"Thank Arceus I still have my Pokémon," Robert sighed, watching the sunset colors light the ocean on fire before descending into darkness. "Well, I only have two of you, but you're all I need!" He leaned against Snorlax's side, watching the fire crackle as the twigs Chesnaught had gathered from the small forest burned. He glanced at the white haired girl, who was still asleep, lying on the opposite side of the fire.
Robert leaned back his disheveled bed of dusty blonde hair against his Pokémon's softness, trying to remember how he ended up stuck on an island in the middle of the ocean.
...
1 Day Earlier
"Spiky Shield!"
Greninja's water blade shattered against the spiked shield that erupted between him and Chesnaught, wincing as the spikes grazed him. He skidded back along the metal floor, placing a webbed hand on the surface to steady himself.
"Alright then, use Pin Missile!" Robert yelled and Chesnaught roared, multiple green missiles shooting from his back.
"Knock 'em aside with Extrasensory!" Zeno commanded. Greninja's eyes glowed pink as he forced the missiles to crash onto either side of him, missing him. Suddenly Chesnaught was in front of him, a glowing fist crashing down towards him. The Water type's eyes widened as he brought his fist up to block the attack, but was slammed to the ground. A dark cloud erupted around them, obscuring Greninja.
"Be on your guard," Robert scanned the spreading smoke, knowing with Zeno's Greninja being in his Bond Form, it would take much more than a good punch to take him down. A slight shift in the smoke caught his attention, so he shouted, "Chesnaught, Spiky Shield at 5 o'clock!"
Chesnaught whirled around, throwing up his shield as two large shurikens slammed into them, water particles spraying the air as they were sliced apart. Then multiple Greninjas burst from the dark smoke, each one leaping into the air.
"A ruse!" Robert yelped. "Chesnaught, Pin Missile!"
The light green missiles punched through three of the Greninjas, but the fourth and real Greninja sliced downwards with his large shuriken, rolling to his feet behind the Grass starter of Kalos. Chesnaught stumbled, falling to one knee.
"You two finished yet?" Alex asked through a mouthful of sandwich as she climbed the stairs onto the battle deck to join Robert and Zeno, Ninetales padding up behind her. She held a plate in her arms packed with more sandwiches. She swallowed. "Zeno win?"
"Not quite," Robert stretched his arms in the air, breathing in the salty breeze from the ocean all around them. "But it'll be good to take a break."
"We can win even with a type disadvantage," Zeno smirked, high-fiving Greninja.
"Don't be too sure of that," Robert folded his arms as he stood proudly next to Chesnaught. "Don't belittle us just because we didn't spend our time in Kalos training. We still have a few tricks up our sleeves, don't we Chesnaught?" He patted his Pokémon's arm, who grinned in agreement.
"Anyway," Alex held out the plate towards them. "If nothing else, this ship has some good food. Terribly expensive, but good."
"I hope you paid with the card I gave you," Robert frowned as he and Zeno grabbed a sandwich each. He made sure to give Ninetales a good rub on the head before biting into his food. "'Cause I have it for a reason."
Alex rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah, I did." When she thought Robert wasn't listening, she added to Zeno, "Well, I actually did pay for it myself. Just don't tell him that."
Robert turned away at that, smiling as he shook his head. Alex may be short-fused at times and sarcastic, but she was a good friend. Though he would have to make sure she used the card Professor Juniper gave him to use to pay for his way home.
"Home," Robert thought, chewing his sandwich thoughtfully as he gazed out across the ocean. "Feels like it's been ages since I've been back. I wonder how the fam is doing..."
"Hey, you're doing it again," Zeno waved his hand in front of Robert.
Robert blinked. "Sorry, what?"
Zeno shook his head. "You've been spacing out a lot lately. You okay?"
"Yeah, I guess," Robert turned to stare back at the ocean. "I've just been thinking more, that's all."
Alex frowned, obviously worried for him as she leaned her back against the railing. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words that came out didn't sound like her at all.
"Where am I!?"
...
Robert practically jumped, blinking through a haze of sleepiness. The fire had dimmed, crackling faintly. He could barely make out the girl now as she stood, glancing around in confusion. "Where am I!?"
"I would tell you," Robert's voice caught her attention. "But I don't know myself."
"Who are you!?" She backed away, stumbled as she fell back in the sand.
"I don't mean to startle you," Robert said apologetically. "My name is Robert. This big lug I'm resting against is Snorlax while the big shadow monster behind you with all the twigs is Chesnaught."
She turned her head and yelped as something large moved in the darkness behind her. As he neared the dwindling fire, Chesnaught became easier to recognize. He laid the sticks on the fire and Robert grabbed the two rocks he had used earlier. The cold night air was already seeping into Robert's bones despite the warmth of Snorlax's body heat, so he quickly grabbed two sticks and began rubbing them together.
"Are you trying to start a fire?" The girl still seemed confused, but looked doubtful at Robert's progress.
"I can hear the disbelief," Robert kept his eyes focused on his task. "But no worries, I got this!" He exclaimed the last word loudly as fire sparked. He grinned at the girl as he held out his arms wide. "See? I got talent!"
The girl rolled her eyes, shivering as she rubbed her arms for warmth. She scooted closer to the fire, glancing around again now that there was more light. "Any clue on how we ended up here?"
"None at all," Robert said cheerfully. "I take it you were on the ship as well?"
She nodded. "I was travelling alone with..." Her eyes widened. "Ghost!? Where is she!?" She jumped to her feet, looking as if she was going to run and look, but didn't know where to start.
"Stay calm," Robert stood as well. "We can't go looking now, it's too dark. I don't think this island is that big, so there can't be many wild Pokemon that live here. I've only seen two whole Krabbys since I woke up during the day. And I didn't see any other Pokemon in the forest." He turned to his Grass type. "Did you, Chesnaught?"
He shook his head. Robert scratched the back of his head. "We can go and look in the morning. I'm sure your Pokemon is fine. I mean, if we're alright from however we got here, a Pokemon will be just fine." When she sat down and still looked worried, Robert added, "When we find her, and we will if she's not back on the ship wherever that is, I can treat her if she's injured."
"Thanks," she said quietly, staring into the flames with a blank stare. Robert considered asking what kind of Pokemon Ghost was, but decided instead to ask, "What's your name?"
She was silent for a couple moments before answering, "Mary."
"Well, nice to meet you Mary," Robert leaned over the fire, holding out his hand. "I'm sure we'll get through this just fine." He offered her a grin, hoping it didn't come off as creepy.
She stared at his hand, then decided to accept it, shaking it once. Robert thought he even detected a hint of strength behind it. Then, "Don't smile like that at me again."
"So it was creepy looking," Robert muttered. "I need to get a hang of that one."
Mary chuckled at that before laying down in the sand. Robert was about to offer part of Snorlax for her to lay against, but she seemed to have already fallen asleep. Robert glanced at Chesnaught, who seemed to grin. Robert rolled his eyes, laying against Snorlax once more. The big Pokemon shifted, forcing Robert to change position. Finally, he felt his eyelids start to droop. Then he slipped away into his own world of dreams.
...
1 Day Earlier
"It should just be a few more days before I arrive in Castelia," Robert spoke to Professor Juniper through the ship's telephone room.
Juniper smiled as she shook her head on the screen in front of him. "No, you should head home before you stop by the lab. You've been away for months. I'm sure your family would love to see you."
"Are you sure?" Robert pursed his lip. "I got some really good data that I need to share and I'm sure I could be of help in other departme-"
"It's fine, Robert," Juniper laughed. "You know, you'll make a good Professor yourself one day if you so chose. You're a hard worker. But go home. Recent events in Kalos may have... well, worried them."
Robert nodded, remembering the calls he made to his family recently after the whole Chaos thing went down while Zeno was in the hospital. His family was worried naturally, finding out he had played a role in several dangerous events that had taken place in his time in Kalos.
"Alright," Robert gave in. "I'll go visit them. I'll even stay a bit with them. But as soon as I'm needed-"
"I'll be sure to let you know," Juniper assured him, then made a shooing motion with her hand. "Now go enjoy your cruise. It's not everyday you can do that."
"Will do, Professor!" Robert saluted, ending the call. He made his way out of the room and through the hallway, the ocean peacefully flowing in the night. He walked up some stairs to the second floor, heading for the room he, Zeno, and Alex were sharing. He opened the door slowly, knowing they were probably asleep.
Alex was sleeping on one of the beds while Zeno crashed on the couch, arm hanging off the side. Robert sighed, both happy that the bed was saved for him and annoyed at that fact. Zeno already had the couch for the last two nights. Robert would have to make sure to head to bed before him tomorrow night.
As Robert laid in bed, he thought about his family. He was definitely close to them and he hated worrying them, but he couldn't help feel he should be doing more to help Professor Juniper. He had spent a much longer time in Kalos than he had originally intended, so he knew he needed to make up for that.
Robert sighed, rolling over onto his side, facing the wall. He closed his eyes, listening to the sound of distant waves soothing. As he neared sleep, he listened carefully, wondering if Zeno snored while he slept. Then he fell asleep.
...
The door to the room slowly opened, letting in a faint light. Two figures appeared in the doorway, one human and the other a Pokemon. Two pairs of red eyes flashed in the dim light before darkness settled in once more. With a slight creak, the door closed, leaving the two sleeping teens in the room.
I hope you all enjoyed the beginning of a grand new story by yours truly! Until next time. Toodles!
