"She's my roommate over at the Center. Truth be told, I actually just met her tonight, too. I think she's a musician, as well as a trainer?" That comes out as more of a question.
"So what do you do, Bianca?" Colress asks, uninterested in what I have to say about Roxie. Unfortunately, it's the one question I have trouble answering.
"Um. I'm not quite sure, actually. That's kind of why I'm out training. I'm also seeing if there's anything that strikes me as worthy of my future."
Colress adjusts himself as his water is given to him. "That's perfectly understandable. What have you done during your journey?"
I feel blush coming on. "Um. I've done some catering work. Cooking. Um. Teaching stuff with kids. None of these are really for me, though they were all kinda fun. So what do you do at Castelia U?"
"Me?" I nod. There's no one else I'm referring to. "Well, I've studied on the subject of theory of power. Scientist and professor candidates choose a thesis of their liking and work all over Unova. My thesis is strength and power of Pokémon and how it can be controlled, or rather, correlated with their trainers. Some people claim it is through bonds where Pokémon acquire strength. Some claim it is through effort values. Some say it depends on a Pokémon's nature and others say it has to do with a trainer. When it comes towards all of these differing theories, I disagree," he says with a firmness I haven't even seen scientists like Fennel or Juniper with.
"So what do you think?"
"I think they're all the same, potentially speaking, they start through gaining levels and experience through proper training. Science, of course, plays a role and being biologically predisposed along with their general habitat. I think certain Pokémon are have the ability to self-regulate and make their powers grow more than others and therefore have the strength we humans vie for yet cannot reach on our own." He continues talking and there's parts of it I can't understand and I don't think I get his entire argument. "I strongly believe that Pokémon with no binary disposition have a stronger chance of living much longer and ultimately achieving what could be the ultimate strength."
"So like genderless Pokémon?" I'm totally guessing here.
"Precisely." I don't think it works that way, but it's his argument and he's very obviously invested in it. It's something I can respect (and has nothing to do with the fact that he's really hot and totally my type. Nope.). "My problem is that not very many people think along the same lines I do," he says, almost reading my mind. "And therefore, I do not receive the funding I desire. One of my professors has tried to sponsor me and tout me off to research facilities, but none have accepted his promotion. I've lost hope."
I really feel sorry for this guy. If I were a bolder person, I'd take his hand and squeeze it in reassurance. But I'm not. Instead, I just sit silently to myself, wondering how two complete strangers have poured to each other in just minutes. Maybe it's the promise of not seeing him again. Maybe it's attraction. Thing is, I want to see him again. And again. His personality is something I've never seen before.
"I have an idea."
Colress' face shoots up, his eyes meeting mine. "Yes? I'd like to hear it very much."
"Have you ever owned a Pokémon before?"
"Me? Own a Pokémon?" he says to himself more than me. "Why, no, I haven't."
"Maybe you should have your own Pokémon of your choice and study it. See what makes it strong. It'll be you training it and you battling with it. What better way than for you to do it on your own?"
Colress is completely silent, his face stoic, but his mind active as he stares blankly into space. "That...is not a bad idea, Bianca."
"Maybe that's what you just need?" He reverts back into his mind.
"I never owned a Pokemon because I never really had the time for one. I would have been a rather neglectful owner as I always put my studies first, among other reasons. I'd observe the Pokemon of others and watch their battles, but never for myself. That, and I do not think I'd have the potential to become a great battler."
Even though I won't ever say this out loud, I guess you can kind of say the same for me. I didn't have a Pokemon because my dad forbade it. We couldn't even have a common Lillipup lounge around the house. He said there were other important things in life rather than to risk your own life by training. I still can't see the dangers of being a trainer (or at least his logic of it). I finish my lemonade and pull out the coffee I have on the side. The smoke has stopped rising, which is a good indicator that I won't get burned, because this is a notoriously bad habit of mine.
"May I ask you a rather invasive question?" he says while I flip through the different brands of sugar packs. I settle on my favorite one-the one with the Meloetta on it and take five of them.
"Um, sure?" I hope he asks me if I have a boyfriend. I've seen enough movies and TV shows to know that's the indicator that someone is interested.
"As much as I love coffee myself, why are you having it this late at night?"
Okay, not what I was expected but it's one I don't see as invasive nor indicative of anything. "It tastes nice. And it keeps me alert." What I don't tell him is that it's my own personal method of rebelling against what my dad always insisted. I've always loved coffee, as it's kept me energetic but it keeps me up at night, allowing me to do whatever I want whenever I want. I know it's a stupid way to use my newfound freedom, but it's a better alternative than what many other people my age do.
"I see." He gently takes his glass of water and drinks out of the straw. I've run out of conversation topics which happens right around the time a small, polite round of applause and whistles are heard. Oh right. I forgot Roxie existed. I can't really see her face from the stage, but she bows down, her large guitar falling with her. I join in on the applause, feeling guilty that I didn't really bother to listen to her.
"Hey Bianca," she says when she reaches the table. "Who's this?"
"I'm Colress. I'm a student researcher at Castelia University. You did a marvelous job up on stage. It takes a lot of nerve to just do that. Are you an aspiring musician or another trainer?" I can't tell if he paid attention to Roxie's song (songs) as well, but if he didn't, then he's doing a decent job at talking to her, or at least seeing affable. I think that's a good word to use for him: affable.
"I'm Roxie, and yeah." Roxie sits down, shrugging. I notice that in that moment, he doesn't offer her his hand to shake. "I wanna do a couple of things. Why you asking?"
"Trainers pursue the ideals of strength, correct? See, Bianca and I were discussing that very idea and the theme of having a purpose to reach."
"I wanna make a name for myself. I love music and always have, but I love Pokémon just as much. I have a four step process: step one, kick ass at the League. Step two: get noticed enough for my music and battling to become co-dependent, not sure on step three, but step four involves me becoming the second ever Poison Specialist Elite Four member."
"So your Pokémon, you plan on raising it and pursuing its strength?"
"Isn't that what it's supposed to be? Poison's an underrated type and I can see why. It's criminally underdeveloped, not to mention never studied, which kind of blows. I take Vinny all the way to the E4 and bam!" She balls her right hand into a fist and smacks it against her other hand. "I get noticed by the League. If I get noticed by them and stand out enough, and if I stand out enough, I can win some kind of assurance into my dreams." Roxie stops talking and there's a lull in the conversation. But before another word is spoken, Roxie opens her mouth and continues. "Y'know what inspires me? Have you ever heard of that folklore? The Venomoth and the Dragonite?"
"Why yes," he says. I nod as well. I'm going to be honest. I love reading Pokémon folklores, but I can't remember this one as much. I believe this one comes from Kanto.
"I'm going to tell it anyway because I freaking love this story. Once there was a Venomoth who challenged a Dragonite to a battle. The Venomoth was over thirty levels lower than the Dragonite, but it accepted the Venomoth's challenge out of amusement. The Dragonite, feeling smug, decided to toy with its opponent and used Barrier as its first move. The Venomoth used an attack that instantly poisoned the Dragonite. The Dragonite thought it was nothing but a scratch and kept using evasive maneuvers instead of attacking back. The only offensive attack the Venomoth had was a Leech Life and it barely did damage. However, the poison was spreading all over the Dragonite's body, yet it was too proud to care. It had kept spamming Agility until it finally fainted and the Venomoth won the battle. So what is strength? Where can it come from? How is it that a lowly Venomoth took on a creature much more powerful than itself? And the Dragonite? It had Hyper Beam, so why did it not attack?" There's that silence again.
"I can see why it inspires you so. However, the logistics of that story are a bit impractical."
Roxie shrugs, visibly annoyed that he didn't truly get the purpose of her story. "Believe what you want to believe."
"But of course. I wish you luck on your endeavors," he tells her. Her scowl is replaced by a smirk and the mood lightens up again. Oh thank goodness.
The waitress comes with my sub and Roxie's cheese pizza. Colress orders a sub as well but we eat in front of him nonetheless. Colress and Roxie exchange pleasantries as I silently eat and avert my eyes away from his face. Roxie's unafraid to talk to people and it makes me a bit jealous. I don't think she finds him attractive or anything, otherwise she probably would have been bold about it. That, and I don't think he's her type. I can't see Roxie flirting with guys in suits or lab coats, to be honest. I don't know, though. She might surprise me.
"So what are your plans after dinner?" Colress asks as we all finish our meals.
"I want to go and get my Pokémon Castelia Cones," I say. I still have to fulfill my promise to Ganon.
"I recommend you go and buy those by the dozen. They're cheaper that way."
"You want to go with us?" Roxie asks. She's ready to go.
"I'm afraid I cannot. I have a few errands I have to run, I was just stopping by because class just ended and I needed to collect my thoughts." Colress stands from his seat. "I thank you two for dining with me and for you allowing me to sit with you, Bianca. It was a pleasure meeting you." He shakes hands with the two of us. Luckily, I don't freeze or take out the wrong hand. Our eyes meet once more and I quickly look away.
"Same," Roxie says. I give a small smile. He opens the door for us and leaves over to the right side while we go back left. I look back to see if he's still on the street. He is, his body turned in our direction. I can't quite see his face, but I have a feeling he saw me.
"That was interesting," Roxie says as we walk towards the street the Castelia Cones are sold. "So did you get his info?"
"What?" Roxie stops in her tracks.
"Don't tell me you didn't get his Xtransceiver number."
"Um. No?"
Roxie facepalms. "Dude, really? If a guy was very obviously into me I'd have totally shared my info with him."
"Into me? No. We were just talking." I feel my face go flush. "That was it." Anyway, I did not get that vibe that he was "into me". Actually...I don't really know what that looks like, to be honest.
"You're a real dork but the next time you see him, you HAVE to promise me that you'll get his contact info, got it? I had to go and play mediator to your little attraction and while it makes a cool song, it doesn't work as well in practice. Understood?"
I don't really get her metaphor. "Understood." As we pay for our Castelia Cones and summon our Pokémon, my mind flashes back to his form at the alleyway. Maybe I'll see him again. Hopefully.
This is legit one of my favorite chapters. Anyway, please do feel free to review and give this story love.