AN: Please enjoy the chapter.
Ch 6 Getting Set Up
Flannery was looking through the many selections of clothing around the racks that the store has to offer. She took out a black skirt and a light green blouse, "Mmm, Nah, this is too simple." She placed back the clothes on the racks.
"Hey Helena, you okay in there?" The red-haired girl looks at the changing rooms behind her.
"Um, Flannery, this is too much," Helena spoke out through the closed doors, unsure about the clothes she was trying out. "I'm not too sure about the clothes you picked for me." She said to the young trainer.
Flannery sighs, placing her hand on her hips. "Helena, come out. I want to see," She urges her new friend to come out of the dressing room.
The door opened, revealing Helena wearing a short dark grey sleeves shirt with a neck hole pink. Over the shirt was a white jacket, reddish-pink on the ends of the sleeves, and wear the zipper are. Red flaps were over the two pockets on each side.
She wore black leggings that were a bit above her knees and a red skirt inches away from the leggings. To complete her new look she wore black boots that reaches above her ankles and pinkish-red straps to hold them in place.
Helena look at the clothes that she thought were cute until she realize this was a bit revealing on her legs. "I-Is this a bit much, Flannery? I'm not complaining but the skirt is a bit short than what I wore before." She said to her new friend.
"You were the one who picked it," Flannery commented, taking a good look at the new trainer's new outfit. "Hm, looks good on you, Helena." She complimented the attire she was wearing.
The former Witch turns to the mirror behind her, taking in her new look. "You sure? I'm not that fashionable back at my home," Helena said, frowning that her hair was a bit messy. She leans closer, fixing her hair.
The red-haired girl smiles, walking up to her. "Of course, you look good. After all, these types of clothes are good for the outdoors. Running, battling, exploring, this is the fashion choice for trainers." Flannery stated, proud of her knowledge of clothes.
Helena sighs, looking at her friend. "You really know your fashion Flannery," She turns back to the red-haired girl from the mirror. "Are you planning to be a fashionista?" The black-haired girl asked.
"Me? Fashion? Sorry, but I know next to nothing when it comes to trends and that stuff." Flannery denies what Helena said, "I just know what's practical for traveling on a journey. Take the clothes I'm wearing!" She flexes her arm, placing her other hand on the upper part.
"I train Fire-types so having a sleeveless shirt is pretty useful with all that heat they give off," Flannery explains to the newbie.
"I see, that's actually useful," Helena commented,
Flannery smiles before seeing that Helena's black hair was all in a bundled mess. "Hey, sorry to judge but your hair looks like it hasn't been brushed in a while." She informed her.
Helena touches her hair, noticing that it has gotten a little longer than she previously had it. She sighs at the length it has gotten. "Yeah, I was meant to cut it but things got in the way for me to properly care for it." She chuckles.
Flannery came behind Helena, slapping her back. "Gah! Flannery, why did yo-"
"Is that all? Then I know where the best hair salon in Rustboro City's at." Flannery took out her red Rotom Phone, went on the messenger, and texted someone.
"What are you doing?" Helena asked, curious on why she was on the Rotom Phone.
Flannery smiles, placing the device back in her pocket. "I texted Roxanne that we'll be a little bit late to the Headmaster's office," She informed the new trainer.
Helena blinks at what Flannery said. "Huh? Didn't we say we'll be back when we're finished getting me some new clothes?" The new trainer asked the red-haired girl.
"Yeah, we did, but did we tell them that 'we' are finished?" Flannery asked Helena, giving her a mischievous smirk.
Helena opened her mouth, trying to find something to say back. However, she remembered that they did not say when they would return just, they'd be back. "You really know how to make sharp turns, Flannery."
Flannery laughs, guiding Helena to the counter. "I know, that's why I mostly win in arguments with my grandpa!" She smiles, arriving at the counter.
"Have you two got everything you need?" The woman asked the two trainers before her.
Helena nodded, taking out her pink Rotom Phone. "Yes, thank you for asking." She placed her phone on the cashier,
"Payment Approved." The Rotom Phone announced to the three.
The shopkeeper gave a cheery smile, inclining her head to the two customers. "Thank you for shopping at our Boutique. We await your next visit." She bids them farewell.
Both Helena and Flannery walk out of the Boutique, checking that they have everything they needed. "Got everything, Flannery?" Helena asked.
"Yep, you?" Flannery places her hands behind her head.
Helena nodded, "Yes, my Rotom Phone and id are with me." She looks over to the glass windows, checking herself in the window. She lefts her right leg back and then her left to a feel for the clothes.
However, her hair wasn't going with her new clothes. "Helena, are you finished admiring yourself in the window?" Flannery crosses her arms, seeing the black-haired looking at herself.
"Oh, sorry, it's just my hair." Helena's face deflates,
"And that's why we're going to the salon to help you with that." Flannery motions to the pink building right across the street with a logo of a woman's hair blowing in the wind.
Helena smiles as the two crosses the streets, entering the salon.
Once inside the salon, the two were greeted by a hairstylist at the counter. "Welcome to the Beautifly Hair Salon," The woman inclines her head to the two who entered. "How may I help you today?" She asked.
Helena steps forward to the counter, holding her Rotom Phone. "Yes, uh can you fix my hair. I haven't really taken care of it for a-"
"Say no more, I can tell that you want a new style." The hairstylist smiles, she motions her hand to the chairs where women and men are getting their hair done "Please head to seat number four and I'll be with you momentarily. Payment will be after the hairstyling unless you decided not to go with it." She smiles.
"Okay," Helena heads over to the fourth seat, walking past a Mime-like Pokemon sweeping the floor. Upon arrival, she sat on the seat that she was shown.
Her eyes saw many tools and shampoo on the table before her. 'I have never seen this many tools before in a salon.' Helena thought before picking up what seemed to be a hairstyling book. 'Maybe they have some unique tools to this World.' She smiles.
Helena looks over to the waiting area where Flannery was sitting, checking on her Rotom Phone. Soon enough the same hairstylist entered the scene, tying her tool pouch around her waist. "Thank you for waiting, how do you like your hair styled?" She asked.
"Um…I'm not sure, something simple?" Helena answered the stylist.
"Hai, I know the look for you," The woman smiles, starting her work on Helena's hair.
Flannery smiles, seeing an angry text message from Wallace for not being there now. She chuckles mischievously before a shadow covered her, looking up she saw Helena completely different.
"W-Well? How do I look?" Helena blushed, looking to the side.
Helena's hair was now smoother and was cut a bit past her shoulders. She no longer wore the glasses which was curiosity odd. Flannery gave a thumbs up at the former Witch, "Looks cute! Steven will definitely blush redder than any red color!" She jokes.
"W-Wha!?" Helena blushed like a steam engine pop.
Flannery laughs, getting up from her seat, "Alright, we're all done in getting you ready to venture off!" She smiles before asking something else. "Say, what happened to your glasses, Helena?" She asked,
Helena blinks before she answered, "Oh, yeah, the hairstylist called over her friend, a makeup artist, and gave me contacts since my glasses are wearing down." She explains to the red-haired girl.
"I see, well they are a Beauty Salon, they have everything regarding beauty supplies," Flannery commented on their supplies. "Did you pay already, Helena?" She looks at the new trainer.
"Yes I did, so we're going back to the Trainer School?" Helena asked the red-haired girl,
Flannery gave a light chuckle at Helena's question, she raised her Rotom Phone at her. "Heheheheh,"
Helena looks at what seems to be an angry text from someone. "…Eh?"
At the Trainer School, Roxanne, Brawly, and Steven were all waiting outside of their Headmaster's office for Flannery and Helena to return from their little shopping trip.
Wallace was pacing back and forth, checking his green Rotom Phone for any message from Flannery. "Wallace, relax. They'll be here." Roxanne said, trying to calm the teal-haired boy.
"Oh I know, Roxanne." Wallace's face twitches, clutching his Rotom Phone. "It's the fact they are late. I don't blame Helena of course, it's Flannery that I'm mad at." He stated.
Brawly chuckles, his arms behind his head casually. "What do you expect my man, Flannery tends to come in late given the reason." The sky-blue-haired trainer commented.
Wallace turns to Brawly, annoyed with his attitude. "Don't talk to me of being late, Brawly." He points at the young Surfer, leaning on the wall. "You are the worst when it comes to being on time!" He points at the young Surfer.
Steven sighs at his friends bicker with each other as usual. He chuckles at the never-ending love/hate friendship they have.
"Oi! So everyone's here?" Everyone turns around to see the red-haired girl walking over to them. "Oh wow everyone's here, that's great!" Flannery smiles brightly,
Wallace growls, marching up at Flannery, "Flannery, do you know how long we've been waiting for you two!?" He shouted at her friend.
The red-haired girl waved her hand at the frustrated teal-haired boy. "Hey now, shopping for the right clothes and other things for a journey takes time." Flannery shrugs, smiling as she moves to the side. "Besides…"
Steven's eyes draw over to Flannery moving to the side, revealing Helena's new appearance. His eyes widen, cheeks blushed red at her new look.
"Woah, what a glow-up!" Brawly got off the wall, liking the style Helena has. "Looking good Helena!"
Roxanne walks forward, smiling at Helena's new look. "That looks so cute on you Helena," She looks at her hair, finding that cute too. "And that hairstyle, it suits you."
"Right? I knew taking her to the Boutique and Beautifly Salon was the right call!" Flannery cheered,
Helena blushed, pushing away some hair away. "F-Flannery, you're making me blush…" She smiles.
Wallace sighs, placing his hand on his chin and having a good look at the black-haired girl. "Mmm, it suits you." His green eyes looked over to Steven, standing still like a fool. "Steven, don't you think so too?"
"W-Wha? What was that Wallace?" Steven shook his head, coming out of his daze.
Wallace sighs at the Steel-blue haired boy, "What do you think of Helena's new clothes and hair?" He asked again his question to him.
"R-Right, ahem…" Steven looks over to Helena, shyly showing him her new look. His cheeks blushed upon seeing her, "I-It looks great, Helena…" He coughs,
Helena smiles, her cheeks blushed a little. "T-Thanks, Steven."
There was silence for a few moments, both the young male and former Witch were shy to say anything else. "U-Um…"
"Ahem," Both trainers jumped like Meowths, hearing Wallace along with everyone else watching them. They look at the teal-haired trainer smiling at them, "If you two are done doing…whatever you were doing, the Headmaster is waiting for us inside his office."
"R-Right!" Both Helena and Steven responded,
Steven turns hastily at the door, grabbing the doorknob, "Let's go inside, everyone!" The Steel-blue haired boy led the group inside the Headmaster's office.
The group of trainers, experienced and rookies standing before the old Gym Leader. "Headmaster, you asked for us?" Steven asked the Gym Leader.
Keith nodded, his Sceptile standing beside him. "Yes Steven, I have." He placed his hands on his desk, looking at the group of trainers. "As you all are aware, we have a Pokemon that escaped the daycare. This Pokemon, Kirlia is untrusting of Humans and must be returned to the daycare."
Helena steps forward, curious why would he wants to retrieve Kirlia. "Um, Headmaster, if I could ask. Why do you want to bring back a Pokemon that isn't trusting of Humans to a place filled with Humans?" The former Witch asked, wanting to know the reason.
"It's a simple answer, Helena." The Headmaster smiles before frowning at the reason. "Kirlia was found abandoned near the Trainer School. We of course ask around the students if they lost her but-"
Steven looks at Helena, continuing the old man's explanation. "But we later found out that she was injured by People that she was escaping from." The Steel-blue-haired boy said.
"Yes, soon after we received the report from Officer Jenny explaining that smugglers were smuggling Pokemon from the Hoenn Region," Keith explains, clutching his hands at those despicable people. "Fortunately they were apprehended by the authorities, but the Pokemon developed a distrust of Humans. Kirlia was sent to our daycare to help her get comfortable but…"
"I understand," Helena got the gist of the story. "Having Kirlia out there is bad since she doesn't trust us yet. If we leave her out then it'll cause problems, not for us but people too."
Wallace nodded, "Yep, you got it there Helena."
"And as trainers of this school, it's our responsibility to see that neither Pokemon nor people get hurt." Roxanne points out their duty as student trainers.
Keith stands up, walking over to his students. "We believe that Kirlia is either in the Petalburg Forest or here in Rustboro City. It's your job to find and return Kirlia back here," He took out two Pokeballs and gave them to Helena.
Helena held her hands out, watching him putting them in her palms, "H-Headmaster, what is-"
"Normally I won't do this but seeing that you didn't really have time in finding a partner for this," Keith stated with a smile. "But we can't have a trainer out in the World without a Pokemon. For the time being, you can use my Corsola."
Helena looks at the Pokeballs in her hand, a bit weird how this small ball can contain a Pokemon. "Um, how exactly does a Pokemon fit inside here?" She looks at the Gym Leader.
Keith closes his eyes, "When a Pokeball hits or touches the Pokemon it opens up and converts their bodies into light and gets stored as energy." The Gym Leader informed Helena of the basic knowledge of Pokeballs.
"Ah, that's awesome!" Helena smiles, looking down at the Pokeballs. "Oh, what's in the second Pokeball?"
"That's Kirlia's Pokeball. As I said, smugglers smuggle Pokemon out of the Region." Keith explains further. "They do this by capturing them inside Pokeballs. We got Kirlia's when she was transferred here."
Keith cleared his throat, looking at his students. "Now, go out and return Kirlia safely to the daycare." He smiles at each of them, "I have faith that you all will succeed,"
"Hai!"
The six left the Headmaster's office, walking in the halls to the exit. "Is it really alright for us to leave the school when it's the middle of the day?" Helena asked the group.
"Oh yes, the Headmaster wants us, students, to experience the outside world," Wallace explains to Helena. "He wants us to know how to navigate Cities and how to speak with other people."
Roxanne nodded, looking at Helena. "He's preparing us for our journey when the time comes," The brunette continued after Wallace. "After all, we're on our own after we finish our schooling."
Helena blinks, seeing that her new friends was planning to leave Rustboro. "O-Oh,"
"Don't worry, dudette!" Brawly smirks at the black-haired girl, "We're all planning on traveling the entire Hoenn Region so we can challenge the Pokemon League. Well, most of us are.' His eyes motions to Roxanne and Wallace.
"What do you mean, Brawly?" Helena asked the Sky-blue haired boy.
Steven turns to her, hearing the question. "Wallace wants to become a Pokemon coordinator and Roxanne is aiming to become a teacher."
Roxanne blushed, scratching her cheeks. "I-It's something I always wanted to do since I was little." The brunette giggles.
"I'm more of those performing type of trainers." Wallace flips his hair dramatically, stating his dream. "But that doesn't mean battling isn't my passion. I was trained by my Shishou in the art of battle." He said.
Everyone groans at Wallace's ego showing, posing in a sudden appearance of a spotlight.
Helena's face flattens seeing the strange anomaly, unsure where on earth it came from. 'Where did that spotlight come from?' She thought.
Roxanne interrupts the teal-haired boy priding himself in the halls. "Alright! That's enough of Wallace's vanity." She chuckles, getting annoyed with Wallace. "Now, how do you guys want to do this task that Headmaster wants us to do?" She asked everyone who went with her.
Wallace sighs having his spotlight taken away from him. "Fine," He placed his hand on his sides. "Steven? I know you have a plan for this mission." He looks at the young trainer.
Steven smirks, having one already in mind. "Oh? you're asking me?"
Helena leans toward Roxanne, confused about why Wallace is asking Steven. "(Hey, Roxanne, is Steven like a leader of this group?)" She asked the brunette next to her.
"(Mmmm? Oh yeah, Steven is a natural leader. Though at the beginning Wallace had an outing with him on who should lead.)" Roxanne explains to Helena a little of their background on how they formed this group. "(Believe it or not, Wallace is considered to be Steven's rival. But he only shows it when it comes to battling and whatnot. When we met in the forest, those two were competing on who can spot the most Pokemon.)"
"(Okay, but how did Steven become the leader?)" Helena asked, understanding a little between the two friends.
Roxanne looks at Helena like she grew a second head. "(Isn't it obvious? They battle of course and by the things you have seen, you can guess who'd won.)" Her eyes motions to the Steel-haired boy grinning at his rival.
Helena's mouth made an O shape, guessing who won that battle.
"Just say it, Steven. We don't have all day for your smug attitude." Wallace crosses his arms, turning his head away.
"Speak for yourself, Wallace," Steven smirks back.
Brawly and Flannery sigh, feeling that this will take forever.
Helena steps forward, smiling at Steven to try to get him started on his plan. "Um, Steven what is your plan exactly?" She asked,
Steven looks at everyone in their little group. "We all know that Kirlia can't teleport far off distant like Lavaridge Town or Dewford Town. So she's possibly in either Rustboro or Petalburg Forest." He stated,
"We can add that Kirlia doesn't like Humans," Brawly interjected, his arms behind his head. "So for her going into shops is low. But alleyways are a different story," The sky-blue-haired trainer added.
"That's still a lot of ground to cover," Flannery added,
Steven nodded, crossing his arms. "Yes, that's why I devised a perfect plan for this." He points to Flannery and Brawly. "Flannery, Brawly, you two will search at the upper part of the city." He looks at Helena, "Helena you wil-"
"Go with me," Roxanne raised her hands abruptly.
"Huh? Roxanne?" The former Witch looked over at her new friend.
"Care to tell, Roxanne?" Steven flattens, wanting to be partners with Helena.
Roxanne raised her finger, smiling at the reason why she wants her to be partners. "First, this is Helena's first time doing one of the Headmaster's missions and she's new at being a trainer." She points at Steven, "You may know how to be a trainer but you're a terrible teacher."
Wallace covers his mouth, holding in his laughter both seeing Steven's devastated expression and the fact it's true.
Brawly smirks, looking at a pale Steven. "She got a point there my man,"
"Maybe next time, Steven when you know how to teach." Flannery chuckles.
Roxanne smiles at a devastated Steven. "I can teach her how to be a trainer, you can show her some advance stuff later Stevie." She giggles.
Helena gave a light smile, having to agree with the future Gym Leader. "I would like to learn those advance battling when I get the basics down," She pushed her hair out of the way, "If you don't mind, Steven."
Steven blushed, nodding to her request. "U-Uh, yeah, sure."
"Then that means me and Stevie are partners then." Wallace looks at a red-faced Steven. He looks down, smirking at the chance to see an embarrassed Steven. "We'll take the lower half of Rustboro,"
Roxanne nodded, "Then we'll take Petalburg Forest, plus it's a perfect place to show Helena around in Pokemon battles." She stated.
Everyone agreed with the plan and headed outside of the school. Once outside, Steven and Wallace were about to leave for their assigned area. "We meet back here once the sun in two hours or if we found Kirlia." He informed everyone.
Brawly smirks, walking with Flannery. "Seeya dudes!" He waves,
"We're going to find Kirlia first! See you losers at the finish line!" Flannery waved before running off into the northern part of Rustboro.
Roxanne and Helena walk past both boys, heading to the entrance of the City. "We'll be back you guys," Roxanne waves,
Helena smiles back at Steven, "Good luck you two." She said.
Steven steps forward, "Be safe!" He said, watching them leave for the forest.
Wallace looks at Steven, curious why he said that. "What was that Steven?"
Steven chuckles, doing a big step forward. "Oh? Nothing!" He laughs, rushing off into the City.
The teal-haired trainer sighed let out a small chuckle and followed his rival to find the Pokemon.
AN: How do you like it? Please leave a comment or review.