Dear Grandma,
I hope you are well, I'm sorry I haven't called much. Since I've been in Johto it feels like its just been one thing after another. I feel like a Yamper jumping through hoops recently. Its going well though, I have three badges and almost a full team! Ryan said he spoke to you about the forest and my knee, don't worry though I'm all fine. Ryan and Daisy dropped me off on the outskirts of Goldenrod City as that's where the next gym challenge is. Once I'm into the main city I will call you. Hope all is well at the hospital and you're not pushing yourself too hard.
Love you
Dustin
I fold up the paper as always into the envelope, the Delibird postman almost snatches it away and rushes off to deliver.
"The Fearow postman were a lot more chilled" I mumble under my breath
It had been a few days since the incident in the forest, I had been dropped off on the outskirts of Goldenrod. In the past this had just been a normal route as any in Johto, however due to the increased trade in Goldenrod, business has expanded out and it was almost like a beach boardwalk nowadays. There hundreds of stalls and beach huts all selling different wares, items and some even selling some Pokemon. There are carnival rides, amusements room with video game and claw machines. I had read somewhere that a lot of inspiration had been taken from Nimbasa City in Unova. Due to this and feel slightly rushed I decided to take some time off not rushing forwards, it was nice to spend some time in this almost seaside resort.
"So Croconaw, wanna go and check out the beach today?" I say turning to Croconaw who stands next to me
"Croco!" It roars happily
"Sounds like a plan, It will let Lapras stretch herself too. Plus I have heard warm sand is good for eggs, I think its pretty close to hatching now"
We head down the boardwalk then descend the stairs to the beach, it pretty huge spanning almost the whole coast all the way up to Ecreteak and then across to Olivine. You can see the huge lighthouse of Olivine City from the beach. It still pretty early so there are not many on the beach which is nice, Croconaw immediately bursts towards the sea and dives in as soon as out feet touch the sand. It darts around jumping in and out, it had become calmer since evolving but it was still prone to bursts of energy. I throw out Lapras who happily splashes around in the water calling out happily. I send out Bayleef, Sudowoodo and Quilava too. Bayleef stretches out before hunkering down in the warm sand to take in some sun, Sudowoodo look around slightly worried by the water.
"Do you want to go in your ball? You don't have to be out" I question it
It looks at me before shaking its head, it points off over towards a rockpool
"Oh do you want to forge some stuff for medicines?"
"Sudo!" I calls back happily
"Sure, just shout if you get any issue"
It nods before rushing off, I smile as it does thinking about how much it grown in the week we've been together
"So just me and you Quil" I say sitting down and patting Quilava
"Quil!" It calls out happily
"In fact you can help me out, the egg really close to hatching now. I want to make a pile of warm sand for you too heat up"
It nods before helping me to create a pit to sit the egg in, Quilava then wraps it body round it burning it fire lightly to heat it. I place my hand on the egg and smile
"You hatch whenever you are ready little one"
I sit with Quilava who just happy to chill and heat the egg. Lapras and Croconaw splash around in the water, racing each other and diving down deeper. Bayleef happily sleeps away, it leaf glows a bright green taking in the sun. I can spy Sudowoodo popping up every so often, its made a small pile it wants to use, on the market I had bought it a small pouch for it to wear to store not only its orb but also its medicine. I sit and look out over the sea as it brushes softly against the sand. This is the first time really since I had started my journey back in Kanto I had just stopped and relaxed. Between Mom passing and starting up in Johto I hadn't realised that I had passed the year mark of me setting off with Bulbasaur. I was 14 now too, I had celebrated my birthday in the wilderness outside Violet City a while back, I had told Grandma I didn't want much fuss but when I arrived in Violet City a package was waiting for me at the centre filled with new clothes and other trinkets. I pull out my phone, one thing I hadn't checked in a while was my trainer rank for the junior world championship. Since I had gotten into the Johto region other than my loss in the first gym match against Faye and the draw against Oscar I had won all of my matches. I had participated in 45 battles so far with Croconaw and Quilava getting a lot of the victories along the way. Quilava and Croconaw were sitting at level 29 for a regional level with Bayleef just behind on 28. Lapras and Sudowoodo were lagging behind a little on 24 and 23 but I hadn't had much time to battle with them. I'd been really nervous about my ranking to see it, it was coming to the end of May now so it was unlikely that I would be able to make it into the first Junior Championship, so I was trying to avoid thinking about it. The Junior Championship had been delayed by a month now to the end of August rather than July as not to clash with Ventress Conference in Unova. I hadn't look at it since I had seen it for the first time.
"Come on Dustin just check it, the number doesn't matter"
I hover my finger over the check rank button, I take a deep breath before touching it
Rank: 386th
"WHAT!" I shout, disturbing Bayleef and Quilava who bark at me in disgust
"Oh ah, sorry guys" I say before quickly looking back to my phone, I drag the screen to be bigger in tablet form
There's a tab on the ranking page that allows you to track your rank. My rank had greatly increased after the Junior championships in Kanto, jumping from the 1200s all the way up to 258, it then drops down when I took my break for Moms passing going down to 566, since getting to Johto I had worked my way back up ranks now finding myself where I am.
"So, I have to make up 258 places to get into the world championships, if I was to win the Johto Silver Conference then maybe I might be able to make it in. That would be crazy" I mumble to myself
"would we even be ready for it?" I question looking around
I look to Quilava and Bayleef who have now settled back down to sleep again then to Croconaw and Lapras who are now racing each other
"We have to train more, plus I have the guys back at Elms lab they would be strong especially if they are training with Ryans Pokemon everyday"
I shake my head before slapping the side of my face like I waking myself up in the morning
"Small steps, no pressure on it. We just have to keep moving forward"
"DUSTINNNN!"
I look up to the boardwalk to see a familiar face waving to me
"Louise!" I shout back
She rushes down the ramp and runs up jumping into a hug, it takes me back a little losing my balance but I manage to keep myself up right
"How are you? It been ages!" She calls out happily slightly welling up
"I'm fine, are you okay? Whats with the tears?" I say with a laugh
She starts to wipe her eyes
"I don't know, just happy to see you I guess" She calls back laughing
She manages to calm herself down a little before we take a seat next to Quilava and the Egg. I begin to talk about my journey through Johto so far, she sits and listen inquisitively taking in all the information.
"So yeah, I have like 56 of the Johto Pokemon now and have been sending them off to the conservation centre, they've given me my own dome now and all my Pokémon are going into one which is cool. Quilava and the guys are getting stronger so I hoping to do well in the Johto Sliver Conference"
I look up to see her positively beaming at me with a bright smile
"You sure you are okay?"
"Uh yeah sorry, I'm just happy, I had a feeling with everything you had going on maybe you would you know"
"Know what?"
"Quit" she says solemnly
"Oh I see"
I ponder it, I had thought about it a few time in the break after Moms passing, even when we were on the way to the meeting to get my license back I considered maybe it would be a good idea if I didn't get it back. I look to Quilava and Bayleef before scanning the rest of my team
I shrug to her before smiling
"I gotta do my best, we're the only two left now of Ryan's mentor, we have to do him proud"
She laughs hard
"I'm not sure I'm doing him proud at the moment"
"Why? Whats happening?" I question
She sighs looking out onto the ocean
"So when I won the junior competition I got asked to joining the contest junior grand prix, its lots of travel to different regions. Ryan set me up with Misha, she's a contest star from Hoenn. She's been great help but, I've only won 1 ribbon out of 16 so far"
"How many do you have to win?"
"I need 4 at least to get to the grand finals"
"How many are left?"
"9" she says with a sad smile
"So you only have to win 3 out of 9? You can 100% do that!" I say with a bit of energy
"I'm not so sure, even if I get there then I probably not do that great"
"Thats doesn't matter!" I say bluntly causing her to baulk a little
"You and your Pokemon worked so hard in Kanto and got you to the top, you just gotta have a little confidence in yourself as much as you do in them and you'll get there!"
She smiles and laughs again
"You're way too positive you know"
She takes a deep breath
"Thank you, I needed that"
"You have my number, if you get like that again call me or text me" I say
"I will do, anyway what about you and the junior world championship, you can't be in the 1200s now"
I smile and grab my phone to show her
"Wow, your in the top 300? that's amazing!"
"Thanks, long way to go though and we've got lots of work to do" I say
"You'll make it I'm sure, I'll cheer you on and you cheer me on okay?" She says
"For sure!"
She smiles and jumps up
"Well I gotta get going, we on a flight to Unova for the next round tonight and Misha will be wondering where I am, Quilava you make sure to look after him okay?"
"Quil!"
It calls out happily in affirmation causing the egg to topple over a bit, I duck and catch it before it is completely enveloped in a bright white lighthouse
"Oh here we go!" I shout as it shines and whirls before bursting with light as I pull the egg in front of me
"To"
The newly hatched Togepi calls out as it looks up into my eyes
"Hey there little one, its nice too finally meet you"
"To?" it questions
"I'm Dustin, I'm going to look after you okay?"
"To? Toge!" it calls back
Quilava wanders up and sniffs at the new hatchling
"This is Quilava, he kept you warm a lot when you were growing in your egg" I say holding it up to Quilava
Togepi laughs and playfully grabs Quilava nose he laughs back
"So cute!" Louise says as I stand up
She wiggles her finger which Togepi tries to grab away at
"Well then a full team Dustin, good luck, it was good to see you again"
"You too Louise, like I said you ever get worried about how your doing, give me a call for a pep talk okay?"
"For sure! See you soon"