Chapter forty-five: Bill's Cottage
The sun begins its inevitable descent into the ocean, and the afternoon sky slowly changes ever more slightly to welcome the evening. The lights coming from Bill's lighthouse, however, never changed, for it continued to shine its beacon even into the night.
I, Lucas Bright, a human but now a Pikachu, am surrounded by another Pokémon and three, human, family members. The bell on the door appeared to be broken, so George had to knock heavily and repeatedly on the door a few times. We soon began to hear footsteps afterwards, and a voice coming from inside. Our tiny group waits impatiently by the goth-like entrance, which had art of different types of rare and ancient Pokémon etched on its surface; We eagerly waited for the host we've never met to greet us. I guess by that point I was expecting a bright light to shine on our faces and the sound of a heavenly hymn to ring in our ears; however, instead, we were soon greeted by the large gray-blue doors opening outwards toward us. We all take a few steps back as we take a peek inside:
The inside was stone and quite devoid of any furniture or character, resembling a cold and quite eerie interior similar to a horror movie location: a stark contrast from what my mind had thought this place would look in real life…
A fairly tall and fairly slim man is standing in our view: he appears to be wearing wardrobe inspired from an era two centuries ago. The suit is a shade of burgundy and it dominates from top to bottom, and he appears to be wearing a lime-green scarf around his slender neck. Just as his clothes are odd in color so too is his hair, which is an unmistakable shade of dark green all around.
As soon as he spoke, something seemed pretty foreign about his accent: as if he came from the far-away region of Galar, or our next door neighbor: Johto.
"Ah, so you've all finally arrived! Welcome! Welcome everyone, to my lighthouse! Please, come in!"
The youngish man ushers us inside, and we all look around...examining artwork etched on the walls throughout the large room-entrance.
"So, you're Bill" Rigel asks quite curiously.
The man gives a short laugh to himself, scolding himself for not introducing himself earlier, "Oh goodness me! I apologize for not saying this earlier: yes, my name is Bill the researcher! And you must be Rigel, the Pokémon Trainer, and of course: this is your father and mother...and..." at first he is quite enthusiastic, and a bit more energetic than I thought he would be, but he looks toward me and Orion with a bemused face. He walks toward me, noticing that I am wearing clothes despite being a Pikachu, and an intense exchange of eye contact soon happens, "hello Lucas" he suddenly exclaims as I nod to him.
"H...hi" I simply say before the researcher recoils backwards, standing back up, "amazing! Truly!"
"Thanks...I am trying my best to...fix my impediment..." I finish as Bill's face lightens up even more. For him, just like Oak, this must be an incredible discovery and something that truly makes the man happy to find.
Bill soon composes himself, however, and apologizes to the guests:
"No need to apologize, Bill, we too were all surprised when we first heard him speak" George explains.
"I see. We can talk more about this later on. I must give you all a tour, please, follow" Bill ends as he gestures all five of us to follow. Orion has an eyebrow raised in confusion, perhaps he finds Bill to be quite weird. I must admit, I too find him a bit odd...
As we walk down a small hallway, George looked around, giving a befuddled look towards Bill, "I thought you lived in a cottage, not a lighthouse" the former inquired.
"Oh, but I do my new friend! This building was added to the lighthouse as a living space when I restored the building a few years ago" Bill explains while the father makes an 'ah, I see' look on his slightly wrinkled face.
As we travel through the building, a thought crosses my mind...I expected Bill to be pretty different...perhaps similar to Oak, but he and his outward expressions make him seem like he's still in kindergarten…must be really good genes in his family or something, he does have quite a baby face. It's hard to believe THIS PERSON is the key to my salvation, kind of makes me wonder how he will solve everything.
May turns to the researcher, scratching the side of her carefully groomed hair for just a second, "You have all this to yourself?"
Bill just gives a soft laugh, "Yes Mrs. Robinson, and it's for the rare guests I have who come seeking knowledge regarding Pokémon of course," he stops and points a finger upwards, "which reminds me, I have prepared rooms for you all to stay in."
Everyone gives a gasp of surprised delight...thank goodness...I thought we would have to travel back and forth between the cottage and Cerulean.
Bill gives us all a short guided tour around the cottage, showcasing its various individual unique quarters such as the green parlor room, which has an extensive selection of books to choose from. Also included in the tour is a fairly small but quite old-fashioned stone dining room, and next to it is an impressive kitchen with many devices used to prepare extravagant meals.
Finally, we make our way to the bedrooms, which are upstairs. We make it up a stone spiral staircase which has several places to place a torch of fire to light up the path. Once we make it up to the second floor, we see carvings of various ancient and rare Pokémon all around the walls and ceiling. The doors leading into the rooms are locked, so Bill takes out some metal keys to unlock them. As he does, I look to my left and notice Orion doing something: the Pikachu grabs his face, and suddenly stretches it out like its elastic! He bends his ears backwards to make them look shorter and he brings his teeth out to imitate fangs. Finally, his eyes change shape to fit the form he is currently copying. I don't know what the heck is going on right now, but it looks like he's imitating an Ivysaur, he's imitating the Ivysaur artwork on the wall! It's very cartoon-like, but he seemed to take on the form rather flawlessly.
I walk up yo him with an amazed and dumbfounded look running down my yellow face, "Orion?"
He stops his pantomime and turns back to me, "yea Lucas?"
My ear flops downward as one of my brows rises up, "h-how are you doing that?"
Orion the Pikachu just shrugs at my question, and mutters softly, "dunno."
"What do you mean!? That was crazy what you just did, like some sick cartoon" I retort back as he shrugs again.
"I kinda just...do it, I dunno how to explain it" he crosses his small Pikachu arms in his defense, shaking his head.
Suddenly, our focus immediately shifts to the sound of the bedroom door being opened, and Bill ushers us in. Consequently, I decide to forget about what happened for now.
It's a small room with gray stone filling the walls and ground. A window is by the side overlooking the cliff, the beach and the sea. The bed is hidden by curtains circling around it, and there is a small wooden drawer across from it. There is artwork on the ceiling: depicting the legendary bird: Articuno. I don't even need to ask who will be staying in here: it's obviously going to be Rigel's parents. It isn't long before my suspicions are confirmed, for they set their belongings by the door. Afterwards, Bill leads us to the other room next to this one: the room where Rigel, Orion and I will be staying in. Bill unlocks the door and leads us in: it's a smaller space, but still quite cozy enough and there's actually a fireplace in the room! Though the window in this room is smaller, it still had the same phenomenal view the parents have. We too set our belongings beside the door. Bill claps his hands together excitedly, "well then, please enjoy your stay! My chef will prepare a splendid feast for us all! When it's ready I will call for you" Bill finishes.
We all manage to say, "Thank you Bill!" Bill himself retreats back downstairs, leaving us to unpack and wind down for the afternoon.
...
A while passes, and the sun begins setting over the horizon: with its last yellow-orange beams illuminating the inside of our room. May helps Rigel unpack before helping him get dressed into something slightly more formal. The teen is now wearing a patterned gray and black long-sleeve, tucked in of course, and is wearing new jeans for the feast that is soon to come.
I, meanwhile, only get rid of my red Pikachu-sized jacket, but keep on my white shirt since I don't really have anything formal to wear...not that it really matters to them.
The rest of the family prepare themselves for dinner as I quietly sit by the window, watching the last of the sun surrender itself to the vast, seemingly endless ocean beyond the beach. A certain mouse Pokémon joins me by my side...it's none other than Orion of course, who seems entranced by the sunset as much as I am right now.
"It's very pretty" Orion begins saying as his eyes shine brightly, his mouth cutely gaped.
"sure is" I mutter softly in response to him.
Silence grips the air for a few seconds before Orion turns toward me, the look on his yellow furry face appears to want answers...his expression became anxious all of a sudden and I don't know why…
Oh, it's probably 'cause I'm in deep thought again...that's when I realize I too am kind of anxious for what's coming, and it seems as though he's taken notice of this.
"You seem ready" Orion suddenly squeaks of me as I give a confused expression.
"What" is all I can say.
"You look ready to be human again" he adds, his tone seems to suggest...he's...sad.
I look away, "I've been ready since day one...it's just...I dunno what I'll do...if...if this all doesn't work out..."
Orion just stands there, thinking about something, and then he places a paw on my shoulder, "you remember when we were in those cages, right before we escaped Team Rocket the first time?"
"What about it" I quietly retort. Why is he bringing this up?
"Well, if you remember I was quite depressed...troubled really...I was down and I had given up…but you were there to remind me...remind me never to give in to loss...even if it's sure to come. Don't give up Lucas...if this doesn't work, there may be other ways to fix you...I'm sure of it. Honestly, even though I don't know what I'll do once you're human and gone, but I'll remember the words you told me during our time together..." Orion assured, but all I could do is chuckle slightly.
"Orion...say what's really on your mind...you don't want me to change, you want me to stay this way…" I retort quite harshly. Orion gives a muted gasp, but as expected, he can't discredit my claim. He knows I'm right, even if he meant the things he just said to me.
That's when Orion drops all his defenses and gives a hefty sigh of defeat, "you're...you're right...I kind-of do want you to stay as a Pikachu. To be honest, I've never seen you as a human, never really got to know you as one, and I guess it's making me scared. I've always known you as a Pikachu, and well...I believe things won't be the same once you're no longer a Pokemon..."
I look away once more, unsure what to tell him...if I should yell, if I should push him away, run away...my mind is all over the place right now, but Orion steps in close, a little too close for comfort for me, "but that's selfish of me, and I do want you to be happy Lucas, like me and my family are. It hurts me to see you like this, it really does, as a friend and as a fellow Pokémon."
I shake my head, but as I get ready to respond back to him, George comes in to inspect us, "are you boys ready?"
We always seem to get interrupted, don't we, I thought to myself.
We all nod at the middle-aged man before he leads us out of the room and downstairs to the dining room for the feast.
...
We all met in the small, but quite fancy, dining area, which is shaped like a pentagon with a large stained-glass window. Pretty much everyone is anxious, even Bill the host, but also pretty excited that we were all about to partake in a large grandiose gathering. Bill the researcher told us that his personal chef is from the Alola Region, a far-away archipelago with a very distinct and unique Polynesian culture. Thus, most of the items on the menu consist of fish, sausage and gravy, peppers, onions, curry, noodles, and some hearty soup.
The chef exits the kitchen with every item on a large plate and delicately places them around the long table. The look and the smell of the food draws all of us toward it. Bill, who appeared to have been helping the chef, puts down plates, utensils, and glasses. Afterwards, he helps garnish the meals and poured drinks for us before introducing every item, "here we are! Let us begin" Bill says before sitting down across from us as the chef leaves to prepare dessert.
Me and the family glanced over the plentiful selection of meals, deciding which dish to take. I decide to eat the fish and soup. Once everybody gets what they want to eat, we devour them all with such speed that everything is gone not too long afterwards. Orion seems pretty relentless despite being so small, and he cleans his plate in just a few short seconds! Rigel eats the poultry with both drumsticks in his hand, leaving nothing just as fast as his Pikachu. George and May both appear to be having noodles, but aren't having it as quick as we are, probably because they're having a conversation with Bill.
"How was the trip getting to my cottage" Bill asks George who finishes his mouthful before responding, "it was amazing Bill. We all saw much of the region during our travels. Route twenty-five was a very pleasant drive" George replies with a smile before turning to Rigel, "earlier today my son wanted us to make a quick stop by the Cerulean Gym."
Bill looks toward Rigel as his green locks fall to the side, "is that so?"
The trainer gives a wide, and proud, grin.
Rigel lays down his plate and quickly takes out his Cerulean City Badge, or more popularly known as the Cascade Badge, displaying it proudly towards the researcher.
"Amazing" Bill exclaims politely.
"Yea, but it's my only one so far...but I'm definitely getting more" Rigel explains confidently as Orion puts a fist up in the air, a cocky and prideful smirk running down his face as he does so.
"You bet!" Orion had said, but all Bill and the other humans hear from the Pokémon is "Pi-Pikachu!"
Bill seems happy to see Rigel and Orion acting almost as one with their expressions: a sort of harmony between them is evident.
Bill nods at the teen, happily commented, "You know Rigel, being a trainer can be hard and stressful, but the bond you make and share with your Pokémon is all worth it in the end. You're going to see so much of the world and meet all kinds of people and Pokémon in your travels! It will be quite an adventure for you."
"Oh, I'll bet" Rigel trilled.
"Bill, the artwork on the walls, I couldn't recognize those Pokémon...are they from another region" May inquires after putting her drink down. The researcher simply nods in response, his smile growing ever slightly more. He seems pleased that we are excited and willing to know more like he does. Bill stands up from his seat, taking his glass with him, and begins walking around the small dining room in circles as he stated, "so far, there are roughly one-hundred and forty-nine identified species of Pokémon in Kanto, with many more yet to be identified in other parts of the world" he explains as he continues circling the room as everyone listens in, lured in by his descriptions. It seems like it's a whole theatrical act happening right now in here to be honest. Bill continues with his speech as he stops by the window to look outside, "I can imagine there are hundreds or even thousands of different species we have yet to discover, which is why being a trainer, or a Pokémon researcher, can be an exciting occupation!" Bill moves away from the window and finally sits down on his chair, finishing up, "there are things we have yet to learn about in this world."
George sips some of his wine before fixing his glasses, he gestures toward Bill in a positive and enforcing way, "you being a researcher I can imagine how much joy it gives you just by talking about it."
"Why yes, but recently I am just as interested in finding out more about Lucas" Bill exclaims, finishing his meal as he turns to me, "and I must say, It's something I never thought I'd ever see in my life. I can only imagine how it must feel like to be in the form of a Pokémon...to be able to coexist with them in ways that can make us be able to understand them better. It is absolutely thrilling!"
I face him but I give a simple nod, not saying anything else.
"Oak explained to me that a strange fluid changed you" he seems to inquire, but again I nod towards him in silence.
"Do you know what that fluid might have come from" the man moves closer to me, but I shrug at the question.
"Other than...Team Rocket, I don't...know" I murmured softly to him.
Bill crosses his arms in response, "Professor Oak told me he took a blood sample from you, and he is trying to synthesize a cure of sorts. If you will allow me, might I do the same?"
At this point in my life, needles puncturing my skin has become a bit cliché...might as well accept it, right?
"I guess so..." I answer with surprisingly no pauses as before. Soon, I'll be able to speak perfectly normal to humans as I do to Orion and other Pokémon!
"It may take a while, but Oak and I will do our best for you" Bill finishes.
"Bartoli" I suddenly speak out as everyone turns to me. The very name irritates Orion, "what about her Lucas" the Pikachu asks me with a grumbled tone.
"She's in jail...but can we maybe...ask her about the formula" I suggest to Bill. Unbeknownst to me, George almost chokes on his food, looking towards me with a cry of surprise filling his face.
"Who is this person" Bill asks.
"I remember her, Lucas told us she's the one responsible for turning him into a Pikachu" Rigel answers.
"She...had the formula..." I add.
"I'm...not sure if she will be of any help to us if she is in jail, but perhaps I can try and get a hold of them. I could try and get an official to let her talk to us" Bill suggests as I nod.
"Sarah Bartoli" I say silently. I'm not sure why I suggested that damn witch...but she is the one who supposedly made the formula, so if we made her help Bill: give him what he needs to work with...it'll make his job easier and get me out of this mess sooner.
For now, however, we return to eating, and after desserts come we all decide to retreat to our rooms for the night: in preparation for tomorrow's tests with Bill. It will be the first day with him in the lab, so I'll need more than enough sleep for now.
As we walk up the spiral staircase to get to the rooms, George, who is carrying a torch, thinks to himself about what I had said about Bartoli. Rigel has been through enough these past few weeks...what if those freaks at Team Rocket decide to come after us again Lucas...did you ever think about that, he thinks to himself.
Nevertheless, he and his wife enter their room and prepare to sleep while Rigel, his Pikachu and I go inside our room. It isn't long before Rigel and Orion, who sleeps beside his trainer and is curled up in a ball, fall asleep; however, as it has been for days now, I am unable to allow myself to join them...and I stay up much longer than anticipated...thinking about the next day ahead…
…
Phew! That was a chapter that took a while to write, especially with work getting busy! I hope you all enjoyed it! I got new art for 50,000 Volts if anyone is interested in seeing it: you'll be able to find it on my "fefe46" deviant art page titled: "50k Volts Cover by AestheticDen", many thanks to the artist for the commission! Until next time everyone!
