Chapter 3 - Greetings and Possible Goodbyes
We come back to Jake as he, Quaxly, Nemona, and Mr. Clavell are traveling to Naranja Academy.
"I think I'm gonna keep Fuecoco if that's ok with you Mr. Clavell. He's quite a fighter," Nemona said.
Quaxly and I both looked at Nemona scared for our lives. "At least we now know not to take him away from his food right Quaxly? Haha," I laughed nervously asking Quaxly. Quaxly nodded his head aggressively.
"Yes that is ok Nemona. I trust him with you more than anyone else," Mr. Clavell replied. He handed Fuecoco's pokeball to Nemona. "Thanks so much! C'mon out Fuecoco!"
Fuecoco looked around at his surroundings a lot calmer than before. However, he laid his eyes on Quaxly and glared, still angry at their battle.
Quaxly, done with being scared, glared back as tensions were flaring.
"It looks like the two are rivals now," observed Mr. Clavell. "Should be some good battles in the future between those two."
"You said it Mr. Clavell! Quaxly versus Fuecoco will go down in history!" I replied. Nemona agreed with just as much excitement.
"Alright we should probably put them in their pokeballs before they start battling again," I remarked.
"Yeah you're right Jake. Fuecoco return," Nemona replied as she returned Fuecoco.
"Quax Quax!" Quaxly immediately disagreed.
"So you wanna stay out of your pokeball Quaxly?" I asked. Quaxly agreed.
"Ok that's fine. I don't see anything wrong with that," I replied as I put his pokeball away.
"Quax!" Quaxly smiled victoriously slicking his hair back.
"Oh! Uhhh here is Los Platos everyone," Mr. Clavell remarked nervously. It was a quaint little town a little bigger than Cabo Poco. It seemed like a nice open neighborhood. Everyone was out and about talking with each other like they were all a family. "Ummmm I have to go straight to Naranja right away. You all can do whatever. Good luck on your first day if I don't see you. Bye!" Mr. Clavell ran off avoiding the town entirely.
"What was that all about?" I asked.
"No clue. Mr. Clavell seemed really flustered. Oh, I definitely need to take you to this ice cream spot. It's the bestttt. I used to come here all the time when I was a kid," Nemona offered eager to get some ice cream. I forgot about Mr. Clavell as ice cream flooded my vision.
"I can't say no to ice cream. Let's go!" I exclaimed. Quaxly agreed in excitement.
As we walked there, everyone was waving hello to Nemona and smiling at her as she greeted them back. We stopped so many times to talk to Los Platosians that we got to the ice cream shop in an hour instead of five minutes. My vocal cords were burning from introducing myself to basically the whole town. Quaxly was barely hanging on from all the kids trying to play with him.
"You're pretty popular huh? I'm losing my voice already from just talking to everyone you know here," I said.
"Yeah sorry about that haha. Los Platos is like my second home. As a kid, my nanny would always take me here to play with the other kids and get ice cream when my parents were busy working or traveling. I ended up getting to know everyone here, and they've become my second family! They've been cheering me on to become champion since I was a kid, so I owe it to them for looking after me since the beginning!"
"Wow that's really sweet! I'm glad I get to know them too! They're really nice people!" I responded.
We made it to the shop with the huge sign showing "Sugar-N-Ice" as we walked in. It wasn't very packed with people since it was a Monday afternoon and everyone was working, but I assumed that this was the spot on weekends and after work.
"This is 'Sugar-N-Ice.' It has the best ice cream everrrrr. I have been everywhere, and no where tops this," Nemona bragged.
"We'll just have to see about that," I challenged. "Hi could I get a scoop of vanilla with rainbow sprinkles in a cup?"
"Of course! And the Nemona special for you I assume Nemona?" The cashier asked.
"Yep! Three scoops of chocolate chip on a waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, honey, maple syrup, gummy bears, and nerds!" Quaxly and I looked at her like she was a lunatic. Our mouths hit the floor. The cashier just took the order like it was normal.
"Oh yeah Quaxly what do you want?" I asked after my shock subsided. Quaxly looked at the menu and pointed to the Passho berry sundae. Nemona also took out Fuecoco to get him a sundae. He got the occa berry sundae unsurprisingly.
"Alright! That'll be $31," The cashier said after handing us our ice cream. I went for my wallet and remembered how broke I was. Nemona noticed my distress.
"I got it Jake! Here you go sir!" She handed the cashier the money with tip as we walked to a table.
"Thanks so much Nemona for covering me! You're a great friend!" Her smile widened at that which made me happy, but then she looked a little nervous. I don't know what that's all about once again. We sat down and started eating as Fuecoco just stared at his sundae in delight savoring it.
"You really just got vanilla with rainbow sprinkles? What are you five years old?" Nemona teased.
"Are you kidding? Vanilla is the best!" I retorted. "Plus I'm not the one who ordered the whole menu!"
"Fuecoco what do you think? Whose ice cream is better?" She asked. Fuecoco stared over and pointed his stubby arm at Nemona's.
"Hell yeah Fuecoco! That's why mine is better!"
"Quaxly what do you think? Hers or mine?" Quaxly, choosing to do the opposite of whatever Fuecoco does, chose mine.
"That's right! I knew you'd have my back! I guess it's a tie then." I looked back at our ice cream and realized that basically all of it melted.
"I guess we got a little carried away huh," Nemona commented.
Fuecoco and Quaxly both laughed at us. They finished their ice cream while we didn't even get a lick!
"Whatever!"
"How many more people are we gonna talk to Nemona. It's getting real late and I am dying from all the introductions," I complained.
"I just need to visit one more person, and then we'll go, okay? She's very important to me," She said. I agreed reluctantly. She knocked on a door of a quaint little yellow house. Pretty much the same as all the other houses but with a pretty garden out front. We heard someone yell "Coming!" as we waited. The door opened to reveal a Pawmi jump right at Nemona and knock her back.
"Awwww Pawmi! I missed you too! It's been too long!"
"Yes it has been too long," Another voice remarked. She seemed mad at Nemona.
"I'm sorry Luna. It has been too long. You know how focused I get on training haha!" She replied. They went in for a hug. Nemona was definitely closer to this Luna than anyone else in the town. Luna was a short older lady around 65 with some gray streaks in her hair. She had smile wrinkles, so I could tell she was a really nice person. She looks a little pale though like she's sick.
"And who is this handsome young man you've brought to my doorstep! You better lock him down before I take him!" Luna exclaimed excitedly.
"Haha I'm flattered. I'm Jake Kami nice to meet you. And this is Quaxly, my first pokemon that I actually just got today!" Quaxly did his little slickback pose while I went on. "We're actually on our way to our first day at Naranja!"
"Well that's nice darling. Very nice to meet you. Come in come in, I've been making sandwiches and can add some to the feast if you'd like to stay. It gets rather quiet with just me and Pawmi," Luna invited.
"I am pretty hungry since our ice cream melted. That would be great thanks!" I replied eagerly. Nemona agreed.
"Great! I'll get you all started. Go sit in the living room while I make your food," We went over to the living room and sat on her couch. It was quaint just like the outside with one couch, a recliner, coffee table, and TV. It reminded me of my past houses with my mom.
"I like her, she's funny," I told Nemona.
"Yeah she likes to tease haha. She was my nanny when I was young and we bonded instantly. Since my parents were pretty busy with work, she was around most of the time and we would go to Los Platos together all the time. It's how I became such good friends with everyone here. She's great," Nemona admired. "I don't see her as much since I've been training, but I visit her as much as possible since her husband passed. Sorry to make you come out all this way. I'm sure you wanna get over to Naranja as soon as you can."
"Hey I don't mind. I love meeting all these new people. They're really great plus I don't mind a few sandwiches before we go haha," I replied.
"That's good haha. I tend to force people into doing things I want to do when I get excited. Thanks for sticking around. Not many people do at school," She confided in me sadly. Before I could assuage her worries, Luna walked back in with the sandwiches. "Who's hungry!"
"I could eat a horse!" Nemona replied excitedly. We walked over to the table to see a huge pile of sandwiches. Quaxly and I's jaws were to the floor at the amount of food she cooked up: at least 50 sandwiches, 20 bags of chips, at least a gallon of soup, and some sodas.
"You'll be eating much more than a horse with this feast. I'm about to go crazy on this food!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Quax Quax!" Quaxly agreed.
We all dug in until our bellies couldn't take anymore, and there was still some left! After we ate to our belly's content, we sat back and relaxed. Nemona and I fist bumped in excitement for how we just dominated that meal.
"I have to use the restroom," Nemona said. "I'll be back in a sec."
As she left, Luna stared daggers right into my soul: "You're not just friends with her because she's the champion right? You better not be using her or you won't hear the end of it!" She yelled at me. I was truly terrified at the statement. She was so nice when I met her, and now she flipped a switch and is terrifying! Honestly like my mom if she's ever about to punish me.
"No! Of course not! Nemona's just a great friend! I've only known her for a day, and I can see still see how great she is!" I retorted. Luna's stare calmed.
"So sorry to accuse you like that. Every time Nemona has had a friend after she became champion a couple years back, they always used her for training and money. I just want her to have a genuine friend besides her pokemon at school. She struggles with friendships and connection due to her past, but she means very well. Please don't give up on her." She pleaded to me.
"Of course not! I'm not one to just throw friends away like that. And that sucks that people would do that. I hate people sometimes," I replied.
"I'll drink to that honey. People can be bad, but life is always sacred. Don't let first impressions or rumors ruin your interpretation of a person though. You never know what people are going through. Just be careful and keep Nemona safe. Once I'm gone, I don't know who else she can rely on. I know you just met her, but it's important to me that you keep an eye on her when I can't," Luna advised.
"Thanks Luna. I'll keep that in mind. One thing though. What's her past that you just talked about?" I asked. Before she could answer me though, Nemona came back from the bathroom.
"Hey guys! I'm back. Thanks so much again for dinner, but we should probably take off if we want to get to Naranja before sunset," Nemona said. I agreed, but reluctantly since I was once again interrupted in trying to figure out Nemona's past. I know something's wrong that she's hiding.
"I guess that makes sense. I have one favor for you though Nemona. You owe me for this magnificent feast," Luna demanded.
"So you're gonna guilt trip me huh haha! What's going on?"
Luna motioned towards Pawmi who was currently trying to break Quaxly away from Fuecoco in their little disagreement.
"Pawmi has been getting restless lately. After I leave the house and he stays, I've noticed that he starts training in the backyard. He's always hypnotized when seeing a battle on TV, and once he saw you at the door, he had more excitement and energy than I had ever seen him." She looked at Pawmi fondly. "For those reasons, I want you to take Pawmi on your adventures Nemona."
"What? But Pawmi has been with you for years. Since your husband died, he's been the only one there for you. You'd be all alone!" Nemona retorted.
"I want what's best for Pawmi, and that would be giving him to you to train him. He will be a wonderful fighter for you, I'm sure. He wouldn't want it any other way."
"I don't know Luna. I don't want to take him away from you. I'm sure he would much rather be here with you than me!" Nemona fought back.
"Please just trust me Nemona! I... don't have a lot of time left. I just met with a doctor in Mesagoza, and the tests aren't looking good. I have stage three lung cancer. It's not looking good for me."
Nemona stepped back. Her eyes were wide as she tried to process the news that Luna just dropped. It looks like she didn't know what to think.
"I know this is hard Nemona, but Pawmi needs someone once I go..."
"You WON'T go!" Nemona interrupted with tears in her eyes. "Why would you say that? You're going to be fine! You're strong! Don't give up on Pawmi, don't give up on yourself, and don't give up on ME!" She stormed out the house and ran off. I ran after her after my shock subsided.
"Luna! Take care of the pokemon! I'll be back with her soon!" I yelled as I ran after her. Please hang on Nemona.