Chapter One
I was completely alone. The world around me was shrouded in utter darkness, and I was left in the center to sleep. There were no floors, no walls, no ceiling; only the eternal void that separated me from all things living. The void was cold. So cold it stung my skin like a thousand claws scratching on my flesh. It felt as if the very space was draining my life away. Every breath I took was heavy, like there wasn't enough air, and each breath I took made my supply smaller. I was ready to go on, to the afterlife. To go to sleep and leave it all behind. The void welcomed me, it sought a way to end it peacefully. Just a slow slip to unconsciousness, and die. No struggle, just sleep.
But something wouldn't allow me to go. It started in my head with a burst of warmth and spread out across my body. An essence that shot through the void, breaking it apart and giving me strength. The feeling moved through my veins, granting my body life and concentrating into my chest. As it formed, it slowly pulled away from me until it was finally whole. A light, strong and bright, that gave way to a new beginning. It warmed my cold soul and gave me a desire to live. It brought old questions I buried deep in my head. I have to know why they came for us. What made them want to destroy Sinnoh?
From that light sprouted a bright, orange flame. Not destructive, but old and pleasant, like a morning sun. As the fire took shape, it began to move, dancing around me with a will of its own. I felt reborn, compelled to join the fire and dance along to the rhythm of the light. Where did you come from, little light? I felt so calm with it beside me, and my body radiated in its loving heat. As I got closer to the flame, I reached out and held it in my hands. In my hands I could see the many things the flame knew. Stories of past kings, history of creation, all great things in the world were flickering inside. The fire was a pure and simple thing that was almost carefree. Like it could wait out the world and the whole universe before it wanted to move.
But the closer I held it, the more I felt a chill. The images inside started to change, and the flames orange light turned blood red. Images of joy were replaced with monsters, fighting amongst armies of men. I saw a world on fire, with everything inside being burnt to a crisp. In the flame I saw Sinnoh. My heart started racing, and my breaths came in short gasps. The fire was growing, and as it grew it burned hotter and its light became blinding to the point it almost burned my eyes. The fire swirled, solidifying into a white flesh, covered in a fluffy down. It looked soft, but its aura was the same as the red flame. Sinister, with a killing intent.
I was back in the forest, lying down with my back against the tree. A shooting pain ran across my chest with a vengeance. Everything around me was burning, coated in blood, just as it was before. I could hear them again. The cries of the dead, burning in the fires as it swirled around me. Their shadows reaching out at me from within the flame. Darkness fell upon the forest and I grew the will to look at its creator, and I saw what the flame had become. A pure white dragon, coated in the wretched flames. It stared me down, its electric blue eyes striking deep into my heart. I wanted to run, but I couldn't move, I could only watch as step after step the dragon drew closer.
"See the truth. Realize what you can't understand!" Its monstrous roar felt like it was tearing my skull apart with a knife. It was going to kill me, it was going to burn me alive in the fires as it grew closer and closer! I started screaming for my life. I hoped for someone to save me. To get me away from this monster. "HELP ME! PLEASE ARCEUS, SOMEBODY HELP!""Stop your insufferable shouting! If you can't go past this, then you will DIE!" With its last roar it lunged at me, jaws open showing me it's giant teeth. It was going to eat me alive! "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
The clock read 11:40 PM. Moonlight was streaming through the window, illuminating my bedroom with a calm blue glow. My sheets were soaking wet, without a doubt due to the nightmare I just had the liberty of experiencing. Ever since the school started talking about graduation, I've been having that same dream at least once a week. I was fine at first, just having a nightmare on every spare occasion, but since the final day started looming over us it started coming back to back.
Why do these things always happen to me?
Since I was firmly awake, I decided I should have a nice stroll through my room till the rest of me figured out it was midnight. Helen had given me a big enough room when I had arrived. It was about the same size as the one I had back in Sinnoh, and for all luxuries and purposes, it had its charm. The wallpaper was an awkward tan that made the room feel like it came from the 30's, but I'd have to admit I was a sucker for pre twenty-second century. Helen had gotten me a big flatscreen as a "congrats on graduating" present a few days ago, even though the ceremony and party were tomorrow. I was grateful, but part of me wished she wouldn't go so far. It's not like I've done anything huge. Heck, the only thing I've done the whole year that was worth taking a look at was manage to keep my grades above a B. My bed was pushed into the far corner next to the window, on which I spent most of my free time watching cartoons, anime, and reading if I was bored. Next to my bed was a small dresser that held the majority of the clothes that I never wore. The closet, on the other hand, was where I kept some of my favorite stuff. My favorite of all was my blue and black jacket.
That jacket was the last thing I had from Sinnoh, and I got from a complete stranger. The stranger used it to keep me alive when I lost my arm. It still feels weird not to have it, but I learned to cope with the loss of your dominant hand and even learned how to write ambidextrous. I had ripped the jacket in half that same day to save the life of someone else. The jacket was a savior, and in the end it came right back to me. It arrived in a cardboard box during the start of my second year, all stitched up and clean. The box didn't have a return address or even a postage stamp, meaning someone had gone through the trouble of dropping it off themselves and ran off. It wasn't stitched perfectly though. There were spots where the stitching was overdone and this one piece at the bottom that still was torn. Almost as if the person fixing it had ran out of string.
But those small imperfections came to me as a reminder of all the pain I went through. I had gone through hell, and though it took some of me with it, I had come back stronger. I didn't want it perfect. It was the jacket that saved my life, and nothing could change that. Being perfect would only distance itself from what it was.
Among the many other dress shirts and coats hanging up in the closet, there was one other grand piece of clothing. The legendary graduation robe. I could almost consider myself lucky that, when the Event happened, I was finishing up my 8th grade year. I got to spend all of highschool in Unova, making new friends and living a new life. During my first year, I wouldn't talk to anyone. Every day I would sit in the back of the class and eat lunch at the only empty table with this big scowl across my face. I didn't want to meet anybody or do anything, I just wanted to go back home to Sinnoh. But that was impossible, and the thought that someone had taken that from me made me furious. I would have stayed that way too if this this one blonde girl, in a green hat to big for her own good, hadn't sat herself down right next to me. She didn't say anything to me, and didn't want to say anything back. We sat awkwardly for what felt like forever when a guy with glasses as thick as the table sits down on my other side. The two had boxed me in, and we sat there for ten minutes before I even said "hello."
Glasses was an egotistical nerd named Cheren, who to this day seems to relish in calling out every weird thing that I do. Green-hat was Bianca. An airhead with who was pretty much that stereotypical blond you just wanted to drop a reality bomb on. I had never seen them before since I got here, but apparently they've seen me. Those two had been my neighbors since officer Looker dropped me off at Helen's. They were outside playing with a Patrat when the car pulled up, and as my sullen face appear out of the back seat they immediately wanted to help. Or at least Bianca did; Cheren was sort of sucked in due to some proximity rule. They had shadowed me my whole first year, getting into my classes, following me home. Now that I think about it, I'm glad I didn't see them. I would have called the cops on those stalkers in a heartbeat. But despite their creepy and unorthodox methods, those two picked me up and got me moving again. From then on we were the best of friends, and today we were gonna graduate together.
With all the old memories flooding back, I took another look around the room. Everything in the here someone had given me, just so I would be happy. Everyone had put their time and heart into making sure I wouldn't feel homesick. That's why I couldn't tell Helen about the last thing she needed at this point is another reason to worry about me. I would just have to suck it up and try to hide it. At the very least make it appear that everything was alright.
The clock read 11:52 PM. It was practically midnight and the clouds were starting to roll over the moon, letting everything get dark. I crawled back into my bed and tried to get back to sleep. Hopefully I won't have another dream. I thought, as my mind slowly went to blank.
The alarm woke me up. First time in what has feeled like forever. I rolled out of my bed and did another inspection of my room. I was about to leave here soon, and the event of last night only furthered the nostalgia. I took a slow walk into the bathroom. I didn't have to be at the school until around noon, so I had at least four hours before I had to leave. Since I sweated last night, I thought it might be nice to take a shower now before getting my stuff together.
The water was always felt odd rolling down my arm. Every time I expected to feel it roll all the way down to my finger, but to have it stop at the bicep was off putting. On some days I would forget it all together and freak out because my arm had been stolen. It was depressing, but I still managed to get by the rest of the day without any other incident.
Hopping out of the shower, I did a quick dry and changed into my street clothes and jacket. By then I started to smell the sweet scent of the most delicious thing in the world. Buttermilk Pancakes. Something told me that today was going to be a huge make up for last night.
Hopping on one foot trying to put my other pants leg on I made my way stairs. Sliding down on the rail onto the main floor. At the bottom I had a quick and painful greeting with the wall. Maybe I had the wrong feeling about today. Despite the fact that my nose was smashed into an unrecognizable flapjack, the smell of a different flapjack was still in the air.
Helen was the sweetest, honest, and scariest person in the entire world. She has worn the same white v-neck shirt and the same blue jeans since the day I met her and I'm inclined to believe that's how she's always been. Helen's hair had this odd way that it defied gravity at this one blue headband on her head before falling behind her. Sometimes I feel as if she's hiding something in it, like if she lifted it up high enough there would be a sleeping Patrat. On a regular basis Helen would be the first one to get me out of bed and the second to actually wake up. She would often mumble around between her coffee and oats before giving me a hug as I went out the door for school. I expected as much from the CEO of Battle Company, but she seemed to do most of her morning on reflexes rather than actually being conscious. One morning when she went to hug me, and she ended up hugging the ficus and didn't even notice! But when she was awake she was the greatest woman alive. She would have a big breakfast cooked and ready to go, she would be pleasant, pushing me along a little, but always with the best intent.
But Helen was no pushover. Being the CEO of a huge company like the Battle Co. meant she had to take on some harsh, and very sexist individuals. Those experiences gave her skills that can turn a rampaging Gyarados back into a Magikarp.
Let me give you an example.
Back in Sinnoh, when I got a bad grade on an assignment, my mother would have Froslass use blizzard on me while being chased by Abomasnow! When I'm done running for my life, Dad would have me and Maxie spar until Maxie got tired! Pretty good incentive not to get a bad grade, right? Helen is a whole other category. When she gets upset, her skin peels off of her face until the only thing left is the skull. Orange light sprouts up from her neck and illuminates the whole room. Fire then shoots from her eyeballs and burns your head to a crisp. When that's done, she opens up a gateway to hell and has the undead feed on your insides. Then we get to the punishment, where I sit in an empty room for the remainder of the day, and if I made a noise she would make me do push ups. Thank the lord I only got a bad grade twice (as far as she knows).
Helen was in the kitchen, holding up a large stack of pancakes up to the ventilation so that the smell filled the whole house. "Oh, are we up? I thought this might work, of course you can never tell with teenage boys. Always the mysteries with them." I was completely oblivious to this "subtle" jab at me for something that I had. I was too distracted by the fake smile and the pancakes. My stomach had taken control of my brain, it wanted giant lumps of carbs. "So, professor Juniper stopped by this morning to give me some very interesting news." I was still focused on the pancakes, which she so tauntingly held just out of my reach. "She told me of how happy she was about you wanting to become a trainer." With that, the pancakes went out of my head and the only thing left was pure fear. Helens bright and pleasant smile was quickly replaced with a harsh and horrible frown.
"YOU WANT TO BECOME A TRAINER!?"
Classic method for Helen, lure me in with false treats and then unleash the hounds. Literally. Helen had sent out her two giant Stoutlands, Maggie and Joe, that looked ready to chew me alive. "You idiot! do you know how dangerous it is to be a trainer!" Helen said as me and the dogs ran around the house, knocking over furniture and climbing up the wall. "I don't know what the big deal is with you and trainers! You are a trainer! You are the CEO of a trainer supplies company! Why are you so scared of me being one too!" I shouted back at her, currently fending Joe off with a table. "Being a trainer means you'll have to deal with a lot of loss." She said back at me. "I just don't think you're ready." "Listen to Helen, Jack. She's only trying to do protect you." Joe said as he leaped at me from the top of the stairs. "You know the whole protection thing isn't being reinforced by the Stoutland you know!" I exclaimed narrowly escaping a pounce on the chest by Maggie.
With that they were called back. Helen just stood their shaking her head. "You know I care about you right?" She asked. "That I'm always going to look out for you. You know that?" I was completely confused. Helen was like my second mother. She always was there and she always did what she thought was best for me. "Of course." I didn't know what else to say, their was no doubt in my mind that Helen cared about me. With that last comment she walked over to me and gave me another one of her hugs. "Please Arceus, stay safe." She softly whispered into my ear. I was reminded of the last time I saw my mother. Those were the last words she said to me before I lost her. My eyes started to water up, but I dried them before Helen pulled away. "Now go get your pancakes."
She had already gone upstairs by the time I had gotten to the stack of flapjacks. It was no mystery to me that Helen thought of me as one of her own, and their were times when I would almost believe it too. Days would go by when the line between her and my real mother were blurred, but then I'd get sucked right back to reality and start crying. Reality was just too real, and I wished it wasn't. I wished I still had my arm, I wished that the Event didn't happen, I wish my life would just go back to normal. But that just can't happen.
I had finished my pancakes by the time Helen had gotten back downstairs. She was dressed in her off character business suit and tie, ready for work.
"I have to go in early today, so I can't drop you off at the school." She said, reaching into the fridge for a yogurt. "Cheren and Bianca are going to be here in an hour to pick you up. Make sure you're dressed! If I have to see you get your diploma in jeans and a t-shirt I will kill you." With a kiss on the forehead she gave me one last piece of advice. "Just make sure you are making the right decision." I just nodded, and then she left. I stood there alone in the kitchen, listening to the sound of her car as it pulled out of the driveway and left.
If you're wondering why I don't just drive, or walk, myself to school I have two reasons. The first is that Helen only has the one car, and that is her business car. The only thing on or in that car I can touch is the handle, the seatbelt and the seat. I am not allowed to drive that car or even offer people a ride in that car. The second reason is that the school was in Castelia City, and if anyone you know has traveled from Nuvema to Castelia, they can tell you it's freakin far. Lucky for me, Helen's office is in Castelia as well so it's not a big deal to get drive me over. But that is the only way I am going to get to school on time is if I drive. Hell would have to freeze over before I made it there on foot, and as far as I can tell, Hell is still on fire. Still, my old habits would get the best of me, and I would take a long, LONG walk to the city.
The house was completely quiet; if I dropped a pin it would echo for days. Since I had an hour to chill, I decided to take a nap. I went up the stairs, not falling to my death, and went into my room. On my bed there was a package, wrapped in newspaper with a letter attached.
Spencer
I know you're set on being a trainer, despite my best judgment. Just remember that when you go on your journey you will have to make some tough choices, and I hope you are ready to handle that. Pokemon are with us always, and whether or not they're your pets, or if they're your partners, they will stand by your side. Respect each and every pokemon you come across, and please, God, DON'T give them a nickname. You suck at that.
I got another gift for you. Thought you might need it when you go on your journey. Just don't break it like the last one.
3 Helen
Inside the package was a prosthetic arm. It was one of the newer models, where it used little electrodes on the end to pick up the signals you send from the brain. The endoskeleton was jet black and looked like the typical robotic arm you see in movies. I've seen a lot of these models, but they always had the plastic flesh surrounding it. I don't know what it was but I always thought it looked creepy and it provides zero protection to the skeleton since it was already resistant to just about everything. Helen really did know me best, and since I had broken my old one a month ago (you see Cheren bet me I couldn't climb this big old tree at the park and I bet him I could. Long story short I fell and broke the arm as well as my ankle and several ribs) this was the perfect gift.
I slipped it on over my stump arm, fastened the belt over my shoulder and around the sight, and turned it on. The thing was battery operated, but could be charged like anything else. The lights around the belt lit up and I felt a weird humming sensation where it touched my skin. It took a few seconds but soon I was able to move it like I would anything else on my body. I'll be honest, it was pretty creepy. The thing moved like it was a part of me but I couldn't feel it. It did what I told it to with flawless precision, but I couldn't feel that it was doing anything, so I was still a little freaked out. But still, a fake arm is better than no arm.
I took the letter and placed it back in the package, and put it into the closet with all the other boxes and cards I've collected over the years. I'm a bit of a hoarder that way. I set my alarm to go off in thirty minutes and took a quick nap before the craziness would ensue once more. Heck, I might even have that dream again.
I was in the void, the dragon standing before me. It wasn't mad or even on fire like the last time. It was still, its blue eyes were calmer now. The killer aura it radiated before was gone, left with only a calm silence. "You will be waking up soon." It said, echoing again inside my head. "Before you leave I shall leave you this. Think beyond that which you are afraid. Understand that everything has a purpose. The world is much bigger than you or me. Now, WAKE UP!"
That was the first time the dream didn't leave me afraid. My sheets were completely dry and I felt calm. I must be in another universe. There is no way after the shit those dreams put me through that they were now just going to brush it off like "Nah, it's all good bruh." But after another quick inspection of the room I found everything was still in it's place and that I woke up a few minutes before the alarm.
The only thing that seemed strange to me was a giant lump of purple fuzz sleeping on my legs. Shauna had to be the most bipolar Purrloin I had ever had the privilege to live with. Whenever I was awake, she would always have something to say to me. Whether my hair was a mess, or I smelled bad, or even my shoelaces were untied. Mostly though it was how humans were oppressing the entire race of Pokemon. I wasn't just commentary though. She said it like I had purposefully done it just to tick her off, and sometimes that was true. If I was awake to hear it, she had something to say, but when I slept she was someone else. Every time she got the chance she would climb onto my bed and sleep on or next to me till morning. It wasn't like Helen kept her door closed either, that cat just wanted be near me. Despite it all, she was still cute while she was sleeping. So I gave a quick scratch on the head before I kicked her off.
Shauna gave me an unpleasant glare as she gathered herself after a crude wake up call. "You know it's inappropriate to wake people up while they're sleeping." She said, as her purple hair slowly began to stick up as per protocol. "Of course I wouldn't expect anything less from a human like you. Catching pokemon and running about all over the world. That's right. I heard what was going on downstairs and let me tell you; I expected nothing less of a delinquent like yourself." Through her entire mantra I just sat there and nodded my head. I had heard this same schpiel a million times and it always ended with her calling me some name. By the time she was finished I was still nodding my head, not even paying attention.
I looked at her with the utmost annoyance. "You know you say time and time again. About how humans are keeping pokemon custody and all that jazz. Yet here you are, in a human house, with a human trainer. You have never left, you have never stuck your nose up at anything we give you. So let me ask why, Shauna? Why?" For what seemed like the longest time she just looked at me. She looked completely confused, like the universe just crashed down on her. When she finally said something she gave me the most bonehead answer I have ever heard. "I'm in a covert operation." With that she left the room. What an idiot. "Well it's over now, you crazy cat." I mumbled to myself.
After that intelligent conversation I got out of my bed, grabbed my uniform, and took a long hard look at myself in the mirror. I looked like a dropout at a wizard school. I have seen pictures of people in their graduation robes, and it always looked clean and stylish. On me, it looked stupid as heck. I just thanked the lord I only had to wear this black sheet for one day. The hallway clock read 10:44. Cheren and Bianca still had ten minutes before they were going to pick me up. Come to think of it, why didn't I just walk over to their house? They were literally my next door neighbors.
Taking a more careful walk downstairs so I would not end up the newest fixture in the wall, I headed past the living room to the door. I took a quick pause before opening the door. This house held the happiest memories I've had in a long time. This was the place I grew up in, the place I could now call home. The second I walked out that door, I was going to leave it all behind. A felt a mixed feeling of sorrow and excitement welling up inside me. This was going to be my new beginning. I gripped the door with my new hand and opened the door.
Right into Bianca's face.
The poor thing was just about to knock on the door as soon as I opened it. I felt an a mixture of worry with a sprinkle of humor. The fact that her nose was bruised the bad part, the sling of "curses" afterwards was what made me want to laugh. "Son of biscuit. You fubber nucker, I'll bust your stupid face with a fargin hammer. Cheese on rice, what the heckl?" Cheren was trying his hardest not to pee himself while Bianca clutched her nose and proceded. Since he was too busy laughing himself to death, I was left to try and calm her down. I walked over very slowly, in this stage, she was highly unstable. One wrong move, and she would plow through you like butter or knock you out. I reached out my right hand and placed it on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" I said, with extreme caution. One wrong step and this could end in disaster. She froze up like a deerling in the headlights, and slowly looked down at my hand with utmost fear. She looked ready to scream as she slowly followed it up to my arm. But when she saw my face she calmed down instantly. "Oh sweet Mew it's only you. What the hell man, why did you have to open the door so hard." She muttered through her teeth as she proceeded to punch my arm. "And what is with that hand?You almost gave me a heart attack."
I had just now realized I had grabbed her with the prosthetic instead of the real one. Bianca was a nice enough girl, and she had grown out of her air head faze, but she was scared of everything. She was like a pidove ready to fly off at the slightest motion or claw your eyes out. I'm sure she thought that it was the hand of the reaper coming to get her or something like that. I was ready to pee myself too. She was honestly so afraid of a robotic arm, she was ready to kill it with fire. Cheren was still not composed by the time I had finished my share of laughs and Bianca had stopped punching me.
"Great. Now I'm going to have a bright red nose during graduation. If I wanted to have my nose get a diploma before me I would have slammed it into the doorway myself. And again, what is with the hand!?" I was still focused on Cheren slowly getting to his feet, so I had completely forgotten. "Hmm?" I asked in the most intelligent manner. "The arm, sherlock." Cheren breathed between laughs. "She wants to know about the arm." A lightbulb went off in my head as he said this, and I turned to face the most pissed off chick in the world. "Why does your new arm look like it came from Satan's house of horrors?" Since my arm didn't have the plastic flesh on it, the thing looked like something out of a nightmare. I thought it looked cool and more realistic than the plastic but I guess I was the minority. "It just doesn't have the stuff on it. I don't know why you're being so ridiculous."
Big mistake. When Bianca got pissed, it was for two reasons. Either you talked down to her, or you scared her. I had done both, and her face would give the devil nightmares. Cheren saw it too and immediately stopped laughing. "We're dead, aren't we?" I stupidly asked. "Well, you are. I think I'll get away with only a little mauling." He whispered oh so confidently. With that, she gave us one word. "Run." Like cartoon characters, we were gone, but to no avail. We all had a growing theory that Bianca had a little bit of testosterone in her. This mixed with rage made it impossible for anyone, even a decathlete, to escape from her wrath.
By the time we actually got in Bianca's car and we actually started driving to the school, Bianca had given us all a good luck present. I had a shiner the size of Kanto and a bruises up and down my left arm. Thank god the right one was okay, because Helen would kill me if I had broken another one. Especially on the same day. Cheren got away with only a few scratches, somehow. However, we all can agree that our robes weren't green before we got into the car. This was going to be a very interesting conversation for us and the faculty. Dear Arceus, Helen is going to kill us. Heck, I'll be lucky if she lets me keep the GOOD arm.
Despite the fact we were all going to die the second we got out of the car, the drive over was rather pleasant. Nuvema town wasn't exactly the biggest town on the map, but for its sake it was a cute little town. The neighborhood I lived in was small, only a mile wide and two miles long. Professor Juniper's lab was just outside of it, literally a two minute walk from my house, and was nice enough so it wouldn't distract from the rest. Unova seemed to be in the middle of a war with itself. Half of it seemed to want to become a more industrialized place like Castelia and Black city, while places like Nuvema town and Nacrene city liked things to stay more rural. The only thing they managed to agree on was the routes stay dirt and grass for the people, and the underground can go to the cars. Many people say that this makes the drive boring and hard to concentrate, Cheren being one of them. Others say that it lets the top stay beautiful and lush in all its glory, the tune Bianca marched to. I was in the middle who agreed with both, like most people. I liked not having to dodge cars on my walks to Acumula, but I also hated that my drive to Castelia was in a tunnel.
Well, I guess no matter what side you are on, nothing can beat the reveal when you enter onto the Skyarrow bridge. Skyarrow is a huge white bridge that crosses over the harbor into the city, and the view is fantastic. The shining brilliance of the bridge gives way to the towering buildings in Castelia, putting me in a state of awe. In the four years I have been in this nation, nothing has beaten the splendor of that one reveal. The brilliance seemed to complement the weather, changing based on what the sky was like. On a sunny day it felt overjoyed and marvelous. When it rained it seemed sad, crying over the disappearance of the bright day. When it stormed, it seemed vengeful and full of hate, ready to strike down anyone who dared to cross it. We all shined with hope that today was going to be alright, despite the fact we looked like we came from a cabbage patch.
The city itself still wasn't open for car use, so the bridge sort of served as a tease. Almost as if it were saying, "Look at the city! Oh how splendid, oh how marvelous! Now back in your hole heathens." Man, the bridge was a jerk.
The school was on the upper-west side of the city and was decent enough, It was a two-story high school with roughly 1,000 students. Helen had insisted that I go to a public school, thinking that because of my position I needed more social interaction of a diverse culture. The teachers there were all idiots, some days seeming like they didn't even know the topic they were teaching. Several times I had to remind my BR (Battle Refinance) instructor about how fighting types had NO EFFECT on a ghost type. Or how a gyarados is NOT a dragon type, despite the appearance. I mean, I know they hire these guys from the pile of failed trainers sitting at their doorstep, but come on! Who out there actually thinks this bull!
Despite the below average education, the people there were decant enough. There will always be that one guy who thinks he's the messiah or something, but just that one guy. For the most part, everyone treats you like a normal person, even if you have some… quirks. I guess that's one of the reasons I wa able to adjust so well with this new place. Everyone understood, or least tried to, that it's not easy to go through this. One day you're in the snow, and just as quickly you're staring at the fire. It never leaves you, no matter how hard you try. It follows you, and this damn arm just follows me as a reminder. Why did it have to happen to me? Why can't I just be home with my family? I didn't want this, so why does it have to tear me apart!?
"WAKE UP!"
I can't just sit here and mope. Today is going to be a new day, a new beginning. I'm going to finally be a trainer. Bianca parked the car in one of the underground lots reserved for students. We were told by the administration to be in the auditorium by 12:00 sharp. We took one last look at ourselves before we made the climb to the first floor. "We are going to die a horrible, painful death." I said with the utmost confidence. "Yep." Cheren replied. "No way out of this one. We're out of time and out of resources. Not a good omen for the three of us." Bianca just smiled at us and cheerfully looked for the good side. "Come on, guys." She said. "I think it makes us look edgy. You know, don't play by the rules mentality." We just stared at her dumfounded. "Since when are we 'edgy'?" Cheren grumbled. I was in complete agreement. We had a reputation as being the social outcasts in the school. We were Pluto, and the closer you got to the sun the more you were "in tune" with social interactions.
I had walked up the stairs to the school about every day of my life in Unova, so much that it was almost mind numbing. Every step and every rail sent you in a kind of hypnotic trance and if you aren't careful you'll end up on the roof and have to climb all the way back down. Today though, we were a little more careful, or at least a little more panicked. Today was the last day we were going to be here, and we were going out green.
Fan-flipping-tastic.
Have you ever had the feeling that all eyes were on you as you walked into a room. Did people tell you it was great or it gave you a sense of pride. Here is a bit of advice, DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE PEOPLE. They are clearly masochists because all eyes were on us as we entered the auditorium, and it was terrifying. Few moments in my life have made me want to throw up. My mom telling me where hamburger meat comes from (miltanks), my dad giving me "the talk", Helen trying her best at dancing, and that one moment walking into a crowd of people looking like a lawn.
The principle was on the stage behind his classic podium. He was just about to address the class of 2202 with his rules and regulations about the ceremony when he saw us. I think that was the first time I ever saw someone's head explode. The blood rushed to his face, his hair stood on, and he started screaming at the top of his lungs. I think he was trying to achieve some sort of final form as well. But anyways, we had to sit out the whole ceremony due to our attire. Something about being an embarrassment to the school and having no respect for how we look. I wasn't really paying attention since I was so focused on the fact that his hair was going blond.
The school still had to let us graduate since we had clean records and decent grades. Still, it kind of sucked to have to sit in the auditorium for about two hours just so we could go home with everyone. Cheren actually had the nerve to say that this was all my fault. "If you hadn't opened that door, Bianca wouldn't have chased us down, and we would be up there with our diplomas instead of in here with our grass stains." I was so tempted to punch him right now. The a-hole actually made it sound like I had done this on purpose! "You're not wrong." Bianca replied, not helping in the slightest. "Even though it was your idea to pick Jack up early. And don't act so sanctimonious either. It's not like you did anything to diffuse the tension by having your little breakdown in the dirt." Now I felt less bad. Bianca had both agreed with and shot down Cheren, making me both happy to see Cheren fumble and angry because somehow the blame is being pushed on me.
These feelings were quickly replaced by fear and panic. You know how in movies when the villain walks in and they are always accompanied by some big dramatic music. Yah, the band geeks are turds because that's exactly what they did when Helen walks in. "Did we have fun?" she asked rhetorically. Everyone in the school knew that if Helen yelled at you, there was a chance of making it out in one piece. But if she started off with a question then you knew you were dead. It was her trademark. Lure you in with a pleasant comment, completely innocent, and then murder you when you answered. "Well….." Cheren started to say before me and Bianca quickly shut him up. "Don't move." I whispered. "Don't even make a sound. The longer we drag this out the longer we get to live. Do you understand?" Cheren nodded. We were rooted in our seats, not even daring to turn around.
"You know the principle gave me a very interesting story when the ceremony was over, and now that I see the results I know it's true." We could hear her step by step as she inched closer to us. "My, my. What would your parents think if they found out what you have done." Sweat was pouring down my face, my heart was beating at twenty beats a minute. "I'm sure they will be so glad to hear on their vacation that they can't see their children get their diplomas. Why? Because they had ruined their robes and embarrassed the school." Cheren was starting to whimper and Bianca's hands were becoming sweaty. "I have a question to ask the three of you. Do you know what my strongest Pokemon is? I'll give you hint, it's big and black with tons of energy." Luxray! She is going to use a Luxray! Or is it…. "Come on out, Clara." Shit, a Chandelure. "Now…. Run."
The ride back to the house was painful at best. Chandelure had managed to give my a burn on just my rear, so there was no way I could sit comfortably. Bianca had to drive her car back to her own house, but Helen had insisted that she take me and Cheren home. As an added measure to make sure we stayed in the car the whole ride over, she had Maggie sit on our laps. That dog could learn to lose a few pounds. I just wanted to apologize for all that we caused. Helen was probably going to have to call Bianca and Cheren parents, who currently were vacationing in the Sevii islands, and tell them about the mess. She was then going to have to pay for the robes, which, by the way, were rentals. Then she was going to have to have the pleasure of paying for the damages Chandelure cost the school when it burned down he auditorium.
When we drove up to the house, Helen got out of the car and stood waiting while we were still being crushed by Maggie. When Bianca's car finally pulled up, Helen called back the giant moose and let us out of the car. For the longest time we just stood there looking at each other. I could feel the disappointment emanating from her and it just made me feel horrible. When she finally did speak it was like she dropped a hammer on my soul. "I thought we raised you better than that. I thought that we had given you enough guidance to know not to do something like that. Today was your big day, and the best you could give us for our hard work was grass stains. Really? I at least thought you would paint them or something." With that all feelings of guilt were whisked away. She expected what? "I mean when I was your age I had a bonfire with my graduation robe. Literally, I set the thing on fire with me in it. Now that was a way to end it, but no. You decided that grass stains was the best course of action." I am sorry but what? She did what to the what? Set it on fire! "You know we had placed a bet on the three of you. I bet you would top us but instead you arrived in a dirt stained robe and made the principle go blond. Your senior prank was so much better than this." I remember that one. It was a monday and Bianca had managed to swipe the master key from the athletics director. Cheren got into the security office and put all the cameras on loop. We ended up filling the entire first floor with canned cheese and toilet paper before school started! Wait, stop. This is no time to get nostalgic, Helen was talking crazy. "I guess I should be happy you did something but….what? Why are you looking at me like that?"
We had the dumbest, most confused expressions on us. Helen, the woman we had known to fear when it came to pranks and gags, was telling us we didn't do a good enough job. "Who are you and what have you done with Helen." The only thing I could say. This person could not possibly have been Helen, she would never condone what we have just done.
Laughter. The only explanation we got was laughter. Like that's making any of this make since. I was calling it, Helen has become victim to alien body snatchers. "Come on. We got to get you changed out of those clothes." The alien suspect stated. We followed reluctantly into the house to find it filled with green alien goo. People all over town had been snatched and we were going to be next.
Actually it was just the way the house normally looked, but I kept that alien theory securely in back pocket. If she should any more signs of body snatcher-ness I was calling area 51. "Alright, so you guys need to get out of those clothes." She said as I observed her carefully. "Bianca there is a change of clothes in my room, for you boys it's in Jack's room, and Jack, no, I'm not an alien. Good Arceus, you're being ridiculous." Ha, proof! She read my mind. BODY SNATCHER CONFIRMED! "Nice try Jack, but it's written all over your face." Nevermind, we're clearly back to Helen. Darn it. "Well what are you waiting for?" She questioned as she walked to the kitchen. "Come on, we're going to be late. Let's go!"
Late for what?
Changing was a relative breeze, although it took Bianca about ten minutes before she actually came downstairs. Helen had gotten a hold of Cheren's classic blue collared jacket and jeans, along with a white t-shirt. My clothes were already in stock, with my black and blue tattered jacket and jeans, along with a white shirt and red hat. Helen had taken off her coat and had draped it over the chair by the time we got downstairs. She was calmly sipping from her classic coffee mug and continued not to talk until Bianca descended the stairs. "All right!" She excitedly announced. "Gang's all here! Now here's your surprise, and no, Jack I am not going to "snatch" you." Yep, that was definitely our Helen. "To the backyard!"
And she lost us again. We never went into the backyard, mainly because it was an empty dirt lot that Helen had paid to get fixed but never had it done. It was odd and unsightly and…. full of people.
The whole backyard was hosting what was single handedly one of the biggest parties of the year. Everyone and their uncle was here. Even Lenora, the Nacrene gym leader. Helen had gathered up all of her college friends as well as few of hers to throw the biggest bash we have ever seen. Helen was already talking with a Lenora by the time we made it out the door. I only managed to hear part of their conversation but I did hear bits about a meat dress, fire, and grass. As for the rest of the party, it was fan freakin tastic. Professor Juniper's dad, Cedric, had set up a poker table in the back which I had the pleasure of losing every round to. Just glad I didn't put any money to it or else I'll be working at a Pokemart for minimum wage for the next fifty years before I paid it off.
Everyone was having the time of their life. Bianca was talking up a storm with a few veteran trainers from Helen's days in college, Cheren on the other hand was still wining a corn hole tournament with Lenora and the mailman. The food was fantastic, everything from 5 cheese pizza to gallons of ice cream. Vegans can suck it, because this was awesome, and it kept getting better.
The party lasted for about five hours, in that time several of the trainers had gotten drunk, Cedric had finally lost a round of poker, not to me, but still a victory, and Helen and Lenora were passed out near the food after an "all you can eat" challenge. But one thing was a little off, throughout the whole party, Proffesor Juniper had been very silent. Most of the time she was hyper and energetic like she was on a sugar high, but today she had managed to keep herself out of the crazy. By the time everyone had stated to go home she was still wandering around, picking up bits of trash that people left behind.
By the time Lenora and Helen had woken up from their food coma, she was still hanging around. We all gave our last goodbye to the gym leader and were about to go inside when Helen stopped us. "Oh no." She said. "It is time for one last thing." She gave Juniper a little nod, and what came next I can only describe as the equivalent of a neutron bomb. Apparently she and Helen had made some sort of deal that if Juniper could keep herself controlled for the party then she could do something we weren't too sure about. She must have kept all of that energy bottled up, because the result was shattering.
"OhmygoshthankyouIwan'tsureifIwasgoingtomakeitbutIdidandyouheldupyourendandthisisgoingtobesoexitingyouthreearesoluckyohmygosh. *Breath* Do you three have any idea what this means?"
We shook our heads slowly at the crazy person who stood before us. "AH! I'm going to get the package AH!" For the second time today we were stuck dumbfounded as the professor bolted into the house. "What the heck was that?" Cheren asked in a most appropriate manner. "You'll see." Helen replied with another one of her trademark grins.
Juniper came racing out holding in her arms a big package. "This is so cool! I can't believe you actually gave me the green light on this! I thought for sure that you would have been against it but no! You said YES and that is so cool!" She was absolutely radiating with enough energy to make a Voltorb jealous. I have never seen a dignified scientist this worked up over something in a box that we had no clue of.
"Can I just ask, what is going on?" A completely appropriate question that was then greeted by creepy grins. "You three said you wanted to be trainers, right?" Juniper asked with a grin so wide it showed everyone of her teeth. I was starting to pick up on the excitement. "Yes!" We all said in unison. "Well." Juniper joyfully replied. "Inside this box, is three starter pokemon. So go ahead take your pick!"
"Good."
"Now we're making some progress."