Chapter 3: A new family
A/N: Hi guys, I know it's been awhile and I'm sorry about that, so I made this chapter extra long just for you. Let me know what you guys think in the reviews.
Chapter 3 START
Athena's POV:
The Pokemon centre was bustling with activity, trainers and their companions coming and going from the front desk where they either collected their pokeballs containing their Pokemon from the Audino working there or leaving them there to be healed. Some sat on the side and waited as most of the time the healing process didn't take long or at least that is what I concluded from seeing some trainers immediately leave after having their pokeballs taken away for only a few minutes.
It was a good thing that Nurse Joy wasn't needed right now and her Audino assistant could deal with all the trainers as she was currently talking to Sarah, who's sitting beside me. Her racing heart from a while ago after the unexpected encounter with the battered Weavile had subsided after hearing what Nurse Joy had to say.
I watched her talk with that warm smile. I wasn't able to understand all the words that were being conversed because I'm still very young, but I still can pick up a lot of words humans use when speaking. When Pokemon hatch from their eggs, they are able to comprehend the basics of human and Pokemon language very quickly, even quicker than human babies. It's only for a short period of time, about a moon cycle which is why it's good to engage with hatchlings as much as you can during this moon cycle.
It's still not fully understood why this mechanic exists in Pokemon, but researchers believe that it's an evolutionary trait we've developed when Pokemon were heavily used for war in the past. They were bred for war, so they needed to quickly understand at least the basics of human language especially attack moves, so they could be put in the front lines.
I was able to make out a few key words through their conversation like lucky, capture and most importantly healed. I loved that word. It always brought me and everyone else happiness and it was the one that I understood the most. When Sarah's mother was ill a week before our journey, my mother who's an Audino used her healing abilities to help cure her. I was in such awe that I excitedly asked her what she doing and she explained that she used her healing abilities to help others who are injured. Thereon I admired her more and became fascinated with healing even though I wanted to be a fighter.
"He has been treated and is resting comfortably now. He's one tough Pokemon, but even the strongest need a helping hand sometimes."
Sarah nodded, her relief evident in her eyes. She couldn't help but smile and I could sense her emotions going from anxious to happiness which made me also feel happy.
"Thank you so much for taking care of him. I was really worried when I saw him like that. I don't like seeing Pokemon in distress so when I saw him all beaten up, I couldn't help but jump in and help." Nurse Joy's smile widened, pleased to see the selflessness within the new trainer.
"It's our duty to help trainers and their Pokemon in need. We're always here to provide care and support. He'll be conscious soon, so you can see him after I bring him here." She turned and left through the long hallway.
Theodore's POV:
When I woke up I wasn't surprised to still see that I'm back in the forest. Did I really fall asleep in the middle of nowhere though? In a new world where flaming dogs and massive bees exist, it would be a careless move that I would never do, so why am I just randomly in this annoying place again? I would've at least gone to the mountainside and warmed up a fire in a cave or make a camouflaged tent on the treetops.
However, the feeling of tranquility hit me, stopping all questions in my mind.
"Wow. I've never felt like this before." I flexed my fists and felt like I had the strength to crush a skull with it. It wasn't like that before.
"Then lets try this...Woah! Hey! Ahhh!" I luckily landed on my feet and not my head after I took a high jump and was surprised by the distance I reached. This is amazing! I could feel the freedom I now possessed to be able to do what I want. I smiled. With a few more sloppy acrobatic moves that I've seen on YouTube, I now realize that this is how my body is meant to be at full strength.
"This is the best sleep that I've ever had. I didn't know you could feel this refreshed after just another night. Is this what those guys are on about when they say sleep is important because if it is then I've been missing out." And as much as I would love to keep jumping around, I would rather spend the energy trying to find civilization.
When walking a few steps I saw something very strange. I wasn't in the same forest before heck it was only a group of trees I just walked out of. I was in some sort of miniature snowy landscape like someone had shrunken Antarctica into an island. Although it was freaky, it did make it enchanting in its own diminutive way. A tiny mountain dusted with a delicate layer of snow. A quick-ending river with a few icy patches floating on it.
However, what was the most disorientating thing to see was the absolutely pitch white background in the sky and beyond the view of this island that reminded me of the first time I met with the being. Actually, before I carry on narrating my perspective, I'm going to call him Shinigami because calling him 'the being' all the time is annoying and yes I know that is a Death Note reference. I just saw an episode and remembered the name...anyway back to the story.
Am I dead, like actually dead this time? What else could have happened. I must have died from the Beartic when I turned around and let my guard down. Dang, a rookie mistake that cost me my life. At least I beat it. Sure it may have killed me, but I proved that I'm the superior one. Imagine if it had won due to it being better than me. Just the thought of that makes me shiver in fear.
"So this is Weavile purgatory or something. Gotta say It's not that bad. I haven't played on a PS5, but if that was here, I think it would be quite chill. Pun not intended. I walked to the edge to see if this island was actually floating or where the small river's water was going to.
*Bump*
"Ow." I couldn't look over the edge because when I got there a glass plane hit me. It was very high-quality glass as It was completely transparent. I felt over it and yep, it expanded over the whole island like a dome. My heart clenched tightly for a very brief second thinking that I was trapped in here until I put pressure on my claws and there were scratch marks over the glass.
Excellent! If I can scratch it then I can definitely break it. And sure enough, after a few hard punches cracks started to form. I smirked.
"Hah! If they think that I can be trapped here like a zoo animal then they have another thing coming." After a few more punches, the cracks expanded so much that many pieces fell out at once and formed a hole just big enough for me to fit through. Behind the hole wasn't the Garden of Eden, but a pitch-black background that was darker than anything I had ever seen. Even more than Kim Jong Un's soul.
It was ironic and a bit creepy to see completely opposite colours in their absolute forms next to each other and it made me take a step back from whatever was behind the hole.
"I can't be arsed to sit in this icy winterhole, so wherever you're gonna take me better be prepared for my gracious furry ass." And I dived in, ready for any unexpected scenery that would unfold onto me again.
Nurse Joy's POV:
While I was walking to the Restoration Machine, I couldn't help but think again about that Weavile. How did it get so injured? It was a wild Pokemon, so while they do tend to fight they never get pushed to this extent. If a fight occurs one side backs off after a few blows. It reminds me of when some trainers come in with their Pokemon companions very injured after pushing them too far during training, and I have to tell the stubborn trainers off.
Also, the data I got from the automatic scan in the restoration machine was messed up, like literally. The data didn't come out right like the time when I was still an assistant and placed a pineapple to scan. Anyway, I should just be glad that Sarah was there at the time and captured him in a Pokeball. The Restoration Machine can heal Pokemon in their pokeballs completely, but can only be done once every 2 weeks. I won't go into the details of it because it's not important.
Many trainers don't know this but you can capture a fainted Pokemon only if it's in a very dire condition just in case something like this happens.
When the doors automatically opened, I saw the Weavile already out of its pokeball standing in confusion. Not a shock as he had been captured without a battle. I let out a giggle after seeing him curiously looking around the room, cutely. They aren't native to Unova, but Sinnoh, and even though they can be found rarely in other regions, they aren't found in the wild of Unova.
So how did this mystery get here?
Theodore's POV:
I swear it's annoying how I get transported from one place to another. Where's next your mother's ass? It was so nice in that little island ohh the sensation I felt there was like no other. Maybe I should have just stayed there if I'm going to be sent to some other place... Nahhh that isn't my style, I only move forward and trample on others.
looking around the room, I found myself in some sort of hospital-looking ward except it was only the actual architecture and there weren't any beds or anything. There was one thing, a large intricate looking machine that had some futuristic effects that you would find in a sci-fi movie. It had six spherical molds on the top. There were many of them in rows, each connected to their own single plug. The one I came out of had a pokeball on it.
So I'm still in the Pokemon world huh? Hold on, if what I was in was the inside of that pokeball then that means I've been captured. But I didn't face a trainer or any human for that matter, I was still looking for a city.
"Hello Weavile."
"WEEAVE" I jumped a few feet in the air after hearing a voice from behind me. Unexpectedly, it was a young woman dressed in pink and white nursing clothes; it was Nurse Joy from the anime. I wonder if the 12 sisters look exactly the same now that I'm seeing this without cartoon graphics. She approached me before kneeling so we could get to eye level.
"He he sorry about that Weavile." she chuckled. "You are in the Pokemon centre because you were badly injured and then saved by a very kind girl. I had to say, it was quite a shock that you gave us, but don't worry now, you've been completely healed."
I was saved? That's a strong word to use for a medical professional.
"Hey lady, my mind is a bit fuzzy so I'm going to need you to fill in some details."
"Come, I can take you to her right now." She ignored my request. I don't like rude people.
"I just asked you someth-"
"Follow me" She turned away and walked to the door.
"Hey didn't you he-" And that was the first time I truly heard what was coming out of my mouth. This entire time I hadn't realized what I was saying because every conversation I had was as if I was talking to another human being in English, but now that I intently listen to myself, I only hear the word Weavile. I now remembered that Pokemon only speak using their names.
So that's how it works; something in the Pokemon brain that automatically translates what other Pokemon are saying. This is bad. If I couldn't speak to people then how am I supposed to find Shinigami or get the resources to do it. Nurse Joy was at the door so I hurried to her to meet the girl. I'll deal with this issue later.
When we got there I was instantly tackled by a mini wrecking ball, a bit of spit flew out my mouth. She hugged me tightly with a vice-like grip.
"Arggh! Get off me you weirdo!" I pushed the ball of cloth away and escaped the hug. I almost suffocated and panted for a moment before regaining myself.
"Hi there. I'm Athena." said a sweet young voice. I looked around, but no other child was there. Oh there she is. A ralts? I didn't expect one to be in Unova, but they appear in all regions don't they. She was a third of my size, so small kids back at home would have kicked her like a football if they saw her on the sidewalk without even realizing what she actually was.
"Uhh Hey?"
"I'm sorry about that, I'm just so glad you're okay. You have no idea how scared I was back then. Anyway, my name is Sarah and this is Athena, my partner."
I honestly don't know what to think of this. A little girl and Ralts were my amazingly powerful saviors. My chest squeezed and face scrunched as my pride took a big blow. It was just cringey to believe that I wanted to forget it. I should at least know what happened though. I may not be able to talk to the girl but I can talk to the Ralts.
"Hey Ralts."
"My name is Athena."
"Uhh sure. Tell me what happened to me that I w-"
*GROWL*
3rd POV:
A sudden and unexpected sound broke the conversation- a low, rumbling growl emanated from Theodore's stomach. His eyes widened in embarrassment as he was flustered by the untimely interruption. Nurse Joy, with a warm chuckle, leaned closer to him.
"I think someone's hungry." She remarked, her laughter filling the air. "Don't worry, the cafeteria is open, but it'll close soon. You should all grab a bite to eat, it has been awhile since you've been sitting here Sarah."
The young girl grinned, her Ralts sharing in her excitement. Theodore, though still slightly embarrassed, nodded in agreement. Yes food sounds like a good idea. I haven't eaten in about... I need to eat right now. Watch out chefs because daddy's hungry.
The cafeteria was just like the ones you would find in a secondary school. Round tables and all. The girl, Sarah, told me and Ralts to wait at the table on the edge. It was next to a wall made of glass showing the view of a well-kept garden. She went to the food section to get us our lunch. Damn it I forgot to tell her what I wanted. Please bring me a steak. Pls pls pls.
But then he remembered something more important.
"So Athena. Tell me what happened. Where was I when you found me and why was I so badly injured that it got Nurse Joy acting like I was about to die?" The small creature who had to use Sarah's bag to boost her up to a seat, turned to face him.
"We found you by the forest down the street." she said simply. "You came out and looked really really sad, but don't worry, Sarah and I helped you and got you all healed up."
So I was in fact injured heavily. What could have caused it, the only thing I remember before this is... YES! Now I remember. The end with the Beartic. It used what I assume was hyperbeam when I turned around. Shit I shouldn't have done that, I should have expected it. Stupid stupid stupid. You should never turn your back on an opponent. It will never happen again.
"I'm so excited to have you as my big brother. I've never had one before." she said with a smile.
"What do you mean older brother?"
"Oh Sarah hasn't told you yet, but she said that you're now my big brother. You're so cool. We'll go train, then beat the gym, then train then build a sand castle, then beat the gym wait did I already say that? Then we'll..." Theodore shut off the rest of her rambling, contemplating what she said.
Big brother... Theodore remembered coming out of that pokeball back at the restoration machine. I've been captured. Nurse Joy said it was necessary to get me back here but now that I'm officially that girl's Pokemon, she has my future in her hands or at least that's what they think. I'm a human, not a Pokemon and if they think I'll be treated like one of those circus animals then they have another thing coming.
It was back in his childhood when he sat on the couch and it was the first time he had watched the Pokemon black and white cartoon. He was excited to see creatures with extraordinary abilities and unique personalities. But as the episodes unfolded, a sense of disappointment washed over him.
In those early episodes, Pokemon often seemed to act like loyal servants to their trainers, obeying their every command without question. At first, he thought that it was just a plot thing that the writers didn't want to deal with, but instead rush things to the good part, so he ignored it. However, he saw no development of their partner's character. Sure there may have been some things here and there but that was it. Most partners just came and went for their trainer's convenience.
The concept of the Pokemon world, where these incredible beings formed partnerships, had left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was as if the very essence of what made Pokemon remarkable was being overshadowed by the notion of subservience.
As he watched, he couldn't help but draw a comparison between Pokemon and domesticated animals, like dogs. It had left him with a lingering belief that these creatures, despite their incredible powers, were somehow inferior, reduced to mere tools for human desires.
Screw being in a team of Pokemon, I've got better things to do. Help this girl win the Unova league? She doesn't even look like she can go through the forest by herself. Theodore woke up from his thoughts after hearing the clang of 3 plates on the table. Sarah sat down next to Athena and started her pasta with chilli con carne. Athena herself dove into the Pokemon food like one would in a swimming pool.
"What the hell is this shit, is this Pokemon food? It looks like you took a dump and smeared it over some pebbles you found on the street. Fuck's sake it's not even in a plate, it's in a bowl." It felt like karma had hit him after his monologue of Pokemon being like pets then he is the one eating from a bowl.
However, as the aroma of the meal wafted up to his sensitive nose, his mouth began to water uncontrollably. It was a struggle to resist the enticing scent that his stomach was begging for, and he found himself torn between his reluctance and the tantalizing promise of a satisfying meal.
He looked at Sarah's pasta and would rather eat that instead. He almost pounced on it if it wasn't for the fact that he didn't know whether Pokemon were allowed to eat human food. He didn't know if Weaviles had the same digestive enzymes as humans that could break down human food or if he would find himself like a dog eating chocolate. He could be poisoned and not the status type of poison, but death poison.
He didn't want to risk it. Arghh but... Survival triumphed over pride. If it was any consolation, at least he could say that he proved his statement right; humans will adapt to any case to win. With a trembling hand, he picked one of the pieces up to his face. A bead of sweat went down as he stared at it. Come on! It's for survival. It's for survival.
*Crunch* *Crunch*
A second passed but for Theodore, it felt like an eternity. Immediately, he was scooping fistfuls of the food and devouring it greedily, his earlier reluctance completely forgotten. It was surprisingly delicious, a mix of textures and tastes he had never experienced before. This taste, it's like if you get your favourite food then times it by ten then... I can't even think anymore. The taste is that good!
Sarah and Athena paused from eating as they watched in amused astonishment when the Weavile was practically shoveling the food into his mouth.
"Wow you really were hungry weren't you." she said sweetly with slightly widened eyes. "I've never seen a Pokemon eat that fast before and I've seen my dad's Snorlax eat." She couldn't help but chuckle at this sight. Theodore took a small pause, his bowl only having a thin layer left.
"I have been told that I eat a lot. Most of my bag back at work had my lunch and a bunch of snacks, but what can I say. A genius's brain needs energy to think, although I've never had something as delicious as this." Truly, when was the last time he could enjoy a meal like this. Before, everything used to taste bland and had lost its flavour back when was in the lab, obsessed with his research. Truly, when was the last time he could sit down and instead of thinking about science, he could taste his food?
Right now it was like his eyes had opened slightly to something he couldn't see before.
...
Theodore finished the rest of the bowl in one swoop. He looked at himself and the crumbs all over his coat and claws. He frowned and grabbed a tissue that was on Sarah's tray before wiping it off. Sarah was amused as she figured that Weaviles were on the graceful side. She and Athena were now done with their meals, so she took the plate and bowls before leaving the table.
"You two stay here alright, I'm just going to give these to the front." Theodore ignored her as he immediately dropped from his seat before stretching his limbs. A few cracks were heard as he groaned in satisfaction.
Alright, I've been fed, healed, and now ready to get out of here. He tries to take a step towards the cafeteria door, but a childish voice called out to him.
"Where are you going? Sarah told us to stay right here." She gets down by holding on to the side of the chair before dropping. She's so small. "We have to wait for her."
"Listen kid, you and uhhh kid helped me out and apparently saved me. So for that, I kindly give you this handshake." It was more like a finger shake with her small hand. "And a wholoping fuck you." He said before leaving again.
"What does fuck mean?" For god's sake.
He swiftly turned, hand raised and eyes glowing. He snarled at her annoyance and was about to move, but a small potent jiz from his heart went around his body, stopping him from any movement. Then to his shock, the Ralts in front of him was no longer there but was instead a familiar Cubchoo looking at him in curiosity. He sighed and put down his hand that was threatening to be enveloped in shadows.
Perhaps it isn't a good idea to be running around without any resources or guidance. She also has my pokeball which is kind of now my prison.
"Is everything okay? I thought I told you both to stay at the table." Theodore jumped slightly when Sarah appeared right behind him. Her voice was slightly worried and that was when he noticed some of the surrounding trainers and their Pokemon staring at them. Whoops was I a bit too loud?
"Nothing is wrong Sarah. Me and Athena were just having a delightful conversation." He knew she couldn't hear him, so he had to put up an expression to get his message across. He forced a smile that felt foreign and uncomfortable. He hoped it was convincing enough to hide his true feelings, but the ache in his cheeks told a different story.
"Yeah, I learned the word fuck" He was glad Sarah couldn't understand her. She put up a genuine smile that radiated brightly before kneeling down to him face to face.
"Hey Weavile, I know we haven't been together long, but I want to offer you the opportunity to join the family."
"Weavile?"
"You can journey with us throughout the region and then we can beat the Unova league and become the champions of Unova. So what do say?"
"Hah! You winning the Unova league, I would like to see you try. I bet you can't even beat the first gym, but I'll entertain you for a bit." He nodded and Sarah smiled even wider.
"Great! welcome to the team, I promise you won't regret it. We'll have so much fun together!" She said, eyes dancing with enthusiasm. "So first things first is a name. All members of team Sarah must have a nickname."
Theodore shot a glare at her that could freeze a Magmar. His name is Theodore Nieoldiek, a renowned biologist who's been part of many papers and won't be called anything else. He won't accept any she gives for this mockery.
"How about Sweety?" She suggested, ignoring his glare.
"Oh come on this isn't diary of a wimpy kid." That name reminded him of the scene in the third movie where they bought a dog and fought for what to name him. He shook his head.
"Then what aboooouuuut Fifi?" He facepalmed when she jumped, thinking it would be so cute to name him that. Again he shook his head, furiously as his patience was wearing thin.
"NO! THAT'S NOT EVEN A BOY'S NAME! You named Athena after a Greek goddess you could at least say Hercules. Not that I'd accept it anyway, but it's better than your other suggestions." They continued to exchange responses. One giving childish names meant for a girl's hamster while the other kept shaking his head to the point he became dizzy.
"Noooooo! Please just stop, I can't handle the cringe!" He huffed as sweat was starting to form and... was he cross-eyed? "I know you're a teenager- a petite one at that- but this is ridiculous."
He wanted to simply say his name was Theodore, but this damn language barrier prevented him from doing that. That will need fixing soon if I want to make my intentions clear. Sarah, seeing his dissatisfaction, relented.
"Alright, since you don't like them we can think about it later. Weavile return." she pulled out his pokeball and his eyes widened in alarm. He instinctively extended his arm to halt the process.
"NOO-" his world blurred and twisted as the red beam sucked him into the pokeball where he met a familiar gaze. He sighed tiredly. Sarah and Athena exchanged surprised glances when the pokeball on Sarah's sash opened and emerged Theodore in a flash of energy. It was an unprecedented sight for both of them; They've never seen a Pokemon autonomously exit their pokeball before. The Weavile stood before them, panting and clearly irritated, fixing an icy glare at them.
"Don't do that again." He growled, his frustration evident. Although, Sarah was unfazed.
"I guess having you out is okay. There's only two of you so far so I won't mind. Besides, you're pretty tiny." The comment did elicit a faint blush, a reminder that he was about the size of a child. "I've already booked a room for us, so lets go. We're planning to challenge the Striaton Gym first thing tomorrow so an early night is in order."
He looked outside and saw that the sun was giving off its last rays of light as it descended into the horizon. Did I wake up that late? I have been running around in a foreign body in a place where any person would die without supplies, so it's a reasonable indulgence.
When they got there, he couldn't help but be astonished. After getting the keys and going to the bedroom, he didn't realize how big the Pokemon centre was until he the number of floors on a signboard. The centre was part of a large hotel meant for traveling trainers when they were getting their gym badges.
Actually entering the room had given him a large feeling of nostalgia. The bedroom- along with its facilities like a shower, fridge, TV, and a few other things- were almost a replica of his own back in his old world. He can remember when he first kept a pet Daddy Long-legs in the corner and removed each of its legs to see how it would move. It's only been a few days and I already miss it... Dang this feels a bit wierd. I've never reminisced about my stuff before.
"What's wrong?" Athena asked next to him, startling him.
"What makes you think anything's wrong? I'm not scowling am I?"
"It's just that you see I can feel a weirdness from you I haven't felt since me and Sarah left home." She can sense my feeling of nostalgia!
"How...how are you able to do that?" She giggled, happy to tell him about her feeling power.
"My horn picks up emotions that others send out, so if someone is happy, I can sense their happiness but if someone is sad then I sense their sadness. I don't like sadness, I would rather have everyone be happy."
"So It's true, the Ralts evolutionary line can sense others emotions. I just remembered that it's one of your most famous abilities. Awww this is so awesome!" This was the first time she sensed happiness from him, so she smiled widely too. "How does it work; do you pick up chemicals from the air like warrior ants when attacked or is it like sea turtles who sense the magnetic field of the Earth or maybe it's..."
Athena just stared at Theodore while he kept walking in a circle and spewing words she couldn't understand, but she kept smiling as she now sensed intense curiosity, stronger than the one she felt after being born. It was so concentrated that after a moment, she had to block off her horn's sensor cells when they got overloaded. This only happens when the emotions from the person weren't just mere feelings but obsessions.
"Athena Weavile it's time to sleep." Sarah called out, already in her pyjamas and tucked into bed. Athena jumped onto it- to Theodore's surprise- and tucked herself in too. They both looked at him as Sarah patted the spot next to her to which he rolled his eyes.
"Pfft you're not my mother." He huffed before climbing in anyway. He shivered from the immense comfy fluffiness of the cover which he didn't expect. If this is made of Mareep wool then our sheep would pale compared to them. It's like I'm in a capsule of comfort... Actually, it's a bit too comfortable.
"Weavile can you tu-" He switched the lamp off by pressing the discrete button at the top of it in his first attempt before she could get a word in. Smart.
Little did she know what he was planning as she hugged her Ralts and mumbled goodnight. She wouldn't be expecting to wake up in the morning to realize her new furry friend missing. It was taking a lot of will for Theodore to keep his eyelids open as the darn bed kept pulling him to the depths of sleep. He had to fight the desire for what could be the absolute best sleep he was to ever experience if he wanted to execute his plan and having droopy eyelids wasn't helping.
must resist... I must resist. Come on Theodore think about escape. Just.. j-just think of being free and...
He went to sleep.
However, a persistent nudge from his brain, a small whisper reached out like a beckoning hand, compelling him to awaken. Grudgingly, he woke up and rubbed his eyes before looking out the window. It was still pitch black out there, so he jumped out much to his dismay, and carefully tip-toed around the room.
Whoops mustn't forget about my pokeball. He clenched the prison within his hand that almost cracked it. Silently, he reached the impending obstacle standing in his path, the door. He trod lightly, thanking god that his Weavile form- built for stealth- didn't bring out a faint squeak from the floor, before easing the door behind him. He took a deep breath before moving onward.
Pass the hallway, to the stairs to ground 3 where there should be another set of stairs taking him to the exit. Excited, he navigated through the hospital, ready to be hugged by liberty. At least that's what he thought. After maneuvering past some trainers who were going to their rooms, no doubt to challenge the Striaton Gym or to see other magnificent sights, Theodore found himself in a storage room.
"Brilliant! I went through the whole hospital like a badass ninja and now I'm stuck. I can't even ask anyone except their pets for some directions. At least give me some time to fix this stupid language barrier! Why doesn't this Pokemon hospital have any signboards, the place is massive." As he looked around at the many boxes sorted out in neat piles, he contemplated. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. He might find something useful in his journey as he didn't know how currency or shops worked.
They never explained that in the anime they just showed them asking for something then getting it. Ooooh They have some flavoured Pokemon food! At the top of a huge stack there lied in big bold letters. GIOVANNI'S PREMIUM BEEF & VEGETABLE POKEMON FOOD. The thought started to make him salivate and unconsciously climb up to it. He didn't bother stacking shelves as he thought his new Weavile skills could let him climb it right?...Right?
When he reached the top, his weight shifted unsteadily, causing the stack to wobble. With a sudden bad angle of footing, he fell all ten feet, landing with immediate pain spreading all across his precious backside. The Stack also fell apart and like Jenga blocks, crashed onto the ground causing a loud noise to echo around the room. However, the heavy crate of Pokemon food fell down on his furry head with a cringeworthy snap.
After waking up again, he looked around in confusion and his answer came from the many crushed cans, ripped papers, and other items scattered across the floor. It was one hell of a fall. Holding his head from the pain, he walked out to find the exit whilst looking like a zombie from the walking dead. He groaned from even the slightest of noise as his headache was beginning to worsen.
"This looks good. Clean and bright lights fit for the front of house." But when he fully opened his eyes and rubbed them off their blurry mess, he saw a few teenage girls all focusing on him. One had stopped her applying her lipstick just to see the new arrival and after a moment of awkwardness, many things quickly happened.
For the trio of girls, they had carried on what they were doing. Sometimes the odd Pokemon stumbled into the bathroom, but who cares; they weren't interested in human parts. But for Theodore, he rushed out of there like his life depended on it with a myriad of thoughts. Many of them being apologies while the rest were about the consequences he could potentially face after seeing some underage girls in the bathroom.
Covering his eyes as shame took over his body and made him run without any direction, he didn't realize he was running directly into a wall. He felt the impact and guess what... fell unconscious ag- no wait. The Pokemon body is, including the bones, stronger than a human's, so he wasn't Mr Lewis to cut his eyebrow on it. (Guess where that reference is from in the reviews). However, the unsteady shelf above him had finally broken, and the many metal gadgets it was holding had fallen, hitting his head and sending him back to the shadow realm.
Fuuuuuuuck ami I dead yet? God please take thy soul already, I can't be arsed with this shit. He woke up with a pounding head, wishing to find the darn exit before
"What time is it!?" He looked out a nearby window. Struggling to reach there, he was glad it was still night, but the sun was beginning to rise and show its celestial rays. He had to hurry before they awake or it's goodbye freedom.
He took one step before almost dropping as his nausea made the world appear upside down. It was a struggle before he got his bearing, but after 13 minutes, he finally found what he was looking for. His eyes sparkled and his furry ass tingled from the sight of the waiting room, if the setting wasn't obvious.
"Nurse Joy isn't here too delightful! Freedom my darling, I've missed you" He walked towards the exit. "I know I haven't visited in a while but please understand that I've- you know what forget the formalities and lets just kiss." And yes he was about to kiss the naked fresh air that will hit his face as soon as the doors open.
"INCOMING!" He felt his spine break as he was powerfully knocked back by a little pink puffball whose looks disguised the wrecking ball she was. She was carrying a huge crate of medical resources above her and carelessly ran through the waiting room. She wasn't even paying attention to who she ran into.
"Happiny, how many times do I have to tell you to stop running through the centre like that! Honestly, one of those packages will end up on somebody's head one day." Nurse Joy scolded her, arriving after tending a patient to see how her new apprentice was doing. She let out a weak frown as she knew it will take this one a bit of time to get up to scratch with her ecstatic behaviour. "Hey, are you okay?!"
She spotted a grey and red plushy laying behind the reception desk. After close inspection, she let out a breath of relief. She obviously recognized who the Weavile was, and apart from a nasty bump on his head- almost hidden from his shaman hair- he was fine. But why is he here, shouldn't he be in Sarah's room or did he somehow wonder here? That's careless of Sarah. She didn't carry on the thought; you see weird things when dealing with Pokemon.
At first, she thought of getting Happiny to take him to Sarah's room but removed it immediately. She would end up breaking down the door or his back. I need to get to another patient so I can't go through the entire hospital myself... what do I do? She jumped back slightly after hearing Theodore groaning. He got up, dismissing her outstretched hand, and limped back to his room through subconscious directions.
Opening the door and not bothering to be stealthy, he hopped into bed and pulled the remaining blanket onto himself. Sarah and Athena were still asleep despite the constant creeks he left. Good, because he really wanted to be in heaven's pocket without hearing another voice.
(Timeskip)
The two got ready; bathing, brushing, and getting dressed swiftly as today would be an exciting day for them. Athena grinned as her trainer groomed her dress, making it as smooth as a Perloin's fur. Sarah was beautifully humming in the background. They weren't exactly subtle, Theodore put a pillow over his head and wanted to scream in anger. He's lived alone his entire adult life and doesn't put on background music when writing reports.
Seeing this, Sarah threw his blankets off, revealing him to the bright sunny sky.
"Rise and shine Weavile, today is the day we take on the Striaton Gym, so I need everybody in tip top shape." He grumbled but got out anyway before walking to the bathroom. "Wait, don't you want me to brush you. Athena's given me 5 stars."
"Ralts Ralts."
"I can ready myself, I'm not a child." It only took a few minutes for the two to finish off the remaining makeup; it made them more adorable than they already were. He too was done; bathed and groomed surprisingly well for someone who's only been a Weavile for a few days.
"Wow." Sarah gasped at his majestic appearance. She didn't see him other than being bruised or scruffy, but now she just wanted to hug him all day long. If this is how he's meant to look like then she's sure he would destroy coordination battles in Sinnoh.
They packed their things, thanked Nurse Joy for everything then left the centre. Theodore was slightly nervous as he hadn't seen the city before and didn't know if it represented the anime or something else. After seeing the excited nature of Athena he couldn't help but get a bit angry at himself.
Come on man she's a child and you're the one getting nervous. Pull yourself together.
"There's no shame in being nervous you know. When I came to the city for the first time, I was nervous too." Athena said.
"Nervous? I'm not nervous just ready to beat the gym leader." Athena's mouth made an 'o'.
"But the feeling you're releasing is the same Sarah did after leaving for her journey. I can remember the face she made is a bit like yours, but don't worry I'm here for you."
"...Sure." When they got through the door, he immediately scouted the streets. "My god."
The view was wonderful. The buildings, tall and wide, were the peak of modern architecture. The bricks, paint, and windows weren't weathered in the slightest as if new. They were taken care of frequently. They were adorned with colourful banners and decorative facades loomed overhead.
The streets themselves were captivating. Made of cobblestone, they wove through the heart of Striaton, where people with their Pokemon strolled leisurely, creating a lively tapestry of sights and sounds. It drew him in, the smiling, cheering, laughing paired with the clean streets which weren't polluted in the slightest, reminded him of Shinigami's words. It went something like 'you gain more from looking after your community'. He wanted to reject them, but his logical mind kept a feeling at the back of his head, one that considered them true.
Walking the path to the Striaton Gym, they went past lushus parks and gardens that provided great pockets of greenery for relaxation. There was a Leavany gently pushing a small boy on the swings as his parents were seated on a royal bench, watching in delight. There was great joy with the families as they kept smiling like nothing was wrong with the world.
"...Hmph."
If Theodore could remember correctly, the anime proposed the Hym's interior as a restaurant and after some words, Ash got to pick his opponent although he picked all three of the triplets.
Cilan's Pansage is a grass type and is weak against ice type attacks that I should be able to use. Perfect, this should be an easy battle. Hopefully, the kid isn't dumb enough to not use me and use the Ralts. Actually, it's her first gym battle so she might. Hmm this could be troublesome oh yeah If you're thinking why I care, it's because of last night. You don't get knocked out three times in a row unless something earie is happening, so Shinigami might be doing some crap to keep me with her and 'learn my lessons' fucking sloppy twat.
He knew it would be best to move forward then see his next steps. They arrived at the Striaton gym and a feeling of nostalgia hit him. He was sitting on the couch and confused at seeing a restaurant inside a museum-like building and now seeing it for himself brought some excitement. Curling his toe claw, he moved ahead of Sarah and opened the door himself.
The two girls' cheery smiles fell to confusion at the many tables and the three familiar waiters catering to a few people. It wasn't rush hour right now, so most tables were empty. Sarah just stood there not knowing what to do, she expected a battlefield where she could put her skills to the test, but found this. One of the waiters, Chilli saw her and came.
"Hello ma'am, if you could take a seat at table 4 then I'll take your order."
"Oh no you see I'm actually here for a aaahh!" she was nudged to the table where she couldn't help but sit down as Chilli brought out his notepad and pen. Theodore looked over the menu to see many delicious wonders which he genuinely to try. That was an odd thought to him because before, he wouldn't care about the taste of his food only his work.
"So ma'am what would you like to eat. We have some great sales today like the dessert menu has an exclusive 10% off or you can have today's special; a lobster supreme." Poor Sarah was a little overwhelmed and shyly asked.
"I-i'm sorry but I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm Sarah and I'm looking fo-"
"And with the special comes a great mojito; freshly cooled and a delight to have in this wonderful weather."
"No sorry b-but I-"
"Or if you're a vegetarian then we have-"
Theodore couldn't help but enjoy the show. He was grinning with his legs on the table while Athena looked neutral, she had never seen Sarah this flustered before.
"Alright pretty boy that's enough." Theodore pulled Chilli's attention. He looked at him in confusion, first from the need of disturbing him when he's giving service then at the species of Pokemon he is. Aren't all three gym leaders connoisseurs?
He started to throw a few jabs at the air which made Chilli alert of what he was conveying.
"Oooooohhhhhh you want a gym battle. I see I see. Boys looks like we got another one." The other 2 waiters heard their sibling and all went towards the back wall. The customers knew what this meant and moved away in preparation for the spectacle.
"Alright Sarah I'll grant your request."
"So you're a challenger then you'll receive a welcome as pleasant and hot as a new day's sun."
"No I think we should be cool like a refreshing water... chilled of course."
The families that were eating cheered happily as they saw their stars in the spotlight. They couldn't help but be ecstatic at the sight of the first gym battle for the day. Theodore felt deja vu at the sight before him. Replace Sarah with Ash and it will be exactly the same scene from the anime.
"I don't understand what's going on." Sarah timidly said.
"We're the Striaton triplets and we will be your gym leaders today. So now it's showtime." They got into their poses as the back wall opened up, revealing a large Pokemon battlefield made of a rocky ground layer and filled with many boulders. On each side was a stand for the trainers and overlooking them were elevated seats for the spectators that were taken up by the families.
The challengers looked in awe at the first time of seeing a battlefield firsthand instead of behind the screen.
"So now is the time for you to choose who your opponent will be."
"I have to select one of you to battle?"
"Correct! You can choose either me, Cilan, Chilli or Cress. Beating either of us classes you victorious against the Striaton Gym and will earn you the trio badge. Before choosing here are our partners." They all released them from their pokeballs.
"Pansage!"
"Pansear!"
"Panpour!"
All monkey Pokemon whose fur represented their types looked in anticipation at me and Athena. Athena was clearly nervous seeing her first opponent first hand, but Theodore didn't look impressed. Actually, he had a bit of a weird expression... it was the same one he had when he kept toying with the test monkeys by taunting them with their food. Ah, it was funny when I kept putting food in front of them then taking it away. How they kept struggling and jumping around in rage but could do nothing.
"I'm honestly not sure who to pick."
"WHAT! Didn't you do any sort of preparation it's your first gym battle for god's sake. Pick Cress, he's the best bet we've got." Theodore pointed at the blue-haired gentleman.
"U-uh okay. I guess I'll pick Cress then."
"Excellent choice madam. I'll make sure your first gym battle will be an experience of a lifetime." Chilli went to the spectator seats while the battlers went to their stands. Cilan stayed on the side to be the referee of this battle.
"Panpour you're up!"
"Panpour."
"Athena I'll pick you. Sorry Weavile, I said to Athena that our first gym battle would be together, but in the next round I'll pick you." So he was right in his hypothesis, but that's fine, he could see how well they battled together and if things get ugly, he'll jump in and win this.
"Sorry to tell you this madam but there are no substitutions. You can only use one Pokemon in this gym battle, so your Ralts will be the only one who can battle."
Now that made his heart rise a bit. If they lost then that will delay them on their journey and will keep them in this city. He needed to move forward if he had any hopes of going back to his human self again. Sarah Athena you better not lose. He stood behind Sarah to watch the match.
"Attention for our first battle at the Striaton Gym, it's Sarah the challenger against Cress the gym leader. Only one Pokemon each and when one side is unable to battle, the battle is over. Begin!"
"Alright Panpour lets start with watergun." Cress made the first move as Panpour released a steady stream of water across the field, aimed right at Athena.
"So um uhh Athena jus-" It was already too late. Athena yelped as she was struck in the chest and sent flying back, hitting the boulder behind her. It was clear that a good amount of damage had been done when she had difficulty standing despite only being hit with one attack. Her evolution line is not known for their defense which is why most trainers tend to work on their speed.
That's a flaw. If you don't learn to take a hit then when you do you're down for the count. Just from that clash I can already see where this is heading.
"Again Panpour. Hit her with watergun but more power this time." Cress's eyes narrowed, seeing how weak Athena's defense capabilities were, and was intending to take advantage of this weakness.
"Athena jump to the right, don't let it hit you!"
At least Sarah's learning. If she didn't dodge that then the dent on the boulder would've been on Athena's skull. I only hope she gets her battling mode on because, at this rate, she's gonna get pummelled.
"Now Athena use hypnosis."
...
"Seriously, you don't even know your partners' attacks!" Theodore exclaimed as the poor Ralts stood in confusion about what the attack was meant to be. Cress didn't wait around for Sarah's next command as Panpour let out another water gun aimed at her legs. She leaped to the top of a nearby boulder, narrowly dodging the attack meant to send her back to the end of the field. Cress was planning to keep spamming watergun until Sarah would finally counterattack.
And now was the perfect time; Athena had the vantage point on the monkey and could use her lines specialty- ranged attacks.
"Now Athena use tackle." Unfortunately, she used the one attack she wasn't meant to use and Athena leaped from the boulder and like a cannonball, was going to tackle Panpour.
The monkey's too nimble, you're not going to hit him.
"Panpour gracefully dodge." He easily moved out the way of the upcoming attack like he was walking in the park or swinging from a tree in his case. Athena only hit the rocky ground and cried out in pain. The aura of confidence Theodore felt from her left long ago.
"Alright that's enough." Too frustrated, Theodore jumped to the field in the middle of the two combatants and stopped any other command from being released. Everyone looked at him confused. "Athena go back to your dumbass of a trainer, I'll deal with this myself." She did as she was told, too upset from her poor performance to reprimand him for interrupting their highly anticipated battle.
Cilan watched on and couldn't help but look in pity. This was against the rules but he might make an exception this one time; the trainer clearly had no idea what she was doing and didn't prepare in the slightest. Usually, he would send such trainers back, but seeing the bold blue eyes of this Pokemon whom he's never seen before and only heard about, made him conclude his decision.
"Usually I would call this a disqualification, but just this once I'll give the challenger a free pass. If you want you can let your Weavile battle instead or you can choose to forfeit and come back another time. If you do decide to the latter then perhaps some preparation would be a good idea."
"No!" Sarah declared. She was appalled at her own performance and felt terrible at what she had put Athena through due to her own negligence. She didn't even know her own Pokemon's attacks what kind of trainer does that! She didn't want to lose, she didn't want to turn back after the whole build up. Later she'll fix up her mess, but for now, she just wanted to win. "I want to carry on battling. I pick Weavile to be my next Pokemon and I know he'll win."
What else was she going to tell her parents, Sorry guys I lost because I didn't know my own Pokemon's attacks. It left a bitter taste in her mouth just thinking about it.
Theodore looked slightly impressed at her unwillingness to give up. He'll have to win this himself which was fine, he would never allow himself to be ordered like a pet in his life. He shooed her away with his claw and her eyes lowered to the floor at the dismissal.
"If we're all on board now then I think it's my turn. Panpour water gun." Using this attack from small range made it less effective, but Theodore quickly sidestepped, not wanting to get hit.
He could smell the subtle fragrance of Cress's cologne lingering in the air, a strong ocean breeze which aggravated Theodore and after a quick glance to see his smile, his resolve to win increased massively.
"Your trainer thinks I'm like the pitiful Ralts, but I'll show him his wrong!" In a burst of energy, he lunged at Panpour who was startled, not used to an opponent moving without command. He sent a flurry of sloppy punches, swipes and kicks which were all dodged effortlessly as Panpour kept jumping around the battlefield, from boulder to boulder. Theodore didn't let up and was determined to do some damage, so he followed using his new mobility to steadily catch up.
"Now Panpour double team." Theodore's heart jumped in shock when his fist went directly through his face, a phantom ghost disappearing and leaving Theodore to hit nothing but air. He looked around and everywhere were many Panpours looking at him with a slight gleam in their eyes.
They're just fake clones made by the double team, they can't do anything except look at me. Problem is which one is the real one.
He was swiftly turning around to eye each one to see if he could recognize the real body. Not knowing how good the illusion's effects were, he tried to see if there would be any slight deviations that would give him away. Nose, tail even shadow were how they were meant to be if the bodies were real.
He didn't hear the command for Panpour to use swipe before he brought his arms to hug himself as the many monkeys jumped at him, ready to attack but only one's attacks caused two cuts on him.
Theodore slipped on a rock and quickly crawled back as his fur rose and eyes dilated when looking at the monster who was once half his size to suddenly become humongous, leering with a calm smile.
H-how dare he! How dare you! It reminded him of the Beartic when he was being chased through the forest running as though his life depended on it. He felt small fickles of memories of his heart pounding and adrenaline rushing. He wouldn't accept something as humiliating as that no way.
Cress's smile fell a little when looking at the field. The air around him grew a bit denser, something he hadn't experienced before but when watching the Weavile who just stared at his claw with a menacing scowl, his skin grew colder.
Theodore's claw shook in anger. He won't accept it no no no no NO!
Remember what you felt. Remember when you wanted to crush that Beartic like the tiny ant it is. She was not the predator but you were, ready to devour her. An ethereal shadow grew out of his wrist, growing in size and enveloping his whole forearm, solidifying and becoming a dangerous clawed gauntlet.
"Let's see how you like this bitch!" A great attack from Theodore soared to the nimble Pokemon's head, set on ending this match right now. However, he missed yet again. His eyes widened.
That's it! Monkeys are known for running away from prey because of their lack of strength against other animals. Let's see how he deals with this surprise. Another attack was meant to be coming for Panpour so he stepped to the side and was momentarily stunned when the claw didn't go past him but was only halfway in motion. It was redirected to where he was now.
A scream of great pain echoed through the hall as Panpour clutched onto his head where three deep cuts laid. Cress's tongue stilled at the unexpected change of battle after he was so sure he was gonna win.
Luckily for him after a jump to the other side of the field, Panpour recovered and although he struggled, he kept standing.
"We need to end this in one final move, finish this with watergun the most powerful one you've used!" From the other side of the field, Panpour inhaled and filled his inside with the most condense water he's ever done as a gym leader's Pokemon.
Theodore wasn't idle, he ran quicker than even from the Beartic, nimbly maneuvering through boulders and using his feet claws to make sure he didn't trip on the ground similar to a cheetah when sprinting.
Panpour released the powerful jet of water as it broke through many small boulders, leaving only dust in their path. He smiled at the display.
"Ha ha now I've got you!" Emerged Theodore, jumping through the dust and with a mad smile, summoned a shadow claw and thrusted it downwards.
Panpour jumped at the silly attack- didn't he learn that he can just out maneuver him, but that's when he realised. There were boulders all around him, blocking his little frame from any escape. Not even a small hole for him to monkey through.
His attack landed and boy if the painful cry wasn't enough to tell everyone the battle was over then it was certainly the black swirls on the eyes of the fallen Pokemon.
"Oh no." Cress sighed, taking out his pokeball and returning Panpour before giving it a smile. "You battled well Panpour, we'll get you healed up in no time."
"P-Panpour is unable to battle and Weavile wins meaning the victor is Sarah the challenger." Cilan announced after a moment of silence. The audience watched in awe at the rare display of strategy coming from the first Gym in Unova. It was even better that the Pokemon fought by itself against a recognized Gym leader and won.
Cress walked over along with his brothers with a small tray containing a badge with 3 gems that showed their respective hair colours. Sarah looked at it in awe, her first gym badge in the Unova league and the first milestone to becoming champion.
"Congratulations Sarah, this is your proof of beating me and the Striaton gym. It's called the Trio badge, you've earned it." Cress said even though he didn't mean that last part. Sarah and the crowd smiled nervously as they too knew it was true. The battle was a complete mess, filled with irregularities. Cress would have told her this if that look of determination from earlier wasn't an indicator she would change herself as a trainer.
"Thank you and thank you Cilan for giving me that extra chance."
"It's not a problem. It was a unique spice when your Weavile used Panpour's strength against him, something you don't see with beginning trainers."
"Thank you, I'll make sure to improve so the next gym leader will see a whole different Sarah." Everyone waved her goodbye as she left with her Pokemon by her side. They went outside where the sun was shining even more than before.
Great, now we can finally go to Nimbasa City. There's a library in there, so maybe I'll find something interesting to read... or I'll have to battle for Sarah again. I don't want to do that so I might need to help her and Athena improve.
"I can see you want to go to Nimbasa City Weavile, but first we're going to be going to the Dream Yard. I was thinking a new friend would be helpful for the next gym."
Or maybe later...
