Chapter 3 - Lightning

GOOOOOL

Celeste sometimes acted as if she understood what her pokémon said. In a more general way, she did, but their exact words would always be a mystery to her. The curious girl always wished she could understand it, though. Particularly, she remembered asking her father about his probopass.

'Why can't Nosey say words like us, papa?'

She was very young then, and would often spend the day pestering the compass pokémon. It wasn't really called Nosey, but when she was four, she absolutely loved that it would answer to the cutesy nickname she came up with. Celeste was glad to know such a kind and cuddly rock type.

At this moment, though, she was glad to not be able to understand pokémon language. After all, whatever the not-so-cuddly rock monstrosity in front of them was saying left her friends in complete shock.

GOOLEEEEM GOL

The golem cried again, angry at the trespassers. Machop fainted at its feet.

LEEEEEMMMM

After another cry, Celeste was also looking at the golem in horror. How could she not? When there was a giant rock flying towards her and her pokémon. She needed to act fast. So, in a split second, the trainer jumped in to protect Aria and Powder, rapidly pushing them out of the way, much to Aria's distress. Wasn't it supposed to be the pokémon protecting the trainer?

They will be safe, Celeste celebrated, just as the rock hit her already injured hand.

Celeste thought she would know if she broke her hand. She was right. She was certain now her hand was not broken before. However, it was broken now, and the trainer was about to pass out from the pain.

As her vision slowly blacked out, the girl watched several things happening. Another rock was coming at her; the panicking vulpix was freezing everything she could; Aria was trying to pull her trainer towards the door; and a pair of combat boots was walking in.

"Trooper, quickly use Reflect to stop the attack. Follow by Iron Tail," a stranger with a rough voice and a unovan accent shouted.

And just like lightning, there was a flash and then darkness.

—*—*—

Everything was too bright when Celeste opened her eyes again. She tried to use one of her hands to shield herself from the light. It hurt. In panic, she realised her fingers wouldn't move, but when she tried to assess the damage, her two pokémon jumped on her bedside and started licking her face. When did she get to bed? She wondered, with eyes still adjusting to the morning sunlight that was creeping in through the infirmary's blinds. Was she in an infirmary?

"Hey you two, it's ok," Celeste said, almost in a whisper. "I'm okay," she finished, calming down, as she saw a splint on her hand.

"What you are is lucky," nurse Joy burst in, startling her patient, the chansey at her side furiously nodding. They didn't look happy at all. She was in a pokémon centre… Wait. Why was she in a pokémon centre and not an actual hospital?

"Why… How did—" Celeste tried asking, her mouth not cooperating.

"We deal with minor human injuries here," nurse Joy cut in, still very impatient. "Private Surge brought you in. He said you were trying to fight a golem… by yourself."

"I didn't want the rocks to hit my pokémon."

"And what did you plan to do once the rocks hit you?"

"I…"

"I understand you are new at this, and yesterday was your first day, but for your pokémon's sake, you need to act smart and not get hurt. They can fight and you can't, you know? You need to…" nurse Joy started saying something, but after a deep breath changed her mind. "Just think things through and do what's best for them in the long run."

Yesterday was her first day as a pokémon trainer…. And it was over. Despite what nurse Joy had said, she was alive and mostly well. Celeste survived the first day of her journey. Her mother was wrong. She didn't give up. And today was a brand new day.

Today was day two.

"Wait. Who the hell is private Surge?"

—*—*—

As Celeste walked into the centre's lobby, she immediately spotted a tall, muscular, blond man wearing combat boots. She recognised the boots.

The stranger started walking toward her. She couldn't help but notice his entire ensemble which consisted of more than just the combat boots. He also wore camouflage cargo pants and a camouflage jacket. Wasn't that a bit of overkill (not to say useless) for someone living in a big city? At least his sunglasses were pushed up on his head.

"Hey," said the man with the rough voice she had heard in the previous night. "I'm glad you are ok, little girl. You should try to be more cautious."

"Little… girl?" Celeste repeated, annoyed. Who was this weirdo? She could bet he was not even eighteen years old yet. "I'm not a little girl."

"Right…" said the blonde, with his lips curling into a small smile. "Only a baby would be stupid enough to fight a golem, like you did last night."

Annoyed, Celeste wondered if this was the private something nurse Joy mentioned. He seemed like an asshole. Was that a requirement for law enforcement in this city?

"I was trying to do your job, mister private," Celeste muttered.

"What the hell are you talking about, little girl?"

"You are private Surge, aren't you?"

"Yes…"

"Well, you police people are useless," Celeste stated defiantly.

"I'm with the army, kid, not the police."

Was there even a difference? The girl rebutted, "Whatever."

She still needed to get her things back, and this man was just going to stand in her way.

"Well, thanks for your service… uh, sir. But I'm totally good now, with no evil golem in sight. So we gotta go," she offered, while gesturing for her pokémon to leave.

"… You aren't going after it again, are you?" the man asked, blocking the way out.

"Of course not," Celeste lied unconvincingly.

Surge studied the girl in front of him. Crossed arms, brown hair still a little messy from the previous day, and big hazel eyes. She wasn't that much younger than him, and he could just tell she was the stubborn kind. It didn't take much for Surge to conclude that this little girl would do her very best to get herself smashed by a rock today.

"Okay," the private said, a little defeated. "It's Celeste, right?"

"What?" Did he recognise her? Celeste panicked. She wanted to be taken seriously, and she was sure he wouldn't take Celly seriously.

Oblivious to her plight, the man explained, "Nurse Joy said that was your name. Let's have breakfast. My treat. You can tell me all about that golem over pancakes."

—*—*—

The little café was nice. Charming, even. Celeste thought it didn't match Surge's personality in the least. Yet, he and his raichu, named Trooper, seemed to be regulars there.

"Can you bring us more pancakes?" the private asked, and the waiter gave him a small salute in response. "And bring the special syrup, as well. I'm sure my little guest here will appreciate it."

Celeste smiled timidly.

"As I was saying," Surge continued, turning to the girl. "When I saw a little girl and two baby pokémon sneaking around town so late at night, I knew there was something wrong. So I followed you."

Aria whined in response to being called a baby. That was a title for Powder only. She was the most amazing eevee in the world, after all.

"They must be a gang of pokémon or something. They stole our supplies. I just wanted to get it back," Celeste muttered, ignoring her still whining eevee. "It's not like I wanted to go look for a bunch of thieves myself. I tried the police, and as I said, they were useless. That officer Jenny wouldn't even listen to me…"

Surge sighed. Of course they wouldn't, he thought bitterly. The police's lack of help has been an ongoing problem for him too.

"So now what?" he asked, not bothering to hide the suspicion in his voice.

"Move on, I guess," she lied. "It's not like I can get past that golem…"

With a sigh, Surge said, "If you tell me what you are really going to do, I can help… a soldier is basically a police surrogate, I suppose."

"I…" Celeste started, she didn't want Surge's help. She could deal with her problems by herself. But her pokémon caught her eyes.

Do what is best for them, the girl recalled the nurse's words.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted.

The pancakes arrived, and Celeste took a bite, thinking that pancakes had no right being this appetising. Surge said nothing, he and his raichu seemed entertained enough by the food.

"You see, I am on a journey. To become a strong trainer, I guess. We kind of started yesterday, so we haven't figured everything out yet, anyway," Celeste said, embarrassed to tell this stranger about her shortcomings.

Surge looked her up. Wasn't she a little old to have just started?

"And well… I kind of spent all my money on a bunch of items and gear I thought I needed," the trainer continued. "When that machop showed up and stole it, I just… panicked."

She took another bite, avoiding the private's gaze.

"One thing led to another, and we found ourselves in front of that golem," she added after another bite. "I… I should have known better than to just jump in there like I did."

"Well, I guess I figured you out, Celeste," Surge said, laughing. "You might not be a little girl, but you are definitely a rookie."

Before Celeste could open her mouth to protest, Surge cut in, "Lucky for you, rookies are something I can deal with. Don't sweat it. I'll help you rise through the ranks in no time."

What was that about? Celeste wondered in indignation. She didn't want this weirdo's help.

"Tell you what, why don't we go together face the golem and get your things back?" the man said, entertaining the idea of training the girl. It would certainly be fun to break her. "Your ice vulpix can help. It has the type advantage, you know?"

Celeste looked at Powder. Ice attacks were strong against rock types, she remembered. But what good would that be against that golem?

"She has never been to a battle before," Celeste added. "I'm not even sure which moves she knows."

"Well, after yesterday, I'd say freezing ones," the blonde chipped in, taking a mouthful of pancakes. "But I always say that the best way to train pokémon is going to battle. So let's have a battle with a rock monster."

Celeste really hated this plan.

—*—*—

In the daylight, the trainers saw the shed from the previous night was pretty run-down. In fact, the entire plot of land was a hazard. Perhaps there have been some construction there long before, but now there were rocks and flimsy structures bound to collapse at any minute. They had been lucky to have avoided an accident.

"I didn't know this place was a problem," the private said, a little embarrassed. "And with pokémon stealing things… I'm sorry, no one helped you out."

"I guess it wasn't your responsibility…" Celeste said. "I mean, that shouldn't take an army to deal with a few pokémon in a crumbling building… Actually, I am curious. Tell me, Surge, what is up with this army thing?"

"What do you mean?" Surge blinked, confused at Celeste. "Private is my ranking, if that is what you are asking," he answered, then proceeded with more excitement in his voice. "I might be deployed again soon. I'm hoping that by the time I'm back, I'll have made up to sergeant or lieutenant."

"What I meant is that I didn't know Kanto had an army. But, good for you, I guess?" the girl smiled. "I like the sound of Sargent Surge. The alliteration is on point."

Surge snorted, "The alliteration, huh?"

"Where are you going to be deployed to?" Celeste asked, while tiptoeing around some barbed wire. It was a miracle she didn't get any serious injury in the previous night. Other than her broken hand, of course. "I didn't know Kanto was fighting any war," she finished.

"There is always some war to fight somewhere, rookie," he said, with a sad smile, not bothering to elaborate. Celeste, deciding that topic was delicate, dropped the subject in favour of something more lighthearted.

"Can you stop it with the rookie?"

Private Surge laughed but was cut short when the pair saw the machop leaving the shed. He shoved Celeste behind a boulder and signalled the girl to have her pokémon ready while releasing his raichu.

This was going to be Powder's first proper battle. And it was against a particularly strong rock monster. Celeste was nervous. She never battled a pokémon as strong as that golem. But she was a real trainer now, maybe not a very good one, but a trainer nonetheless. And Aria had had battles before, so it was not like Celeste was completely inexperienced. She also wasn't alone, raichu was going to be there.

She felt a knot in her stomach. As a trainer, she had to protect her pokémon. How could it be okay to let her little fox fight that big golem?

Private Surge noted Celeste overthinking, so with a slap on her wrist (the good one), he made the premier ball in Celeste's hand fall down, releasing the white vulpix. Finally, with a shove, he forced the girl to walk toward the shed.

As in the previous night, as soon as they found their way inside, there were rocks flying in their direction.

"Trooper, Reflect!" Surge took the lead. "Now it's up to you, Celeste."

"What?" Celeste said, startled.

"This is your boot camp, rookie. Be confident, and your pokémon will follow suit."

"I…" Celeste faltered, but Powder didn't. The vulpix was ready, confident even. Powder was being brave, so she had to be brave too. They could do it. Celeste decided. They could win against the evil golem.

"Powder use… ahh… whatever ice attack you know! Freeze everything."

Private Surge chuckled. He had a good feeling about Celeste and her pokémon. He somehow saw potential in them. But, by God, the girl had absolutely no idea what she was doing. With that thought, he watched as the alolan vulpix filled the shed with gusts of snow.

"That is a fitting move for little Powder…" he said, raising a hand to shield himself from the wind. "It's called Powder Snow."

Celeste smiled at the name. The golem had stopped attacking because of the snow. Was it frozen? She wondered, but soon let go of the idea as she realised it worriedly. Maybe it was afraid of the ice?

"Powder, give it all you got!" the trainer commanded with newfound confidence. "Use Powder Snow!"

And with the cry of the little vulpix, the snowy gust intensified. Unfortunately, neither Celeste nor Powder considered they were in a small enclosed space and soon the small shed was in complete chaos. The wind and snow circling around was taking away their visibility.

"Watch out!" Celeste barely registered the private's warning when she realised the golem was launching its body over to the vulpix.

"Powder, no!" the trainer yelled, momentarily at a loss. "Dodge it," she tried commanding, but it was too late.

The golem was faster and, even with the reflective wall protecting them, Powder was out with a hit. Was Celeste that naïve to think she could have won?

In a second, she was ready to throw herself at the fainted pokémon, but Surge held the impulsive girl back.

"You have a pokeball. Don't throw yourself in the middle of the battlefield. Call it back instead," he said hurriedly. "Trooper, use Iron Tail!"

The electric mouse left his trainer's side, promptly launching an attack. As the golem stumbled, Celeste managed to return her fallen pokémon.

"Let's not drag this!" Surge yelled. "Wrap it up with Brick Break."

Celeste marvelled at how swiftly the raichu moved, and at Surge, who seemed completely in sync with his pokémon. Would she ever be this good of a trainer?

The battle seemed almost over. The golem looked exhausted and one more attack would finish it.

"Trooper…" Surge started, but a cry that was becoming all too familiar to Celeste interrupted him.

"Macho machop choop."

The machop was back, carrying some berries and supplies.

Medical supplies.

"Wait!" Celeste said, shocked at her new realisation. "Surge, please tell your raichu to stand down. We made a mistake."

Note: Chapter 3 is here! This time there is sort of a battle. But I guess I'm still figuring out how to write those! Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. :)
Update 20/01: Reuploaded the chapter with some corrections.