So, last time I planned to get passed the whole testing thing and going to the Gate, but I kinda got carried away with Sarah and that whole Nurse Joy scene... Yeah, maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Still, I liked it because it was so stupid.
Anyways, it's going well! I'm a secluded person, got a pack of Iced Tea, and snack time is still my favorite. Let's get started, guys! ... Maybe today...
I woke up with a cramping pain in my gut. It wasn't the usual type of awakening, that's for sure. Looking out the window and around the room, I remembered where I was. I was in the Poke Center. That's right! This would be my first time away from home for... Oh, wait. I never really left Floaroma before...
It was still dark outside for it to be night, but it was definitely not the same day. The clock next to my bed told me that much. Pushing off the bed, a wave of nausea washed over me and I almost puked. Running to the bathroom, I let my stomach take care of the rest. Luckily, my aim for the sink wasn't bad and it was easy enough to wash down. The flip side was that I was hungry this early in the morning.
Though little came up, most of it was just acid and bile. The burning in my throat was, well, burning. Worse was that it was a chemical burn. My favorite...
I let the water to run longer to allow myself to drink. Why did Miltank burgers have to taste so good, yet make me hate them like I did? Damn you Miltanks! Still, I knew it was mostly my fault. Why did I even need to win at all? I could have saved it until we were out of the city.
Though I felt better, it was apparent I wasn't yet better. I remembered what the Nurse from yesterday, promising I would be fine for the test. Hopefully she was right, because I did not pay 600 Poke dollars to miss the test. I would go, no matter how badly I felt. Imagine that; The Future Champion beaten by a simple Miltank burger before he even became a trainer. It almost made me laugh aloud.
Sitting on the hard tile, I leaned against the wall and sighed. I could hardly tell wich way was up, to be honest. My vision swayed and turned one way before reversing. The wall and floor kept me from falling, even though I felt sideways. It was like someone spun me around really fast.
I spent several minutes in the bathroom, waiting for my nausea to pass, but it didn't show much progress. I was still tired and the darkness made it all the more reasonable. With my pillow's sweet calls, it was hard to resist. I didn't quite trust myself to stand steadily, so I crawled across the lightly carpeted floor to my bed.
Pressing my face into the soft linen, I closed my eyes. Holding my stomach, it grumbled and I cracked open an eye to look to my mini fridge. No, doc's orders. I can't eat. But... It's been a year since I'd gone to bed hungry before. I didn't like it then, and nothing had changed since then.
Trying to sleep, I closed my eyes again. Fluffing my pillow, I laid my head on it. But after several minutes, my stomach kept growling. I even tossed and turned a bit. Finally, I couldn't take it.
I rolled off the bed and opened the small fridge. I saw a few bottles of water in the dim lighting. With no lights from the cool box, it was had to tell. Luckily, I did see a few sandwiches. Pulling out one, I remembered to bite in consideration.
It was difficult to swallow the bad sandwich, as the cheese and ketchup sandwich was absolutely terrible. I almost regretted stooping so low to my wants. The cheese was one thing, the ketchup was another. The bread was almost stale, but it felt soft. The dry texture was enough to make me open a bottle of water.
Feeling a piece of paper as I closed the fridge door, I tried reading it. I almost face palmed myself as soon as I looked at it. Who could read in this time of day... Night.
With my appetite... satiated, I stood up. With only minor nausea, I walked the two meters back to my bed. I set my bottled water next to the clock and flopped onto the bed. This time, it only took a few minutes to fall asleep.
.
As light began to break over the city, I heard a knock on my door. A quite impatient knocking, by that. I rubbed my eyes and yawned.
"Who is it," I asked loudly. Straightened my clothes and took my hood off. I also pulled the leg of my pants down from my knee.
"Hey! It's already time to go! Why didn't you wake me up!" Sarah was out there? I glanced at my clock, only to find it half past eight. I slept that long? I didn't really expect myself to be that sick. But, maybe it was the medicine? Like most, a side effect might have been 'slight drowsiness'.
Standing, I didn't feel much dizziness, but my cramps in my gut were back. I hoped nothing in the sandwich I ate was bad. Still, being in a hospital, it should all be safe to eat. Looking at my clothes, they were the same I wore yesterday. I would be a slob if Sarah saw me wearing the same things...
As fast as I could, I changed into the grey sweats the Poke Center lent me, a bold silver six embroidered with a red and white Pokeball. After a quick few wipes across my hoodie, I smoothed across some of the wrinkles. Pulling my hat off my bag, I swung my bag over my shoulder while snapping the back.
Opening the door, I swiftly dodged a fist coming straight for my face. It hurt my back, having to bend so far. Unfortunatly, Sarah had counted on hitting a solid object. She lost her balance as I saw her wrist above my face. Tumbling into me, I fell flat on my back.
"Oww~. Well, that was a rude awakening..." I was freed by pushing Sarah off me, but she did most of the work for me, jumping to her feet. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment, but it could also have been anger as well.
"What the Heck! You couldn't've at least taken the hit? I could've hurt myself, you know?"
"You might have skinned your knuckle if you'd actually hit me. It's a serious injury if you throw punches wrong." I straightened my hat and dusted my clothes.
"Then you could've gotten to the door earlier."
"For you to see me without clothes? No thanks. I have my pride, you know."
"That isn't what I meant! You're being a jerk!"
"Jeez! I just woke up, you know?"
"I know. That's why I was knocking on your door. We gotta go take our test!"
"You're right. I've got Akuma, right? Okay, got her Pokeball, as well as my flashlight and the six empty balls. I'm set. What about you? You don't look very prepared." She didn't look the least bit prepared to leave. She really didn't have much on at all. In fact, I think I saw all of her thighs and her belly button. Was it still summer? When was this again?
"I'll be fine. I've got my Pokemon. What about you? You look like we're leaving the moment the test is over."
"That is what I planned... I guess we can talk about this on the way? We don't have that long, right?"
"Right, right!" Closing my room's door, I followed Sarah as she jumped down the stairs two at a time. I noticed the Poketch she bought safely strapped to her wrist. It looked a little bulky on her, but I was hardly one to judge.
Once we reached the ground floor, I saw a male nurse behind the counter dealing with a group of two trainers. I noticed them to be the same two from the testing center. I could tell they were practically gloating with their shiny new Pokedexes. I smirked. They would be the fodder on my road to being the Champion. Oh, yeah!
"C'mon! We don't have time to waste, Dragon Boy!" Grabbing my sleeve, Sarah pulled me along through the glass doors. It was relaxing to be in the cool morning air, but I saw Sarah almost immediately start shivering once we stepped out. Still, it does some good to wait.
Walking along the sidewalk, I watched as cars passed by. Not many people were out on the streets at this time, as those who had jobs or school were already there. Most that were, I could easily tell their groups. Those guys were Pokemon Trainers like us, those three were gamers that lived with their parents, and that guy... what was he doing?
As I walked passed the strange man, I saw him adjusting a strange contraption in the doorstep. Maybe he was an inventor? I shrugged and continued on, turning onto the cobblestone street. It was lucky enough to be so close to the Bureau of Whatchamacallit and Whatever.
I guess you could call it nerves, or maybe anxiety, but I began to run my hand over my scars on my forearm.
"What? Are you just gonna let me fr-freeze? Stop th-thinking about it and hand over your sweatshirt!" I stopped and looked at Sarah. Sighing, I glumly nodded. Pulling my sleeves off, I shivered in the early morning air. It also revealed my scars.
"Whoa. Those scars... Where did you get them from?" I looked down at them and rubbed the seven dots. It was hard to miss when they covered half my forearm.
"I got them from Akuma a few months ago," I replied, handing her my hoodie. "It's not a very interesting story, but I got them while first training her." Sarah slipped the grey hood up and hid her shown belly. It really is no wonder she was cold.
"Well, that's nice and all, but we'd better get moving. It's almost nine. And thanks for the hoodie." Following her, we both started towards the Testing Center.
"And here I thought you said you were from Snowpoint. Aren't you supposed to be used to the cold?" I stretched my arms out and yawned. Why was I so tired?
"I might be from Snowpoint, and I am more used to the cold than the heat, but my family is Hoennese." What difference did that make? Hoenn was simply south of Sinnoh, so what did she mean? "I can tell by your face you have no idea what I'm talking about. Did you never pay attention in class? It's hot in Hoenn, so my bloodline is more adapted to the tropics temperature."
"Still, you've been up in the north for so long, you should be used to it."
"We don't go outside in our underwear! We have Winter clothes, too! Besides, it isn't always snowing like the name says."
"Pfft! Snowpoint isn't always snowy? That's funny!" I laughed a little while Sarah stuck her tongue out. She pulled at the hood and tried to adjust it to fit her. Still, with my frame size being larger than hers, her chest was enough to stretch it.
"Your sweatshirt kinda sucks. But at least it isn't that cold anymore. Thanks for warming it up, I guess." I blushed slightly. She was thanking me for my body heat? That just got a bit creepy. I shivered, even with the heat in my face. To save myself, I glanced around and saw the sign for the testing center.
"W-well, we're almost there so you don't have to wear it if you don't want to."
"I-it's fine. I'll keep it. Besides, I don't want to feel this cold anyways. It'll heat up by the time the Exam is over." Shrugging, I rubbed my arms together. It wasn't goosebumps cold yet, but the feeling made my muscles flinch in anticipation. Or was it nerves?
"Calm down, Dragon Boy. No doubt you'll pass. And me? If I can't pass, no one can. Honestly, I didn't study for nothing." Study? Right, I was going to study before the test! Gee, no time now. Talk about procrastination...
Taking slow breaths, I followed Sarah through the fancy sliding doors. I waved to the guy who helped us yesterday and received a nod in response. Good to see one familiar face. Feeling my scars, my skin was smooth in that one spot. The muscles right under the skin felt to almost flow while I moved my fingers.
"C'mon. We should hurry." Sarah's fingers twitched in anticipation by her side. So I wasn't the only one with anxious nerves.
"We aren't late, are we? Because I want a refund if we are." She laughed at that, because even I knew it was my fault. Still, I also knew not every Champion was perfect in the beginning. I wasn't perfect, but soon I'll be better than anyone else. I'd learn how to be, and quickly as possible.
Walking through the open arch, I saw to no ones surprise and empty room of desks. No one would be registering by now. The middle of Fall, you'd be crazy. Or late like us. In fact, I realized it was almost fate that Sarah and I met. Was it Xatu? Or maybe Palikia?
"Ah!" I spun around to see an unfamiliar man step into the room. His long and white beard almost reached his waist, distracting me from his face. "Good to see you two here on time. That means the first step of the Exam is over. Now, If you'll-"
"You mean that was part of the Exam?" Sarah looked angry. "If it was part of the Exam, we'd have come earlier!"
"That wouldn't have changed the time I got here. It's only five before nine anyways, so I can't legally give you the written exam at this time." He gave a small chuckle while he stroked his silver hair with a muscly hand. He looked wise, but also strong. I could tell he had a smile from the wrinkles around his eyes.
"Gah! Damn you government officials! I just wanna take this test!" Sarah, on the other hand, practically had steam coming from her. She looked to have a fever, she was so red. "You can at least sneak it to us, right?"
"Sorry, miss. As pretty as you are, I can't give it to you. Nice legs, too."
"You Pervert!" Stepping in to stop the argument, I managed to catch a forearm to the head. The force knocked me to the floor, making my dizziness return. I pulled myself to lean against the wall, feeling my ear. For a second or two, the entire room did the wave before stabilizing.
"Man... I should've let you have that one, old man. She really put a lot behind that."
"You kinda deserved that. But he definitely deserved it more. You shouldn't've done that." Sarah crossed her arms and kicked my shin.
"Ow! Why do you hate me now?" I rubbed my leg, which was probably skinned from her boots.
"Don't be a baby. I didn't kick you that hard."
"Now, kids. I'd love to be hear to listen to you two fight, as it is entertaining, but your tests are here." Holding out two separate packets, I saw my name written on one of them.
"T-thanks, old man. Is there, like, some assigned seating? Just asking." I took the folder and waited, but Sarah simply marched off to the back row.
"Yes, I do think that would do. You, boy, sit in the second row, near the wall. The girl should be fine there." He pulled something out of his pocket. "And a pen. Take the second back to the girl, if you will. You seem like a nice kid, so why not?"
A nice kid? I fed Pokemon to a Deino. What kind of 'Nice Kid' does that? Besides, once I passed this test, I would be a full-blown Trainer. I wouldn't be a nice kid then.
Still, I obliged and took both pens, both exactly the same. Cheap, plastic, and disposable. Reaching Sarah, I handed her one and she grabbed it from my hand. Still angry. Though, at what, I didn't know.
My seat was right along the wall. Twisting to the side didn't help, but the desks were bolted to the ground. I couldn't move it. They expected us to sit properly. Groaning, I uncapped the pen and opened the plastic folder and looked at the content. A bunch of complex and diverse assortment of diagrams, the likes of which I'd never seen before.
One looked like a graph, the other was a circle. A couple of essay questions. Very extensive test, if I'd ever seen one. Biting my hand, I carefully read each and every question. This was the stretch I was expecting. No way I'd fail this. Cautiously, I put the pen to the paper.
.
An hour later, I was stumped like a Phantump. I answered every single question but one. And it was the final one.
It wasn't the biggest question. Hardly. It was simple, in all reality. But I had no idea how to answer it. And it only asked one thing of me; my opinion. I could put any old answer in the box, but I was serious.
The question asked what Pokemon I would be if I was one. What was my spirit Pokemon? Yes, I had Akuma. We were partners and all, but I was not a Deino inside. What was I? There was a one in almost seven hundred to choose from. What was I?!
"Okay, are you both finished? Because time is up." The old man standing at the front of the room tapped his watch. Quickly, I scribbled in something and stood up.
"I finished a while ago. It was too easy. What about you, Dragon Boy? How'd you do?" Sarah had a smug expression, spinning her pen between her fingers. It was cool, to be honest.
Shaking my head, I put my palm on my forehead. "Sorry, but I didn't finish. I didn't get a chance to answer the last question. What'd you answer?" Suddenly, I had a finger over my lips.
"Not gonna tell you. It's a secret." She flipped the pen around her fingers before tossing it into the air. It was suddenly snatched away before she could catch it, though.
"Good thing, too, because I'd have to deduct points if you told him." Sarah flashed glaring eyes at the old man. He continued to smile, even with all of her anger directed at him. Still, reason got the better of her and she calmed down, on the surface at least. "Now follow me. Onto the third part. My favorite part because I get to see your Pokemon and their skills."
Uh oh. What would Akuma do? Would she be hungry? She hasn't eaten for two days and had been confined for the whole time, too. True, time was dilated, but not her hunger.
"Sir? Could I get some food for my own Pokemon? She hasn't eaten recently, so she might be angry with me."
"We do have these things usually handled by the trainer, but why not? Kid, just because I like ya, I'll give you two choices. Is she a herbivore or carnivore? Because I only got one of each."
"Well... Could I say she's not picky? She's a Carnivore, but she'll eat anything. You know?"
"Hmm... An omnivore, huh? Not many Pokemon like that. I would ask you, but I sadly can't. So, I'll simply let you feed her once we all get to see her. In fact, I'll even let you go first. Ha ha ha!"
"T-thanks, sir." Sarah blew a wisp of hair away from her face. Why I was getting special treatment, I'm sure it's because I was the more docile and softer of the two of us.
Walking down the hall behind the old man, I wondered at how old the guy was. He seemed to be, by looks alone, around 60 or 70. but he acted and stood like a man who was 20 or 30. Was he just that fit?
In the middle of my internal debating, I received a hearty punch to the shoulder. I looked at Sarah, the culprit, and held my shoulder. She shrugged and put her hands in the hoodie's pockets. She looked away before I could respond and I sighed heavily. She was so hard to understand, just when I thought I understood her.
Finally, at the end of the hallway, we turned a corner and walked out into bright sun light. And it was warm, too. Nothing like the outside I remember being in an hour ago. Did it really change that much?
"Don't worry about it too much, Kid. We aren't really outside. It's something like a greenhouse and we use it to contain any Pokemon. You'll be displaying your Pokemon here. Think of it like a contest you see on TV, you'll be fine. Anyways, here." Handing me a plate, I looked at a small steak and a bowl of chopped berries. Yeah, like Akuma will like me for this. It'd be a long shot to say she'd be happy being inside a dark Pokeball for two days, either.
Oh, wait. She was blind.
"Kid? Gonna just stare at the food? If you want, I'll step back a bit." Taking a breath, I nodded to whatever the guy said. He took a good five steps back, giving me room. Following him, Sarah leaned against a tree and pouted. Still, she kept her attention on me. Hopefully, she'd forgive me after seeing my skill with Akuma.
I set down the plate on the grass and pulled out a Pokeball. Expanding it, I held it to my forehead. Please, Akuma. Don't be angry with me. Please understand. With a quick prayer to the Lord of Pokemon, Arceus, I clicked the button and watched the light coalesce into the form of my Akuma.
"Hey, there. How are you, Akuma?" With a complaining whine, the Deino snapped at me. I understood this gesture. "Don't worry! I got your food. Here, though I know it isn't much." I held the plate of food out for her. Sniffing at it, she found something she didn't recognize. "C'mon. It's meat. You'll like it." Shoving the Pokeball into my pocket, I grabbed the steak and held it out to her. With no strange things in the way, she ate the meat in one bite. Then she nuzzled against me for more food.
"Sorry, girl. I don't have anymore. It's all I could get here. Now, before more food, I need to introduce you to some people. Sarah? Old man? Slowly." As soon as Sarah took the first step, Akuma jumped and spun to face her. She growled and Sarah stopped her advance. My hand already rested on the hungry dragon's black fur.
"Are you s-sure you have that... that thing under control?" The old man held up his arm and stepped back.
"No! Don't step back. Deino like her can sense your fear from that. Akuma, calm down. They aren't food. They're like me, okay? Be nice." The old man, however, was not stupid. Not to him, at least. He wasn't going to stay still, just because some kid said so. He turned and ran. Akuma, using her keen senses, couldn't resist the chance to chase a fleeing meal.
Tugging herself free from my grip, she raced along the grassy floor after the old man. Sarah, being in the way, barely dodged by jumping to the tree she leaned against. Akuma raced by and, thanks to her inadequate focus, smashed into a tree. It gave me just enough time to retrieve her Pokeball and aim the laser. She vanished in a flash of light.
"Sir! Please stop running! I did tell you not to run!" I held the baseball sized Pokeball in my hand, not quite finished. "Old man! I've recalled my Deino!"
Looking behind him, the old man noticed his pursuer had not been snapping at his heels as he thought. Instead, it was a clear path to me, the Pokeball at the ready. In his old age, I was surprised at his ability to run.
"Well, that was entertaining," Sarah commented, leaping down from the branch she sat on. She landed softly and began laughing loudly. "Seriously, did you see the Geezer's face? And the way he runs, it's like he's a school girl!" Joining in, I laughed as well.
"You... Kid, you could've warned us if you were gonna bring out something as dangerous as a Dragon." The test overseer was breathing like he had asthma. "True, you've got good reflexes for returning your Pokemon. But that doesn't mean you're good. You lost control of your Pokemon."
"Yeah, and you blatantly put yourself in harms way. For a guy like you, who sees Pokemon day after day, I'm surprised you reacted like that." With a paling face, the old man tried to hide behind his beard. Being white, it should have been enough. If it covered more of his face.
"Now, unlike you, I have experience. And Dragons, no matter which species, won't hesitate to attack. I will not stand still and let it injure me."
"Wanna see what this Deino did to me when I ran?" I pulled down my shirt, showing my shoulder. The skin was scarred and shiny, recently healed. After a few moments, I shrugged and adjusted my shirt. "See? I know. If you stand still, a blind Deino won't see you," I lied. It wasn't true, as breathing and scent still were sensible by her. But it made me look better!
"Well... I guess I'm forced to admit it. I didn't know that. I thought Deino had eyes under that fur."
"They do. But they never open them. They can't. I've seen it, but it's like the skin is fused over them. Only Hydreigon can see." The old man grumbled from being taught by a kid.
"I'm done with you anyways, kid. I'll re-evaluate your score after this. Seems it was my fault..." I nodded and shrunk the Pokeball to the marble size it usually was. "Pretty girl, you're up. Show me what you got. Better not be another Dragon, mind you." Smirking, Sarah pulled out two familiar pokeballs from her belt. I'd thought it was simply for fashion, but it was a bandolier belt. Smart idea.
"You'd better keep your pants on, old Geezer, or my Pokemon will leave you in ribbons."
"Ribbons, huh? Better chill there, or you aren't getting any license from me. Just release your Pokemon." Doing as asked, Sarah clicked the buttons and two Pokemon were released. One of the two was a Sneasel, a larger one than I remember in school. It must have been a whole meter tall. The second was a cute little Dedene, though Akuma might not think so. She was easily overpowered by fairies.
"I see you've got two rare ones. A Sneasel, huh? Dangerous little buggers. You two really scare me, you know?" So, a Sneasel isn't as scary as a Deino? Looking at the sleek and frosty predator, I was scared. I mean, just look at how sharp those claws are!
"So, what'dya think, Dragon Boy? Pretty impressive, huh? Yami and Perry aren't just for show, either. Wanna find out?"
"No! No fighting, especially with that blasted dragon. I don't either of you destroying this place. It isn't a gym or an open field. Save it."
"Yeah, I don't want to fight you right now anyways. Akuma hurt herself earlier and I'd rather heal her first." Reaching forward, I got close to Perry before I felt the hairs lift on my arm. The next few seconds were... shocking.
After receiving a hearty shock from the Dedene, I think I might have lost consciousness. I just remember being shocked, then staring at the sky through a glassy ceiling. In fact, the whole situation seemed familiar to me.
"You okay," Sarah asked, holding back laughter.
"I'm fine. A little buzzed is all." Standing, I brushed off any dirt on my back. I felt the crackle of static electricity left in my hair.
"That was a dangerous move around my little Perry. It's kinda like you approaching Akuma, I guess. Should've, I don't know, given him some of your berries. You didn't feed them to your Deino, I noticed." Her Sneasel and Dedene were standing around, not sure what they were supposed to do.
"You're right. That was pretty stupid of me. So, I guess Dedene are similar to Pachirisu." I looked around. "Where's the Old Man? I thought he was just here." Sarah began to laugh.
"He ran off the second you fell, yelling something about getting medical attention. Hardly a shock, if you ask me."
"So, how long was I out? It doesn't look like much happened." The daylight looked the same and her Pokemon were still out, so nothing could have really happened.
"You're right. You were on your back for only a few seconds. Half a minute at most... Wait, I think I hear voices." I listened. Sure enough, I swear I could hear the old man's panicked voice.
"...and it happened so fast, I had no time to stop it! I swear, it isn't my fault!" The old man rounded the corner and entered the green house arena. Seeing me standing, he froze. "You! I thought you were shocked? Don't tell me you two played a prank on me."
"No, I definitely got shocked. My fingers are still numb. But it wasn't that bad. Just enough to give me a good zap. It was pretty funny, though." I laughed, even if my entire arm still tingled with the amount of electricity put through it. Hopefully my acting was good enough to fool him.
Clicking the buttons on their Pokeballs, Yami and Perry both disappeared. Sarah obviously saw this was over, so there was no need for her Pokemon to get in the way. They were both stored back on her belt. I decided I might buy one, too, but only after I earned more money. After all, I was almost flat broke.
"Hmm. Well, I guess I over reacted. Sorry for bringing you here, Administrator. Guess nothing really happened." He began making apologies to his boss, who started to walk out. I looked to Sarah, who simply shrugged. I'm guessing this wasn't an everyday occurrence.
"Soo... We done here? I kinda wanna get this over with, you know?"
"Now, Kid. I like you, and now that I know why the Miss there called you 'Dragon Boy', it'll be difficult. But, I think it should be fine. I guess you two handled your Pokemon well, and your tests are being reviewed as we speak. Now, wait up, Administrator!" Chasing after the strict-looking woman, the old man ran off. His beard looked weird and sideways, but I decided it was nothing.
Sighing, I sat down heavily. It was hard to keep up an act, harder than expected. I sighed and pulled out Akuma's Pokeball.
"Hey, Sarah? Do you want to meet really Akuma? You two didn't really have a chance earlier, so..."
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to let her out, but I'm not letting her near me. Not wanting to, you know, take the chance." Geez, party just got a whole lot quieter. Still, I enlarged the red Pokeball and examined the display screen. It did say she had dropped a few percentage points in health, but a bit of time would heal her up. She did headbutt that tree pretty hard...
"Okay. Just stay quiet for a second while I introduce you." I released Akuma and she materialized in a flash. Stumbling, she immediately fell to her knees. I moved forward and saw a bruise already forming on her forehead.
"Hey, there. You alright? Look, I'm sorry it's so sudden after last time, but I want to introduce you to someone. Just... stay calm, alright? She's like me, so don't attack." I placed my hand on her back, even though she made no attempts to rise. Hopefully she stayed like that. Raising my hand, I motioned to Sarah.
Moving forward, I kept my hand on Akuma in case she decided to attack. Though she raised her head, she made no moves to stand. Sarah was cautious, but her approach was steady. She pulled her hands out of the hoodie's pockets and reached out for my dragon.
"Please don't attack her, Akuma. Be calm." Making contact with her head, the Deino flinched, but didn't really have the motivation after being embarrassed as she was. Not to mention she was dizzy from her... branchy encounter.
"She seems pretty calm now, but I think she'll show her strength in battle later. I don't think we're quite ready to battle you yet, though." I laughed lightly and sat back. It seems Akuma was being a bit complacent and submissive today. Still, it was fine for me. If she didn't cause trouble for me, I couldn't really make any for her.
"I can't say I'm comfortable with her, but I can tell you've spent some time with her. Not as much as I have with my Pokemon, but better than I thought. Now... I think I'm done." Removing her hand from Akuma's head, she left the Deino's faux horn bent out of shape.
Without an extra and strange hand on her, Akuma allowed her head to drop and she began to sleep. It must have been strange for her, but I think I understood. Even a Dragon has pride, after all. With her sleeping, I allowed her to stay out of the Pokeball. She definitely deserved it.
"So, how badly did that hurt," Sarah asked pointing to my forearm. The seven scars shone, the pale skin easily visible. I rubbed one, feeling the slight indent left from the fangs.
"I don't quite remember exactly, but I remember it hurt a lot. Still, after I was bitten, I used a Blissey Egg Extract. I didn't have to deal with it for long, because it healed so quickly. You know?"
"I didn't really have any injuries when I was with my own Pokemon. Looks like you've a rough time of it, though."
"Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that. Your Sneasel. Why is it so docile and stuff? It wasn't at all violent like all the stories, so when you say it didn't give you any scars... How'd you do that?" She smirked.
"Skills. Gotta have 'em." I opened my mouth, about to say something like, 'You couldn't have more experience than me,' but the old man was back. And he looked out of breathe. Instead of speaking, I burst out laughing.
"Alright," the man shouted. "I do believe you can return your Deino and we can go get your IDs printed. And, don't say anything once we're there. It is a library, after all." A library? Why would a printer be in a library? Still, I did as asked and allowed my Akuma to vanish in a flash of light. I stored the Pokeball in my bag and stood up, following Sarah and the man out of the lovely greenhouse room.
Back down a maze of halls, I followed blindly and was rewarded with a large file room.
"I thought you said this was a library. Not some dusty old room full of drawers. Because rusty file cabinets suck, all the squeaking and stuff."
"Then it's a good think you both don't work here. Now be quiet! No more talking!" Sighing loudly, I put my hands in my sweats pockets. I yawned as it was kinda boring to just walk through another maze. Suddenly, a rapid ticking noise sounded behind me. Looking, I saw Sarah dragging her hand over the handles. I nearly laughed as it was something I used to do in school.
"Will you stop that? I told you to be quiet!" As the man spun around, I saw a young... Actually, I couldn't tell what gender the human was.
"I thought I'd told you to keep them quiet, Mr. Manuul. Can you do nothing right? Where did Mr. Hanswel go, because he was much better at this job than you." From the voice, I guessed female, but she, he, or it?
"I-I'm sorry! Ms. Tate, I really tried!" So it was a She! "And, uh, Mr. Hanswel has his day off today and tomorrow. But, I'm sure there shouldn't be any more trainer registrations for the next week."
"You could have at least sent Henriette. She's still better than you, as clumsy as she is. Seriously, you're one of the worst." The woman shook her head and pinched her nose. Was he really that bad? "And who're these two supposed to be? Look a little old to be just newbies."
"Um, sorry, but I am a new trainer. My name is-"
"I don't need to know your name, Boy. Just follow me. I guess I'll finish your IDs. You too, Girl." Uh... What just happened? After rounding a corner, the lady took control of a computer. She typed in a few things and then spun around.
"This you?" She pointed behind her with a pen. I looked at the screen and saw my own name, along with a dozen other facts. It even said my eyes were blue and yellow. Were they that observant? And just when did they observe us?
"Uh... yeah. That's me." I stepped forward and stood at attention. Not military style, but attentive.
"Look behind the monitors. And... smile." In a flash of light, my face was captured. "Thanks, kid. Wait to the side and I'll upload your ID. Girl, is this you?" I hardly noticed she was typing while she was talking to me, but I stepped out of the way. I looked to at my partner. Sarah was not ready to take a picture. With the hood up on my hoodie, she hid her face while she messed with her hair.
"C'mon, kid. Don't got all day. Well, maybe I do, but I don't want to spend it on you two." Huffing, Sarah pulled down the hood and revealed some styled hair. How she did it, beats me.
"Okay. I'm ready." Looking to the wall, another flash went off and her face was also captured by the camera. With a whirring noise to my side, I looked at a small box there. It made several beeps and did something. After a few moments, a screen lit up.
'ID Upload Complete'
After that, it began to make more complex noises as it began work on Sarah's.
"Miss, why does it make noises if it's just uploading an ID," I asked. If it was a normal upload, it wouldn't need fancy noises like this.
"Oh, that's just to make it look like I'm doing work. It isn't too important." So it was just an excuse?
"That's pretty cool," Sarah spoke up. "I mean, if it just made noises, it'd fool anyone. As long as they don't look too deeply into it, you could get tons of "stuff" done. You're pretty clever, Ms... Tate, right?"
"I can tell you're a lot like me. Ah, I do believe you are both now registered. You two can go away now." Shrugging, I began to walk away. Sarah followed me and seemed to have more of a happy expression showing. I smiled as well, now realizing the fact.
I was now a real, true blue Trainer. I could even go to the Pokemon League and become the Champion with this!
.
The next few hours were pretty smooth. Relatively. We both went to a Pokedex store on Shopping Street 8 and checked out their large supply. Ranging from bulky Dexes, all the way to more compact ones. And every single one had a different color. It was like going into a candy store, of which there was one right next door.
"Now, how does this one look?" Sarah went from Dex to Dex, trying to decide which was better. I felt like she was thinking too much on the style side, rather than the price side. The one she had now had a price of two thousand Poke dollars.
"Eh... Don't you think it's a bit too expensive? And, besides, it's for not for fashion shows. Just grab one that's cheap and lets... You aren't listening, are you?" Instead of actually taking my advice, she just nodded and picked up a golden Pokedex. No doubt in my mind it was worth it.
For myself, I already had my Pokedex. It was black and violet, matching Akuma's color. It was more because it was cool, but it was also only two hundred and forty nine Poke dollars. Perfect for me, since it was one of the cheapest in the store.
"So, how about this one? It's black and orange, so it matches with Perry and Yami. Should I get it?" Glancing at the price tag, I sighed in relief. It wasn't one of the expensive ones.
"Sure. And, it also comes with a built in flashlight. No problems once we're inside the Oreburgh gate."
"You mean you're planning to go there ASAP? That seems kinda dangerous, you know? Maybe we should train. Xatu Forest is back near... what was it called again? Anyways, we can train there." Train? And waste time here?
"No, we should try to catch up with the trainers of this year. Going straight through the Gate is the fastest way. Besides, training in a cave is probably best for my Pokemon."
"What about mine? Dedene are Electric mice, so Perry'll be useless in the caves. Yami might be alright, but still!"
"Woah, woah! Let's just buy our Dexes first. Before you break that one." Her hand was clenched around the small devices tightly, but she realized this once I told her. Her grip relaxed, but her eyes told me she still had a debate to finish. We approached the counter and placed the Dexes on the counter.
"Name, miss?" The guy behind the counter picked up my Dex.
"That one is mine. Her's is the Orange one." Smooth thinking, huh?
"Alright. So then. Your name after hers, and I'll register the Dexes to the proper IDs." Telling him our respective names, he searched up our newly registered names and hooked my Dex into a strange slot. With the display lighting up, I saw it was mostly blank. Nothing was on it yet.
After a few moments and key strokes, the information changed as my ID was transferred onto the device. Lastly, I saw my own face appear on the screen.
"That'll be two hundred fifty, sir," the clerk said, holding his hand out. Opening my wallet, I saw only a few more bills left. I pulled out a five hundred and handed it to him. He handed me back half, leaving me with only about... four hundred dollars. I sighed and backed up. Sarah's ID was downloaded in the same manner.
Though I didn't see how much money was in her wallet, I could tell Sarah didn't have much more money. Just what exactly was she planning on buying with such little funds? I guess she wasn't lying she said she had to save for the trip.
I put the shiny new Dex in my bag. Now, I was ready. What else was there to hold me back? One thing; Sarah wanted to go sightseeing.
As we walked out, into the sunlight, I noted it was about noon. With the test taking over two hours and purchase of Dexes taking the rest, it was my best assumption. And Sarah was also wearing a Poketch.
There wasn't much to really talk about as we walked around Jubilife. In all honesty, it was kinda hard to find any subject we both agreed on, other than Pokemon. When talking about Pokemon, I felt it would only end in a conflict of interests. Still, at least it wouldn't leave me in such an uncomfortable situation.
"So, d-did you have any plans until we leave tomorrow," I asked. It was a boring line. Why'd I say that?
"Well, I did want to go to Jubilife TV Station. Did you hear that they give interviews and spotlights to anyone? I could become a superstar!"
"They actually do that? I know I've seen some newer trainers on TV, but I just assumed they were in some big match, or something like that."
"Well, I think that's how it works. Like, if you do really well, they might allow you an interview, but I'm pretty sure you can go straight to them and try it out. Wanna try?" Would mother and father see? Pretty much everyone in Sinnoh might, really.
"I guess. But let's not disturb too many people there, okay? We don't need a bad record."
"Right," Sarah agreed, before jogging away. Laughing, I decided to race after her.
.
When we arrived, we were both breathing heavily. The large building had several large radio towers and cables running away from it. With the large sign above, we were sure it was the place we were looking for. Though without it, some might mistake it for a power plant. With the large transformers and cables, how couldn't you?
"Eh... it doesn't look as fabulous as the advertisements showed, but... If this is the place, let's go." Sarah was hesitant at the entrance, intimidated by the appearance, but I stepped past her and entered through the doors. Inside was a different story.
"Wow," we breathed. The interior held several plush seats and TVs were positions so every seat faced at least one. The lavish walls and carpet were definitely expensive. Just how much did this all cost? With an elevator visible in the back, I could tell it wasn't some cheap home renovation.
"Em... Can I help the two of you?" The man behind the counter noticed us. Looking around, I noticed only two other people in the room. One was a woman and the man behind that counter. Not the busiest place on Earth. Being the bravest of the two, I decided to step up.
"Um, do you know where we can get an interview or something? We're new trainers, so we-"
"We don't cater to newer trainers. Come back when you actually have something to share, 'kay kid?" I looked at Sarah.
"Well, this sucks. What do we do now? Should we head back to the Pokemon Center?"
"I'm hungry. And this place stinks anyways. Definitely not as advertised." From her tone, I could tell she was angry, but she controlled it. I smirked and followed her out. Her pace was quick, but I did my best to keep up.
Once we stepped outside and were out of sight of the people inside, Sarah ran off to a garbage can. Watching her, I considered following her, but I decided against it when I saw her kick over a trash can. From my distance, I could still hear her colorful string of words as she kicked the trash can again and again.
"So, I'm gonna guess it's dead?" I walked up behind her, her violent outburst finished. The dented metal can had random food items scattered all around it and the can itself was ripped in half. I would make sure to remember this.
"Where's the Poke center? Because I wanna beat up their trash can, too."
"Why a trash can?"
"Because! It's trash! And I want to kill something!"
"Okay? It's back that way... Fine, I guess I'd better follow." Sarah had already ran off towards the center and people. Though I was entertained from the destruction of the can, I'm sure not many others would see it the same way. Most likely she would be arrested, but maybe I could stop it?
Running was easy. I'd done it a lot, especially with Akuma. It wasn't hard to catch up with Sarah as she ran, even if she was going all out. Reaching out for her, I grabbed her shoulder.
"Stop. We can just go earn a few badges and come back! It isn't worth destroying trash cans." Breathing quickly, I struggled to catch my breath now that I was stopped.
"... You're right. I just... I wanted to be on TV and stuff. After... destroying that first trash can for anger, I wanted to get all my anger out. Besides, destroying them is fun. Have... Haven't you done it before?" The people around us looked at us strangely, but didn't interfere with us. Other peoples problems were just that.
"You were going... to do it for fun? Wait, you sound like... like you've don it before. You were a trouble maker up in Snowpoint, weren't you?"
"Well... Maybe just a bit. I was just a bit of a troubling kid. But that's behind me! I... I promise I won't destroy any more things. I'll keep it... under control." Holding up my forearm, I held it out for Sarah to do the same. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry. It's a habit now. It is a Floaroma tradition. Since everyone had dirt on their hands from working in the fields, we shook hands by touching forearms. I'll have to work on it." Laughing, Sarah raised her arm like me.
"Don't worry about it. I have a few traditions myself." Touching forearms, we promised each other. We would stay in control from now on. Hopefully.
.
Returning back to the Pokemon Center, Sarah only kicked the trash can. It didn't fall, but it did have a new dent on it's side. It wasn't really the Center's, but it was close enough for Sarah to dub it so.
Walking in, I went to the counter. The same Nurse Joy from yesterday. With a wink, she took our Pokemon after we showed our new Pokedexes. It was enough proof to allow our Pokemon a quick check up. We were also able to stay one more night, but I agreed we would leave first thing in the morning.
Although the Nurse inquired about my health, I told her I was fine now. After all, I did feel fine. It was simple to hide some truths, but it didn't feel like I was sick. It only took a few words from Sarah to save me, though. The Nurse quickly backed off when Sarah threatened her with a fork. Where she got the fork, I'm still clueless.
"God, that woman! Just who does she think she is?" We were both in the cafeteria of the Pokemon Center, eating some pasta with Pidgey in it. Though Sarah pick at hers in frustration, I was too busy eating it to speak. At least, any comprehensible speech.
"See gut a nurff," I said, past a mouthful of noodles. Though I knew what I said, I'm not sure Sarah did. Still, she continues to speak badly about the Nurse. I laughed at some of them, but I quickly learned my lesson, because Sarah would immediately shove my head into my bowl every time I did.
After a few minutes, she finally began to eat. Though I had already almost finished, I decided to wait for her to finish.
"Are you going to call your parents? You might want to, now that you have a Pokedex. I'm going to, but..." Sarah looked into her bowl.
"Do you have some sort of... bad relation or something? I guess I could say I do, with my Dad."
"No! It isn't like that. I just don't know what they'll say. I've never really been away from my parents."
"Hey. We're in the same boat here. I've never even really left Floaroma, so I've always had a place I called home. It's kinda strange being in a Pokemon Center for a night, you know?" Pulling out my new Pokedex, I looked at all the things and features I could see. While I couldn't see very many apps or games, I did find a few cool things. It could call, message, and take pictures. With Pokemon, it could scan and tell what species it was, along with a few other things. And when scanning a Pokeball, it made it hover via electromagnets!
"Are you done playing with it? Let's go. I'm finished."
"Geez. I'm just having a bit of fun." Together, we dropped off the trays our food came on before heading to call our parents. Only then did I begin to see why Sarah was nervous. What would I say to them? What would they say to me? And how long would they lecture me?
Steeling myself, I knew this was the thing I needed to do. Even if Pokemon Trainers were strong and tough, it couldn't hurt to just say hi. I walked into a corner of the Poke Center's lobby and pulled up the phone app. Dialing their number, I put the metal Dex to my ear. A tone played before I heard a clicking noise.
"Hello? Who is this?" It was my mother!
"H-hey, Mom. I'm here in Jubilife." I was very nervous. No doubt in my mind. I felt the warm red blush covering my entire face from the embarrassment. I began to pace.
"Oh, that's great! I expected you to call yesterday, but I guessed you'd have called soon when you didn't. So, what's... happening? Did you already take your exam?"
"W-well, yeah. I'm calling you from my Pokedex. Don'tworry, because I think I did pretty well."
"Did Akuma behave well? I hope she didn't cause any trouble."
"Actually, I think she did," I flinched, remembering the small Deino chasing the examiner. "But it was cleared up. After that, we just had our pictures taken and uploaded to a Pokedex."
"We? You mean, you and Akuma took a picture together? That's weird, because I never had to do that."
"No! That isn't what happened. I actually met someone, and she's a trainer like me."
"Ooh. A 'she' huh? How cute is she? She tall or short? Give me details! I wanna know who you're dating!"
"Geez, Mom! We aren't dating! We're just traveling together, although we're leaving tomorrow for the Oreburgh Gate. It should be a while until we get there, though." I shifted on my feet before leaning on a chair arm.
"Well fine, but you've got to report back to me if you need any sort of advice. I am a girl, after all."
"Alright! Well, I think I've prepared for our journey and even got a flashlight for the cave. Sarah's got a Dedene, so she should have no problem there. Do you have any advice from going through the Gate?"
"You might need more than a Deino to get through the cave. And this Sarah girl might need something a lot more than a Dedene. Electricity won't make more than a small burn on all those rock Pokemon. On top of that, the place is a labyrinth in there. Make sure you follow the signs closely."
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. Though Sarah does have a Sneasel, so she should be fine."
"Still, I would feel better if you caught something like a Seedot or a Buizel, maybe a Shroomish, before you went in. You might thank me later." Right. A Water or Grass type would be helpful against the rock and ground types in there, but could I really catch one? Buizel, near rivers. Seedot, in the forests along with Shroomish. I'd have to go back for them.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not coming back home for a while. Like Dad said, he wouldn't allow me inside if I came crying home."
"That wasn't what I was trying to say, but okay. It is your choice after all. Anyways, I've got to get back to work. We're finishing up the harvests, remember?" I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
"Bye, then." Hearing a clicking noise, I could tell she hung up. I closed the phone and put the dex back in my bag. That went better than I expected. Having already exchanged numbers with Sarah, I messaged her saying I was heading out to explore the Pokemon shops nearby. With that, I headed out alone.
.
Of everything on sale, all the merchandise was expensive. I couldn't simply buy whatever. Some places sold training equipment, others offered training. One sold gear, another sold statuettes. It was all very nice, but every single tag made my wallet hurt. I simply couldn't buy anything.
I did see a belt similar to Sarah's, in which she kept her Pokemon, but it would have taken every bill in my pocket to pay for it. I pulled my hat down to cover my face as I backed out of the store fronts. Jubilife wasn't Floaroma. I realized that, but it still made me uncomfortable.
Sarah message me back, saying she had finished her calls, but it was almost half an hour after I left. How girls can talk for so long made me question their abilities. Is that what made their voices so nice and smooth? If so, it must have been a pretty boring exercise. Say as much, I knew I couldn't just talk to someone for that long.
It was peaceful without Sarah beside me, but also a bit lonely and scary. I had no idea where I was going, and no clue who anyone was. True, I hardly knew anyone walking the streets. But these people grew up in a city, meaning they must be tougher than me. I kept my distance from any groups and they kept their distance. I also held my satchel close to myself, my hand covering the closed flap.
The sky grew darker on my walk, though no one really tried to pickpocket me as I expected. With no real amount of money, it was simple just to pass me up. I had no more than a satchel and shivering without a sweatshirt. Still, I did manage to buy something on my trip.
Though it wasn't much, it made the walk worth it. It was just a black and blue beanie, which I promptly swapped out for my hat. With the Seel on the front, it allowed people to mistake my team. It might mislead my opponents, but everyone should know and fear my real Pokemon. That meant my Akuma, for one.
With that out of the way and my wallet another thirty Poke dollars lighter, I began my walk back to the Poke Center. It was colder than before, causing me to withdraw my scarf from my bag. I wrapped the red and fuzzy fabric around my neck, but my arms still grew goosebumps.
The streets became more and more crowded as dinner was just around the corner and people flooded out of work. The sun still hadn't set, but it wasn't even six either. It was my closest guess at when the sun would set. Still, I wouldn't be out here for much longer. The large red and white sign hanging outside the Poke Center was plain in sight, now glowing.
When I walked through the sliding doors, I sighed at the warm air inside. The indoor heating was god above Arceus. I moved to relax in the comfy chairs in the lobby. I saw two men sitting there as well, facing the TV and watching some Pokemon Battle. I didn't know which fight it was.
That is, until I was suddenly jumped by Sarah. It scared me when she appeared out of nowhere, causing me to almost trip. Luckily, I caught myself before the painful fall.
"What're you doing, scaring me like that?!" I straightened my hat and pulled at my scarf. I also noted she was still wearing my grey hoodie, which was the main reason I was cold.
"Because you took too long. I've been waiting for you to get back for over four hours! You could have told me where you were going, and I would have caught up with you. Do you know how boring it is to just play with your Pokedex?"
"S-sorry! I didn't know you wanted to come. But you could've texted me, and maybe asked me?" The two men watching TV glared at us, basically signalling we were annoying. Taking the notion, I drifted away from them.
"Well... That isn't really important. What is important is the planning I've done and what I've read up on."
"So you didn't just do nothing? That's cool."
"Shut up! Besides, I found out that, with my Trainer ID, I can have up to a Risk Level 3 Pokemon accompanying me through towns. Do you know what that means?"
"That you can walk with your Pokemon? I kinda figured that, from what you're saying."
"No, it means that, out of the three Pokemon we have, I can have Perry out." Why only her Dedene?
"Okay? But what about Yami and Akuma? Why can't they walk with us?"
"Because. It should be obvious. They are dangerous. Yami is a Risk Level 4, but your Akuma is a Level 5 or 6. Once we get gym badges, though, those restrictions can be lifted. You understand?"
"Yeah, it seems pretty simple. So, once I beat the Oreburgh Gym, Akuma can walk around town with me?"
"Eh... Maybe not. I didn't understand that part very well. Apparently, once you show aptitude with your Pokemon in Gym Battles, they can lift your restrictions. I think."
"So, not soon? Because that kinda sucks. I want to give Akuma the opportunities to... well, I guess she can't see yet. Maybe she could get used to people some other way, huh? I don't want her to attack humans anymore."
"Since she can't see, she'll have to determine if it's human or not. Maybe using voice? Or even seismic vibrations?"
"Seismic Vibrations? You mean, like a Garchomp? She isn't like that, but I'm sure we can deal with it once the time comes. Anyways, let's talk about the planning on the way to dinner. I'm hungry."
"That's fine with me, but it's kinda important." I nodded and started walking towards the exit. "Where do you plan to eat exactly? There's a cafeteria right there."
"I want another Miltank Burger, of course! Don't worry, though. No more races." I laughed, walking out into the cold and dusky night. The sun had already set and dyed the clouds an explosion of red and orange. All the lights on the street were on and lit the way for the side walk. And I could already see a burger stand.
.
After a tasty burger, this one savored rather than inhaled, it was already dark. The lovely colors that covered the sky had already faded and was replaced with the dim lights of stars. It was colder and goosebumps formed on my arms, but I tried to cover up with my scarf. Sarah didn't notice as she had my hoodie and the darkness hid my skin. The streetlamps couldn't illuminate enough to show.
Together, Sarah and I discussed the "plans" she had in mind. Most of it steered towards almost every historical landmark in Sinnoh, but some of it was relevant to me. Like the gym battles and stuff. That being said, it was too slow for me. It would be a year before my second gym battle, which I couldn't handle. So, we ended up arguing.
"No, if we go to the Xatu Forest, we'll be going backwards," I practically yelled. "It won't help us just because they have the shines there!"
"But it's Lord Xatu's shine. It would be wise to make a sacrifice and let him see our futures. It would be a blessing to know if there is immediate danger."
"Like Lord Xatu could really see the future and past at the same time. I say it's just a creepy bird."
"Saying that might bring down the entire Xatu Sect on your head," Sarah said with a smug look on her face.
"I'll give you a whole hundred Poke dollars if they actually get me for this... See? Nothing's gonna happen." I returned to eating my burger, this time with a more controlled manner. I knew all too well the consequences of my own actions.
"But we still should at least visit some of these. Like, the Psyduck Lake and the Flower Forest of Floaroma!"
"Pfft! You wanna see those? They're little more than what people claim as important. The flowers in Floaroma might be rare enough to create the rumors of a legendary Flower Pokemon, but Psyduck Lake is hardly more than a puddle. Have you seen the pictures? It's barely big enough to keep it on the map. Isn't it near Celestic Town?"
"Yeah, but they are still places we should see at least once. It might be good for the experiences."
"Not interested. I'd rather get the badges before seeing a puddle or flowers. Or a shrine."
"It isn't a race! Many people need years to complete the circuit, you know?" It's one of the main things being told on the guides. Take it slow and progress will come steadily. I guess she had a point.
"Fine," I gave in. "It wouldn't hurt to see some of them. Not saying I want to see all of them, but I'll look at a few." I knew I did want to see a few of them, as I was curious. But seeing all of them would be worthless and time consuming.
"So, should we go to Xatu Forest first?"
"No more about stupid Xatus! We're going to Oreburgh first! After the first gym, then we can see the sights." I closed my eyes as I finished off my burger. I thought about getting another one. My outburst made me feel guilty, though, but I tried to push the thoughts away.
"No need to snap at me. Fine, I guess Mr. Boss wants to go to Oreburgh first..." Sarah opened her Pokedex and began to delete the whole first month of activities. No way was I going to let the chance to battle the gym leaders slip. It was my main goal, after all. A Champion had to beat every leader in Sinnoh, maybe even the world. I hope I can do it quickly, though.
"Anyways, it's starting to get late. Half past six. Got any plans after this? Or you want to get ready for tomorrow?" I stretched and tossed the sandwich to the trash. It landed like a three pointer.
"Nice throw. Well, I've got a ton of rewriting to do, I guess. Though, we don't have to do a speed run of the League. We could take it one battle at a time, until we get to the end. It would be better if we take is slow."
"I know," I sighed. There it was again. "It's just... I want to be the best and no one can do it over night. But who's to say they can't do it in, say, two years?"
"Now you're just crazy. No one beats it perfectly after only two years. What was the last guy who had a perfect score? Like, two or three years ago? He made it after three and a half years and his Pokemon were tough. They say he might become the next champion, too." Yeah, but I was going to be along shortly to take the place. Might take a bit longer than two years, but I'd get there.
"C'mon. Let's not talk about the late future just yet. Like you said, let's take it a bit slower now. Then we can decide on the future later. For now, let's prepare for the trip." I tried to hide my shiver as I began to walk, but Sarah saw it.
"Here," she said, pulling off the hoodie. Once she gave it back, I saw her skin again, though it must have been cold. I just hoped her Snowpoint blood kept her more comfortable than me. As I pulled it on, I smelled Sarah on it. Sweet bonus, I guess. Better than my own scent, I guess. Besides, it was warm, too! Double!
.
That night, I spent hours on my Pokedex. Literally, writing is the devil. I swear it is. With all the greatness of reading, the opposite was for writing, especially on a Dex. Even drawing was easier! Still, I needed to let the ideas and thoughts in my head meet... not paper, but it was saved in text.
Even though I knew Sarah was doing the same, I was doing the same to make it more realistic. As if I was going to become a saint like her, that was really hilarious. Going to a shine was pointless, because even a true god wouldn't care about the actions of mortals. Why would it?
It was true that there was no proof there was no god, but maybe there was one. It wouldn't be mine, but at least all the followers wouldn't be wrong.
With several paragraphs written, I felt I was ready for the upcoming events. Mostly. I still hadn't seen most of what I was coming up against, but that was what Jubilife TV was for. Their League Channel followed every single battle and reported the most important Pokemon News or Emergencies. Fortunately, the Dex already came with the App installed.
Along with the news and phone related apps, I also downloaded a game or two for the road. It would be boring with just Sarah and Akuma. Games were my answer to that. Though I wondered about food, I realized I would have to actually actively hunt rather than trap Pokemon. We wouldn't be sitting still long enough to catch anything. Good thing Akuma and Sarah's Yami were perfect hunters.
And, after all that, it was already past ten. Sarah had messaged me she had taken a shower already and was going to bed, asking if I'd done the same, but I ignored it. Why would she ask anyways?
Still, now that I reread the message, I found the wisdom in it. We planned to leave early tomorrow, so why not sleep now? Though the bed was soft, the water was warm. After a shower and a quick brush of my teeth and change into my spare set of clothes, I put the grey sweatpants in my bag.
Obeying the draws of the shadows, I delved into the realm of memories and dreams. Ah, sleep was so nice.
.
That morning, I got the same waking as the day before. Loud knocking was sounded at my door and I groggily slipped out of bed. Grabbing my water bottle from yesterday, I drank the last of it before opening the door. Instead of Sarah, however, it was instead a Nurse John.
"Excuse me for waking you, sir, but since you did not return the sweatpants lent to you, you have to pay the price or return them now. You also have a few other expenses, so it would be helpful if you cleared these up." He showed me a tag and expected money. Sighing, I decided to pay for them. They were comfy and soft. I pulled out a bill from my bag and handed it to the man. It made me cringe, but my wallet felt the real pain. It was 76 dollars lighter, after all.
After closing the door, I groaned and dropped my bag back to the floor where I found it and fell onto the bed. It didn't matter what the rules were, why'd they have to wake me up this early? My eyes closed and I began to drift back to sleep. Another round of knocks woke me, however. Who was it now? This had better be good.
I opened the door again and saw my female partner, her blond hair now styled to be wavy and her backpack on her back. It's blue color contrasted her clothes, which were black and yellow. Like a bee, striped and everything. A small orange and round ball of fur was on her shoulder.
"Is that Perry," I asked, the sleep apparent in my voice.
"Yeah, and rise and shine to you, too. Now, get ready! I'm burning to get moving. Kinda boring now, Jubilife. Not very lively in the fall, now is it?" I smiled before letting Sarah in. I was already dressed, so no reason not to. She took the offer before jumping onto the bed.
"So? Did you get woken up by a Nurse this morning?"
"No. Wait, don't tell me she came to your room, did she?"
"It's not like that. I just had a few expenses to pay. You know, mini fridge and stuff." Sarah laughed.
"Don't tell me you actually ate that stuff," she managed out. "I mean, that stuff just looks nasty." Now that I've seen it, yes it did.
"Look, it was dark and I was hungry. Just ate whatever. Desperate nights, I say!" I smiled as she laughed again. I went to the bathroom and began brushing my teeth. After picking my scarf and hat off the floor, I spit out the toothpaste and rinsed. After slipping on my hoodie, I was ready and grabbed my bag.
"You know, you don't change much. Kinda boring."
"Geez, such a moral booster," I grumbled, closing the door behind us. I jumped down the stairs and quickly made it to the ground. Sarah followed quickly and we pulled out our room cards before putting them on the counter for the Nurse to return. Once we had nothing holding us back, the journey really began as we stepped out into the light. Now! On to Route 203!
.
The end of Jubilife was quite sudden. The houses and tall buildings cut off at a certain point, meaning it was the beginning of the Route. We could be challenged to a battle here. Of course, most trainers would have already left, so there wasn't much chance of that happening. Still, I was cautious as I crossed that line.
"Hurry up already. Wasn't it you who said we need to get to Oregurgh as soon as we can?" Sarah was already ten meters into the route when I jumped over the border and followed her, finally, down the paved road. It wasn't meant for cars, though. Travel between cities by car would be too easy for any trainer. Of course, teleport was quicker. Cars were beginning to be something only for the rich, I noticed.
"So... this got a little less... It's not as exciting as I thought it would be." Where was the trainer that was supposed to test my Pokemon?
"Did you expect a fanfare from trumpets or something? Like that would ever happen."
"Hey, I could make it happen. Just would take a bit of money, that's all." And I don't think my wallet could handle that. Really, it was thin enough as it is.
"Right," she said, almost smiling. "So, do you know who the Champion is? Like, the current one?" A picture of a girl with pure red hair flashed in my head.
"Yeah, I think so. Isn't her name Yelena? Or is that someone else?"
"No, you're right. Did you know she actually came from Unova? That's why her name sounds so strange. Not to mention her taste in fashion, huh?" I didn't care much for fashion, but it was the Champion we were talking about.
"I knew she wasn't Sinnoen, but that's about it. What's so special about Unova, though?"
"Not much, really. I just heard it was over seas. Like how Kalos, Alola, and Hoenn are. Still, it makes you wonder why she came here to become the Champion. Why not become Champion in the Unova region?" I glanced back and saw the buildings growing smaller.
"It's weird, because Unova is supposed to be huge for a region." Most of the next few hours went on, talking about this Pokemon and that trainer. Sarah brought up a Kanto Champion everyone knew, Red, but he was long dead by about two hundred years. He was a kid when he became the Champion, but that was a different time.
The buildings and tech from Jubilife began to fade into the trees and grass of the wilderness. It was nice, with the air beginning to lose the city smell. To be honest, it reminded me of the time I spent training with Akuma. I think I even saw a group of Bidoof running from the sight of us.
With the borders of the city behind us, Sarah decided to let her Sneasel out. Once it caught on to what we were doing, it began dancing. It was a strange dance, to say for sure. With a quick combination of spins and jumps, Yami was already several paces in front of us.
I felt Akuma's Pokeball in my pocket, but I wasn't so sure about it. If anything, she might mistake anything for an enemy or food. Who was to say she'd get lost or something? For now, it was best if she stayed in her Pokeball for now.
It wasn't like we were holding hands, but my mental image of my mother made me blush. She'd tell me to take the chance and just do it. But, I didn't know her that well. Every time the thought came up, I made a small distance between Sarah and myself. Not much, but it began to grow after some time.
We still talked, about this and that, though we also argued. About this and that, with our contrasting perspectives. Still, much development to which I was very much oblivious to happened. The scenery changed and a small forest began to close around us, along with more Pokemon appearing. I saw several Starly, Pidgey, Bidoof, Rattata, and a few Sentret, but didn't think much of it.
"Man, it's gotten dark. Is there, like, a ghost Pokemon around here or something?" Sarah unconsciously gravitated towards me, but I tried to keep my distance.
"No, it just seems like a normal forest to me," I replied as I looked around. Several Kricketot were chirping in the trees, which annoyed me, but I knew they would soon go into hibernation for the Winter. Like most Bugs, once the snow hit, they would all vanish. It made me a little tolerant of them.
"Still, it seems kinda cold. Are those Venipede looking at me?" She looked from tree to tree, pointing at the red and purple bugs around us.
"Calm down. They're just building their nests for the cold. Leave them in peace and they'll leave you in peace. My Mom told me that." I walked past the small Venipede, making sure not to touch any of them for risk of disturbing the hive. I saw Sewaddle and Swadloon doing a similar thing, and made curtains of silk. We would only see their nests of silk in the Winter before they emerged as evolved Leavanny.
Ah, the cycles of bug-type evolution...
"Okay, I think I don't like Bugs much. Can we leave the forest already?"
"It's not all bugs. Look, it's an Aipom! That's kinda a cool sight, right?" Three hand-tailed monkeys swung past, an armful of berries and nuts in their arms. It was a cool sight, but I had no plans on catching one. The real question was this; Which Pokemon would I catch?
Almost in answer of my question, a bush next to me began to rustle. Both of us pulled out a Pokeball as the Pokemon inside tried to escape. Finally, a Budew fell out of the bush. This would do nicely. I would catch a Budew for my second team member. Together, Sarah and I used our Pokeballs.
Got this far. What's a little more? Why do I love this story so? In all honesty, I thought it would majorly flop. Thanks to some funny inspiration, I can say my hopes with it has been mostly satisfied. Mostly. I'll still play with some ideas I have for it and I'll get back with you all. Never gonna give it up, not for a while.
It would really help me if anyone wants to be added into the story as I will find a place for anyone. Remember, I've mostly planned out all major character until the fourth gym, but I also have an idea for the Champion. If you want me to add any other, I'm open. Thanks!
LowePlays is gonna sleep now. Power at 6%.
Current Pokemon
Trainer: Lorano; SI863FL239A
Pokemon in Possession:
Akuma - Deino
Trainer: Sarah O'Perr; SI772SP8HN
Pokemon in Possession:
Perry - Dedene
Yami - Sneasel