2-week streak being "on time". Thank you for reading so far!
As they left the outskirts of town, the narrow paved road grew increasingly steep as it wound its way up into the surrounding hills. Small, traditional wooden houses lined the road on both sides, built into the hillside with their black-tiled roofs visible from below.
Daniel struggled to keep up as Motobu strode briskly ahead, the old man's pace impressively fast. His arms laden with grocery bags filled with vegetables and fish, Daniel wondered how Motobu maintained such fitness in his advanced age. The martial arts master must still keep up diligently with his training.
I thought my time on the island would make this easier, Daniel thought.
Lazuli slithered along the ground next to Daniel, barred from perching on his shoulders lest the mischievous Dratini snatch something from the grocery bags.
Many of the homes they passed had modest yards dotted with flowering bushes that attracted fluttering Butterfree. Locals emerged to wave and call out greetings to Motobu as they passed by. He cheerfully hailed them each by name in return.
Daniel noticed decorative Wind Chimes hanging from the eaves of many houses, producing soothing tones that blended with the calls of bird Pokémon. Lazuli paused frequently to investigate the many exotic plants and stones flanking the path. The paved road soon gave way to packed dirt as it continued climbing.
They passed an old woman collecting oranges from a tree into her basket. She smiled warmly at Motobu and offered him a bag of oranges which he promptly handed to Daniel. Motobu bowed deeply in thanks before continuing uphill.
Farther along, a middle-aged man was meditating under a willow tree, a Medicham mirroring his pose. Motobu paused to exchange polite bows with the man before proceeding onward.
It seemed Motobu was not merely respected, but beloved among the local villagers. His graceful humility left a profound impression on Daniel as they ascended into the shaded forest.
"Wow. You're just like a master out of the movies," Daniel remarked.
"Oh, I don't know about that. I'm just a simple man is all," Motobu humbly responded.
"That sounds like something a hidden master would say."
"Perhaps."
"So now can you tell me more about aura," Daniel asked candidly.
"Not yet lad. It's a story that goes well with a meal. Don't ye fret, I'll answer yer questions. But I want to know about ye. Where are ye from?"
Daniel gave his fabricated response. "I'm from Hoenn. Rustboro city."
Motobu raised an eyebrow. "Aye. And what brings ye to Three Island?"
"I was shipwrecked on a deserted island for three months. A guy named Ken Ryoshi saved me and dropped me here. Actually, he mentioned you."
"I see," said the old master. "Tell me, did ye learn to lie while ye were shipwrecked?"
"Wha-" Daniel was surprised by Motobu's candid tone. "What do you mean? I know it's hard to believe, but that's what happened."
"The last half perhaps, but the first half stank worse than Tauros shit. Where are ye really from?"
Daniel hesitated, his mind racing.
This guy's an Aura master. He can probably sense my emotions. If I can do it with minimal training, then it's not a stretch that he can do it effortlessly. But can I tell him the truth? That I'm from another world where Pokemon is just a setting for children's games and media.
Motobu halted and turned to face Daniel, meeting his gaze directly. The old man's piercing orange eyes regarded Daniel with curiosity, not anger. Sensing no hostility in Motobu's posture, Daniel steeled himself and resolved to tell the truth.
"I'm not from Hoenn or any region you might have heard of. I'm from another world. One without Pokemon."
Motobu's eyes bulged. His mouth hung open briefly before responding. "Well. I did not expect that."
"And you can tell I'm not lying right?"
"Aye, lad. Yer words are as true as the sea is blue. I just... another world," Motobu trailed off.
"Should I continue or do you need to take a seat," Daniel asked.
"Now I'm old, not feeble. Tell me more. How did ye get here?" Motobu resumed walking.
"Well, I don't actually know how I came to this world. Frankly, I was more worried about starving or dying of dehydration."
"Aye. Ye said yer world ain't got Pokemon. If that's true, how do ye get any work done? Or what do folks do for fun?"
"Well, we've got machines to do a bunch of work. As for fun, people still do Pokemon battles. It's just that... they're video games."
"Video games? That sounds like something my granddaughter would know about. This old man just knows the television. Do you have television in yer world?"
"Yeah. It's probably not much different."
Or maybe it is. I haven't discovered the political world of Pokemon. I think I'll keep it that way. Daniel Thought.
"So it was just ye sent here. No one else?"
"Yeah I was all alone," Daniel said somberly as a deep pit of loneliness opened within him. He thought of his family, his friends, his entire world - now forever lost to him. In his old life there had always been pressures and expectations weighing upon him, people he constantly feared disappointing. But now all those connections were severed completely. In a way it was freeing - no more obligations or judgments - yet it was cold comfort in the face of such profound isolation.
On the island, Wilson had been his sole companion through those long, difficult days. But now even Wilson was gone, cruelly taken by the rampaging Salamence. Daniel was utterly alone in this strange new world, bereft of familiar bonds. Though part of him was glad to be free of past burdens, that liberation paled against the yawning void of loneliness and disconnection threatening to swallow him. He gazed into the distance, adrift on turbulent seas of loss and sorrow.
Lazuli gently nudged Daniel's ankle, stirring him from his melancholy reverie. The Dratini seemed to possess an innate sense for when her trainer's spirits were low. Daniel wondered if she too shared empathic abilities, allowing her to perceive the shifts in his emotional aura. Or perhaps their deepening bond granted Lazuli an intuitive understanding of Daniel's moods.
Whatever the reason, she always appeared at his side when the darkness of isolation crept upon him. With a simple, affectionate touch, Lazuli could remind Daniel that he was not totally alone in this unfamiliar world. Come what may, she would remain by his side, a loyal friend sharing in the joys and sorrows along the path ahead. Her companionship was a ray of light piercing the loneliness.
Motobu spoke, his words centering Daniel in the present. "I'm sorry lad. It must have been hard for you."
"Oh right. You can sense emotions too." Daniel replied glumly.
"Aye. And yer leaking sadness like an old boat. Tell me, what do ye know about Aura?"
"From what I remember, Aura is the essence of all life. It lets you sense emotions and create ki blasts or something. Lucario and Riolus use it. I don't know much other than that."
"Aye, lad. Ye have a decent picture of it. Aura is indeed the essence of all life. If ye master it, ye can stand up to the mightiest of Pokemon on equal ground."
"Ok," Daniel responded.
Daniel and Motobu continued walking up the forested path in contemplative silence. The rhythmic drone of cicadas swelled, filling the thick, humid air as they drew nearer to Motobu's secluded home.
Soon the traditional wooden structure came into view, nestled harmoniously against the verdant hillside. It shared the same architectural style and materials as the other island dwellings Daniel had passed earlier that day.
The house had classic white plaster walls divided into rectangular sections by dark wooden crossbeams—a few glass windows set in black lacquered frames allowed golden afternoon sunlight to filter inside. The roof was made of heavy black tiles with upturned eaves designed to resemble a Gyarados in flight—a covered porch wrapped around the front entrance, shaded by the gracefully curved roof.
Through the trees, Daniel glimpsed a meticulously cultivated garden occupying the yard. Everything about the scene evoked a sense of harmony with nature and tradition.
Motobu broke the silence."Welcome to my home, lad."
Lazuli sprinted eagerly to the garden. She must have caught the scent of something interesting.
"Hey, Lazuli! Don't eat any of that. It's not yours," shouted Daniel.
"Yer Dratini's a gluttonous one eh?" Chuckeld Motobu.
Lazuli froze in her tracks as Sakura's silver hair suddenly peeked up from behind the bushes, her stern grandmotherly gaze stopping the Dratini's antics in her path.
"So, I take it that this lad here is yer new student," She said, arms crossed.
"Indeed, love. Come, Daniel. This is my wife, Sakura," Motobu said with a wide grin.
The venerable lady wore a pale orange kimono, its colorful floral print obscured by a dirt-smudged apron. Her gloved hands carried a trowel and a pair of gardening snips, evidence of the work they had interrupted. Despite her gentle appearance, she radiated undeniable authority - this was as much her domain as Motobu's, if not more so.
"Where are yer manners lad," Sakura asked sternly. "Love, it seems ye forgot to teach this one propriety before ye got here."
"Oh," Daniel uttered in surprise, slightly flustered. He awkwardly attempted a respectful bow, keeping the bundles of groceries balanced in his arms..
"I invited the lad over for lunch if that isn't a problem of course," said Motobu as he opened the door for everyone.
"Hmph. Aye, it's fine," Sakura acquiesced, though with a hint of lingering disapproval. She removed her soiled gardening gloves and apron before beckoning Daniel and Lazuli inside after her.
Upon entering, Daniel carefully set down the bundles of groceries and removed his rope sandals at the doorway. The socks underneath were dusty with dirt from the day's travels. As he stood back up, Daniel met Sakura's discerning gaze once more.
"Uh, what should I do with these?" he asked somewhat awkwardly, holding up the dirty socks.
"Take it off. All of it," Sakura replied. "Go to the bathroom and clean yer self up before lunch. And shave yer hair off while yer at it. It's the last door on the left."
"Okay," Daniel replied, accepting the orders. "Lazuli, be on your best behavior while I'm showering. Do not touch anything."
"Wouldn't it be better to return it to its pokeball," Sakura asked, disapproval rising from her words.
"She doesn't have one. In fact, she's never been in a real one before," replied Daniel.
"Then have it wait outside," Sakura ordered.
"Her name's Lazuli," Daniel said, trying to keep his tone polite and cordial under Sakura's intense scrutiny. "You heard her, Lazuli. You'll need to wait outside for now. Don't wander too far."
Lazuli looked back at Daniel, her eyes twinkling with concern. She was reluctant to leave her trainer's side, sensing an unspoken vulnerability in him. Though he did not show it outwardly, Lazuli knew Daniel still needed her, whether he realized it himself or not. But the formidable Sakura's stern gaze convinced Lazuli to comply. With a final worried glance at Daniel, she slithered back outside.
...
Azalea poked her head around the corner into the hallway. Her grandparents were having a hushed conversation about something, Grandmother Sakura seeming to prevail over Motobu's objections. Azalea's curiosity was piqued by an unfamiliar pair of sandals placed neatly at the entrance - likely belonging to the visitor her grandfather had mentioned.
Looks like Grandpa wasn't bluffing, thought Azalea.
Azalea slipped away from the hall to resume packing her bag - not just for the remaining weeks of school, but for the grand adventure that awaited as a Pokemon trainer. She packed practical tools for wilderness survival and travel. Glancing around her childhood bedroom, memories flooded back from the many keepsakes on display. There was the stuffed Growlithe her grandmother had lovingly sewn, now threadbare with age. An assortment of old karate uniforms, no longer fitting Azalea's matured frame. Framed polaroids on the shelves capturing cherished moments with family, especially her beloved grandparents.
But one item in particular caught her eye - a simple orange cloth hairband with her name embroidered in bright white stitching. It was a parting gift from her mother, given to Azalea just before she mysteriously vanished those many years ago. Azalea considered taking it along but found herself unable. That hairband represented so much more than just a memento. It was a permanent, tangible reminder of the abandonment and heartbreak she had endured, the deep wounds left by a mother's choice to disappear without explanation. Azalea turned away, leaving it behind with the other remnants of childhood. Some scars were better left to fade with time.
I suppose Smoldering is the same. But he needs me, that kiddy hairband doesn't.
Azalea zipped up her bag tightly, the well-worn cheaper model's pocket dimension smaller than ideal, but sufficient for a starting trainer. A pang of guilt pricked at her, but she swiftly stifled it. Peeking back into the hallway, she caught a glimpse of a Dratini slithering toward the bathroom. Its scales shimmered with a rainbow iridescence - the telltale sign of the rare and coveted Marvel Scale ability. Azalea could hardly believe her eyes.
What the hell is that doing here? It's so fucking rare. Does it belong to... to Grandpa's new student?
That was the most likely option. There was no way a wild Dratini would just nonchalantly wander into someone's home like this. Perhaps it was time her grandparents started locking their doors.
Azalea cautiously approached the Dratini, careful not to startle the valuable Pokemon. "Hey there," she said in a hushed tone. "What are you doing here?"
The Dratini briefly met Azalea's gaze, then resumed trying to wiggle the bathroom doorknob open with its tail.
"Hey, It's occupied," Daniel said, almost shouting.
Having surrendered all his clothes to be washed, Daniel now sat naked on a wooden stool in the simple bathroom. The elderly couple's home lacked modern amenities - no shower or bathtub, just a cold water spout pouring into a large wooden basin too small to fit inside. Using a ladle, Daniel poured the frigid water over himself in an attempt to scrub away months of accumulated filth and grime. He had already hacked off his shaggy beard as best he could with an old safety razor, likely ruined from the crude shave.
As Daniel washed, his mind began to wander into darker territories. He struggled against intrusive thoughts of Wilson's gruesome death - the Oddish's body savagely torn apart and left a bloody mess by the enraged Salamence. How crushingly alone Daniel now felt, utterly bereft of home, family, or any familiar bonds in this strange world. And worse, the guilty realization that some shameful part of him no longer wanted to go back to his world at all.
Am I a terrible person for even thinking that? Daniel silently reproached himself. Is it wrong not to care about what they think, now that I'll never see them again?
Daniel finally gave up trying to wash his matted, tangled hair - the knots seemed permanently tied. Prolonged time alone with his circling thoughts was proving unhealthy, so he began drying off his battered body. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he opened the bathroom door, expecting to find a pile of fresh clothes waiting.
Instead, he was met with the surprising sight of Lazuli cradled gently in the arms of an athletic young woman. She had smooth, tan skin and short black hair styled neatly just below her ears. Brilliant orange eyes like a blazing sunset gazed up to meet his. She wore a form-fitting black tank top, the words "Sevii Academy Athletics" and a Staryu logo printed across the front. It took Daniel an extra moment to notice, distracted by her evident femininity and alluring curves.
Goddamnit Daniel. Are you really gonna drool over the first hot, young woman you see? That's kinda fucked up, man.
Azalea sized Daniel up, finding him unimpressive. Lazuli eagerly stretched from the girl's arms to coil around Daniel's shoulders in an affectionate embrace.
"So this Dratini must be yours then," stated the athletic young woman flatly.
"Uh, yeah. Her name's Lazuli," Daniel responded, flustered. "Were there, um...do you know if Sakura left some clothes out here for me?" he asked, acutely aware of his mostly undressed state.
Azalea rolled her eyes in annoyance. "No. More importantly, where did you get that Dratini?" she pressed.
"I found her on a deserted island as an egg," Daniel responded, affectionately scratching Lazuli's chin.
"Bullshit," Azalea shot back. "Most Dratini's are bred for battle or illegally trafficked. There's no way you just found one in the wild."
"It's the truth," Daniel responded, startled by her hostility. "Can't you tell? Like you grandfather can?"
Azalea's lips curled into an indignant snarl. "So he told you, huh? Well, tell him to enjoy training his new heir." She spun sharply to storm off down the hall, but collided directly into Motobu himself as he entered the hallway—a neatly folded white outfit in his hands.
"Oh my! Talking about heirs already? I didn't expect a great-grandchild so soon," Motobu exclaimed with a sly, teasing grin spreading wide across his wrinkled face.
"I wasn't...Gah! Just shut up!" Azalea sputtered indignantly as she shoved past him in a huff, slamming the sliding paper door to her bedroom shut with a resounding bang.
Motobu chuckled and shook his head. "Quite a handful, that one. Pay her no mind - she's just going through a rebellious phase." He let out another bellowing laugh. "Never thought she'd take an interest in any young man I brought home though!"
Daniel chuckled nervously. He paused, unsure whether to bring up what Azalea had said about being the heir. Deciding it was too sensitive a family matter, he changed course.
"Right. Are those clothes for me?"
"Indeed lad. An old uniform I had lying around. I ain't got any underwear for ye so you'll be going commando for a while."
Daniel accepted the offered clothes with gratitude, then closed the bathroom door behind him. It was a traditional, white karate gi accompanied by matching loose pants. A white belt came as well, with kanji characters embroidered along its length in black thread. Though unfamiliar, Daniel somehow intrinsically understood the kanji to read "Seviian Kobudō, Motobu Kumite's School" - matching the insignia stitched on the uniform's lapels.
So I can read Japanese now? I guess the games were in English, but... Daniel tried not to think about it too much.
Carefully, Daniel donned the worn uniform, taking care not to let Lazuli's enthusiastic tail knock over the various bottles and sundries cluttering the bathroom. As he tied the belt around his waist, the soft, frayed fabric brushed against his nether regions, making him suddenly self-conscious of his nakedness underneath.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Daniel found Motobu waiting patiently in the hall.
"You look sharp in that gi, lad," the elder remarked, giving an approving nod. "Come. Lunch will be ready soon."
Motobu led Daniel down the hallway into the traditional dining room. Like the rest of the house, the floor was covered in woven tatami mats. The fibrous material felt soothing under Daniel's bare feet as he followed behind.
In the center of the room, a short-legged table sat low to the ground. Simple square cushions surrounded it on all sides, intended as seats for meals. Beneath the table, a square hole in the floor allowed diners' legs to hang comfortably.
The late morning sunlight filtering in through the translucent paper windows gave the room a natural, diffuse glow. Daniel breathed in the rich aromas wafting from the nearby kitchen - the savory scent of broiled fish, warming dashes of soy and mirin, and the fresh aroma of steaming white rice. His grumbling stomach reminded him it had been far too long since he had enjoyed a proper, home-cooked meal.
"Oi. I thought I told ye to keep that Dratini outside," Sakura exclaimed.
"Right. Sorry," Daniel quickly replied.
"Ye can put her there," said Motobu, pointing at a sliding glass door past the kitchen.
With an apologetic frown, Daniel lifted Lazuli from his shoulders and set her down outside the front door. "Sorry Lazuli, you'll have to stay out here for now. I promise it won't be for long."
His heart sank as Lazuli gazed up with large, pleading eyes, her face pressed mournfully against the glass while watching Daniel walk away. He could feel her disappointment piercing into him even through the barrier.
"Azalea, lunch is ready!" Sakura called out.
Azalea burst from her room and took a seat at the low table, nearly shoving Daniel aside in her rush. Daniel did his best to ignore Azalea's rudeness, instead choosing to watch her orange shorts as she passed.
I really shouldn't be looking at her that way, even if I was stranded for three months.
Daniel joined the family at the table. It was a simple meal of steamed rice, miso soup, and broiled fish. Daniel wasn't seated for long before Motobu addressed him.
"So Daniel, how do ye feel about yer visit today?"
"Well, I greatly appreciate all the kindness you've shown me. Thank you Motobu, Sakura," Daniel said, deeply nodding in thanks to his hosts.
"Aye, lad," Sakura said flatly. Motobu simply nodded back.
"I did promise ye a story about Aura," Motobu said, his orange eyes twinkling with excitement.
Well, it finally happened. Azalea and Daniel met in a way that I'm sure didn't foreshadow their future relationship. You do know that people can just be friends, right? So anyway, tell me what you thought of the family interactions here. I tried to make each person distinct. Now if only I could give Daniel a personality.
Thanks for reading!